The Huang Family Breaks Its Promise

"That's a load of dog shit!"

Qiu Wenjie coldly looked at Luo Dehu. "Back then, when Senior Brother Xu refused to take part, you lot mocked him for being a coward. Now you have no brains, and you're blaming him for not warning you? If Senior Brother Xu had warned you, would you have listened?"

Luo Dehu's face flushed red.

Qiu Wenjie continued, "Try thinking before you speak. All you do is dream about pies falling from the sky. If Senior Brother Xu had warned you, would he then have gone and offended Xue Fangsheng?"

"That's enough!"

Xu Yang clapped Qiu Wenjie on the shoulder, and Qiu Wenjie finally stopped.

In truth, apart from the three who had died, Tang Ruiyang included, Zhang Yong, Luo Dehu, and the others had gambled and won.

With this money, Qi Gathering might not be beyond their reach.

They could use the money to hide in Wei Yuan Hall until they succeeded in Qi Gathering, then leave. Xue Fangsheng's threat would naturally disappear.

Xue Fangsheng didn't want things to reach Lin Cheng, so he hadn't shortchanged them. He'd given the four of them more than fifty taels in all.

He'd originally wanted to warn them, but Luo Dehu's words had killed any desire to speak. Still, the others would probably soon think of staying in Wei Yuan Hall.

The only pity was that he wouldn't get to see the looks on Tang Ruiyang and the others' faces. Honestly, seeing the wretched state of Luo Dehu and Qian Jiaxing had made him a little happy.

He'd come over eagerly mainly to see the people who'd mocked him for being a coward regret it.

After a while, Zhang Yong and the others really did come up with a way to stay in Wei Yuan Hall and avoid Xue Fangsheng. They used the money they'd gotten from him to lodge there, leaving Xue Fangsheng with no way to act against them.

The next day, the families of Tang Ruiyang, Yang Dacai, and the third man came to Wei Yuan Hall to make a scene. After Zhang Yong, Luo Dehu, and the others handed them a sum of money, the three men's deaths were soon forgotten.

That day, Xu Yang sparred with Zhang Hong. In the end, Xu Yang defeated him with a move called Spirit Bear Breaks the Laurel.

"Your progress has been rapid. In half a month at most, you should be able to reach the bottleneck," Xu Yang said with a sigh.

Zhang Hong hadn't grown resentful toward him over what had happened before. His own choices were nobody else's fault, and Xu Yang had warned him, too.

Zhang Yong seemed to have let go of what had happened as well, and would occasionally strike up a conversation with Xu Yang.

With money in hand, both men were progressing quickly. They should reach the bottleneck within half a month, though Xu Yang couldn't say whether they would succeed in Qi Gathering.

"What about you?"

Zhang Hong wiped the sweat from his face and looked at Xu Yang curiously.

Though they often sparred, he couldn't gauge Xu Yang's true level. It seemed Xu Yang was always holding something back.

"Me?"

Xu Yang hesitated, as if trying to think of how to answer, when suddenly a long howl rang out.

Both of them instinctively looked over. It was Lu Ren who had let out the howl.

Qi surged around Lu Ren, his hair fluttering in the breeze. His face flushed with excitement. "Hahaha... I succeeded in Qi Gathering!"

Those words stunned everyone in the Outer Courtyard.

Success in Qi Gathering meant the difference between clouds and mud.

Once one gathered Qi, one became a mighty martial artist. Their strength would undergo a world-shaking transformation, and wherever they went, people would treat them with courtesy and respect.

Lu Ren had practiced martial arts for barely two months, yet he had already succeeded in Qi Gathering. That made his achievement all the more impressive.

After all, Zhou Yang and his brother had started training half a month before them, yet they hadn't even reached the threshold of breaking through.

"He's already succeeded in Qi Gathering!"

Zhang Hong felt that familiar sense of helplessness at Lu Ren's talent. Since they'd both been selected from the Huang Family, Zhang Hong had naturally wanted to surpass him and had been competing with him in secret.

Now, even that small urge to measure himself against Lu Ren had vanished.

"We really are no match for him."

Zhang Yong came over, his expression a tangle of emotions.

Xu Yang said nothing. He simply watched Luo Dehu and Qian Jiaxing rush over to fawn on Lu Ren, while the other Outer Courtyard disciples sycophantically congratulated him.

Lu Ren wore a proud expression, answering each of their compliments in turn.

"Let's go over. We struggled in the same mud pit, after all. That's a bond in its own right."

Zhang Hong stepped forward first!

Zhang Yong hesitated briefly, then followed. By now, he had seen enough to recognize some cruel truths, and his pride had been shattered to pieces.

Xu Yang didn't give it much thought and walked over calmly.

"Congratulations on breaking through!" The three of them clasped their fists toward Lu Ren.

Lu Ren returned the salute, then looked at Xu Yang. "If you regret it, you can come find me anytime."

He thought he was back on top again. He meant that if Xu Yang would just lower his head, he could still take him on as a follower.

Sure enough, you couldn't give people too much face. Once you did, they wanted to step all over you.

Xu Yang said nothing. He'd come over to offer congratulations only because they had struggled together.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Lu Ren!"

A group of mysterious Inner Courtyard disciples strode out from the Inner Courtyard and congratulated Lu Ren from afar, their faces beaming.

Even Xue Fangsheng, who had argued with Lu Ren a few times that day, was among them.

"Junior Brother Lu Ren, if not now, when will you join us in the Inner Courtyard?" Sun Tao said with a smile.

Once you broke through and gathered Qi, you could leave the Outer Courtyard and enter the Inner Courtyard.

Lu Ren looked more and more triumphant. "Please, Senior Brothers, lead the way!"

With that, the group walked toward the Inner Courtyard together, chatting and laughing, leaving behind a crowd of envious Outer Courtyard disciples.

Lu Ren had broken through, and a whole group of Inner Courtyard disciples had personally come to welcome him inside. Such an honor was practically without equal.

Another Outer Courtyard disciple had broken through before, but not only had no group of Inner Courtyard disciples come to escort him, even Sun Tao hadn't shown up. That man had gone to the Inner Courtyard on his own.

He had taken three months to break through.

"If I could have such glory one day, I'd die happy."

Someone murmured to himself.

"Xu Yang, Lu Ren has already broken through. What about you? Can you still keep up with him like before?" Zhou Yang suddenly asked with a grin.

After Xu Yang had beaten him, Zhou Yang had behaved himself more, but that didn't mean their business was over.

His words drew many people's attention to Xu Yang.

"Concerned about me? You'd better worry about yourself. You've been training for two and a half months already. Judging by your sorry state, you'll probably end up leaving in disgrace."

"You..."

Xu Yang's words struck a nerve. Most of the people who'd started training alongside Zhou Yang had already left in disgrace. He'd been training for two and a half months and still hadn't reached the threshold of breaking through. He was already frantic with worry.

Later that day, Fifth Master Huang and Second Master arrived together, carrying gifts, and went straight into the Inner Courtyard of Wei Yuan Hall.

Before long, all three appeared in the Outer Courtyard and announced that the Huang Family would hire Lu Ren as its Attendant martial artist for fifteen taels of silver a month, sharing both honor and disgrace with him.

The Outer Courtyard erupted into another uproar. Most martial artists received ten taels in pay, while those who got fifteen were generally genuine prodigies.

Not long after the announcement, Lu Ren left with Huang Jin and Huang Ping. Supposedly, the Huang Family had prepared a courtyard for him, and they were taking him to see it and arrange the furniture. A banquet was planned for later that evening, too.

"The Huang Family sure knows how to make a show of it!"

The Huang Family's regard for Lu Ren left Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong envious.

[Comprehension: 21]

[Bone Root: 40]

[Cultivation: None]

[Techniques: Turtle-Snake Great Stance · Beginner (99/100), Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist · Beginner (149/150)]

[Skills: Mining lv.3 (283/400)]

[Remaining Lifespan: 57]

[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 35]

"I'm almost there, too!"

Xu Yang looked at the Status Panel. Though he hadn't used it to improve himself over the past half month, his Turtle-Snake Great Stance and Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist had both reached the final step yesterday, right at the threshold.

His Bone Root had also risen to 40 ten days ago, entering the Grade B realm.

If he hadn't felt that his body still needed more tempering, he could have used the Status Panel to break through today and surpassed Lu Ren.