Regret

"Brother, why are you back so early today?" Xu Qing looked at Xu Yang, who was pushing the door open, with a puzzled expression.

Xu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, "Guess?"

Xu Qing looked him up and down, feeling that Xu Yang was brimming with high spirits and his temperament had changed drastically. Her voice trembled uncontrollably, "You... you succeeded in your breakthrough?"

"That's right. Now, your brother is also a martial artist master."

Xu Qing hopped over and hung onto Xu Yang, "Haha... success! I've become the sister of a martial artist master. From now on, I don't have to hide at home every day. If anyone dares to bully me, Brother, you can help me beat them up."

With Xu Yang becoming a martial artist, the first thing she thought of was that she could go out, no longer needing to hide at home or intentionally smear her face with dirt.

"Xu Laoer is definitely going to regret this until his guts turn green."

Immediately after, she thought of Xu Laoer. Having missed out on a son who was a martial artist, Xu Laoer would likely be spitting blood in frustration.

"Quick, show me a martial artist's abilities!" The little girl excitedly pulled Xu Yang out the door.

Xu Yang found a stone the size of a watermelon and struck it with his palm. With a crisp "crack," the stone shattered into pieces, leaving the little girl wide-eyed and dumbstruck.

Even at her young age, she knew that if that palm had landed on a person, they would have lost their life ten times over.

"Alright, you've seen it. Go wash up quickly; I'm taking you to pay a visit to our maternal uncle."

Returning so early was naturally not for the sake of showing off, but because he intended to personally thank his uncle.

Without Zhou Shunchang, he never would have been selected by the Huang Family. Furthermore, Zhou Shunchang had taken good care of him. Although he had already seen him before, he felt he should bring gifts, visit in person to express his gratitude, and repay the money Zhou Shunchang had lent him.

Even in the city, a family producing a martial artist was a sensational event; in a place like White Stone Ward, it was even more so. For nearly twenty years, White Stone Ward had not produced a single martial artist.

Through the spreading words of Zhang Daniu and He Laosan, it didn't take long for the news of Xu Yang becoming a martial artist to sweep through the entire White Stone Ward, even spreading to the surrounding Li Family Village and Big Tree Village.

"What did you say?"

Xu Laoer grabbed two neighbors who were chatting, thinking he had misheard.

"I said your son has become a martial artist. And not your stepson, but your biological one."

Gao Dabao didn't mind Xu Laoer's rudeness and wore a smile, because if it were him, his reaction would likely have been even greater than Xu Laoer's.

Another neighbor mocked, "Where would he get a biological son? Xu Yang has already severed ties with him. Don't say things like that again; if Master Xu Yang hears you, you won't have a good time."

Xu Laoer was struck as if by lightning, standing frozen on the spot.

Xu Yang became a martial artist? How was that possible?

"Impossible! That rebellious brat couldn't even afford a full meal, where would he get the money to practice martial arts? It must be fake! Even our A-Jun hasn't become a martial artist yet, how could he?" Zhang Cuiting shrieked.

Gao Dabao glanced at the shrew-like Zhang Cuiting and said, "You can't be unaware that Xu Yang's uncle, Zhou Shunchang, works as an accountant for the Huang Family. It's said that the Huang Family saw his talent and paid for him to go to the martial arts academy. Whether it's true or false, why don't you just go ask Xu Yang?"

Of course, they had to go and ask clearly!

Xu Laoer didn't say a word and turned to leave.

If Xu Yang had truly become a martial artist, then he was...

After walking a few steps, Xu Laoer stopped. Even if Xu Yang had become a martial artist, it had nothing to do with him; they had already severed ties.

His face turned from pale to green, his guts twisting with regret. If he had known it would come to this, he shouldn't have let the relationship turn so sour.

He didn't regret mistreating Xu Yang and his sister; he only regretted losing the chance to be the father of a martial artist.

"Why are you stopping? Keep walking!"

Zhang Cuiting pushed Xu Laoer to keep moving. She had to confirm whether Xu Yang had truly become a martial artist.

If it were fake, she would naturally mock him.

If it were true, she would mend the relationship and make Xu Yang an asset for her own son. As for past grievances, for the sake of her son's future, she wouldn't hold it against Xu Yang.

He was just a brat of seventeen or eighteen; a few words would surely coax him into obedience, especially with Xu Laoer, his biological father, present.

When Xu Laoer arrived at his former home, he found that many people were already there. The residents of White Stone Ward had come to bask in the good fortune of the martial artist master.

"Isn't this Xu Laoer? Are you here to bask in the martial artist master's good fortune, too?"

Seeing Xu Laoer, someone immediately began to tease him.

"Where is Xu Yang?"

His skin was thick enough that he didn't care, instead asking about Xu Yang.

"He became a martial artist and went to bring gifts to thank his uncle," someone replied.

Even with his thick skin, Xu Laoer felt his face burning at that moment.

After inquiring around, he confirmed that Xu Yang had indeed become a martial artist; the shattered stone in front of the house was proof enough.

By the time they returned from his uncle's house, it was already dark.

Xu Yang had not only repaid the money he borrowed from Zhou Shunchang but had also given him a little extra.

Although he still needed money, he couldn't wait until he was truly well-off to pay it back. Zhou Shunchang naturally didn't want it; he hadn't expected Xu Yang to return it when he first gave it to him.

After some polite refusals, he was persuaded by Xu Yang to accept it.

"Xiao Qing, I plan to send you to school!"

Looking at Xu Qing, who was almost as tall as his shoulder, Xu Yang made up his mind.

"No, I don't want to study. I want to practice martial arts; I want to be a martial artist master," the little girl shook her head and said.

Those who studied were only ever mocked as pedantic scholars; only those who practiced martial arts were glorious.

Xu Yang hadn't expected her to already have thoughts of practicing martial arts. He shook his head and said, "Studying is to help you learn to read and broaden your horizons. You are still young and haven't reached the age for martial arts yet. When you are old enough, Brother will naturally let you practice."

Although there weren't many women who practiced martial arts, they weren't unheard of, and Xu Yang didn't hold such prejudices.

Only after hearing that she could practice martial arts in the future did the little girl agree.

The next day, the first thing Xu Yang did upon opening his eyes was to look at the panel.

[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 65]

Having successfully gathered his Qi, the panel had rewarded him with thirty points.

After some thought, he divided the points equally to improve his comprehension and aptitude.

[Comprehension: 24]

[Aptitude: 43]

His comprehension had risen to 24, and his aptitude to 43.

He did not upgrade his cultivation technique.

Using points to upgrade a technique was a one-off deal; increasing his comprehension and aptitude to boost his overall cultivation speed was the most cost-effective approach. He had only used points to upgrade his technique before because he had been in a crisis.

After the upgrades were finished, Xu Yang didn't feel much of a difference.

After eating, Xu Qing changed into the new clothes bought in the city yesterday. Xu Yang took her to the street to buy the four treasures of the study, prepared the tuition fees, and the two headed toward Scholar Li's home in White Stone Ward.

"Brother, now that you've become a martial artist, have you started having ideas about Li Yao again?"

Hearing that Xu Yang wanted her to go to Scholar Li's school instead of the one run by Master Liu, who was more learned, Xu Qing couldn't help but be curious.

"What are you little brat's wild thoughts? Scholar Li is an upright man, while Master Liu is a snob who looks down on the poor. I don't want you picking up his bad habits."

He had studied at Master Liu's school when he was a child. Master Liu wouldn't even glance at poor students like them, so he naturally didn't want his sister to be a student of such a person.

As for Scholar Li's daughter, Li Yao, she was the "white moonlight" of his predecessor, not his.

The little girl chuckled and said, "Don't think I don't know you used to sneak peeks at Li Yao all the time."