Entering the Sect

When Chen Jianghe hurried back to Loach Bay, the sun had already dipped well below the horizon.

The river breeze began to pick up, causing the tattered boat awnings in the boat district to flap and rattle.

As he jumped onto his family's deck, he deliberately landed with a heavy thud—this was the secret signal to alert his mother.

Inside the cabin, a bean-sized oil lamp flickered to life in response.

Lin emerged wearing a patched cloth tunic. Seeing it was Chen Jianghe, she first let out a sigh of relief, but then immediately grew tense. "Jianghe? Why are you back today? Is the martial arts school closed for a holiday?"

Chen Jianghe closed the door behind him, sat down beside his mother, and said in a low voice, "It's not a holiday. Mother, I came back because I have something to tell you."

Lin's fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of her apron. "What is it? Is it... not enough money? I still have a little here..."

"It's not about money." Chen Jianghe took his mother's hands, his voice steady. "Mother, for the next little while, I might not be coming back."

Lin's body stiffened. "Not coming back? Why? Is someone at the school bullying you? Or... is the Black Tiger Gang causing trouble again?"

"Neither." Chen Jianghe shook his head, keeping his tone as light as possible. "The senior brothers at the school treat me very well. It's just that my training has reached a critical juncture. My master said that the 'Energy Conversion' stage is most sensitive to distractions. I want to focus on my training at the school for a while, eating and sleeping there, so I can progress faster."

He paused, looking at the worry in his mother's eyes, and continued, "Once I master 'Energy Conversion,' I'll be an official disciple of the school. Then, I'll beg my master to see if he can find you some work at the school. Even if there's no pay, it's better than living here in constant fear every day."

Lin's lips trembled, but in the end, she only nodded. "Alright, Mother will listen to you. Be careful out there. The school is a place with many eyes and ears; don't be a hero, and learn to endure when you must."

"I know," Chen Jianghe replied.

Lin suddenly remembered something and urged, "Oh, right, remember to visit your Uncle Liu when you have time. He's getting on in years, and it's not easy for him alone at the Shen Mansion. He still thinks of you often and sends you food. We must remember this kindness."

Chen Jianghe felt a warmth in his heart and nodded heavily. "Don't worry, Mother. Once I'm done with this busy period, I will definitely go see Uncle Liu."

The mother and son exchanged more idle chatter, mostly Lin's repeated instructions, which Chen Jianghe accepted one by one.

The next day, just as the sky began to brighten, a commotion broke out in Loach Bay.

"Have you heard? Li Gouzi is dead!" Auntie Wang from the neighboring boat lowered her voice, though she couldn't hide the glee in her tone.

"Dead? How did he die?" Someone leaned in to ask.

"They say he was hacked to death at the abandoned scrapyard yesterday! The two lackeys with him are dead too, blood all over the ground!" Auntie Wang gestured wildly, her eyes gleaming. "All three of them had knife wounds on their necks and chests, a real mess. You could tell at a glance it was a revenge killing!"

"Good! Serves him right!" Old Zhao, who was squatting on the bow of his boat mending a fishing net, spat on the ground. "That Li Gouzi was even more vicious than Wang Biao! Last time, when the Sun family couldn't pay up, he dragged their daughter away. Who knows what kind of hell she's suffering in some dark den right now!"

"Shh—keep it down!" Someone looked around nervously. "The Black Tiger Gang is still searching everywhere. They even killed someone just before they left. If they hear you, we'll all be in trouble!"

Only then did the crowd lower their voices to discuss it, their eyes scanning the water and the shore vigilantly. It was satisfying, certainly, but in these times, no one dared to show their relief openly.

Chen Jianghe listened quietly from inside his cabin, his face devoid of emotion. But he knew in his heart that he had to become stronger; if any clues were ever traced back to him, he would need to be able to handle it.

He packed his belongings and tucked the two remaining coarse grain cakes from last night into his tunic before pushing the door open.

"Jianghe, wait." Lin chased him to the bow and pressed a small cloth bundle into his hand. "These are the salted duck eggs I boiled last night. Take them. Training takes a lot of energy; don't neglect your health."

Chen Jianghe took the bundle, feeling the warmth against his palm. "Mother, I'm leaving. You... take care."

"Go on." Lin stood at the bow, watching her son's figure disappear into the misty alleyway, and raised a hand to wipe the corner of her eye.

Most of the pharmacies in Yilin County were located in the inner city. Only this "Spring Return Hall" was in the outer city. Its storefront was small, the counter was always cluttered with bottles and jars, and the air was filled with the bitter scent of herbs.

Behind the counter was an old man wearing round spectacles, his head down as he worked an abacus. Hearing footsteps, he didn't even look up. "Filling a prescription or seeking a consultation?"

"Buying tonics."

The old man finally looked up, eyeing the martial arts training gear he wore. "Practicing martial arts?"

"Yes."

"What do you need?"

"Blood-Qi Powder."

The old man pushed up his spectacles, turned, and took a palm-sized celadon bottle from the back cabinet, placing it on the counter. "Three taels of silver per bottle."

Chen Jianghe's heart tightened. The silver he had scavenged from Li Gouzi totaled only ten taels.

The old man glanced at him. "Think it's expensive? This is the genuine 'Blood-Qi Powder.' The red ginseng, angelica, and astragalus inside are all top-tier ingredients. For a martial arts student like you, one dose every ten days, three doses in a row, and I guarantee your blood and energy will be full, and your stance training will be solid."

Chen Jianghe stared at the celadon bottle. The body of the bottle was cold, containing a pale red powder.

Nine taels of silver was enough for an ordinary family to live on for more than a year. He wondered if this "Blood-Qi Powder" had many impurities. But there was no other way; entering the inner city required a token, and the prices there were even higher.

Besides, his "Heaven Rewards Diligence" fate meant that while he could continuously break through through repeated, effective practice, it required his body to hold up. If his blood and energy were completely depleted, let alone stance training, he would likely faint after a few steps.

He silently took out his money pouch, counted out nine taels of silver, and placed them on the counter one by one.

The old man collected the silver, pushed the porcelain bottle over, and added, "Take it with warm water; avoid raw or cold food. It works even better if you pair it with meat."

Chen Jianghe nodded, gripped the bottle tightly, and turned to leave the pharmacy.

As he walked out the door, he looked back at the sign.

"Truly... a gold-devouring pit," he muttered under his breath.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

This morning, Chen Jianghe was standing in his stake posture in the courtyard as usual.

The blood-nourishing powder had been finished yesterday, its final dose of medicinal efficacy fully exhausted. The silver in his pocket was also gone, not even enough to cover next month's rice money.

But he could not concern himself with such things.

At this moment, his entire focus was immersed in the Three-Body Posture.

After a month of arduous training, his stake work had undergone a qualitative change.

His waist and hips were as agile as a dragon, his arms as heavy and condensed as a bear's, his center of gravity shifting freely between his feet, with power coursing through his entire body.

He could even feel the "stretching" intent within his sinews and bones, which had accumulated to a critical point.

Only the final sliver remained.

Chen Jianghe closed his eyes, adjusting his breathing to its most prolonged state.

Exhale, qi sinks to the dantian.

Inhale, power flows to the four extremities.

Repeating this nine times, he suddenly felt a loosening in his waist, as if something had "snapped" open with a soft sound.

Immediately following, a surge of heat rose from the tailbone, rushed straight up the spine to the crown of his head, then descended along the Ren meridian, returning to the dantian.

The circulation was complete!

Chen Jianghe snapped his eyes open and slowly withdrew his stance.

He stood in place, feeling the changes in his body; the previous sense of hollowness and weakness had vanished entirely, replaced by a steadiness as if he were rooted to the earth.

His limbs and bones were filled with power, not the brute force of tensed muscles, but a unified, integrated strength born from the stretching of his sinews and bones.

He raised his hand and slowly clenched his five fingers into a fist.

The knuckles of his fist cracked softly, and the tendons beneath his skin rippled like small snakes.

It was done.

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath and looked at the panel in his mind:

[Fate: Heaven rewards diligence; success is inevitable]

[Current Skill: Three-Body Posture (Entry)]

[Progress: 1%]

[Effect: None]

Although it was only the entry level and the progress was a mere one percent, it meant he had finally crossed the chasm of "changing power" and truly stepped over the threshold of Xingyi Fist.

"Yo, you did it!" Su Derong's voice drifted over from the veranda.

Chen Jianghe turned, cupped his hands, and bowed. "Many thanks for your care and guidance over the past month, Senior Brother."

Su Derong walked over quickly, reaching out to press and knead Chen Jianghe's shoulders, arms, waist, and hips with no small amount of force.

Chen Jianghe gritted his teeth and endured it, only to find that the joints and fascia that used to ache under such pressure now possessed a supple elasticity.

Su Derong withdrew his hand, looked Chen Jianghe up and down, and sighed. "Truly... you kid, you're ruthless. Two months, and you've already cleared this hurdle."

Chen Jianghe gave a bitter smile. "Just luck. If not for Senior Brother providing the meat, I might not have succeeded even after grinding for several more months."

"Glad you know it." Su Derong began waving his fan again, his tone returning to its lazy drawl. "Entry is just the beginning. From here on, Ming Jin, An Jin, and Hua Jin—each barrier is harder than the last, and each one burns more money."

He paused, then added, "But since you've succeeded, I will inform Master. The teaching of the Five Elements Fist and some resources for your cultivation will be arranged for you."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother." Chen Jianghe bowed once more.