New Year's Eve

A New Year's greeting?!

The onlookers gaped in astonishment.

They had all thought Song Jin had come to settle accounts with Li Chuan.

They had been waiting for a good show, but never expected this.

What had Li Chuan done to deserve a New Year's visit from the leader of the Iron Tiger Gang?

Li Nian had prepared a whole list of things to say, only to find, to his astonishment, that none of them were needed.

At first, he had even thought Song Jin wanted the shop too.

If that were the case, then to safeguard Li Chuan's future in martial arts, they could simply give it to him.

This unexpected turn of events left him relieved.

Wang Xiumei and Li Qing stood in front of Li Chuan, just as confused as everyone else.

Li Chuan went along with it, putting on an expression of flattered surprise.

"Leader Song, how thoughtful of you!"

Song Jin smiled as he studied Li Chuan's expression, hoping to spot some clue.

But, unfortunately, Li Chuan's reaction was perfectly normal, leaving Song Jin nothing to criticize.

Could it not have been him?

Song Jin was a little puzzled.

When he received that note last night, he had wondered who could be so capable and happen to have a grudge against Cao Yan.

After looking everywhere, he had found very few candidates who fit the bill.

Then, in a flash of inspiration, he had thought of Li Chuan.

But after meeting Li Chuan, he began to doubt his own judgment.

Could a young man who had only recently entered Bright Force really have pulled off something like this?

Even with his injuries, Cao Yan was no easy opponent.

An ordinary Bright Force practitioner would probably have died under his desperate counterattack.

Song Jin had spotted nothing amiss, but he still kept a kindly expression.

"When I saw you that day, I felt an instant kinship with you, Brother Li. Now that everything has been settled, I naturally wanted to make your acquaintance."

With that, Song Jin gave Triangular Eyes behind him a glance.

Triangular Eyes respectfully presented a box to Wang Xiumei.

Song Jin explained with a smile:

"Auntie, I had someone buy these tangyuan in the Inner City. It's just a token of my regard. I wish you all a happy New Year."

"Oh, Leader Song, you're too kind! Why not stay for a meal?" Wang Xiumei beamed.

Song Jin waved his hand.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Auntie, but I have things to do, so I'll be on my way."

Song Jin turned around, then took one last, deep look at Li Chuan before leaving.

It was only after he had disappeared into the distance that everyone finally came to their senses.

The noisy chatter from before had died away. Everyone looked at Li Chuan with complicated expressions, tinged with awe.

Only when they experienced it for themselves could they understand how much Li Chuan had changed.

Even if they didn't really understand Bright Force or Gate-Knocking, Song Jin's attitude was enough to reveal something.

Soon, a sharp-eyed man hurried over with an ingratiating smile.

"Old Master Li, I forgot to pay for breakfast last time I ate here. I'll settle up now!"

Li Nian took the money and counted it. The amount was wrong, and he was about to correct the man when he realized he had already left.

That man often came to the shop for breakfast without paying. Li Nian had calculated that he owed about thirty copper coins.

But he had paid a full hundred!

"Since when was Huang Laizi so honest? He still hasn't paid the ten copper coins he owes me for tea!" Old Liu, who ran a tea shop, cursed.

"That man has a capable grandson. What do you have?" someone else scoffed at his delusions.

Old Liu's face reddened.

"I'll send my grandson to the Martial Hall right away!"

"Give it up. You think martial arts are that easy to learn? A-Chuan's the only Bright Force practitioner this whole area has produced!"

While the two men bickered, many others suddenly seemed to understand.

Everyone who had previously taken advantage of the Li family paid them back in full.

Li Nian accepted it all with a smile, one person after another, without showing any unusual reaction.

That gesture, in turn, made many people feel grateful.

It took nearly half an hour of pleasantries before the crowd finally dispersed.

Wang Xiumei grabbed Li Chuan by the arm.

"Chuan, I never knew you'd become so capable!"

His grandmother, Lin Shi, and his aunt, Qin Sanfeng, praised him one after another.

But Li Qing felt that something was off.

Cao Yan had just died last night, and now Song Jin had come to pay Li Chuan a New Year's visit?

Could it be...

Li Chuan smiled and cut everyone off.

"Big Brother, it's getting late. I'll take you to practice martial arts."

"Go on, A-Qing. Learn as much as you can from A-Chuan!" Qin Sanfeng gave Li Qing a stern look and reminded him.

Li Qing followed Li Chuan to the open ground to lift stones, a thousand questions swirling in his mind.

But when he was about to ask, he realized there was nothing he needed to know.

No matter what, Li Chuan was his own flesh-and-blood younger brother.

That was enough.

Gradually, Li Qing stopped dwelling on the matter and focused on his martial arts practice instead.

As Li Chuan watched him, he suddenly noticed that Li Qing's legs seemed more nimble than his arms.

I can't teach Big Brother the Thunder Shadow Leg outright, in case someone recognizes it and puts him in danger. But I can still take one move from it.

With that thought, Li Chuan suddenly said:

"Big Brother, I think you've practiced stone-lifting enough. I'll teach you a new move. You can only practice it at home. Don't let outsiders see it."

Li Qing nodded firmly.

"Don't worry, A-Chuan. I know what I'm doing."

After teaching Li Qing the move, Li Chuan watched him practice for a while.

He discovered that his big brother really did have a talent for leg techniques. In no time, he was performing the move quite convincingly.

I'll definitely leave Anning County someday. If Big Brother can improve his martial arts, I won't have to worry about my family's safety. Li Chuan nodded in satisfaction.

Then he practiced his stance beside Li Qing.

There were only four months left until the Martial Exam.

Before the Martial Exam, he had to bring the Mountain-Holding Stance to Major Mastery and break through to Dark Force.

He also had to bring both the Mountain-Shaking Fist and Thunder Shadow Leg to Major Mastery.

Only then would he have enough confidence to surpass the others in the Martial Exam and place in the top fifty!

The sun rose in the east and sank in the west. Night fell quietly.

Watching the two of them practice so diligently, Qin Sanfeng suddenly felt a deep sense of happiness.

She didn't want to spoil this beautiful moment, so she waited a little longer before calling out:

"Come eat your New Year's Eve dinner!"

Li Chuan glanced at Li Qing, who was soaked through, and smiled.

"Let's change clothes first."

After changing, the two sat down at the table.

The battered Eight Immortals table was whole again. It looked as if someone had repaired it.

Ever since I stopped taking food money from my family, their lives have gotten much better. Li Chuan felt a wave of emotion.

This was exactly why he worked so hard to practice martial arts and earn money.

If they had the choice, who wouldn't want their family to live a good life?

Li Chuan turned his gaze to the dishes.

There was his favorite red-braised pork, a free-range chicken raised by his aunt, beef in sauce, and braised pig's trotters.

Most eye-catching of all was the large bowl of tangyuan placed right in the middle.

Li Chuan picked up his chopsticks.

"I've got to try these tangyuan from the Inner City and see what makes them different!"

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Li Chuan's verdict.

Li Chuan put one tangyuan into his mouth and chewed for a moment. Then he suddenly frowned.

"Why is it salty?!"

Wang Xiumei rolled her eyes at him.

"Silly boy, how could tangyuan be sweet?"

Everyone chimed in agreement.

Li Chuan felt a little helpless.

No matter what, he firmly believed:

Long live the sweet-tangyuan faction!