At night.
Li Chuan dragged his weary body back to the Common Dormitory.
Qin Feng, reeking of alcohol and flushed with drink, was packing up his belongings.
When he saw Li Chuan, his expression grew somewhat complicated.
He opened his mouth, wanting to call him Senior Brother Li, but suddenly felt that would be inappropriate.
He had entered the Inner Courtyard and become Master Liang's Inner Disciple. By rights, he stood two ranks above Li Chuan.
After hesitating for a moment, he blurted out:
"Junior Brother Li, I'm going to the Inner Courtyard."
Junior Brother Li?
Li Chuan smiled. Qin Feng's figure before him gradually overlapped with Hu Yuan's from the past.
He still remembered how, not long ago, Qin Feng had brooded over Hu Yuan calling him "Junior Brother Qin," swearing that once he achieved something, he would never behave that way.
And how long had it been?
Li Chuan offered him a flat, indifferent congratulations.
Qin Feng opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but after looking at Li Chuan, he felt there was nothing worth explaining.
He was merely someone with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution. They probably would never have any dealings again.
Qin Feng's stage was the entirety of Anning County. Li Chuan, perhaps, could only leave the Martial Hall in disgrace.
Qin Feng suddenly felt as though a thick wall stood between them.
In the end, Qin Feng left.
Of the three-man Common Dormitory, only Li Chuan remained.
He heard that Hu Yuan had suffered such a severe blow that he did not dare show his face at the Martial Hall, hiding at home instead.
Their reversed fortunes caused a great uproar within the Martial Hall. Many disciples talked about it with great relish.
Only Li Chuan remained unchanged. Wind or rain, clear skies or cloudy days, he went to the Martial Arts Arena to train without fail.
Gradually, everyone grew accustomed to his presence and no longer regarded him as an oddity.
His reputation in the Outer Courtyard quietly began to change as well.
Fourteen days later.
Hu Yuan returned.
The first thing he did was apologize to Li Chuan, saying that he had been young and reckless before, ignorant of the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth, and had slighted Senior Brother Li.
Afterward, he buckled down. Every day, he followed Li Chuan to the Martial Arts Arena.
Whenever Li Chuan went back, Hu Yuan went back as well.
Twenty-five days later.
My silver is nearly gone, and the one-month deadline Liu Hu gave me is approaching. I should go home and see what's going on. Li Chuan summoned a panel.
[Primordial Jade Record] [Effect: Record skills. Study diligently and train hard, and success is certain!] [Host: Li Chuan] [Skill: Mountain-Holding Stance (Initiation)] [Proficiency: 302/500] [Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Initiation)] [Proficiency: 233/500]
Li Chuan exhaled a breath of stale air.
The rewards from twenty-five days of grueling training were exceedingly generous.
Mountain-Holding Stance needed only a little over a hundred more proficiency points to break through to Minor Mastery. He would also complete his first Gate-Knocking and become a Bright Force disciple.
From then on, he would no longer need to chop firewood or clean latrines.
He could also take up positions in certain places and earn silver to support his martial training, without making his family toil from dawn to dusk just to scrape together one tael of silver for his food expenses.
Li Chuan lowered his head and looked at his body.
His once somewhat lean frame had grown sturdy, his muscle lines clear and smooth. He had not developed massive bulging muscles, but he could feel the considerable strength contained within them.
As I am now, taking on two or three grown, burly men shouldn't be a problem. Li Chuan pondered.
And this was only the progress from eating meat once every two days. If he could add medicinal supplements and nourishing food, his cultivation speed would only become faster.
In short, the future was bright!
That afternoon, Li Chuan found Luo Zheng.
"Second Senior Brother, I would like to request leave and return home for a while."
Luo Zheng looked Li Chuan over.
Over this period, he had witnessed Li Chuan's diligence.
His impression of him had undergone a complete reversal.
His prejudice against Li Chuan came from Li Chuan's former slovenly ways and neglect of proper work. Now that he had personally seen Li Chuan turn back from the wrong path, he naturally felt gratified.
Along with that, his attitude toward Li Chuan had improved considerably.
"Today isn't a rest day, so I shouldn't let you go back. But I believe you are no longer that rash sort of person. You have your own plans, so I'll approve three days of leave for you."
Li Chuan quickly cupped his fists and said:
"Thank you, Second Senior Brother."
"Go. The Outer City hasn't been peaceful lately, so be careful on the road."
After thanking him again, Li Chuan left.
He could tell that Second Senior Brother's words had been sincere.
If I had to compare him, Second Senior Brother was like those teachers from my past life who truly wanted the best for their students. As long as you worked diligently, regardless of your grades, they would not treat you poorly.
In the vast Pine Wind Martial Hall, there were few as dutiful and responsible as Second Senior Brother.
Even Eldest Senior Brother Tang Xiang only cared about his own martial progress. Why would he be willing to spend time paying attention to crooked melons and misshapen dates like them?
Li Chuan left Pine Wind Martial Hall and headed toward his family's breakfast shop.
There were fewer street vendors along the way than before, and many stall owners cautiously watched their surroundings.
As Li Chuan passed by, he could hear some people complaining.
"The Black Bear Gang and the Iron Tiger Gang have been fighting more and more fiercely lately. Clashes break out in the city all the time, making everyone afraid to go out. My business has gone down the drain too."
"Isn't that the truth? I heard the Black Bear Gang lost their last clash, and even their gang leader was injured. They've been keeping a lower profile lately."
Li Chuan's heart stirred.
Wasn't the Black Bear Gang the gang Liu Hu belonged to?
Their breakfast shop was also the one Black Bear Gang leader Cao Yan had specifically demanded by name.
Now that he was fighting the Iron Tiger Gang so viciously, he might not have time to concern himself with this side.
Liu Hu probably could not spare the attention to cause trouble either.
Li Chuan felt slightly relieved.
If he could delay things a little longer, he could break through to Bright Force. By then, Liu Hu might give up on his own.
With that in mind, Li Chuan returned to his family's breakfast shop.
It was evening now. By rights, it was already mealtime.
Their shop sold noodles at night. The prices were fair and affordable, and the flavor was good. It was an old established shop in the neighborhood, so there should have been plenty of customers.
Yet when Li Chuan looked carefully, he found that passersby often glanced toward their shop, but no one sat down.
Wang Xiumei stood there holding a spatula, her face clouded with worry.
Grandfather, Grandmother, his cousin, and his aunt could not help sighing again and again.
"What's going on?" Li Chuan frowned and quickened his pace.
"Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, Cousin, Aunt, I'm back!" Li Chuan called loudly.
The gloom vanished from Wang Xiumei's face as she broke into a smile.
"Chuan'er is back. Have you eaten? Mother will make you a bowl of noodles."
A smile also appeared on Li Nian's aged face.
"A-Chuan, why did you come back early this month? Did you know your aunt saved a hen for you?"
Wang Xiumei explained:
"The hen San Feng raised fell to its death yesterday. She specifically said to save it for when you came back, so you could nourish your body."
Though everyone was smiling broadly, Li Chuan still felt they were forcing their smiles.
Besides... how could a hen fall to its death?
Chickens could fly...
"Mother, are you hiding something from me?" Li Chuan asked.
"What could we be hiding? Chuan'er, you're overthinking it."
"Then why are there no customers at the shop today?"
Wang Xiumei hemmed and hawed, while the others pretended not to hear.
No matter how Li Chuan questioned them, they refused to say anything.
A faint suspicion arose in Li Chuan's heart.
While his family was not paying attention, he planned to go next door and ask Uncle Liu what had happened.
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