Rapid Progress Is Not a Dream

Zhao Family.

A middle-aged physician finished binding the final bandage on Zhao Feng, straightened his back, and let out a long sigh.

"Physician Qin, how is my son?" Zhao Feng's mother, a woman of slightly plump build, hurried forward to ask.

Physician Qin wiped the sweat from his face and offered his congratulations: "It is fortunate. Although Young Master Zhao's arm bones were broken, the impact was so violent that the bones snapped cleanly without splintering. I have already set the arm, and after he takes my [Yellow Jade Bone-Mending Paste] and undergoes some light recuperation, the bones should knit back together in half a year."

"It will take half a year for the bones to knit? Doesn't that mean I won't be able to participate in the Martial Child Academy test!" Zhao Feng, lying on the bed, roared in frustration upon hearing this news. "You quack! Hurry up and find me the fastest way to fix this!"

A flash of displeasure crossed Physician Qin's eyes. How utterly ungrateful! If not for his precious [Yellow Jade Bone-Mending Paste], the young man's arm would have taken at least a year to even begin healing, and he likely would have suffered permanent damage!

He had spent all this effort only to be insulted as a quack by this brat!

Zhao's father glared fiercely at his son and quickly apologized to the physician: "Physician Qin, please do not take this bastard's words to heart. He is only anxious because he is injured and fears missing the Martial Child Academy test. I hope you can forgive him." As he spoke, Zhao's father pulled a gold note from his robes and pressed it into the physician's hand.

Physician Qin's expression softened slightly once he saw the amount. "Actually, I can understand Young Master Zhao's feelings. But it is said that 'a hundred days are needed to recover from a bone injury,' let alone a clean break. If he does not rest properly, the arm will suffer lasting complications; wouldn't that be even more distressing? Very well, your son only needs to rest now. If there are any further issues, you may come find me. I have another house call to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

Physician Qin bowed and departed.

"Father, am I really going to end up like this? I have to participate in the Martial Child Academy test!" Zhao Feng looked at his father in despair.

"I have already written to your uncle, begging him to find a master physician from Luowang Prefecture to assist you. The local physicians can only treat minor ailments; they cannot handle serious matters. I believe we will have news soon. I guarantee you will be jumping and running before the Martial Child Academy test." Zhao's father comforted him.

"That's great!" Zhao Feng immediately perked up, his face full of ecstasy. "That means I can still participate in the Martial Child Academy test! In a few more days, the Great Yang Pill will arrive, and I will be able to cultivate True Qi."

"You're still thinking about revenge? You've been beaten into this state, can't you just settle down!" Zhao's mother, hearing her son speak this way, felt her anger flare up. She glared at him and scolded him sharply.

"Mother, don't worry. As long as I cultivate True Qi, I definitely won't have to fear him anymore!" Zhao Feng said with confidence.

Zhao's father, however, frowned slightly: "Son, this Zhang He's background is somewhat unusual. It is clear now that he has likely been hiding his true strength all along. If you continue to clash with him head-on like this, I fear it will be to your disadvantage."

"Father, are you asking me to give up on revenge?" Zhao Feng looked at his father in disbelief.

"A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. Those who bullied you will pay the price! I am only saying that you cannot clash head-on for the time being, but you can think of other ways. By the way, you could temporarily show him goodwill to see if you can win him over. If you cannot make him a friend or use him, then you can think of other ways to deal with him slowly."

Zhao's father smiled.

Zhao Feng nodded, though a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years? Hmph, ten years is far too long. I want him to know the consequences of offending me immediately!

"You say Zhang He broke Zhao Feng's bones with a single punch?" Wang Renjie could not help but look shocked when he heard the news from his son. "Isn't that Zhao Feng's cultivation already at the Marrow Refining Realm? He is on par with you, both just one step away from breaking the shackles and cultivating True Qi. And he was beaten by Zhang He with one punch? Where did you get this news?"

"This is news I obtained from other Martial Children who were at the scene. They saw it with their own eyes that night. Furthermore, Zhao Feng has already returned home to recover, so it is clearly not a lie," Wang Fengjie said.

"Could it be that Zhang He has cultivated True Qi?" Wang Renjie was stunned. This child, who was disliked by his eldest brother at birth due to a birthmark on his forehead and judged to have mediocre talent, had been away for so many years—could he really have reached such a realm?

He looked at his son beside him. He also had some talent for cultivation and had reached the Marrow Refining Realm, just one step away from a breakthrough. He had always been his pride, but compared to Zhang He, he seemed to be lacking quite a bit!

"Father, if we tell Uncle this news, will Aunt be able to come back?"

"Although your uncle went a bit too far back then, it was your aunt who insisted on leaving with nothing. To your uncle, that was a supreme humiliation. It will not be easy to have your aunt return," Wang Renjie shook his head and said.

"Are we just going to let that vixen continue to plague our Wang Family? Uncle listens only to her; if we let the vixen's son inherit the Wang Family, the rest of our branches will be suppressed to death!" Wang Fengjie said, fuming with rage!

"Silence! How can you speak such nonsense!" Wang Renjie was startled. "Do not mention these things to outsiders again. As for the matter of Zhang He, I will find a suitable opportunity to tell your uncle. In this house, the matter of your aunt is a taboo topic. Do not speak of it casually, lest you provoke your uncle's displeasure!"

Wang Fengjie nodded, looking dejected.

He truly didn't understand why his uncle disliked the kind and generous aunt, yet favored that sinister and cunning woman!

At this moment, Zhang He was unaware of these matters, as he was busy with his own affairs.

In a vacant courtyard that no one lived in, the space was large enough to serve as a training ground.

"Here are two training lists. From now on, you will strictly follow the steps written here!"

Zhang He took out two training lists, his expression serious.

Fatty Tang and Wang Dachui exchanged glances, took their respective lists, and opened them. Their expressions changed drastically.

"Such a light training load? And only training for half a day?"

"The rest periods are so long? How can this be effective?"

Zhang He had anticipated this reaction and couldn't help but sneer: "You dare to look down on it? If you think the rest periods are too long, you can cut them in half yourselves and try doing one set first!"

Fatty Tang and Wang Dachui were unconvinced and immediately began following the steps. They had barely completed one-third of the training list when both of them were as exhausted as dead dogs.

"How can this be? The volume of this training is clearly less than what we do at the Martial Child Academy. Why is it so tiring!"

"I see. The order of these training items is different from what we do at the Martial Child Academy, and the quantities are different too. My specialty, the squat, has been reduced in this list, but my weakness, the weighted jump, has been increased."

"What? My squats have been increased! Damn it, our training lists are different!" Fatty Tang stared wide-eyed as he looked over.

Zhang He looked at the two of them sprawled on the ground like dead dogs and smiled slightly: "Your training lists are indeed different. Each item is targeted at your specific weaknesses. Well, do you know now that this training list isn't as easy as it looks?"

"But training like this doesn't seem much different from the Martial Child Academy..." Wang Dachui looked at Zhang He hesitantly. If they kept training like this, Wang Dachui believed he wouldn't make much progress before the Martial Child Academy test!

"Of course it won't be that simple!" Zhang He smiled faintly. "These exercises are just the warm-up. The most important part is the medicinal bath I've specially prepared for you!"

Zhang He led the two of them into the main hall, where two large bathing barrels stood. They were already filled with hot water, which was currently steaming, and the water was a murky green. A pungent, stinging odor wafted from them.

"A medicinal bath?" Fatty Tang and Wang Dachui looked at each other, both feeling astonished.

"Once you finish the items on your training list, come over and soak in the medicinal bath! These medicinal liquids will help you temper your bodies. You must be exhausted right now, so you can go ahead and give it a try," Zhang He said.

"The water isn't even hot!" Fatty Tang dipped his hand in to test it and, finding the temperature acceptable, immediately stripped off his clothes with glee, revealing a mass of pale, flabby fat. "I'm covered in sweat right now, so a hot bath sounds perfect!"

Fatty Tang jumped in, but a moment later, he let out a strange shriek that made Wang Dachui, standing nearby, jump in fright.

"Damn, this is intense! It feels amazing!" Fatty Tang's expression shifted from shock to wild ecstasy. "I can actually feel a powerful sense of Qi emerging within my body. This is even more effective than the Body Tempering Liquid!"

Wang Dachui had been a bit nervous, fearing the medicinal bath might be harmful to his body, but hearing the fatty say this, a look of eagerness appeared on his face. He immediately stripped off his clothes and cautiously stepped into the wooden tub.

He felt the intense sensation of Qi emerging.

Wang Dachui's eyes went wide, and his dark face turned a deep reddish-black. His eyes were filled with excitement. "What a powerful effect! The efficacy of this body tempering and Qi generation is dozens of times greater than the Body Tempering Liquid!"

The two of them immediately seized the opportunity, savoring the feeling of that Qi surging within their bodies and tempering their flesh.

Zhang He watched with a silent smile. The medicinal liquid in these two tubs was actually a weakened version of Ten-Perfect Dominant Qi. He didn't dare let them use the full Ten-Perfect Dominant Qi directly, as they didn't know how to control the Qi within them. Without a strong will, taking it directly would cause the Ten-Perfect Dominant Qi liquid to stimulate them to the point of mental collapse; in severe cases, they might even go insane on the spot!

"As long as they persist in using the medicinal bath to temper their bodies, their physical fitness will see a massive improvement in just ten days. They should reach the Marrow Refining Realm very soon, and at that point, I can use the True Qi Condensing Liquid to help them successfully cultivate their True Qi seeds."

A look of confidence flashed in Zhang He's eyes.

Fatty Tang suddenly remembered something and asked with a frown, "Zhang He, do you know that it's rumored this year's Martial Pupil test will be different from previous years? It won't just be a simple test of strength, speed, and reaction time anymore, but a comprehensive assessment of the Martial Pupils through a series of trials."