The Disciples Must Cultivate Diligently

A quarter of an hour later, Zhang Yu climbed out of the courtyard carrying a small bundle.

"Let's go!" He glanced at Wen Hua, who was keeping watch in the alley.

"Yes, Master." Wen Hua did not ask any questions and hurriedly followed Zhang Yu into the night.

The next day, news of Li Xiong and his mistress being murdered spread throughout Boundless City.

"Have you heard? Li Xiong of the Black Tiger Gang was killed in Widow Zhou's bed."

"Half of Li Xiong's body was smashed to pieces. What a miserable sight."

"Who do you think killed Li Xiong?"

"Who knows? Probably an expert of the Transforming Force Realm. After all, Li Xiong was a martial artist at the peak of Dark Force."

Zhang Yu paid no attention to the discussions outside. He began earnestly teaching Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun to practice Iron Shirt.

After examining Wen Hua and the others' bones, Zhang Yu ultimately decided that Zhao Dun and Niu Mancang would cultivate Iron Shirt, while Li Yue, Wen Hua, Xia Shuang, and the thirteen children would all cultivate the second-rate martial art, Clearwind Stance Art.

Wen Hua truly lived up to his dual exceptional cultivation talents. In just one day, he had mastered the basics of Clearwind Stance Art. Zhang Yu therefore had him teach Li Yue and the others to practice Clearwind Stance Art, while he personally instructed Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun in Iron Shirt.

"Hit harder! Hold steady!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun wielded short sticks, striking each other's bodies.

"Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others."

"If you want to become a martial artist, you have to risk your life."

Watching Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun's bodies swell red from the blows, Zhang Yu loudly dispensed this chicken soup for the soul.

As for himself? His disciples' cultivation was his cultivation. Sitting beneath the shade of a tree was far more pleasant.

Niu Mancang clenched his teeth. His entire body trembled uncontrollably from the pain, yet he did not make a sound.

I want to become a martial artist. I want revenge. For that, I'm not even afraid of death, he shouted inwardly.

As for Zhao Dun? He had been screaming nonstop from the very first strike.

"Ah... Ah..."

"Senior Brother Niu, go easier."

"Senior Brother Niu, I can't hold on much longer. Let's both go a little easier on each other," Zhao Dun said softly to Niu Mancang when he saw blood seeping from all over his body.

"Junior Brother Zhao, being able to practice martial arts is a heaven-sent opportunity. How can we fail to cherish it? Master said it himself: only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others." Not only did Niu Mancang not ease up, he struck even harder.

"Ah..."

Zhao Dun's scream abruptly soared.

The next moment, he put more strength into his own strikes against Niu Mancang.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A dense, muffled rhythm of blows echoed through the courtyard. Li Yue, Wen Hua, and the others, who were practicing Clearwind Stance Art nearby, could not help shrinking their necks as they watched Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun, covered in blood.

"Good thing we're practicing Clearwind Stance Art."

They had nearly been unable to stand any longer, their legs trembling, but after seeing Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun's miserable state, they found renewed strength.

Zhang Yu had said that anyone who failed to cultivate Clearwind Stance Art properly would be sent to practice Iron Shirt instead.

Clearwind Stance Art required breathing techniques and was quite complicated to practice; it took brains. Iron Shirt, on the other hand, was a clumsy, straightforward art.

Half an hour later, every inch of Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun's skin had been repeatedly hammered. Blood continuously seeped from their pores, making them look like bloody men.

"Into the sand pits!" Zhang Yu said.

Two sand pits had been dug in the courtyard. Early that morning, Zhang Yu had instructed the mothers of Wen Hua and the other two to begin brewing the body-nourishing medicine for Iron Shirt.

Two large buckets were filled to the brim, then poured separately into the two sand pits.

Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun jumped into the pits. Zhang Yu buried them both, leaving only their heads exposed.

The medicinal power mixed with the sand, nourishing and repairing their bodies on one hand while tempering their skin on the other.

Zhang Yu sat beneath the shade of the tree, took a sip of tea, and looked at his system panel.

[Iron Shirt, Minor Mastery (5/500)]

[Iron Shirt, Minor Mastery (6/500)]

In just that brief moment, Iron Shirt's proficiency had increased by two points.

Sure enough, with medicinal assistance, Iron Shirt cultivation progresses much faster.

After reaching Minor Mastery in Iron Shirt, Zhang Yu not only felt his skin becoming firmer and thicker, but his strength had also increased slightly.

After being buried in the medicinal pits for an hour, Niu Mancang and Zhao Dun crawled out and began using their short sticks to strike each other's bodies again.

They repeated this over and over until night fell.

That evening, the three women brought out the cooked second-tier demonic beast meat and Blood-Nourishing Soup early, along with a whole basket of steamed buns.

At the sight of the demonic beast meat and steamed buns, Niu Mancang and the others, who had trained all day, all revealed the hungry gazes of wolves.

With nearly twenty mouths to feed, every stomach seemed like a bottomless pit. Zhang Yu felt a faint trace of pressure.

Good thing I found quite a bit of gold, silver, and valuables at Li Xiong's lover's place last night, he thought to himself.

"Stop. That's enough training for today. Time to eat."

"Awooo..."

At the mention of food, the disciples immediately howled and pounced toward the dining table.

"Everyone drinks a bowl of Blood-Nourishing Soup first, then you can eat." Zhang Yu shouted coldly, "Wen Hua, maintain order."

"Yes, Master!"

Zhang Yu had obtained the recipe for Blood-Nourishing Soup from the Chu Family. He had personally drunk it before, and its effects were excellent. It could strengthen one's foundation, restore one's vitality, and repair hidden bodily injuries. It was an indispensable medicinal supplement for laying a foundation.

"Second-tier demonic beast meat contains too much energy. Each person gets two taels, no more. There are plenty of steamed buns, so eat as many as you like." After giving this reminder, Zhang Yu turned and returned to the rear courtyard.

The rules had been established today. From now on, Wen Hua would supervise their cultivation.

Over the past few days of observation, Zhang Yu had found that although Niu Mancang was the oldest, his temperament was overly honest and simple. Like an old yellow ox, he only knew how to cultivate silently by himself.

Wen Hua was better suited to the duties of eldest senior brother.

However, Zhang Yu did not switch their positions. He merely handed matters such as leading the disciples' cultivation in the outer courtyard over to Wen Hua.

"Delicious, so delicious! I never thought I'd get to eat demonic beast meat in this life, and second-tier demonic beast meat at that." Zhao Dun swallowed a mouthful of meat, a satisfied expression appearing on his face.

"Master not only teaches us martial arts, he also gives us meat and all kinds of medicinal supplements. Everyone must cultivate properly and live up to Master's nurturing. Zhao Dun, especially you." Wen Hua glared at Zhao Dun.

Zhao Dun shrank his neck. "I'll definitely work desperately hard from now on."

"We were originally lowly people from the slums. We never could have practiced martial arts in this life, and we might have died without knowing which day would be our last. Master rescued us from the slums. Even our mothers can live in South City and eat their fill. Zhao Dun, I saw you slacking off during cultivation today. If there's a next time, I'll beat you." Wen Hua stared at Zhao Dun.

"Brother Wen, practicing Iron Shirt hurts too much. I can't really take it."

"You're not even afraid of death, yet you're afraid of pain? Do you still want to return to the slums and be a lowly person with no hope for the rest of your life?"

"Brother Wen, I was wrong."

"Call me Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother, I was wrong."

After dinner, Wen Hua had everyone cultivate on their own. He then went alone to the rear courtyard and knocked on Zhang Yu's door.

"Who is it?"

"Master, it's me!"

"Come in."

Creak!

Wen Hua pushed the door open and entered.

Zhang Yu glanced at him. "What is it?"

"Master, I also want to cultivate Iron Shirt," Wen Hua said.

"Hm?"

"Master, I've already mastered the basics of Clearwind Stance Art. I'm confident that within half a year, I can cultivate Bright Force and become a martial artist. Tonight, after eating demonic beast meat and drinking Blood-Nourishing Soup, I feel that I still have the energy to cultivate another martial art." Wen Hua spoke with great respect.

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment, then taught him the method for circulating qi and blood in Iron Shirt. "Don't train too fiercely."

"Yes, Master!" Wen Hua left happily.