Thunder Boy (Please Keep Reading)

Huang Sihai gave a slight nod, seemingly fairly satisfied with Li Xiuwen's performance.

After just one day of training, Li Xiuwen could already feel the stabbing pain in his acupoints as his circulation completed a cycle. He had hope of getting started within half a month.

He could not compare to A Chun, who had gotten started in three days, but he was far better than Liu Daqiang, who had become a disciple a month ago.

One had to know that, judging from the bone reading, Li Xiuwen's natural physique was not much better than Liu Da's.

A Chun, on the other hand, possessed bones with the makings of a superior.

All that could be said was that the kid's inner bone structure might be decent.

What a pity. He started learning boxing too late. If he had come earlier, he might have been able to defy fate and change his destiny, Old Huang thought.

After training for a day, Li Xiuwen had reached his limit. He was somewhat drained, his legs weak and limp.

"That's enough. Today's training ends here," Huang Sihai said.

"Whew..." Li Xiuwen collapsed to the floor with a thud.

No wonder so many people would not come learn boxing even if they had money.

It was pure suffering!

If one had money, finding a way to get a handgun or hiring a martial artist as a bodyguard would be hundreds or thousands of times more cost-effective than training oneself!

Huang Sihai said, "When your arms faintly gleam blue, your tendons are like great pythons, and your skin is as tough as cowhide—when ordinary people cannot hurt you with a blow—you'll count as having gotten started.

"After that, I won't personally guide you anymore. Train with everyone else, exchange your insights and realizations. A master leads you through the door; cultivation depends on the individual."

With that, Huang Sihai dismissed the class.

Lying on the floor, Li Xiuwen recalled that Brother Ji was exactly as Master Huang had described—his "arms faintly gleaming blue."

Looking at it now, that was not particularly strong either. It was merely the level of getting started.

Night was as black as ink.

As a myriad lights came on throughout the walled city,

"Master Huang." A short-haired youth about 1.8 meters tall, dressed in a black traditional jacket, strode through the martial arts hall's gates with the gait of a dragon and tiger, his eyes bright.

"Hahaha, Thunder Boy!" Huang Sihai beamed with heartfelt delight and went out to greet him.

The students also looked surprised and admiring, offering greetings one after another.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao!"

Li Xiuwen, who had only just recovered some strength, also braced himself to his feet to greet him. He asked quietly, "Brother Chen, which big shot is this?"

Old Chen replied in a low voice, "This is Xiao Tianhong, one of the Four Seas Three Heroes. He used to be a second-floor disciple."

"Second floor?"

"You've just arrived, so you don't know..."

Only after Old Chen explained did Li Xiuwen understand what the "second floor" meant.

The Four Seas Martial Arts Hall occupied both the first and second floors of this building.

Newcomers all trained on the first floor.

Those who earned Huang Sihai's favor could train on the second floor.

Privately, the students called the first floor the "Lower Hall" and the second floor the "Upper Hall."

Everyone who trained on the second floor was one of the elite of Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, each of them arrogant and proud.

"What benefit is there to training on the second floor?" Li Xiuwen asked.

"Training on the second floor gets you more guidance from Huang Sihai, and the monthly fee is waived. As for the other hidden benefits, I don't know. Those second-floor disciples keep their mouths tightly shut."

Xiao Tianhong seemed like a forthright, cheerful man with no airs about him. He greeted everyone one by one, and when he saw Li Xiuwen, he smiled. "New here?"

Li Xiuwen nodded. "Li Xiuwen. I joined two days ago. Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao."

Huang Sihai smiled. "Awen, your Senior Brother Xiao joined my school three years ago and graduated long ago. He now trains at the Learning Society.

"Don't even think about people like Mr. Ming and Inspector Lei. If you can achieve even half of what your Senior Brother Xiao has in this lifetime, it will be enough to bring glory to your ancestors."

Li Xiuwen cupped his fists in salute. "I have long heard of Senior Brother's exploits. My admiration for you is truly like the surging river, rolling on without end!"

Graduating meant that a disciple's strength was roughly equal to the master's, that the master had little left to teach.

That meant Xiao Tianhong had walked the path Huang Sihai had taken over so many years in less than three. He was seriously formidable!

Xiao Tianhong laughed heartily and patted Li Xiuwen on the shoulder. "Though we've only met today, that bit of flattery means this senior brother will have to look after you from now on!"

"Senior Brother, you're straightforward!"

Xiao Tianhong announced loudly, "Tonight, everyone eats at the teahouse. My treat—eat as much as you want! Master Huang, what do you say?"

Huang Sihai paused, then smiled. "Sure. You're paying, anyway."

"Hahaha, Master Huang, you're still the same."

At dinner,

Li Xiuwen wolfed down five bowls of rice, burying his head in vegetables and meat. Food that cost him nothing was especially delicious.

The students lavishly flattered Xiao Tianhong throughout the meal.

"Senior Brother Xiao is so generous!"

Huang Sihai asked, "Tianhong, how have things been at the Learning Society?"

Xiao Tianhong said, "Very good. Brother Bei Wang and Sister Qiu Xiang take great care of me."

"Everyone who enters the Learning Society is a favored child of heaven. Over all these years, only your Three Heroes from our martial arts hall have gotten in. The competition there is fierce, so you must support one another."

Li Xiuwen looked at Huang Sihai, who wore the kindly expression of an old father, utterly unlike the face he showed disciples from the first floor.

I need to find a way onto the second floor, Li Xiuwen resolved. Only with resources tilted in my favor will I have a chance of entering the Learning Society.

As they ate, Xiao Tianhong pulled Huang Sihai aside for a private conversation.

Once the other students had finished eating, they said their goodbyes and left.

Only master and disciple, Xiao Tianhong and Huang Sihai, remained in the old building.

"Thunder Boy, did you come this time because you passed the Three Barriers?"

"I did."

"You passed the Three Barriers at sixteen. You're far stronger than these old bones of mine! You have hope of permanently securing your peak before your vitality declines!"

Huang Sihai sighed with emotion, unable to hide the gratification and pride in his eyes.

"Master Huang, how have you been lately? After passing the Three Barriers, cultivation truly becomes difficult." Xiao Tianhong sighed.

Huang Sihai said, "I'm about to enter my decline. Right now, with diligent training and medicinal supplements, I can barely continue making a little progress.

"But if I still cannot permanently secure my peak by around forty, then once I grow old, even maintaining my realm will be difficult."

Xiao Tianhong took Huang Sihai's hand. "Master Huang, don't give up. Once I make a name for myself, I'll find you the finest medicinal supplements!"

Huang Sihai laughed heartily. "Having that sentiment is enough. If there are such good medicines, it would be better for you to take them yourself."

"By the way, Master Huang, how is Awen, who joined this month? Is he talented?"

"He's very diligent. His outer bone structure is ordinary, but his inner bone structure may be good... Unfortunately, he's also too old. It'll be difficult."

"Then it seems A Chun is the one with hope of joining our circle and becoming the Fourth Hero."

"A Chun has good natural bones. Getting onto the second floor should be set in stone... But whether he can enter the Learning Society and become the Fourth Hero depends on fate."

Longjin Road, Chen's Rice Noodle Factory.

Li Xiuwen returned home and collapsed onto his bed to rest.

"Why are you limping?" Auntie looked at Li Xiuwen, worry written across her face. "Did you get into a fight?"

"No. I formally began boxing training today, and my body hasn't adjusted yet," Li Xiuwen said.

"It was hard, wasn't it?"

"Much harder than I imagined."

"Awen, if you can't take it, say so. There's no need for us to force ourselves."

"Don't underestimate my martial will!"

"You brat... This has only been one day. In the future, it'll be day after day, year after year. Even Superman couldn't endure it."

"My performance at the martial arts hall is still pretty good. Auntie, you should have faith in me."

"I knew it. No one from our old Li family is lacking."