Stopping at the Right Point

Yang Wu spoke while staring unblinkingly at Zou Feng.

Thus, when he emphasized the words "low-grade entry," he could clearly see that Zou Feng's expression did not change in the slightest.

There was neither the indignation a hotheaded youngster ought to display nor any dejection.

This immediately made Yang Wu regard Zou Feng more highly.

After a light cough, Yang Wu changed tack. "Since you've entered the ranks, you are no longer a household servant of my estate. Zou Feng, what plans do you have for the future?"

Without waiting for Zou Feng's answer, he promptly continued, "If you are willing, this old man can hire you as the head instructor of the estate guards, with a monthly salary of ten taels of patterned silver. What do you think?"

Ten taels!?

Outside the hall, those who had flocked here alongside Zou Feng naturally had not followed him inside, but most were craning their necks outside to watch the excitement.

When they heard the family head offer Zou Feng a monthly salary of ten taels just to keep him on as the estate guards' instructor, the crowd instantly erupted.

Ten taels a month—so long as one was not too picky, one could live at Jade-Cross Tower every day.

With such terms, most of those present began to think that Zou Feng would most likely agree.

Unfortunately, to Zou Feng, the terms Yang Wu offered were hardly any different from tossing scraps to a beggar.

Especially when he thought of how Yang Qianqian ate a Blood Qi Pill worth ten taels every single day...

"Thank you, Senior Yang, for thinking highly of me, and thank you to the Yang Estate for looking after me during this time."

"But please forgive this junior. I still wish to go out and make my way in the world," Zou Feng declared in a neither servile nor overbearing voice.

The moment those words came out, Yang Wu had not yet had time to say anything when Yang Qianqian snorted with laughter.

"Make your way in the world?"

"You really think too much of achieving low-grade entry through a basic stance exercise..."

Yang Qianqian looked at Zou Feng as though he were a frog at the bottom of a well.

She could now practically conclude that once a rootless, drifting frog at the bottom of a well like Zou Feng entered the martial world, his best possible ending would be to gradually fade into the crowd.

Zou Feng could not be bothered to deal with the woman.

If he retorted now, she would surely flare up at once, become even more overbearing, and create needless complications.

There were a hundred harms and not a single benefit in winning a momentary war of words.

The true path was to gain a firm foothold outside as soon as possible, then slap her hard across the face with concrete actions.

Zou Feng did intend to sever ties with the Yang Estate, but there was truly no need to make matters too hostile.

Of course, that was provided the Yang Estate did not go too far either...

Otherwise, he would no longer be the "hotheaded youngster" who had merely achieved entry through a stance exercise. He would be a sinister cultivator of the poison path, taking out his little notebook to cross off names.

After pondering for a moment, Yang Wu still decided to swallow his pride and persuade him once more.

"Zou Feng, you must think this through. The waters outside are far deeper than you imagine."

"To say something you may not like hearing, attaining entry through stance exercise truly cannot give you sufficient security to live and stand on your own..."

Zou Feng cupped his fists again. "Thank you, Senior Yang, for your guidance. This junior will certainly keep it in mind, but if I do not go out and make my way in the world, I fear I will regret it for the rest of my life."

With matters having reached this point, Yang Wu knew that saying more would be useless, so he did not intend to waste his breath.

On second thought, this choice of the boy's was not entirely unreasonable.

He was simply too young and full of vigor. Before he had smashed his head bloody against reality, there were many things he would not be able to see clearly.

"Since that is the case, then so be it. You may go!"

Zou Feng was about to offer another salute before turning to leave.

Unexpectedly, a somewhat unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait!"

As that shout sounded, a middle-aged man seated to Yang Wu's lower left rose to his feet.

Zou Feng naturally recognized this man. He was Yang Wu's cousin, Yang Chen.

There were four people in the Yang Estate who had entered the ranks. Among the younger generation were Yang Zhengfei and Yang Qianqian, while among the older generation were Yang Wu and Yang Chen.

However, Yang Chen and Yang Wu were both advanced in years and had never managed to advance to the eighth rank. Their Blood Qi had long since declined, greatly reducing their actual combat strength.

After standing, Yang Chen slowly walked toward Zou Feng. "Zou Feng, though I did not achieve entry through stance exercise back then, I have practiced the Five-Beasts Stance Exercise as well..."

"Before you leave, how about we exchange a few moves?"

"Do not overthink it. I merely heard that before you entered the ranks, not even the estate guards dared exchange moves with you, and that piqued my interest."

Though that was what he said, one look at Yang Chen's expression told Zou Feng that the man intended to "teach him a lesson."

After all, in the eyes of the Yang Family, he was the typical sort who did not understand that good advice grated on the ear and did not know how to appreciate a favor.

As a prominent, respectable household in Yuan Guang County, having lost face, their instinctive response was to recover their standing.

And Yang Wu was the family head, so he certainly could not personally step in.

Yang Qianqian, meanwhile, was a renowned genius. If she stepped in, it would plainly be bullying.

Thus, Yang Chen, an elder who had also practiced the Five-Beasts Stance Exercise, was naturally the most suitable person to step in under the pretext of sparring and offering guidance.

Zou Feng, however, could not have wished for more.

After leaving the Yang Estate, if he wanted to establish himself more securely, he would inevitably need to reveal a little more of his extraordinary qualities.

Naturally, he would not truly reveal his strength and insist on beating Yang Chen until he was battered and scattered like fallen flowers.

That would be far too high-profile and might even arouse suspicion. Anyone might begin wondering: Isn't there something off about your Five-Beasts Stance Exercise?

What Zou Feng sought was to reveal a little more "talent" while keeping a firm grasp on the proper measure.

This would help determine whether his next steps after leaving the Yang Estate would go more smoothly.

"Please instruct me!"

Seeing that Zou Feng actually did not refuse, Yang Chen could not help but snort coldly inwardly. He immediately took up his stance. "Be careful!"

The next moment, Yang Chen used the Tiger Stance Derivative Technique and struck first.

Zou Feng responded with the Bear Stance Technique.

Though he intended to "teach Zou Feng a lesson," Yang Chen still possessed a fair degree of martial virtue and did not immediately attack with his full strength.

Thus, on the surface, although Zou Feng dealt with the attacks with great difficulty and considerable panic, he could barely hold on for the time being.

Yet this situation of barely holding on could end in defeat at any moment.

Even Yang Chen thought so.

Feeling that it should be about enough, he quietly increased the force of his attacks.

Yet although Zou Feng grew increasingly strained, he still was not truly struck.

Oh? The kid had some skill.

Then how about trying this move!

Yang Chen gradually became more invested. While increasing his force, he also sped up the transitions between his techniques.

There's no way you can still block this little string of moves...

Tch, you can still block it?

Hmph, I refuse to believe it. Again!

Huh!?

Whew, forgive me, but I'm getting serious now!

Strange. Truly strange!

I'm exhausted...

Throughout the entire spar, Yang Chen's inner monologue never stopped.

But in the end, it all turned into surprise and exhaustion.

A martial artist whose Blood Qi had declined was already incapable of fighting a prolonged battle.

So the question was, why had he entered the prolonged-battle stage with a hotheaded youngster who had only just entered the ranks?

From the beginning, this boy had looked extremely strained, barely holding on with bitter effort.

Yet he always managed to hold on by a hair's breadth, and he adapted more and more to the rhythm of Yang Chen's attacks.

By this point, Yang Chen could no longer tell whether Zou Feng was the one struggling to hold on, or whether he himself was...

Could this boy truly be a genius beyond all of their expectations?

Smack!

They exchanged another palm strike, and both staggered back several steps at once.

After catching his breath slightly, Zou Feng cupped his fists and said between gasps, "You let me win!"

He said this because Yang Chen had retreated half a step farther.

At that moment, Yang Chen's breathing was also heaving like a bellows. If they continued, he would likely make a fool of himself.

So he could only cup his fists as well. "The younger generation is to be feared. Not bad, not bad!"

Those were his sincere words.

On the surface, the two had stopped at the right point and ended in a draw.

But if they continued, Zou Feng, who had appeared to be struggling all along, instead seemed more likely to win?

Sure enough, fists feared the young and strong.

Yang Chen had not gone all out at the start, allowing Zou Feng to gradually adapt and dragging the fight into a battle of endurance. That was what forced the outcome into a draw.

Thus, what had originally been a somewhat unfriendly spar ended harmoniously with a result both sides could accept.

At that moment, Yang Wu could no longer suppress the regret rising in his heart.

When he had tried to retain Zou Feng earlier, it had merely been for the Yang Estate's dignity. It was not that he truly could not bear to lose Zou Feng.

Otherwise, he would not have offered only ten taels of silver a month.

But now, it seemed that he truly should have offered twenty taels, or even more...

Yang Qianqian remained disdainful.

After all, in her eyes, the martial skill of this Uncle Yang Chen had always been a huge pile of crap.

On the other side, Zou Feng wiped the sweat from his brow.

He truly was tired as well.

Tired from acting.

After taking up martial arts, once he came under attack, many response movements had nearly been carved into his instinctive reactions.

So no one knew just how difficult it had been for him to restrain himself, how cautious he had needed to be.

Otherwise, Yang Chen would have died at least thirteen times already...

Yet precisely because he had acted so strenuously, his exhausted appearance was genuine rather than feigned, making the whole performance even more convincing.

Looking at everyone's reactions, Zou Feng knew that he had achieved his goal.

Though it had only been a draw, his opponent was, after all, an old senior who had entered the ranks many years ago.

Once word of this spread, the powers that intended to recruit him would surely show even greater sincerity...