Tendon Transformation Complete, Second-Realm Martial Artist

"Second, because you yourself are worth investing in. As long as you can complete Tendon Transformation before turning twenty, your future will be limitless. So it is only natural for me to pave the way in advance."

Zhao Ya shook his head. "But this favor is simply too great. I don't feel at ease accepting it."

In this world, one or two taels of silver could sometimes buy a human life, let alone a difference of more than twenty taels of silver every month.

Zhao Ya did not think he had reached the point where someone would go to such lengths to win him over.

Tan Ziwang chuckled. "It seems you still do not quite understand what this old man does. Still, being able to remain so calm in the face of profit is a rare quality indeed."

"In truth, this price has greatly surprised you, but I am not losing money either. I am merely earning a little less, because... this old man works for the Song Family in the inner city."

The Song Family!

Zhao Ya was startled, then immediately understood.

All the dried earthworm meat on the market came from the Song Family.

And it was not limited to this one kind of dried meat. He had heard that even the higher-grade flesh and blood of exotic beasts was best when produced by the Song Family.

The reason the Song Family of the inner city had stood firm for so many years was precisely because of their unique expertise in raising exotic beasts.

No wonder Tan Ziwang could provide dried meat at such a low price. He worked for the Song Family.

Zhao Ya fell silent for a moment, then rose to his feet and gave a deeply respectful bow.

"In that case, I thank you, Uncle Tan!"

"Hahaha, Little Ya, you are too polite. Come, drink, drink!" Tan Ziwang was delighted, and the atmosphere at the table grew even livelier.

Both host and guests enjoyed the drinking feast to the fullest, and it did not end until the afternoon.

Zhao Ya left with Tang Zuier, while Tan Dong, having drunk too much, went back to his room to sleep.

Only then did the usually taciturn Tan Bin speak. "Father, is it really worth paying such a great price to win over Zhao Ya?"

"What do you mean, worth it?" Tan Ziwang countered.

Tan Bin hesitated before saying, "But we only have room to move around twenty or thirty taels' worth of dried meat each month at most. Now we have given it all to Zhao Ya. The cost truly is rather high."

Tan Ziwang sighed. "You, you... you have trained so much that your brain no longer works. All you can see is the little bit of profit right in front of you."

"I grow older by the day. I do not know how many people are secretly eyeing my position. Your mind is too simple, while your second brother is clever but indolent by nature. He would rather serve as a menial at some small escort agency than enter the inner city. He is not the sort who can stand on his own either."

"Do you think that once I die, you will still be able to leisurely work as a guard for the Song Family?"

Tan Bin was silent for a moment, then could not help saying, "But you followed the old family head through life and death..."

"Shut up!" Tan Ziwang barked. "I told you never to mention the old family head again. Why can you never remember?"

Tan Bin was left speechless by the reprimand and could only lower his head and admit his mistake.

Only then did Tan Ziwang ease up somewhat. He sighed and said, "That is right, I went through life and death alongside the old family head. But the old family head is dead now. The one in power is the new family head. If he thinks highly of me, then I am an old retainer."

"If he does not care about such things, then I am just an old fool relying on seniority. That is why I warned you never to mention the past again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, your son understands!"

Tan Ziwang continued, "While I am still alive, all sides will show our Tan Family some respect. During the New Year, even the various gangs of the outer city will send people to pay their respects. But once I die, you two brothers definitely will not be able to hold things together."

"So I must find a way to leave you a path of retreat, and Zhao Ya is the path of retreat I found for you."

Although Tan Bin said nothing, a trace of defiance showed in his expression.

Tan Ziwang naturally saw it, but he did not explain further. He merely sighed to himself.

After returning home, Zhao Ya took out all his savings and counted them.

Including the year-end dividend, he had a total of nine taels and three mace of silver.

To an ordinary person, this was already a huge sum.

But for Zhao Ya, it was far from enough.

Because even at the rock-bottom price of one tael of silver, Zhao Ya would still need to spend more than twenty taels every month.

This gave Zhao Ya a headache.

Where could he get some silver?

Should I target another gang?

Hmm, that seems to be the only option for now.

Deep in a financial crisis, Zhao Ya began considering suitable targets.

First, the gang could not be too large, because once it reached a certain scale, it would certainly have skilled fighters stationed there.

Targeting such an opponent could easily put him in danger, which went against Zhao Ya's principle of keeping a low profile while steadily building his strength.

At the same time, it had to be notorious, preferably one that had drawn immense public anger. That way, he could acquire funds while ridding the people of evil—a win-win situation.

After thinking it over, an idea gradually formed in Zhao Ya's mind.

That one!

But now was not the best time to act. He still needed to plan carefully.

The next day.

Tan Dong arrived early, delivering a box filled to the brim with dried earthworm meat.

Zhao Ya was rather surprised by this.

But Tan Dong said that the old man had already given instructions: if Zhao Ya did not have the money for the first month's dried meat, he could owe it for now.

What else could Zhao Ya say? He could only express his deep gratitude.

After Tan Dong left, Zhao Ya could not resist taking out a strip of dried meat and putting it into his mouth.

The long-missed taste gave Zhao Ya a profound sense of reassurance.

At the same time, Zhao Ya was surprised to discover that this dried meat was plumper than what he had bought at the ghost market.

That meant the blood essence contained within was richer.

The difference was not obvious with one or two strips, but once there was more of it, the gap would become apparent.

With the help of this dried meat, Zhao Ya's cultivation, which had stagnated for some time, finally boarded the express train once more.

Especially since Zhao Ya did not need to go to the escort agency these past few days, he simply shut himself away at home and cultivated like mad.

Four or five days passed in a flash. On this day, Zhao Ya felt the vibrations of the tendons throughout his body growing increasingly distinct.

Zhao Ya knew this was a sign that he was about to break through.

He felt neither joy nor sorrow. Instead, he calmly began practicing his fist technique.

The Five Tigers Fist had already undergone a complete transformation in Zhao Ya's hands. Though it was only a very basic fist art, he performed it with the force of a tiger, perfectly embodying both form and spirit.

After finishing a set, Zhao Ya suddenly heard a sharp snap from the tendons within his body.

In an instant, the blood and qi throughout Zhao Ya's body roared, and his tendons were completely renewed.

Tendon Transformation was complete!

At this point, Zhao Ya had finally broken through and become a second-realm martial artist.

Zhao Ya let out a long breath and opened his status panel.

Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 17. Remaining Lifespan: 40 years

Skills: Eight-Part Vajra Art (Mastery 576/2000) Five Tigers Fist (Mastery 1436/2000) Gale Saber Technique (Minor Accomplishment 964/1000) Lightness Skill Grass-Treading Flight (Entering the Hall 490/500)

At the same time, the heart unlock progress had finally changed.

[Heart Unlock Progress: 3%]

Sorry, I was organizing the plot today, so the update came a little late!

(End of Chapter)