Breaking in

At the Wei Family Residence in the Inner City, Wei Yuan hummed a little tune as he walked into a side room in the rear courtyard.

Wei Ping, who had been engrossed in the account books, raised her head and looked at her younger brother with displeasure.

"You certainly seem carefree. Hmph!" Wei Ping snorted. The businesses their branch managed were all shops in poor locations with little fat to skim, and this month's income and expenditure looked bleak.

She had no idea whether they could satisfy the lineage elders at this year's assessment before the New Year.

If they failed the assessment, they would have to hand over another portion of the businesses they managed next year.

"By the way, I told you last time to reduce Zhao Feng's compensation. Have you actually spoken to him?" Wei Ping asked.

Wei Yuan walked over to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and leisurely took a sip. His eyes narrowed in contentment.

Watching him, Wei Ping seethed with anger and waited coldly for him to speak.

Looking at his sister, who was a volcano on the verge of erupting, Wei Yuan suppressed a laugh. "I did. Only, I increased Junior Brother Zhao's monthly stipend to thirty taels, plus two Treasure Fish and fifteen catties of ferocious beast meat."

Wei Ping froze, then slammed her palm hard on the table. "Wei Yuan, have you lost your mind? Or are you simply trying to anger me to death?" Bitterness filled her heart. Their father had passed away, and although her younger brother was a legitimate son, he devoted himself entirely to martial training and washed his hands of the business. Keeping their branch's businesses afloat had already left her exhausted in body and spirit, yet he was still acting so recklessly, without any sense of what mattered.

Seeing his sister's reaction, Wei Yuan no longer dared tease her. "Just a little while ago, Junior Brother Zhao succeeded in his gate breakthrough and became a hidden force martial master. Sister, surely there's nothing wrong with paying a hidden force martial master this much?" he said with a smile.

"What?" Wei Ping was stunned.

Although she did not practice martial arts, she knew root bone mattered most. Didn't Zhao Feng have fifth-grade root bone? It was practically certain that bright strength would be his limit for the rest of his life, yet he had actually succeeded in his gate breakthrough?

"You haven't made a mistake, have you?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. My master has already accepted him as an inner disciple. How could it be false?" Wei Yuan said with a smile.

"You should understand-he's reached hidden force at eighteen."

Wei Ping's expression gradually softened. That compensation really was not excessive for a hidden force expert.

"I truly never expected it..."

"Wait, you said Zhao Feng is very close to you. Doesn't that mean our branch effectively has two hidden force experts now? You and Zhao Feng," Wei Ping said.

"You could put it that way," Wei Yuan replied.

"Now that's more like it." Wei Ping knew the worth of a hidden force expert. Two of them were enough to make the lineage elders take their branch seriously.

Though he had still offered a little too much.

"Even so, you still need to dismiss those retainers who are merely filling out the numbers like men pretending to play in an orchestra. Cut our expenses," Wei Ping said.

"All right." Wei Yuan nodded.

"By the way, Sister, do you think Cousin Xiangling will regret turning down that matchmaking meeting if she hears Junior Brother Zhao has advanced to hidden force?" He chuckled.

Wei Ping frowned without answering. As far as she knew, this distant cousin of hers looked gentle, but was strong-willed and stubborn at heart, with rather high standards. After all, she often visited the Provincial Capital, where there were even more outstanding young talents than in Changning Prefectural City.

Even if Zhao Feng had reached hidden force, his root bone was simply too poor; his future was visible at a glance. Given her distant cousin's temperament, she would not regret it.

"Do not bring this up again, especially not in front of Cousin Xiangling."

Zhao Feng stepped into the martial arts school's front courtyard.

"Good morning, Senior Brother Zhao!"

As soon as he entered, the disciples in the courtyard greeted him in unison. Ever since learning that Senior Brother Zhao had successfully broken through to hidden force, both old and new disciples had changed their attitude toward him. Before, they had admired his diligence while lamenting his talent and potential. Now, there was only awe.

In their eyes, Zhao Feng had achieved this through his almost crazed dedication to training; luck alone could no longer explain it. Someone who could remain so determined and tireless despite knowing that nobody thought he would succeed deserved their awe.

Zhao Feng nodded. Rather than going to the rear courtyard, he stayed in the front courtyard to train with the apprentices and registered disciples.

Sensing an intense gaze, he turned and saw the apprentice Sun Qing watching him while practicing his stance.

"Mm, raise your right fist half an inch, but lower your overall posture. Widen your horse stance a little more, and visualize Cross Force," he instructed Sun Qing.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao!" Sun Qing said loudly. He was visibly excited. Nobody knew that Senior Brother Zhao was the idol he held deep in his heart.

Senior Brother Zhao was easygoing, never putting on airs as a senior, and would readily offer his juniors pointers. This gave him a high standing among the front courtyard disciples, one that had even begun to surpass Senior Brother Chu's.

Just then, another luxurious carriage stopped outside the entrance. Chu Fan stepped down, dressed in an exquisite brocade robe. Ever since he had slain Flying Centipede, his reputation had grown increasingly resounding.

Wealthy households in the Inner City competed to invite him to banquets, keeping him busy with social engagements every day. Even the County Magistrate drank and chatted merrily with him. Many new disciples had come to study martial arts because of his reputation.

He had already become a gilded signboard for the Huo Family Martial Arts School. Huo Shan's favoritism toward him remained obvious, and he sometimes kept one eye open and the other closed toward certain things Chu Fan did.

After all, his root bone spoke for itself, and he was indeed progressing rapidly.

When Chu Fan entered the courtyard, he was still surrounded by an entourage, but quite a few disciples did not approach him. He was arrogant and usually paid these disciples little heed. Over time, naturally, not everyone remained willing to press a warm face against a cold backside.

Zhao Feng withdrew his gaze. A flash of white light appeared before his eyes, revealing his information panel.

[Archery: major accomplishment (387/4000)]

[Eight Extremes Stake Skill: major accomplishment (61/2000)]

[Eight Extremes Fist: major accomplishment (62/2000)]

Eight Extremes Fist comprised two fist routines and one spear routine. Only after bringing Eight Extremes Fist to perfection could he practice Six Harmonies Great Spear.

[Cloak Saber Technique: beginner (52/500)]

Looking at his full set of values, Zhao Feng gained a clear picture of his strength, along with another measure of confidence. Tonight, he was going to do something big.

During the hour of the pig, all of Big Stone County had fallen quiet. In a three-courtyard residence in Treasure Mountain Ward in the Outer City, Bald Zhang, leader of the Three Harmonies Gang, and his deputy were discussing important matters in the main room.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the main gate. "Who's there!"

"You dare barge into our Three Harmonies Gang!"

"Brothers, grab your weapons!" Several dull thuds immediately followed, accompanied by their men's screams.

Hearing this, Bald Zhang and Wang Kui grabbed their sabers and rushed out. Only when they reached the front courtyard did they see several of their men sprawled every which way by the main gate, rolling on the ground and wailing.

A young man in blue training clothes with coiled-dragon fastenings stood in the courtyard, his hands behind his back.

"Who might you be?" Bald Zhang's expression changed when he saw the large character for "Huo" on the chest of the young man's training clothes.

"Zhao Feng, Huo Family Martial Arts School."

This was the first time Zhao Feng had announced his identity. When it was time to borrow his school's weight, he had to do so. Although Huo Shan's sect rules for inner disciples were largely the same, there was one extra provision: outside the school, they could announce their master's name and make their affiliation clear. Whether they were wrecking someone's operation, challenging another school, or paying their respects to the local powers, they were to announce their school and affiliation. "Especially if someone bullies you, invoke my name, Huo Shan. Calling me your master isn't for nothing." Those had been Huo Shan's exact words.