I'll Do It!

East Market lay in the east of the city and was the most prosperous part of Lin'an City.

People streamed through the streets, carriages flowing like rivers and horses like dragons. As Zhou Qi walked, he looked around everywhere. This was his first time leaving Yang Residence since transmigrating here.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a teahouse.

A group of people was already standing outside the teahouse. At their head stood a youth in brocade robes, about the same age as Yang Mingyuan. He wore a smile at the corner of his lips, but his gaze was somewhat gloomy.

The young master of the Wang Family, Wang Hao.

The entire Lin'an City knew of the grudge between the Yang Family and the Wang Family. Both families dealt in medicinal herbs and had competed for decades, fighting openly and in the shadows countless times. Yang Mingyuan and Wang Hao were even bitter rivals; nothing good ever happened when they met.

"Yo, Brother Yang, you came awfully early." Wang Hao greeted him with a grin. "I thought you'd dawdle for another half hour."

Yang Mingyuan stepped down from the carriage, wearing the same smile. "Brother Wang, you jest. Business values good faith. How could I be late for an agreed time?"

The two entered the teahouse with smiles that did not reach their eyes.

Zhou Qi, Zhang Hu, and the other attendants were stopped outside and could only wait at the teahouse entrance.

Leaning against the wall, Zhang Hu spoke quietly to Zhou Qi. "See that big guy beside Wang Hao?"

Zhou Qi followed his gaze.

Among the attendants Wang Hao had brought, one man was particularly conspicuous. He stood a full six feet three inches tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, like an iron tower where he stood.

"That's Wang Hao's personal guard, Iron Ox. Qi Refining Third Layer at the peak." Zhang Hu lowered his voice. "I heard he used to be an escort. His hands have been stained with human lives, and he fights especially viciously. If a conflict breaks out later, stay far away. Don't rush in."

Zhou Qi nodded. "Thanks for the warning, Brother Hu."

"No need to be polite." Zhang Hu smiled. "We're all working for the young master. We should look out for each other."

As they spoke, a sudden crash came from inside the teahouse, as if a teacup had shattered.

Right afterward, Yang Mingyuan's voice rang out, tinged with anger. "Wang Hao, what do you mean by this?"

Wang Hao's laughter followed. "Nothing much. I just wanted to remind Brother Yang of something: business requires strength. Your Yang Family hasn't seemed to be doing too well these past few years."

Zhang Hu's expression changed, and he lifted a foot to charge inside.

Zhou Qi stopped him. "Brother Hu, the young master hasn't called for anyone. It would only be inappropriate if we went in."

Zhang Hu said anxiously, "But..."

Before he could finish, the teahouse doors were pushed open.

Yang Mingyuan walked out, his face livid.

Wang Hao followed behind him, smiling. "Brother Yang, don't be in such a hurry to leave. We haven't finished talking yet."

Yang Mingyuan looked back at him and said coldly, "Wang Hao, speak plainly if you have something to say."

"Fine, then I'll speak plainly." Wang Hao's smile vanished. "My old man has taken a liking to your Yang Family's shop in West Market. Name your price."

Yang Mingyuan's expression darkened further. "That is ancestral property of the Yang Family. It isn't for sale."

"Not for sale?" Wang Hao laughed. "Brother Yang, are you sure?"

He glanced behind him.

The hulking man called Iron Ox took a step forward, and an oppressive force rushed at them head-on.

Zhang Hu instinctively stepped in front of Yang Mingyuan.

Standing behind them, Zhou Qi narrowed his eyes slightly.

He stared at Iron Ox, and information automatically appeared before his eyes:

[Name: Iron Ox]

[Realm: Qi Refining Third Layer (Peak)]

[Techniques: Strike-Tempering Art (Minor Accomplishment), Wild Ox Fist (Minor Accomplishment)]

[Weaknesses: Slow turning speed (-25%), unstable lower body, weak knee defense]

Zhou Qi withdrew his gaze without betraying anything.

He had seen this information from the very first moment he laid eyes on Iron Ox.

Whenever he carefully focused on someone, the system automatically displayed similar information.

Zhang Hu had it too. So did Yang Mingyuan and Wang Hao.

It was only that Zhang Hu cultivated the Mountain-Splitting Fist, which was far inferior to Iron Ox's Strike-Tempering Art and Wild Ox Fist.

Yang Mingyuan stared at Wang Hao for several seconds, then suddenly bared his teeth in a dark smile.

"Wang Hao, do you want to fight?"

Wang Hao raised a brow. "What, Brother Yang? Are you coming down personally?"

"I won't fight you." Yang Mingyuan swept a glance at Iron Ox. "Have your servant fight mine. If you win, we can discuss the shop. If I win, you apologize to me today, and from now on, take a detour whenever you see me."

Wang Hao's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really."

"Good!" Wang Hao laughed loudly. "Iron Ox, go play with them."

Iron Ox grinned and walked to an open area in the middle of the street, curling a finger at Zhang Hu.

Zhang Hu looked at Yang Mingyuan, then nodded and stepped forward.

Yang Mingyuan said softly, "He's also Third Layer. Go on. Don't disgrace me."

Zhang Hu took a deep breath and walked forward.

Zhou Qi stood behind the crowd, watching Zhang Hu's back as he silently calculated.

Zhang Hu was at the late stage of Qi Refining Third Layer, and his Mountain-Splitting Fist had only reached Minor Accomplishment.

Iron Ox was at the peak of Qi Refining Third Layer. His Strike-Tempering Art and Wild Ox Fist had both reached Minor Accomplishment.

Zhang Hu's chances of losing this fight were extremely high.

Sure enough.

Iron Ox threw a punch. Zhang Hu sidestepped it, then swung a palm strike at Iron Ox's ribs. Iron Ox neither dodged nor evaded, taking the palm strike head-on before smashing a fist into Zhang Hu's shoulder.

Zhang Hu flew sideways and crashed onto the ground.

"Get up." Iron Ox stood where he was and crooked a finger at Zhang Hu.

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Hu climbed to his feet and staggered forward again.

Another punch.

Another kick.

Every time, Zhang Hu was sent flying. Every time, he climbed back up.

Yang Mingyuan stood to the side, his face livid and silent.

Wang Hao laughed happily. "Brother Yang, your servant really isn't much. Want to switch him for another?"

Zhang Hu climbed up once more, blood already seeping from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Yang Mingyuan, took a deep breath, and charged forward again.

This time, Iron Ox's fist landed squarely on his face.

Zhang Hu flew backward, slammed into a roadside stall, rolled his eyes, and completely passed out.

The entire scene fell silent.

Iron Ox stood in the middle of the street, swept his eyes over the attendants behind Yang Mingyuan, and said in a muffled voice, "Who else?"

No one answered.

Yang Mingyuan had brought five attendants in total. Aside from Zhang Hu and Wang Li, who were Third Layer, the other three—including Old Wu the coachman—were all Qi Refining Second Layer.

But Wang Li was only at the early stage of Third Layer, while Zhang Hu had already reached the late stage.

Going up would be no different from courting death.

Wang Hao laughed even louder. "Brother Yang, is the Yang Family out of people? With so little family capital, what medicinal herb business are you still trying to run? You might as well hand over the shop early."

"You lot, whoever can fight, this young master will reward handsomely!"

Yang Mingyuan's voice rang out. Though it sounded calm, the anger within it was hard to conceal.

Yet the attendants behind him all lowered their heads, scarcely daring to breathe.

Iron Ox took another step forward, his gaze sweeping over each attendant's face.

"I'm asking you a question!" His voice exploded like muffled thunder. "Who else?!"

Silence.

No one dared move.

Zhou Qi stood at the very back of the crowd with his head lowered, sweeping his gaze forward from the corner of his eye.

Iron Ox's knee was wrapped in bandages, with faint traces of blood still visible. He had likely suffered a hidden injury there.

Zhang Hu lay by the roadside, his face covered in blood, unconscious and unaware of anything.

Yang Mingyuan stood at the front with his hands behind his back. Though his posture remained straight, the folding fan in his hand was trembling from how tightly he gripped it. He was plainly furious beyond measure.

Zhou Qi shifted his gaze back and looked at his own panel.

On the system panel was the line of numbers that had never changed.

[Mountain-Splitting Fist Proficiency: 500/500 (Perfect)]

[Effects: Strength +20%, Punching Speed +30%, Armor Penetration +15%]

It had been one month since he transmigrated here.

Every morning, when Zhang Hu practiced in the front courtyard, Zhou Qi hid in a corner and watched in secret.

He watched again and again, simulating the movements over and over in his mind.

Because he was secretly learning, Zhou Qi did not dare practice openly in the courtyard. He could only run through it repeatedly in his head.

Practice proved that this kind of "simulation" could also increase proficiency, though the progress was somewhat slow.

He did not care about the difficulty.

Slow was slow. He would just grind it out.

In one month, he had ground his Mountain-Splitting Fist from 0 to 500.

Perfect.

And now.

Zhou Qi raised his head and looked at Yang Mingyuan.

Adding flowers to brocade could not compare to delivering charcoal in snow.

He thought of his cultivation, which had made no progress for nearly half a month, and of the plans he had made during this time.

How could he obtain the latter half of the Nourishing Qi Scripture?

Ask for it directly? Impossible.

Steal it? The risk was too great. If he was discovered, he would die.

That left only one path:

Prove his value.

Now, the opportunity had arrived.

Iron Ox was still shouting.

"Who else?!"

"Does the Yang Family have no one left?!"

"With that level of skill, you still dare come out and make fools of yourselves?!"

Wang Hao laughed so hard he rocked back and forth, while Yang Mingyuan's face had already darkened like the bottom of a pot.

Zhou Qi took a deep breath.

He stepped forward.

"Young Master."

Yang Mingyuan did not turn around, only casting a sidelong glance.

Zhou Qi stepped forward again, moved around in front of Yang Mingyuan, cupped his fists in a bow, and said softly:

"I'll do it!"