Leaps and Bounds

Day after day passed, and Cheng Heng devoted all his energy, heart and soul, to cultivation.

In just three short months, Cheng Heng spent every last tael of silver he had saved up, all of it on medicinal pills.

Even that was not enough. He borrowed another five hundred-odd taels from Wu Zhong, barely managing to sustain his cultivation.

Likewise, under the relentless stimulation of those medicinal resources, Cheng Heng's martial cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds!

[Name: Cheng Heng]

[Realm: Skill-Transforming Force]

[Remaining Lifespan: 19/100]

[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Persevere without cease, and success shall surely come.]

[Vajra Art, Third Layer: Perfection)]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art: Perfection]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique: Perfection]

[Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique: (Perfection)]

[Martial Dao Space: One day in the outside world, ten days in the Dharma Realm]

Thirty full months of cultivation in the Martial Dao Space had allowed Cheng Heng to push every martial art he currently knew to the realm of perfection.

Without follow-up techniques in hand, he could go no further than the Skill-Transforming Force level.

This made Cheng Heng all the more eager to head to the prefectural city and obtain a technique for advancing to Core-Embracing Force from one of those great sects as soon as possible.

At last, with Constable Wang's arrival at his door, the token he had waited so long for was finally delivered!

The moment he entered, Wang Ming eagerly congratulated him.

"Congratulations, Brother Cheng! From now on, you'll be a hidden dragon entering the abyss—your future prospects will be boundless!"

Seeing Wang Ming's high spirits, Cheng Heng immediately understood.

"Brother Wang, has the token for the Martial Examination arrived?"

Wang Ming nodded lightly, then took a wooden plaque from his robes. One side bore Cheng Heng's name, while the other was blank.

As long as Cheng Heng brought the plaque to a sect, if that sect accepted him, it would carve its mark onto the plaque. From then on, he would be a disciple of that sect!

Gently stroking the wooden plaque, Cheng Heng carefully tucked the token into his robes before speaking solemnly.

"Brother Wang, I'll soon be heading to the prefectural city. There is one more matter I'd like to ask you to investigate for me."

Wang Ming's playful expression vanished, and he said seriously.

"Is it the matter of your father serving corvée labor?"

Cheng Heng's face turned grave.

"That is exactly the matter!"

"I checked the county yamen's case files. Your father was sent to the neighboring Martial Peace Prefecture. It has already been over a year, yet there has been no news at all. I fear..."

"Still, Brother Cheng, there's no need to worry too much. Leave this matter to me. If there is any news, I will notify you immediately!"

Cheng Heng cupped his hands and bowed deeply. "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Wang!"

Wang Ming took another token from his robes. Without allowing Cheng Heng to refuse, he forcibly stuffed it into his arms.

"Brother Cheng, your great kindness to the Wang Family cannot be repaid. Wouldn't such words make us strangers? There are two thousand taels' worth of banknotes inside. Take them and spend them on the road!"

"The prefectural city is nothing like Gaoyang County. Everywhere you turn, you'll need money. This is merely a small token from our Wang Family!"

Unable to refuse after repeated attempts, Cheng Heng finally tucked the envelope into his robes.

He truly had little savings left at present, and the Wang Family's two thousand taels in banknotes had relieved his pressing need.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while longer before Wang Ming finally took his leave with great reluctance.

After bidding farewell to Brother Cheng this time, who knew when they would meet again!

Early the next morning.

Winter had already arrived, and every household had begun burning firewood for warmth.

Watching Li Qingwan busy herself in the small courtyard, Cheng Heng pondered for a moment before finally speaking.

"Qingwan, I... I'm going to the prefectural city!"

Li Qingwan's busy figure froze. She turned to look at Cheng Heng, her eyes filled with surprise and reluctance.

"Brother Heng, you're going to the prefectural city so soon?"

"I need to set out as quickly as possible. Don't worry—once I've settled down in the prefectural city, I'll bring you over as soon as I can!"

Cheng Heng held Li Qingwan tightly and spoke slowly.

"I've left plenty of silver at home, so don't worry about expenses. If you run into any trouble, go to the martial hall and find Master. He'll help you settle it!"

"Also, I selected a health-nurturing art from the martial hall suitable for women to cultivate. Read through it whenever you have time, and make sure to exercise more as well!"

Li Qingwan's eyes reddened instantly. It seemed she had a thousand words she wished to say, but in the end, she only slowly uttered one sentence.

"A good man's ambitions lie in the four corners of the world. Brother Heng, wherever you go, I'll support you!"

"Once you've settled down in the prefectural city, you must take me there. And you're not allowed to go chasing flowers and flirting with grass outside!"

Cheng Heng nodded heavily. After comforting Li Qingwan, he left home and headed to the martial hall to bid farewell to his master.

The instant he entered the martial hall, many disciples came forward to greet Cheng Heng of their own accord.

In the hearts of the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall's disciples, Cheng Heng was a true-blue hero. Without Cheng Heng, the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall would never have become what it was today!

"Senior Brother Cheng!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Cheng!"

Cheng Heng returned each greeting in turn, then entered the inner courtyard beneath everyone's watchful eyes.

Wu Zhong was currently in the inner hall, leisurely savoring a cup of hot tea.

The moment Wu Zhong saw Cheng Heng enter, he gave him a slight once-over, and a sharp gleam burst from his eyes.

Three months ago, when Cheng Heng had just broken through to Skill-Transforming Force, he had given Wu Zhong the impression of a razor-sharp blade drawn from its sheath.

Now, three months later, Cheng Heng's entire bearing had undergone an earth-shaking transformation. The sharpness around him had completely drawn inward, and not a trace of his brilliance showed on the surface.

Yet Wu Zhong could sense threads of danger from him!

Cheng Heng stepped into the main hall and cupped his fists.

"Master, the token has arrived. This disciple plans to depart for the prefectural city in three days. I came today to bid you farewell!"

Wu Zhong slowly rose to his feet and said with gratification, "It is time for you to leave. This Gaoyang County can no longer contain a hidden dragon like you!"

"Since you'll be leaving in three days, take Chen An with you. With the two of you on the road, you can look after one another!"

"Yes, Master!"

"This disciple has one more matter. My wife, Li Qingwan, is still in Gaoyang County. I wish to bring her over after I have settled down in Qingchuan Prefecture."

"That is no problem. If there is any trouble at all, come find me."

"Thank you, Master!"

Cheng Heng bowed deeply. Just as he was about to leave, Wu Zhong called out to him.

"The help I can provide you from now on will only grow more limited!"

As he spoke, Wu Zhong took a stack of banknotes from his robes and handed them to Cheng Heng.

"The journey to the prefectural city is long. To me, these banknotes are already mere things outside the body!"

"Your future is bright now. All your master can offer is some silver as a bit of support."

Cheng Heng clenched the banknotes in his hand, warmth rising in his heart.

His large-scale purchases of medicinal pills and herbs over the past few months truly had not escaped his master's notice.

Cheng Heng drew a deep breath and said, "Master's great kindness will remain engraved upon this disciple's heart!"

Looking at the Cheng Heng before him, now utterly transformed from the past, Wu Zhong patted his shoulder gently with gratification. "Go!"

Everything that needed to be said was left unspoken!