The Hu Household

Hu Rong dragged his injured hand as he ran wildly, but instead of heading for the nearest clinic, he raced toward the Hu family compound.

Before he even reached the entrance, fierce arguing erupted from within the courtyard.

The situation was urgent, leaving Hu Rong no time to think. He pushed the door open and rushed inside.

"Father, hurry and save him!"

The moment he entered, several pairs of eyes turned toward him.

There were three people in the hall.

Seated in the place of honor was a middle-aged man with sharp yet composed eyes and graying temples. He was Hu Rong's father, Hu Yong, the head of the Hu Household and its only Skin-Flesh Realm martial artist.

Seated to the right was a refined young gentleman, smiling as he chatted with Hu Yong.

Standing to the left was Hu Rong's second brother, Hu Hui. His face was full of fawning smiles as he respectfully looked at the young gentleman.

When Hu Hui saw who had entered, he immediately grinned.

"Well, well, Third Brother still remembered the way home.

I heard you were showing off in front of True Intent Martial Hall. Quite impressive, wasn't it?"

"Oh dear, what happened to that hand? Where did you bang it up?"

"Third Brother, you really are too careless. The businesses still need you to look after them."

"Enough, Hui'er."

Hu Hui had wanted to continue, but Hu Yong stopped him from the seat of honor.

"My apologies for the spectacle, Young Master Zhang."

Hu Yong did not pay any attention to Hu Rong, who had barged in. Instead, he looked at the young gentleman beside him with a flattering smile.

"It seems Elder Hu has personal matters to attend to. Zhang will have to visit again another day."

Young Master Zhang smiled faintly, gave Hu Yong a light bow, then turned to leave.

"Hui'er, see Young Master Zhang out."

At his words, Hu Hui immediately followed behind Young Master Zhang. Like a servant, the two left the Hu family compound one after the other.

As he passed Hu Rong, he could not help but let out a sneer.

Hu Rong paid him no mind. His face was filled with anxiety, and only one thought remained in his mind.

Save Li Kuai!

"Unfilial son! Kneel!"

The voice struck like thunder, making Hu Rong's entire body tremble.

Hu Rong went along with it and dropped to his knees without hesitation, his knees striking the floor with a dull thud.

Hu Yong sat in the seat of honor, his expression dark.

"Unfilial son, I have heard about what you did today."

"How many times have I told you not to have too much contact with True Intent Martial Hall? It could bring disaster upon you."

"And yet you ignored my teachings time and again! Now that trouble is at your doorstep, you know to come running home!"

Hu Rong knelt with his head lowered, but there was not the slightest trace of regret on his face.

"Father, I know I was wrong. I beg you, help me one last time. The master of the martial hall has disappeared, and now only you can save Li Kuai!"

Hu Rong raised his head and met Hu Yong's gaze.

Seeing the injury on Hu Rong's right hand, most of Hu Yong's anger faded, and pain filled his eyes.

After all, Hu Rong was his own son. How many parents in the world would not ache for their children?

"Sigh, you foolish child. True Intent Martial Hall did help the Hu Household in the past, but that debt was repaid long ago."

"Your eldest brother fell at Demon-Suppression Pass. Your second brother idles about and spends every day fooling around with others. Now he is entangled with the Zhang Household as well. The Zhang Household is one of Cloudwater City's two great Aristocratic Clans—why would they think highly of our tiny Hu Household? I fear they have other motives."

"The Hu Household's hopes now rest entirely on you. If you had broken through to the Skin-Flesh Realm sooner, I would not have interfered."

"But you are disappointing as well. After I am gone, who will carry the banner of this great Hu Household?"

Hu Yong turned around and looked at the ancestral tablets on the table, grief in his eyes.

"Fine. We do owe True Intent Martial Hall, after all. This old body of mine can still deal with a mere jackal."

Hearing this, Hu Rong knew the old man had agreed to act. He immediately rose from the ground with a smile.

"Father, let's go. It's urgent."

Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Is Elder Hu well? Wu has come to pay a visit."

Before the words had faded, Wu Yi stepped into the Hu family compound.

Seeing the two of them dressed and ready to depart, Wu Yi wondered if he had come at a bad time.

When Hu Rong saw that it was Wu Yi, he was equally dumbfounded.

"Did I come at a bad time? Where are you two going?"

Hu Rong came to his senses and immediately smiled.

"You came at just the right time, Brother Yi. We were just about to head to True Intent Martial Hall."

"Oh, right, Brother Yi, over at True Intent Martial Hall..."

"No need to say more. I have already taken care of things at the martial hall."

As he spoke, Wu Yi looked at Hu Rong's injured right hand.

"Li Kuai said you were injured standing up for the martial hall, so I came specifically to see you. And of course, to see Elder Hu as well."

As Wu Yi spoke, he also greeted Hu Yong behind him.

Hu Yong responded, then turned and headed into the house. It was clear he was no longer needed here.

Still, he could not help but wonder why Wu Yi, who usually drank and squandered his days away, had suddenly come here. Had he truly changed?

"I brought medicine from the martial hall for treating injuries. Give it a try."

Back at the martial hall, Li Kuai was sweeping the fallen leaves from the courtyard.

There was only one golden rain tree in the martial hall. Wu Ji, Wu Yi's father, had planted it with his own hands on the day Wu Yi was born.

Its meaning was naturally to wish that Wu Yi would grow up steady and reserved, a man of integrity.

Seeing Li Kuai work so diligently, Wu Yi felt greatly comforted.

As expected of a disciple of his True Intent Martial Hall.

Speaking of disciples, he looked around and discovered that Li Kuai was the only one present.

Wu Yi immediately called Li Kuai over and questioned him.

"Li Kuai, why haven't I seen Zhou Man today?"

When he heard Wu Yi ask about Zhou Man, Li Kuai hesitated for a long while before finally saying one sentence.

"Brother Yi, Zhou Man said he won't be coming to the martial hall anymore."

Hearing that, Wu Yi was so angry that he laughed.

Fine, fine. One after another, they were all putting on this act for him, were they?

It was one thing for that scoundrel Pockmarked Sun to leave the martial hall, but why was Zhou Man, an outer disciple, leaving too?

That was right. Zhou Man was not a registered disciple, but an outer disciple, the kind who was only a step away from breaking through to the Skin-Flesh Realm.

Ordinary people did not know that before the Skin-Flesh Realm, there was another realm: Martial Disciple.

Martial Disciples tempered their mortal bodies, honing their flesh, skin, and strength. Only after their qi and blood had washed through all the flesh and skin, allowing the body to undergo a transformation, could they be called Skin-Flesh Realm martial artists.

To break through this stage, one either had to temper the body over many years, accumulating qi and blood through continuous circulation until quantitative change brought qualitative change, or rely on spiritual treasures and great medicines to achieve it in one step.

Where could ordinary people find spiritual treasures and great medicines? They could only temper their bodies year after year. Usually, before they could break through, they had already grown old and their qi and blood had declined, leaving them no hope of advancing for the rest of their lives.

Yet Zhou Man was only sixteen this year. His family was poor, and he depended on his bedridden mother for survival.

At his age, being so close to breaking through to the Skin-Flesh Realm was enough to call Zhou Man a genius.

How could the current Wu Yi not care about such a genius?

"Li Kuai, you know Zhou Man well. Tell me what happened."

At those words, Li Kuai unconsciously clenched his fists, looking confused and aggrieved as he said:

"Brother Yi, I don't know either. I went to Zhou Man's home, but he would not even let me in. He drove me away and told me to get lost. He said he would never come to the martial hall again and told me not to bother him anymore."

Something was clearly wrong. Wu Yi immediately decided to go see for himself.

"Li Kuai, watch the martial hall. I'll be back soon."

Before the words had even left his mouth, Wu Yi vanished from Li Kuai's sight.

Staring at the empty space before him, Li Kuai scratched his head and muttered to himself.

"Was Brother Yi always this fast?"

Cloudwater Wharf,

The river wind carried damp mist as it rushed into their faces, while the wharf buzzed with noise.

"Hurry, hurry! Move it!"

A Wild Wolf Gang lackey holding a long whip urged the laborers to carry their loads.

Zhou Man carried three sacks on his shoulders, panting heavily as he hurried along behind the laborers ahead of him.