Hu Household

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

Before he even reached the gate, a fierce argument erupted from within the courtyard.

The situation was urgent. Hu Rong had no time to think and pushed the door open.

"Father, hurry and save someone!"

The moment the door opened, several pairs of eyes inside turned toward him.

There were three people in the hall.

Seated in the place of honor was a middle-aged man with deep, sharp 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 on the right was a refined young gentleman, smiling as he conversed with Hu Yong.

Standing on the left was Hu Rong's second brother, Hu Hui. His face was piled with a fawning smile as he gazed respectfully at the young gentleman.

When Hu Hui saw who stood at the door, he immediately grinned.

"Oh, so Third Brother still knew to come home.

I heard you were playing the hero in front of True Intent Martial Hall. How very imposing."

"Oh my, what happened to that hand? Where did you bump into something?"

"I say, Third Brother, you really are too careless. The businesses still depend on you."

"Enough, Hui."

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

"My apologies for making you witness this, Young Master Zhang."

Hu Yong did not pay any attention to Hu Rong, who had barged in. Instead, he turned to the young gentleman at his side with a placating smile.

"It seems Elder Hu has family matters to attend to. Zhang shall have to visit another day."

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

"Hui, see Young Master Zhang out."

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

As he passed Hu Rong, he could not help letting out a derisive snort.

Hu Rong did not care in the slightest. His face was full of anxiety, and at that moment, only one thought occupied his mind.

Save Li Kuai!

"Unfilial son! Kneel!"

His voice crashed 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 place of honor, his expression dark.

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

"How many times have I taught you not to associate too closely with True Intent Martial Hall? You may end up setting yourself on fire."

"Yet you have refused to mend your ways time and again! Now that the fire is burning at your eyebrows, you know to come running home!"

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

"Father, your son knows his mistake. I beg you, help your son one last time. The hall master has disappeared without a trace. Only you can save Li Kuai now!"

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

Seeing the injury on Hu Rong's right hand, much of Hu Yong's anger faded, and pain rose involuntarily in his eyes.

After all, he was his own child. How many parents in this world did not ache for their children?

"Sigh, you foolish child. True Intent Martial Hall did help our Hu Household in its early years, but that debt has long since been repaid."

"Your eldest brother fell at Demon Suppression Pass. Your second brother loafs around all day, mingling with others, and now he is tangled up with the Zhang Household. The Zhang Household is one of Cloudwater City's two great families—how could they possibly think highly of our tiny Hu Household? I fear they have other designs."

"The Hu Household's hopes now rest entirely on you. If you could break through into the Skin-Flesh Realm sooner, I would not interfere with you."

"But you, too, have failed to live up to expectations. After I am gone, who will carry the banner of this great Hu Household?"

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

"Fine. We do owe True Intent Martial Hall, after all. This old sack of bones can still deal with a mere Jackal."

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

"Father, let's go quickly. The situation is urgent."

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

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

Before the voice had faded, Wu Yi stepped into the Hu family estate.

Seeing the two dressed and ready to depart, Wu Yi wondered whether he had come at the wrong time.

When Hu Rong recognized Wu Yi, his face was equally blank with confusion.

"Did I come at the wrong time? Where are you 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."

"By the way, Brother Yi, over at True Intent Martial Hall..."

"No need to say more. I have already taken care of things there."

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

"Kuai told me you were injured while standing up for the martial hall. I came specifically to check on you, and of course, to visit Old Master Hu as well."

As Wu Yi spoke, he also offered Hu Yong a greeting.

Hu Yong answered him, then turned and headed into the house. Clearly, he was no longer needed here.

Still, he was curious. Why had Wu Yi, who normally drowned himself in debauchery, suddenly come here? Could he truly have changed his ways?

"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 Yi's father, Wu Ji, had planted it with his own hands on the day Wu Yi was born.

The meaning was naturally to hope that Wu Yi would grow up steady and reserved, living with integrity.

Seeing Li Kuai work so diligently, Wu Yi felt deeply gratified.

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 there.

Wu Yi immediately called Li Kuai over and asked him.

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

When Wu Yi asked about Zhou Man, Li Kuai hemmed and hawed for a long time before finally speaking.

"Brother Yi, Xiao Man said he will not come to the martial hall anymore."

The instant Wu Yi heard that, he 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 rascal Pockmarked Sun to withdraw from the martial hall, but why did Zhou Man, an outer disciple, want to withdraw 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 into 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 flesh, forging their skin, flesh, and strength. Only when qi and blood had washed through the skin and flesh of the entire body, allowing the body to undergo a transformation, could one be considered to have reached the Skin-Flesh Realm.

To break through this step, one either spent years upon years tempering the body, accumulating qi and blood through repeated circulation until quantity produced a qualitative change, or relied on external spirit treasures and great medicines to reach it in one step.

How could ordinary people possibly find spirit treasures and great medicines? They could only temper their bodies year after year. Thus, before they could usually break through, they had already grown old and their qi and blood had declined, leaving them no hope of ever crossing the boundary in this life.

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

At such an age, being close to breaking through into the Skin-Flesh Realm made Zhou Man worthy of being called a genius.

With such a genius before him, how could the current Wu Yi not care deeply?

"Kuai, you are close with Zhou Man. Tell me, what exactly happened?"

At those words, Li Kuai unconsciously clenched his fists. Looking lost and aggrieved, he said:

"Brother Yi, I don't know either. I went to Xiao Man's home, but he would not even let me inside. 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 disturb him anymore."

When something was abnormal, there had to be something strange behind it. Wu Yi immediately decided to go and see for himself.

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

Before his words had faded, Wu Yi vanished from before Li Kuai's eyes.

Looking 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 rolled water vapor into their faces, while the wharf buzzed with voices.

"Move, move, move! Hurry up!"

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

Zhou Man carried three sacks on his shoulders, panting heavily as he hurried forward in step with the laborers ahead of him.