Unwarranted Disaster

At dusk, Zhou Muyun returned home after washing off his sweat and changing back into his own clothes.

"How did it go, Yun'er? Did you successfully take a master?"

"Brother, how did it go? Did you learn martial arts?"

The moment he entered, Xu Rou and Zhou Tong both gathered around him.

"Of course I succeeded. I trained at the martial hall all day today!" Zhou Muyun replied.

Hearing that he had successfully taken a master, Xu Rou smiled as well. "Good! Yun'er, now that you've entered the martial hall to learn martial arts, you must work hard."

"Your son certainly will."

"Great! My brother is learning martial arts. Does that mean he'll become really strong in the future and won't have to fear the Savage Ox Gang anymore?" Zhou Tong's eyes were filled with longing.

"That day will come." Zhou Muyun gently rubbed his little sister's head and spoke softly.

Before leaving that morning, Zhou Muyun had already told Xu Rou not to wait for him for dinner.

He had eaten at the martial hall anyway, so after briefly chatting with his mother and sister, Zhou Muyun returned to his room.

After returning to his room, he did not immediately go to sleep. Instead, he waited for the daily settlement.

Late at night, Withered Well Alley was utterly silent. The moon hung high overhead as Zhou Muyun looked at the panel in his mind.

[Heaven rewards diligence; effort will surely bring gains. Daily diligence points settlement.]

[Physique: Mid Ding (1/500)]

[Comprehension: High Ding (1/1000)]

[Willow Stake, Beginner (2/600)]

[Diligence Points: 4]

After half a day of effort, the Willow Stake proficiency had only increased by 2 points. This really was difficult!

However, it was probably related to his physique and comprehension. He could ask his master about it when he had the chance.

His diligence points had increased by 4. From the time he took a master until dusk, excluding the breaks in between, he had probably trained for only two shichen.

Did that mean every shichen of effort could settle for 2 points?

Zhou Muyun began to hesitate. Should he add points to his physique, comprehension, or the Willow Stake?

He had to achieve something as quickly as possible!

[Willow Stake, Beginner (6/600)]

[Diligence Points: 0]

He chose to speed up the Willow Stake's progress. After all, he only had half a year.

The sooner he became a martial artist, the more opportunities he would have to earn money, and the more confidence he would have when facing the Savage Ox Gang.

After allocating the diligence points, Zhou Muyun fell into a deep sleep.

Only by restoring his energy could he train better the next day.

The next day, the sky had only just begun to brighten.

Zhou Muyun had already arrived at Greenwood Martial Hall.

The training ground was empty. Only he stood atop a wooden stake, assuming the strange posture of the Willow Stake.

Sweat gradually soaked his clothes, while unbearable soreness spread through his entire body. He gritted his teeth and persisted.

The movements that had still been unfamiliar yesterday now felt much smoother.

Zhou Muyun knew that his fate had taken effect.

Heaven rewards diligence; effort will surely bring gains.

Time slowly passed, and the martial hall's disciples began arriving one after another. When they saw Zhou Muyun, they were immediately somewhat surprised.

"Look at that newcomer. He's quite diligent, but who knows how long he can keep it up."

"He's just showing off and putting on an act."

"Brother, Senior Brother Li is taking bets on whether he can last seven days. Want to wager? Five-to-one odds!"

"Really? I'll bet ten coppers that he can't."

"I'll bet fifty coppers."

"..."

Some sneered disdainfully, while others turned a joking bet into an actual wager.

As the master of the martial hall, Li Qingliang naturally came out to inspect the grounds.

When he saw Zhou Muyun training diligently, his expression did not change in the slightest.

After teaching martial arts for many years, he had seen far too many people who started out extremely hardworking, only to gradually become inconsistent.

After offering encouragement and guidance to the disciples, Li Qingliang called Zhou Muyun to the rear courtyard.

"It's good that you know how to work hard."

Li Qingliang spoke calmly, then changed the subject.

"When practicing martial arts, one must know moderation. Training too excessively can sometimes harm your body. Do you understand?"

"This disciple understands."

After guiding him through the martial arts once more, Li Qingliang signaled that Zhou Muyun could leave.

At that moment, Zhou Muyun suddenly asked, "Master, there is something this disciple does not understand. Does martial arts training depend on talent?"

"Of course. Everything depends on talent." Li Qingliang explained at length.

"On the martial path, there are such things as physique and comprehension. Both are ranked as Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding, with each rank further divided into high, middle, and low."

"What are this disciple's physique and comprehension?"

"Only those great sects have methods to determine comprehension. As for physique, I already knew it when I examined your bones yesterday.

"Since you wish to know, I'll tell you. Mid Ding."

Just as expected! It matches the panel exactly. It seems this panel was also established according to this world's rules.

To think I have the lowest-grade physique. I really have no luck, Zhou Muyun sighed inwardly.

"Thank you, Master, for informing me. This disciple will take his leave."

Having confirmed his suspicions, Zhou Muyun clasped his fists in farewell and left the rear courtyard.

A master could lead one to the door, but cultivation depended on the individual.

Although he possessed a fate, Zhou Muyun did not dare slack off in the slightest.

The Savage Ox Gang that squeezed people to the bone, and the increasingly difficult days ahead, were both death warrants urging him onward along the martial path.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Li Qingliang had long since stopped personally guiding him.

Zhou Muyun's life was also very simple.

Practice the Willow Stake... rest... practice the Willow Stake... eat. Over and over again.

[Heaven rewards diligence; effort will surely bring gains. Daily diligence points settlement.]

[Willow Stake, Beginner (66/600)]

He trained for roughly four shichen every day. With the added diligence point settlements, the Willow Stake was progressing steadily.

Quite a few disciples who had originally mocked him gradually stopped smiling.

Even many disciples who had entered around the same time as him were motivated by him to practice diligently.

"Brother Zhou, they're serving meat in the dining hall today. Why don't we go early?"

The speaker was Yu Qing. He had entered three days later than Zhou Muyun and was one of those who had been influenced by him to train hard.

Since his family circumstances were similar to Zhou Muyun's, they had gradually become acquainted.

Zhou Muyun nodded, withdrew from the stance, and jumped down from the wooden stake.

For families like theirs, meat was hard to come by. At the mention of it, the craving in his stomach was stirred.

The two arrived at the dining hall. On the table where steamed buns were usually placed sat an extra basin piled with meat.

Calling it meat was somewhat generous. It was actually a large basin of animal offal, stripped of its gaminess and braised with a few common spices.

The wealthy disdained such offal, but ordinary people could not afford to eat it every day either. It was still a rare delicacy.

They had not arrived especially early. Quite a few disciples were already lined up before the table, clearly aware that today was a day for meat.

Fortunately, everyone's daily portion was fixed. Before long, Zhou Muyun received his lunch as well.

Two large steamed buns and a bowl of sliced offal.

Carrying their abundant lunch, Zhou Muyun and Yu Qing planned to find a table and properly enjoy the meal.

Clang!

As a wooden bowl hit the ground, the meat in Zhou Muyun's hands was knocked onto the floor and stepped on twice.

"Oh, I wasn't paying attention. Can this meat still be eaten after being stepped on? Junior Brother, this senior brother truly feels sorry."

Zhou Muyun looked toward the voice. The man who had bumped into him spoke apologetically, but his face carried a trace of mockery.

Li Buhui, the third senior brother of Greenwood Martial Academy, a descendant of the Li Household, one of the four great households of the inner city. He had already reached the Organ Refinement Realm.

Seeing this, the people nearby all wore expressions of eager amusement.

"It was this junior brother who failed to hold it properly. Senior Brother cannot be blamed. I can still eat this meat after picking it up and washing it, so there's no need to trouble Senior Brother."

Zhou Muyun forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and spoke calmly, revealing neither joy nor rage.

Then he bent down and used his bowl to gather every piece of meat covered in dust.

The martial hall's dining area was fairly spacious. Aside from poor disciples like them, the other wealthier fellow disciples would not come here to eat at all.

He could have bumped into anyone, yet he had chosen Zhou Muyun?

Zhou Muyun knew that Li Buhui had done it deliberately, solely to provoke him.

As for why, he had no idea. He believed he had never offended anyone.

It was not that he had not considered getting angry, but the right to anger belonged to those with strength.

He knew full well how great the gap between himself and Li Buhui was. Both were martial artists; if they got into a fight and were injured—

Li Buhui's family was wealthy and powerful, so it would not matter to him. But Zhou Muyun had even borrowed his tuition fee. He did not have that kind of confidence.

Endure for a moment and the waters would be calm; take a step back and the sea would be vast. Once he had strength, it would not be too late to settle this score.

Seeing Zhou Muyun remain so calm, Li Buhui could not help showing a trace of disappointment. His gaze toward Zhou Muyun gained several degrees of contempt.

To suffer such humiliation without getting angry was truly boring. He immediately lost interest in Zhou Muyun.

He shook his head and left the dining hall.

With no spectacle left to watch, everyone else returned to what they had been doing.

After washing the dirtied meat clean, Zhou Muyun began eating in large mouthfuls.

He needed to finish quickly and continue practicing martial arts.

Strength was the only way to earn respect!