Unforeseen Calamity

At dusk, Zhou Muyun washed away his sweat, changed into his own clothes, and returned home.

"How was it, 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 crowded around him.

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

Hearing that he had succeeded, Xu Rou smiled as well. "Good! Yun'er, since you have entered the martial hall to learn martial arts, you must work hard."

"Your son will certainly do so."

"Wonderful! My brother is learning martial arts. Does that mean he'll become really formidable someday and won't have to fear the Savage Ox Gang anymore?" Zhou Tong's eyes brimmed with longing.

"That day will come!" Zhou Muyun said softly, affectionately rubbing his little sister's head.

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

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

Once back in his room, he did not immediately go to sleep. Instead, he waited for the daily settlement.

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

[Heaven Rewards Diligence; diligence will surely bear fruit. Diligence Points are settled daily.]

[Root Bone: Ding Middle (1/500)]

[Comprehension: Ding Upper (1/1000)]

[Willow Stake, Beginner (2/600)]

[Diligence Points: 4]

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

Still, it was probably related to his Root Bone and Comprehension. He could ask his master when he had the chance.

His Diligence Points had increased by 4. From taking his master until dusk, excluding the breaks in between, he had probably trained for only two shichen.

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

Zhou Muyun began to hesitate over whether to add points to his Root Bone, Comprehension, or Willow Stake.

He had to achieve something as quickly as possible!

[Willow Stake, Beginner (6/600)]

[Diligence Points: 0]

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

Only by becoming a martial artist sooner could he find more opportunities to earn money and have more confidence when facing the Savage Ox Gang.

After allocating his Diligence Points, Zhou Muyun fell into a deep sleep.

Only with his spirit fully restored could he practice martial arts better the next day.

The next day, dawn had only just begun to break.

Zhou Muyun had already arrived at Greenwood Martial Hall.

The training ground was empty. He alone stepped onto a wooden stake and assumed the strange posture of Willow Stake.

Sweat gradually soaked through his clothes, while an unbearable soreness slowly surged through his entire body. He gritted his teeth and persevered.

The movements he had still been unfamiliar with yesterday now felt much smoother today.

Zhou Muyun knew this was his Destiny Pattern at work.

Heaven Rewards Diligence; diligence will surely bear fruit.

Time slowly passed, and the martial hall's disciples arrived one after another. Seeing Zhou Muyun, they were immediately somewhat surprised.

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

"Trying to attract attention, putting on airs."

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

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

"I'll bet fifty coins."

"..."

Some scoffed, while others turned their joking wagers into genuine bets.

As the owner of the martial hall, Li Qingliang naturally came out to make his rounds as well.

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

Having taught martial arts for many years, he had seen far too many people who began with boundless diligence, only to fish for three days and dry nets for two.

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

"It is good that you understand the value of diligence."

Li Qingliang spoke blandly, then his tone shifted.

"One must know when to advance and when to ease off in martial training. Overtraining can sometimes harm your body. Do you understand?"

"This disciple understands."

After Li Qingliang gave him further instruction in martial arts, he signaled that Zhou Muyun could leave.

At that moment, Zhou Muyun suddenly asked, "Master, there is something this disciple does not understand. Is there such a thing as talent in martial arts?"

"Of course. Everything requires talent." Li Qingliang explained at length.

"On the path of martial arts, there are Root Bone and Comprehension. Both are ranked Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding, with each rank further divided into upper, middle, and lower grades."

"May this disciple ask what kind of Root Bone and Comprehension I possess?"

"Only those great sects have methods to determine Comprehension. As for Root Bone, I already learned yours when I examined your bones yesterday."

"Since you wish to know, I will tell you: Ding Middle."

Just as I thought! It is exactly the same as on the panel. It seems this panel operates according to this world's rules as well.

To think I actually have the lowest-grade Root Bone. I truly have no luck at all! Zhou Muyun sighed inwardly.

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

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

A master led one through the gate; cultivation depended on the individual.

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

The bone-scraping, marrow-sucking Savage Ox Gang and the increasingly difficult days ahead were both death warrants spurring him along the martial path.

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

Zhou Muyun's life was also very simple.

Practice Willow Stake... rest... practice Willow Stake... eat. Again and again.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence; diligence will surely bear fruit. Diligence Points are settled daily.]

[Willow Stake, Beginner (66/600)]

He trained for roughly four shichen each day. Combined with the daily Diligence Point settlement, Willow Stake was progressing steadily.

Many disciples who had initially laughed at him gradually lost their smiles.

Quite a few disciples who had entered around the same time as him were even inspired by him to practice diligently.

"Brother Zhou, the dining hall is serving meat today. Why don't we head there early?"

The speaker was Yu Qing. He had entered three days later than Zhou Muyun and was one of those inspired by him to practice hard.

Because his family circumstances were similar to Zhou Muyun's, the two had become acquainted over time.

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

For families like his in these times, meat was not easy to come by. At those words, the greedy worms in his stomach were immediately stirred awake.

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

Calling it meat was somewhat generous. It was actually a large basin of animal innards, deodorized and then braised with several common spices.

The wealthy disdained eating such offal, yet ordinary folk could not eat it every day either. It was still a rare delicacy.

They had not arrived especially early, and quite a few disciples were already lined up before the table. Clearly, everyone knew today was meat day.

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

Two large steamed buns and a bowl of sliced innards.

Carrying their plentiful lunches, Zhou Muyun and Yu Qing planned to find a table and properly enjoy the delicacy.

Clang!

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

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

Zhou Muyun followed the voice and saw that although the man who had bumped into him spoke of apology, 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 Inner City's four great families. He had already reached the Organ Refinement Realm.

Seeing this scene, the surrounding people all wore expressions of eager spectators.

"It was this junior brother who did not hold it securely. Senior Brother cannot be blamed. This meat can still be eaten after being picked up and washed, so there is no need to trouble Senior Brother."

Zhou Muyun forcibly suppressed the fury in his heart and spoke with an indifferent expression, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

He then bent down, using his bowl to pick up every piece of meat covered in dust.

The martial hall's dining hall was fairly spacious. Aside from commoner disciples like them, their wealthier fellow disciples never came here to eat.

Of all people, he had not bumped into anyone else, yet he had specifically bumped into him?

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

As for why, he did not know. He believed he had never offended anyone.

It was not that he had never considered getting angry, but the right to anger belonged to those with strength.

He knew full well the gap between himself and Li Buhui. Both were martial artists; if they came to blows and someone was injured—

Li Buhui came from a powerful family, so it would not affect him. But Zhou Muyun had even borrowed his tuition fee. He had no such confidence.

Endure for a moment and the wind would be calm, take a step back and the sea and sky would stretch boundless. Once he had strength, it would not be too late to reclaim this humiliation.

Seeing Zhou Muyun remain so calm, disappointment flashed across Li Buhui's face, and the way he looked at Zhou Muyun gained several shades more contempt.

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

Shaking his head, he left the dining hall.

With no spectacle left to watch, everyone else returned to their own business.

After washing the dirtied meat clean, Zhou Muyun began devouring it in huge mouthfuls.

He wanted to finish quickly and continue training.

Strength was the only way to earn dignity!