Trouble Comes Knocking

After finishing the meat, his once-empty body became full again.

Zhou Muyun began a new round of cultivation, as though the humiliation he had suffered in the dining hall had been nothing more than passing clouds.

Watching from the side, Yu Qing could not help sighing inwardly. Brother Zhou's temperament is actually this steadfast!

He then quickly finished his lunch and entered the training ground to practice alongside him.

Time flew like a shuttle. Zhou Muyun had already been at Greenwood Martial Hall for a month.

On the training ground, he practiced the Willow Stake as usual.

Yet compared to a month ago, he looked much sturdier overall.

His Willow Stake movements had also become increasingly proficient; he no longer broke into a drenching sweat after just a short while.

[Heaven rewards diligence; there will surely be gains. Diligence Points are settled daily.]

[Willow Stake: Beginner (400/600)]

Soon. I can gain 3 points from daily practice now, plus 10 points from settlement. Give me another half month, and I'll be able to challenge the Tempered Bone Realm!

His efforts had not been in vain, and Zhou Muyun's resolve grew firmer.

As usual, Li Qingliang appeared on the training ground to inspect the disciples' progress.

When his gaze settled on Zhou Muyun, a trace of surprise appeared on his face.

He had long heard that there was a disciple in the hall who studied diligently and trained bitterly.

But he had not expected Zhou Muyun, with Ding Zhong's bone structure, to train the Willow Stake to such a level within a single month.

What a pity. If only his bone structure were a little better. He shook his head and sighed inwardly.

After all, on the path of martial arts, talent and bone structure determined the limits of one's potential.

"You've practiced well. It's also time to teach you Flurry Fist. I'll demonstrate it for you."

Li Qingliang walked over to Zhou Muyun and spoke indifferently.

"Yes, Master."

Zhou Muyun stopped practicing his stance and answered respectfully with cupped hands.

Li Qingliang called Mo Qi to his side. The two kept their distance and stood facing one another.

"Flurry Fist draws from the image of willow catkins flying through the air. It appears chaotic and disorderly, but is in truth orderly and well-arranged. Mo Qi, attack me."

"Yes, Master."

Having received the instruction, Mo Qi raised his fist and drove it heavily at Li Qingliang's chest.

Li Qingliang, meanwhile, met fist with fist and yielded not an inch.

Just as their fists were about to collide, Li Qingliang suddenly shifted like a willow bending in the wind. His straight punch changed into a palm strike, and with his body turned sideways, he slapped Mo Qi's fist aside.

His other hand shot out like a striking venomous snake—swift, precise, and ruthless—and seized Mo Qi by the throat. With the slightest exertion of force, he could have taken his life.

Everything happened in an instant. It was so fast that Zhou Muyun had not even seen it clearly before cold sweat was already streaming down Mo Qi's body.

"Martial arts are killing techniques, skills one relies upon to survive. If you only master fixed forms, that merely means you have practiced them well.

"But if you can integrate them completely and change moves at the right moment, only then may you enter the hall and ascend the chamber. Do you understand?"

Li Qingliang withdrew the hand from Mo Qi's throat, turned around, and looked at Zhou Muyun as he spoke unhurriedly.

"This disciple understands," Zhou Muyun hurriedly replied.

"Since you understand, go collect a fist manual later. You must not pass it on to others, otherwise..." Li Qingliang smiled faintly and did not continue.

But how could Zhou Muyun fail to understand? Most likely, his martial arts would be crippled and he would be expelled from the martial hall.

"Fist arts are unlike stance training; they require someone to guide and teach them." As Li Qingliang spoke, he called loudly to the other disciples on the training ground, "Is anyone willing to teach the new disciple fist arts?"

The entire grounds fell silent. Not a single person answered.

Zhou Muyun understood. Teaching a new disciple would not only delay one's own training, but someone from a poor background like him offered no benefits to gain.

Most importantly, he had offended Li Buhui, the martial hall's third senior brother, the moment he arrived.

Yu Qing had told him about it later.

Li Buhui had taken bets that Zhou Muyun would not persist in bitter training for more than seven days, only to lose several taels of silver.

Money meant little to him as a disciple of the Li Household. The main thing was that he had lost face, which was why the scene in the dining hall had occurred.

Although Li Buhui had not continued targeting Zhou Muyun afterward, nor had he made any threats,

everyone with eyes could see that under such circumstances, teaching Zhou Muyun might provoke Li Buhui's displeasure.

And those few disciples who did not fear Li Buhui had no wish to invite trouble upon themselves for no reason.

Seeing that no one answered, Li Qingliang's face was beginning to look a little embarrassed, and he was about to forcibly appoint someone.

At that moment, Mo Qi stepped forward from the side. "Master, I'll teach him."

Hearing that Mo Qi was willing, Li Qingliang's expression improved somewhat. He said calmly, "Very well. Zhou Muyun will be under your instruction."

He then turned and left the training ground.

"Come on, Junior Brother. Senior Brother will take you to collect the fist manual and teach you along the way," Mo Qi said to Zhou Muyun.

"Senior Brother, why are you willing to teach me?"

Zhou Muyun was very curious. Was he not afraid of souring his relationship with Li Buhui?

"If no one agreed, Master would be put in a difficult position. Since that is the case, I might as well do it."

"But Third Senior Brother..."

"It's fine. Our strength is about equal, and I haven't done anything to harm him. He has no reason to vent his anger on me because of you.

"Besides, the martial hall hasn't produced such a hardworking disciple in a long time. I think highly of you."

Mo Qi grinned, and the meaning in his words was clear: he had strength, so he did not fear Li Buhui.

Strength. Again, strength. Zhou Muyun clenched his fists, once more feeling the importance of strength.

After collecting the fist manual, Mo Qi demonstrated the entire set of Flurry Fist once, then had Zhou Muyun practice on his own.

If there was anything he did not understand, he could simply ask him.

Flurry Fist was not complicated, nor did it have many moves, but it emphasized endless variations.

Zhou Muyun knew that neither his bone structure nor his comprehension was particularly good, so he adopted the simplest method.

Using the fist manual as reference, he trained each move and each stance with bitter persistence.

If his posture was wrong, he started over. If his force was wrong, he adjusted it. An entire afternoon quickly passed.

Only after his arms ached, his feet swelled, and sweat poured down like rain did he finally grasp a little of the knack.

[Heaven rewards diligence; there will surely be gains. Diligence Points are settled daily.]

[Willow Stake: Beginner (400/600)]

[Flurry Fist: Beginner (1/600)]

I've reached Beginner! It seems my approach this afternoon was correct.

Light shone in Zhou Muyun's eyes. So what if my bone structure and talent are ordinary? With the Destiny Pattern upon me, all I need to do is work hard!

He practiced the Willow Stake in the mornings and Flurry Fist in the afternoons. Whenever he did not understand something, he asked Mo Qi. Seven days quickly passed.

That evening, after dinner, he practiced Flurry Fist for another half hour.

[Heaven rewards diligence; there will surely be gains. Diligence Points are settled daily.]

[Willow Stake: Beginner (500/600)]

[Flurry Fist: Beginner (22/600)]

Soon. Give me another seven days, and I'll break through.

Zhou Muyun added all his Diligence Points to his stance training, seeking only to break through as soon as possible.

After washing himself clean, he headed home.

The moment he entered Withered Leaf Alley, he saw Zhang Hu within it. His lackeys behind him were carrying a huge side of pork.

The pork had already turned somewhat pale. Many flies buzzed around its edges, and there were even a few maggots.

Zhang Hu saw Zhou Muyun as well, and his eyes lit up. He hurried over.

"Little Yun, I heard you've been practicing martial arts lately?"

"Yes, Brother Hu."

Zhou Muyun did not intend to hide it. After all, the alley was small, and some things could be learned with only a little asking around.

"Well, isn't this perfect? Practicing martial arts requires meat. Look, Master Wu feels sorry for the neighborhood folks having no meat to eat, so he specially invited everyone to have some. See how good this pork is? Want some?"

Selling pork that was nearly half rotten for people to eat—truly worthy of the Savage Ox Gang.

Zhou Muyun looked at the pork, nausea rising in his heart.

But on the surface, he could only smile and say, "Master Wu is kindhearted. May I ask how much this meat costs?"

He knew full well that since they had carried it into the alley, they were definitely going to make people buy it. Better to avoid Zhang Hu coming to his door later and frightening his mother and younger sister again.

"One jin of meat, 600 copper coins. How about it? A bargain, right? You couldn't buy it on ordinary days even if you wanted to." Zhang Hu chuckled.

Six hundred copper coins truly could not buy a jin of meat—but that was fresh meat. This was rotten meat, and he actually wanted to sell it for 600 copper coins.

That damned Savage Ox Gang was becoming more and more excessive!

Zhou Muyun frowned and forced a smile. "Brother Hu, the weather is hot, and my family can't eat that much. Could I buy only two liang?"

The moment Zhang Hu heard this, the smile vanished from his face. In an unfriendly tone, he said, "Two liang? No. At least half a jin!"

Half a jin was 300 copper coins! His family could produce the money, but he had no income now that he was studying martial arts. How would they live afterward?

Zhou Muyun revealed a troubled expression and pleaded, "This... Brother Hu, my family truly cannot come up with that much money. Could you grant me a few days' grace?"

"Grace?" Zhang Hu rolled his eyes, then gave a lewd grin. "Your little sister is fourteen this year, isn't she? How about I introduce her to a line of work? Then your family won't lack money."

Damn it! When had Zhang Hu noticed his younger sister?

Zhou Muyun's heart tightened. Zhou Tong was no longer a child, and she had inherited their mother's looks. She was indeed pure and lovely.

As for this line of work, how could he not know? It was clearly a pit of fire!

"Brother Hu, my little sister is still young. I'll give you the money tomorrow. Please show mercy!" Zhou Muyun lowered himself greatly, almost begging.

"Tomorrow?" Zhang Hu said coldly.

"Yes, I'll present it with both hands tomorrow."

"That'll do. Brothers, cut the meat!" Zhang Hu gave a smile that did not reach his eyes and handed the meat to Zhou Muyun.

"I'll come collect the money on time tomorrow. You'd better have it ready, otherwise..." Zhang Hu gave a sinister grin, then patted Zhou Muyun on the shoulder.

"You can still consider my earlier suggestion. Your little sister—I think she looks quite good."

A lecherous glint flashed through Zhang Hu's eyes. He then took his lackeys and continued selling meat.

Holding the pale pork, Zhou Muyun watched Zhang Hu's retreating figure, his eyes filled with savage intent.

This trouble had finally come knocking.