Tracking

Night had fallen, and Zhou Dabao's residence was brightly lit.

The bald-headed underling hurriedly pushed open the door, his face brimming with the excitement of having uncovered a secret.

"Boss! Boss!"

Zhou Dabao was reclining in a chair while a fairly attractive, well-built woman kneaded his legs.

He cast the bald man a sidelong glance and said impatiently, "Why are you shouting like hell? Seen a ghost?"

The bald man chuckled and hurried closer, lowering his voice. "Boss, I just saw that brat Fang Han."

"So what if you saw him? What's there to make such a fuss about?" Zhou Dabao said dismissively.

"Boss, I saw that brat coming back from outside with Li Daniu. The two of them were chatting and laughing along the way.

Li Daniu—the big dumb guy who's Shopkeeper Li's nephew. He joined Flood Peak Martial Arts Academy last month."

The moment the bald man finished speaking, Zhou Dabao's expression changed.

He sat upright, his cold triangular eyes fixed squarely on the bald man.

"You saw clearly?"

"Clear as day!" The bald man patted his chest. "They came from Prefectural Office Street. When they parted, Li Daniu even cupped his fist to Fang Han. He looked pretty polite about it."

Zhou Dabao narrowed his eyes, lightly tapping his fingers against the armrest.

The bald man asked tentatively, "Boss, do you think that brat might've joined the academy too? Otherwise, why would he be so familiar with Li Daniu?"

Zhou Dabao shook his head, his tone certain.

"Impossible. Do you know how much academy tuition costs?"

"Thirty taels!"

"The Fang Household is poor as ghosts. Thirty taels of silver—are they supposed to pay with their lives?"

The bald man scratched his head. "Then if Fang Han knows Li Daniu, what should we do? Should we give Shopkeeper Li some face?"

Zhou Dabao pondered for a moment, then gave his orders in a ghostly tone. "No matter what his relationship with Li Daniu is, keep that brat under close watch. See where he goes these next few days."

"If he really goes to the academy..."

He did not continue, but the chill in his eyes said everything.

The bald man nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, Boss. Leave it to me."

Zhou Dabao waved a hand and reclined again. Closing his eyes, he sneered inwardly.

A mud-legged peasant wanted to turn his life around?

What a dream!

When Fang Han returned home, his grandfather and grandmother were still awake.

Fang Yuanshan was leaning against the bed. His complexion was somewhat better than yesterday's, and a smile rose to his aged face when he saw Fang Han return.

"Han is back. Your mother saved you some food. It's in the pot."

Fang Han walked over and asked his grandfather with concern, "Grandfather, how are you feeling?"

"Much better. I'm old now; these old bones aren't much good anymore, but it's nothing serious."

Fang Yuanshan said with a smile. After grandfather and grandson chatted for a few moments, Fang Han went to the kitchen to eat.

After speaking with his mother for a while longer, Fang Han finally came to sit in the courtyard and think.

The bald man had seen him on his way back tonight. Though it had been accidental, he had to stay on guard and avoid being targeted by Zhou Dabao.

He had to keep going to the academy, and he could not stop drinking Blood-Qi Soup every day.

But he also had to be cautious. He could not let Zhou Dabao discover his movements.

Fang Han's eyes narrowed slightly. Taking a deep breath, he had already prepared for the worst.

"Mother, I'm heading out. I'll be back later."

After informing his mother, Fang Han left the house and headed toward the back mountain.

The back mountain was bathed in moonlight like flowing water.

Fang Han stood in an open space, taking the opening stance of Gale-Breaking Fist before beginning his practice.

With the Solomon's Seal Senior Brother Huo had given him nourishing his strength, Fang Han clearly felt that his condition tonight was even better than last night!

Especially the thread of Blood Qi within him—it was far more active. With every punch, he could feel that warm force coursing through his entire body, silently increasing his power.

One punch, two punches, three punches...

Once, twice, three times...

On the Panel before his eyes, proficiency kept jumping:

Gale-Breaking Fist Proficiency +1

Gale-Breaking Fist Proficiency +1

Gale-Breaking Fist Proficiency +1

A night passed.

Fang Han did not know how many times he had practiced his fist technique. Only when the sky began to brighten did he stop.

[Martial Art: Gale-Breaking Fist (Mortal Grade)]

[Proficiency: 83/500, Entry]

He had trained like mad all night, practicing the fist technique forty-five times!

Fang Han leaned against a tree trunk, gasping for breath, but the corners of his mouth could not stop rising.

With the boost from Solomon's Seal, his efficiency in practicing fists this night had more than doubled.

Fang Han thought silently. At this rate, in another four or five days, he would be able to raise his proficiency above two hundred.

Minor Accomplishment in the fist technique was just around the corner.

Only...

Looking down at the wooden box, where only half the Solomon's Seal remained, he knew it could not last that long.

At most two days. Once the Solomon's Seal was gone, his training efficiency would return to its original level.

Fang Han gave a bitter smile.

Make money!

He had to make money!

When Fang Han returned home, he could smell the fragrance of coarse-grain pancakes drifting from the kitchen from far away.

Fang Han took a deep breath, smiled faintly, and walked into the kitchen.

His mother, Chen Cui, looked at his slightly weary expression, her eyes full of heartache.

"Han, practicing martial arts these past two days must have been hard, right? Eat an egg and build yourself up. Don't worry, your elder brother and little sister have some too."

As she spoke, she picked up a boiled egg from the stove and pressed it into Fang Han's hand.

Fang Han held the warm egg in his hand, his heart trembling.

Looking at his mother's rough hands and the newly added white hairs at her temples, his nose could not help but sting.

Even though he had awakened his Past-Life Wisdom and possessed every bit of memory from his former life,

he had poured even deeper emotions into this world, along with the bonds he shared with his family.

"Mother, practicing martial arts isn't tiring."

"As long as you're not tired, that's good. Go on, eat the egg while it's hot." Chen Cui smiled as she tidied Fang Han's collar.

Fang Han walked out of the courtyard, peeled the egg, and took a bite.

After leaving Mud Bay Alley, he strode toward Prefectural Office Street.

Fang Han walked neither fast nor slow, but his gaze swept calmly over his surroundings.

As he turned into an alley, the corner of his eye caught sight of a figure.

It was that bald man from yesterday!

Seeing the other man watching in this direction from afar,

Fang Han's heart sank, but his face remained utterly calm.

Sure enough, he had still aroused Zhou Dabao's suspicions.

Drawing back his gaze, Fang Han continued forward without changing his pace.

He had to shake off that bald man. He could not let him continue following, or he would be unable to enter the academy and train today.

Fang Han's mind raced, and he quickly came up with an idea. He turned toward the fish market.

He was extremely familiar with the fish market's layout. He could shake the bald man there.

When the bald man saw Fang Han suddenly turn elsewhere, he hurriedly followed from a distance.

The fish market was already bustling. Fish sellers and buyers streamed back and forth in a bustling sea of people, all manner of shouts and sales cries blending into one.

Fang Han slipped into the crowd, turning left and right as his pace gradually quickened.

The bald man followed behind. At first, he could still see Fang Han's figure.

But as the crowd in the fish market grew denser, Fang Han's figure drifted farther and farther away before quickly vanishing from sight.

"Move! All of you, move!"

The bald man shoved aside the people blocking his path and desperately squeezed forward, but the way ahead was packed with people. Where was Fang Han's figure to be found?

The bald man walked farther ahead. Seeing that he had truly lost Fang Han, he finally stood before a fish vendor's stall and cursed loudly in rage.

"Damn it, where did he go?!"

Meanwhile, Fang Han had already passed through the fish market and entered another extremely secluded alley.

After leaving the alley, he made another wide circuit. Only after seeing that no one was secretly following him did he hurry toward the martial arts academy.