Hearing

Reaching the Body Tempering First Layer meant he had officially crossed the threshold into the Martial Artist path.

But Fang Han knew clearly that he was still a long way from truly becoming a Martial Artist.

That was, reaching the Manifest Force realm.

He had merely taken the first step onto this path.

Still.

He was more than capable of dealing with those Dragon King Gang bastards.

He spent some time playing with his younger sister, Fang Rui, in the courtyard.

The little girl pestered him to let her ride a horse, so Fang Han bent down.

He let her sit on his shoulders and walked back and forth around the courtyard a few times.

The little girl laughed so hard she rocked back and forth, her tiny hands clapping loudly as her bell-like laughter echoed through the yard.

His mother, Chen Cui, stood at the kitchen doorway.

Watching the siblings play, a long-lost smile appeared on her face.

After tiring herself out, Fang Rui went to play with ants by the wall.

Fang Han stood in the courtyard instead, raising his head toward the sky.

The sun was setting.

The clouds at the horizon had been dyed a vivid, fiery red by the setting sun.

Layer upon layer, they painted the entire sky in breathtaking splendor.

The flaming-cloud scenery was brilliant yet fleeting, and it stirred a sense of wistfulness in anyone who saw it.

Fang Han stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze grave as he considered something.

A few days ago.

Li Daniu had told him something.

He had not paid much attention at the time, but now that he thought back on it, he realized how crucial it was.

Li Daniu had said that if one wanted to become a true Martial Artist, one had to practice a Standing Post Skill.

—Standing Post Skill!

It was the beginning of becoming a Manifest Force Martial Artist.

Without a Standing Post Skill as a foundation, the Blood Qi gathered within the body could not be transformed into truly powerful force.

Only by sinking one's Blood Qi into the Standing Post Skill.

And accumulating it day after day could one temper Blood Qi into force and enter the Manifest Force realm.

And the methods for practicing a Standing Post Skill were not available to just anyone.

Only true disciples of a martial arts academy's Inner Court could receive a Standing Post Skill bestowed by the academy master.

Using the Standing Post Skill as a foundation, they could transform the Blood Qi within their bodies into force and become Manifest Force Martial Artists.

"Standing Post Skill..." Fang Han murmured, his gaze growing even more solemn.

He already had a plan.

Once he reached the Body Tempering Third Layer, he would find an opportunity to seek out the academy master.

Rather than taking those assessments, he would apply directly to enter the Inner Court, become a true disciple, and practice the Standing Post Skill.

That way.

After his martial cultivation reached the Body Tempering Third Layer, he would also possess enough strength to protect himself.

Even if the Dragon King Gang learned that he had become a disciple of the martial arts academy.

He would still be confident of dealing with any potential threat the Dragon King Gang posed.

Secondly.

Advancing his martial cultivation to the Body Tempering Third Layer with inferior innate talent would be enough to draw academy master Zheng Hongfeng's attention.

He did not need to show off. He only needed the academy master to know that someone like him existed in the Outer Court.

Keep a low profile and hide his edge.

Then reveal his strength at a critical moment. That was the way he did things.

More importantly, he did not want to reveal his strength in front of other people.

A tall tree catches the wind; the bird that sticks its head out gets shot.

Being high-profile and ostentatious would only bring him more trouble.

It was enough for the academy master to know he existed.

As for everyone else...

"Brother Fang Han! Brother Fang Han! Are you home?"

Just then, a childish shout came from beyond the courtyard wall.

The voice was clear and loud, carrying a hint of urgency.

Fang Han recognized it at once. It was Niu Niu, the little brat who lived across the street.

The child was only five or six years old, with a round, sturdy face.

His eyes were large and bright, and he usually loved racing around the alleyways. He was closest to Fang Rui.

Fang Han walked to the courtyard gate and pulled back the wooden bolt.

The little fellow's face was flushed red, and two streams of clear snot hung beneath his nose, sniffling with every breath.

His eyes darted around now, and his whole manner was sly and mischievous. One look told Fang Han that he was hiding something.

"Come in." Fang Han gestured, stepping aside.

Niu Niu did not stand on ceremony and immediately walked into the courtyard.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped. He glanced back at the open gate, wrinkled his little nose, and lowered his voice. "Brother Fang Han, close the gate."

Fang Han paused slightly. Seeing the serious look on Niu Niu's face, he closed the courtyard gate as requested.

Niu Niu stood in the middle of the courtyard, sniffling as he planted his hands on his hips.

Like a little adult, he looked around the courtyard and made sure there were no outsiders.

Only then did he walk over to Fang Han on his short legs.

He tugged at Fang Han's trouser leg, then glanced back at the closed courtyard gate.

After making certain no one was around, he leaned close to Fang Han and whispered, "Brother Fang Han, bad people outside want to hurt you!"

Fang Han's heart tightened, but his expression did not change.

"I heard them say they were going to set fire to your house tonight!"

Niu Niu kept his voice low.

But he spoke very quickly out of nervousness, the words nearly tumbling out one after another.

Fang Han crouched down until he was eye level with Niu Niu, his gaze serious yet gentle.

He did not dismiss the words as a joke simply because Niu Niu was a child.

He gently placed a hand on Niu Niu's shoulder and asked calmly, "Niu Niu, how did you find out?"

Niu Niu sniffed and wiped his nose with his sleeve.

"Just now, I was playing at the entrance of the alley, playing hide-and-seek with Er Gouzi and the others."

Niu Niu spoke with great seriousness, gesturing as he talked.

"I wanted to find a good hiding place, so I crawled behind the broken wall beside the old locust tree. There was a corner there where nobody could see me. But just as I squatted down, I heard people talking on the other side of the wall."

At this point, Niu Niu sniffed again. His eyes widened round as he continued in a hushed voice:

"At first, I didn't pay attention. But then I heard them say your name, so I listened carefully.

They weren't speaking loudly, but I was hiding close by, so I could make out bits and pieces.

They said things like, 'act tonight,' 'burn it down,' and 'burn it all clean with one fire.'"

Hearing this, Fang Han's heart sank sharply.

He had never expected that.

He had only been cultivating in seclusion at home for three days, yet someone wanted to burn down his house at night and condemn his entire family to death!

What kind of deep-seated hatred would drive someone to commit such a deranged act?

"What else did you hear? Think carefully. Don't leave out a single word."

Niu Niu scratched his head, his little face scrunched up as he tried hard to remember.

"They said something about Thunderclap Martial Arts Academy... a three-day deadline... and twenty taels of silver... Oh, right, they also said they'd act tonight, that they couldn't wait any longer..."

With a wall between them, Niu Niu had not heard very clearly.

He had only caught these keywords in fragments.

But for Fang Han, those few words were enough.

He frowned, rapidly piecing those fragments together in his mind, and understood everything in an instant.

Thunderclap Martial Arts Academy?

Wasn't that the academy Chen You belonged to?

Chen You had actually bribed people to go after his entire family!

A cold gleam flashed through Fang Han's eyes.

Chen You, that beast.

Fang Han's expression remained calm, but killing intent quietly gathered deep within his eyes.

He steadied himself, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

He lightly stroked Niu Niu's head, his voice mild.

"Do not tell anyone else about this, no matter what. Do you understand?"

Niu Niu nodded obediently. Then he raised his head, his big eyes full of worry.

"Brother Fang Han, will you be all right?"

Fang Han smiled faintly, calm confidence in his expression. "As long as I'm here, nothing will happen."

Only then did Niu Niu relax. The worry on his face faded, and he grinned.

Fang Han rose to his feet and had Niu Niu play in the courtyard with his sister.

Then he turned and went back into the house.

He closed the door and dug out an old set of clothes to change into.

"Mother, don't wait for me for dinner."

"I'm going out for a while. I'll be back later."

After informing his mother, Fang Han left the kitchen, crossed the courtyard, and pushed open the gate.

Dusk deepened, and the last trace of light on the horizon was being swallowed by the night.

Mud Bay Alley had already grown dark, with only a few scattered homes casting dim yellow light from their windows.

Fang Han stood at the entrance, his gaze sweeping over the depths of the alley, calm as still water.

He was going to find the three men Niu Niu had mentioned.

Strike first, or suffer the consequences.

Fang Han stepped out through the courtyard gate, his figure disappearing into the darkened alley.