Fang Han had practiced the Gale-Breaking Fist in a corner of the training ground for a long time, sweat soaking through his clothes, yet he found that the more he practiced, the more wrong it felt.
He stopped moving. With a thought, the Panel appeared before his eyes:
[Martial Art: Gale-Breaking Fist (Mortal Grade)] [Proficiency: 0/100, not yet entry]
Why was the proficiency still zero?
Staring at the Panel, Fang Han frowned deeply.
Could the Panel be malfunctioning?
He had practiced at least twenty or thirty times from morning until now, yet the Gale-Breaking Fist's proficiency had not budged an inch.
Fang Han pondered it and, after carefully analyzing everything, came to a conclusion.
Most likely, he had merely copied the motions like drawing a gourd from another gourd, simply replicating the movements of the Gale-Breaking Fist without truly understanding the paths of the punches within.
To put it more simply, the way he practiced the Gale-Breaking Fist had not yet met the Panel's required standard.
Just as he figured this out, footsteps sounded behind him.
"Have you been practicing since this morning until now?"
Fang Han turned around and saw Senior Brother Huo standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze resting on Fang Han with a hint of appreciation in his eyes.
Fang Han hurriedly cupped his fists. "Senior Brother Huo."
Huo Zheng gave a slight nod. Seemingly seeing Fang Han's confusion, he asked calmly, "Do you feel that despite practicing for so long, your fist technique has made no progress?"
Fang Han gave a bitter smile and nodded.
Huo Zheng continued, "The fact that you can spot the problem means you are not stupid. But you must understand one thing: practicing fist techniques is not something you can master merely by reading a manual. You need someone to teach you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Zheng moved and began demonstrating the Twelve Forms of Gale-Breaking Fist.
"Watch carefully."
It was the same Gale-Breaking Fist, but Fang Han discovered that the fist paths Senior Brother Huo performed were completely different.
Every punch was like wind bursting forth, its force fierce and swift, his footwork nimble, his advances and retreats measured.
Fang Han held his breath and fixed his eyes firmly on Huo Zheng's movements.
As he performed the forms, Huo Zheng explained their crucial points. "For the first form's opening stance, remember this: sink your center of gravity. Like me, your waist and stance must become one. For the second form, the driving punch, you must..."
He explained all twelve forms in succession, each one in meticulous detail, down to the subtlest point.
When the demonstration ended, Huo Zheng's expression had not changed and his breathing remained steady. He looked at Fang Han. "Do it again."
Fang Han took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and reviewed everything he had just seen in his mind.
Then he moved.
This time, from the opening stance alone, it was clear that he had improved considerably. His fist path was proper and precise.
A faint fist wind accompanied every punch, and exceedingly soft sounds echoed through the air.
Before long, Fang Han withdrew his fists, his face flushed red and his heart pounding fiercely.
It was not because performing the proper fist path had exhausted his body, but because just then, a line of small golden words had appeared before his eyes!
--Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1
It rose!
His proficiency had finally risen!
Fang Han was incomparably excited.
A trace of surprise flashed through Huo Zheng's eyes as he stood nearby. He seemingly had not expected Fang Han's comprehension to be so decent.
He walked over to Fang Han, reached out to correct several subtle movements, and adjusted his posture with even greater precision.
Fang Han followed every instruction and performed the Gale-Breaking Fist once more. Sure enough, it flowed more smoothly than before.
Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1
Huo Zheng stared at Fang Han in silence, his gaze somewhat complicated.
Although Junior Brother Fang's innate physique was poor, his comprehension was quite good. One hint and he understood; one lesson and he learned. What a pity...
What a pity that on the path of martial arts, innate physique was the foundation.
Those with good innate physiques could cultivate for one day and equal four or five days of another's effort.
Those with exceptional innate physiques achieved twice the result with half the effort!
Comprehension, temperament, diligence—these things were merely flowers embroidered upon brocade. Without the cornerstone of innate physique, no matter how high one's comprehension was, it would be difficult to achieve great success. The ceiling of one's future was already set there.
Still, he ultimately did not say any of this aloud.
Afterward, Huo Zheng guided Fang Han through the forms twice more. Once he confirmed that this older junior brother had grasped the essential fist paths of the Gale-Breaking Fist, he gave a few reminders and left directly.
Fang Han cupped his fists and thanked him solemnly.
Watching Senior Brother Huo's figure disappear from the training ground, he withdrew his gaze and looked at the Panel, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
He continued practicing.
Once.
Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1
Again.
Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1
Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1
As the sun slanted westward, the Outer Court apprentices gradually dispersed.
Fang Han could no longer hold on either, and stopped practicing.
His entire body was drenched in sweat, his arms ached, and his legs had gone weak and trembled.
Though he was exhausted beyond measure, his eyes shone brighter than they ever had before.
On the Panel, it clearly displayed:
[Martial Art: Gale-Breaking Fist (Mortal Grade)] [Proficiency: 23/100, not yet entry]
In one afternoon, he had practiced the fist technique twenty-three times.
After resting briefly and recovering his breath, Fang Han dragged his weary body away. He changed his clothes, left behind the martial hall's training uniform, and departed the martial hall, hurrying toward Mud Bay Alley.
Returning in the martial hall apprentice's clothes would draw too much attention in Mud Bay Alley. If Zhou Dabao and his gang learned that he had money to enter a martial hall, it would surely bring trouble.
Before he possessed sufficient strength, he had to lie low.
By the time the sky darkened, Fang Han finally hurried to the entrance of his home.
But the moment he reached the door, he saw several people gathered in the courtyard.
Fang Han immediately sensed something was wrong. He quickened his pace and entered the courtyard, only to see a sight that made his blood surge upward!
The courtyard was in shambles. His grandfather lay on the ground, pale-faced, clutching his chest and groaning softly.
His grandmother held his younger sister as they cowered in the back. The little girl was crying loudly in fright, but their grandmother tightly covered her mouth.
His mother crouched beside his grandfather, at a complete loss, tears falling patter by patter.
The visitor was Zhou Dabao!
Fang Han stared fixedly at the back of Zhou Dabao's head, killing intent churning in his chest.
But he quickly suppressed that killing intent deep within his heart.
Fang Han took a deep breath, strode forward, and forced a fawning smile onto his face.
"Lord Bao, what is this about?"
Zhou Dabao turned around, glanced sideways at him, and sneered. "The Fang family's second boy is back? Good. Saves me from sending someone to find you."
"Lord Bao, this..."
Zhou Dabao sneered. "It is nothing major. The gang leader has given a death order: the Attendant offering for this River God Festival has increased. It is eight taels now, not one cent less."
Eight taels!
Fang Han's heart sank, but he did not dare show it on his face. Looking troubled, he said, "Eight taels... It has only been a day. Why has it gone up again..."
"How the hell would I know?"
"Cut the nonsense. Same as before: either pay up, or you or your older brother signs a living contract, or hand over this little girl as an offering to the River God and save everyone the trouble."
Zhou Dabao gave a vicious grin, scaring Fang Rui into letting out a shriek and burrowing into her grandmother's arms.
The smile on Fang Han's face remained unchanged, but the killing intent in his heart grew ever stronger.
He moved close to Zhou Dabao, took out a string of coins from his chest—roughly fifty copper coins—and offered it with both hands.
"Lord Bao, please take this small token and have some tea. As for the offering money, please grant me a few more days. Once I gather it all, I will personally deliver it into your hands!"
Fang Han lowered his voice for that final sentence.
Zhou Dabao took the string of coins and weighed it in his hand, his expression softening somewhat.
"Fine. Seeing that you brat know the ropes, I'll give you a few more days. The fourth day of the month—the final day. If you still cannot gather it by then, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
Fang Han nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Lord Bao. Thank you, Lord Bao."
Zhou Dabao tucked the money into his chest, waved his hand, and several ruffians followed him out of the courtyard with great swagger.
Once the courtyard had fallen quiet, Fang Han turned to look at his family.
"It's all right now. I'll think of a way to get the money. Don't panic, and don't be afraid."
Fang Yuanshan looked at him, his lips trembling. After a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Eight taels... That is eight taels!"
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