Knight's Will

The membership card Shang Yulin gave Zuo Yi was exactly the same size as an ordinary credit card and even had an embedded IC chip. The front bore the logo and name of the West Creek Underground Market, while a long serial number was printed along the bottom.

The entire card was bronze-colored, exquisitely designed and crafted.

Shang Yulin explained, "My father applied for this Bronze Card back then. The card is recognized, not the holder. I used it at the West Creek Underground Market before, but it only grants access to the first level."

At the mention of Shang He, her expression dimmed slightly. Clearly, she had been reminded of the past.

Not wanting to reopen her wounds, Zuo Yi pretended to be interested and asked, "Do the second and third levels require higher-tier cards?"

"Yes."

Shang Yulin nodded. "You need a Silver Card to enter the second level and a Gold Card for the third. I heard there's even a Diamond Supreme Card, but I've only ever seen a Silver Card."

"But for us, a Bronze Card is enough. The first level has the most people and the most goods. Whether you can find a treasure depends entirely on your own eye, and it's convenient to set up a stall and sell things there too."

After a pause, she added, "The West Creek Underground Market is backed by the Martial Arts Alliance and several major families. You mustn't cause trouble inside, or it'll become very troublesome."

Zuo Yi smiled. "Don't worry. I'm only going there to sell a few things and make some money, not to cause trouble."

"Tianhong's current situation..."

Shang Yulin looked a little embarrassed. "Anyway, if you urgently need money, I can lend you some."

"Thank you."

Zuo Yi smiled. "I won't stand on ceremony with you."

But Zuo Yi could not possibly ask Shang Yulin for money. With Shang He, the pillar holding everything up, gone, the Heavenly Vast Martial Arts Hall was already in dire straits. He could see that Shang Yulin was struggling to keep it afloat.

"By the way, Senior Sister..."

Zuo Yi said, "I'd like to take Bao'er to visit Master's wife. When would be convenient?"

The master's wife Zuo Yi referred to was naturally Shang He's wife and Shang Yulin's mother, Liang Xuemei.

Back when Zuo Yi had been learning at the martial arts hall, Shang He and Liang Xuemei had taken great care of him. He had gone to the Shang Family for meals more than once, and he still remembered the taste of Master's wife's cooking.

It was fragrant and warm.

A few days ago, Zuo Yi had asked Shang Yulin about Master's wife and learned that Liang Xuemei had been recuperating at home due to poor health.

That was why he could not simply show up and disturb her.

Meanwhile, Shang Yulin had to care for her mother while managing the martial arts hall, constantly running back and forth between the two. It was exhausting for her.

Shang Yulin hesitated for a moment at Zuo Yi's suggestion, then said, "In a few days."

"Alright."

Zuo Yi said, "I haven't seen Master's wife in a long time. I really miss her braised lion's head meatballs too."

He sighed sincerely, "They were really delicious."

For some reason, Shang Yulin could not help but smile.

Much of the gloom between her brows faded away.

While Zuo Yi was sitting in the office talking with Shang Yulin, Bao'er led Taike into the sword room.

"Slash!"

At that moment, Sun Qiang, dressed in a martial arts uniform, was practicing swordsmanship against a wooden training dummy.

It was still that same move, Slash. He raised and swung his wooden sword again and again, practicing with meticulous seriousness.

Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, splashing continuously onto the floor with his vigorous movements and forming a conspicuous ring of dampness. He had clearly been practicing for quite some time.

Woof!

Hearing Taike bark, Little Qiang immediately stopped practicing. When he turned around and saw Bao'er, a delighted smile instantly appeared on his face.

Without even wiping his sweat, the chubby boy hurried over to greet her. "Junior Sister Bao'er, you're here."

Bao'er gave him a sweet smile. "Good morning, Brother Sun Qiang."

The chubby boy grinned from ear to ear. "Good morning."

But just as the words left his mouth, he caught sight of Taike glaring at him from the corner of his eye. Its gaze was extremely unfriendly, and a low growl rumbled from its throat!

Taike: Only one bootlicker may exist in this room!!

Though it was merely a cute little dog not much bigger than a palm, Sun Qiang felt as if he were being watched by some prehistoric beast. His scalp tingled, and his legs went weak.

With lightning speed, he grabbed the lunch box he had prepared long ago and ingratiatingly opened it for Taike.

Little Qiang's survival instincts were still very strong.

At least you know what's good for you!

The moment Taike smelled the pastries, its gaze toward the chubby boy immediately softened, even taking on a hint of approval.

It turned, lowered its head, and rubbed against Bao'er's calf, whining coquettishly.

Bao'er was a complete sucker for that act. Naturally, she thanked Little Qiang before taking the lunch box and feeding the pastries inside to Foodie Tai one by one, trying to fill its bottomless stomach.

Having escaped another disaster, Sun Qiang said cheerfully, "I'll have my mom make more tomorrow."

Bao'er felt embarrassed. "No need. That would be too much trouble for your mother."

Taike: Awoom, nom nom nom...

Sun Qiang waved his hands repeatedly. "It's no trouble, no trouble. My mom loves making pastries. She feels uncomfortable if she goes a day without doing it."

Fortunately, Mother Qiang was not here. Otherwise, if she had heard him, she would have grabbed a mop handle and beaten him senseless: You think I enjoy making pastries every day? Isn't it because I'm afraid you'll go hungry outside?

The carefree chubby boy grinned foolishly at Taike as it wolfed down the food.

Zuo Yi, who had just arrived at the sword room, saw the scene and could not help shaking his head. "Taike is being greedy again?"

Bao'er had just stuffed a shumai into Taike's mouth. Guiltily, she stuck out her little tongue.

Sun Qiang nearly jumped. "Teacher Zuo!"

"Hm?"

Zuo Yi glanced at the chubby boy, somewhat surprised. "Did something happen to you?"

His perception was incredibly sharp. With a single glance, he noticed the change in Sun Qiang.

This change came from the level of mental will!

Sun Qiang was a little dazed by the question. After hesitating, he said, "This morning, this morning I got surrounded. I... I drove them away."

It was a bit of an exaggeration, but it was basically true.

After stammering for a few sentences, he became more fluent. "Luckily, I had the wooden sword you gave me, Teacher, and the sword move you taught me. Otherwise, they definitely would've beaten me badly."

Thinking of what had happened that morning, the chubby boy was still shaken. He could not help tightening his grip on the wooden sword in his hand.

"Mm."

Zuo Yi nodded and did not continue questioning him.

He had just discovered that Sun Qiang possessed a trace of Knight's Will, and now he knew the source of it.

In Sadea World, if an ordinary person wanted to become a knight, besides tempering their body and practicing swordsmanship to stimulate their potential and break through their limits, the most important thing was to cultivate a powerful will.

Regardless of good or evil, a cowardly and timid person could never condense a Knight's Heart and could never become a true knight.

Earlier, Zuo Yi had told Sun Qiang that if he did not have the courage to draw his sword and fight, then he should not learn swordsmanship. That was the way of the sword, and likewise the Knight's Way!

What Zuo Yi had not expected was that Sun Qiang would gain such insight so quickly and possess the most rudimentary Knight's Will.

That meant he had the potential to become a knight!

Though it was the result of a fortunate coincidence, Zuo Yi's teachings had clearly not been wasted.

Zuo Yi's silence made Sun Qiang extremely uneasy. He lowered his head and assumed the posture of someone honestly admitting his mistake.

Seeing this, Zuo Yi smiled. "You did nothing wrong. As long as you know your limits, protecting yourself is entirely reasonable and legal."

After pondering for a moment, he continued, "Today, I'll teach you something new."

Sun Qiang raised his head in delight. "Thank you, Teacher!"

He had long since become utterly convinced by Zuo Yi. Being able to learn even one more move or technique from him felt like a huge gain.

In truth, Little Qiang's gratitude was entirely justified. What Zuo Yi taught him that day was neither a body-tempering movement nor a sword technique, but the Giant Dragon Breathing Method, known as one of the three great foundations of knighthood!

The Knight Body Tempering Art, basic swordsmanship, and the Giant Dragon Breathing Method were the foundations of the knight-training system in Sadea World. Nearly all knights condensed their Knight's Hearts through practicing these three foundational arts.

Earlier, Zuo Yi had taught Sun Qiang one movement from the Knight Body Tempering Art and passed on Slash from basic swordsmanship. Now, with the Giant Dragon Breathing Method added today, it showed that Zuo Yi was training Sun Qiang according to the standards of an Apprentice Knight.

Sun Qiang had no idea just how fortunate he was. A door to an entirely New World was opening before him!