Debts Must Be Repaid

"Grandpa, take a look—is my Rhino Head Gazing at Moon done correctly?"

"Grandpa, why can't I produce that burst of force you talked about?"

"Grandpa, why is this Four Elephants Fist so clumsy and heavy?"

"..."

Early in the morning, Huo Qianqian was already pestering Huo Chengkun with question after question. Her chatter made his head spin, and he hurriedly said, "Good granddaughter, you're asking so many questions at once—how am I supposed to answer? Ask them one at a time, and I'll answer them one at a time."

Huo Qianqian stomped her foot. "Why are you so stupid? Forget it, I'll go ask Eldest Senior Brother."

With that, she ran off with a rapid thud-thud-thud.

Huo Chengkun was left standing there, shaking his head. "Still as impatient as ever."

Then he grew somewhat puzzled. Why had she suddenly become so invested in practicing martial arts?

The old servant beside him saw his confusion and took the initiative to explain. "Lately, Miss has been getting up before dawn every day to practice. She's been extremely diligent."

"Oh?"

Huo Chengkun found it strange. "Why has she suddenly changed so much?"

This granddaughter of his could not exactly be called lazy, but she truly had never cared much about martial arts. In fact, her talent was quite outstanding. She was simply too fond of playing.

He could not bring himself to force her harshly, so he had let her do as she pleased.

The old servant smiled. "She'll be getting married soon. Perhaps she's worried she won't be able to keep her husband in line after the wedding."

"When did this start?"

"About a month ago. She had an argument with Seventh Young Master back then, and she's been like this ever since."

Huo Chengkun remembered. A month ago, before Old Seventh had left, the two of them really had gotten into an argument.

His interest was piqued, and he rose to his feet. "Come, let's see how much she has improved over the past month."

Thus, master and servant went to his eldest disciple Zhao An's place.

In Zhao An's courtyard, Huo Qianqian was asking Zhao An for guidance.

Huo Chengkun stood at the entrance without going in to disturb them. After watching for a while, he was greatly surprised. His granddaughter's stance training had improved enormously and had already reached the Fifth Layer. Her Four Elephants Fist had also become much more practiced; it was no longer the flashy but useless display it had once been.

His old heart was greatly comforted. This willful granddaughter of his had finally realized the importance of martial arts.

Afraid of disturbing her, he quietly left with the old servant.

Before he knew it, Huo Chengkun had wandered over to the training ground, where he stood at the entrance and watched for a while. He saw a crowd gathered in the middle, occasionally erupting into cheers.

He peered inside and, through a gap in the crowd, saw two people sparring.

One of them was Chen Ming.

"Eh?"

Huo Chengkun cried out in surprise inwardly. Chen Ming's stance training had actually broken through to the Fourth Layer.

How was that possible?

If he had possessed such cultivation, why had he lied to him last month and claimed that his stance training was only at the Second Layer?

The more Huo Chengkun watched, the stranger it seemed. This boy's Three Powers Fist had actually reached the threshold of mastery, flowing from his hands effortlessly during the exchange. Rather than a battle, it looked more like he was feeding moves to his opponent.

"Could I have misjudged him back then?"

"Or did he encounter some other fortuitous opportunity after leaving here?"

After watching for a while, Huo Chengkun left with his servant.

After walking some distance, the more he thought about it, the more something felt off. He said, "Tomorrow, give Chen Ming one... forget it, two Qi and Blood Pills. Consider it payment for being a Sparring Partner."

"Yes."

The old servant acknowledged the order, though he found it strange. Why had Master suddenly become so generous?

A single Qi and Blood Pill cost fifty taels of silver. Two pills meant a hundred taels.

For Master to voluntarily offer compensation—this was unprecedented.

Huo Chengkun recalled something else and asked, "By the way, Deng Ziyang hasn't come back, has he?"

The old servant answered, "He stopped coming half a month ago. I heard he switched to another stance technique and is now a Ranked Martial Artist."

"Heh, that plague god has finally gone."

Huo Chengkun had no intention of wading into the muddy waters of the Giant Tiger Gang. He still wanted to live a few more years.

You have defeated another LV7 opponent and gained 5 experience points.

Chen Ming defeated the last student from the Intermediate Class. Seeing the notification before his eyes, a faint satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He had discovered that as his level increased, the minimum experience he gained from defeating enemies of different levels also changed.

He was now Level Seven.

For those below Level Seven, the minimum was only one point.

For those of the same level, it was at least five points.

For those one level higher, it was at least twenty points.

For those two levels higher, it was thirty points.

As for those three levels higher, he did not know.

In the Intermediate Class, five people were the same level as him, while two were one level above him.

Several students from the Advanced Class also came to spar with him every day, and quite a few of them were one or two levels higher than him.

Because his energy was limited, he no longer sparred with students from the Beginner Class.

Just sparring with these students each day earned him nearly 140 experience points.

Huo Qianqian had also reached Level Nine half a month ago, contributing thirty points to him every day.

Such gains far exceeded his earlier expectations.

Chen Ming suddenly realized that blindly suppressing his level might not necessarily be a good thing.

Lost in thought, he left Huo Manor.

A carriage was already waiting at the entrance.

When he arrived at Deng Manor in the carriage and stepped through the gate, he saw Deng Ziyang, dressed in black, coming out to greet him.

Chen Ming said in delight, "Brother Deng, you've come out of seclusion?"

Ten days ago, Deng Ziyang had said he was going into seclusion. Chen Ming had not expected him to emerge so quickly.

Moreover, Deng Ziyang felt completely different from before. Even with a smile on his face, he gave off an oppressive air, like a blade unsheathed and flashing with cold light.

Chen Ming understood at once and congratulated him. "It seems Brother Deng has successfully broken through. From now on, you are a true martial artist. Congratulations."

Deng Ziyang's expression remained calm and unruffled as he smiled. "I merely took the first step. I believe it will not be long before Senior Brother catches up."

A grand feast had already been prepared in the manor. All his brothers were beaming with joy as they celebrated their eldest brother.

On such a joyous day, the afternoon sparring was naturally canceled.

After finishing his meal, Chen Ming took his leave first.

Sitting in the carriage, he felt somewhat regretful. Just a little more.

Back then, he and Deng Ziyang had agreed to spar three times a day, and he had taken the initiative to suggest several more bouts. Naturally, they had no reason to refuse.

Thus, he also gained twenty points a day at Deng Manor.

Over half a month, he had accumulated a full 2,983 experience points. He was only seventeen points short of raising the experience for Iron Horse Stance to the completion of the Fifth Layer in one go and breaking through to become a martial artist.

"Looks like I'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Chen Ming suppressed the restlessness in his heart. Whether he broke through today or tomorrow, there was no real difference anyway.

As the carriage entered the alley, he suddenly heard a commotion.

He paid it no mind until the coachman said, "Young Master Chen, it seems something has happened at your home."

"Hmm?"

He pushed open the carriage window and looked out. Several shifty-looking young men were gathered outside his door, shouting, "Debts must be repaid—it's only right and proper! Chen Rui, you borrowed two hundred taels from our boss. The interest has now snowballed to five hundred taels. Pay up, now!"

His elder brother Chen Rui stood guard at the doorway with a medicinal hoe in hand, his face red as he confronted them.