Moving House

"Cai Qingwen's Cai Family is a fairly ordinary merchant household in Qinglin County, chiefly dealing in tea. Cai Qingwen himself is in the Muscle Tempering Realm, but that isn't the most important part. What matters most is that his family is sponsoring our martial hall's Third Senior Brother, Yang Zheng. The two have a close relationship."

"Senior Brother Yang..." Cheng Yang recalled the fierce man from earlier, with a leopard's head, ringed eyes, and a heavy, restrained aura, and repeated the name thoughtfully.

"All right, thank you for the information, Junior Brother Chu. I'll keep an eye on Cai Qingwen."

"Senior Brother Cheng, to tell you the truth—my Chu Family has always held a grudge against the Cai Family." Chu Yunjiang simply laid everything bare. "Both families deal in tea, and we've fought openly and covertly for years. The year before last, my father led the Chu Family to greater heights, faintly surpassing the Cai Family. Sadly, fine times did not last. He was assassinated and passed away."

"We've always suspected the Cai Family was behind it, but without solid proof, we could only let the matter drop."

"After my father died, the Chu Family suffered a severe blow and fell back into an evenly matched position with the Cai Family."

Cheng Yang was somewhat surprised.

Chu Yunjiang's candor exceeded his expectations. This was only their first formal interaction, yet he had revealed all these family matters.

"I'm telling you this only to let you know that I have no designs on you whatsoever, Senior Brother. Cai Qingwen and the Cai Family are sinister to the extreme—I know that better than anyone. Please be careful, Senior Brother."

Chu Yunjiang added another sentence, his tone sincere. To be honest, he did not expect Cheng Yang, who was only in the Skin Tempering Realm, to bring down the Cai Family. He simply did not want this promising senior brother to fall into Cai Qingwen's trap.

"Junior Brother Chu, thank you for the warning." Cheng Yang clasped his hands in thanks.

Whether Cai Qingwen truly intended to use underhanded tricks or not, he had to prepare in advance.

Besides, the threat of the Golden Tiger Gang still hung over his head—a thunderbolt that could explode at any moment.

The Cheng family courtyard was no longer very safe. He planned to bring his mother to live at the martial hall.

As a core disciple, he had that much authority. In terms of safety, the Chen Clan Martial Hall ranked among the best in Qinglin County.

"Senior Brother Cheng, my Chu Family may not be enormously wealthy, but we are still fairly well-off." Chu Yunjiang spoke earnestly. "Five jin of exotic beast meat each month—would that be worth your consideration?"

"Junior Brother Chu, I've already accepted sponsorship from Senior Brother Yan's family."

"Ah, I see... Then forget it." Chu Yunjiang's expression dimmed slightly. The Yan Family was far larger than the Chu Family. Since Senior Brother Cheng had already entered the Yan Family's fold, naturally he would not think much of the little they had to offer.

"No, Junior Brother Chu, you've misunderstood." Cheng Yang waved his hand. "What I mean is, you know I've accepted sponsorship from the Yan Family, yet you're still willing to sponsor me?"

"This... wouldn't the Yan Family have objections?" Chu Yunjiang hesitated.

"I've already discussed this with Senior Brother Yan. He agreed that I could seek support from other families as well." Cheng Yang made it clear.

"If that is the case, then so long as Senior Brother Cheng does not disdain the meager resources my Chu Family can provide, I am naturally willing." Chu Yunjiang cupped his fists in salute.

"Junior Brother Chu, let me make this clear first—I may seek sponsorship from other families in the future as well." Cheng Yang raised an eyebrow.

"Senior Brother... are the resources from my Chu Family and the Yan Family together still not enough for your cultivation?" Chu Yunjiang could not help asking.

"Not enough." Cheng Yang told the truth. "I still want to participate in the Ascending Dragon Conference more than twenty days from now. These resources are nowhere near enough."

The Ascending Dragon Conference?

Chu Yunjiang suspected something was wrong with his ears and nearly thought he had misheard.

Even at the Muscle Tempering Realm, he did not dare sign up for the Ascending Dragon Conference, afraid he would be beaten to death the moment he stepped onto the stage. It was an arena where life and death were one's own responsibility, not some child's game.

Yet this Senior Brother Cheng, who was merely in the Skin Tempering Realm, dared proclaim that he would compete?

To achieve a good ranking in the Ascending Dragon Conference, the Bone Tempering Realm was merely the threshold.

Could it be that Senior Brother Cheng could cross Flesh Tempering and enter Bone Tempering in just over twenty days? What kind of joke was that?

He himself possessed two stance arts, yet had been stuck at the Bone Tempering threshold for a full year without managing to cross it.

If Cheng Yang truly managed to reach Bone Tempering in just over twenty days, he would stand on his head...

Forget it. It was enough to think that to himself. Saying it aloud would only make him a laughingstock.

"Since Senior Brother Cheng was accepted by Master as a core disciple, his talent naturally surpasses that of ordinary people. It is only reasonable that he requires vast resources." Chu Yunjiang changed his tone and said with a smile, "At the next Ascending Dragon Conference, I believe Senior Brother will certainly shine brilliantly."

Cheng Yang smiled but did not respond.

The next one? That would be four years from now. By then, he might already have fought his way through this entire world. Why would he still participate in an Ascending Dragon Conference?

"I'll deliver the resources to you tomorrow, Senior Brother Cheng. I'll take my leave first."

Chu Yunjiang turned and departed, and Cheng Yang finally gained a brief moment of peace.

He did not want to waste even a moment. He immediately rose into the Wild Bull Stance.

He practiced until noon, mooched a lunch from the kitchen, then finally found time to return home.

Ever since his mother, Lin Xia, had been dismissed from the laundry workshop, she had been unable to find new work and spent every day with a worried frown.

Only when she saw her son return did the anxiety on her face ease slightly.

Cheng Yang told her about moving house.

"Xiaoyang... did you offend someone outside?" Lin Xia asked uneasily.

"Mother, Master has already accepted me as a core disciple. A tall tree catches the wind."

"For safety's sake, let's move to the martial hall." Cheng Yang's tone was calm.

"A core disciple?" Lin Xia froze at once, as though she had been nailed in place. It took her a long while to recover. "Xiaoyang, you... you became a core disciple?"

"Yes. The hall master said my talent was decent, so he accepted me." Cheng Yang nodded. "Then, about moving?"

"Mother will listen to you. I'll listen to you in everything!" Lin Xia clenched her collar, tears welling in her eyes as she murmured, "Your father, can you see it... Xiaoyang has made something of himself..."

Mother and son worked swiftly and soon packed their luggage. Carrying bundles of all sizes, Cheng Yang led his mother for a little over ten minutes before they arrived at the martial hall.

Using his status as a core disciple, he quickly settled his mother in. After giving her a few simple instructions, he immediately threw himself back into martial training without stopping for breath.

Within a few hours, the Wild Bull Stance successfully broke through to Minor Accomplishment.

The speed was even faster than when he had practiced the Rock-Still Stance yesterday—the Wild Bull Stance was a mid-grade stance art, while the Rock-Still Stance was a high-grade one. Their difficulty was never on the same level.

With all three stance arts at Minor Accomplishment, Cheng Yang's physical qualities rose another notch.

"Could I, with all three stance arts at Minor Accomplishment, wipe out the Golden Tiger Gang in one fell swoop?"

He had also had someone investigate the Golden Tiger Gang. Their strongest member was their chief leader, Xu Chengfeng, who was in the Skin Tempering Realm.

Although Xu Chengfeng possessed only one stance art, his fist technique had reached an unfathomable level—someone who had no stats and relied entirely on skill.

But now Cheng Yang had three stance arts to support him, along with Peerless Bearing as his safety net. He had no need to fear a single Xu Chengfeng.

Since that was the case, he might as well see it through.

The Golden Tiger Gang had been a thorn buried in his heart for too long. If he did not pull it out, he would never know peace day or night.

Had he not awakened his memories from a past life, he and his mother would likely have been swindled into ruin long ago.

A gentleman must avenge such a grudge.

Tonight would be the time to pull out that thorn.