Golden Ape Fist, a Ninth-Rank True Art

The true art scroll slowly unfurled across the low table,

but Zhou Chun, the steward, covered it again halfway through.

"Golden Ape Fist"—a martial true art that led straight to the peak of the ninth rank. It was divided into five parts: Qi Circulation, Force Infusion, Inner Tempering, Body Tempering, and Bone Forging.

Naturally, the Brokerage Guild would not hand the entire art to apprentices like them all at once. The half-scroll contained only the first three stages: Qi Circulation, Force Infusion, and Inner Tempering.

Qi Circulation and breathing were the foundation of the art. Once proficient, one could mobilize one's blood and qi to achieve Force Infusion.

Once Force Infusion was perfected, the fleshly body would begin Inner Tempering.

These three parts involved no combat techniques, merely foundational methods for tempering blood and qi. After entering the gate, one would only be one or two times stronger than an ordinary person.

As for Body Tempering and Bone Forging, those were cultivation methods for after breaking through to become a Martial Warrior. Since they could not see them now, they could only make a few guesses.

Though his destiny panel had already recorded the Golden Ape Fist, if he did not personally practice it, its proficiency naturally would not increase.

After all, his destiny was "diligence can make up for clumsiness," not "gains without labor."

Seeing the introduction, the newly recruited apprentices could not wait to begin reciting it where they stood.

First came the Qi Circulation chant. This one was fairly easy. Beside them, some youths had already begun humming it softly.

Once one person took the lead, the others followed along. With its musical rhythm, it naturally rolled off the tongue.

The difficult part was linking the changes between the moves. Fortunately, the old gang leader's demonstration was still vivid in their minds.

The nine of them cobbled together one move after another, and with the lifelike illustrations on the scroll, they barely managed to string them into a sequence.

Unfortunately, time was limited. By the time Zhou Chun put away the scroll, everyone was still left wanting more.

Su Xinghe quietly sighed to himself.

He had been just a little short of grasping that thread of force-exertion technique within the art. Unfortunately, there were too many people around, and he had been unable to completely settle his mind.

Now, seeing that the proficiency on his destiny panel had not risen at all, he knew he had yet to enter the gate.

It was not only him. The other eight disciples of his cohort were even worse. These Brokerage Guild apprentices probably had little exposure to martial arts; whether in their moves or breathing rhythms, there was not the slightest coordination.

Still, these apprentices all had excellent memories. They had long since memorized the chant until it rolled off their tongues.

Su Xinghe also wanted to calm down and ponder it.

But some apprentices came over to strike up conversations and make connections.

"Brother Su, how long have you been at the Brokerage Guild?"

"Only half a year. May I ask your honored surname, brother?"

"My surname is Sun, given name Jie. I'm also an apprentice from this year's intake. I'm currently learning broad knowledge under Master Qian. Just call me Little Sun."

"Brother Sun, a pleasure, a pleasure..."

From chatting with several companions, he learned that there was a dedicated small courtyard in the Brokerage Guild's rear compound for practicing martial arts. From now on, he was qualified to use it.

However, apprentices who had not yet passed their three-month assessment period had one condition: they could not let practice affect their proper duties.

The nine agreed to meet again at the training ground tomorrow.

Then they went their separate ways.

Just as Su Xinghe was lamenting how difficult true arts were to learn and wondering if his talent was not so exceptional after all,

on the top floor of the Brokerage Guild, inside an elegant room with a broad view,

Zhou Chun carried the true art scroll and lightly knocked open the door.

"Gang Leader!"

Zhou Yingjun looked up, a trace of impatience in his eyes.

"How was it?"

Zhou Chun immediately reported respectfully,

"One should be Grade A or above. The rest are all ordinary Grade C talents!"

"Gang Leader, we may have found a promising seedling this time."

A smile immediately surfaced on Zhou Tianxiong's aged face.

"Was it that Su Xinghe?"

Zhou Chun nodded forcefully.

"Hahaha..."

"Something has been off in the city lately. Keep this confidential..."

After leaving the Brokerage Guild, Su Xinghe deliberately glanced over.

Perhaps because the weather was scorching, the training ground on the eastern side was silent and empty. But he could not go in to practice his fistwork yet; he had to return and continue guarding the door.

Su Xinghe decided to come an hour early tomorrow morning.

When he returned to the warehouse post, he found that more than two hours had passed without him realizing it.

Lu Kui and the others had not returned yet.

After thanking Six for helping guard the door, he continued staring blankly out the window.

The setting sun was like blood, and the entire warehouse hall was like a steamer basket. Only by the window was there still the faintest breeze.

Suppressing the joy in his heart, he constantly simulated the movements of the art he had just acquired in his mind. Several times, he could not resist wanting to try again, only to forcibly suppress the urge.

"Anyone practicing in public will receive one hundred cane strokes!"

No wonder Martial Warriors had been so rare in the half year since he had transmigrated. Other places probably had similar rules.

Gradually, several vendors appeared at the mouth of the alley, along with pedestrians hurrying past.

In the sweltering air drifted the lingering ash scent of burned firewood.

Only when the fragrance of food from the kitchen spread everywhere did the team members collecting peace taxes return in triumph, their faces glowing. Chatting and laughing, they filed in one after another and headed straight for the kitchen.

Su Xinghe greeted the minor leader, Zhang Whiskers.

This minor leader was probably just over thirty. He was steady by nature, spoke little, and handled matters with rigid precision, carrying the temperament of a lone wolf.

He usually did not put on airs. So long as team members did not break the rules, he would simply pretend not to see whatever they did.

Hearing someone greet him, Zhang Whiskers looked over expressionlessly. Then his lips moved slightly, and three words popped out.

"Go eat."

That was exactly what Su Xinghe had been waiting to hear.

It meant today's door-guarding duty was over.

The side dishes in the kitchen were not much to speak of, but they were free, and no one usually passed up such a benefit.

Returning to eat a meal also counted as clocking out. The deeper meaning was probably to confirm everyone's safety for the day.

But those were matters for the higher-ups to consider. Ordinary disciples returned simply for a bite to eat.

"Old Cripple, do you have duck butts today?"

Lu Kui's deep voice echoed through the kitchen. It seemed he wanted to indulge himself today.

"I've got a donkey dick. Want it?"

"Yes!"

"Pay first. Eight coppers."

Lu Kui turned and looked behind him, only to find his teammates already bent over their food in the corner.

He could only fumble around and pull out a large coin worth ten coppers from his clothes, slapping it onto the counter.

"No need to give change. Bring me a pot of wine too!"

"Scram!"

"At most, you get one cup!"

"Brother Kui, why is there a red mark on your face?"

At the dining table, Su Xinghe deliberately started a conversation as he stared at Lu Kui beside him, who was hunched over gnawing on the shaft.

"Hahaha..."

Hu Shuo, another young man, suddenly could not help bursting into laughter upon hearing that.

At once, the others at the same table began snickering as well.

Soon, team members started egging them on, and the topic at the table turned to an amusing incident from collecting peace taxes that afternoon.

It turned out this fat man had tried to avoid paying a tip that afternoon, and Miss Ruyan had given him a vicious pinch.

But it had been worth it—wasn't he having an extra dish right now?

Lu Kui's fat face stiffened, and his neck swelled.

"A donkey bit me!"

That was exactly the line Su Xinghe had been waiting for. He immediately shouted exaggeratedly,

"Brother Kui, you struck it rich this afternoon!"

Minor leader Zhang Whiskers kept a stern face and tapped the tabletop three times with his chopsticks.

Only then did Lu Kui put down his chopsticks with a pained expression. He fumbled around in his clothes for a long while before finally taking out three large coins and reluctantly passing them over beneath the table.

"Thanks, boss!"

"Brother Kui sure has had his share of romantic luck today."

Su Xinghe reached out and accepted them without changing expression. After lightly weighing them in his hand, he tucked them into his own pocket.

"Want to play a round with the brothers tonight before you go?"

Lu Kui's voice was somewhat low as his eyes lingered reluctantly on the slightly bulging pocket of his underling.

Su Xinghe pretended to support his waist, his tone sincere and apologetic.

"Brother Kui, the doctor told me to go change my medicine early. Otherwise, in this hot weather, it could easily get infected. Once my injury heals in a few days, I'll definitely accompany the brothers and have a good time."

Another thirty coppers in hand. Back at the docks, he would have had to work at least three days to earn that much.

In truth, he understood perfectly well.

Collecting peace taxes was the most leisurely job, with plenty of grease to skim. It also let one avoid the boredom and blazing heat of guarding the warehouse.

Su Xinghe guessed that because he had not joined the group activity last night, he had been separately assigned to stay behind and guard the door.

But he could choose not to go; his share from the same squad could not be any less.

If he did not understand the situation or bring it up, the money would most likely have been pocketed by Lu Kui. But since he had said it aloud before everyone, Zhang Whiskers, in order to uphold the so-called rules, would not simply stand by.

His gaze swept quickly across Zhang Whiskers.

A strange thought rose in his heart.

He had never noticed before...

This captain of his squad was most likely the sort who had failed the three-month assessment. He had signed a twenty-year "contract of sale," yet was still only at the Inner Tempering stage.

Otherwise, he would have become the Great River Gang's third major leader.

Back when they divided silver, Su Xinghe had even been rather envious!

But now...

His aptitude was mediocre, and he was beyond shaping.

Still, Su Xinghe quietly warned himself that if he did not work hard enough, then one day he would become just like this minor leader.

Leading a group of little hoodlums, spending twenty silent, unremarkable years in the Great River Gang.

Doing work that could cost him his head, for a monthly salary of only three taels of silver.

This was not the life he wanted.

Night fell.

At the mouth of the alley, Su Xinghe listened to the news brought by the youth.

Finding nothing that urgently needed handling, he instructed,

"Your suggestion is good, but it's a little too aggressive."

"Tonight's operation is canceled. Continue watching the target closely."

"Alright..."

Little Beggar nodded instinctively, then realized something was wrong.

"But, Boss, didn't we agree to go see... tonight?"

Who did not have dreams of becoming a Martial Warrior?

Little Beggar could previously only lie in a garbage heap at the street corner beneath the sun and dream such dreams. In his dreams, he roamed the martial world with a sword, punished evil and upheld justice, wore fine clothes and ate delicacies, and became famous across the land.

But as soon as the slightest wind stirred the grass, that beautiful dream would shatter.

But now, things were different.

His hand had already touched the door leading into that dream.

Ever since following the boss before him, he had never lacked operational funds. Using silver to pave the way, he had made contacts with targets in every walk of life.

Through these informants, martial arts were no longer the regret that came after waking from a midnight dream. Instead, they were gathering shape bit by bit before his eyes, as though within reach.

Every demand from his boss was a step toward realizing his dream. So long as he followed closely in his boss's footsteps, it was the same as boarding the carriage toward making his dreams come true.

Su Xinghe did not listen to the youth before him continue. He interrupted directly,

"No buts. It's not like he's about to die immediately."

The plan had changed.

Originally, approaching Old Madman had been to seek a martial true art, and that course had been full of uncertainties. Now that he had obtained the Great River Gang's true art, he needed to hurry and first enter the gate of the Golden Ape Fist.

For the next few days, nothing was more important than this.

Seeing that his boss had already made a decision, the stubbornness in Little Beggar's eyes slowly faded. He felt that he had overstepped himself just now and hurriedly nodded, accepting the arrangement.

"Alright, I'll keep a close watch on him."

Seeing him about to leave, Su Xinghe hurriedly grabbed him.

He leaned close and whispered several words into the other's ear.

"There seem to be snakes in my home lately. Help me leave the city and buy three jin of sulfur from Luhua Village."

"Doesn't Huichun Hall sell sulfur...?"

Little Beggar was confused at first, but then his eyes widened in shock.

"No, what kind of snake needs three jin of sulfur to drive away?"

"Don't ask too many questions. Just do as I say!"

As he spoke, he stuffed three large coins into the youth's arms.

Little Beggar's body trembled slightly, and he hurriedly lowered his head.

"Mm. I'll bring them in as soon as I can."

With that, his figure vanished into the darkness.

After standing silently in the shadows of the alley for a moment, Su Xinghe finally melted into the depths of the dark lane as well.

When he returned to the small courtyard, he first drew water and washed up.

The cool well water gradually washed away the impulse and excitement in his mind, along with the inexplicable pride and restlessness brought by learning a true martial art.

He chatted with his mother for a while. After dinner, he locked himself in his room and began his first solo practice.

He cast aside all stray thoughts and focused his mind, calming his breath.

He silently recited the verse formula and adjusted his breathing.

The benefits of practicing alone immediately became apparent. With no one else to disturb him, he could focus more intently on what he himself had comprehended.

He also lost track of time, feeling again and again the feedback to his blood and qi brought by the fist technique.

Using the rising and falling rhythm of the verse formula to stir his breath, he coordinated it with the force of his movements, sensing the circulation of his blood and qi.

Together with the mysterious and profound Golden Ape intent, his body slowly underwent subtle transformation within this internal state, meeting the entry requirements of the technique.

Qi Circulation, Force Infusion, Inner Tempering.

These were the foundational steps every martial warrior had to complete before breaking through to the ninth rank.

The reason Inner Tempering was set as the threshold in the contract was that only once a person reached Inner Tempering could they truly undergo transformation.

An ordinary person's speed and strength amounted to roughly one or two hundred jin. That was the strength needed to support one's daily work and life.

After Force Infusion, vigorous blood and qi would provide the body with abundant energy, allowing the fleshly body to break through its limits step by step.

But Force Infusion was still not enough. It could not completely crush ordinary people, since everyone's foundation differed.

Only Inner Tempering could truly widen the gap in strength between oneself and ordinary people.

A martial warrior apprentice who had just entered the Inner Tempering stage could strike with a fist or swing a blade with four hundred jin of force. At the peak, they could even wield five or six hundred jin of tremendous strength.

In a fight, they could directly crush ordinary people. Even their speed and neural reactions were beyond what ordinary people could attain.

And five hundred jin of single-arm punching force was precisely the entry standard for Inner Tempering blood and qi.