Chaotic Times

Great Yue Dynasty, Shanhe Commandery, Linjiang City.

It was autumn, when all things withered.

On the branches of a dead-black old tree, a yellowing leaf was lightly stirred by the bleak autumn wind and slowly drifted down.

A handsome young man sat on the doorstep, staring blankly as the fallen leaf drifted past his eyes, his expression somewhat dazed.

Qin Yang had never imagined that he would transmigrate.

In his previous life, he had suffered from a terminal illness and died alone in a cold, stark-white hospital ward.

Yet when he awoke, he had somehow crossed into another world.

Fragments of chaotic memories flashed through his mind.

They belonged to the original owner of this body.

The owner of this body had also been named Qin Yang, the young master of the Qin Family in the city.

His mother had fallen ill and died soon after the original Qin Yang was born. His father, Qin Dongsheng, had been busy with the Lineage's business and never had time to discipline him. Naturally, the original Qin Yang had become an idle, good-for-nothing young master, gluttonous and lazy, spending his days in pleasure houses listening to music and harassing respectable women.

"Only because the original owner had such good fortune. Otherwise, in times like these, he would have been butchered long ago."

Qin Yang shook his head slightly.

From the original owner's memories, he had also gained a rough understanding of this world.

The times were far from peaceful. The order maintained by the authorities was collapsing, and public security was in chaos. Especially in remote little cities like Linjiang City, gangs, martial halls, and powerful clans crushed one another, allowing bandits to run rampant and leaving the people in misery.

His father, Qin Dongsheng, was said to be a Blood Moving Martial Artist. Only because of that was he considered someone of standing in the city and able to hold up the Qin Family.

Qin Yang was still constantly familiarizing himself with his current body.

This body had clearly never undergone any training. It was soft and weak.

Yet compared to his previous life, Qin Yang was already exceptionally satisfied.

"Qin Yang, I heard that a new girl arrived at the pleasure house over on Chunhua Street. She's quite pretty, and she sings well too."

"While your father isn't home, let's hurry over and take a look."

A long-faced young man slipped into the courtyard and chuckled.

Qin Yang swiftly found this person's name in his memories.

Li Baling, the son of a wealthy merchant in the city. The two had grown up together.

"I'm not feeling well, so I won't go."

"You should find Zhao He and the others."

Qin Yang casually made up an excuse.

His spirits truly did not look very good right now.

Li Baling showed a doubtful expression. Among their group, Qin Yang had always loved going to pleasure houses to listen to music the most.

As long as Qin Dongsheng was not home, neither wind nor rain could stop him.

Why had he suddenly turned over a new leaf today?

"Fine, then. I'll come see you again in a few days, brother."

Li Baling felt that Qin Yang was acting strangely today. Assuming that he was truly ill, he told him to rest well before leaving the small courtyard.

Only after Li Baling left did Qin Yang stand up.

He had no interest in pleasure houses or music now. Instead, he was deeply interested in martial arts.

Because martial arts masters truly existed in this world.

For example, Qin Yang had personally seen Qin Dongsheng shatter a large bluestone with a single punch.

Having died once and been granted another life, he not only wished for good health, but also for his body to become stronger and more robust.

Besides, in these chaotic times, practicing martial arts would also help him survive better.

"Unfortunately, Father left for Nanxing City yesterday to discuss business. He won't return until next month."

"But that's fine. There are still others in the house."

Qin Yang left the small courtyard and passed through a corridor. He saw a spacious martial arts training ground furnished with all kinds of weapons, wooden posts, and stone locks.

After autumn arrived, the weather had gradually turned cold, but several guards did not fear it. Their strong muscles were bare as they lifted stone locks in the open ground, tempering their blood and vitality.

Qin Yang looked down at his own thin arms and legs again, his gaze full of envy.

His eyes searched around the courtyard before finally settling on a scarred old man.

Huff, huff, huff~~~

The old man was bare-chested as well. Though advanced in years, he still had a body full of hard muscles and was practicing a set of remarkably imposing boxing techniques.

He was an old boxing master hired by the Qin Family. With Qin Dongsheng away, the household relied on him to hold the fort.

Huff, huff~~~

Sharp gusts of fist wind whistled one after another.

Qin Yang could barely even see the man's punches, catching only fleeting afterimages.

"Uncle Qian, have you eaten yet?"

Qin Yang stepped forward with a broad smile and greeted him.

Upon hearing Qin Yang's voice, Qian Hai froze slightly and hurriedly stopped moving.

"Young Master, were you bullied again?"

Qian Hai frowned.

Whenever Qin Yang acted this warmly, it usually meant he had been bullied outside and wanted Qian Hai to stand up for him.

"I've told you before, if you practice martial arts yourself, you won't need to come to me every time to stand up for you."

"Born into chaotic times, you can only rely on yourself. If you don't practice martial arts, you'll be bullied."

Qian Hai was about to begin earnestly lecturing Qin Yang.

Unexpectedly, Qin Yang's next words left him dumbstruck.

"Then Uncle Qian, teach me martial arts." Qin Yang spoke seriously.

"What? Me?" Qian Hai suspected that something was wrong with his ears.

He could be said to have watched Qin Yang grow up.

For all these years, ever since he was little, Qin Yang had always shirked and cheated whenever martial arts were mentioned. No matter what anyone said, he refused to practice. Even Qin Dongsheng had been helpless.

Had the sun risen in the west today?!

"What, you're unwilling to teach me?"

Qin Yang deliberately put on an impatient expression.

"If you're willing to learn, then naturally I'm willing to teach."

"I only hope you won't give up halfway."

Qian Hai's expression grew solemn.

"Just teach me, Uncle Qian."

Qin Yang nodded.

"If your father heard you say that, who knows how happy he would be."

"Come, practice boxing with me!"

Afraid that Qin Yang would change his mind, Qian Hai grabbed him with one large hand and brought him to the center of the courtyard.

"You have no foundation in martial arts at all, so we'll start with simple boxing techniques."

"I'll first teach you a set of Arhat Fist."

Qin Yang asked curiously, "Uncle Qian, what rank is this Arhat Fist?"

Although he did not practice martial arts, he had grown up around Qin Dongsheng and knew that martial arts had different ranks.

"A third-rate boxing technique," Qian Hai said softly.

"Third-rate, third-rate—it sounds so awful. At least teach me a second-rate one."

Qin Yang rolled his eyes.

"You can't even learn a third-rate technique, yet you want to learn a second-rate one?"

"How many people want to learn this third-rate boxing technique and can't even find a way in?"

"Stop being so picky. Hurry up and practice after me."

Qian Hai's face darkened.

His status in the Qin Family was special, and when he scolded Qin Yang, the eldest young master, he was not polite in the slightest.

Qin Yang gave an awkward laugh. "Then I'll practice Arhat Fist! The name sounds pretty fierce."

"Arhat Fist has forty-eight moves. Its techniques are simple, fierce, and powerful."

"Not only can it be used for self-defense and defeating enemies, it can also strengthen the flesh and blood and fortify the tendons and bones!"

As Qian Hai spoke, he began demonstrating this Arhat Fist for Qin Yang while explaining several crucial movements and principles.

Qin Yang's comprehension was decent. After watching a few times, he had barely grasped the boxing forms.

Unfortunately, this body was simply too poor. It was limp and powerless, its flexibility terribly lacking. His body could not keep up with his mind, and when he practiced Arhat Fist, he made a complete spectacle of himself, causing the nearby guards to struggle not to laugh.

Qin Yang was not discouraged. Giving up easily had never been in his nature.

Back when he had suffered from a terminal illness in his previous life, he had sought doctors and medicine countless times without success. Even after enduring every torment his illness inflicted upon him, he had never given up.

To him, this tiny setback was like a breeze brushing over water, unable to stir even a ripple.

Qian Hai had initially assumed that Qin Yang would quickly give up.

But he soon noticed that Qin Yang was different.

It was not that the person was different, but that his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were different.

After failure upon failure, there was not the slightest discouragement visible on Qin Yang's face—only greater focus and earnestness.

Qian Hai patiently guided him from the side as well.

Only when the sun was setting in the evening did Qin Yang barely manage to perform the Arhat Fist once from beginning to end.

"Huff, huff, huff~~~"

Qin Yang panted violently.

After practicing for so long, his meager stamina had long since been exhausted. Toward the end, he had been holding on purely through willpower.

Perhaps because he had pushed himself too far, the things before Qin Yang's eyes grew increasingly blurry, impossible to focus on.

He fiercely shook his head, and only then did his vision return to normal.

A transparent panel suddenly popped up.

Host: Qin Yang

Arhat Fist: Beginner (1/100)

What the hell?!

Before Qin Yang could react, he felt the world spin around him.