Zhang Long took a deep breath and brushed nonexistent dust off his clothes.
Out of the corner of his eye, he swept his gaze over the senior and junior disciples on the wall and saw their faces full of envy.
A few days earlier, when he had broken through to Skin Tempering, his master had told him not to spread the news. Presumably, it had been so he could stun everyone with a single cry today.
Next, five more senior disciples who had reached Flesh Refining stepped forward to demonstrate their martial arts. Although some of their Fierce Tiger Fist techniques were a notch above Zhang Long's, the highest offer they received was a monthly salary of fifteen taels of silver.
Clearly, then, they had their eyes on Zhang Long's enormous potential. It meant that his future martial attainment might far surpass everyone else's.
After all the disciples finished demonstrating their martial arts, Mo Hong invited the three representatives into the rear hall for further discussion, bringing this recruitment session to a close.
As the brightest star, Zhang Long was immediately surrounded by the other five senior disciples offering congratulations, presumably hoping to make themselves familiar faces.
Zhang Long quickly slipped into the role as well, cupping his hands and returning their greetings with proper form.
The disciples dispersed with mixed feelings. Shen Yan turned and said earnestly, "Junior Brother Chen, you need to break through to Skin Tempering as soon as possible. Otherwise, your three-month deadline will be here before you know it."
Generally speaking, failing to reach Skin Refining within three months did not mean there was no possibility of breaking through later.
Rather, from the perspective of investment and return, learning martial arts consumed a great deal of money. Most of them were children from poor families that simply could not support the expense.
Their coming here had already been their families' last gamble.
Chen Tie immediately cupped his hands. "Thank you for the reminder, Second Senior Brother. I'll work hard."
The other outer courtyard disciples understood the situation too, so they put even more effort into their subsequent training.
After training this time, Chen Tie did not go straight home. He changed into his everyday clothes, crossed a street, and arrived outside a medicine hall bearing a sign that read: Wang Family Medicine Hall.
When the shopkeeper inside saw Chen Tie enter, he immediately judged him to be a martial artist.
"Sir, are you looking for pills or weapons?"
"Two Qi and Blood Pills."
"Certainly. Ten taels of silver each."
Chen Tie took out twenty taels of silver, and the assistant immediately handed him two white pills.
"Sir, we also have a new kind of Qi and Blood Pill here. They're only six taels of silver each, and their effects are even a little better than those two."
Chen Tie took the pill and compared it with the others, discovering that it had a faint reddish tint. This was not an ordinary Qi and Blood Pill.
Chen Tie was full of questions, but he still chose to refuse.
"No, perhaps next time."
In principle, with one month remaining, his current pace should allow him to break through just in time.
But he should not cut things so close. If he failed to break through on the final day, wouldn't he have overplayed his hand?
Early the next morning, Chen Tie got up and took out a Qi and Blood Pill to swallow. The moment it reached his stomach, warmth spread through his whole body.
As soon as he arrived at the Fierce Tiger Martial Hall, he discovered that many outer courtyard disciples had arrived early. Shen Yan and Xu Da both looked a little off.
Chen Tie did not dwell on it and quickly threw himself into training.
He could clearly feel that after taking the Qi and Blood Pill, his entire body seemed to have inexhaustible strength, and he felt less fatigued than before.
At noon, Chen Tie checked the information in his mind.
[Fierce Tiger Stance Art: beginner (71/100)] [Fierce Tiger Fist: beginner (7/100)]
My progress really is faster than before. I wonder what level the children of wealthy families can reach with piles of pills?
Chen Tie rested for a while and was just about to resume training when he suddenly saw two senior disciples packing their belongings, preparing to leave the Fierce Tiger Martial Hall.
"Second Senior Brother, what's going on?" Chen Tie asked in confusion.
"They won't be studying martial arts anymore," Shen Yan said with a sigh.
The few people nearby froze at first, then understood what had happened.
The senior and junior disciples in the outer courtyard merely glanced over before returning their attention to their own training, showing no intention of seeing them off.
Chen Tie gathered his thoughts and resumed his training. After all, he only had one month left.
At some point, Mo Hong appeared outside the outer courtyard wall. Watching the disciples training hard inside, he was filled with mixed feelings.
His gaze lingered on Chen Tie for a moment before he sighed softly.
Some things could not be solved through diligence alone. Although this disciple worked extremely hard, given his talent, he probably would not be able to break through to Skin Refining within this month either.
Chen Tie paid no heed to anything around him. He practiced the Fierce Tiger Stance Art over and over, then did strength training, followed by sparring with the other senior disciples.
Only at dusk, after all the other disciples had left, did he stop.
[Fierce Tiger Stance Art: beginner (72/100)] [Fierce Tiger Fist: beginner (10/100)]
Looking at the Proficiency figures in his mind, Chen Tie was delighted. After taking a Qi and Blood Pill, his Fierce Tiger Stance Art Proficiency could increase by two points a day, while his Fierce Tiger Fist Proficiency could actually increase by three.
"Senior Brother Chen, are you still practicing this late?" A clear voice rang out behind him.
Chen Tie turned to look. It was Junior Sister Mo.
"I just finished. I was about to leave."
"Being diligent and hardworking is a good thing, but you also need to balance work and rest. You mustn't push too hard," Mo Fang said seriously.
"Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister. I'll be on my way."
After cupping his hands in return, Chen Tie left the martial hall.
Mo Fang wanted to say something more, but in the end, she said nothing and merely sighed softly.
On his way home, Chen Tie suddenly saw a carriage speed past, followed closely by nearly twenty martial artists on horseback. They all looked like experts.
Chen Tie did not give it much thought and walked into a roast meat shop on a street corner.
"Shopkeeper, cut me two jin of beef!"
"Certainly, sir. I've already got it ready for you."
Shopkeeper Lin deftly took a wrapped parcel of beef from the counter and handed it to Chen Tie.
Lately, Chen Tie had been buying some meat every day to bring home for his younger sister.
"Sir, if you have nothing else to do, you should head home early. It would be best to avoid going out at night."
Chen Tie had paid and was about to leave when he heard Shopkeeper Lin say this, so he casually asked a question.
"Shopkeeper Lin, has something happened?"
"News came this afternoon that the bones of the Liu Family's young son from the inner city were fished out of the Flowing Stream River outside the city."
Chen Tie was startled to hear this.
That night, after he had killed the white-clad young man from the Unborn Sect, Liu Family guards had been searching nearby for clues.
Only then had he learned that the missing person was actually the Liu Family's young son.
"If he was nothing but bones, how did they identify him?" Chen Tie asked casually.
"I heard they confirmed it from the belongings found with the bones. The Liu Family just took their guards outside the city. Who knows who was so bold that they even dared to strike at the Liu Family?"
After hearing this, Chen Tie exchanged a few pleasantries and left, quickly returning home.
But he was still a little worried. Although no one had discovered him when he struck that night, there was no guarantee that this world did not have unusual people with special abilities who could solve the case.
He felt a sense of danger. He had to break through as soon as possible. As long as he was strong enough, he would not have to worry about anyone coming to his door.