Zhang Yu arrived at the martial courtyard's entrance and frowned. "He still hasn't been thrown out? Has Young Master Tang not started training yet?"
He did not wait. He found a junior brother, told him to watch the martial courtyard's entrance and notify him if anyone was thrown out, then left.
Lin Fan followed Young Master Tang to the martial hall's dining room. Quite a few outer courtyard disciples were already eating there, each with a large bowl of beef and a large bowl of medicinal food. One bowl was easily worth four or five bowls back in the rear courtyard.
"Come with me. I'm in a good mood, so I'll treat you to something nice." Young Master Tang headed toward a private room as he spoke. Those rooms were reserved specifically for young masters like him.
They had only just sat down when several cooks came in with plates of food and a large pot of medicinal food, filling the table.
The rich aroma of meat made Lin Fan's mouth water. This was the first time he had seen such a lavish lunch since coming to this world.
Young Master Tang waved a hand. "Eat. All of this was brought over from the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. Make sure you give it a good taste."
"Thank you, Young Master Tang." Lin Fan thanked him, then picked up his chopsticks and began taking food. He knew of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, the finest restaurant in the county town. Even its cheapest dish cost three taels of silver. The eight dishes before him had to cost over twenty taels at the very least.
Twenty taels on a single meal. What extravagance, Lin Fan marveled inwardly.
The flavor of meat burst in his mouth, thoroughly satisfying his taste buds. Lin Fan set himself a goal: once he had money, he would taste every delicacy under heaven.
What delighted Lin Fan most was the large pot of medicinal food. Young Master Tang had only two bowls before leaving all the rest to him. Lin Fan stood on no ceremony and poured it all into his stomach. He felt a rush of heat rapidly spreading from his stomach throughout his body, quickly easing his exhaustion.
After resting for roughly the time it took two incense sticks to burn, Young Master Tang took Lin Fan back to the training room to continue practicing.
The sounds of blows striking flesh kept coming from the room. Young Master Tang's feet repeatedly landed below Lin Fan's waist. He was practicing his kicking technique now.
Kicks carried more force than punches. Lin Fan gritted his teeth and held firm. To become a martial artist, what did this little pain amount to?
"Watch out!"
Young Master Tang gave a warning, then lashed his right leg heavily into Lin Fan's waist. Despite bracing himself, Lin Fan still staggered from the kick. Pain tore through his waist, leaving him unable to catch his breath.
"Good!"
Seeing that Lin Fan still had not fallen, Young Master Tang grew even more satisfied and voiced his praise.
Lin Fan cupped his hands toward Young Master Tang. "As long as I can be of help to you, Young Master Tang."
Young Master Tang patted Lin Fan's shoulder again. "You're very good. I have high hopes for you. I'll have Zhang Yu teach you the Gang-Breaking Fist and Gale Leg shortly. If you can master them, I'll keep using you as my live training dummy."
A live training dummy no longer stood still, but countered the other person's moves as they came, helping them master their martial techniques more quickly.
Lin Fan was overjoyed to hear this. "Thank you, Young Master Tang. I certainly won't disappoint you!" His words were deeply earnest.
He had never expected Zhang Yu's attempt to make things difficult for him to bring him such an opportunity.
Fortune and calamity lean upon each other. The ancients truly did not deceive me, Lin Fan marveled inwardly.
He had just been worrying about having no techniques to practice during this period, only for techniques to come knocking at his door-and two of them at that.
Young Master Tang said nothing more and returned to his seat to drink tea. Lin Fan had the sense to go pour it for him. A wealthy young master like this had to be served well.
After resting, Young Master Tang practiced another round of Gang-Breaking Fist and Gale Leg on Lin Fan, who remained firm. Young Master Tang walked over to the tea table, scooped the three taels of silver on it into his palm, then tossed them toward Lin Fan. "Your reward."
Lin Fan caught them with quick eyes and hands, thanking him repeatedly.
"Go tell someone in the outer courtyard to send Zhang Yu over to see me," Young Master Tang instructed. As a young master, he naturally could not go looking for Zhang Yu himself.
"Right away."
Lin Fan answered and headed outside. As he stepped through the martial courtyard's gate, he happened to see a young man standing at the outer courtyard's entrance.
Lin Fan approached him. "May I ask if you're a senior brother from the outer courtyard?"
The young man nodded. "Do you need something?"
"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother. Please tell Senior Brother Zhang Yu that Young Master Tang wants to see him."
"Uh..." The young man froze, looking Lin Fan over strangely. "He's actually fine," he muttered, then left after saying, "I'll pass the message on right away."
The disciple found Zhang Yu in his training room and relayed Lin Fan's message.
"You're saying Lin Fan wasn't hurt at all, and he told me to go see Young Master Tang?" Zhang Yu was utterly baffled.
"Yes."
"Could that fellow have displeased Young Master Tang, and now he wants me to go explain myself?" Zhang Yu pondered, then immediately rose and headed over to Young Master Tang.
Lin Fan returned to Young Master Tang's room. Before long, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
Lin Fan looked outside and saw a face plastered with smiles.
"Young Master Tang, what are your instructions? If Lin Fan has displeased you, rest assured, I'll give you a satisfactory explanation." Zhang Yu made his stance clear the moment he opened his mouth.
A faint, ambiguous smile appeared on Lin Fan's face. He was very much looking forward to Zhang Yu's expression in a moment.
Young Master Tang gently set his tea on the table and gave Zhang Yu a sidelong glance. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm very satisfied with Lin Fan."
Zhang Yu froze at those words, disbelief flashing in his eyes. But his thick skin was already a veteran of a hundred battles, and his face instantly filled with smiles. "As long as you're satisfied, Young Master Tang. This is a blessing Lin Fan cultivated over three lifetimes. I'll make sure to teach him well so he can serve you better."
An ambiguous smile appeared on Young Master Tang's face. "Perfect. I intend to have him serve as my live training dummy from now on. Teach him the Gang-Breaking Fist and Gale Leg afterward. Remember to teach him properly. If you just go through the motions, I'll have to have a good talk with Hall Master Mo."
Intense jealousy surfaced in Zhang Yu's eyes. He could not understand why a mud-legged peasant like Lin Fan had caught Young Master Tang's eye. He had waited on Young Master Tang with the utmost deference for so long without earning so much as a proper glance, yet Lin Fan had won his appreciation in just over an hour.
But however jealous he was, he dared not defy Young Master Tang's instructions. "Everything will be as you command, Young Master Tang. I'll spare no effort in teaching Lin Fan." He thumped his chest in assurance.
"All right, that's settled. Lin Fan, wait for me here tomorrow afternoon." With that, Young Master Tang left.
"Yes, Young Master Tang," Lin Fan answered.
"Young Master Tang, let me see you out." Zhang Yu extended a hand and led Young Master Tang outside.
Lin Fan followed them out as well. After seeing Young Master Tang off, Zhang Yu returned to find Lin Fan, his expression exceptionally dark.
"Lin Fan, I don't know what tricks you used to win Young Master Tang's favor, but in the outer courtyard, you'll obey me in everything," Zhang Yu said coldly.
Lin Fan casually cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Zhang, when will you be teaching me the Gang-Breaking Fist and Gale Leg? If I fail to satisfy Young Master Tang, perhaps you really will have to give him an explanation," he said mildly.
Since they were destined to be enemies, he naturally would not put on a pleasant face.
Enraged by his words, Zhang Yu seized Lin Fan by the collar. "Lin Fan, is that how you speak to me? Don't think catching Young Master Tang's eye makes you anything special. Crushing you to death would be no harder than crushing an ant!"
Lin Fan's expression was indifferent. "Senior Brother Zhang, let me remind you: Young Master Tang specifically told me to wait for him tomorrow afternoon."
"You!"
Zhang Yu growled, staring coldly at Lin Fan. "Fine, Lin Fan. Very good. Do you really think you're irreplaceable? Once the junior brothers with greater mastery and perfection in Iron Cloth Shirt return, you'll be of no use to Young Master Tang. When that happens, I'll make you crawl out of the martial hall on your knees." With that, he shoved Lin Fan away.
An immense force struck Lin Fan. He stumbled backward repeatedly, then fell heavily to the ground.