A mother's breakdown, a father's regret

"Third Brother, you're right to curse him!" another thug agreed. "When this bastard heard that Young Master Lin Fan had become a martial arts hall disciple, instead of wishing him well, he actually wanted to stir up trouble and get him thrown out. Even a vicious tiger won't eat its own cubs. This bastard is pure scum, yet he keeps calling himself his father. Pah!"

Another thug couldn't help speaking up. "This whole family is a collection of real pieces of work. The father shirks his responsibility to teach his children, letting his younger son eat, drink, whore, and gamble away the family fortune. The mother is so biased that she watched her elder son's martial arts funds get taken to pay compensation rather than touch the marriage fund she saved for her younger son. As for Lin Ming, heh... even dog shit by the roadside is a hundred times better than him."

The thugs' words struck the family of three like blow after blow from a heavy hammer. Only then did they realize what bastards they were in other people's eyes.

Lin Ping wanted to defend himself, but he couldn't find a single excuse.

Mother Lin was already weeping bitterly, her emotions collapsing as she kept crying, "Fan'er, I've wronged you! I've wronged you!"

As for Lin Ming, he huddled beneath the table like a quail. The beating had frightened him thoroughly.

One thug hauled him out from under the table, his expression vicious. "Go get the marriage fund your mother saved for you, or I'll break your legs right now!"

Lin Ming looked at his mother, but Mother Lin had already sunk completely into a world of breakdown.

"I'll get it."

The dull voice came from Lin Ping. He climbed to his feet, his movements stiff, as though he had aged ten years, then went into the bedroom and brought out the family's last twenty taels of silver.

The thug snatched it away and hefted the money pouch, unable to resist sneering. "If you'd used this money last time instead of Young Master Lin Fan's, you two would now be the parents of a martial artist. Who knows how comfortably you'd be living? What a shame. From now on, your family can just obediently cower like turtles in this broken-down house."

With that, the thugs withdrew through the doorway and stood guard outside.

Inside, Lin Ming remained dazed for a long time. His eyes grew moist, and a tear of regret slipped from the corner of his eye.

Mother Lin was still sobbing with her head bowed, her cries hoarse and utterly wretched.

As for Lin Ming, his face was filled with dejection and hatred.

Lin Fan knew none of this, nor did he want to.

He was already immersed in cultivating the Bone Forging Art, unable to tear himself away from the pleasure of growing stronger.

Bone Forging Art (Beginner 120/2000)... 130... 160... 200.

Only after cultivating until his progress reached 200 points did he wash up and rest.

Over the next five days, aside from eating and sleeping, Lin Fan devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.

He spent most of his time cultivating the Bone Forging Art and a small portion practicing the Gang-Breaking Fist, but even so, he brought the Gang-Breaking Fist to the Intent Realm.

Lin Fan looked at the panel, a smile curling his lips.

Fate bearer: Lin Fan

Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence (with unwavering perseverance, success is certain; no realm barriers whatsoever)

Aptitude: ordinary

Arts:

Iron Cloth Shirt (Perfection)

Gang-Breaking Fist (Intent Realm)

Gale Leg (Intent Realm)

Body Tempering Art (Perfection)

Bone Forging Art (Beginner 1400/2000), progress +1 per practice.

Of his five arts, the other four had all reached their limits except the Bone Forging Art, and he was very close to reaching the beginner stage in the Bone Forging Art too. It would happen within three days.

Once he forged blood bones and added another hundred thousand jin to his strength, he would have the confidence to fight even an Eighth Grade Greater Accomplishment expert with his Intent Realm Level Gang-Breaking Fist and Gale Leg.

If he encountered an Eighth Grade Perfection expert, he was confident he could escape even if he couldn't win. In any case, he had never heard of anyone below the Seventh Grade in all of Qingshan County cultivating a martial art to the Intent Realm. He was the only one.

In the dining hall, Lin Fan sat with Yang Kuan, but Yang Kuan kept wearing a worried frown. Lin Fan couldn't help asking, "Senior Brother Yang, what's wrong?"

"What else could it be? The chief disciple is coming back soon," Yang Kuan replied in a complicated tone.

"The chief disciple?" Lin Fan was puzzled. He had been practicing martial arts all this time, his ears closed to everything beyond his window, and really didn't know who the chief disciple was.

"It's normal that you don't know. The chief disciple is the eldest senior brother of us inner courtyard disciples. He's been making his way in the commandery city these past two years," Yang Kuan briefly explained.

"I see... do you have a grudge against him?" Lin Fan asked bluntly. That was the only reason he could think of.

Yang Kuan was speechless and nearly rolled his eyes. "What ability or standing do I have to hold a grudge against the chief disciple? He's a martial prodigy, already an expert approaching Seventh Grade Perfection. He could wipe me out with a breath."

"That strong?" Lin Fan clicked his tongue. A disciple was actually stronger than even the deputy hall master. That was a little outrageous.

"How else could he be called a martial prodigy?" Yang Kuan sighed.

"Then if there's no grudge between you, what are you worrying about?" Lin Fan was at a loss.

"It's a long story. Didn't Zhang Yu's disappearance leave the position of eldest senior brother of the outer courtyard vacant? Master told me he wanted to recommend me so I could clean up the outer courtyard's corrupt practices. Now it looks like there's no chance." Yang Kuan shook his head and sighed.

Something occurred to Lin Fan. He raised his brows, a cold glint flashing through his eyes. "The chief disciple is coming back to choose one of his own people as the outer courtyard's eldest senior brother? Zhang Yu was one of his men, working for him?"

Yang Kuan nodded, his face full of helplessness. "Yes. That's why even Master can't do anything about the outer courtyard." He glanced around, then leaned close to Lin Fan's ear. "To say something utterly insubordinate, the chief disciple's standing is even higher than the hall master's. No one can control him."

"How is that possible?" Lin Fan didn't believe it. An employee could have higher standing than the boss? Was this a joke?

"You'd better believe it!" Yang Kuan spoke earnestly. "As a martial prodigy, the chief disciple has a chance to enter a major sect in the provincial capital. His prospects are tremendous. The hall master wants to return to the Mountain Suppression Sect as a steward, and his hopes still rest on the chief disciple. When you need something from someone, your standing naturally drops a notch."

This time, Lin Fan understood. By now, he also had a basic understanding of the Mountain Suppression Martial Arts Hall.

The Mountain Suppression Martial Arts Hall was a subordinate force of the Mountain Suppression Sect, with branches in Qingshan County and the surrounding counties. Members of the Mountain Suppression Sect served as hall masters.

Naturally, a hall master's achievements lay in nurturing promising talents for the sect.

If the chief disciple successfully entered a major sect in the provincial capital, the Mountain Suppression Sect would also bask in his reflected glory. As the hall master, his contribution would be immense, and he would surely be able to move up. That was why the hall master had placed such a heavy bet on the chief disciple.

Lin Fan narrowed his eyes, a cold light flickering within them. No matter how formidable this chief disciple was, how high his standing, or how important he was to the Mountain Suppression Martial Arts Hall and the Mountain Suppression Sect, none of it could stop him from taking revenge for the obstruction of his path.

Lin Fan patted Yang Kuan on the shoulder. "In that case, there's no need to worry. You can't change it anyway."

"I'm not worried about being unable to become the outer courtyard's eldest senior brother. I don't have any particular interest in that position." Yang Kuan scratched his head, deeply troubled.

"It's that Master is unusually determined to stamp out the outer courtyard's corrupt practices this time. From what he said, he intends to clash with the chief disciple. I'm worried something will happen to him." Yang Kuan voiced his concern.

Lin Fan fell silent at that. His master placed such importance on rules that perhaps the outer courtyard's dealings had always been a thorn in his heart.

Now that he finally had a chance to pull it out, the chief disciple was coming back to stick his foot in. His master really might be unable to swallow his anger and have a showdown with him.

Don't tell me I'm going to lose my master just days after getting one? Lin Fan began to worry inwardly as well.