A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Zhou Yuan's figure appeared at the alley entrance.

He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his steps were unhurried and deliberate, and his whole being exuded a sense of calm.

Inside the grocery store, Song Fang's gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.

In just a few days, Zhou Yuan's demeanor had changed drastically; he was no longer the timid, head-down boy he once was.

That unwavering resolve and coldness inexplicably stirred a sense of irritation within her.

When Song Tao saw Zhou Yuan, he instinctively shrank his neck, but soon he lowered his voice and muttered something.

"I heard that Zhou Yuan tried to use his connections to get a job at Chen's forging shop a while ago, but Old Master Chen personally rejected it."

"In the end, he had no choice but to become a lowly constable in the patrol department. Tsk tsk, I heard that the person who replaced him was my brother-in-law, Zhang Hao!"

After saying that, Song Tao curled up a smug smile, as if only by belittling Zhou Yuan behind his back could he find a pitiful sense of balance.

Song Fang listened to her brother's words without saying anything in objection.

She had also heard Zhang Hao mention Zhou Yuan's failed attempt to affiliate with the Chen family.

Now, when I think back to it, the slight irritation that had just risen in my heart has vanished in an instant.

Song Fang was one of the most beautiful women in this muddy alley, destined to live a good life in the inner city.

What is Zhou Yuan?

Even if he got incredibly lucky and became a martial artist at the Skin Refining Realm, he would still be hopelessly useless.

How can I be worthy of myself?

Just as the siblings were having different thoughts, the fat man in brocade robes, who was the leader of the group of men in black at the alley entrance, saw Zhou Yuan.

His eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward, stopping three steps away from Zhou Yuan, and respectfully clasped his hands in a salute.

"Excuse me, are you Master Zhou?"

Zhou Yuan stopped and glanced at the fat man in front of him and the group of men with steel knives behind him.

Gang member.

He remained outwardly calm, merely nodding very slightly.

Upon seeing this, the fat man's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he bent over even lower.

"I am Xu Fu, the leader of the Black Tiger Gang. I just wiped out the remnants of the Golden Stone Gang these past few days. I heard that Master Zhou has achieved great success in his martial arts and entered the Bone Forging Realm, so I came here specifically to pay him a visit!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Fu suddenly bowed his head at a ninety-degree angle.

"The entire Black Tiger Gang pays respects to Master Zhou!"

The dozen or so burly gang members behind him all knelt down on one knee in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, the steel knives at their waists striking the ground with a crisp sound.

"Greetings, Master Zhou!"

The unified shouts echoed through the narrow alley, making people's eardrums ache.

Inside the grocery store, Song Tao stood with his mouth agape, like a duck whose neck had been choked, unable to utter a single word.

Song Fang was also stunned.

What happened?

The leader of the Black Tiger Gang? A martial arts expert at the Skin Refining Realm actually bowed so deeply to Zhou Yuan?

Zhou Yuan looked at the scene before him and understood.

Black Tiger Gang?

Isn't that the gang that Li Hu joined?

With Gao Qiang and Gao Sheng dead, the Jinshi Gang indeed collapsed like a tree falling and its monkeys scattering. He just hadn't expected the news of his breakthrough to the Bone Forging Realm to spread so quickly.

This fat man named Xu Fu is quite the smooth operator.

"No need for formalities, Chief Xu," Zhou Yuan said calmly.

Upon hearing this address, Xu Fu's face lit up with even greater joy, and he quickly straightened up.

"Don't worry, Master Zhou, I've already spoken to my men. From now on, there will be absolutely no unauthorized personnel within a hundred feet of the Zhou residence, ensuring that no one will disturb Master Zhou and Miss Zhou's peace and quiet!"

Zhou Yuan nodded, feeling a bit more favorably disposed towards the fat man's tactfulness.

He then asked a question.

"Is Li Hu in your gang?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu pondered for a moment. With over a hundred people in the gang, how could he possibly remember everyone's name?

"It seems... there is such a person."

But the next moment, as if he had suddenly thought of something, he hurriedly asked, "Is this person someone Master Zhou knows?"

"He's my childhood friend," Zhou Yuan replied.

"I would appreciate it if Chief Xu could lend a hand."

Xu Fu was overjoyed!

To have a Bone Forging Realm expert owe me a favor—what an incredible stroke of luck!

He quickly patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, Master Zhou! Your childhood friend is like my own brother, Xu Fu!"

Thank you for your trouble.

Zhou Yuan said something and then said no more. He walked past the group of gang members who were still kneeling on one knee and headed straight for his own courtyard gate.

Not far away, the grocery store was deathly silent.

The smugness on Song Tao's face had vanished, leaving only a blank expression.

As Song Fang watched Zhou Yuan's departing figure and saw the obsequious and respectful demeanor of Xu Fu, the leader of the Black Tiger Gang, her breath hitched slightly.

A thought uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.

Zhou Yuan has entered the Bone Forging Realm?

The moment the thought crossed her mind, her fingers, which were gripping the counter, trembled slightly.

A beautifully embroidered handkerchief with mandarin ducks slipped from her fingers and floated gently to the dusty ground.

......

Zhou Yuan pushed open the courtyard gate and went inside.

Several new things appeared in the room.

A fine piece of silk, several boxes of beautifully packaged pastries, and even a hairpin that looked quite valuable.

Zhou Ting came out of the house to greet them, her face showing some unease.

"Yuanzi, you're back."

She pointed to the gifts and whispered, "Just now, a... a chubby gentleman said he admired you and insisted on giving these things over. I didn't want them, but he was so enthusiastic that he just handed them to me and left."

Zhou Yuan glanced at those things and immediately understood what was going on.

Xu Fu.

The leader of the Black Tiger Gang.

My sister said he had a kind face?

Zhou Yuan sneered inwardly.

How could someone who could raise a gang in a place like Mud Alley and wipe out the remaining forces of the Golden Stone Gang be a good person?

It's only because I've now entered the Bone Forging Realm and possess strength that makes him wary that he shows this kind face.

If it were any other family, they would probably have been driven to ruin by this fat man long ago.

However, these things are none of his business.

He wouldn't bother with anything as long as it didn't provoke him.

"Sister, please accept this. It's a token of their appreciation."

Zhou Yuan spoke up, trying to comfort his sister.

"But this is too expensive..." Zhou Ting still felt it was inappropriate.

"fine."

Zhou Yuan walked up to her, looked at her worried face, and suddenly smiled.

"Sis, I have some good news to tell you."

"Today, I was accepted as a core disciple by the sect leader."

Zhou Ting was stunned when she heard this.

She stared blankly at Zhou Yuan, seemingly not having heard him clearly.

"What...what did you say?"

"I said, I am now a core disciple of Qingyang Martial Arts School," Zhou Yuan repeated.

The next moment, Zhou Ting's eyes instantly turned red.

Only she knows best how much sweat and hardship her brother endured for this day.

Many nights, she could hear the muffled thud of fists in the courtyard and see her younger brother's sweaty figure under the moonlight.

Now, we've finally made it through.

"well……"

Zhou Ting wiped away her tears, and a bright smile finally bloomed on her face. The smile was mixed with tears, but it was brighter than ever before.

"Great! I'll go make you something delicious, let's celebrate today!"

She turned to walk towards the kitchen.

"Sis, wait a minute."

Zhou Yuan grabbed her arm.

Zhou Ting turned around in confusion.

Zhou Yuan looked at her and said, word by word, "I also asked my master for a prescription."

"What prescription?"

"A remedy for your leg injury."

Her smile froze, and she stood rooted to the spot.

After a long while, she finally found her voice and spoke hoarsely.

"Yuanzi...you, you must be joking."

Her legs had long been given a death sentence by the best doctor in the city, who said she would never be able to stand up straight again.

She has resigned herself to her fate.

She thought that she would be a cripple for the rest of her life.

"I'm not joking."

Zhou Yuan carefully took out the yellowed prescription from his bosom.

"My master said this is an ancient remedy, so perhaps we can give it a try."

Zhou Ting's breathing suddenly became rapid.

Her body began to tremble slightly, and a glimmer of light gradually appeared in her eyes.

She used to be a cheerful and lively woman.

She was once the most skilled "First-Class Embroiderer" in the Feiyun Embroidery Building in the inner city.

But everything changed after I broke my leg.

She was dismissed from the embroidery workshop, lost all her pride, and was trapped in this small courtyard, day after day, year after year.

She became self-conscious and sensitive, and even dared not look up at the strange looks cast at her by the girls her age in the alley.

"This...this prescription, does it really...really work?"

Her voice carried a hint of cautious anticipation that she herself was unaware of.

"It will definitely work."

Zhou Yuan said firmly.

......