A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

On the road leading from the inner city to the outer city, Song Fang walked alone.

To finish the work quickly, the embroidery workshop ended its shift a little later than usual. The faint sounds of battle cries echoed in the distance, causing her to clutch her clothes tightly and quicken her pace.

The outer city is ultimately not a place for humans to stay.

She insisted on moving into the inner city, where the armored guards patrolled day and night, and there would be no such chaos.

With her looks and figure, she should have been from the inner city.

I'll definitely go and urge Zhang Hao in a few days. He did promise me that before the engagement.

As Song Fang pondered this in her heart, the road beneath her feet no longer seemed so difficult to endure.

After walking for about 15 minutes, the familiar alleyway came into view.

But when she saw her own shop clearly, she froze on the spot.

a mess.

The door panels were shattered, goods were scattered all over the floor, and the shop looked as if it had been plowed by a herd of wild buffalo.

Song Fang's face instantly turned pale. She lifted her skirt and rushed inside like a madwoman.

"father!"

Inside the room, Song Laogen was lying on the ground, his body covered in footprints and blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Father, what's wrong? What happened?" Song Fang anxiously helped him up, her voice trembling.

"Xiao Tao... Xiao Tao, he..." Song Laogen stammered, "He offended the Salt Gang, his leg was broken, and he was taken away..."

Salt Gang!

Song Fang trembled, and her mind went blank.

That wasn't some street thug like the Black Tiger Gang; it was a major gang on par with the Canal Gang and the Firewood Gang, practically monopolizing the livelihood of the people in Luochuan County!

"What...what did he do?" Song Fang forced down her fear and pressed for an answer.

Having been beaten, Song Laogen had difficulty speaking and could only repeat Ding Yong's words in broken sentences.

Song Tao flirted with the concubine of the Salt Gang leader.

Upon hearing this, Song Fang felt a rush of heat to her head and almost fainted.

She knew that Song Tao had recently gathered some people and formed a small gang. She initially thought it was just a minor disturbance, but she never expected him to dare to commit such a heinous crime!

"Fang'er, hurry and save Xiao Tao! It will be too late if you wait any longer!" Old Song recalled his son's screams when his leg was broken, tears streaming down his face as he tightly gripped his daughter's hand.

"What...what can I do? They're the Salt Gang!" Song Fang was completely lost and turned deathly pale.

"Go find Zhang Hao! Yes, go find Zhang Hao!" Song Laogen cried out as if grasping at a last straw. "He's a Bone Forging Realm martial artist, and a core disciple of the Black Tiger Martial Arts School. He must have a way!"

Seeing her father on the verge of collapse, Song Fang nodded absentmindedly.

……

The next day, before dawn.

Song Fang left early, first going to the embroidery building to ask for leave, and then heading straight towards the Qingwa Lane in the inner city.

The house that Zhang Hao rented was there.

She stood in front of the door and knocked on it several times.

No one answered.

Song Fang was puzzled and increased the pressure.

There was still no movement inside.

Lost in her own thoughts, she couldn't care less about anything else and called out from outside the door, "Zhang Hao! Zhang Hao, are you there? It's me, Song Fang!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the courtyard gate finally creaked open a crack.

Zhang Hao peeked out, first cautiously looking around. Seeing that no one was around, he pulled Song Fang inside and quickly closed the door.

"What are you doing here?" His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible irritation.

Song Fang was taken aback by his appearance, and a bad feeling rose in her heart.

"I...I'm afraid the Chen family will come after us," Zhang Hao explained in a low voice. "The Wang family is putting increasing pressure on the Chen family. The Chen family's ship is about to sink. I don't want to go and gamble with them to my death!"

Song Fang was naturally aware of the boxing match between the Wang and Chen families.

Although she was somewhat displeased with Zhang Hao's current behavior, which was completely different from the spirited young man she remembered, she thought again that he was, after all, the Wang family, and bowing down in front of the Wang family did not seem to be anything shameful.

She composed herself and was about to ask him for help.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The gate was knocked on once again.

Zhang Hao's expression instantly changed. He grabbed Song Fang's arm and said urgently, "Go open the door! Tell the people outside that I suffered a qi deviation while practicing martial arts a few days ago, damaging my foundation and leaving me bedridden for months!"

Song Fang felt a sharp pain from his grip, and seeing his flustered state, her last shred of hope began to shatter.

But she still went over and opened the courtyard gate.

Standing in front of the door was none other than Chen Shaoshang, the young master of the Chen family.

Song Fang took a deep breath and repeated what Zhang Hao had taught her.

After listening, Chen Shaoshang remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly and did not suggest going in to visit.

"In that case, I won't bother you any longer."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, turned and left, his departing figure exuding an indescribable desolation.

Song Fang closed the door and returned to the courtyard.

He's gone.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hao let out a long sigh of relief, and his whole body relaxed.

"Once I find a new family to rely on, I'll leave the Chen family immediately," he said to himself.

Song Fang gave a bitter laugh, hesitated for a long time, and then told him about her younger brother Song Tao.

"What did you say? Offended the Salt Gang?"

Zhang Hao jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and refused without thinking.

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Do you know who's backing the Salt Gang? It's the Wang family! I'd have to be crazy to mess with them!"

He refused decisively, without showing the slightest bit of leniency.

Song Fang was completely stunned.

From their first meeting to their engagement, Zhang Hao today feels like a complete stranger to her.

She bit her lip tightly, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Zhang Hao seemed to realize that he had spoken too harshly, and quickly stepped forward, softening his tone.

"Fang'er, don't worry, this... this isn't that I don't want to help, it's just that I really can't."

Seeing that Song Fang remained unmoved, he said again, "How about this, I'll go and beg my master, the head of the Black Tiger Martial Arts School. With his help, perhaps... perhaps there's still a sliver of hope."

Upon hearing these words, Song Fang's already lifeless heart stirred with a slight ripple.

Perhaps he was just too anxious and that's why he said those things.

Outside the courtyard.

Chen Shaoshang, accompanied by several attendants, walked home with a desolate air.

Forget about winning the boxing match against the Wang family, the Chen family now can't even find a martial artist who can take the stage.

Zhang Hao, who was just now, was one of the strongest martial artists affiliated with the Chen family, and his monthly salary was not low. However, when disaster struck, he became a coward.

"Young Master, Zhang Hao is obviously faking illness!" the attendant beside him said indignantly.

"How about... we go and ask Master Zhou Yuan for help?" another follower suggested. "He's currently the most sought-after person in Luochuan City, skilled in bone forging and tendon breaking, and he's always had a good relationship with you."

Chen Shaoshang paused, then slowly shook his head.

Given his relationship with Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan would certainly not refuse if he asked.

But he can't do that.

Or rather, they feel embarrassed to do so.

Zhou Yuan wanted to work under the Chen family's wing, but the Chen family refused. Now that the Chen family is in trouble, Chen Shaoshang can't bear to shamelessly try to curry favor with them again.

......

Muddy Alley, Zhou Residence.

Zhou Yuan changed into a brand-new patrol officer's uniform. The black fabric was embroidered with silver cloud patterns, which made his figure appear even more upright.

Today is his first day in office since being promoted to the position of constable in the North City Patrol Division.

He walked out of the courtyard and headed towards the North City Patrol Office.

About an hour later, Zhou Yuan arrived at the patrol station.

The guards at the gate immediately straightened up when they saw him arrive, and bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Inspector Zhou!"

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly in acknowledgment and stepped inside.

When Li Tong, who was on duty, saw him, he was startled and quickly got up to greet him.

Unlike others, he had personally witnessed how Zhou Yuan crushed Xu Qingyi, a cultivator at the Yi Jin realm, to death. This usually taciturn Brother Zhou was actually a terrifyingly ruthless person.

"Brother Li, there's no need for such formalities between us." Zhou Yuan stepped forward and helped him up.

Although Li Tong was shrewd, he meant no harm to Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Yuan didn't want to make things too awkward.

Zhou Yuan walked straight to the main seat and sat down on the chair that was reserved for patrol officers.

Looking at the empty patrol station, he couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

Zhao Dacheng and Wang Meng, who were once together, are now just skeletons.

Li Tong seemed to have seen through his thoughts and quickly stepped forward.

"Inspector Zhou, Chief Inspector Xie from the General Headquarters just sent someone to deliver the roster."

"Chief Inspector Xie said that he knows our North City Patrol Division is short-staffed, so he specially sent over a few candidates for you to review and choose from."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's expression shifted, and he took the roster and began to peruse it.

His finger stopped abruptly as it traced one of the names.

Two words were clearly written on it.

Zhang Hao.