A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

The next day, early in the morning.

Zhou Yuan got up very early, but dealing with Wang Laizi didn't give him any respite. In this chaotic world, his meager strength was far from enough.

He ate a few bites quickly and then headed towards Qingyang Martial Arts School.

But as soon as he stepped into the martial arts school courtyard, he saw several disciples who were wearing martial arts school shirts had changed into their own regular clothes and were walking out dejectedly.

Their faces were full of disappointment and resentment, as if they were separated from the martial arts school by an invisible wall.

"Sigh, a few more have left."

"That's right. Li San has been here for almost three months, and there's still no sign of him. Why would the master keep him?"

The whispers of the older disciples nearby were not loud, but they reached Zhou Yuan's ears clearly.

He glanced around and saw Li Dazhuang already standing in the corner, assuming a stance for his martial arts practice.

This kind-hearted senior brother wasn't sweating profusely as usual today. He just stood quietly, watching the departing figures, his expression more solemn than ever before.

Zhou Yuan did not go forward to ask.

He could certainly guess what Li Dazhuang was thinking; it was a heavy feeling of shared sorrow.

Martial arts schools have their own rules; if a student cannot break through to the Skin Refining Realm within three months, they will be expelled.

As some leave, others arrive.

Several hours later, as Zhou Yuan finished practicing a set of Mountain Shaking Fist and was adjusting his breathing, the school master Zhu Xiaowen led several newcomers in.

"The apprenticeship fee is five taels of silver, which will not be refunded after you become an apprentice." Zhu Xiaowen's voice was as emotionless as ever.

The newlyweds respectfully paid the money.

Zhu Xiaowen began to examine each bone one by one.

"His physical constitution is below average; he can train, but his future prospects are limited."

"Your physical constitution is inferior. Go back and don't waste your money."

His evaluation was simple and direct, causing the newcomers' faces to turn pale and then red.

When he walked up to the last newcomer, he saw a thin boy wearing faded linen clothes and smelling faintly of fish.

Zhu Xiaowen placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and gave it a casual squeeze. The next moment, his usually calm face revealed obvious excitement for the first time.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Wang Tengfei," the boy replied somewhat reservedly.

"Good! Good! Good!" Zhu Xiaowen exclaimed three times, his voice filled with undisguised admiration. "Superior aptitude! It's actually superior aptitude!"

Upon hearing this, the entire courtyard fell silent for a moment.

All eyes were on the boy named Wang Tengfei, filled with surprise, envy, and jealousy.

Li Dazhuang froze on the spot, his face full of bitterness as he looked at Wang Tengfei, who was being personally pulled aside by the master Zhu Xiaowen to carefully instruct him on stance training.

Effort seems insignificant in the face of true talent.

Wang Tengfei's comprehension was indeed astonishing. Zhu Xiaowen only gave him a few pointers, and his Liuhe Zhuanggong stance was more standard than many of the older disciples who had practiced for a month.

Zhu Xiaowen nodded repeatedly, his face full of a satisfied smile.

This kind of treatment was something that Zhou Yuan and his mediocre disciples had never enjoyed.

Zhou Yuan simply watched quietly.

He did not lose his composure because of this suddenly appearing disciple with superior talent.

So what if you have extraordinary talent?

He has his own path.

As long as he keeps working hard, breaking through to a higher level is only a matter of time for him.

He withdrew his gaze, calmed down, and continued to practice his Mountain-Shaking Fist steadily and surely.

One punch after another.

……

In the evening, Zhou Yuan dragged his tired body toward the muddy alley.

"Senior Brother Zhou, please wait."

A somewhat reserved voice came from behind.

Zhou Yuan turned around and saw Wang Tengfei quickly catching up.

"Junior Brother Wang, is something the matter?"

"N-nothing...it's nothing." Wang Tengfei scratched his head, seemingly a little embarrassed. "I...I live in Qingyu Lane, not far from Wuni Lane. I saw that you were also heading in this direction, so...I thought I'd go with you."

The outer city is plagued by crime, so traveling in groups is definitely safer.

"Okay." Zhou Yuan nodded.

The two walked side by side.

Through casual conversation, Zhou Yuan learned that Wang Tengfei's family had made a living by fishing for generations and were very poor.

The five taels of silver they paid for the apprenticeship were scraped together by their family by selling everything they owned and borrowing from all their relatives.

He wanted to change his and his family's fate by learning martial arts.

This is exactly what Zhou Yuan thought.

Soon, we arrived at Qingyu Lane.

Wang Tengfei's home is deep in the alley, an even more dilapidated mud-brick house than Zhou Yuan's.

"Sister, I'm back!" Wang Tengfei called out into the house.

A woman dressed in hemp clothing came out of the house. She looked to be in her early twenties, but there were already a few obvious strands of white hair at her temples, and her face showed signs of vicissitudes that did not match her age.

Another unfortunate person crushed by life.

Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly.

The woman smiled somewhat awkwardly when she saw Zhou Yuan.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, Zhou Yuan took his leave and walked alone towards the muddy alley.

As soon as I arrived at my own door, before I even pushed the door open, I heard a high-pitched and obsequious voice coming from inside.

"Young lady Zhou, you'd better think this through! This is an incredible blessing! Countless girls would kill for such an opportunity!"

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly and pushed open the door to enter.

There was an old woman wearing a floral cotton jacket and with thick makeup on her face, talking animatedly to her older sister Zhou Ting.

Zhou Ting sat on the edge of the bed, silently doing her needlework without saying a word, but her tightly pursed lips revealed her displeasure.

Zhou Yuan recognized the old woman.

She was the famous matchmaker in this muddy alley, Wang Po.

When Granny Wang saw Zhou Yuan return, her eyes lit up, and she immediately greeted him with a smile.

"Oh, Yuanzi's back! Perfect timing! Come listen, I've found a fantastic marriage for your sister!"

"What marriage?" Zhou Yuan asked calmly.

"Gao Qiang, the leader of the Jinshi Gang! Leader Gao!" Granny Wang said, her face full of pride and smugness.

"Gao, the gang leader, is young and promising. He's practically the man of the trade in these alleys! For him to take a liking to your sister is a blessing your Zhou family has accumulated over eight lifetimes!"

High strength?

In an instant, Zhou Yuan's mind conjured up an image of a person with a large blue birthmark on their face.

Before the Zhou family fell into poverty, Gao Qiang was a long-term worker in the family. Later, because he was dishonest and stole money from the family, he was beaten and kicked out by his father.

Unexpectedly, in just a few years, he transformed himself into the leader of a gang.

"Wang Po, please leave." Zhou Ting, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. Her voice was soft, but unusually firm.

"We should not agree to this marriage."

The smile on Granny Wang's face faded, but it didn't disappear completely; instead, it turned into a forced, insincere smile.

She didn't rush to lash out; she simply tidied her floral-patterned jacket slowly.

"Young lady Zhou, you shouldn't be so harsh." She sighed, as if feeling sorry for Zhou Ting.

"I know that you two siblings still have the pride you had back then. But things are different now."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Zhou Ting's injured leg, then looking at the dilapidated house with its bare walls.

"You should know what kind of status Chief Gao has now, and what kind of influence the Jinshi Gang carries in this area. He's only trying to help you out of old friendship; that's an immense favor."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling coldness.

"Accepting this favor would be a blessing. If you don't... you'd be offending Chief Gao, and life in this muddy alley wouldn't be so easy anymore. You two siblings should think this through."

Zhou Ting's body trembled slightly, and her face paled.

Zhou Yuan stepped forward and shielded his sister behind him.

He looked at Granny Wang and slowly uttered a single word.

"roll."

A chilling aura emanated from him, a ferocity born from the killing of three people.

Startled by this imposing aura, Granny Wang took two steps back. She looked at Zhou Yuan in horror, as if she didn't recognize the young man before her.

Zhou Yuan didn't give her a chance to speak again. He grabbed her by the collar and threw her out the door like a chick.

"Bang!"

He slammed the old wooden door shut.

Wang Po's curses were kept outside the door.

......