A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Time passed slowly, and the apprentices gradually left.

The training ground emptied out, leaving only Zhou Yuan alone.

He slowly finished his practice and exhaled a long, white breath.

At that moment, he was naturally unaware that this was the second time he had missed the fundamental diagram.

Zhou Yuan went to the side room to change into clean casual clothes, then left the martial arts school and headed straight for the Salt Gang's headquarters.

He also wanted to see what the Salt Gang, or rather the Wang family, was really up to.

......

Inner city, Qingwa Lane.

Zhang Hao dragged his weary steps on the way home, his heart heavy.

He just tried another agency, and the monthly salary they offered was less than half of what the Chen family had given him before.

A martial artist at the Bone Forging Realm is considered to have a certain status in Luochuan County, and he has never been treated so coldly before.

What made him feel most suffocated was the news that had spread throughout the city.

The Chen family actually won their boxing match.

Liu Cang, a veteran Yi Jin Jing master known as "Iron-Blooded Eagle Claw," was crippled in the ring by just a few punches.

The one who replaced the Chen family in the battle was none other than Zhou Yuan.

Song Fang's ex-fiancé.

Recalling his disdain and contempt for that person back at the Song family's general store, and comparing it to the other person's current fame and prestige in Luochuan, an indescribable sense of frustration welled up in Zhang Hao's heart.

What made him even more ashamed was that, as someone affiliated with the Chen family, he deserted his post and avoided battle.

The other party, who was merely a friend of Chen Shaoshang, stepped forward and turned the tide.

Where will Zhang Hao put his face in the martial arts circles of Luochuan County from now on?

Lost in thought, he unknowingly arrived at his own doorstep.

In the shadows at the alley entrance, a slender figure had been waiting for some time.

Zhang Hao paused, recognizing the person who had approached.

It's Song Fang.

Unlike the beautiful and charming girl she used to be, Song Fang looked haggard and her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She seemed to have lost all her energy.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Hao instinctively stopped in his tracks.

He had already guessed the other party's purpose in coming here.

However, Song Fang had already seen him, and as if grasping at a lifeline, she quickly came forward and grabbed his hand.

"Brother Hao, did you manage to get the letter?"

She asked anxiously, a last glimmer of hope flickering in her dim eyes.

Zhang Hao felt her hand was icy cold as she grabbed him, and his face burned with embarrassment.

These past few days, he's been so busy finding a new job for himself that he's completely forgotten about letters.

"My...my master isn't at the martial arts school right now, so...I haven't been able to ask yet."

He stammered his reply, not daring to look Song Fang in the eye.

As soon as she finished speaking, the light in Song Fang's eyes went out instantly.

She held Zhang Hao's hand, but it slipped away limply.

A wave of utter helplessness washed over me.

My younger brother, Song Tao, has been imprisoned by the Salt Gang for five or six days now, and his fate is unknown. My elderly father, overwhelmed with anxiety, has fallen ill and is bedridden.

The entire burden of the family fell on her shoulders, that of a frail woman.

Her only hope was Zhang Hao, who was standing right in front of her.

But he...

"That's enough."

Song Fang moved her chapped lips, uttered only these two words, and then turned away dejectedly, ready to leave.

Looking at her thin and desperate figure, Zhang Hao felt a sudden pang in his heart.

Whether it was fear of losing Song Fang or the final blow to his pride caused by Zhou Yuan's dazzling aura, it's hard to say.

He rushed forward as if possessed and grabbed Song Fang's hand again.

"Although...although I didn't get a letter from Master, I can personally go to the Salt Gang and plead for you!"

Zhang Hao was stunned when he said those words.

Upon hearing this, Song Fang slowly turned around.

A faint flame of hope rekindled in those eyes that had been lifeless.

……

The Salt Gang was located east of Luochuan City.

The area is open and spacious, with large tracts of land used for salt production, and the air is filled with a salty and damp smell.

Because of the large number of salt workers, the surrounding area was not desolate, but rather had a lively atmosphere.

Along the long street, instead of the grand and imposing shops found in the inner city, there were mostly small stalls selling wontons and steamed buns.

The stalls were simple, but the prices were cheap and the portions were generous, attracting countless salt workers who had just finished their work.

For these laborers who earn meager wages, being able to eat a hot meal in the evening is a rare moment of comfort during the day.

Zhou Yuan walked slowly down the long street, looking at the salt workers around him who looked tired but satisfied, and felt a pang of emotion.

This scene reminded him of his days as a laborer in the canal transport guild.

Back then, I was no different from them, earning a meager wage each month, and my biggest wish was simply to have enough to eat.

If I hadn't mastered martial arts, I would probably still be one of them.

Just as he was pondering this, several charming female shouts suddenly came from ahead.

Zhou Yuan looked up and saw several brothel women soliciting customers on the street.

Most of these women were of average appearance, and some were even old and faded, so it was clearly not a high-class place.

Behind them was a brothel that looked to have been built recently.

On either side of the brothel, several members of the Salt Gang, dressed in tight-fitting clothes, stood watching the surroundings with cold eyes.

This brothel was clearly owned by the Salt Gang.

At that moment, many salt workers who had just received their wages were being half-heartedly seduced by the women.

Seeing this, Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly.

The salt gang's exploitation tactics are truly ruthless.

The money that the salt workers earned with their blood and sweat in the salt fields was then turned around and poured into the brothels run by the salt gang.

Money goes in from the left pocket and out from the right; not a single penny can be taken out of the Salt Gang's territory.

He sighed slightly and quickened his pace.

In such chaotic times, all he could do was protect himself and his family.

After walking for about 15 minutes, a magnificent mansion came into view.

The main headquarters of the Salt Gang.

At this moment, a large group of people were already lined up and waiting at the entrance of the main hall.

Leading the group was a burly, bald man, none other than Xu Zhan, the leader of the Salt Gang.

The cultivation level of the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Realm).

Beside him stood five or six imposing Bone Forging Realm warriors, among whom was Ding Yong, whom he had met that morning.

As soon as Xu Zhan saw Zhou Yuan, a warm smile immediately appeared on his face, and he quickly walked over to greet him.

"Brother Zhou, you've finally arrived!"

He showed no airs of being the leader of the Salt Gang, and in his words, he treated Zhou Yuan as a brother of equal standing.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"You're too kind, Chief Xu."

Judging from the current situation, the Salt Gang and Xu Zhan have indeed given me a lot of face.

"please!"

Xu Zhan turned to the side and gestured for him to enter, his attitude respectful.

Zhou Yuan declined several times, but seeing that the other party insisted, he stopped being polite and stepped inside first.

The banquet was held on the second floor of an extremely luxurious loft.

The attic was filled with the fragrance of fine incense.

A huge round table was filled with all kinds of delicacies, and a dozen or so singers and dancers stood by with their hands at their sides.

After everyone was seated, Xu Zhan was the first to raise his glass.

"The other day in Qing Shi Lane, I, Xu, personally witnessed Master Zhou's extraordinary abilities, and it truly broadened my horizons! Come, let us toast Master Zhou!"

As soon as Xu Zhan finished speaking, all the Salt Gang leaders behind him stood up, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Zhou Yuan.

These people all had faces covered in scars and bodies that reeked of blood; they were clearly not good people.

But at this moment, in front of Zhou Yuan, they all wore smiles and dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous.

This demonstrates the immense power and influence Zhou Yuan currently wields.

"Respect to Master Zhou!"

The hall masters raised their glasses in unison, their voices perfectly synchronized.

Zhou Yuan's expression shifted slightly, but his face remained calm. He raised his wine glass, gestured to everyone, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Only after seeing Zhou Yuan finish his drink did everyone dare to sit down one by one.

Xu Zhan cleared his throat, preparing to say something more to try and get closer to him.

He still carried the task entrusted to him by the Second Young Master Wang: to win over Zhou Yuan.

However, just as he was about to speak, the attic door was suddenly pushed open, and a doorman rushed in looking flustered.

Xu Zhan frowned, somewhat displeased.

"What is it?"

The doorman quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Someone is requesting an audience with the gang leader."

"Who?" Xu Zhan asked impatiently.

The doorman hesitated for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "It's a woman, she said... her name is Song Fang."

......