Half-human, half-ghost, the number one divine fist

Lin Ruoyin gripped the cloth bag tightly, took a deep breath, and interrupted them:

"Father, Third Brother, it's really inconvenient for Qi Yue to handle Fu Lai's matter. The police station's salary is limited, and the expenses for favors are high; we simply can't spare the money. I'm here today for Fu Sheng's sake!"

"Fu Sheng?"

Upon hearing this name, the smile on Lin Shouting's face vanished like a receding tide, replaced by a layer of frost.

Lin Hongyu also stopped smiling, sat back in his chair, and slowly started playing with the walnuts, his eyes filled with disgust.

"What's wrong with him now?"

Lin Shouting's voice was dry and impatient. "Wasn't he so arrogant as the boss of the gambling den? He hasn't been home for months. Doesn't he care about this family at all? Every time we went back to the gambling den these past few months, we asked him to give us his share of the winnings to support Fulai's education, and he just told us to leave. What an unfilial grandson! Judging from his arrogant attitude, he might even beat us up!"

"What's wrong? Is Lin Fusheng in trouble?"

Lin Hongyu said sarcastically, "You keep your money to yourself, never benefiting from the family's wealth, and now you're suddenly remembering us?"

Lin Ruoyin did not argue, but her voice was pleading:

"Father, Third Brother, let's not talk about this now. Fusheng is still just a child, and his life is in danger. The Tongxin Society and the Sihai Gate have specifically requested his participation in their deadly battle. If he goes, he might lose his life. Father, don't you know some foreigners? Please, please use your connections with them to put in a good word and see if you can pull Fusheng out of this mess. Fusheng is Eldest Brother's only child; we can't just stand by and watch him die!"

Lin Shouting scoffed, his eyes filled with mockery and resentment.

"The path of the foreigners? You think it's so easy to follow the path of the foreigners?"

"Besides, your good nephew has already blocked the way! A few months ago, Mr. Smith was quite interested in the boxing manual left by your elder brother; he's a real Westerner."

"I thought this would be a good opportunity to pave a path for Fusheng. If the boxing manual caught Mr. Smith's eye, it would be a good thing for Fusheng. But what happened? Your good nephew Lin Fusheng was so stingy and refused to hand it over, causing our Lin family to lose face in front of Mr. Smith! Mr. Smith was displeased and stormed off! Because of this, people there have a bad opinion of our Lin family. And now you want us to beg foreigners for his help?"

boom!

Lin Shouting slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair: "He ruined his own life. He had money but wouldn't help his family, and he blocked his own way out. Now that he's about to die, he's thinking about his family and the foreigners? Let me tell you, I can't control him, and I don't have the face to! Lin Fusheng has to bear the consequences of his own actions! Whether he lives or dies is his fate!"

"Father! Third Brother! You can't say that!"

Lin Ruoyin's eyes reddened, "We're family..."

"A family?"

Lin Hongyu sneered.

"Does he even consider us family? We begged him, pleading with him for 'just a tiny bit' of money, and he wouldn't budge. Now he thinks blood is thicker than water?"

Lin Shouting waved his hand impatiently: "Alright! Stop talking! Because of him, our Lin family has lost all face in front of the foreigners! You expect us to plead for him? Absolutely not! Go back and tell him to walk his own path and not bother us! And you shouldn't visit us again because of him!"

Looking at her father and third brother's identical cold, mocking, and even gleeful expressions, Lin Ruoyin felt a chill in her heart.

This is hardly the behavior of family.

"Okay, I understand."

Lin Ruoyin's face drained of color. She looked deeply at her father and third brother, her eyes eerily calm. "I won't disturb you any longer."

After saying that, she turned and left the courtyard that her elder brother, Lin Yuanshan, had saved up and worked hard to buy.

Lin Ruoyin's figure disappeared outside the courtyard.

Inside, the radio was still playing opera tunes.

Lin Hongyu spat towards the door and cursed, "Once you're married, you don't care about your family anymore, pshaw."

Lin Shouting leaned back in his armchair and closed his eyes, but his brows were slightly furrowed.

After a long while, he muttered in a low voice, "However, Fusheng is still the head of Jinrong Gambling House now, and he has some income every month. Although he is stingy and unwilling to hand over any money to the family, it is still nominally a property of our Lin family... If he really gets into trouble this time... the gambling house will have nothing to do with our Lin family anymore."

Lin Hongyu was taken aback upon hearing this, and stopped playing with the walnuts: "Dad, you mean..."

"It doesn't mean anything."

Lin Shouting said coldly, "I was just saying. There's nothing we can do. The rules of the Tongxin Society don't say anything about succession by younger brother. I hope Fusheng can survive. If Fusheng survives this time, he'll understand our previous efforts and will be willing to give his monthly allowance to his family to support Fulai's education. These days, going to foreigners is the only way to success."

……

Time slips away quietly with the rising and setting of the sun and moon.

For Lin Fusheng, time is like sand slipping through his fingers, impossible to grasp or hold onto, but the growing heaviness in his muscles and the increasingly clear swelling under his skin make him feel very fulfilled.

Five days have passed.

At dusk, the backyard of the gambling den was bathed in the dark gold glow of the setting sun.

Lin Fusheng stood shirtless in the courtyard, striking the most basic stance of the Iron Clothes Pole.

His breathing was long and slow. With each inhale, his chest expanded slightly and his abdomen contracted, as if he were swallowing up the thin vital energy in the surrounding air. With each exhale, he slowly exhaled the stale air from his mouth and nose, his breath hot.

[Ironclad Stake (Perfect: 400/400)]: Health +400%

Qi and Blood: 25 (+100)

The Iron Armor Stakes have been successfully completed.

Now you can try to clear the level.

To break through this barrier, you need to learn the Stone Skin Technique.

Lin Fusheng left the backyard and went into the gambling den. He glanced around and spotted Xiao Tian.

"Xiao Tian, ​​is Uncle Rong at the gambling den?"

Xiao Tian thought for a moment and said, "Reporting to Chief Lin, Hall Master Rong is instructing Chen Cang on martial arts training in the east courtyard. It seems he is imparting some insights about the Iron Tendon Pass."

Lin Fusheng nodded: "I understand."

He then walked into the east courtyard.

Before even entering, one could hear Rong Chongming's deep, clear voice explaining things, as well as the occasional deep, resonant breaths of Chen Cang.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and Lin Fusheng pushed it open and went in.

In the open space of the courtyard, Rong Chongming stood with his hands behind his back, looking intently ahead.

Chen Cang, shirtless, stood on a peculiar stake, his muscles taut as iron, veins throbbing beneath his skin. He was slowly and laboriously adjusting his breathing and the subtle coordination of his muscles under Rong Chongming's guidance, sweat pouring down his forehead.

A solemn and focused atmosphere filled the air.

Upon hearing footsteps, Rong Chongming abruptly stopped speaking and turned around.

Chen Cang slowly withdrew his stance, his breathing slightly disordered. He looked at Lin Fusheng and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if he was slightly displeased at being disturbed.

"Fusheng?" Rong Chongming's face showed just the right amount of surprise. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Lin Fusheng walked closer, his gaze calmly sweeping over Chen Cang's powerful physique, before turning to Rong Chongming and saying directly:

"Uncle Rong, my Iron Armor Stance has reached perfection. I feel... as if I've touched the threshold of the Stone Skin stage. I'd like to ask you for the cultivation method to break through the Stone Skin stage and try to make an attempt."