Becoming a martial arts saint starting with Black Tiger Fist

For the next three days, Chen Yuan would set sail before dawn and return after dark.

Thanks to his improved fishing skills, Chen Yuan's earnings far exceeded his previous level, now comparable to those of veteran fishermen who had worked for decades. He was able to earn a steady income every day, which allowed the mother and son to catch their breath.

On the afternoon of the third day, Chen Yuan sailed to a secluded body of water, where the water was darker and near a steep riverbank.

He didn't have high hopes; it was just a routine attempt.

However, when he cast his net into a shady area overgrown with weeds, the net suddenly came across a tremendous struggle that nearly dragged him off the boat!

Chen Yuan was startled and quickly steadied himself in a horse stance, using his arms to wrestle with the object in the water.

The thing was incredibly strong, thrashing left and right, tearing the fishing net with a loud rustling sound.

Chen Yuan steadied himself and used his skilled net-hauling techniques to gradually wear down the fish's strength, while adjusting the angle to prevent the net from getting caught on weeds or rocks.

The struggle underwater gradually weakened after a full incense stick's time. Chen Yuan used all his strength to drag the fishing net onto the boat deck.

Whoosh!

Water splashed everywhere, and when Chen Yuan saw what was in the net, his breath hitched.

It was a silvery-white fish, about a foot long, with scales that shimmered with a faint glow. Most peculiar was the jade-like bulge on its head.

"Is this a jade-crowned silver carp?"

Chen Yuan's heart pounded. In the original owner's memories, there was a vague impression of this kind of treasure fish.

It is said that some fish that grow in special waters have incredibly delicious flesh, which is especially beneficial to martial arts practitioners. Therefore, they are extremely expensive and rare.

What Xu Qing's father caught by luck before was something similar.

Suppressing his excitement, Chen Yuan quickly packed up and steered the boat back to port.

He handed over the ordinary catch to his mother to handle, while he wrapped the silver fish in his old clothes and headed straight for a reputable, long-established fish market deep inside the market that also accepted rare and exotic fish.

......

"Jade-capped silver carp, what a find!"

Manager Liu, a portly man, circled the precious fish in the basin twice, his eyes gleaming. "Judging from the luster of its jade-like tip and its length, it's at least a five-year-old aquatic treasure."

He looked up at Chen Yuan and said, "Brother, you're really skilled. This thing is hard to get out of the water easily."

Hearing the shopkeeper's assessment, Chen Yuan felt a surge of joy, but he still tried to maintain his composure: "You have a discerning eye, sir. So, what price is this fish worth?"

The old shopkeeper held up five fingers: "According to market prices, a five-year-old jade-topped silver carp, in its entirety and alive, is the most valuable. Yours has been out of the water for a long time, and although its vitality is not greatly damaged, it is still somewhat inferior. I can only offer five taels of silver."

Five taels! Chen Yuan was shocked.

This is almost the amount that an ordinary fishing family in the original owner's memory might not be able to save up even after a year of hard work.

That's enough money to pay for the martial arts school apprenticeship!

His throat was a little dry. Knowing that the old shopkeeper's price was fair, he nodded decisively: "Five taels it is."

......

It was already dark when I left the fishpond.

The daytime hustle and bustle of the fish market fades away, leaving only a few scattered lights swaying uncertainly in the cold autumn wind.

Chen Yuan used the remaining copper coins to buy two coarse grain cakes and walked towards the riverbank.

Ding ding ding!

A sudden clang of metal clashing rang out in the distance, followed by several short shouts: "Chase them! Don't let them get away!"

Chen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine. The sound was clearly that of a gang fight, and he instinctively wanted to find a place to hide.

However, this place is outside the fish market, and there are no obstacles within dozens of meters around.

Left with no other choice, Chen Yuan quickened his pace, trying to get away.

But the chaotic footsteps and shouts grew closer and closer, heading straight for him!

"You scum of the Compassionate Venerable Sect, spreading your teachings on my Green Snake Gang's territory, you're courting death!"

Chen Yuan turned around and saw about a dozen members of the Green Snake Gang chasing after three men dressed in strange clothes.

The three men moved quickly, fleeing in the direction he was heading. Chen Yuan cursed inwardly and quickly stepped aside.

The three of them passed Chen Yuan and headed west. When the Green Snake Gang members caught up, Chen Yuan saw that the one in the lead had a round face and a buzz cut, and his eyes were filled with a fierce light. It was Wang Meng.

He kept chasing after Chen Yuan, his gaze sweeping over him, especially lingering for a moment on Chen Yuan's slightly bulging chest.

He then turned his gaze away and continued chasing in the direction the three men had fled.

Only after the figures of the group had completely disappeared into the distance did Chen Yuan slowly exhale a breath of stale air.

The world is in such chaos!

He recalled Wang Meng's gaze just now, and a strong sense of unease rose in his heart.

"He's become suspicious..."

Wang Meng is the kind of person who spends his life in the streets and alleys, and has a keen sense of smell.

I left the fish market so late, which is quite different from my usual routine.

If he were to inquire at those fish market stalls afterward, although the old shopkeepers might not reveal the customer's information, the Green Snake Gang had its own ways of gathering information, and it was hard to guarantee that they wouldn't find out that he had sold a valuable treasure fish.

Five taels of silver is not a small amount for a low-level member of the Green Snake Gang. If Wang Meng finds out, given his greed, he probably won't leave him with many coins.

"I can't wait any longer, I'll go to the martial arts gym to pay tomorrow morning!" Chen Yuan made up his mind and ran all the way home.

......

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Chen Yuan followed Xu Qing to a courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles, and a spacious entrance.

This residence was much more impressive than the surrounding houses. A plaque hung above the gate with two powerful characters: "Jiang Courtyard".

The two black lacquered wooden doors were half-open, and shouts and muffled thuds of bodies colliding could be heard coming from inside.

Two stone lions squatted at the entrance, clean and tidy, exuding an air of competence and solemnity.

"We're here, this is it."

Xu Qing straightened his training clothes and stepped inside first.

As soon as you enter the gate, the view opens up dramatically.

The first thing that catches the eye is an extremely spacious courtyard, with a flat, compacted loess ground, almost like a small square.

More than twenty teenagers were divided into several groups and practicing under the guidance of several older young men.

Some were punching the air with loud "humming and hawing," the force of their punches fierce.

Some were engaged in head-to-head combat, exchanging blows and kicks, sweating profusely.

Others were driving wooden dummy drills into the corners, making muffled thuds.

At the end of the courtyard, under the eaves of the main house, there is a grand master's chair.

A middle-aged man dressed in black was sitting there.

He was around forty years old, with a angular face, bronze skin, short, stiff stubble on his chin, and a pair of eyes that gleamed with a sharp light as they opened and closed, exuding an air of authority.

Although he was just sitting quietly, he gave people a sense of oppression, like a tiger lying on a hill.

"That's Master Jiang Cheng."

Xu Qing whispered something to Chen Yuan, then respectfully stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Master!"

Jiang Cheng nodded slightly, glancing at Chen Yuan behind Xu Qing with a questioning look in his eyes.

Xu Qing quickly stepped aside to introduce, "Master, this is my childhood friend, Chen Yuan. His family are also fishermen by the river. He has always wanted to learn martial arts, and he came here today specifically to become your disciple."