Breaking Limits in Martial Arts: Grinding Your Way to Becoming a Martial Saint in a Chaotic Era

Qinghe County, Heishuiwan.

In late autumn, the frost chills to the bone.

Before dawn, Xu Qing followed his second uncle, Xu Erniu, and hurried towards the fishing boat dock in the dark.

The river breeze, carrying a strong fishy smell, scraped my face like a knife, instantly dispelling any lingering sleepiness.

Xu Qing subconsciously pulled her tattered jacket tighter around her and quickened her pace.

Three days ago, he was working overtime on Blue Star, and when he opened his eyes again, he had become this sixteen-year-old fisherman's boy.

"Ah Qing." Xu Erniu's back was slightly hunched as he carried the fishing net, and his voice was hoarse. "Yesterday your aunt counted the money, and there was only eight taels and five mace left in the house. This money... was originally saved for you to get married."

"Since you're determined to learn martial arts, your uncle and aunt won't stop you. Your uncle asked someone to inquire in the city, and the 'Zhao Family Martial Arts School' in the west of the city teaches quite well. The apprenticeship fee is the cheapest, but it still costs ten taels of silver."

"Eight taels and five mace of silver, two taels for the poll tax, five mace for reserve, and four taels short for the apprenticeship fee."

Xu Erniu didn't turn around, his steps never stopping: "After I sell the fish today, I'll go to town to see your aunt. Back when your father was still alive, when she got married, your father gave her a dowry of three taels of silver. Your uncle is a nice man, I reckon he can lend me two taels."

"We're still short two ounces. Your aunt and I have decided to let her go back to her parents' home today."

"If we can raise the money today, I'll send you to the martial arts school tomorrow. Don't worry about the money. I can still work now and I can still earn money in the future. I can pay back the money I borrowed slowly."

After saying that, Xu Erniu fell silent.

Looking at her second uncle's slightly hunched back, Xu Qing felt a pang of sadness.

Xu Erniu was not yet forty, but due to years of bending over to pull nets and being exposed to the wind and water, his joints developed problems early on, and he would ache badly as soon as autumn came.

Xu Qing's parents passed away early, entrusting him to the second son's family.

His second uncle and aunt treated him like their own son, never lacking food or clothing. They even gritted their teeth and supported him to study at a private school, a school they wouldn't even let their own daughter attend, for two years.

As soon as he mentioned wanting to learn martial arts, his second uncle found out the truth through someone and emptied his savings to borrow money to support him.

I'm afraid even if his parents were alive, they couldn't have done better.

Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect.

He took this body and also received this affection.

Xu Qing clenched his fist secretly: Sooner or later, he would make sure his second uncle's family lived a good life.

He has the confidence.

I didn't just say I wanted to practice martial arts on a whim.

Three days ago, when he opened his eyes, there was another piece of text in his mind.

[Destiny: Born a Martial Arts Prodigy]

The path of martial arts is boundless; my body is unrestrained. With diligent practice, success will inevitably come; like water flowing into a channel, it will naturally unfold.

Without a doubt, this is his magic touch.

This cheat code was created specifically for martial arts training.

The uncle and nephew walked in silence for about 15 minutes until they reached the bay.

Hundreds of fishing boats of all sizes are crowded together in the natural river bend, their masts like a forest.

There was a simple shed at the entrance to the berth, with light shining through it.

As soon as I got close, the cursing reached my ears.

"You poor bastard! You worthless scoundrel! What kind of boat can you sail without money?! Go and scrape together the funds!"

"If you don't pay your 'care fee' and 'berthing fee' by dawn, I'll scuttle your lousy ship!"

It's Song Ba's voice.

Song Ba is a "duty officer" sent by the Giant Whale Gang.

His name contained the number eight, and he had a scar on his face, earning him the menacing nickname "Scarface Master".

In the Blackwater Bay area, the government is nominally in charge, but the Giant Whale Gang is the real power behind the scenes.

Although these fishing boats, large and small, are mostly owned by fishermen, they are under the jurisdiction of the Giant Whale Gang.

The daily "care fee" and "berthing fee" are five coins each, without fail.

Disobeying orders? Refusing to pay?

Sinking a ship is the least of your worries; the destruction of families and loss of life are common occurrences.

"Don't say Scarface didn't point you in the right direction. The fish market is currently offering 'loan sharking' loans. If you really can't scrape together the money, go there for a quick fix. Get lost! Don't get in Scarface's way!"

As soon as Song Ba finished speaking, the curtain was lifted.

An old man with a wrinkled face and lifeless eyes staggered out.

Xu Qing recognized him.

My second uncle mentioned that the Zhou family, a once wealthy family in the eastern part of the bay.

The Zhou family used to be very prosperous, but now they are very desolate.

The only son of the Zhou family was blinded by greed after being tricked into gambling by the Giant Whale Gang. He lost all his family fortune overnight, first selling his house, then his wife, which angered the old man to death. Finally, he threw himself into the river.

If it weren't for his young grandson, this old man would have followed his son long ago.

Old Zhou looked up and saw Xu Erniu, and a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in his lifeless eyes.

He knew that Xu Erniu was honest and kind-hearted, and that he might be able to lend him ten coins.

Just as he opened his mouth, a scream suddenly came from afar:

"Uncle Zhou! Something terrible has happened! Your shack has collapsed, and Shunzi is buried underneath!"

Upon hearing the sound, Old Man Zhou was struck dumb, his whole body trembled, and he froze on the spot.

A middle-aged man rushed over, panting heavily: "I heard the noise and rushed out... but... but when I pulled Shunzi out, he was already dead..."

"Uncle Zhou, you should go back and check on things..."

Old Zhou swayed, as if his soul had been taken away.

The last trace of color had completely drained from his face, leaving it ashen.

He didn't mention the loan again, and was like an empty shell, dragging his feet as he slowly moved back.

His mouth moved back and forth, only low sobs remained:

"It collapsed...the shack collapsed...Shunzi...my Shunzi..."

As Xu Erniu watched the hunched figure disappear into the distance, his chest felt as heavy as if a tattered, water-soaked cotton wad was stuck inside.

He wanted to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

In this Blackwater Bay, whose house doesn't have its share of bitterness?

The government's taxes are like a thin layer of skin, while the Giant Whale Gang's exploitation is like sucking out the marrow.

Life was spent enduring hardship.

Every family has its own difficulties.

He can't help others, nor can he care about so many things.

He lowered his eyes, no longer looking at that desolate figure, and turned back to Xu Qing, lowering his voice: "Qing, you wait outside, I'll go pay the money."

Lifting the curtain, under the dim yellow oil lamp, Song Ba sat behind a broken wooden table.

The light illuminated the old scar on his face that ran from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth.

Xu Erniu put down the fishing net, hunched over and stepped forward, took out a small oilcloth bag, peeled it off layer by layer, revealing ten copper coins inside.

He forced a smile and gently placed the money on the table:

"Scarface, good morning. Here's today's care fee and berth fee."

Song Ba raised his eyelids slightly, exhaled a puff of white breath from his nose, and said nothing.

He simply spread out the account book on the table and drew a checkmark after Xu Erniu's name.

After paying a toll, the uncle and nephew were allowed to enter the parking area.

They waded through the damp, slippery mudflats, and soon found their small fishing boat.

Xu Erniu boarded the boat and checked it over. Finding no leaks, he dropped the fishing net and called for Xu Qing to hurry up and get on the boat.

With the mooring ropes untied and a push of the bamboo pole, the small boat glided silently out of the crowded berth.

Leaving this body of water, which was firmly "protected" by the giant whale gang, the river breeze seemed to finally become refreshing.

"Ah Qing, straighten the net. The water's cold today, the fish should be swimming downstream," Xu Erniu said.

Xu Qing responded and quickly tidied up, her fingers turning red from the cold of the fishing net soaked in the autumn chill.

"The autumn fish are plump, and the tide is good today, so we might have a good catch." Xu Erniu said, putting down the pole and rowing the oar. The awning boat cut through the chilly water and headed deeper into the bay.

"Second Uncle, I heard yesterday that the daughter of Uncle Li's family in the west end is going to be taken as a concubine by Manager Wang of the Fish Market? She'll be entering the family next month? If I remember correctly, his second daughter is only twelve years old..." Xu Qing asked tentatively while tidying up the fishing net.

Xu Erniu paused, remained silent for a long while, and then said in a low voice, "In the early autumn, Boss Li borrowed 'Autumn Breeze Loan' from the fish market, with an interest rate of three percent. It had to be repaid by winter, and with the due date fast approaching, he knew he wouldn't be able to pay it back..."

Fishponds are owned by the Whale Gang.

Xu Qing fell silent upon hearing this.

Autumn loans are repaid in winter – this is a common tactic used by the Giant Whale Gang.

They lend money before the weather gets cold and then collect debts in the dead of winter, causing countless families to sell their children as a result.

The Giant Whale Gang controls everything here.

From boats to the sale of fish, not even a single fish scale can be taken out of the bay without their permission.

The awning boat drifted on the water for more than an hour.

Xu Erniu signaled to close the net.

The net is heavy and feels cold to the touch.

The uncle and nephew worked together to pull it up; the silvery scales shimmered and danced in the autumn sun, revealing a plump autumn fish weighing forty or fifty pounds.

Before Xu Erniu could even feel joy, his breath caught in his throat!

There was a golden carp at the bottom of the net! It was about a foot long!

Its golden scales gleamed, like gold ingots.

"Golden-scaled carp!" Xu Erniu's voice trembled as he hurriedly looked around.

Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat.

This "treasure fish" is extremely nourishing for blood and qi, and is a prized tonic for martial artists and wealthy families in the county.

One can sell for at least ten taels of silver.

Even if half of the money from selling fish is taken by the Giant Whale Gang and the government, the rest is enough for fishermen like them to live a comfortable life for half a year.

With this golden carp, there's no need to borrow money anymore; it's enough to cover Xu Qing's apprenticeship expenses.

"Don't make a sound...don't make a sound." Xu Erniu suppressed his excitement, carefully placed the golden carp into a separate bucket, covered it tightly with a regular fish lid, and said breathlessly, "Aqing, we have to avoid people on the way back."

On the way back, Xu Erniu had a rare smile on his face.

Xu Qing was also in a great mood.

When the covered boats docked, the wharf was already crowded with fishing boats selling fish.

The fish market is right next to the dock, and the air is filled with a persistent fishy smell.

After mooring the boat, the Xu family uncle and nephew, carrying their fish buckets, silently joined the queue.

The fishermen hunched their shoulders in the autumn wind, their eyes numb as they poured their catch into large wooden basins for weighing fish.

Manager Wang, wearing a thick padded coat, sat under the eaves, surrounded by several gang members.

When it was the turn of the Xu family uncle and nephew, Xu Erniu did not hesitate and poured out the golden carp.

"Hey, a golden-scaled carp!" Manager Wang's small eyes lit up, and his fat face twitched. "Xu Erniu, what kind of incredible luck did you have?"

"It's all thanks to the manager," Xu Erniu said, bowing.

Manager Wang weighed the fish in his hand, squinted, and said, "The quality is alright, but there's a lot of stock at the autumn market, so the price has been lowered to eight taels."

"Manager, this fish should weigh at least ten taels..." Xu Erniu's voice was weak.

"Hmm?" Manager Wang snorted and glanced at Xu Erniu. "I said eight taels, and that's eight taels!"

Xu Erniu lowered his head: "Eight taels...it's eight taels then."

"You worthless bastard," Manager Wang cursed, fiddling with the abacus. He snorted, "Thirty-five catties of miscellaneous fish, seventy coins; one golden carp, eight taels. After deducting fish tax and fish farm management fees, the net profit is four taels and thirty-five coins."

Xu Qing suppressed her anger, but felt a chill in her heart.

The precious fish, which originally weighed at least ten taels, was sold for only eight taels.

The catch of over forty catties of fish was then called thirty-five catties.

Half of the money was also deducted.

Xu Erniu lowered his head and trembled as he accepted the broken silver and copper coins.

Just then, there was a commotion in the fishpond.

Liu San, nicknamed "Black Fish," a minor leader of the Giant Whale Gang, led a few men to the fish market in a flurry of activity.

Several gang members dragged a middle-aged fisherman whose face was covered in blood.

Xu Qing recognized the man; he was Uncle Chen from the same alley.

"Look carefully, everyone!" Liu San's raspy voice echoed throughout the fishpond dock. "That bastard Chen Laosi caught a silver perch yesterday and dared to sneak off to sell it in the county town! He's breaking the rules of Blackwater Bay!"

Chen Laosi was thrown onto the cold mud like a dead dog, his left leg twisted at an odd angle, barely breathing, only able to groan weakly.

"The rules of Blackwater Bay are that all fish must pass through the fish market!" Liu San swept his menacing gaze over the trembling fishermen. "Anyone who dares to break the rules again will suffer the same fate as Chen Laosi! First offense, broken leg! Second offense, drowning!"

Everyone lowered their heads and shrank back, while a woman covered her face and sobbed.

Liu San turned his head with satisfaction, his gaze falling on Xu Erniu's clenched right hand: "Xu Erniu, Lao Wang said you caught a golden carp and sold it for four taels of silver? Autumn treasure fish, according to custom, you get to take an additional 10% 'auspicious red money'."

Xu Erniu's face turned deathly pale: "Master Liu, this... I've never heard of this rule before..."

"That's because you've never caught a treasure fish!" Liu San said, striding forward with a grin. He pried open Xu Erniu's hand with his five fingers like pliers and snatched away a few coins.

Perhaps feeling that Xu Erniu was holding on too tightly, Liu San, not content with just taking the silver, gave him another push.

Xu Erniu staggered and fell to the ground, scattering copper coins and silver fragments all over the floor with a clattering sound.

Liu San laughed heartily and led his gang away.

Xu Qing felt a rush of blood to his head.

Looking at his second uncle's embarrassed and distressed face, and then at Chen Laosi lying on the ground, barely alive, he saw...

He didn't say anything, but bent down to help his second uncle up and squatted down to pick up the scattered copper coins.

Xu Erniu sighed and bent down as well.

The autumn wind swept by, carrying the stench of blood and the astringent taste of the river.