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

Seven days have passed since Xu Qing came to the hospital.

That evening, after finishing their practice, Chen Wang gathered everyone together and clapped his hands: "Another ten days have passed. Tomorrow is a day off. Those who need to rest, rest; those who need to go home, go home. The roads outside the city are difficult to travel at night. Those who live far away, wait until dawn to set off."

He paused, his tone turning serious: "You all know the rules of the martial arts school. Once you're home, don't use the school's name to cause trouble outside. Understand?"

Everyone responded in unison and dispersed.

After dinner, Qin Liang packed his things while saying to Xu Qing, "Junior Brother Xu, I won't be staying at the courtyard tonight. You don't know, every time it's a holiday, the streets are crowded, and my dad can't manage alone. I need to go back and help him. What are your plans? Going back to Blackwater Bay?"

Xu Qing nodded: "Go back."

Now he has established himself at the martial arts school. This genuine joy is something he must bring home to share with his family.

"Alright, be careful on the road." Qin Liang slung the bundle over his shoulder, waved with a grin, and said, "I'm off now. Just make sure to close the door behind you when you leave."

After saying that, he ran away in a flash.

Xu Qing didn't go to the martial arts training ground to practice boxing as usual, but instead went to her uncle's steamed bun shop. She was going back to Blackwater Bay tomorrow, and she needed to tell her aunt and uncle and visit them while she was there.

When I arrived, it wasn't completely dark yet, and wisps of white steam were rising from the steamed bun shop, carrying the aroma of dough and meat.

Xu Cheng was tidying up the steamer at the door when he looked up and saw Xu Qing, and a smile immediately spread across his face.

"Ah Qing! What brings you here so late? Are you craving meat?" Xu Cheng said, putting down the steamer with his smile unchanged. He wiped his hands on his apron. "Come inside and find your aunt. I'll go to the butcher shop and get two pounds of beef for you tonight."

He started to walk out as he spoke.

Xu Qing quickly stopped him, smiling and saying, "Uncle, I've already eaten. There's meat for dinner."

Before Xu Cheng could reply, he continued, "Uncle, I'm eating very well at the martial arts school these days. The school has specially prepared extra meals for me, with meat at every meal and medicinal soup to drink. I'm off tomorrow, so I plan to go home and come over to tell you and my aunt."

"Medicinal soup?!" Xu Yan heard the commotion and rushed out, her face full of worry, her brows furrowed. "What medicinal soup? Qing'er, did you get hurt last time?"

Last time, when Xu Yan got home, she told Xu Cheng about Xu Qing kicking over the food box.

Xu Cheng was so angry that he was about to go and talk to his older brother, but Xu Qing's kick was not just a kick to the food box, it was a kick to the heart.

He heard from Xu Yan that Xu Qing had taught Xu Qing a lesson, which temporarily calmed his anger, but he was still a little disheartened by his nephew's behavior.

Honestly, he doted on Xu Qing, spending a lot of money and sending him plenty of delicious food.

Xu Yan had nothing to say. Ever since she learned that Xu Qing had gone to the martial arts school to practice, she was afraid that he would harm his health, so she would send him meat every few days.

Xu Qing's actions have truly broken the hearts of the couple.

Xu Cheng patted Xu Yan's hand and explained with a smile, "It's a medicinal soup to replenish qi and blood from martial arts practice. Look at A Qing's rosy complexion, does she look injured?"

Hearing this, Xu Yan felt relieved and turned to look at Xu Qing. Seeing Xu Qing nod, she finally felt relieved.

Xu Qing briefly recounted the recent situation at the martial arts school: his stance training was progressing well, and he had achieved a minor mastery of the Five Elements Fist; the school had even given him special treatment...

"I just came to tell you and Uncle that I have a day off tomorrow and I'm going back to Blackwater Bay to visit my second uncle and aunt." Xu Qing smiled. "Aunt, Uncle, you two go ahead with your work. I don't have anything else to do; I have to go back to the martial arts school to practice."

"Oh, we should tell Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law about this good news." Seeing Xu Qing about to leave, Xu Yan quickly grabbed his sleeve. "Qing, don't go yet. Have your uncle pack some buns for you to take home tomorrow."

A short while later, Xu Cheng came out with a large, bulging bag of steamed buns wrapped in oil paper.

Xu Yan escorted Xu Qing to the street corner. The wind had ruffled her hair, which she smoothed down, and said:

"Be careful on the road. When you get back tomorrow, tell your second uncle and aunt not to always be so frugal. Eat and drink what you should eat and drink. Xiu'er is still young and growing, so she needs to eat some good food to nourish herself. If you're short on money at home, come find me."

"Okay, Auntie."

Xu Qing walked a distance away and glanced back. Her aunt was still standing there, the dim light casting a long shadow on her.

He suddenly felt very at ease.

......

The next morning, Xu Qing left the martial arts school with steamed buns and money in his pocket.

The town was bustling with people—carrying loads, pushing carts, and driving donkeys—a lively and bustling scene. Shouts, bargaining, and braying of donkeys mingled together, making the morning lively and lively.

Xu Qing followed the flow of people out of the city. Just as she reached the city gate, she heard someone shouting from the roadside, "Candied hawthorns! Sweet and sour candied hawthorns!"

He paused, then turned to look.

An old man carried a straw target with strings of bright red candied hawthorns stuck on it. The sugar coating shimmered with an amber light in the morning sun, and the hawthorns were so red and translucent that they made one's mouth water.

Xu Qing recalled Xiu'er's little face.

Every time the little girl sees someone selling candied hawthorns on the street, her eyes light up, but where in the family can we afford to buy her these snacks?

Her aunt could only coax her, saying that she would definitely buy it next time.

Next time, next time, countless next times passed, but Xiuer never got to eat it.

He touched the copper coins in his pocket, walked over and asked, "Uncle, how much are the candied hawthorns?"

"Two coins a skewer! Made with fresh hawthorn, it's both sour and sweet!"

Xu Qing took out two coins, picked out the largest string of coins, had the old man wrap it up, and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

......

By the time we got back to Blackwater Bay, the sun was already high in the sky.

From afar, Xu Qing could see her family's small courtyard. The courtyard wall was low, and the roof tiles were quite old, with a bluish-gray tinged with black.

The courtyard gate was half open, and the door god paintings pasted on the door panel had faded.

A small figure was squatting by the door, drawing something on the ground with a twig. He was drawing very seriously and muttering to himself.

"Xiuer!" Xu Qing called out with a smile, her voice carrying far through the empty streets.

The little girl looked up, saw Xu Qing, and paused for a moment. Then she suddenly stood up, dropped the branch, and ran over as fast as she could.

"Brother! Why are you back?" She buried her head in Xu Qing's arms, nuzzling against his chest like a little puppy.

Xu Qing patted her head and carefully took out the candied hawthorn wrapped in paper from his pocket.

"Look what I brought you!"

He tore open the paper and held the candied hawthorn in front of her.

Xiuer's eyes lit up instantly, widening in surprise, her mouth agape as if she had seen some treasure.

She reached out her little hand to take it, then pulled it back, looked up at Xu Qing as if in disbelief, and timidly asked, "Brother, is this for me to eat?"

"If I don't give it to you, who should I give it to?" Xu Qing stuffed the candied hawthorn into her hand. "Eat it."

Xiuer held the candied hawthorn and carefully licked it.

The sugar coating melted on her tongue, making her eyes squint into crescent moons with sweetness.

She licked it again, then took a small bite of the hawthorn. It was so sour that she grimaced, but her face lit up with a smile.

"Brother, it's so sweet! You should have some too!"

She held the candied hawthorn to Xu Qing's mouth, holding it high, on her tiptoes.

Xu Qing took a small bite; it was sweet and sour, and indeed delicious.

"Let's go home."

He took Xiu'er's hand and pushed open the door to enter the courtyard.

The door hinges creaked.

Auntie was busy at the stove when she heard the noise. She wiped her hands and came out of the kitchen. When she saw Xu Qing, she was taken aback for a moment, then her face lit up with a smile: "Qing! Why are you back! Are you hungry? Auntie will cook for you!"

"Second Aunt, I'm not hungry." Xu Qing smiled and walked towards her second aunt. "The martial arts school provides meals, and I've already eaten."

His aunt wiped her hands on her apron again, then looked him up and down, her eyes a little red: "You've lost weight... Is it tough at the martial arts school?"

"It's not tough." Xu Qing shook his head, his tone very firm. "The martial arts school is great. My master and fellow disciples take good care of me."

As they were talking, Xu Erniu came out from the inner room, leaning on a wooden stick, and walked very slowly.

Xu Qing immediately noticed something was wrong. His second uncle's face was sallow, his lips were pale, and he coughed every now and then, his brows furrowing deeply with each cough.

"Second Uncle, what's wrong with you?" Xu Qing's heart sank, and he rushed forward to support him.

Xu Erniu waved his hand, as if to say something, then coughed a few times and forced a smile: "No...it's nothing, just caught a bit of a cold, cough cough...I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest. Don't worry, just focus on your training at the martial arts gym."

My second aunt stood beside me, her eyes red-rimmed, her lips trembling slightly, but she didn't say a word. She just lowered her head and rubbed her eyes vigorously with her sleeve.

Xu Qing did not respond.

He stared at his second uncle's sallow face for a few moments.

When my second uncle spoke, his brows would involuntarily furrow, as if something was pulling at his chest in pain. His coughs were also off; they didn't come from his throat, but rather from a deep, muffled sound in his chest.

This is definitely not a cold.

Xu Qing understood that his second uncle and aunt didn't dare to say anything, simply because they were afraid he would worry and that it would interfere with his martial arts practice. They swallowed their bitterness, not wanting him to hear a sound.

He didn't press further, swallowing back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

But inside, it felt like a fire had been lit, burning his chest and making his fingertips dig into his palms.

But he did not have an attack.

He slowly loosened his fist, stepped forward, and reached out to support his second uncle's arm, his voice as calm as if nothing had happened: "Second Uncle, let me help you into the house."