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

Zhao Family Martial Arts School in Qinghe County.

It was already completely dark.

Xu Qing returned from her aunt's house with a package of mutton wrapped in oil paper in her arms.

Xu Yanfei handed it to him, saying that martial arts practitioners need to eat meat, and told him to take it back and eat it slowly.

Xu Qing pushed open the door to his room, and a faint smell of sweat and mildew hit him. The bed was a shared bunk bed, which could easily accommodate five or six people, but Qin Liang was the only one on it.

"You're back?" Qin Liang was still awake, lying on the bed with his legs crossed. When he saw Xu Qing come in, he turned over.

"Hmm." Xu Qing placed the oil paper package on the table and took off his outer garment.

Qin Liang sniffed, then suddenly sat up, his eyes fixed on the oil paper package: "What does it smell like? Meat?"

"Lamb, my aunt made it for me." Xu Qing couldn't help but laugh when she saw his craving look. "Want some?"

Qin Liang swallowed hard, looking at him expectantly, but said, "That's so embarrassing..."

Before he could finish speaking, the person had already moved closer.

Xu Qing wasn't stingy. He smiled and opened the oil paper, revealing neatly arranged chunks of mutton inside, still warm.

He picked out two large pieces and handed them to Qin Liang.

Qin Liang took it and stuffed it into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out, oil dripping down his chin, as he mumbled, "Delicious! So delicious! Your aunt's cooking is amazing!"

Qin Liang ate two pieces in one go before he could catch his breath. He wiped his mouth, patted his stomach, and said contentedly, "Xu Qing, I've decided to be your brother."

Xu Qing smiled but didn't reply.

Qin Liang wiped his hands, then suddenly lowered his voice: "By the way, I noticed that Xu Qing looked at you strangely today. He seemed to dislike you. Do you two know each other?"

Xu Qing said indifferently, "Distant relatives, not close."

"It's good that we're not familiar with each other." Qin Liang leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Let me tell you, there's a small clique in our outer courtyard. The leader's surname is Wu, and his name is Wu Mingyuan. He's from the Wu family in the county."

"That guy is arrogant and looks down on people like us."

"I don't know what's so great about him. He's just a son of a concubine. If the family valued him, would he be here learning martial arts in our courtyard? Wouldn't he be at the big martial arts school in the east of the city by now?"

"He always puts on airs, gives us all the cold shoulder, looks down on this and that," Qin Liang said angrily. "Xu Qing is one of his cronies."

Xu Qing didn't speak, but simply nodded.

Qin Liang started talking and said, "The Wu family is a powerful clan in the county. Although Wu Mingyuan is an illegitimate son, he still has the Wu family's status. Don't provoke him if you don't want to."

"But don't be afraid. Martial arts schools have their rules. He won't dare to bully people openly. At most, he'll say a few sarcastic things, just like a dog barking."

"I know," Xu Qing replied, then asked, "By the way, I heard from Senior Brother Chen that your family lives in the West City. Do you know if there's a gang in the West City called the Azure Dragon Hall?"

Qin Liang was taken aback: "Azure Dragon Hall? Why are you asking about this?"

"Just asking."

Qin Liang frowned and lowered his voice: "They're no good. The Green Dragon Gang is the local thugs of the West City. They collect protection money, run casinos, and lend money at exorbitant interest rates. My father sells wontons on the street, and he has to pay them money every month. Not a penny less."

Xu Qing's eyes darkened slightly: "They wield considerable influence in the county?"

"Seven or eight streets in the West City are their territory, and other gangs can't interfere." Qin Liang paused, then added, "However, they don't dare to cause trouble at our martial arts school; Master's reputation speaks for itself."

Xu Qing nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Qin Liang gossiped for a while longer, then yawned and said he was going to sleep. He rolled onto the bed and soon started snoring.

Xu Qing showed no sign of sleeping.

He made the bed, glanced at the moonlight outside the window, and tiptoed out of the room.

The training ground was deserted, and the moonlight cast long shadows on the plum blossom stakes.

Xu Qing walked to the place where he had practiced standing meditation during the day, took a deep breath, relaxed his shoulders and elbows, and slowly assumed the posture of the Three Talents Stance.

Slightly bend your knees, straighten your back, and lower your breath.

That feeling of "clarity" in my body has returned.

After standing for half an hour, my legs started to ache.

He gritted his teeth and persevered, standing for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before finally finishing his practice and letting out a long breath.

Then, he assumed the stance of the Five Elements Fist. Chopping, striking, drilling, cannoning, and horizontal strikes, each move whistling through the air.

Under the moonlight, the boy's shadow stretched straight.

Although his punches were immature, they carried a fierce edge, and every punch he threw seemed to be aimed at someone.

Azure Dragon Hall. Giant Whale Gang.

Chen Jiang. Liu San. Wang Biao...

These names swirled in his mind like a fire, burning him intensely.

He practiced again and again, drenched in sweat, his arms so sore he could barely lift them, yet he still gritted his teeth and threw punches.

The feedback from practicing the skills in my mind was also constantly popping up.

【Five Elements Fist (Beginner): 16/100】

【Three Talents Stance (Beginner): 2/100】

Just as Xu Qing was practicing with great enthusiasm, footsteps came from outside the courtyard wall, followed by the sound of two people laughing and talking.

"Junior Brother Xu, you've really made a name for yourself today." Zhou Wen put one arm around Xu Qing's shoulder and picked at the meat stuck between his teeth with the other. "Senior Brother Wu values ​​you, and Senior Sister Tao even thanked you specially."

"When you got home just now, how much silver did your mother give you?" Zhou Wen glanced at the money pouch at Xu Qing's waist, noticing that it didn't seem bulging. "Senior Brother Wu has made all the arrangements. I'll treat you in three days, and then it'll be your turn in three days after that. Don't mess it up then."

Wu Mingyuan's senior brothers and sisters didn't stay in the hospital; they ate and drank and then left.

In order to appear diligent in front of their respective families, Zhou Wen and Xu Qing continued to live in the courtyard.

After they finished eating and drinking, Xu Qing said he was going home to get some silver. Zhou Wen wasn't in a hurry to return to the hospital, so he went back with him.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing's expression changed slightly, but he still forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Zhou, I will definitely not delay Senior Brother Wu's affairs."

Actually, he didn't receive the silver just now.

His family owned a clothing shop, but business was dismal.

He also knew that he had borrowed some of his apprenticeship fee from his second uncle, Xu Cheng.

However, this did not stop him from spending money extravagantly during the two months he spent at the martial arts school.

He heard from his mother that his second uncle's steamed bun shop was doing very well, and that he had saved at least thirty to fifty taels of silver over the years.

My second uncle's family has no children, so in the end, all this money will still have to be given to Xu Qinghua.

Early blooming and late blooming are both flowers.

Therefore, he felt perfectly justified and took his second uncle's money for granted.

Little did he know, his mother's last attempt to borrow money had already ended in a bad fight. All he knew was that he had received the money.

Today, Xu Qing came home and asked for money again. Although his father scolded him for spending money too quickly, his mother, Tong Shi, didn't say a word.

Tong doted on him. Although she knew the family couldn't afford it, she assured Xu Qing that she would let him go back to the martial arts school today and she would personally deliver the money to him tomorrow.

As for how the Tong family obtained the money and where they got it, he naturally knew.

As I said before, all the money in my second uncle's family will eventually belong to him.

Is there anything wrong with his mother taking some now?