Proving God begins with the principle that no effort is wasted.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated before the training ground was already filled with new disciples.

The room was noisy, and a few people were huddled in a corner making a bet in hushed tones.

"Jiang Hao will definitely be number one again! He can open six acupoints in a year, while we're lucky if we can open one in six months."

"Yeah, those poor kids think they can turn their lives around by practicing martial arts? Dream on."

As gossip drifted into his ears, Jiang Lan stood at the back of the line, his face calm.

Coach Liu stood in the center with a cold face, and with a flick of the roster, the entire room fell silent instantly.

"In last month's acupoint breakthrough assessment, only two of the new disciples succeeded."

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the back of the line: "Jiang Lan and Yuan Mou, the first acupoint has been opened."

The entire room fell silent.

A few seconds later, hushed whispers began again.

The students from humble backgrounds were shocked and envious, but also filled with resentment.

Jiang Hao, sitting in the front row, had his back to the crowd and didn't turn around, but his shoulders twitched slightly.

The two disciples who had just been mocking Jiang Lan instantly blushed and lowered their heads as low as they could.

"His success wasn't due to luck," Coach Liu said coldly. "It was due to hard work. You all do the math yourselves. How much did he train this past month, and how much did you train?"

No one spoke.

Jiang Lan kept his eyes lowered, only he knew—

The way people looked at them completely changed.

He used to be a "poor boy," now he's "that poor boy who broke through his acupoints."

With a change in status, the starting line is also different.

Instructor Liu put down the roster and changed the subject: "Now that you've joined the martial arts school, you should know the rules of the martial arts examination."

He paced back and forth, his voice resounding: "The martial arts system starts with three levels of acupoints. There are nine acupoints, and opening three acupoints counts as one level. To rank in the martial arts examination, you must master all nine."

He looked at Jiang Lan and said, "You've opened one acupoint, leaving eight. An ordinary person can open one acupoint every six months, taking at least four years."

Then, he glanced at Jiang Hao, his tone softening slightly: "But there are always people who are different."

"Jiang Hao has been in the acupuncture center for a year and has opened six acupoints. He opened two acupoints on his first visit."

A suppressed gasp rang out.

Six acupoints per year, two acupoints per session.

This is a height that most disciples can never reach in their entire lives.

Jiang Lan clenched her fists silently.

"Jiang Lan," Coach Liu called out.

Jiang Lan stepped forward: "Disciple is here."

"You are now a formal martial artist." Instructor Liu's tone was calm yet unwavering. "Your monthly allowance will be reduced by one-third, and an extra medicinal bath will be provided. This is what you deserve."

Jiang Lan clasped her hands in thanks: "Thank you, Master!"

His voice trembled uncontrollably.

After class, Jiang Lan went straight to Sun Gengsan.

"Third senior brother, I want to find some work to do."

Sun Gengsan frowned: "We just opened the acupoints, shouldn't we consolidate them first?"

"The family is in debt, and my mother can't hold on any longer." Jiang Lan didn't explain further, but her eyes were firm.

Sun Gengsan was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I'll show you the way."

He quickly listed: "The guards of wealthy families are reliable but have high barriers to entry; the escort agencies pay a lot but are dangerous; the dockworkers pay less but are busy but easy to get into. And there's another one—finding sponsors, which is common in the main city, but wealthy families in Yu City don't gamble on poor kids."

"I understand," Jiang Lan shook her head. "We can't rely on others."

"Go to Zhou's Grain Shop at the dock," Sun Gengsan patted him on the shoulder. "They have connections with the martial arts school. It'll cost thirty coins a day, including one meal. That's the safest way."

"Thank you, Third Senior Brother," Jiang Lan replied immediately.

In the afternoon, the martial arts arena was deserted, except for Jiang Lan.

He practiced his stances and boxing, his sweat splattering onto the scorching stone slabs.

Sweat evaporated into white mist, and fists pounded out with a whooshing sound.

In his mind, the golden panel flickered slightly—

【Crushing Mountain Fist (Beginner): 14/300】

【Crushing Mountain Stance Exercise (Beginner): 212/300】

He was panting heavily, but he didn't back down an inch.

Every punch you throw now is the foundation for your future success.

In the evening, Jiang Lan arrived at Zhou's Grain Shop.

Uncle Zhou shrewdly sized him up: "Introduced by Sun Gengsan?"

"Yes. I am Jiang Lan, a formal disciple of Guangchang Martial Arts School, and I have already opened one acupoint."

Uncle Zhou's eyes lit up: "Okay, stay. Thirty coins a day, meals included. If you do well, you'll get a raise at the end of the month!"

Thank you.

On the first day, I moved goods, swept the floor, and guarded the door.

Standing from noon until sunset, my legs were sore and numb.

At the end of the workday, thirty copper coins were handed to him.

Warm, grounded, and heavy.

Thirty coins a day, nine hundred coins a month.

With the martial arts school subsidy, we can pay off our debts and stop my mother from staying up all night weaving nets.

Jiang Lan carefully tucked the money into her pocket and hurried home with light steps.

Pushing open the door, I saw the dim glow of an oil lamp.

Cheng was weaving a net with her head down, her fingers red, swollen and shiny, but she didn't stop for a moment.

"Mother, I'm back."

Cheng looked up and saw the light in his eyes. She was taken aback for a moment: "Alan, why are you so happy today?"

Jiang Lan crouched down and reported softly:

"My master praised me for passing the test and becoming a formal disciple. My monthly allowance was reduced, and my medicinal baths were increased. I found a job at the grain shop, earning thirty coins a day, with meals provided."

Cheng's tears immediately fell, landing on the half-finished fishing net.

"Your father... would be so happy to see you like this now."

Jiang Lan held her cold hand: "Mother, things will get better from now on. I will never let you suffer like this again."

Cheng wiped away her tears and smiled, "Mother heated up some porridge for you and even saved a cornbread."

Jiang Lan watched her retreating figure, feeling a pang of sadness mixed with a surge of warmth.

My mother hadn't laughed like that in a long time.

He clenched his fists.

That's not enough, far from enough.

He wanted to ensure that his mother would no longer have to weave nets or worry about a penny.

I need to elevate myself to a higher position, so that my grandfather can see me, and so that Jiang Hao can see me too.

A few days later, Jiang Lan arrived at her grandfather's house with her first paycheck.

Grandpa, Second Uncle, and Jiang Hao were sitting in the main room.

The atmosphere instantly turned somber when he entered.

"grandfather."

Jiang Lan placed the copper coins on the table: "This is what I earned this month. I will definitely pay back the twenty taels I owe within a year."

Grandpa glanced at it but didn't say anything.

Uncle Er smoothed things over, saying, "Alan is an ambitious child; she's got potential."

Grandpa was silent for a moment, then pointed to the stool: "Sit."

Uncle sighed again: "The fishing festival is coming soon, and officials from the city will be coming to inspect the fishing nets for offerings. This year we have to hand in top-quality fishing nets, or the entire Jiang family will be implicated."

Jiang Hao held his teacup, his eyelids never lifting, and he didn't look at Jiang Lan once from beginning to end.

Grandpa asked, "Where do you work?"

"He worked as a guard at Zhou's Grain Shop at the dock."

Grandpa nodded: "Work hard, don't bring shame to the Jiang family."

The tone shifted abruptly, looking at Jiang Hao, then sweeping over Jiang Lan:

"Jiang Hao has mastered six acupoints in a year; he's a genius. You're working while training, and your talent is simply not as good as his. Don't end up not only failing to earn money but also wasting your skills."

The words were spoken in a plain tone, yet they pierced Jiang Lan's heart like needles.

He didn't argue, he just nodded: "Yes."

The second uncle tried to smooth things over again, but the grandfather just held his teacup, clearly not wanting to say anything more.

Jiang Lan stood up and clasped her hands in greeting: "Grandpa, Second Uncle, I'll head back now."

Grandpa waved his hand, not looking at him.

When I left my grandfather's house, it was already completely dark.

A cold wind blew at the alley entrance, and Grandpa's words, "His talent is not as good as his," echoed repeatedly in my ears.

Jiang Lan clenched her fist, her knuckles cracking.

Inferior talent?

Then fight with your life on the line!

As he walked home, he passed the dock and saw an unfamiliar awning boat moored on the shore.

A burly man stood at the bow of the ship, his scabbard inlaid with copper nails, its cold light gleaming in the moonlight.

Passersby muttered to themselves, "Is this the new leader, Ma Sandao?"

"I heard he committed murder in the prefectural city; he's ruthless!"

Jiang Lan kept her eyes straight ahead, but quickened her pace.

The fishing festival is in four days.

No matter what storms come, he has to face them.

Pushing open the door, Cheng was still weaving a net.

Jiang Lan walked over and took the shuttle: "Mother, you rest, I'll do it."

The night outside the window grew darker, and a few rough shouts and curses could be faintly heard from the direction of the dock, drifting into the alleyway on the wind.

Jiang Lan looked up, her gaze turning cold.

With the fishing festival approaching, he not only needs to master the stance training, but also needs to establish a firm foothold before the storm hits.

Some people don't want him to live a peaceful life.

Then he could only... let the other party know that even a poor kid whose acupoints have been opened is not someone to be trifled with.