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

Just as Jiang Lan tightened the door latch, the whispers outside the courtyard wall drifted in on the wind, each word piercing his ears.

"Have you heard? Ma Sandao from the docks is dead! He died at the hands of the canal gang, and his body wasn't discovered until it was completely cold!"

"My God, will the Black Tiger Gang really let this go? I heard they're already searching house to house, looking for anyone who knows anything!"

"What good will an investigation do? In this world, people die every day when gangs fight. For us ordinary folks, the most important thing is to weld our doors shut."

Jiang Lan stopped in her tracks.

He crouched down, pretending to tighten his shoelaces, but his ears were perked up, and he even slowed his breathing slightly.

Cheng Erniang was hanging clothes out to dry in the courtyard, shaking the wet clothes in her hands.

Aunt Wang from next door came over and whispered, "Second Aunt, your son Lan is learning martial arts at the martial arts school. You must keep a close eye on him. Things are so chaotic outside. Don't let him get involved with those gangs. We can't afford to mess with them."

Cheng nodded without saying anything, but she gripped the clothes in her hands even tighter.

Another aunt immediately chimed in, her tone tinged with envy: "Speaking of which, the second branch of the Jiang family is truly blessed. Jiang Hao is a genius destined for the martial arts examination! He opened six acupoints in a year, and even the martial arts instructors praised him as a once-in-a-century talent! Once he passes the examination, he can move directly to the inner city. Why would he have to live in fear here in the outer city?"

"That's right!" Aunt Wang clicked her tongue twice, then turned to Jiang Lan, adopting the air of someone with experience to advise, "Lan, it's not that I'm being nosy, but you and Jiang Hao are cousins. Visit him more often, try to curry favor with him. When he becomes successful, he can take you and your son to the inner city for stable jobs. Wouldn't that be better than struggling at this dock?"

Jiang Lan tied her shoelaces, stood up, and only glanced at her indifferently.

"Auntie, I'm going out."

He didn't say a word, and turned to leave.

Behind him, he could still hear his aunt muttering, "This child, why is he so stubborn..."

As Jiang Lan walked along the road, two words kept repeating in her mind—flattery and inner city.

He clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white, then slowly relaxed it.

Flattery? Jiang Lan's path has never been paved by flattering others.

Jiang Hao is his cousin, not his master. He will only take what he wants himself.

After morning lessons, Instructor Liu let everyone practice their boxing on their own. Jiang Lan practiced the Mountain-Crushing Fist three times in a row, until she was drenched in sweat, before leaning against a pillar to catch her breath.

Sun Gengsan walked over, handed him a water bag, and sat down next to him.

"Third Senior Brother, I'd like to ask about the inner city." Jiang Lan took the water pouch, took a sip, and got straight to the point.

Sun Gengsan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "What? You're tempted after hearing a few idle words?"

Jiang Lan didn't deny it, and looked up at him: "I want to know, what is the inner city like? How can we get in?"

Sun Gengsan leaned against a pillar, gazing at the clouds on the horizon, his tone tinged with an indescribable melancholy: "The inner city is a completely different world from our outer city. The roads are paved with solid bluestone, two carriages can run side by side without getting crowded, there's no bloodstains everywhere, no gang fights, and even the patrollers are government soldiers, not gang lackeys."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Most importantly, there are truly high-level martial arts schools in the inner city that teach real skills that can be used to fight enemies, not the basic techniques we teach."

"The wealthy families over there are willing to spend money to support talented martial artists, providing them with food, lodging, and training materials, as long as you're willing to work for them. No one in the outer city of Yu City has that kind of generosity, but it's everywhere in the inner city."

"How can an ordinary person gain entry into the inner city?" Jiang Lan's voice tightened.

Sun Gengsan shook his head: "Either you have money and can afford a house in the inner city, or you have talent and are noticed by the martial arts schools and wealthy families in the inner city. Even if an ordinary person gets in, they can't even afford to rent a woodshed, let alone learn martial arts and make a living."

"Moreover, the martial arts schools in the inner city do not accept outsiders; you need a guarantor to introduce you."

He patted Jiang Lan on the shoulder and advised, "Don't think about those distant things. For poor guys like us, it's good enough if we can hone our skills in the outer city and earn a decent living. Focus on mastering your boxing and opening up more acupoints. We can worry about the future later."

Jiang Lan didn't speak, handed the water bag back, and turned around to stand back on the wooden stake.

The force of the punch cut through the air, and sweat splattered onto the wooden stake.

He had only one thought in his mind: If others can go, why can't I?

In the evening, Jiang Lan bumped into Jiang Hao in the connecting corridor.

Jiang Hao was still holding the cultivation manual, and his complexion was much better than a few days ago. Upon seeing Jiang Lan, he surprisingly took the initiative to speak: "How's your practice going lately?"

"Not bad," Jiang Lan replied, then asked, "How about you? How's your preparation for the martial arts exam going?"

Jiang Hao was silent for a moment, his tone devoid of its usual boastfulness, replaced only by genuine longing: "My master said to try it out this year, to get a feel for the exam environment. It's okay if I don't pass, I can try again next year."

"Is the exam venue in the inner city?"

"Hmm." Jiang Hao looked up at him. "The official examination for martial arts is held in the inner city. As long as you pass the martial arts examination, you will receive a salary from the imperial court and have a legitimate status, so you won't have to stay in this chaotic outer city anymore."

Jiang Lan looked into the light in his eyes and asked, "Is it difficult?"

"It's difficult," Jiang Hao said bluntly. "My master said that at least nine acupoints need to be fully opened to have a chance of getting a ranking. I only have six so far, I'm still far from it."

He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Lan, and said something that Jiang Lan hadn't expected: "But you're different."

"Your natural talent may be average, but you're ruthless. That's what my master told me."

Jiang Lan was suddenly stunned.

What did the master say?

Jiang Hao didn't say anything more, and turned to leave with the cultivation manual in his arms.

Jiang Lan stood there, a complex mix of emotions churning within her.

The master said he was ruthless enough.

It's not that he's talented or has strong aptitude; it's that he's ruthless.

He looked down at his hands. These hands had killed two people, neither in a fair fight in the arena.

In this cannibalistic world, you can't survive without being ruthless.

……

At night, Jiang Lan sat in a scalding hot medicine tub.

The medicine penetrated his skin through his pores, causing a tingling and stinging sensation. He closed his eyes, letting the medicine seep into his meridians and nourish his blood and qi.

The words spoken during the day were still echoing in my ears.

Aunt Wang said, "Flatter Jiang Hao and go to the inner city."

Sun Gengsan said, "You either need to be rich or talented."

Jiang Hao said, "Only when all nine acupoints are open can we be confident."

He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his reflection in the medicine.

Killing Ma Sandao won't change anything. Even if Ma Sandao dies, the Black Tiger Gang will send new members, and the fighting at the docks will never stop.

There is only one way to truly help his mother escape this quagmire—go to the inner city and take the martial arts exam.

He is still far from that goal, but he is not afraid.

While others could achieve a minor level of proficiency in stance training in six months, he accomplished it in just four months.

While others might take years to master acupoints, he practiced diligently day and night and always managed to catch up.

He clenched his fist, and the medicine in the bucket splashed out of the bucket.

He doesn't fawn over anyone! He wants to rely on himself, step by step, to get to where he wants to go.

Just then, a golden light flashed in my mind, and a familiar panel slowly appeared—

【Crushing Mountain Fist (Beginner): 201/300】

【Crushing Mountain Stance Exercise (Minor Success): 22/500】

[Martial Arts Comprehension: 4]

Jiang Lan looked at the panel, her eyes growing increasingly determined.

Tomorrow, I'll continue practicing.

Just as he was about to calm himself down and continue guiding the flow of the medicine, a series of heavy footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.

Carrying knives and clubs, their footsteps thudded on the stone slabs.

Then, a rough, hoarse voice rang out, clearly reaching his ears through the courtyard gate:

"Is this Jiang Lan's house? The Black Tiger Gang is investigating. Open the door!"

The white lanterns on the distant dock swayed in the wind, like a pair of watchful eyes.