Gou Zai Wu Dao Chao Shi Xing Nian Da Gong

"Grandpa, I bought the health-strengthening powder!"

When Zhou Sheng got home, he excitedly took out a paper package.

"Oh? Let me see."

Zhou Fugan reached out and took the medicine packet. The packet was only the size of a fist and very light.

He opened it and looked inside; it was full of powdered medicinal herbs, and he couldn't tell what herbs were in it at all. He guessed that they were afraid someone would decipher the recipe.

"How do you eat this?" he asked, seemingly casually.

Zhou Sheng, unsuspecting, casually replied, "Senior Brother Zhang said to just rinse it with water and drink it."

Zhou Fugan nodded. "Tomorrow I'll see the miracle doctor to see if he can remove the poison. If he can, you won't lack tonics anymore."

"Great! Great!" Zhou Sheng was very excited. His cultivation progress had been very slow these past two days, and he had been eagerly anticipating the tonic.

"Did you learn any new fighting techniques today?" Zhou Fugan asked again after putting away the medicine pack.

"Yes, I learned six moves today," Zhou Sheng replied, scratching his head.

"Hmm. Type it once, let me see."

"OK!"

Zhou Sheng then began to demonstrate the six new boxing techniques he had learned.

Zhou Fugan silently made a note of it.

......

Late at night, in the bedroom.

Zhou Fugan was holding a ceramic basin, which was half-filled with a dark, pungent liquid that emitted a strong, spicy smell.

This is what it looks like after he dissolved the packet of tonics that Zhou Sheng brought back in water. Just looking at the color and taste, most people wouldn't dare to drink it.

However, Zhou Fugan was not afraid. He glanced at it briefly, then picked up the earthenware basin and gulped down the water.

The herbal soup was bitter, spicy, and sour, with a lot of powdered herbs that made my throat hurt.

Despite feeling unwell, Zhou Fugan drank the entire medicinal soup in one go, even flushing and drinking the dregs in the basin until his belly was round.

The virtual interface immediately became active.

"The host has taken the Strengthening Powder. Its effects include: stimulating potential, making up for deficiencies, and assisting in cultivation and body tempering."

The cost: Overtaxing the body, producing potent drug toxicity, causing hidden liver damage, and long-term use affecting lifespan!

"An exemption can be activated without incurring a cost, while retaining its effectiveness."

At this moment, Zhou Fugan felt a surge of heat emanating from his abdomen.

He had a sudden inspiration and immediately began practicing the Hammer Cloud Stance Technique. As soon as he started practicing, he felt heat flowing from his abdomen throughout his body with the movement.

After completing one round of practice, he looked at the virtual interface and saw that his cultivation progress had increased by one point.

Zhou Fugan was overjoyed. The medicine was very effective, doubling his cultivation speed.

Then he thought that the effects of the Strengthening Powder were only half that of the Hammer Skin Soup. If he could take the Hammer Skin Soup, wouldn't his cultivation speed be much faster?

Unfortunately, the Hammer Skin Soup at the Hammer Cloud Martial Arts School is not for sale to outsiders; it is only for the disciples to consume, and they must drink it on the spot and are not allowed to take it away. Even if he asked Zhou Sheng to bring it, he wouldn't be able to.

Zhou Fugan practiced the Hammer Cloud Stance Technique again and again. With each repetition, the medicinal power within his body would release a surge of heat. He practiced it more than ten times before no new surge of heat appeared, and his body began to feel tired and hungry.

Zhou Fugan stopped and found that his cultivation progress had increased by ten points.

This made him very happy. Normally, he could only increase his progress by five points after practicing ten or so times, and he would need to eat twice in between to replenish his nutrition.

"Have Sheng'er buy more of the body-strengthening powder. It won't be long before I can start trying to break through the skin barrier."

Zhou Fugan thought to himself.

Unfortunately, I'm out of money.

He shook his head helplessly and began practicing the six fist techniques he had just learned.

......

The next day, early in the morning, a group of fierce-looking thugs shattered the peace of Xingcang Street.

"Payment made, payment made."

"Why has the price gone up again? We don't have that much money!"

"No money? Fuck you, why don't you just die?"

"Stop dawdling, anyone who dares not to hand it over, don't blame Tiger for not giving you face."

"..."

The Black Snake Gang members kicked down the doors of every house, rudely and domineeringly collecting protection fees. Anyone who was slow to react was immediately beaten and verbally abused.

The entire Xingcang Street was in complete chaos, with thugs shouting and cursing, women and children wailing, and men's suppressed anger swirling into a mournful melody that chilled the heart.

Zhou Guangcheng stood at the entrance of his shop, holding a cloth bag containing his family's security fee. He had taken it out early to wait, hoping to prevent these scoundrels from taking the opportunity to break into his home and harass him.

Zhou Fugan stood behind his son, squinting at the arrogant Black Snake Gang members, his face expressionless, lost in thought.

Soon, Zhang Hu arrived at his doorstep with his men.

Zhou Guangcheng quickly forced a smile and went to greet him, handing over the cloth bag in his hand.

"Master Tiger, this is my family's security fee. Please count it."

Zhang Hu took it, weighed it in his hand, and casually handed it to his henchman. The henchman took it, counted it, and nodded.

"Old Zhou, you really are rich," Zhang Hu laughed.

"Oh dear, Tiger, I had to swallow my pride and borrow money from all sides to pay for this," Zhou Fugan immediately protested.

Zhang Hu didn't linger and went straight to the next house.

Zhou Fugan stared at the young man collecting money. The young man had a bulging bag hanging from his waist, which jingled as he walked.

......

Late at night, Zhou Fugan stood by the bed, weighing his options.

"Even with the six moves I learned today, the Hammer Cloud Fist technique is still less than half complete, but each move has reached a perfect level, so my strength should be almost sufficient."

Then, he pulled out an old garment from the closet that he hadn't worn for years. The garment was covered in patches and smelled musty.

He didn't mind, changed his clothes, and then checked the things he had prepared beforehand—a rusty fish-killing dagger, only the blade was polished to a shine; a hardwood short spear, without an iron spearhead, simply made by sharpening one end of a hardwood stick.

In addition, there was a cloth bag containing quicklime, which he had finely pounded into powder with a stone mortar and pestle.

After verifying that everything was in order, Zhou Fugan stuffed the quicklime into his pocket, tucked the dagger into his waistband, and slung the hardwood pistol behind his back. Then he took out a black cloth to cover his head and face, leaving only his eyes exposed, and quietly climbed over the wall to leave home.

It was a dark and windy night outside, and there was no one around. Occasionally, the sound of a night watchman's clapper could be heard in the distance.

Zhou Fugan flashed and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the street.

He moved stealthily, taking only small paths and avoiding the light, and soon arrived at a secluded, dilapidated courtyard.

This is Zhang Hu's home. He has no other family members. His assistant, Wang Gou, also lives here. Usually, it's just the two of them at home.

The lights were on inside the house, and the sounds of shouting and playing drinking games could be heard.

Zhou Fugan listened from outside the courtyard, frowned, and confirmed that there were three people in the room: Zhang Hu, Wang Gou, and one more person.

He listened to the voice and realized that the extra person was not one of Zhang Hu's other henchmen, but a complete stranger.

This made him hesitate. After all, he didn't know the identity of this extra person, and if he was a master from the Black Snake Gang, that would be troublesome. Such a large gang could do evil because of its strength.

Zhang Hu's superior, Gao Fei, is a martial artist who has broken through the skin barrier. If Gao Fei is there, Zhang Hu would be committing suicide.

However, Zhou Fugan was unwilling to return empty-handed. After all, he needed money, and this was the best opportunity he could get.

In addition, he felt that it was unlikely to be Gao Fei, otherwise Zhang Hu should be hosting a banquet at a restaurant, how could Gao Fei come to this dilapidated place?

After some thought, Zhou Fugan concluded that the person was probably not anyone important, so he decided to wait and see.

He then quietly climbed over the dilapidated courtyard wall and lay in ambush outside the gate.