Martial Arts Awakening, Bloodfire Fist Master

As evening fell, the shed courtyard began to come alive, with people slowly returning to their stalls, hauling manure, and going to work.

The atmosphere in the early morning is somber, filled with a tension about survival and anxieties about work; most people are in a hurry and remain silent.

It wasn't until evening that the atmosphere of everyday life began to stir. Everyone had spent the day peacefully and relaxed, and they started cooking porridge and making pancakes. Only then did a hint of joy and relaxation appear in their voices.

"Excuse me, is this the courtyard where Senior Brother Zhang Qingshan resides?"

"Brother Zhang, are you there? This is Wang Shenjun. I brought you two pairs of boots."

The shed courtyard quieted down, and the neighbors saw two or three young men dressed like well-off people tentatively asking questions at the entrance of the courtyard.

People dressed like this would almost never appear here normally. When people do come, they are usually poor, drab people.

What's even more puzzling is, Senior Brother Zhang? Senior Brother Zhang Qingshan?

And their slightly respectful demeanor.

Little Chunyu from Widow Xie's family was playing at the door. After being frightened, she looked up curiously and said innocently, "There is no Senior Brother Zhang Qingshan here, only Brother Zhang Qingshan."

Old Wang had just finished stacking the manure buckets and subconsciously approached to speak, but seeing the other person instinctively lean back upon smelling the stench, he gave an awkward smile and stopped approaching: "Gentlemen, Brother Zhang's name seems to be Zhang Qingshan, but he and..."

Zhang Qingshan has already come out.

"Brother Wang, this is for me."

He then looked at the group of people and asked, "Junior brothers, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Ah, Senior Brother Zhang, you really do live here. I truly admire you."

"Brother Zhang, it's just that my family's butcher shop slaughtered a sheep. My father heard that you gave me pointers on stance training, so he insisted that I bring you a leg of lamb to try."

"My shop made a batch of boots, and I got two pairs for you, Brother Zhang, to exchange. Seeing how Brother Zhang has managed to stand out in this environment makes me admire him even more."

This is the truth. If they were in that kind of environment, they would never find a chance to change their fate, and they might have already resigned themselves to it.

It's unbelievable that Zhang Qingshan became a martial artist simply by self-studying a book called "Great Strength Fist".

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the group left happily.

Zhang Qingshan turned to his dumbfounded neighbors, raised the lamb leg in his hand, and said, "Today I'm treating everyone to a feast."

"Great! Thank you, Brother Qingshan. We can eat meat now."

Xiao Chunyu clapped her hands, and before she could finish speaking, drool was already dripping from her mouth.

The others remained silent.

After a while, Old Liu spoke first, "Brother Zhang, you said the other day that you were practicing martial arts at the martial arts school, is that true?"

Old Wang rubbed his hands together. "Those young masters were calling Qingshan 'Senior Brother Zhang,' and the way they treated him... Qingshan, you've become a big shot now."

Old Xu was also shocked: "No wonder you stopped practicing my powerful punches. It turns out you've already hooked up with someone better, Brother Zhang."

In response, Zhang Qingshan formally cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Brother Xu, I will always remember your kindness in giving me this opportunity. I will never refuse any request you may give me in the future."

Upon hearing this, Lao Xu and his wife Wang Xiulan immediately beamed with joy.

Zhang Qingshan had said the same thing before today, but they didn't take it seriously at the time. Now, however, they suddenly feel something is different.

After enjoying a delicious meal, everyone was very satisfied. Zhang Qingshan started practicing his stance training again. No one thought he was just messing around; they only felt that it was profound and mysterious.

The Wave-Swept Pillar wasn't smug because of the praise from a few ordinary disciples. It knew why they were so pleased—it was because of its own progress in cultivation. While not necessarily a bad thing, it needed to cultivate even harder. All these human relationships and worldly affairs were like waves, a flash of inspiration... gaining insights during cultivation...

[The Wave-Swept Pillar had another flash of inspiration, increasing my gains and making me feel like my growth rate has improved...]

Day two.

Perhaps because of his injury, the martial arts school was still being inspected and instructed by the sixth senior brother from the inner sect.

Seeing Zhang Qingshan's stance training, a look of shock flashed in his eyes, but he simply nodded on the surface.

Zhang Qingshan knew that his cultivation speed was already very fast, but he was not complacent. He thought that he would break through on the same day after comprehending sociology in the Wave Stake. Unexpectedly, despite the continuous prompts to increase his growth rate, he did not reach the minor success level in the end.

A while later, I saw my sixth senior brother teaching someone else boxing techniques.

Zhang Qingshan immediately followed, without asking any questions or caring about other people's opinions, simply listening and watching quietly from a corner.

After the lecture, I would occasionally offer guidance to others who came to ask me questions, and spend the rest of the time practicing and reflecting on the Wave-like Posture.

"Hehe, Junior Brother Zhang's training is indeed quite good. No wonder even the inner sect senior brothers praised him, and those temporary disciples flattered him. But don't be too ostentatious. Little do you know that if you run out of talent, it will be laughable. Hehe, I remember Junior Brother Zhang is a farmer from Zhangjia Village. Do you not know what 'running out of talent' means? Do you want me to explain it to you?"

A strange, sarcastic voice appeared in Zhang Qingshan's ear.

Turning my head, I saw a person standing not far away with a smug, irritating expression.

He frowned. This person was from that group of wealthy disciples. Although he didn't seem to be a core member, he was at least not in his own circle.

"What's up?"

Rong Teng straightened his clothes:

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Rong Teng. I am the young master of Rong Family Manor in Xiaoqing Township outside the city. My family owns thousands of acres of fertile land. By the way, if you used to go to the market, you should know that one of the largest mansions in the market is my Rong Mansion. My father is also a respected figure in the village. If you don't know, go home and ask your parents who do farm work, and they will know about my Rong family."

He tilted his head slightly, as if waiting for the other person's awe and praise.

Unfortunately, Zhang Qingshan simply looked at him indifferently and asked, "What is it?"

He was instantly enraged, and out of the corner of his eye he seemed to see others mocking him again: "Zhang Qingshan, you can call me Senior Brother Rong. Let me tell you, you also rose from the mud in Xiaoqing Township. You were born to be one of my people. If you follow me from now on, you'll get plenty of benefits."

At this moment, he imagined that after subduing Zhang Qingshan, the other party would be at his beck and call, and others would definitely look at him differently, thus washing away the humiliation of being ridiculed yesterday.

A cold voice shattered his illusion—"Senior brother? You dare to say that!"

"You, you, you!"

Zhang Qingshan remained expressionless, his eyes indifferent: "In my martial arts school, everyone before the inner sect is an ordinary disciple. Those who have reached the highest level are called senior brothers, and those who are strong are called senior brothers. You haven't even reached level two, yet you dare to call yourself a senior brother?"

After saying that, he ignored the person and continued his cultivation.

It wasn't that Zhang Qingshan was upright and incorruptible; if it were the son of some powerful family in the inner city or the county magistrate or constable, even if they weren't the legitimate sons, Zhang Qingshan might have barely suppressed his displeasure and exchanged a few perfunctory words.

He's not stubborn enough to try and fight a losing battle; he can be flexible when necessary.

However, this person was merely a marginal figure among that group. Although his family was wealthy, he was just a local bully. He was certain that his breakthrough to level three was not far off, so there was no need for him to suffer.

I am not without roots or feet now; I am a member of the Qinghe Martial Arts School, and I am confident that I will become an inner disciple in the near future.

Rong Teng stood there, stunned. He seemed to hear everyone else chirping about him, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see the powerful disciples watching his embarrassment as if he were a monkey show.

In reality, very few people paid attention to him at that moment. Even among the groups he usually associated with, some people glanced at him curiously but didn't pay much attention and then started talking about romance and nature.

He turned away stiffly, then pretended to stand up and practice his stance, but his cold gaze kept fixed on Zhang Qingshan, his heart roaring: "Even a peasant like you dares to mock, insult, and ridicule me."

A surge of thoughts of revenge welled up in his mind: "You peasants, you become arrogant when you get ahead! Zhangjia Village, you lowly farmers!"

.....

In the afternoon, whenever Zhang Qingshan saw his sixth senior brother instructing others on boxing techniques, he would watch from a distance.

If it's a demonstration for others on site, then I'll watch even more attentively.

I left the martial arts school early today and started shopping. I bought three bolts of blue cloth, maltose cakes, rice, flour, salt, a good pot and a set of bowls, and ten catties of pork belly. That used up almost all of my four taels of silver. Overall, my purchasing power is still pretty good.

After thinking about what else the family needed, I bought some ribbons, hair ties, needles and thread, etc.

Yes, Zhang Qingshan is getting ready to go home.

Seeing Xiaochunyu's gluttonous behavior yesterday reminded me of my own family. Now that I've witnessed the next stage of the boxing technique more than once, I can no longer resist the urge to go home.

Yesterday, Zhang Qingshan didn't think about leaving the lamb leg at home; there was no need. He was confident that things would get better and better in the future. His neighbors had also helped him in his time of need, and their kindness was all the more precious.

His mindset has changed, and he is no longer anxious even though he has almost spent all his money.