From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

"This fist technique... has a very strong killing intent."

Zhu Hong felt a chill run down his spine.

Although he did not actually fight anyone, just by observing the movements of his fist stance, one could tell that it was far superior to the fancy but ineffective fist techniques he had seen at the Dongguo Martial Arts School.

but……

"Observing boxing from the form is ultimately superficial; without actual combat, it's just an empty shell, a mere show of skill." He slowly concealed the glint in his eyes, not daring to show the slightest arrogance.

Jinyang City is located on the frontier. Although it is not a bustling metropolis, it is still a place where dragons and snakes roam and the waters are turbulent. Not to mention "martial arts students" who are just beginning to learn martial arts, even those "martial apprentices" who have already made a name for themselves would never dare to run rampant.

Thirty miles outside the city, there is a "Golden Valley Garden" that occupies a strategic pass, refusing to pay taxes and disobeying government orders.

Within the city, three factions are locked in a fierce power struggle:

One is:

A martial arts clan with generations of distinguished officials.

The Jiang and Chi families are revered and have been rooted in Jinyang for over a century, their influence deep and widespread.

The disciples of the clan are immersed in medicinal soup from infancy to nourish their bodies. They learn horse stance at the age of three, practice boxing stance at the age of five, and by the age of ten, most of them have laid a solid foundation for physical training.

Most of the martial arts schools, security escort agencies, and many other businesses in the area were under his control.

The second is:

The government office that acts as an agent of Heaven in patrolling and protecting the realm.

With the Great Chu court as their backing, Jin Yangming was the only one who could openly uphold the "laws of the land."

The constables and yamen runners under his command were all selected from the most skilled fighters in the martial arts world. Even the lowest-ranking among them had to have the basic skills of the Flesh Refining Realm. They were well-equipped and obeyed orders without question.

The third is:

The branch of a major immortal sect stationed in the city is detached from worldly affairs.

I've heard that among the disciples, besides those who cultivate their martial arts and destiny, there are also those who cultivate their spirit and nature; however, the exact methods of cultivation are not yet known to the common people. They are stationed here for two important purposes:

First, select outstanding martial arts/immortal cultivators from the city and bring them up the mountain to serve as disciples.

Second, mine the "Yangyuan Stone" vein, a specialty of the Golden Valley Garden area outside the city. This stone contains pure Yang essence, which is of great benefit to cultivators in tempering their physique and spirit, making it a rare and precious material.

"The road ahead is long and arduous..." Zhu Hong sighed.

"The task ahead is arduous and the road is long!"

In this turbulent world, people are like drifting duckweed; finding a place to settle down is as difficult as climbing to heaven. One wrong step could send you plummeting to the bottom of the abyss.

How could I dare to be so young and impetuous?

"Zhu Hong, Zhu Hong—!"

From outside came Zhao Gui's stern voice: "Have you finished sewing that tiger skin yet?" Before there was a reply from inside, he raised his voice eight octaves:

"The officials have been waiting impatiently for a long time. They've already asked three or four times. If something really goes wrong, don't expect my dad to smooth things over for you."

Will you mediate for me?

Zhu Hong shook his head and chuckled to himself, "From a distance, everyone seems exceptionally kind." He looked out the window; the night was deep, and it was the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), just one hour before midnight.

"This road to survival, though arduous, can be endured... quite quickly."

Zhu Hongchao made a harsh remark to himself, then suppressed his chaotic thoughts, washed his hands in the copper basin, and turned to leave.

"Click—"

"Did you stuff donkey hair in your ears?" As soon as the door opened, Zhao Gui rushed forward and launched into a tirade:

"It took you ages to respond after I called you, do you know...?"

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

His eyes suddenly caught sight of the tiger skin spread out on the floor inside the room. His throat felt as if it had been stuffed with cotton; he choked for a long time before finally managing to utter a sentence:

"...Are you done sewing?"

"Hmm," Zhu Hong responded indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gui seemed to snap out of a daze, hurriedly turned around and rushed back to the main hall, shouting, "Officer Wang... the tiger skin has been sewn up!"

Before long, the sound of boots approached heavily.

Wang Zhenshan strode in, while the others stood solemnly outside with their hands on their swords.

He squatted down next to the tiger skin, grabbed the edge of the skin with his large hand, turned it over and smoothed it out, and examined it carefully in the dim light—the fur was perfectly straight, and there was almost no trace of patching at the seam.

"Excellent craftsmanship."

Wang Zhenshan raised his eyes and gave Zhu Hong a deep look: "This tiger skin is quite heavy. You peeled and sewed it up in one go without even feeling any strain?"

"You flatter me, sir."

Zhu Hong raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and explained:

"Mending is a physically demanding job. Over time, one accumulates some brute strength, but it's barely enough."

"Is that so?" Wang Zhenshan remained noncommittal but did not press the matter further. He simply took out ten taels of silver ingots from his pocket and tossed them over casually.

"Here's a reward for you."

Zhu Hong raised his hand and firmly grasped it. Before he could even retract it, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your generous reward, sir."

Wang Zhenshan nodded slightly and waved his hand:

"Men, take him away." Before the words were finished, his gaze fell on Zhu Hong's face again: "The yamen will be selected in five days. If you want to change your way of life, come to the 'Prefectural Examination Hall' in the west of the city at 9:00 AM."

After saying that, he turned and left.

……

The sound of horses' hooves was deafening, and the figures of people were few and far between.

"Simplified?" Zhu Hong stood alone under the dim light, pondering Wang Zhenshan's last words, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Jianba, full name "Wusheng Jianba".

As the name suggests, only martial artists who have truly entered the Body Refining Realm are qualified to cross that threshold; otherwise, it is absolutely impossible.

"It seems..."

Zhu Hong shook his head, a helpless smile playing on his lips: "The depth of one's skills can't ultimately hide from discerning eyes. So be it!" As he raised his eyes, a sharp, piercing light suddenly flashed within them.

"Being seen through by others is not necessarily a bad thing."

The path of martial arts is like rowing against the current. Having already entered this sewing shop, if one merely lingers there, when will one dare to draw the mulberry bow and shoot the jade balance?

……

the other side.

Zhao Lai bowed and scraped as he saw Wang Zhenshan and his group off. Then, he turned around and led Zhao Gui and his wife, hurrying straight to Zhu Hong's low house.

"...Zhu Hong."

He slowly knocked on the door: "It's me, the shopkeeper."

Zhao Gui, who had been holding back for a while, shouted at the top of his lungs, "What are you dawdling for? Open the door!"

As the old saying goes, "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature," and that's certainly true...

Zhu Hong sneered inwardly, having expected the father and son to come. He remained outwardly calm, slowly rising and pulling the bolt off the door.

"Shopkeeper, is there any other work to arrange?"

"I just came to take a look." Zhao Lai said with a big smile as he squeezed through the door.

"Just now, when Constable Wang was leaving, he seemed quite satisfied with you." His old eyes glanced casually at Zhu Hong's bulging chest.

"So... you've already received the reward money, haven't you?"

"Is this what the shopkeeper is asking about?" Zhu Hong took out the ten-tael silver ingot from his pocket, held it in his palm, and weighed it in his hand.

"This is a reward from Lord Wang, exactly ten taels."

"Ten taels!"

Madam Ma's eyes lit up instantly. She rushed forward, almost touching Zhu Hong: "They are indeed government officials. They are so generous!" She had completely forgotten her timid appearance in front of the officials earlier.

"Zhu Hong, why aren't you handing this silver over to the counter yet?"

"This is income for the shop!"

Having received five taels yesterday, and now seeing ten taels today, Madam Ma felt her heart pounding, suspecting it was the result of her ancestors' good deeds. These fifteen taels of silver were almost equivalent to several months' worth of income for the shop.

"Yes, yes, bring it here quickly!"

Zhao Gui was always afraid of his wife. When his wife spoke, he hurriedly reached out to snatch the money, shouting, "This is the money from the shop!"

"Hmph." Zhu Hong's eyes turned cold.

Suddenly, his wrist snapped up, and his five fingers hooked around Zhao Gui's outstretched hand.

"Zhao Gui, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just settle accounts arbitrarily." His voice was soft, but every word was clear:

"This is a private reward from Constable Wang; what does it have to do with the shop?"

Zhao Gui felt a sharp pain in his wrist. "Ouch..." he cried out in pain. His entire arm was numb and weak, frozen in mid-air, unable to move. Seeing this, Madam Ma looked on incredulously: "You! You eat the shop's food, live in the shop's house, and then try to pocket the reward money?"

"Is this some kind of rebellion?!"

Still unwilling to give up, her fiery temper flared up, and she twisted forward to tear at him.