Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Chapter 51: Stepping Up

’The improvements to my Comprehension and Root Bone will have to wait again.’

’After all the trouble of saving so many points, I really should have used them to improve my Comprehension or Root Bone.’

’Wind and Thunder Strength is powerful, but once my Comprehension reaches A-class, I’ll be able to grasp it anyway. Spending points on it now is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.’

’But as someone who always plays it safe, stability is in my nature. I always have to prepare for the worst.’

Glancing at Zhang Hong and the others beside him, Xu Yang silently willed it and dumped all his points into Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist.

A massive tide of insight washed over him. It was as if he had been practicing the fist technique for months on end, and countless new understandings of Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist filled his mind.

[Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist·Minor Achievement (242/500)]

’Wind and Thunder Strength... I’ve got it!’

Joy filled Xu Yang’s eyes. In that moment, he fully comprehended all the mysteries of Wind and Thunder Strength.

With a single thought, his True Qi moved as easily as his own limbs, vanishing from his meridians to lie dormant, scattered throughout his flesh and blood.

’So the secret to Wind and Thunder Strength is allowing my True Qi to break free from the shackles of my meridians, letting it erupt wherever and whenever I wish... ’

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. This upgrade had not only taught him Wind and Thunder Strength, but his mastery of Bear-Bursting Strength had deepened as well.

His Cultivation level hadn’t changed, but his combat prowess had reached a new height.

"Dad, I brought someone back! Guess who it is?"

The group soon arrived at the Qiu Family residence. Qiu Yongqiang’s gaze swept back and forth across Zhang Yong and the others, trying to discern which one was the expert Qiu Wenjie had invited.

"Uncle Qiu, you don’t have to guess. I’ve reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement. It’s time for me to repay you," Xu Yang said, clasping his fist solemnly.

Even after Qiu Wenjie had reached Qi Gathering, Qiu Yongqiang had continued to sponsor him. This gesture had moved Xu Yang deeply.

Qiu Yongqiang was overjoyed at his words. "You’ve reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement? Good, that’s wonderful! Uncle Qiu wasn’t wrong about you."

In truth, he had been worried that Qiu Wenjie wouldn’t be able to find anyone to help.

Before, the situation had been too urgent for him to think things through.

It was only after Qiu Wenjie had rushed off to Weiyuan Hall that he had time to think it over and realize just how difficult it would be to find someone willing to intervene. With the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon event just around the corner, who would be willing to take such a risk?

If they got injured and missed the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon, their entire future would be ruined.

After Qiu Wenjie made the introductions, Zhang Yong and the others exchanged greetings with Qiu Yongqiang and were invited into the main hall.

"Second Brother, has Wenjie managed to invite a prodigy from Weiyuan Hall?" Qiu Yongjian approached, his face deathly pale.

"Big Brother!"

"First Uncle!"

Qiu Wenjie went over to support Qiu Yongjian. Qiu Yongqiang also stood up and said, "He has. These are Wenjie’s senior brothers from Weiyuan Hall."

He introduced Zhang Yong and the others once more, then pointed to Xu Yang and said, "This is the Xu Yang I told you about. He has reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement and can handle Hong Feng."

He let out a long sigh. With Xu Yang here, his anxious heart could finally be put at ease.

"Greetings, Hero Xu. Thank you for coming to help the Qiu Family despite our past offenses. I, Qiu, am eternally grateful!" Qiu Yongjian bowed deeply to Xu Yang, his eyes filled with shame.

Back when Qiu Wenjie had reached Qi Gathering, he had argued that they should focus on cultivating their own family’s experts and had told Qiu Yongqiang to cut off Xu Yang’s sponsorship. He believed his brother was wasting money, certain that Xu Yang would never step in to help if the Qiu Family ever found themselves in trouble.

He never expected that when trouble did befall the Qiu Family, Xu Yang would come to their aid without a second thought.

Xu Yang: "..."

"Big Brother, I never listened to you. I didn’t cut off Ah Yang’s sponsorship. I’ve been using my own money to support him all along," Qiu Yongqiang whispered in Qiu Yongjian’s ear.

Xu Yang suddenly understood. ’No wonder Qiu Yongjian mentioned "past offenses."’ It turned out the "Qiu Family" had indeed cut off his sponsorship, but Qiu Yongqiang had been supporting him out of his own pocket this whole time.

The two brothers were momentarily embarrassed, as it was quite an awkward time to bring this up.

Xu Yang, however, didn’t seem to mind. "Uncle Qiu, let’s not waste any more time. We should head to the Hong Family’s residence now."

"Right!"

At the mention of the Hong Family, the Qiu Yongqiang brothers forgot their awkwardness and led the way outside.

As the group left the Qiu residence, they saw a crowd of Inner Courtyard Disciples waiting for them.

"Junior Brother Xu, might we be allowed to follow along and watch?" Xue Fangsheng asked.

"Do as you please."

Xu Yang shot a glance at these fellow disciples, with whom he had no real connection, and continued walking with the Qiu brothers.

After crossing two streets, the Hong Family’s residence came into view.

Qiu Wenjie darted forward and bellowed, "Hong Feng! You injured my first uncle and you’re trying to steal my family’s property! Get your ass out here and answer for it!"

Compared to a major Inner City household like the Liu Family, the Hong Family was but a minor establishment. They didn’t even have a gatekeeper, and their entire courtyard was only the size of a corner of the Liu Family’s estate.

After a short wait, the Hong Family’s main gate swung open, and more than a dozen people—men and women alike—poured out.

Qiu Yongqiang, standing beside Xu Yang, leaned in and whispered, "The man at the very front is Hong Xu. He’s not a Martial Artist. The most heavyset one beside him is his eldest son, Hong Feng. The Hong Family has one other Martial Artist besides Hong Feng, but his Cultivation is only at the initial stage of Qi Gathering, and he’s not here."

Xu Yang’s gaze fell upon Hong Feng, completely ignoring everyone else.

Hong Feng was burly, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. A scar between his eyebrows gave him a somewhat menacing appearance. His eyes swept over Xu Yang, his expression flickering with uncertainty.

It was obvious that even though his opponent didn’t recognize him, seeing him stand with the Qiu brothers at a time like this was enough to guess he was the help the Qiu Family had hired.

Finally, Hong Feng’s gaze landed on Qiu Wenjie. "I’m out. What is it you want to say?"

Qiu Wenjie said in a low voice, "Compensate and apologize to my first uncle. Otherwise, you’re not walking away from here today."

Hong Feng’s eyes swept over Zhang Yong and the others behind Qiu Wenjie. "So many people from Weiyuan Hall have come. Are you planning to use your numbers to bully the few? Do you think Tiger Roar Boxing Hall is empty?"

With his Qi Gathering Minor Achievement Cultivation, his perception was naturally sharp. He could tell with a single glance that all the people behind Qiu Wenjie were Inner Courtyard Disciples of Weiyuan Hall.

However, since he dared to plot against the Qiu Family’s assets, he was naturally not afraid of all these disciples from Weiyuan Hall ganging up on him. If it really came to that, Tiger Roar Boxing Hall was no pushover.

"Don’t mind us. We’re just here to watch."

"And stop throwing around the names Weiyuan Hall and Tiger Roar Boxing Hall. You alone don’t represent Tiger Roar Boxing Hall."

...

Xue Fangsheng and the others spoke up, making their position clear.

Hong Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His gaze fell upon Xu Yang. "So, you’re the one who’s going to step forward. May I ask your name?"

Xu Yang took a step forward and declared, "Xu Yang of Weiyuan Hall!"

"So, you’re Xu Yang!" Hong Feng’s tense expression immediately relaxed into a broad smile.

Since the Hong Family intended to seize the Qiu Family’s property, they had naturally investigated Qiu Wenjie’s network at Weiyuan Hall. According to his investigation, Qiu Wenjie couldn’t call on any real experts from the hall; he was only on good terms with people like Xu Yang and Zhang Hong.

And among those people, his investigation had revealed that Xu Yang was Qiu Wenjie’s closest friend. He’d only managed to reach Qi Gathering thanks to the Huang Family’s patronage, but was later abandoned by them because of Lu Ren and now served as a Tributor for the Liu Family.

So, upon hearing that the one stepping forward was Xu Yang, he couldn’t help but laugh.

’This mud-caked peasant who got lucky and changed his fate doesn’t seem to value his own life. Playing at Jianghu chivalry... Doesn’t he know that sticking your neck out like this can get you killed?’

"Come on. Talk is cheap. For Martial Artists like us, the only thing that matters is what our fists can do. If I lose, I will naturally apologize and compensate Qiu Yongjian."

As he spoke, Hong Feng strode forward with large steps.

’You’re not going to be defeated. You’re going to die.’

Xu Yang moved as well.