Chapter 45: Provocation!

"Yes."

The disciples departed.

Pan Mingzhong cast a complex glance at Zhang Lingshan.

"Have they all gone far enough?" Hong Zhengdao asked.

"They are far enough."

"Close the door."

Once the door was tightly shut, Hong Zhengdao motioned for Zhang Lingshan to sit before him and asked, "I heard the Hongying Martial Arts Hall sought you out. That is not an opportunity everyone receives. Why did you refuse them?"

Zhang Lingshan was inwardly surprised; he hadn't expected Hong Zhengdao to know even this. It was clear that although the man rarely left his home, he had his own channels of information.

No wonder he said Zhao Qing had already found a way in.

But since he knew everything, why did he still propose that Zhao Qing marry Hong Wenjuan? Was it a test, or...

His mind raced quickly before he replied, "The Hongying Martial Arts Hall lacked sincerity. If Zhao Hongying had personally invited me, perhaps I really would have gone."

Hong Zhengdao froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha! You kid, you're interesting. From the first time I saw you, I felt we had a connection; you truly suit my taste. How do you feel about the Blood Claw Hand? How many days until you reach the entry level?"

"If there is beast meat like the kind I had today, I think it won't take long before I successfully enter the stage," Zhang Lingshan said.

Hong Zhengdao gave him a deep look. "So you know about the beast meat. It seems you have experienced some things at the Feng Family Pharmacy as well. However, you are mistaken—what you ate here was not beast meat."

"Then what was it?" Zhang Lingshan blurted out.

Hong Zhengdao shook his head. "With your current strength, you cannot eat too much of it. Knowing too much will not benefit you. However, if you find that meat useful, I can provide you with one meal every two days."

"Thank you, Master."

"No need for thanks. Just like when I had you move into Hongwu Street, I have requirements for you. Can you cultivate the Blood Claw Hand to the entry level before the Lantern Festival?"

"I can!"

"Very good. Once you have entered the stage, I will have Xiao Ming act as your sparring partner, aiming for you to begin Flesh Refining by the end of the month. With your talent, as long as you work hard, it should not be a problem."

"Yes, Master."

Zhang Lingshan was overjoyed. It seemed that after the eldest disciple Zhao Qing left, Master Hong intended to elevate him. He was providing help with all his might, hoping Zhang Lingshan would work hard to catch up and eventually surpass the rest.

This was, of course, a good thing for him.

However, it would also make him a target for everyone.

The tree that stands tallest in the forest is the first to be broken by the wind.

"Xiao Shan."

Hong Zhengdao's expression suddenly turned solemn as he lowered his voice. "Pan Mingzhong is a narrow-minded man with a heavy sense of jealousy. You must be careful of him."

Zhang Lingshan was stunned.

Heavy jealousy?

He looked into Hong Zhengdao's deep eyes and realized he could not fathom what this stout, thick-browed elder was thinking.

But he was certain that the warning to guard against Pan Mingzhong was not merely due to jealousy.

"Yes, Master. I will be careful," Zhang Lingshan promised, choosing not to overthink Hong Zhengdao's intentions.

He only knew that once his strength increased, he would naturally learn what needed to be known. Rather than wasting time speculating, it was better to focus on cultivation.

"Alright, it is late. Go home and rest. There are banknotes in the desk drawer; take one to buy some New Year goods for your family and get yourself some good clothes. You are now an inner disciple of my sect; you cannot remain as shabby as before."

"Yes."

Zhang Lingshan opened the drawer and saw a thick stack of hundred-tael banknotes. Surprised by Hong Zhengdao's wealth, he obediently took one before taking his leave and closing the door.

He did not know.

Not long after he left, Hong Zhengdao quietly sat up in bed, crossed his legs, held his breath, and remained motionless.

Silently, his clothes became soaked with sweat, then the rising heat from his body dried them, only for them to be soaked with sweat once more.

This repeated dozens of times.

Suddenly, a faint sound emerged.

If someone had listened closely, they would have discovered the sound came from Hong Zhengdao's crippled right hand, which was wrapped in white cloth.

It was his right index finger, twitching slightly.

"Phew—!"

Hong Zhengdao let out a long breath, as if he had accomplished a monumental task. His eyes were deep before he silently closed them again to begin the next round of cultivation.

...

Meanwhile, Zhang Lingshan returned home and opened his panel.

Name: Zhang Lingshan Martial Arts: Blood Claw Hand (Not Entered+), Gale Kick (Entry), Wind-Stabilizing Stake (Entry), Mountain-Splitting Axe Technique (Entry), Red Line Fist (Small Success), Hunyuan True Yang Stake (Perfection) Energy: 26

With a thought, the "Not Entered" after Blood Claw Hand immediately flickered and changed to "Entry."

In that instant, an inexplicable tremor surged from his chest.

Zhang Lingshan felt his heart thumping wildly, as if it were about to leap out of his chest, while streaks of blood-red lines rapidly spread from his heart.

They passed through his shoulders, down to his upper arms and elbows, then into his forearms and backs of hands, finally landing smoothly at the tips of his ten fingers.

"Hiss!"

A piercing pain struck him. With the connection between the fingers and the heart, Zhang Lingshan couldn't help but gasp.

Then, the blood lines rapidly retracted into his heart, and a warm, flowing heat began to spread from his heart to every corner of his body.

As the warm current circulated, Zhang Lingshan noticed his skin beginning to swell, as if something were growing beneath it.

He rubbed his skin with his hands.

Sure enough, new skin had grown; the outer layer had become a layer of grime that he easily rubbed off onto the floor.

"This is Copper Skin."

Feeling a sense of realization, Zhang Lingshan used a small knife to scratch his skin, but not a single mark was left on his arm.

He clenched his fists to test his strength and found the increase was not massive—perhaps an increase of less than a hundred jin.

This was because his strength already far exceeded his current level, so it felt negligible, but if others knew, they would surely turn green with envy.

To gain a hundred jin of strength so casually—was he even human?

Zhang Lingshan didn't dwell on it and fell asleep, satisfied.

The next day.

Early in the morning, he rushed to the Hong Family Martial Arts Hall and found Senior Brother Xu Liang.

Xu Liang said he would be staying at the hall for the time being, so Zhang Lingshan unceremoniously took the opportunity to practice combat techniques with him.

Interestingly, Pan Mingzhong had the same idea and kept pestering Xu Liang as well.

Thus, the three of them took turns sparring.

The back-and-forth exchange allowed Zhang Lingshan to gain significant combat experience, and the martial arts he had learned slowly began to integrate into a unified whole, his strength increasing steadily.

On this day.

After finishing his training at the hall, Zhang Lingshan returned home to find an extra person in the house.

It was a clean-cut youth.

He looked somewhat familiar yet somewhat strange.

"Xiao Feng?"

Zhang Lingshan was stunned.

Wasn't his brother working as a book boy for the Jiang family in the Inner City? Why was he back? Was the Jiang family so good that they gave him a New Year's holiday?

"Brother?"

Zhang Linfeng was also stunned.

Was this burly man really his brother?

After only a year of separation, his brother had become so muscular; it was almost unbelievable.

"How did you get back? Did the Jiang family let you go and not require you to return?" Zhang Lingshan asked curiously.

His brother replied, "No, Young Master Jiang Shaobai saw that I missed home and specially permitted me to come home for the New Year. It just so happens the Jiang family is going to the ancestral hall for the New Year examinations, so I have nothing to do, so I came back."

"It's good that you're back. It's very good."

Mother Zhang looked relieved, then sighed, "It's a pity your father isn't here, otherwise we would be a complete family. After all these years, this year is our greatest harvest yet."

Everyone was filled with emotion.

The family chatted while eating dinner.

Zhang Lingshan said, "By the way, I asked Master Hong and got his permission to teach you the Hong Family's fist techniques. Do you want to learn?"

"I'll learn! I'll learn!" Zhang Linyu shouted excitedly.

Zhang Linfeng, however, shook his head. "I won't learn. Martial arts are useless. Those martial artists in the Jiang family get beaten until they are covered in bruises every day; it's too pitiful."

"That's not fighting; they are likely acting as sparring partners for the Jiang family's young masters. It's a common occurrence. If you practice martial arts without practicing combat, it's just a fake display," Zhang Lingshan explained.

Zhang Linfeng still shook his head. "No matter how you put it, it's not for me. I am better suited to accompany the Young Master in writing, reciting poetry, and reading Buddhist scriptures."

Zhang Lingshan was speechless.

When people are not on the same wavelength, even half a sentence is too many.

However, seeing that Zhang Linfeng's physique was indeed lean and not as sturdy as his own former body, combined with his gentle temperament, he decided to let it be.

"How about this: Mother and Xiao Feng, I will teach you the Stance techniques. No fighting or killing, just for strengthening the body. Since Xiao Yu is so interested, she can practice fist techniques with me."

"We'll listen to you," Mother Zhang smiled.

After dinner.

Zhang Lingshan pulled Zhang Linfeng into a room, lit an oil lamp, and asked, "How many characters can you recognize from being a book boy?"

"I know every character."

"That impressive?"

Zhang Lingshan was excited and immediately said, "Then teach me from the beginning."

"Alright." Zhang Linfeng agreed without hesitation.

Having been a book boy at the Jiang family for so long, he believed literacy was a basic skill everyone should possess. Since his brother wanted to learn, he would naturally teach him with all his might.

Thus, over the next few days, aside from going to the Hong Family Martial Arts Hall for meals and sparring, Zhang Lingshan spent all his remaining time learning characters from his brother.

He had already felt that the characters in this world were very similar to the traditional characters of his previous life, though the shapes were somewhat convoluted and unpleasant to look at.

But under Zhang Linfeng's guidance, he quickly memorized the correspondences.

Gradually.

He could recognize fifty to sixty percent of the characters in the booklet he had obtained from Fang Qiuyue.

The reason he hadn't let his brother see it was because he feared the contents might be dangerous; if he dragged his brother into it, it would be trouble.

So, he could only continue learning characters until he knew them all.

"The firecrackers are going off!"

In the courtyard, Zhang Linyu suddenly cheered.

The fireworks from the Inner City soared high into the sky, exploding in all directions, brilliant and dazzling.

*Pop! Crackle!*

The sound of firecrackers rose from every household nearby.

New Year's Eve ended amidst such revelry.

It was as if even the evil spirits had been scared away by the firecrackers; the entire Jincheng crossed into the New Year in such a peaceful manner.

"Senior Brother Shan, something has happened!"

The next day, while Zhang Lingshan was still resting, he heard a disciple shouting outside the courtyard.

Pushing open the gate, he found it was a junior brother who practiced Stance techniques and had spent the New Year at the Hong Family Martial Arts Hall because he was homeless.

"What happened?" Zhang Lingshan asked.

The junior brother said, "This morning, when I opened the door to clean, I saw Senior Brother Shi Lei stripped naked and hung at the entrance of the martial arts hall. There was a note saying 'Pay your debts.' If the money isn't paid within three days, his limbs will be broken next. Senior Brother Xu Liang saw it too and told me to come notify you to see Master Hong."

"Alright. Do you know who did it?"

"I don't know."

Zhang Lingshan didn't ask further, knowing the disciple's knowledge was limited. He changed his clothes and immediately rushed to Hong Zhengdao.

At this time.

The senior brothers were all gathered together. Seeing Zhang Lingshan arrive, they all greeted him.

The only senior sister, Hong Wenjuan, was also there.

It was only now that Zhang Lingshan saw his senior sister up close; she was a woman with a heroic air about her brows. Aside from having a somewhat large frame, she had no flaws.

"Alright, everyone is here. Let's talk then. Someone has already struck at our doorstep. How do you think we should handle this?"

Hong Zhengdao asked leisurely, showing no emotion.

The dark-skinned man, Wu Yuanqing, shouted, "There's nothing to talk about! If they come at us, we meet them! Whoever hung Shi Lei up, I'll hang them up too!"

"Then tell me, who should be hung up?" Hong Zhengdao asked.

Wu Yuanqing froze, stammering, unable to speak.

Hong Zhengdao snorted. "Rash! Yelling blindly without knowing anything. Xu Liang, tell us what happened."

"Yes. As far as I know, Junior Brother Shi Lei likes gambling.

"Although he hasn't been to the Sanjiang Gambling House recently, the debts he owes there have never been paid. The IOU has his personal thumbprint and is still in the hands of the Sanjiang Gambling House.

"This time, the master of the Sanjiang Gambling House personally came to his house, beat him down, and tied him up.

"That master is named Chen Hui, and he is at the peak of the Copper Skin stage. He has recently become quite famous and is a well-known genius of the Great River Gang. This time, he is representing the Great River Gang to challenge us."

Xu Liang reported the investigation results one by one.

To have investigated so thoroughly in such a short time made Zhang Lingshan admire him. He wondered if Hong Zhengdao's prior knowledge of the Hongying Martial Arts Hall's recruitment was also due to Xu Liang's investigation.

"Since we know who it is, let's fight him!" Wu Yuanqing shouted excitedly, preparing to rush out the door.

"Get back here!"

Hong Zhengdao scolded, "You are a Flesh Refiner; if you go to bully someone in the Skin Grinding stage, won't that damage the reputation of our Hong Family Martial Arts Hall?"

"Then what should we do?" Wu Yuanqing scratched his head.

Hong Zhengdao didn't bother with him and looked toward Zhang Lingshan and Pan Mingzhong. "Since the opponent has sent someone from the Skin Grinding stage, then naturally, you two shall meet him. Do you have confidence?"

"Yes!"

Pan Mingzhong shouted immediately, with Zhang Lingshan following close behind.

Hong Zhengdao nodded. "Very good, that's the spirit. Now, you two discuss amongst yourselves who will go out."

Pan Mingzhong glanced at Zhang Lingshan.

Zhang Lingshan made a "please" gesture. "You are the Senior Brother, you go first."

Pan Mingzhong cleared his throat and said loudly, "That little Chen Hui is nothing more than a dog raised by the Great River Gang; he is no real character at all.

"Originally, as the Fifth Senior Brother, it would be my duty to step forward. However, I was too happy during New Year's Eve yesterday, and I drank too much and upset my stomach. I truly lack the energy.

"Therefore, I can only hand over this wonderful opportunity to Junior Brother Shan."

He spoke with righteous indignation.

The crowd: "..."