Chen Yuan discreetly left the scene of fawning and flattery, retreating to a corner of the courtyard to continue practicing the Rocky Pile Skill.
[Comprehension: 10]
[Root Bone: 44]
[Cultivation: None]
[Cultivation Technique]
[Rocky Pile Skill (Novice): 279/500]
[Xin Yi Liu He Fist (Novice): 221/500]
[Low-key Points: 6]
[Evaluation: Unobtrusive and unostentatious, you avoid making enemies and understand the principle of hiding your capabilities and biding your time. You have caught your first glimpse of the gateway to the low-key path. Daily Low-key Points +3.]
Over the past half-month, he had continued adding his Low-key Points to his Root Bone.
His primary task right now was to accumulate enough vitality and blood to break through the skin barrier as quickly as possible. The better his Root Bone, the faster his improvement would be. As for the progress of his Cultivation Technique, he could make up for any shortcomings with sheer hard work. Once he broke through the skin barrier, he could allocate points to his Comprehension and attempt to grasp Manifest Force.
Evidently, bolstered by his improved Root Bone and the increased intake of meat and medicinal supplements, the progress of his Cultivation Technique was a full fifty percent faster compared to last month.
At this rate, he might achieve breakthroughs in both areas by next month. He just needed to stay low-key!
After completing two rounds of his stance training, Chen Yuan walked over to the awning to rest. He had barely taken a gulp of water when a young face ran over, asking him for guidance on the Rocky Pile Skill.
This scene reminded him of a month and a half ago, when Liu Jin ran over to consult Song Bridge. The affairs of the world were unpredictable, yet constantly repeating in cycles.
Chen Yuan said mildly, "Perform it once for me to see."
He had nothing better to do anyway; giving a few pointers wouldn’t hurt.
The youth’s face instantly lit up with joy. He cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Most likely, the boy had been turned away by the other senior brothers.
After offering his guidance, Chen Yuan stretched his limbs and went to find someone to spar with using the Xin Yi Liu He Fist. Although Xu Heng looked down on him, his progress in the Huo Courtyard was already above average. Combined with his diligence and mild temperament, he was fairly well-liked by others.
Night fell over the Chen Family residence in Lotus Lane.
The family of four sat around the dinner table. There were four dishes laid out—one meat and three vegetable—which was already considered quite a decent meal.
Chen Kai picked through the dishes, exclusively fishing out all the meat. As he ate, he complained, "Mother, why is the meat portion still the same? It actually feels like less. I’m at the critical stage of building up my vitality and blood, so the amount of meat I need is only increasing."
Mrs. Li’s face was full of worry. She sighed heavily and said, "Kai’Er, you’ve been wronged. But what can we do? That Qian Bao from the Black Dragon Gang increased the protection money again this month..."
With one person practicing martial arts, the heavy financial burden fell entirely on the other three. Tuition was expensive. Every month, they also had to pay two taels of silver to buy Body-Strengthening Soup at the Martial Arts Hall, and whatever was left over had to go toward buying meat. The savings that the Chen family father and son had painstakingly accumulated over the years were rapidly being depleted.
Chen Kai snorted coldly. "Black Dragon Gang. Once I successfully break through the barrier, I wonder if you’ll still dare to be so arrogant."
Chen Dahai didn’t even bother smoking his dry tobacco pipe. The wrinkles on his face deepened as he sighed. "Little Kai, you have to make us proud. Our family is relying on you."
Chen Kai waved his hand dismissively and grumbled, "Grandpa, if there was enough meat to eat and you gave me one extra tael of silver every month, I’m confident I could break through the barrier in two and a half months."
At those words, both Chen Dahai and Chen Dashan fell silent. Reality was cruel; they simply couldn’t produce that kind of money.
If Chen Yuan were still here, things might be better. They could have him sign a multi-year labor contract at the docks and get his wages paid in advance—that would be enough. Thinking of this filled Chen Dashan with pent-up anger. That ungrateful beast Chen Yuan actually had some skills. He heard the boy was doing quite well for himself now.
A sharp gleam flashed in Chen Kai’s eyes as he spoke up. "Dad, isn’t that guy Chen Yuan getting a sponsorship of five taels of silver every month now? If we could just get him to relent and give two taels of silver to me, how great would that be? Anyway, with his cheap bones, he doesn’t deserve to use that much."
Mrs. Li immediately shook her head, her face etched with deep concern. "That Li Yuan is a madman now. If anything were to happen to you, Kai’Er... It’s better not to provoke him."
Chen Dashan flared up in anger and scoffed. "A woman’s narrow view! You’re scared of this? I refuse to believe that unfilial son would dare do anything out of line. I’ll beat him to death if he tries!"
Chen Kai nodded repeatedly, chiming in from the side. "Dad is right. Chen Yuan is just trying to scare you. What is he? You think he’d dare to cripple me? Does he even have the ability? The Government Office won’t just sit idly by either!"
The worry on Chen Dahai’s face grew heavier. He urged, "Let’s not go make a scene. It hasn’t been easy for Little Yuan either. If we try to appeal to his emotions, maybe he’ll change his mind... That would be for the best."
He couldn’t figure it out. Both of his grandsons clearly possessed the aptitude for martial arts. If they could just unite their efforts and support each other, producing two Martial Artists, bringing glory to their ancestors would be a certainty. The Chen Family might even have developed into a small clan. Why did things have to escalate to such a mutually destructive point?
Chen Kai sneered coldly. "Grandpa, you think too highly of Chen Yuan. A heartless and ungrateful person like him, who dared to sever ties with the family over a minor grievance—even if he becomes a Martial Artist, he won’t appreciate your kindness in the slightest. He might even turn around and bite us."
Chen Dahai sighed heavily and said no more.
Chen Dashan, however, slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "We raised that unfilial wretch for so many years, and he thinks two taels and four mace can cancel out his debt? We could have made over a dozen taels of silver just by selling him to the docks! I’ll go find him tomorrow and settle this score myself!"
He then looked at Mrs. Li and instructed, "Tomorrow, go to the Cheng Family in Hundred Herbs Lane and demand payment. They want to get free labor? Where in the world is there such a good deal? Don’t settle for anything less than five taels of silver."
Seeing Chen Dashan’s resolute attitude and having been reassured by her son earlier, Mrs. Li regained her usual imposing manner. She gave a firm nod. "Kai’Er, focus on your martial arts. Tomorrow, Mother will get your silver back."
Another ordinary day arrived.
The process of practicing martial arts was arduous and tedious. It was especially agonizing when one couldn’t see any progress, easily plunging a person into self-doubt and breeding a sense of slackness. Chen Yuan, however, trained with great enthusiasm every day. Part of it was due to his resolute willpower, and the other part was because he could see his progress at any given moment, keeping him in a positive feedback loop.
During dinner that evening, someone called his name, saying there was a visitor looking for him outside the courtyard.
Chen Yuan frowned slightly. The last time this happened, it had been Mrs. Li causing an unreasonable scene. Could they have come again?
Stepping out the courtyard gate and seeing Chen Dashan’s dark, sunken expression, his frown deepened.
"Oh, you’re still alive?" Chen Yuan greeted him politely.
That single sentence made Chen Dashan flush crimson. Already consumed by furious rage, he roared, "Unfilial son! You dare curse your own father to die? I’ll beat you to death!"
With that, he took a wide stride forward, swinging his palm—the size of a woven fan—aiming straight for Chen Yuan’s face. He needed to suppress him with his aura. Moreover, he didn’t believe for a second that Chen Yuan would dare strike back. He was his father, after all!
Chen Yuan smiled. How impulsive. He took the bait with a single sentence, playing right into his hands.
Pressing forward in kind, Chen Yuan spread the five fingers of his left hand, rounding the tiger’s mouth, and clamped down on Chen Dashan’s wrist with the precision of an eagle’s talon.
Feeling the immense force and sharp pain radiating from his wrist, Chen Dashan was shocked. This unfilial son actually dared to hit him!
Before he could react, Chen Yuan twisted his waist and spun, viciously flinging Chen Dashan’s seized right arm. Chen Dashan felt the world spin wildly before him, crashing onto the ground with a heavy THUD, stars bursting in his vision. His wrist throbbed with excruciating pain—it had been dislocated.
A mix of shock and fury coursed through Chen Dashan. Driven mad by anger, he bellowed, "Chen Yuan! You are not fit to be a son! You even dare to strike your own father! I’m going to report you to the Government Office and have you arrested!"
Chen Yuan sneered, "I severed ties with you long ago. At best, you are just a violent thug who initiated an unprovoked attack. Do you think the Government Office will arrest me, or arrest you?"
Behind him stood the elderly gatekeeper, ready to serve as a witness.
He said mildly, "Uncle Wang, from now on, if he comes looking for me, just treat him like that woman and chase him away."
Seeing that Chen Yuan didn’t even want to spare him another glance, Chen Dashan roared in fury: "Unfilial son! Do you think leaving home with nothing settles everything? You can never repay the debt you owe me! Without at least ten taels of silver as a baseline, you just wait for your reputation to be ruined!"
At these words, Chen Yuan’s expression turned frigid. "I recall making it very clear to Mrs. Li. Do not threaten me again!"
He found this couple utterly ridiculous and foolish. To think they would go to such lengths to extort money from him, even at the cost of forging a bitter enmity. Did more than ten years of living together leave them with some stubborn, preconceived notion of his character?
Since that was the case, he had nothing left to say. He coldly threw down one last sentence:
"If you want to make a scene, I will gladly play along."
With that, he turned and walked back into the courtyard, his eyes completely icing over.