After finishing his meal in the Dining Hall, Chen Yuan sought out Zhang Shi, whom he was on decent terms with.
Seeing him approach, Zhang Shi revealed an honest smile. "Junior Brother Chen, looking to spar?"
Chen Yuan waved his hand slightly and said seriously, "Senior Brother Zhang, how much do you know about formally challenging other Martial Arts Halls to a spar?"
Making a move in secret carried the risk of being investigated, and Chen Yuan didn’t want to take that chance. However, a promise made is a promise kept. If he wanted to eliminate the menace that was the Chen Family, he had to take decisive action.
Hearing this, Zhang Shi’s tone turned solemn.
"There are indeed specific rules among the Martial Arts Halls and Martial Arts Academies when it comes to challenging a dojo," he said. "First, the person you challenge cannot be weaker than yourself. Second, you must observe proper etiquette and refrain from any humiliating actions. Third, the challenger must complete three full matches before stepping down. You’re given a fifteen-minute rest in between, but combat is merciless—you bear the consequences of any injury or death."
He gave Chen Yuan a profound look and added a warning. "Junior Brother Chen, although challenging another hall is within the rules, no one usually does it without a valid dispute. For one, fighting three consecutive matches carries a high risk of injury, and the challenged party will not hold back. Secondly, it will stir up trouble. If you intend to issue a challenge, it’s best to inform Master Huo."
"Thank you for letting me know, Senior Brother," Chen Yuan said. Relieved to hear that he could strike heavily without holding back, he walked toward Senior Brother Tao Ping.
After stating his intentions, Tao Ping was astonished. He hadn’t expected the usually diligent and steady Junior Brother Chen to propose something as out of character as challenging a dojo.
"I’ll take you to the master." Knowing he couldn’t make this decision, Tao Ping led Chen Yuan toward the Inner Courtyard.
Under the night sky, the Inner Courtyard appeared serene. Master Huo sat in a pavilion, leisurely sipping tea. In the courtyard, Xu Heng was practicing his forms beneath the moonlight. His movements were as smooth as flowing water, and every punch whistled with fierce wind.
Chen Yuan watched quietly from the sidelines. Breaking through the Skin Barrier truly made a massive difference. Moreover, Xu Heng’s progress in the Xin Yi Liu He Fist was significantly faster than his own. He estimated that in another half a month, Xu Heng would comprehend Manifest Force, elevating his combat prowess yet again to meet the standard of a novice Martial Artist. According to Senior Brother Zhang Shi, only novice Martial Artists who had mastered both the Skin Barrier and Manifest Force were qualified to hold guest positions in other factions and earn a monthly allowance.
"Hmm? What brings you two here?" Master Huo took a sip of tea and spoke mildly.
Tao Ping offered a slight bow with cupped hands. "Master, Junior Brother Chen has a matter to discuss with you."
Huo Lin glanced at Chen Yuan. Compared to when he first arrived, the young man had grown noticeably more robust. His impression of Chen Yuan was decent enough; though his talent was ordinary, he was hardworking and had learned the foundational stances at a good pace. He had even started learning the Xin Yi Liu He Fist at the same time as Xu Heng, although a significant gap had already widened between them after just a month and a half.
"Speak. What do you need from me?" Huo Lin asked calmly. Having Xu Heng as a Direct Disciple had kept him in high spirits lately, especially since yesterday marked Xu Heng’s breakthrough.
Chen Yuan cupped his hands in respect. "Master Huo, your disciple plans to issue a formal challenge at the Kaisan Martial Arts Hall. Would you permit this?"
Huo Lin paused, then raised a brow. This kid surprised him; his martial arts hadn’t even reached the entry level, yet he was already thinking of challenging others. "Do you know the rules? The risks are far from small," he asked.
"I understand the gist of them," Chen Yuan nodded.
"Is it absolutely necessary?" Huo Lin pressed.
Chen Yuan’s expression turned serious. "I could choose not to go, but going will bring me peace of mind."
Huo Lin suddenly laughed. "A good ’peace of mind’! Since you have made up your mind, then go. But let me make the ugly truth clear upfront—if you are beaten to death or crippled, I won’t step forward to avenge you."
"That is only natural. Thank you for your permission, Master Huo," Chen Yuan replied, cupping his fists again.
Huo Lin gave a faint grunt of acknowledgment. Although he currently wanted to focus entirely on nurturing Xu Heng without any unnecessary complications, a disciple like Chen Yuan, who hadn’t even broken the Skin Barrier, couldn’t stir up much of a storm. It would merely be child’s play. Furthermore, his teaching philosophy prioritized actual combat. Challenging an external dojo was completely different from sparring with fellow disciples; it was a genuine battle where bloodshed and injuries were commonplace. Fighting a few matches might actually benefit the boy greatly.
He turned to Tao Ping and ordered, "Take Chen Yuan to the Kaisan Martial Arts Hall tomorrow. Mind the rules." This approach was much safer.
Tao Ping nodded and led Chen Yuan away.
Back in the courtyard, having finished his round of the Xin Yi Liu He Fist, Xu Heng approached Huo Lin and cupped his hands. "Master, when can I go issue a challenge?" Clearly, he had overheard their entire conversation. Filled with the vigor of youth, he was already itching to try it for himself.
Huo Lin smiled and shook his head. "Just focus on your cultivation for now. For you, the Bone Barrier and Muscle Barrier of vitality, as well as the Hidden Force of techniques, won’t pose much of a problem. Once you have mastered them all, that will be the time for you to challenge others."
Xu Heng was still reluctant to yield. "Master, I still want to try! Sparring with experts of my generation might make my progress even faster!"
Huo Lin chuckled wryly and sighed. "Xu Heng, you are different. You are my Direct Disciple. The significance of you issuing a challenge is completely different from Chen Yuan doing it. Besides, your master has quite a few deadly rivals out there. If they decide to play dirty, they won’t show any mercy."
Thinking of past grudges and grievances, his expression grew solemn and complex.
Later that evening.
Returning to his aunt’s home under the fragmented moonlight, Chen Yuan learned that Mrs. Li had come by earlier to demand money.
His aunt said with great indignation, "How shameless! She actually dared to come asking for money, and she demanded ten taels of silver right off the bat... Hmph, she’s lucky I didn’t go looking for trouble with her."
Naturally, it had resulted in a massive argument, and both sides had parted on bad terms. It seemed Mrs. Li’s actions had infuriated his aunt quite a bit.
After listening in silence, Chen Yuan said softly, "Aunt, I’ve caused trouble for you. I will resolve this."
"It’s nothing. She won’t gain any advantage over me," his aunt reassured him. "Just focus on your martial arts and don’t get distracted. Once you’ve developed real skills, they won’t dare to be so insolent."
Chen Yuan didn’t argue. He nodded and went to sleep.
Admittedly, if he endured it for another month or two, those people would likely lose the courage to parade themselves in front of him. This was the most prudent solution. However, he wasn’t a turtle hiding in its shell. Since he had the capability now, taking a little risk was well worth it. He didn’t want his aunt and uncle to suffer the harassment and provocations of the Chen Family simply because he chose to bide his time.
As the saying goes: the blood of youth burns hot, and excessive caution only breeds a lifetime of regret. Even if this action was judged as going against the principles of keeping a low profile, Chen Yuan wouldn’t regret it. His personal principles stood above the system’s! He was the user of the system, not a slave to its interface.
The next morning.
A settlement evaluation appeared on his interface:
[Congratulations, Host. You have not put the cart before the horse, nor have you kept a low profile merely for the sake of doing so. The true essence of keeping a low profile is to survive long enough to fulfill your life’s purpose. When the two conflict, keeping a low profile must give way to the matters most important to your heart. Low-key Points +50.]
A smile graced Chen Yuan’s face. This system was quite humane, generously rewarding him with fifty Low-key Points—equivalent to half a month’s worth of accumulation. Without hesitation, he invested all of them, along with the remaining six Low-key Points from yesterday, entirely into the Xin Yi Liu He Fist!