Chapter 9: Urging the Emergence of Inner Strength

In the days that followed, Yang Xing continued his routine, moving between only two places. Every morning before dawn, he went to the martial arts school to practice, and returned home only after night fell. Time slipped by unnoticed, and another month and a half had passed.

On this day, Zhu Kai approached Yang Xing as he was training, and whispered, “The Black Serpent Gang has been wiped out.”

“Oh,” Yang Xing replied with a nod. The Black Serpent Gang was, after all, just a bunch of local thugs; their destruction was not unexpected.

Taking a bite of dried meat, Zhu Kai said, “There are at least thirty or forty gangs in this city, both big and small. It’s truly chaotic.”

Boys from wealthy families like Zhu Kai often had their own private provisions, since the school’s meals rarely included meat.

“Let’s not talk about this. I need to prepare for the martial exam.” After finishing his dried beef, Zhu Kai also began his training. He had already reached the stage of the second body tempering with hidden strength, all for the sake of taking the martial examination and gaining honor and wealth.

From then on, he shut out the world and devoted himself to practicing his stance work and the Palm of Slicing the Air.

At this time, including Yang Xing, there were eight students at De Bao Martial School preparing for their first body tempering.

The next morning, four people, looking dejected, packed their few belongings and left through the side door, dressed once again in their own clothes.

“Senior brother, what happened?” a newcomer asked Zhu Kai, who was known for his friendliness.

Zhu Kai answered blandly, “The three months are up. If you can’t achieve body tempering, you have to leave De Bao Martial School.”

Hearing this, those nearby fell into silence.

Meanwhile, Shen Lin still sat under a tree in his scholar’s chair, holding a bowl of noodles. When he finished, he rose to patrol, watching as Shi Hao explained techniques and stance work to the students.

It was just as it had always been, exactly as when Yang Xing had first joined De Bao Martial School. Only Ye Tian was an exception in his eyes.

Yang Xing took a deep breath, silently calculating his time, and continued his training.

Day after day passed. Of the original eight who trained with Yang Xing, another four left—two unable to bear the pressure and quitting on their own accord. Meanwhile, new students joined the group striving for body tempering.

Soon, only three days remained until Yang Xing’s three months were up.

That evening, Yang Xing returned from De Bao Martial School.

“Brother Xing!”

Turning a corner, he saw a familiar figure waiting. Joy flashed in Yang Xing’s eyes. “Yu Niang, what are you doing here?”

“This is for you.” Zhao Yu Niang didn’t say much, handing him a gray cloth bag.

Yang Xing took it, puzzled. “What’s this?”

Inside the gray bag was a red pouch, and within that, a sheet of paper bearing three large characters: Qi Supplement Powder.

Qi Supplement Powder! This was highly beneficial for martial artists, but also very expensive. Yang Xing had often seen Zhu Kai take it.

“Here.” Zhao Yu Niang rubbed her cold little hands and said softly, “I bought this at the city’s clinic. It will help replenish your energy while you’re training.”

Yang Xing took her hands and saw the cracks from the cold, “Yu Niang, your hands…”

“They’re just chapped from the cold. It’ll be fine in summer.” Her face grew shy as Yang Xing held her hands.

“Yu Niang!” Yang Xing gripped her hands tightly, his expression solemn. “I will succeed in body tempering, I promise.”

“Brother Xing, I believe in you.”

Zhao Yu Niang nodded vigorously, then suddenly remembered something. “I have to go home now; there are still clothes I need to deliver to the laundry.”

With that, she hurried away.

Yang Xing held the still-warm gray cloth bag, lost in thought.

When he got home, Madam Chen had already eaten and gone to rest.

Returning to his room, Yang Xing focused his mind.

[Air Slice Stance Training (98/100): Practice ten times a day; diligence makes up for lack of talent. Mastery in three months; perfection in one year.]

Yang Xing took a deep breath. “Tomorrow, I’ll finish my stance training and reach mastery. Then I can attempt my first body tempering.”

With the Destiny of Diligence Makes Up for Clumsiness, he had never been anxious. As long as he followed the routine, he knew he’d succeed.

He must succeed!

Achieving the first body tempering would change everything—not only would his strength increase, but he could also participate in the martial examination, and he’d finally be considered a true disciple of De Bao Martial School. The cost of training would drop significantly.

As for those who failed, in Shen Lin’s eyes, they were just wheat to be harvested for profit—one batch after another. Only those who succeeded in body tempering earned his attention.

“So, once I cross this threshold, a new world awaits,” Yang Xing thought. He brewed the Qi Supplement Powder Yu Niang had given him and drank it in one gulp.

The effect was immediate; he felt his vitality surge.

The next day, the improvement in his stance training was obvious.

That day, other students also attempted body tempering—one succeeded, two failed. The successful one was ecstatic, while the others, filled with unwillingness, could only leave.

Yang Xing knew that the ones who left—some would join small gangs, ending up like Master Cheng or Liu Biao, while others would become guards, with fates like the one Er Niu had described. These weren’t bad outcomes, considering.

If he failed, he might not even be as fortunate.

That day, Zhu Kai didn’t speak to him as usual. After two months and twenty-nine days without success, the chances were slim. Zhu Kai was clearly disappointed.

Ye Tian had become Shen Lin’s disciple half a month after Yang Xing, but succeeded in body tempering a full month before him. Clearly, Ye Tian was exceptionally gifted.

De Bao Martial School had existed for decades, yet there were only a few dozen students in the yard at any time, showing how hard body tempering was—if one or two out of ten succeeded, it was already impressive. With limited resources, only a handful made it.

Other students’ attitudes toward Yang Xing began to change, especially the newcomers. Where once they’d greet “Senior Brother Yang,” now they ignored him altogether. In their eyes, Yang Xing would leave in a few days, never to be associated with them again—so why waste words?

Yang Xing continued practicing his stance atop the wooden stake, unmoving as a statue.

Shen Lin sat in his chair, watching the youth on the stake. He vaguely remembered the boy who had come with a silver bracelet to become his student. Now, as the three months drew to an end, it was time for him to leave.

Shen Lin felt little sympathy. Over the years, he’d seen too many like this—some crying, begging for another chance. But what use was that? Porcelain would always be porcelain, never jade.

He wouldn’t waste time on it.

From afar, many watched and shook their heads. Even Senior Brother Shi Hao sighed, “It seems he won’t succeed after all.” Yang Xing was the most diligent student Shi Hao had ever seen, but effort alone wasn’t enough.

Zhu Kai muttered, “I hope you succeed.”

Within De Bao Martial School, the disciples had divided into small cliques. Ye Tian and Second Brother Zhang Chaoyang were one group. Zhang Chaoyang came from money, and befriending Ye Tian was a calculated move to gain his favor.

Zhang Chaoyang sneered, “I really don’t know what Zhu Kai is thinking, still believing Yang Xing might succeed.”

Both Zhang Chaoyang and Ye Tian had good family backgrounds and competed to attract promising companions. Since Zhang Chaoyang befriended Ye Tian, Zhu Kai’s group had clearly weakened.

Ye Tian glanced at Yang Xing and said coolly, “After all this time, it’s nearly impossible for him to succeed.”

He had little impression of Yang Xing, or of most of the students, really.

Yang Xing, unaware of their scrutiny, remained atop the wooden stake.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in his mind—Destiny: Diligence Makes Up for Clumsiness. Minor Achievement!

He found himself more aware of his surroundings; he could hear the whispers around him. More than that, his vital energy surged through him like a burning current, merging into one.

White vapor rose from his body, gathering into a mysterious pattern. Every muscle trembled, his blood boiled, his eyes reddened. Countless sounds echoed within him, as if a storm had erupted inside.

Yet within himself, Yang Xing felt as if he was a ship riding the crest of a giant wave—though the waters raged, he steered his own course.

“Has he succeeded?”

Shen Lin tapped his pipe, eyes narrowing. With his experience, he could tell at a glance Yang Xing was undergoing body tempering. Once completed, Yang Xing’s vitality would far exceed that of ordinary people, and he would be able to channel that energy into manifest strength.

“Hm?” From afar, Zhu Kai and the others noticed, surprise in their eyes. “He actually completed body tempering at the last moment. Unbelievable.”

[Air Slice Stance: Minor Achievement (1/1000): Practice ten times a day; diligence makes up for lack of talent. Perfection in one year; mastery in three.]

Yang Xing slowly opened his eyes, a long breath of relief escaping him. Having succeeded in the first body tempering, he was now a true disciple of De Bao Martial School. Previously, he was just a fee-paying student, no different from anyone pulled off the street—Shen Lin would never have cared. Now, it was different.

He had succeeded in the first body tempering and could participate in the martial examination.

Zhang Chaoyang frowned. “He really did it?”

It wasn’t that Yang Xing’s success threatened him, but having just dismissed Yang Xing, he found himself embarrassed at being proven wrong.

Ye Tian folded his arms, remarking lightly, “If it took him nearly three months for his first body tempering, his future prospects are limited; the second body tempering will be nearly impossible.”

With that, he turned away to resume his Palm of Slicing the Air practice.

Zhang Chaoyang nodded in agreement. After all, if the first tempering took almost three months, the second was likely out of reach.