Courtyard House: Starting with handing over the keys, the state helps me abuse birds.

He stood up and stretched his body slightly.

His joints cracked and popped like popping beans. Each crack was accompanied by a surge of heat that made him want to groan in pleasure.

He clenched his fist, feeling the explosive power gathering in his palm.

He walked to the wall and looked at the holes he had smashed out the night before.

Three holes, one punch for each, the deepest one went straight through the wall, allowing a view into the next room.

That wall was made of blue bricks, at least twenty centimeters thick. It would take a long time to smash it with a sledgehammer, and the vibrations would make your hands numb.

Now he smashed it through with one punch.

He Yuzhu grinned.

That is power.

This is the power Xie Weihong possessed in her previous life.

No, he felt that Xie Weihong was even stronger than in his previous life. That devil in his previous life, although he could beat several of them, could he punch through a brick wall? He didn't seem to have ever done that.

That guy could at most throw them around and beat them until they couldn't get up, but he never showed this kind of destructive power.

He Yuzhu became more and more excited as he thought about it, his heart pounding in his chest.

He recalled those days in his past life—lying on the ground doing push-ups until he vomited blood.

He knelt in the yard to be scolded until his legs went numb and he lost all feeling in them. When he finally stood up, he collapsed.

He was kicked away by Xie Weihong and fell so hard that he was dizzy and couldn't get up for a long time. He still had to endure the pain and continue to work on the next project.

Those humiliations, those pains, those despairs flashed through his mind like a movie.

He had only one thought in his mind—revenge.

But he had no power.

He could only endure it, live like a dead dog.

But now, he has it.

He Yuzhu took a deep breath, strode to the door, and opened it.

The sunlight was blinding, so he squinted and looked at the dilapidated house where Xie Weihong lived.

The door was still closed, the windows were closed, and there was no sound at all.

He Yuzhu sneered and strode over.

He walked slowly, step by step, each step heavy, making a "thump-thump" sound on the blue brick ground.

Some people in the courtyard saw him and wanted to say hello, but they were intimidated by his imposing manner and shrank back.

Yi Zhonghai was just coming out of the outhouse when he saw He Yuzhu's appearance and was stunned for a moment: "Silly Zhu, you..."

He Yuzhu didn't even glance at him and walked straight past him.

Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately didn't dare to speak.

He stared at He Yuzhu's back, feeling that something was off about this silly Zhu today—the way he walked, the menacing aura he exuded, it was as if he were a completely different person.

He Yuzhu walked to the Xie family's door, raised his foot, and kicked the door.

"Bang!"

The dilapidated wooden door flew straight in, smashed against the wall, and shattered into pieces. Wood chips flew everywhere, and dust rose.

Inside the room, Xie Weihong was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding something in her hands. She suddenly looked up when she heard the noise.

His face was still streaked with tears, and his eyes were red and swollen. When he saw that it was He Yuzhu, he trembled and shrank back.

"Silly...silly Brother Zhu..."

He Yuzhu walked in and looked down at him.

The room was dilapidated. There was a narrow bed with a thin mattress, patched in several places. A table with a missing leg was propped up with bricks. Several tattered cardboard boxes filled with junk were piled in the corner.

This is where the orphans of martyrs live.

A sense of pleasure welled up in He Yuzhu's heart.

"Silly Brother Zhu?" He laughed, a sinister laugh. "Still calling me brother? You'll be calling me grandpa later."

Xie Weihong didn't understand what he was talking about; all she knew was fear. She curled up into a ball, her voice trembling, "What...what are you going to do? You took that book, and I don't want anything anymore..."

"You don't want it anymore?" He Yuzhu grabbed his collar and lifted him off the bed. "You think you can just throw it away like that? I'm here today to settle scores from our past lives!"

Xie Weihong didn't understand anything about past lives; she only knew fear, and tears welled up in her eyes again: "Please... don't hit me... it hurts so much..."

Looking at that pale face and those swollen red eyes, He Yuzhu recalled the cold-hearted demon from his past life, and a fire suddenly ignited in his heart.

His face in his past life was the same, but his eyes were filled with indifference, looking at them like trash. Every time those eyes stared at him, he felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being stalked by a venomous snake.

Now, the indifference in those eyes is gone, replaced only by fear.

He Yuzhu felt a surge of pleasure.

He raised his fist and slammed it down hard on Xie Weihong's face.

He used that heat to deliver the punch, the fist whistling as it came down. He could almost see Xie Weihong's face caved in, see blood splattering, see him lying on the ground begging for mercy.

Then--

"Smack."

The fist stopped.

It didn't stop on its own; it was caught by a hand.

Xie Weihong's hand.

That thin, claw-like hand was now firmly holding He Yuzhu's fist, without moving an inch.

He Yuzhu was stunned.

He looked down at the hand, then looked up at Xie Weihong's face.

There was no fear on that pale face. And no tears remained in her swollen, red eyes.

Instead, there was a calmness that He Yuzhu had never seen before.

"you……"

Xie Weihong didn't say anything, but clenched his fist and slowly stood up.

After he stood up, He Yuzhu realized that the man was taller than him.

The skinny boy who was huddled up yesterday now stood before him, a head taller than him. And that aura...

He Yuzhu felt a bad premonition.

He jerked his fist back and threw another punch.

Xie Weihong dodged to the side and casually shoved him on the shoulder.

He Yuzhu felt a tremendous force coming from him, and he stumbled back several steps before crashing into the wall.

There was another muffled thud on the wall, and dust fell in a flurry. He Yuzhu's back ached from the impact, but he steadied himself and stared wide-eyed at Xie Weihong.

"You...how could you..."

Xie Weihong didn't speak, she just looked at him, her gaze as calm as a stagnant pool.

He Yuzhu refused to believe it and pounced on it again.

The two began to fight in the cramped room. Their fists and palms clashed, each impact producing a muffled thunderous sound.

He Yuzhu punched Xie Weihong in the face, but Xie Weihong raised his hand to block and then slashed at his neck with his other hand.

He Yuzhu ducked to avoid the kick, then aimed a kick at Xie Weihong's abdomen. Xie Weihong sidestepped, then followed up with an elbow strike to his back.

Every collision between the two shook the house.

He Yuzhu became increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.

How did this kid suddenly become so strong?

Yesterday he was a spineless coward who let everyone bully him, but today he's on par with him.

Did he also practice that book?

No, he snatched that book! He clearly had it in his arms! He touched it when he got up, and it was perfectly fine in his arms.

What happened?

Just then, he suddenly heard a voice.

"When he took that book, I thought it was all over. But in my despair, I discovered another hidden compartment on the floor..."

He Yuzhu was stunned.

This is... Xie Weihong's true feeling?

Can he hear again?

He hit while listening intently. The sound was very clear, as if Xie Weihong was speaking right next to him.

"There was a cultivation manual, a few pills, and a magic weapon in the hidden compartment. I cultivated according to the manual for a whole night and barely managed to reach my current strength. Unfortunately, the time was too short. I haven't had time to refine the pills yet, and I don't know how to use the magic weapon. If I had three days, killing him would be a piece of cake."

He Yuzhu's heart pounded wildly.

Cultivation manuals? Elixirs? Magical artifacts?

This kid has something even better?!

He continued to listen while he typed.

"Right now, I can only stall him for time. Once he leaves, I'll immediately refine the pill. That Qi Gathering Pill is enough for a month of arduous cultivation. After refining it, my cultivation will rise to another level. When he comes again, I can kill him with a single palm strike."

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up.

Qi Gathering Pill? Can it sustain a month of arduous cultivation?

If he snatches it, wouldn't he be able to surpass this kid in no time?

"I put those pills under my pillow and hid the magic artifact under the bed. He probably doesn't know. I need to finish this quickly so he can leave and I can refine it..."

He Yuzhu was overjoyed.

Under the pillow? Under the bed frame?

He got it!

I know everything!

As He Yuzhu fought, his mind raced. He deliberately slowed his attacks, observing as he struck. The bed was already smashed to pieces, the bed frame broken into several pieces, but he remembered where it had originally been. The pillow had also flown away and landed on the ground.

He needs to find a way to get out and then come back.

After a few more rounds, He Yuzhu suddenly jumped back and out of the battle.

"I'll spare your life for now!" he said viciously. "I'll deal with you later when I've mastered my skills!"

After saying that, he turned and ran, running all the way back to his house.

He Yuzhu returned to the house, closed the door, and leaned against it, panting heavily.

He was panting when he laughed.

First, she laughed softly, then she laughed louder and louder, until she was so laughing that she couldn't stand up straight and tears were streaming down her face.

"Hahaha! I see! I see!"

He thought he had snatched a treasure, but it turned out the other person had something even better!

But so what?

He knows now!

He Yuzhu finished laughing, stood up, walked to the window, and secretly looked outside.

Xie Weihong had already gone back inside, but a dim light was still shining from the window of that dilapidated house. Through the paper window, a figure could be seen sitting inside.

He Yuzhu squinted and stared at the window.

He dared not act rashly again. That fight had made him realize that Xie Weihong was now in a similar situation to him. A direct confrontation would result in mutual destruction. And if Xie Weihong had any trump cards up his sleeve, he would be finished.

But he has an advantage.

He could hear Xie Weihong's inner thoughts.

As long as he gets close, he can tell what Xie Weihong is thinking and doing.

He Yuzhu quietly slipped out of the house and hid behind the woodpile outside Xie Weihong's window, straining his ears.

The woodpile was less than two meters from the window, perfectly hidden in the shadows, making it difficult to spot. He crouched down, held his breath, and listened intently.

Inside the room, Xie Weihong was talking to herself.

"How did this silly Zhu suddenly become so strong? Could that book really be that powerful? No, his book is just an introductory-level martial arts manual, which shouldn't be as good as my cultivation techniques. But he's now on par with me, so he must have been practicing it for longer than me."

He Yuzhu peered through the crack in the window.

Xie Weihong sat on the edge of the bed—the bed had been smashed to pieces, but he had tidied it up so that it was barely usable. He pulled a few things out from under the pillow.

It is a medicinal pill.

In the dim light, the pills glowed with an eerie light. Some were pale gold, some milky white, and one was red.

"Qi Gathering Pill, Yuan Cultivation Pill, Foundation Building Pill..." Xie Weihong murmured to herself, her voice very soft, but He Yuzhu heard her clearly. "I'll refine this Qi Gathering Pill first; it'll last me a month of arduous cultivation. After refining it, my cultivation will surpass his. When he comes again, I can kill him with a single palm strike."

He held the pale golden Qi-gathering pill in his palm, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his internal energy.

He Yuzhu stared intently, his heart pounding.

It's now!

He suddenly stood up, kicked open the window, and jumped inside!

The window was already broken, and he kicked it so hard that it fell off completely, crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

Xie Weihong was shocked and opened his eyes. Before he could react, He Yuzhu rushed in front of him, snatched the Qi Gathering Pill from his hand, and then lifted the pillow to take the other two pills as well.

"you--!"

Xie Weihong lunged forward to grab it, but He Yuzhu kicked him away and then quickly lifted the bed board.

Sure enough, something was hidden under the bed frame.

A dark gold book, much thicker than his, with four ancient seal characters on the cover: The True Explanation of Cultivation.

A jade pendant, entirely emerald green, with a faint shimmering light flowing within, and smooth to the touch like jade.

There was also a small sword, about the size of a palm, with fine lines engraved on its blade, gleaming coldly.

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up, and he grabbed them all and stuffed them into his arms.

Xie Weihong lunged at him like a madman, but He Yuzhu punched him again, sending him crashing into the wall. Then he jumped out the window and ran away.

Xie Weihong chased after him, but He Yuzhu ran too fast and disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye.

He Yuzhu ran back to his room in one breath, bolted the door behind him, and leaned against the door, panting heavily.

His heart was pounding in his chest, as if it would jump out of his throat. He clutched his chest, feeling the blood boiling through his body.

He was panting, then he laughed again.

First, she laughed softly, then she laughed louder and louder, until she was so laughing that she couldn't stand up straight and tears were streaming down her face.

He took out what was in his pocket—three pills, a dark gold book, a jade pendant, and a small sword.

I got them all!

I got them all!

He Yuzhu laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.

"Hahahaha! Xie Weihong, you've been so clever all your life, you never expected this, did you? Everything you have is mine! All mine!"

He laughed so hard he could barely breathe, tears streaming down his face. He laughed so hard he squatted down, clutching his stomach, his whole body shaking with laughter.

He laughed for a while before stopping, slowly standing up, and looking down at what was in his hands.

The Qi Gathering Pill was pale gold, radiating a soft glow. A delicate fragrance wafted from it; inhaling it brought a sense of comfort, easing most of the fatigue from the earlier battle.

That Qi-Nourishing Pill was milky white, warm and smooth like jade. Holding it in my hand felt warm, like holding a small piece of warm jade.

The Foundation Establishment Pill was red, like a ball of fire, with a faint heat emanating from it, making his palms feel hot.

That small sword, about the size of a palm, was surprisingly heavy.

And that book.

The cover was a dark gold, much thicker and heavier than his. Opening it revealed densely packed text and exquisite illustrations. The cover bore four large characters: "The True Understanding of Cultivation."

He turned to the first page, which read: "Guiding Qi into the body, the beginning of foundation building. Qi gathers in the dantian, the spirit roams the vast void..."

He Yuzhu's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"A cultivation manual..." he muttered to himself, his voice trembling, "This is the real treasure!"

He recalled Xie Weihong from his past life, cold and powerful, who trampled them underfoot.

All that humiliation, all that pain, all that despair, was because of Xie Weihong!

But now, everything Xie Weihong has belongs to him!

His face was filled with wild joy, his eyes were frighteningly bright, and his mouth stretched to his ears, like a mad statue.

"I am the chosen one," he murmured, his voice as soft as a dream. "I am the one chosen by God!"

He stood up, walked to the window, pushed it open, and shouted loudly towards Xie Weihong's room:

"Xie Weihong! You wait! Once I refine these things, your death is imminent!"

His eyes were filled with a mad light.

He looked down at the cultivation manual in his hand, then at the pills.

That Qi Gathering Pill is enough to sustain him for a month of arduous cultivation. After refining it, he will be able to far surpass Xie Weihong.

And that jade pendant, that small sword, are all magical artifacts!

Once he refines these things, what is Xie Weihong?

He Yuzhu is the true master of this courtyard!

He Yuzhu grinned, revealing a ferocious smile.

"Xie Weihong, what do you have to fight me with? Everything you have is for me!"

He sat cross-legged back on the bed and, following the method in the cultivation manual, put the Qi Gathering Pill into his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, and a surge of intense heat rushed into the body, circulating wildly along the meridians.

He gritted his teeth and endured it.

Because this is power.

This is his power.

Inside the room, He Yuzhu sat cross-legged on the bed, his body faintly glowing. The light grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire room.