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

The morning sun shone into the courtyard, and the central courtyard was already full of people.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, He Yuzhu, Xu Damao, Jia Zhangshi, and Bang Geng stood in a row, waiting for today's training.

Sha Zhu stood in the line, his back ramrod straight, his eyes shining. He had been standing like this for half an hour, ever since the sun had just risen. The morning dew had dampened his shoes, but he was completely unaware.

Yi Zhonghai stood beside him, his face sallow, his eyes sunken, looking as if his bones had been removed. He had lost a lot of weight in the past few days; his clothes were so loose they were hanging loosely on him, and two fingers could fit into his collar.

Ever since the day Scarface was taken down by Xie Weihong in three seconds, he hasn't had a good night's sleep.

When I close my eyes, I see Sha Zhu's sincere eyes.

"Master, I know you mean well."

"Master, you've sealed your cultivation, so it's inconvenient for you to take action. I understand."

"Master, please go back and rest. I'll do it for you."

Those words were like knives, cutting into his heart again and again. Sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night, touch his chest, and feel a void there.

He wanted to tell the truth, to tell Sha Zhu the truth. But every time he reached for his lips, seeing the trust in Sha Zhu's eyes, he swallowed his words back.

He said that Sha Zhu would hate him for the rest of his life.

He couldn't bear to keep quiet.

He endured this torment day after day. He trained during the day and suffered from insomnia at night, his whole being like an oil lamp that was about to burn out.

Liu Haizhong stood to the side, leaning on crutches, his injured leg still trembling. He had lost weight in the past few days; the flesh on his face had sagged, and his cheekbones protruded. He fainted once a day during training, woke up and continued, then fainted again, and continued. The doctor said that if his leg continued like this, it might really have to be amputated. He could only manage a bitter smile upon hearing this.

Xu Damao's eyes were swollen, and he was still sniffling. His tears seemed endless; they flowed during training, during rest, while eating, and even while sleeping. He had gone through several pillows, all of which were soaked.

Jia Zhangshi was covered in fat, standing there like a pile of mud. She no longer trains; she just lies down and pretends to be dead until training ends. But her weight is still dropping; she lost over twenty pounds in a month, and her chin has become pointed.

Banggeng kept his head down, his face gloomy, lost in thought. He rarely spoke, never complained, and always gritted his teeth and finished his training. But his eyes grew increasingly sinister, like a caged wolf cub, ready to bite at any moment.

The sun rose higher and higher, and the sunlight became brighter and brighter.

Xie Weihong has not come out yet.

Sha Zhu glanced at the moon gate, then looked away.

He hadn't seen Xie Weihong for five days.

Five days ago, Xie Weihong left by car and never returned. Duan Chengyi didn't come either; only a few plainclothes officers remained in the courtyard to supervise their training.

For the next five days, they trained and endured the same torment as before. The plainclothes officers strictly followed the training plan left by Xie Weihong, leaving no detail out and being meticulous in every aspect. Sha Zhu calculated that the amount of training they received in these five days was even greater than when Xie Weihong was still around.

But without Xie Weihong, it always feels like something is missing.

Sha Zhu couldn't quite put his finger on what was missing, but he knew that his cultivation progress had slowed down.

Without that pressure, he always felt like something was missing.

He needed that person. He needed to see that calm face, to feel that sense of oppression, to know that there was a goal waiting for him ahead.

Just as a hunter needs a beast, a swordsman needs an opponent.

Sha Zhu took a deep breath and continued standing.

Another half hour passed.

The sun was already high in the sky, its heat making one's scalp tingle. The August sun was extremely strong; you'd be drenched in sweat after just a short time in its rays.

Yi Zhonghai began to sway, unable to stand. He hadn't been eating or sleeping well for the past few days, and his body was extremely weak; his legs felt like lead. Sweat streamed down his face, dripping onto the ground and pooling in a puddle.

Sha Zhu reached out and helped him up.

"Master, please have a seat."

Yi Zhonghai shook his head, wanting to say he was fine, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a single word. His lips were dry and cracked, and his tongue felt like it was stuck to his palate.

Sha Zhu helped him to a nearby stone bench and sat down.

"You rest, I'll stand for you."

Yi Zhonghai looked at him, his eyes reddening again.

Those eyes were as red as a rabbit's, with deep-set eye sockets, dark circles under the eyes, and bloodshot veins.

Sha Zhu patted him on the shoulder, then turned and walked back to the group.

Just then, the sound of a car engine came from outside the courtyard gate.

Everyone looked up at the same time.

A military jeep was parked at the entrance.

The car door opened, and Xie Weihong got out.

He was still wearing his faded old military uniform, but he had changed into a new pair of military boots. His face was expressionless, and the sunlight shone on him, giving him a faint glow.

He stepped into the courtyard.

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up.

That oppressive feeling returned. Like a mountain, it slowly pressed down on him, making it hard for him to breathe, yet it made him tremble all over, every cell in his body excited.

He sensed it.

Xie Weihong has become stronger again.

The aura was more profound and solid than it had been five days ago, like a bottomless pool of water. He stood there like a mountain, inspiring awe and fear.

Yi Zhonghai's legs went weak.

The moment he saw Xie Weihong, his heart nearly leaped out of his throat. That person was back; that demon was back. His nightmare was about to begin again.

Liu Haizhong sat down on the ground, unable to get up. His cane fell to the ground with a "thud," but he didn't have the strength to pick it up.

Xu Damao started crying again. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

Jia Zhangshi hugged the stick, curled up in a ball. Her whole body was trembling, her fat jiggling.

Banggeng stared at Xie Weihong, his eyes filled with hatred.

Xie Weihong walked to the front of the line and stood still.

His gaze swept over the six people.

"How's your training going these past few days?"

No one dared to speak.

Sha Zhu stepped forward and shouted, "Report! I've practiced!"

Xie Weihong looked at him.

His gaze was as calm as a still pond, but Sha Zhu felt as if he had been seen through. From the inside out, from top to bottom, he couldn't even hide what he was thinking.

"What did you practice?"

Sha Zhu took a deep breath and recounted his training over the past five days. He clearly explained what time he got up each day, what exercises he did, how many sets he did, how long he meditated, and what insights he gained.

He spoke while looking into Xie Weihong's eyes, trying to discern something from her face, but he couldn't see anything.

Xie Weihong nodded after listening.

"good."

Just two words.

Sha Zhu's eyes shone even brighter.

Xie Weihong looked at the others.

Yi Zhonghai sat on the stone bench, head down, not daring to look at him. Liu Zhonghai collapsed to the ground, Xu Damao was crying, Jia Zhangshi was trembling, and Bang Geng was gritting his teeth.

He looked back.

"Let's begin."

---

Training has begun.

Perform push-ups, sit-ups, frog jumps, and squats, repeating the cycle for four sets.

Sha Zhu worked incredibly fast, one after another, his movements as precise as a textbook. As he worked, he kept glancing at Xie Weihong, who was standing under the moon gate, hands in her pockets, watching them.

The gaze seemed tangible, pressing down on them.

Sha Zhu felt his movements quicken. The pressure was pushing him, urging him on, making him afraid to slow down.

He completed one hundred push-ups in two minutes.

He can do 100 sit-ups in three minutes.

He completed one hundred frog jumps in five minutes.

He can do 100 squats in three minutes.

After finishing one set, he stood up and looked at Xie Weihong.

The man remained standing there, motionless.

Sha Zhu took a deep breath and started the second set.

Faster, fiercer, and more desperate.

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth and endured it one by one.

With each task, his chest ached as if cut by a knife. But he dared not stop, much less slack off. Xie Weihong returned, and with that person watching, he didn't know what the consequences would be if he slacked off.

By the time he got to the tenth one, his hands started to tremble.

When he reached the fifteenth one, his arms went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.

Sha Zhu crawled over and helped him up.

"Master, would you like to take a rest?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head, gritted his teeth, and continued working.

One, two, three...

When he got to his twentieth one, he collapsed again.

Sha Zhu helped him up again.

"Master..."

Yi Zhonghai pushed his hand away and continued working.

When he reached the twenty-fifth, he finally couldn't hold on any longer. He collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, and his vision blurred.

Sha Zhu tried to help him up, but he waved his hand.

"I...I can do it myself..."

He slowly got up and continued working.

One.

two.

Three.

When he reached the twenty-eighth one, he finally collapsed completely.

Sha Zhu looked at him, his eyes filled with a complex light.

Yi Zhonghai lay on the ground, his face pressed against the cold cement, tears streaming down his face again.

He didn't know why he was crying. Was it pain, fear, guilt, or something else?

All he knew was that he couldn't stop.

---

After doing push-ups, the next exercise is sit-ups.

Yi Zhonghai lay on the ground, holding his head in his hands, gritting his teeth as he did one.

My belly was shaking, and my waist felt like it was about to break.

He took a breath and then did the second one.

It hurts even more now.

When he got to the fifth one, he lay on the ground and couldn't get up.

Sha Zhu climbed over again.

"Master, shall I do it for you?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head.

He struggled to sit up and continued.

One, two, three...

When he reached the eighth one, he lay down again and could not get up again.

Sha Zhu looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, then turned back and continued doing his own thing.

Yi Zhonghai lay on the ground, looking at the sky, tears streaming down his face and into his ears.

He suddenly remembered something from many years ago.

He was young then, in his early thirties, and had just become an old man, full of vigor and ambition. When he walked around the courtyard, everyone called him "Old Man," and that feeling was sweeter than honey.

At that time, Xie Weihong's parents were still alive and treated him with great respect, sending him gifts during holidays. Xie Weihong was just a child then, and he would call him "Uncle Yi" timidly.

Back then, Sha Zhu was just a little kid who would follow him around all day calling him "Grandpa" and asking him to buy him candy. Sometimes he would buy it for him, sometimes he wouldn't, but Sha Zhu never held a grudge and would follow him again the next day.

When did it become like this?

he does not know.

All he knew was that he could never go back.

---

Lunch break.

Six people lay paralyzed in the courtyard, like six corpses.

Sha Zhu sat up and walked to Yi Zhonghai's side.

"Master, what's wrong with you today?"

Yi Zhonghai lay on the ground, saying nothing.

Sha Zhu looked at him, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly said, "Master, is there something you're hiding from me?"

Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat.

"No...no..."

Sha Zhu stared into his eyes.

"Master, you sent people to deal with Xie Weihong that day because of me, didn't you?"

Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Sha Zhu continued, "I know you mean well. You couldn't stand by and watch, and you want to help me vent my anger. But Master, I really don't need it."

He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fury.

"I will defeat him myself. Defeat him fair and square."

Yi Zhonghai looked into those eyes, and his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Those eyes held fire, light, and a stubbornness unique to young people that he hadn't seen in many years.

"Silly Pillar..."

Sha Zhu stood up and looked down at him.

"Master, don't worry about it. Just watch. I'll deal with him myself when I've mastered the technique."

He turned around, walked back to the old locust tree, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

Yi Zhonghai lay on the ground, watching his retreating figure, tears streaming down his face again.

He suddenly wondered what Sha Zhu's expression would be if he knew he was a fraud.

Will the fire in those eyes go out?

Will the voice that calls him "Master" turn into insults?

He dared not think.

---

The afternoon training was even more intense.

Xie Weihong added a new project – weighted cross-country running.

Each person carried a 20-pound sandbag and ran around the alley until they could no longer run.

Sha Zhu was the first to shoulder a sandbag and dash out. He ran incredibly fast, like the wind.

Yi Zhonghai put on the sandbags and started panting after just two steps. The sandbags pressed against his body, making his shoulders ache. With each step, the old wound on his chest felt like it was being torn open.

He ran a hundred meters and started panting.

After running 200 meters, my legs started to shake.

After running 300 meters, my vision went black, I stumbled, and collapsed to the ground.

The sandbags were pressing down on him, and he struggled to get up, but he couldn't get up no matter what he did.

Sha Zhu ran back and helped him up.

"Master, please take a rest."

Yi Zhonghai was panting heavily, unable to speak.

Sha Zhu looked at him and suddenly said, "Master, when you carry sandbags, can you use your inner energy to reduce the weight?"

Yi Zhonghai was stunned.

True Qi?

What kind of true energy does he have?

"This..." he said, forcing himself to speak, "True Qi... True Qi can't be used casually. Using it will break the seal on your cultivation."

Sha Zhu nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

"When you were carrying it, were you deliberately not using your inner energy, trying to experience what it felt like to be an ordinary person?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, that's it!"

Sha Zhu's gaze shifted again as he looked at him.

Yi Zhonghai couldn't understand what was in those eyes.

---

evening.

As the sun sets, it bathes the entire courtyard in a golden-red hue.

Six people stood in the courtyard, waiting for today's training to end.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the line, his legs shaking like a leaf. He had run five laps today, fallen six times, and his whole body ached as if it were falling apart.

Sha Zhu stood beside him, breathing steadily, though his forehead was covered in sweat.

Xie Weihong walked out from the backyard.

He walked to the front of the line and stood still.

His gaze swept over the six people.

"You practiced well today."

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up.

Yi Zhonghai's heart tightened.

Xie Weihong continued, "We'll continue tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned and walked back to the backyard.

Shazhu watched his retreating figure, clenching his fists.

One day, he too will stand there, looking down on everyone, just like that person.

Yi Zhonghai looked at him, then at the direction Xie Weihong had disappeared in, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Liu Haizhong, Xu Damao, Jia Zhangshi, and Banggeng, each with their own thoughts, slowly walked back to their own rooms.

---

As night falls, the courtyard house falls silent.

Only Sha Zhu remained sitting under the old locust tree, eyes closed, continuing his cultivation.

The moonlight bathed him, casting a silvery glow upon him. A faint mist rose around him, a phenomenon caused by the circulation of true energy to its peak.

He had been sitting like this for three hours.

I sat from dusk till late at night, and from late at night till the moon reached its zenith.

The internal energy within him was circulating faster and faster. He could feel that the bottleneck that had been blocking him for so long was loosening.

almost.

almost.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

Breakthrough.

He looked down at his hands. His hands gleamed faintly in the moonlight, and something seemed to be moving beneath his skin.

He stood up and clenched his fists.

stronger.

He looked at the window of the house in the backyard.

A dim light was still on in the window, and a figure sat cross-legged on the bed.

He looked away and sat down again.

not enough.

It needs to be even stronger.

He closed his eyes and continued his cultivation.

---

backyard.

Xie Weihong sat cross-legged on the bed and opened her eyes.

[Ding! Detected that the ninth-tier demon "Raging Mighty Demon" has successfully broken through a minor realm, its fighting spirit has reached a new high, reward bonus 600%!]

[Ding! The ninth-tier demon "Hypocritical Soul Demon" has been detected to be on the verge of mental collapse. Reward bonus: 500%!]

A slight smile played at the corners of his lips.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards the central courtyard.

Sha Zhu sat cross-legged under the old locust tree, his body enveloped in steam.

He watched for a while, then turned and went back to the bedside.

Inside his body, the silvery-white golden elixir slowly rotated, emitting a soft light.

Mid-stage of the sixth rank.

almost.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.

This night was very long.

But a new day will soon arrive.