I'll write a manual called the Sunflower Manual, and the entire martial arts world will turn in

Xie An stroked the sharp edge of the dagger, muttering to himself.

My progress on the first level of the Sunflower Manual has reached 55/100.

Even if the Sunflower Manual includes the upper four levels of Qi cultivation and the lower seventy-two sword techniques and acupuncture, its martial arts level shouldn't be only 0.

Not even one percent of the skin-training progress?

Moreover, Xie An clearly felt that he had already acquired some fighting strength and might not be afraid of Scarface Liu, who had just started training his skin...

"Could it be that my martial arts skills come from a past life, while the level of martial arts prowess corresponds to this life? Do I need to strengthen my skin and muscles?"

Upon closer examination, Xie An felt that this guess was not without merit.

The martial arts world covered by the Sunflower Manual, while having varying levels of combat strength, does not have clearly defined martial arts realms.

Even if one day he were to cultivate the Sunflower Manual to its highest level using the Martial Arts Treasury System, it would only increase his combat power. His martial arts realm would remain zero.

That makes sense.

So here's the question...

Do I need to reach a certain level in martial arts?

Xie An sat by the counter, pondering carefully.

The conclusion is that martial arts proficiency is indispensable and extremely important.

That hypocrite also practiced the Evil-Slaying Sword Technique, but he was still miles behind Uncle Dongfang. While the Evil-Slaying Sword Technique was partly incomplete, the more significant difference was the vast disparity in their internal strength.

Why can Uncle Dongfang use an embroidery needle instead of a sword?

It is because his internal strength has reached a superb level that he can turn grass, trees and bamboo leaves into swords.

The martial arts realm in this world is the same as the level of internal strength in martial arts novels of the previous world.

Even if he and Chen Lutang both cultivated the first level of the Sunflower Manual to perfection, if they were to duel on stage... even a hundred of them tied together wouldn't be enough for Chen Lutang to kill them in one move.

It's like the same punch: a three-year-old's fist can only tickle someone, while a strong adult can kill a tiger or leopard with one punch.

"So, the only thing I lack is a certain level of martial arts skill."

The best way to improve one's martial arts skills is to pay tuition to a martial arts school and receive systematic instruction.

"Joining a martial arts school isn't so bad, I'll just practice casually anyway. Besides, the school can provide cover for me, it's not like a master will just suddenly appear in Wuqiao Town..."

But I'm short of money...

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Xie An was awakened by a surge of heat.

My spine felt hot and tingly.

Xie An sat up abruptly, feeling incredibly energetic and his whole body burning hot. He quickly rushed out of the room and into the courtyard to stretch his limbs. Only when the chilly autumn wind brushed against his face did he feel his body cool down.

"The panel must have changed."

Open the panel.

Chen Lutang's progress in the first level of the Sunflower Manual has reached an astonishing 70%.

Chen Da's progress reached 4, and Zhang Long's progress reached 16.

Let's take a look...

My progress on the Sunflower Manual has reached an astonishing 90/100.

Attribute point feedback 0.2.

He allocated his attribute points to his spirit, and clearly felt that the improvement in his spirit brought him more precise control over his limbs, as well as an enhanced understanding of martial arts.

The progress of 90% gave Xie An an extremely rapid increase in power and speed.

Bang!

Xie An thrust his dagger forward, and a sharp sound of air being cut was heard.

"Comfortable."

"Although I haven't reached the martial arts realm yet, I have a strong feeling... that I can kill Scarface Liu head-on. If I were to launch a surprise attack, one strike would be enough."

After several days of getting acquainted and understanding, Xie An was quite confident about this.

He even felt that if he received formal training from the martial arts school and his skin was polished, his martial arts level would improve relatively quickly.

After all, he had accumulated a great deal of potential energy.

Xie An closed the bookstore's doors and practiced the thrusting effect of his dagger in the courtyard.

Although there is no systematic dagger technique, with 90% progress in the first level of the Sunflower Manual, I can figure out some rudimentary dagger techniques on my own.

He needs to adapt to his new body and strength.

After all, tonight is the time to pay the incense money. It is said that the Dragon King Gang suffered heavy losses this time, and the incense money is very likely to increase. It is possible that another disaster will occur.

With martial arts skills, how can we continue to allow others to bully and exploit us at will?

Xiaoyu rushed off to wash clothes for others before dawn.

Others might not feel sorry for him, but Xie An felt very sorry for him.

A day of training passed quickly, and as dusk approached, Xie Yu returned with light, quick steps, carrying a boiled egg in his arms, saying it was a kind gift from the cook at the martial arts school.

"Brother, you eat, I'll go cook."

For dinner, we ate white rice and green vegetables.

But we can't afford to eat meat every meal.

The brother and sister had just finished dinner when they heard a noisy argument outside, mixed with crying and shouting.

Xie An pushed open the door and saw in the distance that Scarface Liu, along with two bearded men, were going door to door, kicking down doors and collecting incense money. The three men, with broadswords at their waists, swaggered down the street, and no one dared to stop them.

"Old Zhang, the incense money was three hundred coins last month, but it's increased to four hundred and fifty coins this month. Give it to me!"

"Master Liu, this...this price increase is too much...Our small shop barely earns a few copper coins a day..."

"Enough nonsense! My Dragon King Gang protects you poor bastards. Do you think you'd starve if you didn't pay? If you can't pay, bring something in return." Scarface Liu waved his hand, and two men behind him rushed into the shop, some carrying things, some smashing things...

Zhang's shop was ransacked, pots and pans were scattered all over the floor. Old Zhang knelt on the ground, his forehead bleeding from kowtowing, but Scarface Liu didn't even glance at him.

The next shop was next door, where Widow Wang sold cloth.

"Four hundred and fifty coins, hand them over!"

"Master Liu, please grant me a few more days, I'll try to scrape together..."

"Grace period?" Scarface Liu sneered as he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "Fine. I'll write down how much you owe, and consider it a loan. 4% monthly interest, pay it back this month or next month. Come on, put your fingerprint on this."

Widow Wang's hands trembled as she looked at the paper.

She knew a few words and knew that it was a usurious loan agreement.

With a 4% interest rate, if you borrow 100 coins, you have to repay 140 coins next month.

With interest compounding, you could never pay it off in a lifetime.

"Master Liu, I... I can't press this..."

"No?" Scarface Liu's face darkened, and he abruptly pulled over the pale and thin little girl next to him—that was Widow Wang's daughter, only twelve or thirteen years old.

"Fine, if you don't want to, I'll take this girl with me. I can sell her to a brothel and get a few taels of silver!"

"No! Please don't!" Widow Wang lunged forward to grab the man, but was kicked away by the two men. She lay on the ground, tears streaming down her face, "I'll press him down! I'll press him down, okay?!"

Scarface Liu then released his grip and slammed the contract onto the table. Widow Wang trembled as she pressed her fingerprint on the contract, then huddled in a corner, clutching her daughter and weeping uncontrollably.

The shopkeepers nearby didn't dare to breathe, all keeping their heads down.

Scarface Liu collected money along the way. Those who could pay paid on the spot, while those who couldn't either offered goods as collateral or signed a usurious loan agreement. An old man selling pancakes refused to sign, and two men chopped off one of his fingers.

Xie An stood at the door, his hands hanging in his sleeves, gripping the hilt of a dagger, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

To make up for the losses caused by fighting with the Money Gang, the Dragon King Gang no longer cares about the fate of the merchants.

Finally, it was Moxiang Bookstore's turn.

Scarface Liu kicked aside the broken wooden plank and swaggered in, his gaze sweeping around the shop before settling on Xie An.

"Young Master Xie, the incense money has increased by 50%. The 390 coins you originally owed have now increased to 600 coins. Hand it over."

Xie An smiled ingratiatingly, "Master Liu, the price went up to 390 coins last month, and it's gone up again this month?"

Scarface Liu snorted, "So many brothers of my Dragon King Gang died fighting the Money Gang, don't we have to spend money to compensate them? Second-in-command hired the old Taoist priest from the Yin Sect to perform an exorcism, don't we have to spend money? Just pay up, stop with the nonsense!"

Xie An took out 480 coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter.

That was all his possessions.

Scarface Liu held the pile of copper coins in his hand and weighed them. "I'm short 120 coins. I'll write down the difference for you; consider it a loan. It'll be 4% interest, and you'll have to pay back 840 coins next month, including principal and interest."

After saying that, he took out the contract from his pocket, slapped it on the counter, and said, "Put your fingerprint on it."

Xie An looked at the paper, his brows furrowed.

These loan sharks are like human blood buns; once you get involved, you'll never be able to recover in this lifetime.

Seeing Xie An hesitate, Scarface looked at Xie Yu, who was huddled at the door of the inner room, and suddenly laughed, "If you don't want to press it, then bring your sister as payment."

He gestured with his chin toward the man behind him.

The two bearded men immediately went into the inner room and headed straight for Xie Yu.

"No! Brother!" Xie Yu cried out, her face pale with fright. She cowered in the corner, tears streaming down her face. "Don't touch me, brother!"

Xie An grabbed Scarface Liu's arm. "Master Liu, let me massage him."

Scarface Liu stared at him for a few seconds, then waved his hand. The two men stopped and stepped aside.

Xie An walked to the counter, dipped his thumb in ink, and pressed it heavily onto the contract.

The bright red fingerprint looked like a drop of blood.

Scarface Liu tucked the contract into his pocket and nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. Eight hundred and forty coins next month. If it's a single coin short, I'll take your sister with me."

The three men walked away.

Xie Yu ran out of the inner room and buried her face in Xie An's arms, crying uncontrollably.

"Brother...brother...what should we do..."

Xie An put his arm around her and gently patted her back.

"Don't be afraid, I'll hold the sky up even if it falls."

His voice was calm, as calm as a stagnant pool.

Xie Yu cried for a long time, and when he was exhausted, he fell asleep on Xie An's shoulder.

Xie An carried her back to the inner room, placed her on the bed, and covered her with a quilt.

He stood by the bed for a long time and looked at his fourteen-year-old sister, who was pale and thin, with calluses on her hands from working, and tears still in the corners of her eyes.

He vaguely remembered that his sister would save the pancakes and eggs that the cook at the martial arts school gave her and bring them home to nourish her body.

The taste of the egg was still lingering in my teeth...

He turned around, took out the black clothes from under the pillow, changed into them, and tied the dagger to his forearm.

He pushed open the bookstore door, and a cool night breeze blew in.

The streets were deserted, and all the doors and windows of every household were tightly shut. Only a few barks could be heard in the distance.

The arrogant laughter and cursing of Scarface Liu and his two companions, along with the clinking of copper coins, seemed to linger in the night breeze.

Xie An looked toward the Juyi Gambling House on West Street—the place Scarface Liu frequented every night.

"Since we've taken the interest, we have to leave our lives behind."

Xie An closed the bookstore door and turned to walk into the night...