Martial Arts Sainthood Begins with the Tiger-Taming Fist

In a room on the second floor of the brothel facing the street, a person peered through a crack in the window at the scene at the door. After Chen Mo left, the person slowly closed the window.

A moment later, the burly man with the knife entered the room, bowed, and said, "Vice Chief, just now..."

"I saw everything clearly," the man referred to as the deputy leader interrupted him. "Do you know anything about that person?"

The burly man replied, "That man is a Ming Jin (internal strength) practitioner. He said he's from the Pan Shi Martial Arts School."

The deputy leader scoffed, "I know all the Ming Jin practitioners at the Rock Martial Arts School. This person is not any of them. Send your spies to investigate the Rock Martial Arts School and see if this person has been there."

The burly man hesitated, "But what if they really are from the Rock Martial Arts Academy..."

"Snapped!"

The deputy gang leader slammed his palm on the wooden table in front of him, spilling tea and cracking the surface. "When have we, the Fierce Sand Gang, ever been afraid of martial arts schools? Besides, we have... backing us up."

The burly man immediately understood, nodded in agreement, and left the room.

……

The alley south of the town.

Chen Mo and Chen Lan returned home, and the latter breathed a sigh of relief. If Chen Mo hadn't appeared in time, the consequences of today's terrifying ordeal would have been unimaginable.

In chaotic times, most ordinary women are no longer in control of their own lives. Even those few who are free live in constant fear. Without the protection of a man who knows martial arts, they are very likely to become prey for the tiger.

"Neither the Black Tiger Gang nor the Fierce Sand Gang are benevolent people." Chen Lan was still somewhat frightened.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Mo said, "Sister, try to go out less in the future. I'll take care of all the daily shopping."

"Are you able to manage?" Chen Lan asked with concern.

Chen Mo nodded. "No problem. I've been listening to my senior brothers at the martial arts school talk about the town's news lately, so I'm more informed and have a better understanding of all the forces involved. I'll be better able to handle things outside. You can stay home and cook; I love your cooking."

Chen Lan smiled, and the house was filled with a long-lost joy.

After dinner, Chen Mo practiced his boxing as usual, walking on the stakes.

Currently, Heihe Town is embroiled in two vortexes: the Black Tiger Hall and the Fierce Sand Gang. There may be other forces lurking in the shadows as well. Chen Mo is well aware that he must quickly improve his strength.

……

The following day was dawn.

Chen Mo arrived at the martial arts school, first walking through the stances twenty times, then practicing his punches twenty times.

When Ji Chang inadvertently approached Chen Mo, he suddenly realized something and exclaimed in surprise, "Junior Brother, you've broken through to the Ming Jin realm!?"

The sound attracted the attention of others.

Junior Brother Chen Mo has only been here for half a month, how come he has already broken through to the Ming Jin level?

If it were true, wouldn't that break the record held by the senior brother?

Yin Shanshan, who had been staring intently at Zhang Chong, turned to look at Chen Mo, her eyes showing a serious expression. She was clearly unwilling to believe it.

Lost in his cultivation, Luo Heng glanced in Chen Mo's direction and a wicked smile appeared on his face. "Interesting. I have another opponent from today onwards."

Luo Wei, standing to the side, twitched the corners of his mouth, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.

At this moment, Yin Tianqing's deep, steady voice rang out:

"Everyone, please be quiet!"

The hall fell silent instantly, and everyone stopped practicing their martial arts, knowing that the master had something to say.

Subsequently, several figures entered the hall one after another. Leading them was a man in a yellow robe with a powerful stride, accompanied by two muscular martial artists.

Following them were a man and a woman; the man was around thirty years old, and the woman was in her early twenties.

Yin Tianqing, who came last, invited the group to sit down and said with a smile, "Your presence truly honors my humble abode!"

The man in the yellow robe cupped his hands and said, "The Tianqing Martial Arts School is full of talented people, and seeing it today, I can confirm that."

The man and woman exchanged some polite words.

Finally, Yin Tianqing addressed his disciples: "Today, the Zhao and Wu families are guests at our academy and wish to select some of our more capable disciples. Please cooperate."

Ji Chang leaned close to Chen Mo's ear and whispered, "It's the so-called temporary appointment selection. The Zhao family is the largest family in Heihe Town, while the Wu family has declined somewhat in recent years."

Chen Mo nodded, showing some interest in the temporary appointment process.

The temporary posting provides a salary, which can help alleviate their current financial difficulties.

Then, the man in the yellow robe from the Zhao family cupped his hands to the man and woman from the Wu family and said, "Gentlemen, I won't stand on ceremony."

He walked straight past the group of disciples and stood before Zhang Chong. "I've long heard that the eldest disciple of Tianqing Martial Arts School has achieved fame at a young age. Seeing him today, it's indeed as the rumors say. Would you be willing to become a retainer of the Zhao family?"

worship?!

Upon hearing this title, everyone couldn't help but cast envious glances. The status of the worshipper was much higher than that of the guards, let alone the worshipper of the Zhao family.

Zhang Chong had long been qualified to take up a temporary post outside the capital, but he had been waiting for the best opportunity, and today he finally got it.

At that moment, even the composed senior disciple was overjoyed, saying, "This junior is willing, thank you for your kindness, senior!"

After the Zhao family took Zhang Chong, the two members of the Wu family searched through the crowd, but there were only a few Ming Jin disciples who had not yet been appointed, so their choices were limited.

The man from the Wu family spoke up: "I prefer to choose someone who has broken through to the Ming Jin level earlier."

The woman replied, "I prefer someone with greater talent."

Judging from their expressions, Chen Mo knew that the two did not get along, suggesting that there was infighting within the family as well.

The man's expression darkened slightly, and then he turned to Yin Tianqing, "Please ask Master Yin to select a disciple for us."

Yin Tianqing nodded, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.

His gaze lingered on Chen Mo for a moment, as the latter's rapid breakthrough to the Ming Jin level truly surprised him. However, after a slight hesitation, his gaze continued to wander, finally settling on Luo Heng.

He withdrew his gaze. "Luo Heng broke through to the Ming Jin level last year, and his practical combat experience is also quite good."

Upon hearing this, Luo Heng's lips curled into a slight smile.

The man from the Wu family nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, then..."

"etc!"

The woman beside him interrupted, "Master Yin, I heard that your academy just accepted a new disciple this month, named Chen Mo."

"That's true," Yin Tianqing replied. "Chen Mo should have just broken through to the Ming Jin level."

Upon hearing this, both the man in the yellow robe from the Zhao family and the man from the Wu family showed surprise. Breaking through to the Ming Jin level in less than a month was rare even among large families.

The man from the Wu family said, "Although I broke through to the Ming Jin level very quickly, I still lack experience and I'm afraid I'm not capable of taking on the responsibility."

The woman from the Wu family raised an eyebrow coldly, "Isn't your statement a bit too arbitrary?"

The man in the yellow robe from the Zhao family, standing to the side, scoffed as if watching a joke, "Do you intend to make those two fight it out and settle the score?"

Upon hearing this, the man from the Wu family did not refute it. He said, "Why not settle this on the spot? A life-or-death battle would damage our harmony. It would be better if we each used our palms to chop the wooden stakes, and whoever could chop them cleanly and decisively would win."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Yin Tianqing, who thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, the Wu family woman was still reluctant, but she had no choice. She looked up at the slightly thin Chen Mo, not holding out much hope.

Yin Tianqing personally designated two wooden stakes of the same size and thickness. Luo Heng confidently stepped forward, rolled up his sleeves, gathered his strength in his right palm, and slashed down fiercely.

"Snapped!"

The wooden stake had a crack in the middle, splitting it in two. Although some wood fibers were still connecting it, making it imperfect, I was confident that it would be enough to win.

He glanced up at the crowd's reactions and saw that those he had defeated were all gasping in shock, as if the palm strike had landed on them.

Upon seeing this, the Wu family man felt relieved, while the Wu family woman's face darkened.

Everyone looked at Chen Mo, who slowly walked onto the field, stood in front of the wooden stake, and raised his hand to form a fist.

"With your fists?"

A look of doubt appeared on everyone's faces. The man from the Zhao family also said softly, "It is much more difficult to control the force when using a fist to strike a stake than with a palm. It seems that this boy does not know how to use a palm."

Chen Mo's right fist suddenly landed when it was 1 foot 3 inches from his shoulder blade.

"Snap—"

The wooden stake in front of him had shattered and broken off, and the cracks were even and flat, with almost no wood fibers connecting them.