Martial Arts Awakening, Bloodfire Fist Master

"Oh, Qingshan, I've always felt that you're different from us peasants, and it turns out I was right."

"Don't you even look at Qingshan's past performance? I heard he even went to Lijia Village to attend classes. He always spoke with such maturity when he was little. Is he an ordinary kid?"

"Hehe, that's not what you said back then, Qingshan. From now on, you'll be Master Zhang, the Great Hero Zhang. By the way, how powerful are the people in that martial arts school?"

Some people also offered their congratulations to Zhang Dagui and Qin Ying.

"Da Gui, you two are so lucky! Your child is doing so well, you'll never have to toil in the fields hoping to make a living again."

"Haha, let me greet you in advance, Master Da Gui."

"Da Gui and Er Gui, didn't you say last time that your ancestral graves were not well buried? I see your ancestral graves are emitting green smoke."

"Ergui, there's a widow in my family..."

Although people in rural areas are generally more honest and simple, the unchanging living environment in rural areas makes them more sensitive to changes in their social status.

Zhang Qingshan saw his parents beaming with joy. Their wrinkled faces blossomed into smiles, the wrinkles on their foreheads smoothed out, and their once slightly hunched backs straightened a bit.

They were now generously sharing the maltose and pastries they had bought with their neighbors, their laughter ringing out and their actions hearty, making the little girl jump around in frustration, almost to the point of tears.

After thinking about it, I decided not to stop them. Today, I'll let my parents have a rare moment of "grandeur".

After a while, the others left one by one, and the Zhang family finally calmed down, still feeling unsatisfied. After calming down, the parents and second uncle suddenly became worried and pulled Zhang Qingshan aside.

"Tell me the truth, is what you said today true?"

Then she kept asking Zhang Qingshan for details, such as the cost of enrolling in the martial arts school, the situation inside the school, the masters and fellow students, and so on.

In particular, when Zhang Qingshan mentioned that some important figures' children were studying at the martial arts school, the parents and second uncle kept asking which young masters and ladies they were. After hearing Zhang Qingshan's explanation, they were shocked. These were important figures they never dared to even dream of.

Then he began to teach Zhang Qingshan about social etiquette, telling him that he must flatter the important people, be good at sucking up to them, ask them many questions and pay his respects without fear of losing face, be thick-skinned, serve them at their beck and call, and if he could please the important people, he would definitely have a bright future and bring honor to his ancestors.

Zhang Qingshan did not refute. Given the knowledge of his parents and uncles, it was already quite good that they could say such things. It could be considered a kind of earnest advice. He simply smiled and agreed.

[The Wave-Sculpting Staff is getting impatient. Time is life, time is power, time is realm. Those villagers have finally left; it's time to cultivate, isn't it...?]

[The Wave-like Stance offers many inspirations that need to be tested and validated through practice...]

They dragged us down again.

Zhang Qingshan quickened his pace, took out the small gifts for his family, and distributed them amidst laughter and chatter. After greeting his family, he began his cultivation practice in the fenced yard.

Seeing this, the Zhang family members spoke and acted in a quieter voice. The youngest sister, Zhang Xiaocao, wanted to pester her third brother to tell her a story, but her second sister covered her mouth and pulled her away.

Some of the neighbors next door only dared to peek secretly, and everyone subconsciously dared not make any loud noise, for fear of disturbing Zhang Qingshan's great martial arts career.

If Zhang Qingshan hadn't mentioned that he practiced martial arts at a martial arts school, everyone would have found his pose strange and started asking him all sorts of questions and making all sorts of jokes.

But now.

Everyone knows that Zhang Qingshan is doing something very serious and impressive.

This is the legendary proper cultivation, although I don't understand what's the point of him just standing there with his legs striding and swaying slightly.

Everyone knows that it's just that they can't understand it, and there must be some mysterious meaning behind it.

Thinking of the taboos in the local legends, I only dared to look from afar and not dared to get close.

Anyway, it's incomprehensible but impressive, like a big shot doing something important that shouldn't be disturbed.

In the middle of Zhangjia Village, there is a rare brick and tile courtyard.

Zhang Youcai, the village chief and richest man in Zhangjia Village, was drinking tea in a pretentious manner when he faintly heard various sounds of laughter and merriment coming from somewhere in the village.

He frowned and beckoned to his farmhand/butler, "What happened? Which family is brewing alcohol? Why didn't anyone notify me to go and keep things quiet?"

"Master, this is Zhang Dagui's child who has returned."

"Uh, that Zhang Qingshan, I heard he refused to accept his fate and went to the city to work as a laborer. Heh, he probably gets beaten and scolded by gang members every day, and he might even drown himself. So what if he comes back? What's there to be happy about? You're so ignorant."

The butler first gave an awkward laugh and nodded: "Well, well, a laborer can't possibly be as skilled as the young master after he becomes a formal disciple of the Mountain Forest Gang."

Zhang Youcai smiled smugly, "Of course! I went to great lengths to please the leader of the Mountain Forest Gang before sending my son in. Now we'll have our own people in the Mountain Forest Gang, and the leaders there will give us face. That's something the Zhang Dagui family can't even imagine."

"That's right, that's right, sir, you have a long-term vision."

After the butler finished speaking, he chuckled and tentatively said, "Master, I heard that Zhang Qingshan is no longer a laborer."

"Heh, if you don't do manual labor, then you're either a hauler or a cart puller, let alone going to work as a pimp or a gigolo in a brothel."

"Master, I heard he went to a martial arts school to learn martial arts, so everyone is praising Zhang Dagui. I heard he brought back candy, meat and cloth this time, and some people say it's worth at least several taels of silver."

"Smack."

The teacup in his hand fell to the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"How is that possible? Zhang Dagui is a peasant kid who might not even have enough to eat. How could he possibly go to a martial arts school to learn martial arts?"

He kept shaking his head: "Impossible, absolutely impossible! My son went to that so-called 'divine leg' martial arts school a few years ago to ask. With my family's wealth of nearly two hundred acres of mountain land and my power as the village chief, they didn't even bother to look at us. How could a mud monkey like Zhang Qingshan be allowed to enter the martial arts school to learn martial arts?"

"This shouldn't be, this is unreasonable. My son had to do menial work for three years before he could be taught martial arts by the Mountain Forest Gang. Why can Zhang Qingshan do it?"

He was filled with fear and clenched his teeth. "Quick, go and find out what's going on. Is it something Zhang Qingshan made up, or is he just learning boxing from some thug? Yes, that must be it. Didn't he say earlier that he paid ten coins a day to find a swindler as his master..."

"Hmm, bring some gifts and try to find out the secret."

A while later.

Zhang Youcai listened to the butler's reply and looked full of regret.

"What? Now you can learn martial arts at the Qinghe Martial Arts School for ten taels of silver? I... I gave the leader fifteen taels of silver to send my son to the Mountain Forest Gang. What kind of nonsense is this?"

"Master, perhaps we could send the young master home... but Zhang Qingshan said that if he doesn't become a martial artist within three months, he'll be expelled from the martial arts school. I suggest he ask for leave from the mountain forest gang, and then..."

Zhang Youcai's eyes lit up. "That's a good idea. I've heard that martial arts school disciples can also join gangs, government agencies, and aristocratic families. Hehe, like begets like. My son is definitely not comparable to the good-for-nothing Zhang Dagui's son."

The more he thought about it, the smuger he became: "Hehe, when the time comes, my son will be so talented that he will keep striving for excellence at the martial arts school, while Zhang Qingshan will have to leave in despair and continue to carry bags and pull carts. Only then will those poor bastards know what destiny is."

Another pang of heartache flashed through my mind.

"It's going to cost money again. We also need to send money to those jackals from the Mountain Forest Gang."

......

When people inquired about the martial arts school, Zhang Qingshan didn't hide anything. Even if Zhang Youcai didn't inquire, other villagers would. Once everyone calmed down, they would definitely think, "If Zhang Qingshan can do it, so can my child."

None of this matters.

Stay strong and shatter all schemes and obstacles in your path.

[The Wave Stance is improving, the inspiration for Wave Stance is returning... This is the feeling, this is the feeling! I can't stop, I can't stop! Wave Stance is getting more and more exciting, the feeling of improvement is wonderful! Practice, practice, practice until the end of time... I feel like I'm sublimating in Wave Stance...]

They practiced until it got dark, and their families urged them to eat several times before they reluctantly stopped practicing the "Wave Stance".

While talking to his family, Zhang Qingshan was also experiencing the progress of his stance training and the subtle changes in his body. Although he had not yet undergone a qualitative change, his strength had improved.

With his unparalleled wisdom and unwavering will to cultivate, he has mastered the Wave Stance and will break through to the third level of martial artist, perhaps within the next few days.

Seeing the satisfied expressions on my younger and second older sisters' faces as they ate the braised pork belly, my parents' usual worries lessened considerably. Perhaps this is the meaning of perseverance.

I plan to stay home for a few days first.

Qi Dashi was killed. Although no one thought that anyone would care about the life or death of a laborer, the Qingshui Gang would not connect him with the Ma man who died some time ago.

However, in case anything changes, it's best to first assess the situation and become a Level 3 martial artist before making any adjustments.

Most importantly, since we already have the manual for the Water Soft Fist for the next stage, we won't waste any time.

[Lang Taozhuang suddenly remembered that the food at Qinghe Martial Arts School was quite good. He shouldn't waste the two taels of silver he received for food each month, and the bowl of medicinal soup he got every noon was good for replenishing his energy. Even though he was exceptionally talented, it would be good to add to his already excellent abilities. He couldn't be a spendthrift...]