Chapter 4: Let Go of the Need to Help; Respect Others

The next day.

Jiang Ye rose early, still somewhat weak inside, but his body felt noticeably lighter.

In the past, upon waking, his joints were always stiff and achy, like rusted door hinges.

Today, as he stretched his limbs, a long-forgotten fluidity subtly emerged.

“So this is the benefit of practicing martial arts.”

Jiang Ye lowered his head slightly, sensing the changes within his body.

He had practiced for only an hour last night, yet today he felt as if he had grown several years younger.

The Five Animal Fist truly is a path of nourishment.

After a simple breakfast, Jiang Ye opened the heavy, lacquered black gate of the martial arts school as usual.

He became once more the silent, taciturn gatekeeper.

Not long after, a figure hurried through the morning dew and frost.

“Good morning, Uncle Jiang.”

The voice carried the bright, energetic tone unique to youth.

The newcomer had dark skin and a sturdy build—it was Shi Lei, an outer courtyard disciple.

He wore a faded, coarse cotton martial arts robe; his forehead hair was damp from the morning mist, clearly having rushed here.

Jiang Ye lifted his eyes and gave a slight nod: “Shi kid, you’re here earliest again.”

“Heh, the slow bird flies first.”

Shi Lei grinned awkwardly, bowed to Jiang Ye, then rushed past the gate straight toward the open outer courtyard.

“This kid really is diligent in his training.”

Jiang Ye’s gaze followed the boy’s vibrant back until he vanished behind the screen wall.

The youth’s vitality had somehow stirred him.

“After I drink the Blood-Boosting Soup at noon, I’ll resume my fist practice—today, I’ll strive to break through to Ming Jing!”

Jiang Ye’s fingers, tucked inside his sleeves, clenched slightly.

“After a night’s accumulation and half a day’s rest, today… perhaps I can try again to break through!”

The threshold of Ming Jing had been within reach last night.

About half a stick of incense later, the other disciples began arriving one by one.

Faint, scattered footsteps and murmurs filled the courtyard.

Jiang Ye, as usual, kept his eyes half-closed, scanning the young faces entering the gate with his peripheral vision.

Suddenly, his sparse eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

Lin Xiaohé, who had only just joined a few days ago, entered with her head down, her steps hesitant.

What startled Jiang Ye was the distinct bluish-purple bruises on her pale, youthful cheeks.

Especially the one beneath her left eye—clearly visible in the morning light.

It didn’t look like a fall.

The direction and placement of the marks… more like they’d been struck by a fist or hard object.

A flicker of understanding passed through Jiang Ye’s eyes, then vanished into indifference.

He was just an old gatekeeper—he had no interest, nor any standing, to ask. He glanced once and looked away, as if he’d seen nothing.

But the other outer courtyard disciples entering the gate weren’t so “sensible.”

They had clearly noticed Lin Xiaohé’s injuries.

“Oh my, Little Sister Xiaohé!” A round-faced boy was the first to cry out, stepping forward and staring wide-eyed: “What happened to your face? Why’s it so bruised?”

“Looks terrifying,” said another tall, thin disciple, stopping to scrutinize her closely.

“Who did this?” A third disciple raised his voice, brimming with youthful righteousness and bluster.

“Who’s so stupid as to beat up our new little sister from the martial arts school? Tell us, brother—we’ll get justice for you!”

The chorus of concern and questions instantly surrounded Lin Xiaohé at the gate, trapping her as she tried to slip inside with her head down.

Seeing everyone so concerned, Lin Xiaohé, with red eyes, finally released the long-suppressed grievance:

“It was the Wild Wolf Gang!”

“My family runs a small food stall on Zhangxingjie, just trying to make ends meet.”

“These Wild Wolf Gang thugs come every few days, demanding ‘street fees’ and ‘peace money.’”

“Yesterday, they came again to collect. I argued with them, and they beat me.”

“They didn’t care at all that I’m a disciple of Qing Shi Martial Academy...”

Upon hearing “Wild Wolf Gang,” the faces of the previously indignant outer disciples changed instantly.

The round-faced boy’s open mouth froze shut; the tall, thin one quietly pulled back his forward step.

The one who had shouted loudest earlier avoided eye contact, swallowed hard, and said nothing more.

In Anxi County, the Wild Wolf Gang had a fearsome reputation.

They held sway over the western quarter, controlling several chaotic streets, their ranks filled with ruthless, bloodthirsty outlaws.

These outer disciples came from poor families; some even relied on livelihoods within the Wild Wolf Gang’s territory, well aware of how dangerous and brutal the gang could be.

Passion flared quickly—and faded just as fast.

Practical concerns evaporated the boys’ courage, leaving only awkward silence and shrinking glances.

Jiang Ye, half-closed eyes, let a cold smirk flicker across his face.

Old and shrewd as he was, he understood the whole situation from just a few words.

In this world, especially in a place like Anxi County, running a small street business meant paying “protection money” to local bosses—it was an unspoken rule, the cost of survival.

This “protection fee” could never be waived by arguing—it required either real power behind you, or a powerful enough patron to deter them.

Lin Xiaohé simply thought that wearing the Qing Shi Martial Academy’s robe made her different, gave her leverage to negotiate—or even avoid the payment entirely.

And so, the Wild Wolf Gang taught her a lesson.

In truth, the gang wasn’t entirely fearless of the martial academy.

They dared not lightly provoke those who had entered the inner courtyard as full disciples.

But for outer courtyard trainees—uneven in talent and uncertain in future—the academy’s stance was always: Do not use the Qing Shi Martial Academy’s name to cause trouble outside.

After all, outer courtyard disciples were numerous, and their character and ability varied wildly.

If every one of them could casually claim to be a “disciple of Liu Qingshi” and act as they pleased, disaster would inevitably follow—and bring ruin upon the academy itself.

Seeing the sudden silence around her, Lin Xiaohé’s expression grew even more wounded.

She knew she could count on none of these so-called outer courtyard brothers.

She wiped away a tear with her hand and walked into the courtyard.

Since last night’s practice of the Five Animal Fist, her mind had grown calm; though her qi and blood remained weak, her senses had somehow been subtly purified by that “extraordinary insight,” becoming unusually sharp.

Jiang Ye, still half-closed-eyed and leaning by the gate, heard faint, fragmented conversations drifting from afar—clearly, distinctly.

“Big Brother Shi… only you can help me now…”

It was Lin Xiaohé’s voice, on the verge of tears.

After a brief silence came Shi Lei’s low, yet resolute reply:

“Little Sister Lin… don’t worry. Tonight I’ll walk you home. If they dare come again, I… I won’t let them hurt you!”

“Big Brother Shi… I’ll repay you, I promise…”

It was Lin Xiaohé’s trembling, tearful voice.

“This Shi kid’s going to get tricked.”

Jiang Ye shook his head slightly.

He could tell Shi Lei trained diligently—his fist technique was nearly within grasp.

If he interfered now on Lin Xiaohé’s behalf and got injured…

If he missed this golden window for cultivation and failed to break through within two months…

Then his entire life would be ruined.

The margin for error among the lower classes was far smaller than imagined.

Moreover, from Jiang Ye’s perspective, Lin Xiaohé didn’t seem the type to repay kindness.

Yet these thoughts passed through Jiang Ye’s mind like a breeze over a deep pool—leaving no trace.

He had no intention of speaking up to dissuade Shi Lei.

Let go of the urge to help; respect others’ destinies.

This was why he had survived to seventy in this world.