Chapter 98

Fourth Hospital, inside a certain ward.

Feng Ju shoved a box into Feng Yuhuai's hands, carefully instructing:

"The digestion and absorption of the Bone Refining Pill isn't difficult, but when circulating Qi to absorb it, it's still best not to be disturbed. The school dormitory still isn't quiet enough, so you won't go back to school tonight."

"It just so happens I haven't been discharged yet, your mother has to stay at the hospital to keep me company, that rebellious son Feng Mu moved out again, the house is empty and most quiet. You go straight home now, use one night to refine the pill, and report back to school tomorrow morning."

Feng Yuhuai's eyes shimmered with rippling light, her heart leaping with joy, but her face showed no urgency; she merely set the medicine box aside casually, both hands grasping her father's hand.

Filially and considerately she said: "Dad, no rush. Because my bone quality is excellent, the school rewarded me with a copy of 'Snake Transformation Strength'. My compatibility is extremely high, I've already generated Strength inside my body. Using Strength to transform the medicine won't take a whole night. I'll keep you and Mom company a bit longer."

Feng Ju's face revealed a gratified expression: "Good, good, good. I knew Yuhuai wouldn't disappoint me, unlike that waste of a son of yours."

Feng Yuhuai persuaded: "Although my brother's talent is poor, he's still hardworking. A few days ago I still saw him on Martial Arts Hall Street. It seems he joined some martial arts hall."

Feng Ju froze for a moment, his complexion instantly turning ugly. He glared fiercely at Wang Xiuli: "Did you take all of Feng Mu's salary?"

Wang Xiuli was peeling apples for her husband and daughter. Hearing this, she nodded: "Over 3000 a month, all given to me."

Feng Ju's complexion eased slightly, but he still coldly snorted: "He definitely didn't hand it all over. He definitely hid some. Otherwise where would he get money to move out, and money to go to a martial arts hall?"

Wang Xiuli stammered without speaking, not knowing how to defend her son.

Feng Yuhuai shook Feng Ju's hand, coquettishly saying: "Dad, brother moving out and keeping some money is to be expected. I'm just worried brother will be cheated by the martial arts hall people. Cheating some money is fine, just afraid they'll cheat his life away."

"Yuhuai, speak clearly. What do you mean?" Wang Xiuli was frightened and cried out, "How can a martial arts hall still cheat people's lives?"

Feng Yuhuai explained: "I gave brother a call. Brother said he joined a martial arts hall, and the martial arts hall didn't take his money. I got a bit worried…"

Yang Tuo, who had accompanied Feng Yuhuai to the hospital and had been standing silently to the side, seeing Feng Yuhuai hesitating to speak, spoke up to explain for her: "It's hitting the Human Stake!"

Wang Xiuli's complexion turned a few shades paler: "Hitting the Human Stake?"

She didn't understand what this meant, but just hearing the literal words, she felt a wave of bloody qi rush at her face.

Yang Tuo curled his lips. He felt Feng Yuhuai was good in every way — smart, filial, talented, and hardworking — just too concerned about that waste of a brother of hers. And her family background was really ordinary, a bit of a drag on her.

He sighed and said: "Auntie, it's just that outside there are some irregular martial arts halls. They specialize in luring people to join in the name of not charging money. Ostensibly accepting disciples, in reality they just make disciples serve as Human Stakes for wealthy Disciples. And they even give it a nice name: 'learn cultivation, first take a beating.'"

Yang Tuo couldn't help but sneer: "A Human Stake is a target that just stands there taking beatings, not allowed to fight back. It's just cheating fools."

Wang Xiuli's face turned even whiter. In a panic she fished for her phone to call Feng Mu.

Feng Ju, face cold, rebuked: "Call what call. Let people watch the joke. Feng Mu is willing to go be a Human Stake, let him go. When he gets beaten half to death, he'll be able to weigh clearly his own few catties and taels. He'll come crying and shouting back home."

Wang Xiuli froze in place, the fingers gripping her phone turning white.

Feng Yuhuai shook Feng Ju's hand, acting spoiled to persuade: "Dad, just let Mom ask. In case brother really gets cheated into some mishap…"

Feng Yuhuai hadn't slept well last night. In the middle of the night she was startled awake by a nightmare. After waking, her mind kept lingering on the final sound transmitted through Feng Mu's phone call.

Can't blame her for being suspicious. After all, she hasn't experienced tempering. Her state of mind is unstable. Overthinking and wild imaginings are perfectly normal.

Feng Ju's brows knitted tight. This time he didn't listen to Feng Yuhuai. As a father he had his own dignity and thoughts. He said in a deep voice to Feng Yuhuai: "Letting this rebellious son eat some hardship isn't bad. If he really gets beaten to death, that's his own fate. Alright, you stop meddling. Put the medicine away properly."

Feng Ju impatiently urged twice more, then looked at Yang Tuo gently: "Outside lights out soon. Yuhuai has medicine in hand. A lone girl going back, I'm not at ease. Trouble you…"

Yang Tuo hurriedly took up the words: "Uncle rest assured. I will send Yuhuai safely home."

Feng Mu saw through Yang Tuo's little thoughts, yet his heart remained calm and composed.

He deeply knew his daughter was outstanding in every aspect, especially her vision, which was picky to the extreme. Absolutely impossible for her to be moved by Yang Tuo, this kind of mere rich second-generation with a bit of money.

His daughter was the pearl in his palm, the clan's future and hope. One day she would spread her wings and fly high, transforming into a phoenix.

Those able to win her favor would certainly be, after entering University, selected from those top academies as elite talents, or even noble scions coming down from Upper City.

Leaving the hospital, Feng Yuhuai relaxed her brows, politely saying to Yang Tuo: "Troubled you today. It's too late. Yang Tuo, you don't live on campus either. Hurry home. I can go back alone."

Yang Tuo shook his head, righteously refusing: "I promised Uncle. I must send you safely home. I cannot go back on my word."

Feng Yuhuai didn't refuse again. The two hailed a taxi.

Inside the car, Feng Yuhuai tightly gripped the medicine box. Her heart lake did not ripple as expected. There was no due excitement or thrill. Instead was a kind of indescribable unease.

This unease was like a wisp of light smoke. Nowhere to be found, yet impossible to dispel. As if foreboding that some unforeseen event was about to occur.

Feng Yuhuai felt her chest a bit stuffy: "But what bad thing could happen to me? It can't be that my stupid brother really wants to do something harmful to me, right?"

All kinds of doubts swirled in her heart. She realized it was necessary to verify clearly with Feng Mu — who exactly the vague enemy at the end of that phone call referred to.

And what exactly those people on the phone calling themselves Senior Brother and Senior Sister wanted to do?

She turned her head. Her gaze penetrated the car window, staring at the scenery rapidly receding outside.

Proud as she was, she absolutely refused to admit she was being troubled by groundless fear. Even more refused to admit this fear might be connected to that waste of a brother.

This was also why Feng Yuhuai, in the hospital, didn't tell her parents the whole truth about Feng Mu's matter. Her pride wouldn't allow her to lower her head.

Her complexion alternated between dark and clear. Then she gritted her teeth, fished out her phone, and dialed Feng Mu.

She wasn't afraid. She just needed verification.

The call wouldn't go through. As if blocked.

Feng Yuhuai took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, put on a delicate and beautiful countenance, then borrowed a phone from Yang Tuo. Carefully cross-referencing the number in the contact list, she pressed dial again.

On the other end of the phone, in the small courtyard of Douqiong Martial Hall.

Feng Mu was immersed in cultivation, single-mindedly tempering a whole day's worth of power.

【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】 truly lives up to being an unorthodox true art. He was completely immersed in it. In merely half a day, of the 4 secret manuals Master Li Guishe gave, three had already reached entry level.

Such a breakthrough, for his past self, was simply unbelievable.

Within a single day, the gates of three martial arts had opened for him. Such cultivation speed could be called terrifying.

"【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】 truly is a divine art!" Feng Mu praised sincerely in his heart. "Perhaps for others, any martial art reaching entry level isn't worth making a fuss over."

"After all, crossing the threshold is merely just standing at the starting point of a towering mountain range. Gazing up at that peak piercing the clouds, it still appears so distant and vague. The mountain road ahead remains treacherous and long."

"But, for me, the vast majority of martial arts, entry equals half a foot on the finish line."

The reason for using half a foot to describe it is because martial arts entered via 【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】 will strangely generate two skill icons on the Attribute Panel.

Just like right now:

Feng Mu

Strength: 5.7 (1.1+4.6)

Agility: 4.2 (3.8+0.4)

Constitution: 2.1 (0.9+1.2)

Spirit: 1.1 (1+0.1)

Attribute Points Remaining: 0

Iron Eater: Second Stage

Metal Characteristic Slot Remaining: 2

Absorbed Properties: Mold Embryo (White)

Current Consumption Slot 1: Pig Iron (Consumption 28.1/100%, Reserve 0.)

Current Consumption Slot 2: Yin Sha Nine Nether Calamity Resentment Iron (Consumption 3%/100%, Reserve 3%.)

General Skill Slot:

Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art · Second Solution (1/5000)

Crane Claw Technique · Breaking Limit (Virtual Claw)

Heart Crushing Palm · Perfection

Basic Fist Technique · Perfection

Basic Leg Technique · Perfection

Seven Killing Fist · Elementary (1/500)

Seven Killing Fist · Blood Flesh Second Solution Version · Elementary (1/500)

Soul Chasing Step · Elementary (1/500)

Soul Chasing Step · Blood Flesh Second Solution Version · Elementary (1/500)

Forest Finger · Elementary (1/500)

Forest Finger · Blood Flesh Second Solution Version · Elementary (1/500)

Body Forging Exercise (Not Mastered)

Remaining General Skill Proficiency: 12780

Secret Art: Tongue Root Death Curse lv1, Marry Death Twin Birth lv1, Substitute's Grace lv1, Blood Bar Ghost Eye lv1

Remaining Special Skill Points: 0

One normal version, one Blood Flesh Second Solution Version, looking just like a pair of conjoined infants...

Chapter End