Chapter 43: The Family

Fang Huiyi gazed into Lin Qi’s eyes, bright and deep, their intangible aura radiating a presence that made her freeze in awe.

Without realizing it, her son had undergone a complete transformation.

“Yes, you’ve grown up!”

Fang Huiyi smiled and spoke:

“I used to treat you like a child, afraid it might affect you, so I kept many things from you—but now it’s time to tell you.”

“Over the past decade, our family has borrowed roughly 1.25 million Xiaguo currency from your uncle’s household.”

“All these years, your father and I have wanted to repay it, but somehow the debt keeps growing.”

“Your aunt has also voiced her complaints,” Fang Huiyi sighed.

Lin Qi’s heart skipped—a debt this large? His uncle had said nothing all these years; he truly was a kind man.

His aunt had been the same, only voicing complaints all these years.

Anyone else would have hated our family to death.

“Besides the debt to your uncle’s family, your father and I have maxed out all our online loans and credit cards to pay for my illness.”

“We used to barely manage repayments, but since I collapsed this summer, we can’t pay at all—now we’re just taking new loans to pay off old ones.”

“Between online loans and credit cards, your father and I owe just over one million Xiaguo currency; he knows the exact figures.”

As Fang Huiyi spoke these words, her voice grew quieter, laced with guilt and regret.

One million Xiaguo currency in online debt was slightly less than Lin Qi expected for his parents, both cultivators—but still enormous.

Lin Qi did a quick calculation: just the monthly interest on this debt was a massive sum.

“Mom, don’t worry—I’m here. We’ll pay off every cent.”

“And your illness will get better,” Lin Qi reassured her.

Fang Huiyi looked up and nodded firmly: “ Xiaoqi, I believe in you.”

Lin Qi stared at his emaciated mother, sighing inwardly—he couldn’t imagine the pain and psychological burden she bore.

When he was three, a small space gate opened between Rongshan Community and No. 2 Middle School, in the university district; countless ferocious disaster beasts poured out and began slaughtering.

At the time, Lin Qi and his parents were shopping nearby and were the first to be attacked.

To protect him, his father Lin Zhen, a third-rank cultivator, had his arm bitten off by a Mangchi dog.

His mother Fang Huiyi was also struck, accidentally hit by the venom of a Level-3 disaster beast, the Darkwing Bat.

Her entire bloodstream and organs were corroded; though she was barely saved, the toxins could not be fully purged, her immune system destroyed, forcing her to take various drugs daily just to survive.

Occasionally, the toxins would erupt suddenly, requiring emergency hospital treatment.

Each treatment only masked the symptoms, never cured the root cause—and cost a fortune.

“Though I have both parents, our family’s situation isn’t much better than Jiang Tao’s,” Lin Qi muttered bitterly.

…

A few minutes later, Fang Huiyi, weak from exhaustion, returned to her room to rest.

Lin Qi lay on his bed; in the darkness, his mind still raced at full speed.

The family’s current debt stood at roughly 2.25 million—plus massive monthly interest—pressure like a mountain crushing his chest.

Paying off all this debt would not be easy.

Lin Qi himself had only a few hundred thousand; against this debt, it was a drop in the ocean.

“I need to clear the family’s debts without hindering my own cultivation—this is extremely difficult.”

“Unless I can earn more money…”

Lin Qi knew well: no matter how much money he had, he’d never say it was enough.

His only current way to earn money was to apply for a higher-tier Genius Loan.

Genius Loans were still loans, but carried no interest—as long as they were repaid by the time he graduated university.

Another option was to sign a contract with one of the Three Martial Academies.

D, C, B, and A-tier contracts offered progressively higher payouts.

So ultimately, he needed to demonstrate sufficient talent and strength.

Lin Qi clenched his fists, set his goal, and fell asleep.

…

Martial Era 2045, October 10

Martial Arts Class

Zhang Cheng’s roars filled every corner.

“Newcomer Xu Chenhui, you’re in the Elite Class now—my rules are the rules!! Right now, stop your sword form and do one hundred repetitions of Basic Sword Form. Your technique is weak and limp—you haven’t even mastered the fundamentals. How did your martial arts teacher train you?”

Xu Chenhui, newly transferred to the Elite Class, felt his head buzzing, his face darkening.

His face flushed crimson, his breathing ragged—as if ready to strike at any moment.

Dozens watched, waiting for a show; Zhang Cheng grinned widely.

After a few seconds, Xu Chenhui suddenly turned and walked away—after a moment of fury, his reason returned.

He’d heard the Elite Class teacher was tyrannical, but he hadn’t believed it until now.

And he was pragmatic—he sensed danger. He was certain that if he defied Zhang Cheng, he’d die a terrible death.

“Tch!”

The onlookers shook their heads and dispersed.

Zhang Cheng also shrugged, uninterested, and moved on—unconsciously arriving before Lin Qi.

Looking at Lin Qi, his expression was complex; the boy’s insight had left him stunned.

!

Any problem raised, he fixed instantly; all he lacked now was mere fluency.

He didn’t even know how to scold him.

“Teacher, I have a question,” Lin Qi asked.

“Oh? What is it?”

“Is there a way to increase blood qi? I need stronger power,” Lin Qi asked.

Zhang Cheng shook his head: “Your question is too vague.”

“To rapidly increase blood qi, beyond talent, it’s effort and resources.”

“You’re really asking about a trick outside these three, aren’t you?”

“Exactly!” Lin Qi nodded.

Zhang Cheng grinned:

“I expected you’d ask this.”

“To forge the body and raise blood qi, you train Hunyuan Zhuang—but even mastering it won’t improve training efficiency.”

“That’s when you turn to the Five Animal Fist forms.”

“The higher your fist technique realm, the more you boost both forging efficiency and bodily control.”

“So fist technique is crucial.”

“Fist technique?” Lin Qi frowned, half-understanding, countless ideas flashing in his mind.

“In fist training, there’s always been a trick—but most people, even if they know it, can’t use it,” Zhang Cheng grinned.

“If you can master two Five Animal Fist forms, your forging efficiency and fist technique realm will both rise rapidly.”

“You already practice Tiger Form. If you learn Crane Form and alternate between them, your forging efficiency and even your fist technique realm will surge.”

Lin Qi’s eyes lit up—there was such a trick within the Five Animal Fist?

“But!” Zhang Cheng changed tone.

“This method suits only a few—the exceptionally insightful geniuses.”

“Mastering even one form takes considerable time; if you waste it on another, you’ll lose more than you gain.”

“If you have confidence in your insight, then train Crane Form!”

Zhang Cheng grinned, watching Lin Qi.

“I understand. Thank you, Teacher.”

Lin Qi nodded in gratitude.

After Zhang Cheng left, Lin Qi stayed where he was, recalling Crane Form from the Five Animal Fist.

Everyone had learned all five forms of the Five Animal Fist, but most chose their strongest and never practiced the other four.

Lin Qi was no different.

Zhang Cheng said mastering two forms required high insight—and Lin Qi had absolute confidence in his own insight.

If he couldn’t do it, no one could.

Thinking this, he assumed a stance—not the familiar Santi, but a new posture.

…

(End of Chapter)