Chapter 48: Inside the Martial Arts Hall

It has been nearly a month since I started practicing martial arts with Wang Tieshan.

I have spent the twenty-some days since the Lunar New Year soaking in the Martial Arts Hall.

The acquisition of Fortune Points has returned to its old ways, slowly increasing by two points a day.

It is not that Cheng Feng does not want to do it four times a day.

It is truly too taxing on the kidneys.

And the risk of pregnancy is also somewhat high.

Cheng Feng also tried buying condom casings to test it out, but the Panmian had no reaction at all.

This let Cheng Feng know that he would not need to buy condom casings in the future.

Condom casings are not cheap either.

He will save a sum of silver in the future.

Cheng Feng feels that his current foundation is like water without a source.

He only has thirty-three taels left in his hands, and eleven medicinal pills remain from what he bought.

Thirty taels are kept at the bottom of the box.

Twenty taels of that are intended as silver for Lao San to practice martial arts.

Cheng Feng has inquired that if one pays a little extra, the Martial Arts Hall provides room and board for children.

One tael per month, with meat at every meal.

This is basically the choice of those wealthy people; by paying extra silver, the child is given a bed to sleep on during the noon break.

By evening, those with the means naturally return to their own homes.

Or for those in a family without a firm footing, it is just a matter of paying an extra tael of silver to avoid trouble.

It is still the old rule: if there is a need, speak in advance, and pay the silver in advance.

Cheng Feng plans to arrange things for Cheng Lei this way.

Lao San might not necessarily have his own talent for practicing martial arts.

The Martial Arts Hall can be described as tolerant toward underage children.

They are even extremely welcoming.

As long as there is money, one only needs to enter the Strength Refining Realm before reaching adulthood.

Of course, full room and board is three taels per month, payable monthly or annually.

They take money to do things; if there is no money, don't bother opening your mouth, as the Martial Arts Hall is not a soup kitchen.

It really is a case of the parched dying of thirst while the flooded drown.

Lao San is 14 years old this year.

Coming into contact with the Martial Dao early is the right path.

Cheng Feng is not clear about Lao San's aptitude.

He reckons it probably isn't anything special.

He himself has confidence in the Panmian.

Lao San is not necessarily the same.

If he truly has no aptitude like others, the absolute limit would be the Skin Refining Realm.

Reaching Blood Refining by relying only on oneself is basically possible.

If he has even a little bit of aptitude,

then it will also be a costly endeavor.

Cheng Feng already has an idea in his heart.

In a situation where he has no Martial Dao resources,

all he can give Lao San is silver.

An elder brother is like a father.

As Cheng Lei's second brother,

Cheng Feng has reason to help his own younger brother.

To give his younger brother a good environment.

To have a reasonable plan.

14 years old.

It counts as being somewhat late.

Some family disciples begin their Martial Dao enlightenment around the age of 8.

Training in the bitter cold of winter and the sweltering heat of summer,

just to lay a deep Martial Dao foundation.

To allow themselves to go further in the future.

According to Cheng Feng's current progress,

in three years, or perhaps even a shorter time,

Cheng Feng will be able to max out his points.

And then he can begin his own expansion plan.

According to the rumors he pried from his master,

in the county town, the Bone Refining Realm is basically the peak.

Blood Refining are the backbone.

The Organ Refining Realm is basically at the level of the ancestors.

But for Wang Tieshan, who had taken root and settled in Qingxi County for over twenty years,

it was basically impossible for an expert of that level to stay in a small county town.

If one wanted to advance further,

the resources of a small county town were simply insufficient.

Only the Prefecture City had the resources to promote to the Organ Refining Realm.

The further one goes in Martial Dao, the harder it becomes.

The resources required are extremely vast.

Not to mention the special resources required by some late-stage techniques.

Wang Tieshan had a deep understanding of this.

But Cheng Feng did not have that feeling.

Cheng Feng did not know what he would become under the guidance of the Panmian.

Everything would have to be seen in the future.

And for now, Cheng Feng looked at the Ninth Senior Brother Zhang Zhuo in front of him.

"You want to treat me to a meal???"

Zhang Zhuo was quite relaxed, nodding and saying: "Yes, Junior Brother. Previously, I wanted to spar with you a bit but was interrupted by the Eldest Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother. I didn't expect that after a year passed, Master would take in another disciple. I didn't expect it to be you. We are so fated, shouldn't we fellow disciples get closer?"

Cheng Feng was speechless. What the hell is sparring the moment we meet?

Are you sure you aren't bullying the weak with your strength?

I had only just entered the Strength Refining Realm at that time, okay?

Facing Zhang Zhuo's shamelessness, Cheng Feng was just speechless =_=

But he also had a slightly favorable impression of Zhang Zhuo, who had brought him into the sect.

An old acquaintance, after all.

Moreover, he did indeed need some information channels.

According to the Martial Arts Hall Master, this Zhang Zhuo was also a member of the Zhang Family.

If that were really the case,

he would have to make good friends with him.

Cheng Feng did not deny that he was utilitarian.

But if having a clear goal and going straight to the point without beating around the bush is called utilitarian, then Cheng Feng had nothing to say.

Cheng Feng's nature was straightforward and he did not want to be crooked.

Straightness also has the benefits of straightness.

At least he himself was comfortable.

In his past life's family education,

the four words "upright and honorable" were the teachings his parents gave him in his past life.

Cheng Feng had also always been practicing them.

Living an ordinary life, with ordinary achievements, just an Ordinary person.

But at least he had no worries that required repentance.

Cheng Feng also understood worldly wisdom, but he just felt he had no use for it.

He didn't look up to those with high status, and he had no use for those with low status; there was nothing he needed to beg others for.

Ups and downs, that's just how it was.

Now Cheng Feng had a need.

A need for Medical Skill information.

In this Great Zhou where information was backward,

Cheng Feng was only satisfied with one thing, and that was the system of one wife and multiple Concubines.

As for the rest, sorry, Cheng Feng looked down on all of it.

It was just that Cheng Feng himself was also struggling in the mortal world.

He just didn't have the time to think about so much.

But soon, Cheng Feng felt that he had been superficial.

Having agreed to Zhang Zhuo's invitation,

to enhance the feelings between fellow disciples,

Cheng Feng was brought by Zhang Zhuo to the largest restaurant in Qingxi County.

Under the Li Family's restaurant banner—Hongyun Restaurant.

Hongyun Restaurant had six floors and could be considered a local landmark building.

Just looking at the exterior, it was magnificent and tall.

It was hard for Cheng Feng to imagine that in ancient times, wouldn't such a tall wooden restaurant collapse?

Zhang Zhuo looked at Cheng Feng's surprise and introduced: "This is the number one restaurant in Qingxi County, a time-honored brand with nearly a hundred years of history."

A single restaurant with nearly a hundred years of history.

Cheng Feng became increasingly curious about the master behind this restaurant—the Li Family—and what kind of profound foundation they possessed.

He followed closely behind Zhang Zhuo into the restaurant, and as soon as he entered, he was stunned by the extremely luxurious interior decoration.

He saw that the lobby was antique, with carved beams and painted rafters,

the floor was covered with thick carpets, and the walls were hung with famous paintings and calligraphy;

the tables and chairs were all crafted from high-quality wood and carved with exquisite patterns;

Hanging above were ornate, silvery-bright ancient lamps, illuminating the entire space as brightly as day.

Not only that, even the service staff were dressed in fine silk garments, their attitudes humble and polite, making one feel as if they were in an imperial palace.

Everything before his eyes opened Cheng Feng's eyes, and at the same time, he gained a deeper understanding of the Li Family's strength and wealth.

He also felt that his own perspective was one-sided.

In his past life, Cheng Feng was merely an Ordinary person.

Given Zhang Zhuo's status, even in modern times, he would be a scion of a business family with a century of heritage.

That was a top-tier scion whom Cheng Feng had never even come into contact with in his previous life.

Zhang Zhuo, familiar with the place, found a seat by the window and ordered a sumptuous spread of dishes.

After three rounds of drinks and tasting the dishes, the two men's conversation gradually deepened.

After learning of Cheng Feng's desire to learn Medical Skill, Zhang Zhuo patted his chest and promised to help him keep an eye out for news regarding medicine.

Afterwards, Zhang Zhuo introduced the Li Family to Cheng Feng; it turned out that the Li Family not only had immense influence in business but also held quite a reputation in the Martial Dao world.

It is said that the old master of the Li Family is already an expert in the Refining Bone Realm and is a hegemon in Qingxi County.

Cheng Feng thought to himself, this is more like it.

If one only had money without martial force for protection, wouldn't they be swallowed up completely?

Between idle chatter and seeking advice, the fellow disciples displayed a rare brotherly respect and humility.

Since Cheng Feng had requests, naturally he would not hold his attitude too high.

Zhang Zhuo was also there to build connections.

It was even better that Cheng Feng had requests.

With give and take, the atmosphere was excellent.

Unfortunately, with the sound of a door opening—

A young man dressed in a luxurious yellow robe burst through the door.

The pleasant atmosphere was instantly destroyed.