"Junior Brother Qin Hao is amazing! He sensed the iron wire in half a month, and it took him less than another half a month to fully stabilize it."
"Why are you still calling him ’Junior Brother’? He’ll be our senior from now on. Brother Qin belongs to a completely different world than us now."
"Yeah. Haven’t you noticed all the other senior brothers were called back by the master specifically to attend Brother Qin’s initiation ceremony?"
"..."
In the outer courtyard, a few disciples who were supposed to be training listened to the commotion coming from the inner courtyard, entirely losing their focus. Their gazes kept drifting over the high wall, staring intently at that familiar yet distant figure. Barely concealed envy filled their eyes. The guy who had joined the Martial Arts Hall after them had suddenly transformed into an existence they had to look up to. It couldn’t help but make them sigh at the unpredictability of life.
Li Mo walked out from the inner courtyard. Seeing the distracted crowd, he opened his mouth but ultimately didn’t scold them. Glancing back at Qin Hao, who was surrounded by Zhou Tao and the others, he decided to step outside for some fresh air. After all, staying inside wouldn’t do much good; he hardly shared any common ground with them. Unlike him, Zhou Tao and the rest came from affluent families, so Qin Hao naturally preferred to associate with them. Rather than join the excitement and risk a cold shoulder, Li Mo felt it was better to know his place. Besides, deep down, he harbored a slight aversion to such bustling scenes.
Suddenly, Li Mo spotted Su Chen walking toward him. "Junior Brother Su, you..." He looked at Su Chen closely. Having not seen him for half a month, Su Chen’s whole demeanor seemed entirely revitalized.
"Senior Brother Li Mo," Su Chen greeted with a smile.
Seeing Su Chen’s smile, Li Mo hesitated before letting out a soft sigh. "It’s good that you’re here. How has your stance training been going these past few days? If you have nothing else to do today, stay back. I’ll officially teach you the fist techniques."
Having not seen Su Chen for over ten days, he had assumed the young man had given up on martial arts. Now that Su Chen was here, Li Mo initially wanted to ask for a reason but eventually decided against it. He had witnessed Su Chen’s difficult circumstances before and thought that after formally becoming a disciple, he would train bitterly. However, Su Chen had been slacking off, his mind completely detached from martial arts. After a few fruitless attempts at persuasion, Li Mo had gradually stopped paying attention to him. Still, since Su Chen had already paid his respects as a disciple, Li Mo had to fulfill his duties. Therefore, he planned to directly teach Su Chen the fist techniques. As for the final outcome, that would depend entirely on Su Chen’s own fate.
Su Chen didn’t notice Li Mo’s expression. He hesitated for a moment upon hearing the offer but still asked, "Senior Brother, I actually came today to ask you—how are the realms of a Martial Artist divided?"
"Why are you suddenly asking about this?" Li Mo’s expression changed slightly, assuming Su Chen was once again biting off more than he could chew.
Su Chen paid no mind to his reaction. He bared his arm and controlled the blood thread, making it gradually surface on his skin.
"You... you’ve formed the blood thread?" With a sharp SMACK, Li Mo grabbed Su Chen’s arm to examine it closely. The moment the blood thread appeared, his eyes widened dramatically as he asked in astonishment.
Su Chen nodded. "Yeah, it just showed up while I was training."
"This is truly..." Li Mo stammered, at a complete loss for words. Soon, however, he jolted as if remembering something. He muttered, "I recall it’s only been a little over twenty days since you became a disciple. When exactly did you form the iron wire?"
"Just today!" Su Chen replied casually after a brief thought.
"Ha! Good kid. Come on, I’m taking you to see the master!" Li Mo laughed out loud after a moment of stunned silence. He grabbed Su Chen’s hand and pulled him straight into the inner courtyard.
Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard.
Qin Hao stood like a brilliant moon surrounded by a cluster of stars.
Zhou Tao smiled and said, "With Junior Brother Qin Hao’s talent, I’m afraid it won’t be long before you bring the Iron Wire Fist to great mastery. When that time comes, even we might not be a match for you."
"Senior Brother Zhou Tao praises me too much. I merely rely on diligent practice," Qin Hao replied with a shy smile.
"Haha, you’re far too modest, Junior Brother." Zhou Tao shook his head. He understood far better than Qin Hao the immense talent required to master the Iron Wire Fist in a single month. He abruptly shifted the conversation. "I wonder if you’re free tonight, Junior Brother? Speaking of which, as your senior brother, I’ve never properly hosted you. Since today is a joyous occasion, I plan to throw a banquet for you at the Drunken Immortal Tower. I hope you’ll grace us with your presence."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao’s expression shifted slightly. The Drunken Immortal Tower was a renowned establishment in White Stone City. He had heard that a single meal there could cost dozens, if not hundreds, of silver taels. Even his own father wasn’t qualified to dine there. He never expected Zhou Tao to casually invite him, making him feel deeply honored. Still, he hesitated. "Senior Brother, wouldn’t that be too expensive?"
Zhou Tao waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, Junior Brother, it’s merely the Drunken Immortal Tower. With my financial standing, eating there every day might be a stretch, but three or four times a month is perfectly fine."
Hearing this, Qin Hao didn’t insist further. "In that case, thank you, Senior Brother."
"Haha, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear," Zhou Tao said with a smile.
"Huh? Isn’t that Junior Brother Li Mo? What’s he in such a rush for?" Hu Zong looked perplexed as he spotted Li Mo hurrying over.
"Li Mo, what’s wrong?" Hong Ming also saw Li Mo and asked.
Li Mo stopped in his tracks and bowed respectfully. "Master, I have something to report. Someone else in our Martial Arts Hall has sensed the blood thread."
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Hong Ming’s gaze instantly landed on Su Chen. He walked up to him and gestured for him to demonstrate.
Su Chen skillfully displayed his blood thread.
Looking at the faintly visible crimson line on Su Chen’s arm, Hong Ming gave a slight nod. "Good. Not bad."
With a gem like Qin Hao already shining before him, his interest in Su Chen was noticeably lacking.
At that moment, Li Mo spoke up. "Master, Junior Brother Su has been in the Martial Arts Hall for less than twenty days!"
As soon as those words fell, Su Chen could feel everyone’s gaze snap directly onto him. Even Hong Ming looked at him with a hint of surprise. He slapped his forehead, seemingly finally remembering who Su Chen was.
"Are you the disciple who joined a little while ago?" Hong Ming’s impression of Su Chen was quite shallow. The only thing he remembered was the young man’s firm and straightforward attitude when paying his tuition.
Su Chen gave a slight nod.
"Haha, very good! Tell you what—if you can stabilize your blood thread within a month just like Qin Hao, I’ll officially accept you as my apprentice and waive your tuition fees!"
Hearing this, Qin Hao’s expression shifted slightly, but at that moment, no one paid him any mind.
"Thank you, Master," Su Chen said, cupping his hands in gratitude. He had fully anticipated these reactions and didn’t find them strange. However, the waiver of his tuition fees was an unexpected, pleasant surprise.
"Today brings double the joy. Su Chen, stay and join us for a meal," Hong Ming said. As it was nearing mealtime, he decided to invite Su Chen to eat with them.
At the dinner table, Hong Ming treated both Qin Hao and Su Chen equally, though a closer look would reveal his clear bias toward Qin Hao. Still, he didn’t leave Su Chen entirely in the cold. In his view, if Su Chen could stabilize his blood thread within a month, his future prospects might not be any weaker than Qin Hao’s.
Qin Hao, who had initially been stealing all the limelight, grew somewhat gloomy due to Su Chen’s sudden emergence.
Su Chen naturally noticed the change in Qin Hao’s expression but paid it no mind. In the face of congratulations from Zhou Tao and the others, he merely offered simple, indifferent replies.
Soon, they had their fill of food and drink.
Zhou Tao, Qin Hao, and the rest left together, while Li Mo and Su Chen walked out of the courtyard. Having held it in for far too long, Su Chen turned to Li Mo and finally asked the burning question in his heart.
"Senior Brother, I would like to ask you—how exactly are the realms of a Martial Artist divided?"