Yi Shi Cang Liang, full of ambition, spent three consecutive days helping Lin Zhao catch fish.
...
On the stone bridge, Lin Zhao stood with Little Stone, practicing a fist stance. Lin Zhao's fist intent was now dense, possessing the demeanor of a grandmaster of his own fist style. Little Stone also practiced diligently, his body held remarkably straight. Although his fist intent was sparse, his every move was methodical and captivating. Moreover, he was still young, and with accumulated practice, his true qi would become ever more profound, ensuring he would break through realms early. In terms of ultimate martial achievement, Lin Zhao admitted that this boy might very well surpass him.
Looking at Baiyu Stream, Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle. After Yi Shi Cang Liang's three days of diligent fishing, Lin Zhao had amassed at least two hundred jin of fish, which were now dried and stored in his courtyard. One could say that Yi Shi Cang Liang's contribution was enough to ensure Lin Zhao and the two children wouldn't lack meat for half the winter.
From the depths of Baiyu Stream, Yi Shi Cang Liang emerged slowly, carrying a large carp. The carp struggled, and Yi Shi Cang Liang's anger flared. He knocked the carp unconscious with a single punch as it lay on the bank. He then turned to face Lin Zhao, a trace of resentment on his face, and said, "Little brother, it's been three days. Is this... ever going to end? Is there really a Flood Dragon Pearl in Baiyu Stream?"
Lin Zhao looked nonchalant and smiled faintly. "You, Yi Shi Cang Liang, so wise and mighty, would actually believe a silly boy? Honestly, I can't quite recall. It seems there was talk of a fish swallowing a Flood Dragon Pearl, and yet it also seems not. Who can truly say about these mystical legends?"
"You!"
Yi Shi Cang Liang gritted his teeth, his face a mix of anger and shame. He was angry at being tricked by this boy, and ashamed that his inner thoughts were so clearly understood. To think that he, who lived openly and honestly, had revealed his true intentions here. How could he not be enraged?
"Little brother!"
Yi Shi Cang Liang frowned. "You tease me like this, aren't you afraid I'll send you to the underworld with an axe?"
"Not afraid."
Lin Zhao stood proudly on the stone bridge, his fist intent surging, and laughed. "Do you think my fist technique is just for show?"
Yi Shi Cang Liang gnashed his teeth. Truthfully, he wasn't confident in defeating Lin Zhao. This boy's NPC level was quite high, a bit more so than the elite guards in the town. Moreover, he dared not lay a hand on Lin Zhao. If he were to attack an NPC of the town, his reputation in Tianchi Ridge would plummet drastically. At that point... the losses would be more than he could bear.
"You win!"
Yi Shi Cang Liang frowned and said, "Let's put this matter to rest. I hope we can go our separate ways from now on."
"Indeed!"
Lin Zhao cupped his fists lightly and smiled. "Actually, I do admire you. Both your ambition and your resilience are qualities I can learn from. Thank you!"
"Alas..."
Yi Shi Cang Liang's expression suddenly turned dejected, as if he had seen through many things. "Never mind. In truth, I was the one who first brought up searching for the Flood Dragon Pearl. You merely gave me a direction. It can't all be blamed on you."
"Farewell, then."
Lin Zhao stooped and stepped off the bridge. After confirming that the large carp's belly contained no Flood Dragon Pearl, he tossed it into his fish creel. Then, he took Little Stone to fetch Xiao Jiu'er from the study.
...
Night fell, and the moon hung high in the sky.
The middle-aged beta tester sat by the bridge, looking solitary and dejected. He pondered endlessly why this NPC had played such a trick on him. They had no prior enmity, so why such a move? Logically, a game company wouldn't design such a scenario without reason.
Thus, Yi Shi Cang Liang rose, axe in hand, his eyes fixed on Baiyu Stream. "I understand! Where there's a will, there's a way. If I give up so easily, I wouldn't be Yi Shi Cang Liang!"
With that, he dove into Baiyu Stream like an osprey. His gaze was sharp underwater, and he continued to fish!
...
In the small courtyard.
Lin Zhao had cooked a pot of rich fish head soup, seasoned with many spices, and even added old tofu, lettuce, and vegetables. Four large fish heads and a pot of soup, along with a pot of rice, made up their dinner. Just as the fish head soup was ready, Lu Xun returned on time, leading his donkey, and immediately joined the feast.
After dinner, Xiao Jiu'er went inside to do her homework assigned by the teacher. Lin Zhao, meanwhile, took Little Stone to practice boxing in the courtyard.
As he completed each set of the Farmer's Three Fists, Lin Zhao felt a sense of exhilaration throughout his body. The true qi in his dantian was surging immeasurably. The Fire Qilin within him once again sent waves of potent true qi coursing through his veins. Even his marrow seemed to be undergoing a martial baptism, a feeling of bone-cleansing.
"Hmm?"
Lu Xun sat on a wooden stool, took an apple from his embrace, and bit into it. "Not bad, Lin Zhao. Your boxing is becoming more and more skillful. Now that you've reached a bottleneck, what are you hesitating for? Continue practicing with all your might, seize the opportunity to understand the principles and routines of the Farmer's Three Fists more thoroughly, and break through in one go. This is what's called going with the flow!"
At that moment, a voice from Qin Suihan echoed in his ears: "Already giving pointers?"
Lu Xun was taken aback and replied mentally, "You only forbade me from guiding Lin Zhao's swordplay, not his boxing. Besides, I, Lu Xun, am not just a Sword Immortal; I was also a martial artist of the Heavenly Origin realm. If it weren't for the hopeless pursuit of the Rebirth realm, do you think I'd be diligently refining swords?"
"Hmph!"
Qin Suihan said, "Since your guidance is correct, let this be the last time."
"Yes, Mr. Qin."
While conversing with Qin Suihan, Lu Xun's outward appearance remained unchanged; he merely continued to watch Lin Zhao and Little Stone practice their boxing.
...
Lu Xun's words made sense to Lin Zhao. Especially the phrase "going with the flow," because Lin Zhao truly felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough. There was no need to suppress his realm any longer; further suppression would likely yield little improvement and might even seem too deliberate.
Therefore, he continued practicing, his body drenched in sweat. Yet, his fists moved with profound strength. He practiced until late into the night. As he finished another set of routines, he felt a sense of profound comfort. The vigorous true qi within him reached an unprecedented level of intensity. The moment he lowered his fists, his entire aura shifted, and he had, by going with the flow, stepped into the fourth realm of martial artists—the Marrow Cleansing realm.
"Good."
Lu Xun smiled and nodded. "This fourth realm of martial artists is quite impressive. Looking across the world, few martial artists of the same realm would be your match, Lin Zhao."
"Is it really that powerful?" Lin Zhao asked, surprised.
"What do you think?" Lu Xun tilted his head.
Little Stone chuckled. "Brother Lin Zhao, don't listen to his nonsense. Lu Xun likes to brag usually, and his mouth is never shut. He even recognizes a donkey as his father. You can't believe what this kind of person says. We martial artists should be patient and strive for progress, just as the Farmer's Three Fists mantra says."
"Oh, Little Stone has learned the principles of boxing well!"
Lu Xun laughed heartily. "It sounds like it, but in reality, it's utter nonsense! What is boxing? What are its principles? The martial path that martial artists tread should be one where, when you throw a punch, you are the only one between heaven and earth. Without that dominance, don't be a martial artist. Find a job and get married, live a normal life."
"Hmph!"
Little Stone put his hands on his hips, like a little adult, and disagreed with Lu Xun's words.
Lin Zhao smiled faintly and didn't stop. Instead, he continued practicing, using the momentum of his recent breakthrough into the Marrow Cleansing realm to re-examine the principles of the Farmer's Three Fists. This was also very necessary. Having broken through meant standing on a higher peak, seeing further. Practicing again would undoubtedly lead to new discoveries and improvements. This was always the way in cultivation; no one knew everything perfectly from the start.
...
Lu Xun sat on the tree stump, arms crossed, watching Lin Zhao practice. His mind was clear. He sent a mental message to Qin Suihan's distant energy: "Lin Zhao has advanced from having no cultivation to the fourth realm of martial artists in just half a year. His progress is too rapid. In the secular dynasties of the southern regions, this would likely shock people to death. However... looking at the foundation of Lin Zhao's martial artist realm, it is incredibly solid. What is going on?"
"It's merely settling accounts."
Qin Suihan sat reading under the moonlight, casually picking up a pastry and placing it in his mouth. He replied mentally, "Lin Zhao started practicing boxing at the age of four and has never given up. Although the Qilin Fire Seal burned through his dantian, he never abandoned his boxing. Now, at fourteen, he has practiced for ten years. Even though his body couldn't retain true qi, his boxing techniques, principles, and routines have become quite thorough and proficient. Now that his dantian is healed, his practice and breakthroughs are naturally extremely smooth, and his foundation will be exceptionally solid."
"So that's how it is."
Lu Xun slapped his forehead and laughed heartily. "I thought this kid was some unparalleled prodigy!"
Qin Suihan smiled. "And how do you know he isn't an unparalleled prodigy?"
"Ahem..."
Lu Xun laughed. "Mr. Qin, no offense, but you can't just think he's the best at everything just because you like him. This kind of mindset is not good. Don't your Confucian scholars always talk about humility and modesty?"
Qin Suihan smiled faintly and said nothing.
"By the way."
Lu Xun continued, "What about that foolish fellow fishing in Baiyu Stream? Does he really believe that the belly of the big fish contains a Flood Dragon Pearl? Lin Zhao is also quite unscrupulous, deceiving that fool so thoroughly. As his half-protector, you should at least say something, shouldn't you?"
"Sincerity moves mountains, and gold melts stones."
Qin Suihan smiled. "The seeds Lin Zhao planted, I will reap the fruits. Matters of our own family are for our own family to resolve."
"Tsk tsk..."
Lu Xun looked disgusted and pinched his nose as he said, "Oh my, you're already claiming them as your own family. Mr. Qin, you've changed so much. That person who used to point fingers at the sages in the literary circles, who was so arrogant..."
"Enough."
Qin Suihan interrupted him. "Do not mention irrelevant matters."
"Mmm."
Lu Xun fell silent.
Qin Suihan stood up, put down his book, and walked to the white tree. Beneath the tree, a large water vat was placed. Within the vat, two large fish, one white and one black, swam slowly, head to tail, in a very rhythmic pattern. Qin Suihan smiled gently, flicked his sleeve, and an ancient pebble at the bottom of the water vat used to cushion the aquatic plants transformed into a streak of white light. In an instant, it flew out and entered the mouth of a large white fish in Baiyu Stream.
...Late at night.
Water splashed in Baiyu Stream. Yi Shi Cang Liang once again slew a large white fish. As he cut open its belly, he saw a radiant, lustrous pearl.
"Ah?!"
Yi Shi Cang Liang was petrified. "Damn it... I actually hit the jackpot! I'm the number one person on the server... That little brother didn't lie to me... The ancients didn't deceive me!"