Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Elder Scholar Li’s school was in his home.

When Xu Yang and Xu Qing arrived, Elder Scholar Li was in the middle of a lesson.

They didn’t disturb him, waiting quietly instead.

When the lesson ended, Elder Scholar Li emerged from the schoolhouse. Xu Yang quickly brought Xu Qing forward to bow and explain the purpose of their visit.

Elder Scholar Li naturally agreed. After accepting the tuition fee, Xu Qing was officially his student. If she achieved great academic success in the future, he would be her honored and guiding master.

Unfortunately, women in this world were not permitted to participate in the civil service examinations. The military examinations, on the other hand, had produced a few female Martial Champion Scholars.

After watching Xu Qing enter the schoolhouse, Xu Yang didn’t linger and turned to leave.

He had only taken a few steps when a lovely young woman approached him. It was none other than Elder Scholar Li’s daughter, Li Yao.

She was indeed quite attractive. In a place like Bai Shi Workshop, she could be considered a peerless beauty.

If not for the fact that Elder Scholar Li and the current County Magistrate had been Scholars in the same year and had some friendly relations, a beauty like her would have long since fallen victim to the Sanhe Gang.

"Miss Li!"

As they passed each other, Xu Yang smiled at Li Yao, gave a slight nod, and then strode away.

This was Elder Scholar Li’s daughter—the daughter of Xu Qing’s teacher. He naturally couldn’t be impolite.

"Who’s that?"

Li Yao’s brow furrowed slightly as she realized she didn’t recognize the person who had just greeted her.

"Father, who was that man who just left our home?" Li Yao asked as she walked into the courtyard.

Elder Scholar Li paused. "That’s Xu Yang. You two used to play together all the time when you were little. Don’t you remember him?"

Xu Yang?

Li Yao shook her head. "The Xu Yang I remember was a scrawny kid who couldn’t even get a full meal. That man just now was sturdily built and brimming with vitality. How could that possibly be Xu Yang?"

It dawned on Elder Scholar Li. "Ah, you just returned from the city, so you wouldn’t know. Xu Yang has become a Martial Artist. His entire presence has changed. Even I almost didn’t recognize him just now."

’That poor kid who used to sneak glances at me has become a Martial Artist?’

A look of disbelief filled Li Yao’s eyes. No wonder he seemed vaguely familiar, yet she couldn’t place him.

"Father, why didn’t you tell me sooner!" She rushed out after him, but there was no longer any sign of Xu Yang.

...

With Qi Gathering newly achieved, many things were different.

Xu Yang had planned to go home, change his clothes, and then head to Weiyuan Hall.

But before he even reached home, he saw a crowd of people blocking his doorway.

Among the crowd, he spotted Xu the Second, Zhang Cuiting, and Yang Jun.

"Xu Yang’s back!"

Someone in the crowd spotted Xu Yang and shouted, and the onlookers parted to clear a path for him.

Only then did Xu Yang see a group of men in matching black outfits standing before his door. They carried heavy choppers and stood behind a middle-aged man who exuded an intimidating presence.

Kneeling beside the middle-aged man was a person, tightly bound and gagged.

Seeing him, the middle-aged man cupped his fist in a salute. "I am Li Sanhe. Brother Xu is truly a man of remarkable presence. It’s no wonder you’ve achieved Qi Gathering at such a young age."

Li Sanhe!

Xu Yang was inwardly startled. He cupped his fist in return. "So it is Gang Leader Li. May I ask what business brings you to me?"

Li Sanhe pointed to the man kneeling beside him. "I have just ascertained that this dog of a man has been sending his people to intimidate and try to purchase your esteemed sister. I have brought him here for Brother Xu to handle. Whether he lives or dies depends on a single word from you."

The people of Bai Shi Workshop were astonished. Li Sanhe had actually come to apologize to Xu Yang.

’Is he trying to test me?’ Xu Yang wondered.

’Li Sanhe must have already figured out that I was the one who killed Li Hu, Qian Ming, and the others.’

’His current actions could be a genuine admission of defeat, or they could be a test aimed at me.’

’If I kill the man Li Sanhe handed over, it’ll show that I’m ruthless and vengeful, and that I’ll seek revenge against Li Sanhe in the future.’

’To prevent that future retaliation, Li Sanhe would naturally have to eliminate me first.’

’If I let this man go, it would signal room for de-escalation, and Li Sanhe wouldn’t have to risk offending Weiyuan Hall by trying to kill me.’

"So it was this dog pulling the strings from behind!" Xu Yang’s tone shifted. "However, he is a man of the Sanhe Gang. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to punish him. I think it’s better for Gang Leader Li to handle this."

A flicker of light crossed Li Sanhe’s eyes. "In that case, we’ll sever one of his arms and present two taels of silver as an apology. What does Brother Xu think of this arrangement?"

’This bastard really is testing me.’

Xu Yang cupped his fist. "The decision is entirely up to Gang Leader Li."

Li Sanhe gave a look to one of his men nearby. The man immediately stepped forward, drew his chopper, and hacked off one of the bound man’s arms.

The man writhed on the ground, howling in agony, frightening the gawking neighbors so much they had to turn away, unable to watch.

"You cur, what are you howling for? Get over here and thank Brother Xu for sparing your life."

Enduring the excruciating pain, the man scrambled over to kowtow before Xu Yang.

Li Sanhe then took out the promised two taels of silver and handed them to Xu Yang. "If Brother Xu ever needs my help in the future, you can come find me at the Sanhe Gang anytime. I must take this cur back for treatment now, lest he die and defile your home."

Li Sanhe departed quickly, leaving the severed arm behind.

"How ruthless!"

’He doesn’t even treat his own men like human beings!’

Xu Yang bent down, picked up the severed arm, and hurled it away before finally going inside his home.

"Go on, you’re his father. What’s he going to do to you?"

Xu the Second’s face was pale. He had come to reconcile with his son, but the scene had left him completely stunned. He didn’t dare approach Xu Yang at all.

Zhang Cuiting shoved him a few times, but he still wouldn’t go up and talk to Xu Yang.

"Look at him! Even the Sanhe Gang is giving him money! Aren’t you green with envy?" Zhang Cuiting pressed.

Hearing this, the fear in Xu the Second’s heart was finally overwhelmed by the thought of silver. If he reconciled with Xu Yang, wouldn’t he have as much money to spend as he wanted?

Little did they know, Xu Yang had heard every single word.

Just as Xu the Second approached the door, Xu Yang pushed it open from the inside.

"Ah Yang..." Xu the Second whispered.

Zhang Cuiting also pushed Yang Jun forward. "What are you waiting for? Greet your Brother Yang!"

Xu Yang ignored Xu the Second, his gaze landing on Zhang Cuiting like a sharpened blade. "If you ever push Xu the Second to leech off of me again, I will slaughter your son."

Zhang Cuiting’s face instantly turned deathly pale. In the past, she might have thought Xu Yang was just making empty threats, but after what she had just witnessed, she knew he was more than capable of carrying it out.

...

By the time Xu Yang reached Weiyuan Hall, it was nearly lunchtime. He found a spot and began to cultivate his qi and blood and temper his Physique.

As he circulated his breathing technique, his True Qi surged, washing over his meridians and bones like a powerful tide. The effect was far superior to simply cultivating qi and blood.

"I can’t believe he’s slacking off already, right after his breakthrough!"

"He probably thinks that successfully reaching Qi Gathering means he can just fool around now."

"He’s from the lowest rungs of society. How much ambition could he possibly have? He probably thinks reaching Qi Gathering means he’s already made it to the top."

...

Seeing Xu Yang arrive so late, many people couldn’t help but shake their heads disapprovingly.

The old Xu Yang had always been the first to arrive, often getting here before any of them had even shown up.

It was hard to believe that right after successfully achieving Qi Gathering, Xu Yang had become the last person to arrive.

Xu Yang heard their comments but couldn’t be bothered to respond.

’At least I’m actually cultivating,’ he thought. ’These people spend all day eating pastries and drinking tea, and they have the nerve to say I lack ambition?’

Only when his body grew hot and his head was beaded with sweat did Xu Yang stop his practice of the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture.