Kid Tianhong

Huang Sihai nodded slightly, seeming fairly satisfied with Li Xiuwen's performance. Li Xiuwen had only trained for a day, but he could already feel a stabbing sensation at the acupoints of the celestial cycle; he had hope of entry within half a month. He couldn't compare to A Chun, who had made entry in three days, but he was far ahead of Liu Daqiang, who had taken a master a month ago. You had to know: from the bone-reading, Li Xiuwen's innate physique wasn't much better than Liu Da's. A Chun—that was the innate physique of one born among the upper class. All that could be said was that this kid's inward bone structure might be passable. "Pity he started learning boxing too late," Huang Sihai thought. "If he had come earlier, who knows—he might have changed his fate against heaven." After training for a day, Li Xiuwen had reached his limit, feeling drained, his legs going soft. "That's enough. Cultivation ends here for today," Huang Sihai said. "Hah..." Li Xiuwen flopped onto the ground with a thud. No wonder many people with money still didn't come to learn boxing. It was too much suffering! With money, finding a way to get a handgun, or hiring a martial artist as a bodyguard, was hundreds or thousands of times more cost-effective than training himself. Huang Sihai said: "When your arms faintly glow green, your tendons are like giant pythons, your Skin and Membranes are as hard as cowhide, and ordinary people can't hurt you with their strikes, then you have made entry. From now on I won't personally guide you. You follow everyone else to train together, exchange insights and realizations. A master leads you to the door, but cultivation depends on the individual." Having said that, Huang Sihai dismissed class. Li Xiuwen lay on the ground, thinking that Brother Ji was just as Master Huang had described: "arms faintly glowing green." Looking at it now, Brother Ji wasn't that strong—just at the entry level. ... Night like ink, when the Walled City's ten thousand homes were aglow, "Master Huang." A youth around 1.8 meters tall, wearing a black tang suit and with short hair, stepped into the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall with an imposing gait, his eyes bright. "Hahaha, Kid Tianhong!" Huang Sihai showed genuine joy and went out to welcome him. The students also showed surprise and admiration, one and all offering their greetings. "Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao!" Li Xiuwen, having just recovered his strength, propped himself up to stand and welcome him, asking softly, "Brother Chen, who is this big shot?" Old Chen said softly, "This is Xiao Tianhong, one of the Three Heroes of Four Seas, formerly a disciple of the second floor." "The second floor?" "You just arrived, so you don't know..." After Old Chen explained, Li Xiuwen finally understood what the "second floor" was. It turned out the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall occupied the first and second floors of this building. Newcomers cultivated on the first floor. If they earned Huang Sihai's favor, they could cultivate on the second floor. Students privately called the first floor the lower hall and the second floor the upper hall. Those cultivating on the second floor were the upper-class people of the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, each one arrogant and proud. "Are there any benefits to cultivating on the second floor?" Li Xiuwen asked. "Cultivating on the second floor gets you more guidance from Huang Sihai, and the monthly fee is waived. As for other hidden benefits, I don't know; those second-floor disciples keep their mouths shut." Xiao Tianhong seemed a very straightforward man, without airs, greeting everyone one by one. Seeing Li Xiuwen, he smiled and said, "Newcomer?" Li Xiuwen nodded. "Li Xiuwen. I only joined two days ago. Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao." Huang Sihai laughed. "Ah Wen, your Senior Brother Xiao took me as master three years ago and graduated long ago. Now he cultivates at the Academy. Don't even think about Mr. Ming, Inspector Lei, and the like. If your lifetime achievements amount to half of your Senior Brother Xiao's, that would be enough to bring glory to your ancestors." Li Xiuwen clasped his fist and bowed. "Senior Brother, I've long heard of your deeds. My admiration for you truly flows like a mighty river, endless and unceasing!" Graduating meant the disciple's strength was about the same as the master's; the master had nothing left to teach. This meant Xiao Tianhong had covered in under three years the road Huang Sihai had taken many years to walk. Impressive! Xiao Tianhong laughed heartily, patted Li Xiuwen's shoulder, and said, "Although we just met today, based on this flattery, Senior Brother will look out for you from now on!" "Senior Brother, you're straightforward!" Xiao Tianhong said loudly, "Tonight everyone eats at the teahouse; I'm treating, so eat your fill! Master Huang, is that all right?" Huang Sihai paused, then smiled. "Fine, anyway you're paying." "Hahaha, Master Huang is still the same as ever." ... Dinner. Li Xiuwen put away five bowls of rice in a row, burying his head in dishes and meat. Freeloading was just delicious. At the meal, the students flattered Xiao Tianhong to their hearts' content. "Senior Brother Xiao is so generous!" Huang Sihai asked, "Tianhong, how is it staying at the Academy?" Xiao Tianhong said, "Very well. Brother Beiwang and Sister Qiu Xiang take good care of me." "Those who can enter the Academy are all the pride of heaven. Over all these years, only you Three Heroes of Four Seas have entered from our martial arts hall. Competition there is fierce; you must help each other." Li Xiuwen looked at Huang Sihai, kind as an old father, and at the completely different expression he wore when facing them, the first-floor disciples. "We must find a way up to the second floor," Li Xiuwen resolved. Once in the second floor, with resources tilted in his favor, he could enter the Academy. As they ate, Xiao Tianhong took Huang Sihai elsewhere for a private chat. The other students finished eating, exchanged greetings, and left. In the old building, only Xiao Tianhong and Master Huang remained. "Kid Tianhong, did you pass the Three Gates this time?" "Passed." "Passing the Three Gates at sixteen—you're far better than these old bones of mine! You have hope of locking in the peak before the decline of qi and blood!" Huang Sihai said emotionally, the gratification and pride in his eyes impossible to hide. "Master Huang, how have you been lately? After passing the Three Gates, cultivation is truly difficult," Xiao Tianhong sighed. Huang Sihai said: "I am about to enter the decline period. Nowadays, relying on diligent training and medicinal tonics, I can barely make slight progress, but if I can't lock in the peak by around forty, when I'm old it will be hard even to maintain my realm." Xiao Tianhong took Huang Sihai's hand. "Master Huang, don't give up. Once I make something of myself, I'll find the best medicinal tonics for you!" Huang Sihai laughed heartily. "Having this heart is enough. If you have such good medicine, you should take it yourself." "By the way, Master Huang, what's the talent of Ah Wen, who arrived this month?" "He's very diligent. Although his outward bone structure is mediocre, his inward bone structure might be decent... but unfortunately he's older, so it's very difficult." "So it seems the one with hope to join our circle and become the Fourth Hero is A Chun." "A Chun's innate physique is decent. Going up to the second floor should be a done deal... but whether he can enter the Academy and become the Fourth Hero depends on fate." ... Longjin Road, Chen's Noodle Factory. Li Xiuwen returned home and flopped onto the bed to rest. "Why are you limping?" Aunt looked at Li Xiuwen with a worried expression. "Did you get into a fight?" "No. I formally started boxing today, and my body hasn't adjusted yet," Li Xiuwen said. "Hard, right?" "Much harder than I imagined." "Ah Wen, say so if you can't take it; there's no need to push yourself." "Don't underestimate my martial path will!" "You kid... it's only been one day. After that, day after day, year after year—not even a superhuman could endure it." "My performance at the martial arts hall is still not bad, Aunt. Have faith in me." "I knew it. Our old Li family isn't mediocre."