23: Chapter 23 Heading to the Four Directions Pavilion

The area around the sparring ring was deathly silent.

Sun Hao kept his head lowered, his expression unreadable, as he stumbled out of the crowd and quickly vanished from everyone's sight.

No one stopped him, and no one spoke.

Only when his figure had completely disappeared did the crowd erupt into a chaotic buzz of discussion, as if a pot had boiled over.

"He won... Lin Tian actually won!"

"Sun Hao is a veteran First-Rank Martial Artist who has been practicing the Metal Element Fist for three years! How could he lose?"

"Didn't you see? Lin Tian's Metal Element Fist is also at Minor Achievement! And he even knows the Wood Element Fist!"

"Both fist techniques trained to this Realm? How many months has he even been at the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall?"

"A monster... he's simply a monster..."

Amidst the chatter, those senior Disciples who had previously mocked Lin Tian looked sheepish and quietly shrank to the back of the crowd.

Liu Yunfeng stood in the front row, his face flushed with excitement, wishing he could rush onto the ring and shout for joy.

At the Elder's seating area, Elder Sun's face turned livid, and the teacup in his hand shattered with a "crack."

Tea splashed all over him, but he didn't even notice; he just stared fixedly at Lin Tian on the ring, his gaze terrifyingly gloomy.

Huang Yuanshan was stunned for a good while before he snapped back to reality.

He strode onto the ring, patted Lin Tian on the shoulder, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement:

"Well done, lad! You really outdid yourself!"

He turned to the crowd below and announced loudly:

"In this challenge, Lin Tian is the victor! The position at Sifang Pavilion now belongs to Lin Tian!"

A wave of exclamations erupted from the crowd once more.

Lin Tian cupped his hands toward Huang Yuanshan, nodded to the crowd below, and then turned to walk off the ring.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Elder Sun walked over to his son, and seeing his dejected appearance, felt a sharp pang in his heart.

He remained silent for a moment before reaching out to pat Sun Hao on the shoulder:

"Let's go. Let's head back to treat your injuries."

Sun Hao looked up, his eyes reddening: "Father, I..."

"You didn't lose unjustly." Elder Sun interrupted him, his voice low. "That lad's talent is far above yours. It took you three years to reach Minor Achievement, but how long has he been practicing? A month?"

Sun Hao was stunned.

A month?

From starting out to reaching Minor Achievement, it only took him a month?

"And he also knows the Wood Element Fist," Elder Sun continued. "Practicing two fist techniques simultaneously and reaching this Realm in both. Someone like that is not someone you can compare yourself to."

He sighed, his tone softening slightly:

"You are still young; one failure is nothing. Go back and recover well. Once you've healed, we'll find you another position. There are so many errands in the Martial Arts Hall; you don't have to fixate on Sifang Pavilion."

Sun Hao lowered his head, remained silent for a long time, and finally nodded.

The figures of the father and son disappeared into the afterglow of the sunset.

Lin Tian returned to his living quarters and began to pack his luggage.

In truth, there wasn't much to pack. A few sets of clean clothes, that copy of the "Five Elements Fist Manual," and the remaining scraps of the Lingzhi mushroom that Liu Yunfeng had gifted him—he had been very frugal with it, and after half a month, a small piece the size of a fingernail remained.

He packed these items into a bundle, slung it over his shoulder, took one last look at the small room he had lived in for several months, and turned to leave.

Sifang Pavilion was located on the East Street of Heishan City.

Holding the letter of introduction given by Huang Yuanshan, Lin Tian found the place. It was a three-story pavilion with green bricks and grey tiles, upturned eaves, and a plaque hanging at the entrance with the three large characters "Sifang Pavilion."

Many people were coming and going; some were there to buy medicinal herbs, some to look at weapons, and others to inquire about news.

Just as Lin Tian walked to the entrance, a middle-aged man dressed in a green shirt came out to greet him with a face full of smiles:

"Are you Young Master Lin Tian?"

Lin Tian nodded and handed over the letter of introduction.

The middle-aged man took it, glanced at it, and his smile widened:

"My surname is Zhou, and I am the Manager of Sifang Pavilion. The Hall Master has already sent word; please come in, Young Master Lin!"

He welcomed Lin Tian into the pavilion and led him to the backyard.

The backyard wasn't large, but it was very quiet. Several side rooms surrounded a small garden, where a few clumps of green bamboo were planted, and there was a water well. The environment was much better than his living quarters at the Martial Arts Hall.

"Young Master Lin, you will stay in this room." Manager Zhou pushed open a door. "If you need anything, just say the word. The business in the pavilion is managed by myself and the staff; you only need to focus on your Cultivation. If anyone with no eyes comes to cause trouble, only then will you need to step in."

Lin Tian nodded and walked into the room. The room was spacious and bright, fully equipped with a bed, table, chairs, and a cabinet—more than twice as good as the dormitory at the Martial Arts Hall.

"Then please rest, Young Master; I will go attend to my duties." Manager Zhou tactfully withdrew.

Lin Tian put down his bundle, sat on the edge of the bed, and let out a long breath.

Sifang Pavilion, from today onwards, would be the place where he would Cultivate.

Days passed one by one.

Lin Tian's life at Sifang Pavilion was even more leisurely than he had imagined.

Manager Zhou and a few staff members managed the affairs of the pavilion in an orderly manner. Occasionally, when a few guys looking to take advantage heard that he was an official Disciple of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, they would all slink away.

A month passed, and not once was there a need for him to take action.

He devoted all his time to Cultivation.

Every day, he would wake up before dawn to practice the Five Elements Stance in the courtyard. The Diamond Stance, Green Wood Stance, Flowing Water Stance, Raging Fire Stance, and Thick Earth Stance—he would practice all five movements in rotation for a full two hours.

After breakfast, he would practice the Metal Element Fist.

Thirty-six forms, practiced over and over again, until his arms were too sore to lift.

After lunch, he would rest briefly, and in the afternoon, he would practice the Wood Element Fist.

Thirty-two forms, similarly polished over and over.

In the evening, he would continue to practice the Five Elements Stance until late at night.

He drank two bowls of body strengthening soup every day—one was his quota as an official Disciple of the Martial Arts Hall, and one was provided extra by Sifang Pavilion.

Nourished by the medicinal power, his Qi and blood flourished day by day, and his strength grew day by day.

[Five Elements Stance Proficiency + 1]

[Metal Element Fist Proficiency + 1]

[Wood Element Fist Proficiency + 1]

The System's notification sound rang out punctually every day.

A month later.

Lin Tian stood in the courtyard and brought up the System panel:

[Name: Lin Tian]

[Realm: First-Rank Martial Artist]

[Martial Arts: Five Elements Stance (Proficient) 313/500]

[Metal Element Fist (Proficient) 266/500]

[Wood Element Fist (Minor Achievement) 196/300]

[Strength: Approximately 1,200 jin]

The Five Elements Stance had broken through from Major Achievement to Proficient, and his Qi and blood were even more refined.

The Metal Element Fist had also broken through to Proficient, its power more than a notch stronger than when it was at Minor Achievement. The Wood Element Fist had even gone straight from Beginner to Minor Achievement, greatly increasing his recovery ability.

Lin Tian clenched his fist, feeling the surging Qi and blood within his body.

1,200 jin of strength.

Two hundred jin stronger than a month ago.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he could challenge the Middle Stage of the First-Rank, or even the Peak of the First-Rank.

That day, Lin Tian went to the accounting office to collect his salary for the month.

Eight taels of silver, a small, heavy ingot.

Holding the silver, an indescribable excitement welled up in his heart.

Eight taels of silver was enough for a family in Lin Family Village to eat for a year.

He was Cultivating at the Martial Arts Hall, not only without spending money, but also earning money to send home.

He found Manager Zhou and asked for leave, saying he wanted to return to the village for a trip.

Manager Zhou naturally agreed readily: "Young Master Lin, please go ahead. If there are matters at home, staying a few more days is fine. You have me here at the pavilion."

Lin Tian thanked Manager Zhou and left Sifang Pavilion.

He didn't head straight out of the city, but instead strolled through the markets of Heishan City.

He first went to a silver shop and bought a silver bracelet for his mother.

It was a similar style to the one sold years ago, but newer and brighter, costing one tael and two mace of silver.

Then he went to a winery and bought two jars of good wine for his father. It was high-quality sorghum wine, costing five hundred wen per jar, totaling one tael of silver for two jars.

Then he went to a grocery store and bought some snacks for his little sister. Preserved fruits, candies, and pastries, filling a large oil-paper parcel.

Finally, he bought some cloth, salt, tea leaves, and similar items, intending to distribute them among the relatives in the clan.

With large and small parcels on his back, Lin Tian left the city feeling satisfied.

After leaving Heishan City, he followed the dirt road toward Lin Family Village.

It was noon, and there was no one on the road. On both sides were farmlands, the wheat was already yellow, and in another half a month, it would be ready for harvest.

Lin Tian walked at a leisurely pace, looking at the scenery along the road as he went, his mood exceptionally pleasant.

Having been away from home for several months, he wondered how his father, mother, and little sister were doing.

Just as he was thinking this, two men suddenly jumped out from under the shade of a tree on the side of the road ahead.

Both men were wearing black short tunics and had swords strapped to their waists. One had a face full of flab, and the other had a sharp, monkey-like face; one look was enough to tell they were not good people.

"Stop!" the man with the face full of flab shouted.

Lin Tian stopped in his tracks and looked at them.

The man with the sharp, monkey-like face sized him up, his gaze falling on the pile of bundles, and his eyes immediately lit up:

"Kid, drop the parcels and get lost. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll spare your life."