Chapter 42: Harassment

After breakfast, Zuo Zhicheng began cleaning the room under Jiang Qing’s command.

“Don’t forget those corners. Clean them all thoroughly.” Seeing that Zuo Zhicheng was working diligently under her supervision, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Then she continued instructing the lazybones before her: “Remember, besides cleaning the room every morning, you are also responsible for tidying the equipment, sweeping the training ground, cleaning every corner of the yard, trimming the plants, sweeping the main gate, and repairing furniture.”

“And…” Jiang Qing added: “If Aunt Ye or Xiao Lan need help carrying ingredients or anything, you must assist them. Of course, after all the students leave each day, you must clean and organize the area before you can go.”

“And there are no weekends every week,” Zuo Zhicheng added in his mind. From a modern perspective, this job at the martial arts school was definitely severe exploitation and inequality. But in this era at Xinlu Port, having meals with vegetables and meat every day, plus learning martial arts for free, was considered a good job for ordinary people.

So in the following days, all the students knew that the martial arts school had gained a new apprentice named Xiao Zuo. Although he was blind in one eye, he worked hard without complaint and was learning martial arts from Master Jiang.

Most of the students were poor folks, so they didn’t look down on anyone. Zuo Zhicheng truly acted like a poor young man and blended in with them.

For the next two days, Zuo Zhicheng practiced martial arts and worked at the school during the day, then secretly practiced the authentic transmission martial arts of Northern Peng Hanging Heaven Style alone at night.

Although he still couldn’t channel his Innate Primordial Breath to his head to reach the peak of Qi Training, daily practice still increased the strength of the Innate Primordial Breath throughout his body, continuously improving his physical strength and explosive power. Just like Jiang Tianzheng who had practiced martial arts for decades.

In his Infrared Vision, the pink Innate Primordial Breath decreased as its strength increased. The purple Innate Primordial Breath was growing bit by bit. After several days, the proportion of purple Innate Primordial Breath increased slightly, reaching 31%.

Zuo Zhicheng believed that when this proportion reached 100%, the colors in his Infrared Vision would start to show new distinctions, meaning the strength of his Innate Primordial Breath would undergo another qualitative change.

So he wasn’t anxious at all, just persistently practiced every day, using gradual effort to slowly improve his physical strength. He watched as the pink color gradually decreased in his Infrared Vision, with all the Innate Primordial Breath slowly turning purple.

Plus, at the martial arts school every day, he ate well with the Jiang father and daughter, getting plenty of nutrition. His martial arts were constantly improving. The biggest problem now was that Northern Peng Hanging Heaven Style was a set of authentic transmission martial arts focused on Qi Training. Although advanced, it was just a method for Qi Training.

In martial arts, after Qi Training came Spirit Refining, and after Spirit Refining came Void Training. If Zuo Zhicheng wanted to become stronger, he needed to know the methods of Spirit Refining.

This brought him back to the two secret manuals he took from the Ancient Tomb. What the ancient characters recorded would greatly influence his next choices and plans.

During these days besides working and practicing martial arts, he asked around and identified several educated figures in Xinlu Port, but hadn’t confirmed which one might understand the ancient characters. Meanwhile, the Sea Dragon Gang still hadn’t responded to Black Heart Tiger’s death.

That morning, after Zuo Zhicheng finished a set of Sumeru Long Fist, Jiang Tianzheng nodded beside him and said: “Your movements and posture are basically correct now. What you need next is persistence and daily practice. After you build a solid foundation, I’ll teach you other things.”

“Yes, Master.”

Then Zuo Zhicheng began cleaning the dining hall and tidying the training ground. It wasn’t until afternoon that students started arriving one by one.

Among them were farmers, street vendors, and dock workers. It seemed Jiang Tianzheng was willing to teach anyone who paid the tuition.

Moreover, Jiang Tianzheng treated everyone equally, whether they were commoners or rich kids. He could discuss refined topics with wealthy youths and simple matters with ordinary folks. He always used the plainest language to explain martial arts, making his school a social and open place.

Jiang Tianzheng stood at the front of the training ground. As he chanted slogans, he demonstrated each move of Sumeru Long Fist.

“Fists, eyes, waist, and feet practice four stars, steps must advance forward.”

As Master Jiang spoke and demonstrated, cracking sounds erupted in the air.

“Head straight, stance steady, relax shoulders without delay.”

Although Jiang Tianzheng performed Sumeru Long Fist excellently, the students below were just average. Some elderly men and women even performed crookedly, requiring his individual corrections.

Zuo Zhicheng shook his head nearby. None of these students possessed Innate Primordial Breath. Practicing martial arts like this only served to strengthen their health.

After leading the students through one round of Sumeru Long Fist, everyone dispersed to practice individually according to their own progress. People kept coming and going throughout.

A burly man approached Jiang Tianzheng and said: “Master Jiang, how does my Forward Step Double Palm look?”

He demonstrated a few moves, his palms striking out with powerful gusts. Master Jiang smiled and said: “Big Mouth Huang, how many times have I told you? Sink shoulders, drop elbows, energy reaches hands. How could you forget when using this Forward Step Double Palm?”

Then he waved to Zuo Zhicheng who was waiting quietly: “Xiao Zuo, come here. Demonstrate for Big Mouth Huang.”

Zuo Zhicheng precisely performed a Double Step Forward Palm. Halfway through, Jiang Tianzheng stopped him. Pointing at Zuo Zhicheng’s shoulders and elbows, he told Big Mouth Huang: “Look at him here. When you execute this palm strike, you must apply force like this.”

After they practiced a few more times, Big Mouth Huang left satisfied.

Jiang Tianzheng patted Zuo Zhicheng’s shoulder contentedly and said: “Good, you’ve improved greatly these past few days. Have you been practicing at home?”

“Mm.” Zuo Zhicheng nodded in agreement. Jiang Tianzheng nodded satisfactorily, seeming pleased with Zuo Zhicheng’s diligence.

“Ouch!” A thin young man on the other side of the training ground suddenly cried out in pain: “Senior Sister, you’re hitting too hard!”

“Ah?” Jiang Qing, who had been instructing the young man, withdrew her gaze from Zuo Zhicheng’s direction. Looking at the young man whose arm was red and swollen from her punch, she said somewhat awkwardly: “Sorry, A Fei, I got distracted.”

Inside, she was still thinking about Zuo Zhicheng. She never expected this kid could pretend for so long, even fooling her dad into thinking he was diligent and motivated. But then she wondered, could he have truly reformed and become a hardworking person?

Then the young man named A Fei cried out several more times in succession. Holding his chest, he said: “Senior Sister, do you have something against me? If you keep hitting like this, you’ll kill me.”

Jiang Qing’s eyebrows shot up. Somewhat embarrassed and angry, she shouted: “Stop complaining! If you can’t handle this little pain, how can you practice martial arts?”

Just then, a loud crash came from the main gate. The two-meter-tall wooden door was kicked flying onto the training ground. A young man with a black dragon tattoo on his face slowly walked in. Behind him followed over ten tall, strong members of the Sea Dragon Gang dressed in black martial attire.