Chapter 8

Since that conversation, Hao Qi returned to his daily routine: going to school, practicing boxing, eating, and sleeping...

As he watched the proficiency of the Luohan Fist approach the ultimate level, Hao Qi's heart grew increasingly uneasy. After all, this truly was the biggest turning point in his life. What the future held—whether it could fulfill his dreams or lead to a down-to-earth ordinary life—would be revealed the moment the Luohan Fist reached its peak. This was something he could not remain calm about.

"You're distracted. Let's call it a day for today," Su Shiyi said, frowning.

Hao Qi took a deep breath. He looked at the sky; it was around three in the afternoon. Although he could continue practicing, he had already completed the day's quota of five thousand punches. Moreover, his mind was indeed in disarray, so he decided to end early. Otherwise, the last few punches, which had yielded no experience, would just be a waste of energy.

Su Shiyi watched as Hao Qi packed up his things. She frowned and looked at the punch marks Hao Qi had left on the giant tree, especially the last few. Suddenly, she said, "Watch the sword."

In a flash, a sword light appeared, like a bolt of lightning. All Hao Qi saw was the light. In the next moment, everything returned to normal. The quiet, long-haired girl was still holding her sword, which had not left its sheath, and she was still ten steps away from him.

"Did you just draw your sword?" Hao Qi asked, surprised.

Su Shiyi did not answer but looked at Hao Qi seriously. "In the time I've known you, every punch you've thrown has been sincere, as if you were asking your truest self with each one. This is why I have high hopes for you. A sincere martial artist will always be treated sincerely by martial arts. This is what my grandmother, a powerful internal strength practitioner, told me when she was teaching me martial arts. She told me to be sincere with my martial arts, my sword, and my heart. That's why, even though I'm half a year younger than you, I've already mastered a third-rate sword technique to its peak. This is also why I supervise you and teach you martial arts. I believe you are the same kind of person, but today I'm disappointed. I don't see your sincerity. Are you... insulting the martial arts you've practiced for nine years!?"

Su Shiyi's words were harsh, and Hao Qi remained silent. In fact, his actions and thoughts were completely different from what Su Shiyi had guessed. For one, if he didn't practice sincerely, or with full dedication as Su Shiyi said, the system wouldn't count the experience. This had been proven countless times over the past nine years, so how could he not practice with full dedication?

Another reason was his lack of choice. After being transported to the orphanage nine years ago, with no family, no future, and no prospects, his only option was the golden finger he had brought with him. The system was his entire future, so how could he not be sincere about it?

However, Su Shiyi's words were well-intentioned, and being sincere in martial arts was indeed the most important attitude for a martial artist. Although he had the system, it was not omnipotent, at least his system was not. Therefore, he must also have this spirit. Today, he was indeed wrong.

"I will take your advice seriously," Hao Qi said, bowing respectfully.

Su Shiyi looked at Hao Qi's serious expression and nodded slightly. Then she turned and walked away, and Hao Qi naturally followed her. They walked toward the dormitory. After a short while, Su Shiyi suddenly asked, "What were you thinking about just now? Was it about your 19th birthday?"

Hao Qi had told Su Shiyi that on his 19th birthday, there would be a significant change, and his future path would be chosen on that day.

In fact, Su Shiyi had already investigated Hao Qi's family background thoroughly. As a member of a prestigious family, and a core member of that family, she had access to many resources, including connections. Investigating the background of someone like Hao Qi, who had no connections, was incredibly easy.

Although she had no authority to teach Hao Qi the family's martial arts, she truly believed in him. He was a rare true martial artist. Even though he was currently practicing a low-level boxing technique, if he switched to another martial art, his potential and character would lead to great achievements, possibly even becoming a powerful internal strength practitioner. The significance of such a person was clear to someone from a prestigious family. Whether it was admiration or to form a good relationship, understanding Hao Qi's character, background, and past was necessary.

Su Shiyi knew that Hao Qi was an orphan, and his background was normal. Such a low-level boxing technique was indeed something only an orphan would practice for nine years. However, he had a sister, or rather, an adopted sister, who was engaged to Li Pancheng, the eldest son of the Li family in the capital of the Blue Shadow Republic.

From the information she had, his sister, Xue Na, cared for him deeply, and she had always wanted him to join the military, specifically the unit commanded by Li Pancheng. This was clearly an attempt to involve Hao Qi in the Li family's affairs through his connection as a relative. However, Hao Qi had always refused.

Su Shiyi even knew that about a month ago, Xue Na and Li Pancheng had returned to the capital and specifically visited Hao Qi at the university. It was the night she took the Jade Muscle Pill, and Hao Qi had even fought with Xue Na. These were things Hao Qi had told her himself, so it was clear that Hao Qi's mastery of the boxing technique could not be hidden. Even if Xue Na, a civilian, didn't understand, Li Pancheng certainly did. As long as he wasn't an idiot, he would definitely try to recruit Hao Qi.

A brother-in-law with a good character, excellent martial talent, and a true martial artist was like an unpolished gem. Such a person, who didn't have to worry about loyalty issues and had no family ties, with a minimum achievement of a quasi-internal strength practitioner, would be a great asset to the Li family. He could easily become an external retainer of the Li family, and given the Li family's gender imbalance, with Li Pancheng having several sisters, Hao Qi could even become a member of the Li family if he agreed to be recruited...

Su Shiyi thought she understood Hao Qi's dilemma. His 19th birthday would likely be the time he responded to the Li family's recruitment, a significant turning point in his life.

Hao Qi nodded in response to her question. "Yes, about the changes on my 19th birthday... to be honest, I'm very worried."

"Worried about what?" Su Shiyi asked casually. "Is it the future path you will choose?"

"No, not that," Hao Qi shook his head. "I have my own chosen future, my own path. I've never been confused about it. I dream of it, but... you know, reality is reality. It doesn't change just because your ideals are noble or your dreams are lofty. I'm just an ordinary person. If my path, my ideas, and my chosen future don't work out by the time I turn 19, I will have to bow to reality and live a down-to-earth life."

Su Shiyi didn't fully understand, such as what Hao Qi's chosen path was, but she grasped the general idea. She felt a bit regretful, as she had considered recruiting him. If he could join the Su family, they would certainly treat him well, and the Su family also had daughters...

Thinking of something, Su Shiyi's face turned slightly red, and she quickly turned away. After a moment, she said, "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to attend your birthday. Due to some circumstances, I'll be away for about a week around your birthday. So, when I return, tell me about the future you choose."

Hao Qi was surprised but also understood. He knew Su Shiyi was from a prestigious family, and this was likely one of the burdens of being from such a family. Although they had a higher starting point than ordinary people, they also lost some freedom. So, he said, "Go ahead and take care of your business. Whatever choice I make on my birthday, I won't leave the capital area anytime soon, so you'll still see me on campus when you return."

After that, both of them lost their interest in talking and parted ways at their respective dormitories. The days that followed were uneventful, and they continued their routine of guidance and practice on campus.

As Hao Qi's birthday approached, he went to the usual fast-food restaurant to wait for Lin Xiong to give him money. Although he had extra meals from Su Shiyi, he had increased his training speed and would complete the Luohan Fist to its peak level a day or two before his birthday. This had increased his expenses, but there were only about twenty days left. After that, regardless of the path he chose, Lin Xiong would benefit from his success, and he could finally start supporting his brother.

However, today was strange. He waited all afternoon, a few hours longer than usual, but Lin Xiong never showed up. This made him alert and worried, fearing that Lin Xiong had run into trouble. Even as a low-level thug, unexpected things could happen.

Just as Hao Qi was about to go to the chaotic streets where Lin Xiong usually hung out to search for him, another thug came to the fast-food restaurant and handed him an envelope and a few words. The envelope contained about half the usual amount of money, and the words said that Lin Xiong was unavailable recently and they shouldn't meet for now.

Hao Qi was shocked and didn't know what to do. He repeatedly asked the thug, confirming that this was what Lin Xiong had said, but he received no other information, which only increased his worry and confusion.

What kind of relationship did he have with Lin Xiong? How could such a simple message dismiss him?

Moreover, Lin Xiong had supported him for so many years. If he had been a burden, Lin Xiong would have complained long ago. It didn't make sense for him to suddenly turn his back on Hao Qi just a few days before his 19th birthday, when Hao Qi had clearly stated his future plans.

Hao Qi had a simple dinner at the fast-food restaurant, and his doubts grew. He worried that Lin Xiong might have gotten into serious trouble and was trying to protect him by pretending they weren't close.

Regardless, Hao Qi couldn't let it go, so he didn't return to school. Instead, he took a bus to the chaotic streets and began searching for Lin Xiong. He knew the area and some of Lin Xiong's subordinates. After a few hours of searching, he finally found one of Lin Xiong's subordinates and followed him to another subordinate...

Hao Qi spent the entire night searching and finally found Lin Xiong's location at dawn. It was an ordinary house in the chaotic streets, with strange graffiti on the walls and surrounded by drug addicts, thieves, and prostitutes.

The social standards of this world were similar to those of early 20th-century Earth, a period with very poor social welfare. Just like the old districts of London or the chaos of Shanghai, this place was no different. On his way, Hao Qi had encountered several robberies and attacks, but the attackers were ordinary people and posed no threat to him. He avoided trouble as much as possible.

Hao Qi looked around the house where Lin Xiong was staying. It was early morning, and there were few people around. He climbed the wall, using the strength from his Luohan Fist training to reach the window of Lin Xiong's room without being noticed. He listened carefully.

Inside, he heard the sounds of a man and a woman, and it was an intimate moment, which made Hao Qi feel awkward. However, his doubts kept him silent, and he continued to listen. After a while, the intimate sounds stopped, and he heard the sounds of lighting a cigarette and smoking, followed by the couple's intimate conversation. The man's voice was definitely Lin Xiong's.

Hao Qi ignored the sweet talk and waited quietly. After a long time, he finally heard what he wanted to hear.

"Sir, is everything okay? You didn't meet your brother today. You said he had a bright future. If you ignore him, won't it ruin your relationship?" the woman asked.

Lin Xiong replied, "Heh, a bright future. If he joins the army with the boss and becomes part of the Li family, that's a real bright future. Otherwise, how could he become a powerful internal strength practitioner with that low-level boxing technique? If that were possible, internal strength practitioners would be a dime a dozen. You don't know, but the Li family's eldest son personally recruited him and offered him a high-level martial art. Do you know what? He refused! Can you believe it?"

"Ah? A high-level martial art? Really?" the woman exclaimed. "If it were me, I'd sell myself to get it."

"Hahaha, as if you haven't sold yourself before," Lin Xiong teased.

The woman pouted and then asked, "What happened next? Did you stop seeing him because he refused?"

"Not exactly. I've been supporting him for years, treating him like a king, because I thought he had a bright future. But if he refuses, he's probably sealing his own fate. Why should I keep supporting him? I'd be a fool."

The woman asked curiously, "But sir, didn't you say you and he were life-and-death friends? Brothers?"

"Hahaha, what are brothers? They're meant to be betrayed. Have you just started in this world? Have you ever seen anyone on these streets who lived long by being loyal? I might have considered him a life-and-death friend before, but after years of support, even the greatest friendship fades, and the greatest favor is repaid. People change. I've been in this world for a long time, and I understand this."

The woman agreed but asked, "But sir, what if he agrees to the Li family's recruitment on his 19th birthday? Won't you lose everything if you treat him this way?"

Lin Xiong laughed, "Don't worry, I know him too well. I've seen the world, but he's like a naive martial enthusiast who has never left his shelter