Chapter 7

"Your registration fee?"

The one-eyed man stopped, no longer moving the abacus beads.

He smiled slightly and said, "Your registration fee isn't much, just ten taels a month! In our Golden Finger Sect, such a fee is considered mid-to-lower range, not too expensive."

"Once you pay, you can immediately start practicing martial arts at the Golden Finger Sect."

"Ten taels?"

Shi Yun's face changed slightly.

He only had six taels on him.

This was the money from his eldest sister Shi Lian's "sale."

But even six taels were not enough.

"Can it be less? I only have six taels."

Shi Yun asked.

"Six taels?"

"Definitely not enough! Ten taels a month, no less."

"If you don't have enough money, you can go back and gather more."

"Once you have ten taels, you can come back, it's the same."

Shi Yun fell silent.

How long would it take to gather ten taels?

Xu Ergou was eyeing him greedily.

His eldest sister had already been sold to the Wang family.

Where could he save money?

Relying on his second sister washing clothes every day, even if she washed her hands raw, she couldn't earn four taels.

Seeing Shi Yun's dilemma, Shi Hui gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Second Sister, what's wrong?"

Shi Yun asked softly.

Shi Hui pursed her lips, seemingly determined, and said firmly, "Brother Yun, if you really want to practice martial arts, there is a way."

"I can go to the Wang family too."

"Maybe my sale can fetch fifteen taels, then you can stay at the Golden Finger Sect for two months..."

"Stop! Second Sister, you must never think like that again."

"I already feel guilty and regretful about what happened to Eldest Sister."

"If you sell yourself for me, I will never forgive myself."

"Besides, there are other ways to practice martial arts."

Shi Yun immediately shook his head.

He didn't let Shi Hui continue.

Sell herself?

He would never let his second sister sell herself.

Not even his eldest sister.

Once he became proficient in martial arts, he would find a way to free his eldest sister from her servitude.

How could he allow his second sister to go to the Wang family?

Moreover, his second sister was quite beautiful.

If she were sold to the Wang family, the consequences would be unimaginable.

So, Shi Yun stopped his second sister, insisting she must not have such thoughts.

The one-eyed man heard the conversation between Shi Yun and Shi Hui.

He showed no emotion.

Instead, he looked at Shi Yun with interest.

The money, not a single tael could be reduced!

No matter how poor or hard Shi Yun's life was, he would not waver.

In these times, who wasn't suffering and struggling?

To get anything, one must pay a price!

Shi Yun didn't ask the one-eyed man to lower the registration fee.

He knew it was impossible.

However, his thinking was different from the people here.

After some thought, Shi Yun came up with an idea.

He directly said to the one-eyed man, "Ten taels for a month. So, half a month would be five taels. Can I pay five taels and practice for half a month?"

"If I can't pay the remaining five taels after half a month, you can kick me out, okay?"

Shi Yun's idea was "installment payment."

"Hmm? You're quite resourceful."

"Ten taels a month, and you came up with practicing for half a month."

"Interesting."

The one-eyed man's eyes lit up slightly.

He sized up Shi Yun, then involuntarily touched his blind eye.

"Alright, you are resourceful."

"Five taels for fifteen days."

"Pay the money first."

"Okay, pay the money!"

Shi Yun was delighted.

Finally, he could practice martial arts!

He hadn't expected that just joining the martial arts school would be so difficult.

But fortunately, he had finally joined.

Even if it was only for half a month.

But that was enough!

He could think of ways to gather the remaining few taels.

So, Shi Yun paid the money.

The one-eyed man registered his name, then glanced at Shi Hui and said, "Do you want to start practicing today or tomorrow?"

Shi Yun thought for a moment.

"Today is already half over, so let's start tomorrow."

Shi Yun didn't want to waste even half a day.

"Alright, come to the martial arts school tomorrow morning."

"At the martial arts school, you can have lunch."

"You must leave the martial arts school in the evening."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

"Alright, go back."

The one-eyed man looked fierce.

But he was actually reasonable.

So, Shi Yun left with his second sister and returned home.

"Second Sister, I'm going to start practicing martial arts at the Golden Finger Sect tomorrow."

"While I'm away, make sure to lock the doors and windows."

"Don't open the door for anyone except Eldest Sister and me."

"Especially Xu Ergou, who knows what crazy things he might do."

Shi Yun earnestly instructed his second sister.

He was most worried about his second sister, Shi Hui.

Especially with Xu Ergou threatening them, he was even more concerned.

"Brother Yun, go practice martial arts with peace of mind."

"If it's really too hard, don't force yourself."

Shi Yun nodded.

He wouldn't force himself.

With the "upgrade panel," why would he force himself?

No matter how difficult practicing martial arts was, Shi Yun believed he would succeed!

That night, Shi Yun carefully "designed" his iron plate.

It was somewhat inconvenient.

After all, he couldn't use a crutch while practicing martial arts.

At least he needed to be able to stand on his own.

So, he added something like a horseshoe to the bottom of his feet.

Then he tied it tightly to his knees and thighs with ropes.

This way, he could stand for a short time.

However, the weight of his body pressing on the iron plate and then on his knees and thighs was a heavy burden.

Over time, his knees and thighs would likely be rubbed raw many times.

But for now, this was the best he could do.

The next day, before dawn, Shi Yun left home.

He wanted to avoid running into Xu Ergou.

So, he decided to leave early and return late.

This way, he could avoid Xu Ergou.

He was short on time.

The longer he could delay, the better.

He didn't want Xu Ergou to find out.

However, when Shi Yun arrived at the Golden Finger Sect, he found that many people were already there.

These people, like Shi Yun, were apprentices of the Golden Finger Sect.

Each one had arrived earlier than him.

"Effort" was not a problem.

Enduring hardship was not Shi Yun's specialty alone.

There were many people who were even more diligent and hardworking than him.

However, when Shi Yun arrived at the Golden Finger Sect, he didn't see the one-eyed man from yesterday.

Instead, a muscular, broad-shouldered man directly led him to the backyard.

The backyard was the dedicated place for martial arts practice.

Shi Yun looked around.

There were already over a hundred people in the yard.

And they had already started their daily practice.

But their practice made Shi Yun feel strange, even awkward.

These people were all shouting loudly, using their fingers to fiercely stab at a thick tree trunk in front of them.

Each time, they put in their full effort.

Occasionally, there would be a crisp "snap."

That was a finger breaking!

"Uh... Senior Brother Xia, is this practicing martial arts?"

Shi Yun couldn't help but widen his eyes and ask the muscular, broad-shouldered man beside him with a strange look.