Chapter 4

Yang Junshan quickly ran into his small house, took out a small wooden box from under his pillow, and gently shook it, producing a "rustling" sound inside.

Yang Junshan opened the wooden box, and a spiritual aura not weaker than that of the previous jade coin spread out. However, the current Yang Junshan could clearly perceive that although the amount of spiritual energy in the wooden box was not small, it was less refined compared to the jade coin.

Inside was half a box of dimly glowing stone coins. These stone coins were the pocket money Yang Junshan had saved over the past two years. After counting carefully, there were a total of 103 coins. Including the jade coin, it was equivalent to 203 stone coins, which was roughly the price of two dou of spirit rice. However, if he were to buy ordinary rice, it would be enough for two shi, sufficient for a half-grown boy like Yang Junshan for half a year's food.

Among the children of the same age in Tuqiu Village, Yang Junshan could be considered quite wealthy. However, the 12-year-old body of Yang Junshan housed a soul that had experienced a hundred years of vicissitudes. What could 203 stone coins do!

Han Xiumei was urging Yang Junshan to eat breakfast. Reluctantly, he had to put the wooden box away again and plan to take it to the market to see if he could buy something useful.

Just as Yang Junshan stepped out of his small house, his younger brother, Yang Junping, grabbed his collar. Seeing the somewhat nervous look on Yang Junping's face, Yang Junshan asked in confusion, "Mother called for breakfast, what's wrong?"

Yang Junping said, "You forgot that you promised to help me teach Zhang Huzi a lesson the day before yesterday. I've already made an appointment with him today. Who will deal with him when you go to the market? I'm no match for him with Qianhai and Baoliang. I heard he's about to successfully awaken his second spirit acupoint, and his strength has increased by nearly a fold. If he successfully refines his second spirit acupoint, his strength will be even greater."

At this moment, Yang Junshan had no interest in getting involved in a children's fight. He said directly, "Postpone the date. When I come back from the market, I'll beat him so badly he'll be crawling on the ground!"

However, after saying this, Yang Junshan was taken aback. It seemed that something similar had happened in his previous life. At that time, he had also refused his younger brother, but the stubborn younger brother had still gone to fight and ended up losing badly. For nearly two or three months, the two brothers hardly spoke to each other.

At that time, after returning from Baique Mountain, Yang Junshan's confidence had been severely shaken, and he had been in a daze for a while, not paying attention to his younger brother's situation.

As a result, Yang Junshan's status among the children of the same age in Tuqiu Village had plummeted due to the "cowardly" reputation, and at that time, Yang Junshan had not cared much about it.

Seeing that his older brother was ignoring him, Yang Junping became anxious but dared not shout loudly for fear of being heard by Han Xiumei. He whispered, "We've already bet money. If we don't go, we'll lose."

Yang Junshan stopped in his tracks and turned back, saying, "You little brat, you dare to bet on your older brother. How much did you bet?"

Yang Junping looked embarrassed and smiled ingratiatingly, "Ten stone coins, plus Qianhai and Baoliang, a total of thirty stone coins. Zhang Huzi's side also put up thirty stone coins. Whoever wins gets the thirty stone coins."

Yang Junshan's eyes twinkled, and he said, "You bet on me and didn't even give me a single stone coin. No way, I want half of the winnings!"

Yang Junping's face lit up, and he said, "Brother, you're not going to the market anymore?"

Yang Junshan snorted and said arrogantly, "How long will it take to deal with that scoundrel Zhang Huzi? After breakfast, you bring him out. I'll beat him in the time it takes to burn an incense stick, and we won't miss going to the market with Father!"

Yang Junping clearly didn't believe him and said, "An incense stick?"

Yang Junshan couldn't stand his brother's disbelieving look and said unhappily, "What, don't you believe me? Then I won't go. You figure it out yourselves!"

Seeing his older brother getting angry, Yang Junping quickly pulled Yang Junshan, who was about to leave, and said, "I believe you, I believe you. But, Brother, if we win, will you take ten stone coins?"

"Get lost!"

The spirit rice and spirit noodles filled the stomachs of Yang Junshan and his two siblings, making them all very full. After the meal, Yang Junshan and Yang Junping slipped out of the house while their father, Yang Tian, was checking the beast-drawn cart.

Yang Junping complained as they walked, "We ate too much. Why did Mother make spirit rice today? It's so filling, how can we fight Zhang Huzi later?"

Yang Junshan mocked, "You ate the most, like a reincarnated hungry ghost."

Yang Qianhai and Yang Baoliang were about the same age as Yang Junshan and his brother. They were usually playmates. Yang Qianhai was the same age as Yang Junshan, 12 years old, and had a fifth-grade talent. Yang Baoliang was one year younger than Yang Junshan, with a slightly better talent, fourth grade, and had two spirit acupoints.

Their fathers, Yang Tieniu and Yang Qingniu, were both from a branch of the Yang family in Qingshi Town, Chenyu County. They had been friends with Yang Tian since childhood and were considered Yang Tian's companions. Three years ago, when Yang Tian separated from the family, the family arranged for him to become the village chief of Tuqiu Village in Mengyu County. Yang Tieniu and Yang Qingniu decided to move to Tuqiu Village with Yang Tian.

Yang Tian's position as the village chief of Tuqiu Village was secure not only because of his second-layer martial realm strength, which was the best in the village, but also because of the support of these two brothers.

The four met under the large locust tree in the west of the village. Yang Qianhai and Yang Baoliang had already started cultivating, but the cultivation techniques they used were the "Earth Covering Technique," which was only available to the branch of the Yang family. Compared to the "Earth Spirit Technique" that Yang Junshan was cultivating, it was far inferior.

With Yang Tian's help, Yang Tieniu had found a low-grade spirit for Yang Qianhai. Yang Qianhai's spirit acupoint was on the sole of his foot, and he was currently refining it, which made his walking look a bit strange. Given his fifth-grade talent, the refinement process would take a long time, and his strange walking posture would likely persist for a while.

Yang Qianhai looked Yang Junshan up and down, his face lighting up, and said, "Brother Shan, you look different. Have you started refining your spirit acupoint with the yellow earth spirit that Uncle Yang found for you? If so, that's great, we're sure to win this time!"

Yang Junshan patted his chest and said, "It's just Zhang Huzi. I could make him cry a year ago, and I can still beat him up now!"

Although Yang Baoliang was one year younger than Yang Junshan, he was about the same height, just a bit thinner. Hearing this, he said worriedly, "Brother Shan, after losing to you a year ago, Zhang Huzi started refining his right-hand spirit acupoint with black iron essence. His strength has doubled, and they say his right fist can punch through a sandbag. You must be careful not to let him hit you!"

Yang Junshan laughed, thinking that doubling his strength was possible, but punching through a sandbag was a joke. However, if Zhang Huzi hit the same spot on the sandbag repeatedly, it might be possible.

The "battle" took place at the threshing ground in the north of the village. Zhang Huzi and his four companions were already waiting there, along with seven or eight children of about the same age from Tuqiu Village, who had come to watch the fight.

Seeing Yang Junshan and his group arrive, Zhang Huzi and his companions immediately started taunting, "Yang Junshan, are you all scared like turtles in your shells? We thought you wouldn't come!"

Zhang Huzi was the same age as Yang Junshan but much taller and more muscular.

Zhang Huzi's father, Zhang Tie, was the best blacksmith in Tuqiu Village and was known as Blacksmith Zhang. He could forge low-grade magical weapons and was one of the few martial realm experts in Tuqiu Village, highly respected.

Before Yang Tian came to Tuqiu Village, Zhang Tie was a strong candidate for the position of village chief. He had campaigned for it, but was unexpectedly outmaneuvered by Yang Tian. As a result, the two families had been at odds. When Yang Tian dug the spirit well, Zhang Tie was one of the leaders of the troublemakers in Tuqiu Village.

Seeing Zhang Huzi standing confidently in the center of the threshing ground, Yang Junshan did not back down. He quickly walked to the front of Yang Junping and the others, shook his hands, and said mockingly, "Zhang Huzi, are you itching for another beating? Have you forgotten what happened a year ago?"

Zhang Huzi's face turned red. A year ago, they had fought in this very threshing ground. Zhang Huzi had mocked Yang Junshan for being a fourth-grade talent, but ended up being beaten so badly that he cried, and the other children in Tuqiu Village had laughed at him.

This time, Zhang Huzi had come to seek revenge. He had learned that Yang Junshan had not refined his spirit acupoint with a spirit over the past year, while Zhang Huzi, with his third-grade talent, had successfully refined his right-hand spirit acupoint with black iron essence. With this advantage, Zhang Huzi was confident he could take his revenge.

However, as soon as they met, Yang Junshan brought up the embarrassing incident from a year ago, making Zhang Huzi's eyes turn red. He roared and tried to charge at Yang Junping.

Yang Junshan quickly jumped in front and said, "Hold it!"

Zhang Huzi waved his dark, muscular right fist and shouted, "What, Yang Junshan, are you scared?"

Yang Junshan glanced at Zhang Huzi's right fist, which looked like it was covered in iron, and laughed, "Who's scared? But what about the stone coins we agreed to bet? What if you lose and try to back out?"

Zhang Huzi's eyes widened in anger, and he shouted, "I would back out? Bring out the stone coins!"

A companion behind Zhang Huzi threw a small black bag, and Zhang Huzi pulled open the bag, which made a "rustling" sound. He sneered, "See clearly, thirty stone coins. Where are yours?"

Yang Qianhai was about to take out the thirty stone coins they had gathered, but Yang Junshan suddenly looked extremely surprised and said, "Hey, why only thirty stone coins? Didn't you say each person would bet thirty stone coins? With five of you, it should be 150 stone coins!"