Chapter 3

"Father, I'm leaving."

Wang Yue, carrying several high-quality hides, said to his father, Wang Danhe.

Among the hides were bear and tiger skins, as well as a few wolf skins. These were all accumulated from his hunting over the past month. The hides could fetch at least 800 to 900 taels of silver.

With this silver, Wang Yue would have enough to cultivate his Internal Family Fist to the Dark Force level.

Wang Yue was now a big eater, consuming more than three times the amount of food an average person did each day.

"Be careful on the road," his mother advised.

Wang Yue nodded and said, "I know, Mother. This isn't my first or second time going to the city."

His sister, Wang Xin, said, "Brother, remember to buy me some crispy pears and fragrant pastries. I haven't had them for several days."

Wang Xin no longer liked meat but had a particular fondness for crispy pears and fragrant pastries.

Wang Yue smiled and said, "Sure, sure. I won't forget."

...

Wang Yue walked steadily through the city of Suzhou. Despite carrying the hides, his demeanor was exceptionally sunny, quite different from that of an ordinary hunter.

If he cut his long hair into a short style and put on a school uniform, he would look like a typical college student.

Wang Yue looked around at the shops, checking if there was anything his family needed.

"Hmm?"

Wang Yue suddenly frowned, sensing he was about to bump into someone. Instinctively, he moved to avoid the collision, but he inadvertently used the Yu Step from the Internal Family Fist.

The Yu Step is a profound stepping technique in the Internal Family Fist. According to the "Essentials of Martial Arts," a Dan Force practitioner using the Yu Step can even achieve the effect of shrinking the earth to an inch.

However, Wang Yue was far from reaching such a realm.

Wang Yue said to the person in front of him, "Sorry."

In front of Wang Yue stood a young man in his mid-twenties, dressed in white, holding a long sword, with a carefree demeanor.

"What a fine young gentleman!"

Wang Yue thought to himself.

Behind the young man were three young girls and two men in their thirties, all dressed in brocade, clearly from wealthy families and disciples of prominent clans.

The young man looked at Wang Yue, a glint of interest in his eyes, and smiled. "I should be the one to apologize. I am Murong Fu from Suzhou. May I ask for your name, young brother?"

Wang Yue was startled. Murong Fu? Indeed, he was as skilled as the legends said.

Looking at the people behind Murong Fu, Wang Yue thought, Ah Bi is indeed among them. The other two girls must be the goddess Wang Yuyan and Ah Zhu. The two men are likely Feng Bo'e and Bao Budong.

Wang Yue smiled and said, "So you are the Southern Murong. I have heard much about you. I am Wang Yue."

As he spoke, Wang Yue looked at Ah Bi and smiled. "Ah Bi, it's nice to see you again. It's a pleasure."

Ah Bi was also extremely beautiful, not inferior to any campus beauties, but she was slightly less attractive compared to Wang Yuyan and Ah Zhu. When the three girls were together, Ah Bi was often overlooked because her beauty and demeanor were overshadowed by the more outstanding Wang Yuyan and Ah Zhu.

Ah Bi was surprised. "Ah, it's you..."

Wang Yue had changed so much in the past four months, not only in height but also in demeanor. Now, anyone who saw Wang Yue would think he was an extraordinary person.

Ah Bi couldn't recognize him at all.

Who would have thought that a person like Wang Yue came from a poor, small village?

Wang Yue smiled and said, "Yes, it's me. Ah Bi, Murong Fu, I have some business to attend to, so I won't chat much. Perhaps we'll meet again. Goodbye."

Wang Yue left with the hides. Watching his back, Murong Fu's eyes showed a hint of annoyance.

"Master, this guy is quite arrogant," Feng Bo'e said. "He doesn't seem to respect you."

Bao Budong laughed. "Not at all, not at all. This guy is just a bumpkin who doesn't know what the Southern Murong represents. Humph."

Murong Fu said coldly, "Both of you, shut up. Ah Bi, do you know this Wang Yue?"

Ah Bi nodded. "Yes, Master. Four months ago, he fell into the lake, and I found and rescued him. I didn't expect him to change so much in just four months that I couldn't recognize him."

Murong Fu knew Ah Bi wouldn't lie to him, so it seemed she had only met Wang Yue by chance.

"Yuyan, can you tell what kind of martial arts Wang Yue uses?" Murong Fu asked Wang Yuyan.

Wang Yuyan, though not yet sixteen, had already read all the martial arts manuals in the Water Pavilion. Even for those without manuals, such as the Shaolin Muscle Changing Classic, the Beggar Sect's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, and the Dali Duan family's Six Pulse Sword, she had a good understanding. If someone used these martial arts, Wang Yuyan could recognize them.

But she couldn't identify Wang Yue's martial arts at all.

Wang Yuyan frowned, thought for a moment, and shook her head. "I don't know. Wang Yue's martial arts have never appeared in the martial world. His demeanor is somewhat similar to the Shaolin Washing Marrow Classic, but according to historical records, the Washing Marrow Classic has been lost for over a hundred years. The highest martial art in Shaolin now is the Muscle Changing Classic."

Wang Yue's Internal Family Fist focused on cultivating qi and blood, achieving the effect of washing the marrow, which was somewhat similar to the Washing Marrow Classic. However, the Internal Family Fist had a systematic cultivation method and a complete system. The Washing Marrow Classic, on the other hand, was very abstract and difficult to cultivate, requiring a deep understanding of Buddhist teachings, making it even harder than the Muscle Changing Classic and often discouraging people.

Murong Fu, Bao Budong, and Feng Bo'e were all shocked.

The Washing Marrow Classic, a legendary cultivation method.

Murong Fu glanced at Ah Bi and had an idea. "Wang Yue is not an ordinary person. If he can be of use to me, it will be a great help in restoring the Great Yan. Since he has a good impression of Ah Bi, I'll have Ah Bi interact with him. Perhaps we can obtain the Washing Marrow Classic."

Wang Yue had no idea that his casual display of martial arts had caught Murong Fu's attention and that he was being schemed against.

Murong Fu said, "Let's go back to Yanziwu."

...

Wang Yue sold the hides and received 980 taels of silver. He also bought many things, including the crispy pears and fragrant pastries his sister, Wang Xin, loved.

"Time to go home. Wang Xin must be waiting anxiously." Wang Yue smiled.

Meeting Murong Fu was just a coincidence, and Wang Yue didn't give it much thought.

He only wanted his family to be happy and to pursue the peak of martial arts.

The restoration of the Great Yan, the Beggar Sect, Shaolin, and the affairs of Western Xia and Liao had nothing to do with Wang Yue.

...

At Yanziwu, Ah Bi was sitting in a daze, not even noticing when Ah Zhu entered.

"Ah Bi, what's wrong?" Ah Zhu called out, but Ah Bi didn't respond.

"Ah Bi." Ah Zhu patted Ah Bi's shoulder.

Ah Bi was startled. "Ah, it's Sister Ah Zhu. Sister Ah Zhu, is there something you need?"

Ah Zhu smiled. "Ah Bi, since you returned from Suzhou, you've been distracted. Are you thinking about your brother Wang Yue again?"

Ah Bi, caught off guard, blushed and said, "Sister Ah Zhu, you're teasing me again."

Ah Zhu smiled bitterly. "Ah Bi, we are just maids. Wang Yue, though a hunter, is not an ordinary person. You saw how he doesn't look like an ordinary hunter, and even Master and Miss Yuyan treat him differently. He will surely become famous in the martial world. We can't aspire to be with him."

Ah Bi's eyes welled up with tears. "Sister Ah Zhu, I... I just like him."

Ah Zhu sighed. "Ah Bi, if you like him so much, let's go find him. I hope he doesn't mind your status."

Ah Zhu was much bolder than Ah Bi, a woman who dared to love and hate.

"Ah Bi." Murong Fu's voice came.

Ah Bi quickly wiped away her tears and bowed with Ah Zhu. "Master."

Murong Fu smiled. "Ah Bi, I heard what Ah Zhu said. If you like Wang Yue, go find him. I approve of your leaving."

Ah Bi was stunned. "Master, are you serious?"

Murong Fu nodded. "Of course, I am."

...

Wang Yue's life remained simple but fulfilling. He practiced martial arts and hunted every day.

Feeling the warmth of his family and the growth of his strength, Wang Yue felt deeply satisfied.

After hunting, he placed the game by the pond and began his daily cultivation.

"Alternating between the Three Body Posture of Xingyi Quan and the Tai Chi Yuan Gong Posture is more effective for cultivating qi and blood. I have finally reached the peak of Bright Force."

After more than four months of cultivation, Wang Yue had finally restored his cultivation to the peak of Bright Force, as in his previous life.

With the experience of reaching Dark Force, Wang Yue could become a Dark Force practitioner and reach the realm of a top martial artist in the martial world at any time. However, he was not in a hurry. He wanted to nurture his body to its peak, then unblock all his meridians, allowing his martial arts realm to naturally progress to the Dark Force stage. This would help him maximize his body's potential.

This would be greatly beneficial for future cultivation to the Transforming Force and Dan Force stages.

Wang Yue practiced Xingyi Quan's Five Elements Fist in the water.

The Five Elements Fist, embodying the transformations of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, was excellent for cultivating internal organs.

After finishing his practice, Wang Yue felt refreshed and invigorated, with fewer impurities in his body.

When he reached the Dark Force stage, Wang Yue believed that using Dark Force to refine his body would make it incredibly pure. At that time, his qi and blood would surge like a dragon, giving him the chance to become a Transforming Force practitioner.

...

"Home!"

Wang Yue returned to the village with his game.

As he approached the village entrance, an old man laughed. "Wang Yue, your wife has come. Hurry back. Ha ha."

Wang Yue was stunned. Wife? When did he get a wife? He hadn't heard of his parents arranging a marriage for him.

When he got home, he found Ah Bi there.

"Ah Bi, why are you here?" Wang Yue asked.

Wang Yue liked Ah Bi.

Ah Bi didn't have Ah Zhu's talent or Wang Yuyan's beauty and martial arts talent, but she was loyal and steadfast. This was the most important quality to Wang Yue.

She was the epitome of a virtuous wife and mother.

However, it was unlikely that Wang Yue would start a romantic relationship with Ah Bi now.

After all, Wang Yue's mind was that of a man in his thirties, while Ah Bi was just a young girl of thirteen or fourteen.

With the help of the Murong family, it was easy for Ah Bi to find out where Wang Yue lived.

Seeing Wang Yue return, Ah Bi happily called out, "Brother Wang Yue, you're back."