Free Web NovelChapter 18: Chapter 16: Change 2
Zhao Shan felt a deeply penetrating Power, like a red-hot iron rod, pierce through his flesh and skin, stabbing viciously into his very marrow.
First, an explosive pain erupted from his finger bones. Then, his entire left arm felt as if it had been drilled through by the Power, the agony reaching deep into his heart and lungs.
His feet immediately gave way. He stumbled back several steps, his burly frame staggering out the door. His back slammed with a THUD against the shack across the alley, shaking loose a cloud of dust, before he barely managed to stop his backward momentum.
Blood rushed to his face, then quickly drained away, leaving it ashen. He clenched his jaw so tightly that the muscles in his cheeks twitched.
Despite his best efforts to keep a straight face, the bone-piercing, marrow-deep pain from his left fist twisted his features, and his lips trembled uncontrollably.
’This kid’s fist power... how can it be so wicked? This bone-piercing pain...’
His heart sank. The thought of relying on his seasoned experience to brute-force a victory instantly cooled by half.
Chen Cheng, on the other hand, had used his Dragon Scale Shirt to roll with the impact, letting his muscles dissipate much of the Power. He only retreated half a step before standing firm.
His expression was unchanged as he slowly brought his right fist to his side, appearing to have the upper hand.
But only he knew that his entire right arm, hidden in his sleeve, was trembling uncontrollably. Every inch of muscle from his knuckles to his shoulder blade felt as if it were being torn to the point of shredding.
The difference in strength was, in the end, too great. It was simply impossible to bridge the gap with his current trump cards.
From that direct clash, his right arm had already suffered a hidden injury.
"Cheng..."
The Li Family’s trembling voice, on the verge of tears, came from the corner.
It was too dark inside the house; she couldn’t see clearly what had just happened in that brief moment.
Only now, seeing Zhao Shan knocked back by Chen Cheng, did her heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally drop back down a little. But her legs were still so weak she had to lean against the wall to keep from collapsing.
"...This!"
On the other side, Scar Bear had seen everything perfectly. His eyes were wide as saucers, his chest heaved, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he gulped for a long time, a bitter taste filling his mouth.
He never would have dreamed that Chen Cheng could actually force back a fearsome figure like Zhao Shan.
This was a seasoned Martial Artist who had genuinely condensed his Blood Qi and honed his skills for half a lifetime!
This meant that Chen Cheng, after practicing martial arts for only a month or two, had already crossed that celestial chasm! And he still had other hidden talents!
If word of this got out, the entire Kuhuai Village would be shaken to its core!
Scar Bear’s back was already soaked in a cold sweat as his mind raced...
This was his territory. Zhao Shan could just dust himself off and leave, but he, Scar Bear, couldn’t run.
He absolutely could not afford to offend this newly minted lord of a Martial Artist, Chen Cheng!
"Sir... please, calm down..."
Scar Bear quickly forced a smile and shuffled half a step to the side. He cupped his fists at Zhao Shan, who was still gasping for breath outside the door. Though his words were for Zhao Shan, the corner of his eye was fixed on Chen Cheng’s expression.
"This is, after all, territory looked after by my Black Wolf Gang. Please, do me this small favor... Let’s not escalate this any further. It wouldn’t be good for anyone, don’t you agree?"
"Hmph!"
Zhao Shan’s face was grim as he slowly shook his left arm, which was still numb and tingling with sharp pain.
"This time... for the sake of the Black Wolf Gang... I’ll leave!"
He clenched his teeth, his gaze like a poisoned hook that scraped viciously across Chen Cheng’s calm face before he flicked his sleeves and departed.
Obviously, Zhao Shan understood the situation perfectly.
If Chen Cheng were just a weak and low-ranking Lower Courtyard Disciple, he could have relied on his backing to forcibly eliminate him and just pay some compensation afterward.
But now, Chen Cheng was a true Martial Artist who had condensed his Blood Qi, which made him an official disciple of the Dragon Mountain Hall Middle Courtyard.
His status was completely different. Even the person backing Zhao Shan wouldn’t dare to harm Chen Cheng so brazenly.
Moreover, the Black Wolf Gang was now clearly on Chen Cheng’s side.
Continuing to press the issue would bring Zhao Shan absolutely no benefit.
"Lord Scar, thank you."
Chen Cheng’s tone was calm, betraying no sign of the abnormality caused by his hidden injury.
"Don’t! Brother Cheng, from now on, I’m not worthy of you calling me ’Lord’..."
Scar Bear waved his hands repeatedly, a smile practically overflowing from his face, and his back naturally bent a few degrees.
"From now on, just call me by my name, Xiong Lang."
"Brother Xiong."
Chen Cheng smiled.
"Have you eaten dinner? Why don’t you stay and have a bite with us?"
"Heh, Brother Cheng, you’re too kind!"
Hearing himself called ’Brother Xiong,’ Scar Bear’s grin nearly split his face from ear to ear.
"I still have to hurry to the next house to collect money, so I won’t impose... Another day. Another day, it’ll be my treat. I’ll call Brother Xiaolong, and the three of us can have a proper get-together!"
"Sounds good."
Chen Cheng raised an eyebrow.
"Then, about my family’s peace coins..."
"Do you even have to ask? Waived! Completely waived!"
Scar Bear deliberately raised his voice, his eyes darting about with a shrewdness meant to curry favor.
"Not just for you and your mother, but your other relatives can also benefit... It’s just that if they’re on someone else’s turf, you’ll have to go and have a word yourself..."
"Understood. In that case, forgive me for not seeing you out."
Chen Cheng still wore that same polite and courteous expression.
"Stay right there! Brother Cheng, please, don’t get up!"
Scar Bear bowed and scraped as he backed away. Before leaving, he even made a point to give a respectful bow to the Li Family.
"Old Madam, since Brother Cheng has called me Brother Xiong, you are like a second mother to me, Xiong Lang... From now on, within this little patch of land, if there’s ever anything you need me for, you just have to say the word!"
"This... oh."
The Li Family looked stunned, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet. In the end, she could only nod dumbly.
She had lived in Kuhuai Village her whole life, and this was the first time she had ever seen Scar Bear act so fawning and eager to please someone.
And what’s more, this fawning was directed solely at her!
Who was she? A penniless, powerless ant at the bottom of society, whose husband’s fate was unknown, who once felt like the sky was falling, and who worried where her next meal would come from...
For Scar Bear to treat her like this felt like a dream, utterly surreal.
"...Mom, let’s eat."
It wasn’t until Scar Bear was long gone that Chen Cheng’s voice brought the Li Family jolting back to her senses...
The dusty smell from the fight still lingered in the room. On the table, Chen Cheng slowly opened the package of braised beef, its aroma growing even more enticing.
The Li Family was finally, completely certain: this was not a dream!
Her son had truly made something of himself! He had genuinely become a Martial Artist lord!
All the surrealness of today had no other explanation—it was all thanks to her son!
"Cheng..."
The Li Family choked up, raising a hand to wipe the reddened corners of her eyes. A smile of ultimate relief slowly spread across her face, smoothing out all her wrinkles.
"Back then, your grandfather said your Root Bone was poor, and your third uncle privately advised me not to let you practice... I was so worried, I couldn’t sleep night after night..."
"Looking at you now, your decision wasn’t wrong at all. They were the ones who underestimated you!"
"From now on... thanks to you... I can finally hold my head up a little higher in front of them..."
She paused, her gaze growing distant, looking past Chen Cheng as if seeing something far away.
"If your father knew how successful you’ve become... I can’t even imagine how happy he would be..."
"...Dad."
Hearing this, Chen Cheng stiffened slightly, struggling to control his emotions.
He had been lying to his mother about the contents of his father’s letter, telling her that his father was still training in the rear and that everything was fine...
It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about telling his mother the truth; he just hadn’t found the right opportunity.
The key thing was, he was afraid she wouldn’t be able to bear it if she knew the truth.
He could only try to keep it from her for as long as possible.
Because of this, he also couldn’t claim the ten taels of reward money that had been sent back with the letter—the money his father had traded his life for.
Otherwise, if the matter came to light, his mother would be forced to face the utterly cruel truth.
"Cheng, eat! I got another job from the Red Moon Nunnery today, so I specially bought some coarse rice and small fish. You should eat a few extra bowls!"
The Li Family took out a bowl and chopsticks, handing them to Chen Cheng first.
"Okay. Mom, you should eat more too. Slowly build your strength back up..."
Chen Cheng subconsciously raised his dominant right hand to take the bowl, but a sharp, intense pain shot through his entire arm.
His movement froze. His brow furrowed instantly, and a suppressed hiss of breath escaped through his clenched teeth.
"Cheng, your arm!?" the Li Family exclaimed in alarm.
"It’s nothing. I just used a bit too much force earlier. It feels like I pulled a muscle. I’ll be fine after I move it around a bit..."
Chen Cheng had the Li Family bolt the door from the inside, while he silently assumed his stance and began to circulate the art of Health Tai Chi.
