Realm-Hopping Martial Master

The atmosphere among the large households was tense, with drawn swords and crossbows at the ready. Each large household had already recruited Martial Artists, and even further sought out other Martial Artists, yet it wasn't enough; they still extended their reach to the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School's apprentices.

Typical martial arts schools were backed by large households.

Therefore, the apprentices of such a martial arts school could directly become members of the large households.

But the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School was different.

Master Chou had no backing from any large household.

The school's apprentices were naturally free.

They had the right to choose.

If one talented individual was recruited, with good luck, he might become a Martial Artist of the future. At the very least, he could serve as a Protector.

One day they will know that severing ties with their Master was the most foolish decision of their lives.

Observing Qi Yuan's demeanor, Jiang Shu could see that Qi Yuan actually respected Master Chou more deeply in his heart than he himself did.

After all, unlike Jiang Shu, Qi Yuan did not know Master Chou's true realm beforehand.

In Qi Yuan's eyes, Master Chou might still be among the weaker practitioners within the Bone Forging Realm, his vital energy declining with age.

"How could it be possible?" Qi Yuan lamented. "With the backing of a large household, they've all reached the Iron Skin Realm, and I'm still a little short on vital energy."

"If only I were in the Bone Forging Realm..."

Qi Yuan shook his head dispiritedly, clearly not taking Jiang Shu's words seriously. "If I were in the Bone Forging Realm, I would stand over there. I'd like to see who dares to come forward! If Master doesn't fight, I will."

"It's just..."

"There's no 'just,' Brother Qi," Jiang Shu interrupted. "Your current realm is not far from the Iron Skin Realm. Once you reach it, how far can the Bone Forging Realm be?"

"Master will teach you martial arts techniques, and resources will always be available. As long as you have a steadfast martial heart, you will keep progressing on the martial path."

"On the other hand, tormenting yourself is truly a waste of time. When in doubt, it's better to train in martial arts. Just as you said, if you were in the Bone Forging Realm, would you still be this troubled?"

Standing up, Jiang Shu patted Qi Yuan's shoulder.

He then turned around. At this moment, Qi Yuan needed some time alone to reflect. And he himself had to pay a visit to Master Chou. He wondered what his unassuming Master was thinking.

「Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School.」

Indeed, only five or six apprentices were still persisting in their training.

In Jiang Shu's view, the offers from the large households were nothing but the old shell game. They offered to waive your training fees upfront, allowing you to train with their Protectors or even those at the Skin Grinding Realm. Once you made some progress and earned a share of the reward money, you would then pay back your previous debts. It seemed fair, but who knew if the large households were setting traps? How much reward money would they give, and how much would they deduct? Would the debts accrue compound interest? It was like the mortgage loans in his previous life: a two-million-unit house, once mortgaged, turned into four million with interest and costs. For those capable, it indeed might be worth a gamble. But what about the majority of the apprentices? They would only be crushed under the weight of such heavy debts for the rest of their lives.

Inside the martial arts school.

Master Chou, quite uncharacteristically, was seriously guiding each apprentice.

When Jiang Shu arrived, Master Chou walked away with his hands behind his back, leaving only a command: "You take over."

Jiang Shu, pressed into service, helplessly pointed out the deficiencies in each apprentice's stance and breathing.

With the aid of the interface, he had long since ground the basic Hungry Tiger Seated Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Technique to the Break Limit. Even Master Chou, at the Refining Internal Realm, was not his match in these two areas. His every instruction was spot on. The more talented apprentices seemed to have sudden insights and immersed themselves in their training.

Master Chou also looked at Jiang Shu in surprise.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Having finished instructing the five or six apprentices, Jiang Shu followed Master Chou to the large courtyard where he trained.

"The Yao Family might resort to some underhanded tactics during this period, so be cautious," Master Chou said, lying comfortably in a lounge chair with his eyes closed. "They are overtly trying to poach apprentices, but covertly they want to test how much forbearance and skill this old man possesses. The Yao Family has its eye on your herbal spice formula. Since they negotiated with you, they naturally also came to discuss it with this old man. Because I agreed to nothing, this current drama is unfolding. If this old man does nothing, they will naturally be somewhat more aggressive towards you. So, this old man thought it over. Since they insist on acting, we might as well let them have their way.

"And incidentally, let's see, young Jiang, just how much skill have you really acquired from all this old man's most treasured Martial Arts? Do you have the ability to deliver this old man's letter?"

Master Chou paused, his eyes quickly flicked over Jiang Shu. Seeing his calm demeanor, he nodded and said, "Consider it a small test. If you can't even handle a large household in a county town, then just accept your misfortune. Meekly hand over the secret recipe to the Yao Family, and this old man will, at most, save your life. Whether you choose to diligently practice Martial Arts for revenge or leave the county thereafter will be your own decision."

"This old man doesn't really expect you to definitely deliver the letter. With your current level of combat strength, it's uncertain whether you could even make it past the great mountains."

"Unless the esteemed County Magistrate Nie intervenes, Disciple should have nothing to fear," Jiang Shu responded in a very natural tone.

Fists always bring true confidence to a man. Unless a Refining Internal Realm expert appears, even if the Yao Family deployed four Bone Forging Realm powerhouses, they would never be able to hold him! There are levels even within the Bone Forging Realm. Besides, so what if they have all tempered their spinal bones? Without experiencing life-and-death combat, the strength of Martial Artists who've only advanced through realm progression can hardly reach half that of a true combat-tested Martial Artist! And he, Jiang Shu, had fought his way through places like the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm! He had carried his blade, hacking his way from south to north, then from north back to south, without so much as blinking an eye! Any Bone Forging Realm fighter from the insignificant Yao Family who came at him, he would cut down! There wasn't a hint of panic in his heart.

After parting from Master Chou, Jiang Shu maintained his normal routine: sleeping and practicing his boxing.

Occasionally, he would return to the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm to hunt some second-tier Mutant Beasts, bringing back their meat for consumption.

He shared the beast meat with Qi Yuan. Stimulated by this recent event, Qi Yuan had successfully reached the Iron Skin Realm. He then secluded himself, closing his doors to stabilize his realm.

I've kept up this act for several days; the Yao Family must be getting anxious by now, Jiang Shu thought. Moreover, I've indeed stayed in Pingling County long enough. If I don't return soon, Shang Jibei and the others will start to worry.

Jiang Shu smiled, packed up everything, and walked out of the inner city.

In the inner city, even a prominent family like the Yao Family had to abide by the laws of the Da Jing Dynasty. Threats and bribes were useless against him there. The only real underhanded tactic they could employ was to wait for him to leave the city and then, in the wilderness, send a few Bone Forging Realm fighters to threaten his life. It was uncertain how highly the Yao Family regarded him this time. The more Bone Forging Realm fighters they arranged, the more satisfying the slaughter would be!

Facing the Yao Family, Jiang Shu had long harbored a bellyful of resentment. Since arriving in this world, gangs, prominent families, and county government offices—each had obstructed him at every stage. When he was still learning the language and script of the Da Jing Dynasty, not even capable of Qi Blood Sensing, he was suppressed by gangs. Upon entering the inner city, his access to martial arts resources was tightly controlled by the prominent families. If not for the Two Realms Shuttle, even with his interface, he would at most be a Martial Artist at the Iron Skin Realm by now. He wouldn't proactively seek trouble, but trouble always found him. All he could do was kill, kill, kill! Kill for himself! And kill for those Martial Artists and commoners who could never rise above their station in their entire lives.

He had just stepped out of the inner city when Jiang Shu sensed someone eyeing him from a corner.

He paid it no mind, casually strolling along, giving the Yao Family plenty of time to react.

「Sanling Town.」

A familiar place. Every visit here seemed to trigger a new turn of events.

Jiang Shu carried his heavy sword, ascending the mountain path.

Behind him, the figures of his trackers finally stopped trying to hide.

The mountains. Always the best burial ground for a Martial Artist. Here, no one would know if you were killed by someone or ended up in the belly of some Mutant Beast.

"Jiang Shu, I advise you—"

"Enough of your rambling! Take my blade!"

A smug voice rang out from behind.

But Jiang Shu, well-prepared, suddenly drew the heavy sword from his back.

He whirled around.

Before he even got a clear look at the man's face, he executed Fierce Tiger Jumping!

His first move was a killing blow!

Nearly ten thousand pounds of force surged into the heavy sword.

Combined with the power of Fierce Tiger Jumping, it was swift as lightning, tearing through the air, and slashed diagonally across the middle-aged Martial Artist's neck.

The heavy sword was edgeless.

But under the explosive force, a head, its face frozen in disbelief, detached from the body and flew into the air, ultimately rolling on the ground.

Blood gushed out like a fountain.

The body, as if its support had vanished, collapsed.

Only the surging Qi Blood within him proved he had achieved some level of martial cultivation; his realm was definitely beyond the Skin Grinding Realm.

Jiang Shu frowned, looking at the middle-aged Martial Artist on the ground, so easily defeated.

He couldn't help but mutter, A Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist? So weak?