Huang Xu wore a solemn expression, which once again moved Zhou Shunchang.

"My uncle is not going back to the Huang Family!" Xu Yang announced as he strode in.

When the Three Huang Brothers saw him, their expressions changed. They all knew why they had come to apologize.

It wasn’t that they realized they had wrongly accused Zhou Shunchang, but that Xu Yang had achieved Dragon Ascension, and the Huang Family could not afford to offend him.

"For the sake of our past relationship, I won’t pursue the matter of you slandering my uncle. But I don’t care what methods you use—you will restore my uncle’s reputation and publicly clarify that you slandered him. If you can’t, don’t blame me for disregarding our old ties." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Xu Yang’s cold gaze swept over Huang Ping, and the immense pressure made Huang Ping break out in a cold sweat.

"Ah Yang, what are you doing here?" Zhou Shunchang’s expression also changed slightly.

’He hadn’t wanted Xu Yang to know about this matter, but it seems he already has.’

"Uncle!"

Xu Yang bowed to Zhou Shunchang and said, "You were dragged into this and bullied because of me. Would I even be human if I didn’t show up?"

"They..."

Zhou Shunchang tried to make excuses for the Huang Family, but Xu Yang cut him off.

"They don’t actually think they were wrong to slander you. They only came to apologize because I, your nephew, achieved Dragon Ascension."

Zhou Shunchang felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Their humble, fawning attitude wasn’t because of his years of loyal service to the Huang Family, but because his nephew had achieved Dragon Ascension.

’They were even scheming with their apology.’

’Wait, Dragon Ascension?’

As the realization dawned, the disappointment in his heart was replaced by a wave of immense joy. Forgetting the unpleasantness with the Huang Family, he looked at Xu Yang, overjoyed.

’My own nephew... he actually achieved Dragon Ascension.’

Ignoring Zhou Shunchang, who was grinning from ear to ear, Xu Yang turned to Huang Xu. "So you won’t agree to this?"

"The Huang Family agrees! We will certainly restore your uncle’s reputation and publicly clarify the entire matter," Huang Jin hastily replied.

This wasn’t a difficult task, it just meant the Huang Family would lose face again. But having lost face several times already, they didn’t really care anymore.

The truly greatest loss was squandering the goodwill of a Dragon Ascending Genius.

Huang Ping trembled, not daring to utter a word.

He now lacked the courage to even speak to the country bumpkin he had once despised.

"We will naturally be the ones to clarify this," Huang Xu also declared, his guts twisting with regret.

The Huang Family was a minor clan; they truly couldn’t afford to offend a Dragon Ascending Genius.

"Take your things and go. From this day forward, all debts and grievances between us and the Huang Family are settled."

The three didn’t dare say another word. They signaled their servants to pick up their things and departed.

A moment later, Xu Yang heard Huang Ping’s miserable scream, accompanied by the SLAP, SLAP of resounding smacks.

"Ah Yang, you’ve really made something of yourself."

After the Three Huang Brothers left, Zhou Shunchang excitedly grabbed Xu Yang’s arm, his face filled with relief and pride.

He never imagined that not only had his nephew earned the title of Martial Scholar, but he had even achieved Dragon Ascension. The Second Master of the Huang family, who usually seemed so high and mighty, now didn’t even dare to let out a peep.

"Ah Yang, you told your uncle not to go back to the Huang Family. What’s he going to do for a living now?"

Although his aunt was happy, she remembered their rice jar was empty and had no choice but to ask the mood-dampening question.

"Don’t worry, Aunt. Since I’ve achieved Dragon Ascension, the Qiu Family will be able to rise by using my influence. They offered me a share in their business, but I don’t have time to manage it. From now on, Uncle can manage it for me. We’ll split the profits fifty-fifty."

"I can’t accept that!"

Zhou Shunchang hurriedly refused. Although he didn’t know how much it would be, he knew it definitely wouldn’t be a small amount.

"Don’t refuse, Uncle. We’re family. Besides, I’ll be leaving soon, and I need to entrust Xiaqing to your care."

His uncle’s family was the only one he trusted to look after the little girl. The city was safer, and besides, the girl was growing up. There were some things he, as her older brother, couldn’t properly teach her; she needed a woman’s guidance.

He took out two taels of silver and gave it to his aunt, then hurried off toward the Qiu Family residence with Zhou Shunchang.

...

When Xu Yang returned to Weiyuan Hall, he found the Outer Courtyard was much livelier, with even more disciples than before.

He asked An Ye and learned that because Weiyuan Hall had produced six Dragon Ascending Disciples in the Martial Arts Examination, its fame had skyrocketed, and the number of people wanting to enroll had surged.

The Inner Courtyard, however, was not so lively. It was quiet and deserted.

With the exception of himself, all the disciples who had participated in the Martial Arts Examination were injured. They were now recovering at home, so the courtyard was less than half full.

"Greetings, Brother Xu!"

"Hello, Brother Xu!"

Seeing him, all the junior brothers in the Inner Courtyard stopped what they were doing to greet him with immense enthusiasm.

Qiu Wenjie and Tian Li were waving to him from a distance. He was about to head over when Lin Cheng’s voice suddenly rang in his ear.

"Xu Yang, come here to me."

It was Lin Cheng’s voice, but it sounded somewhat stiff and devoid of any emotional inflection. Moreover, only he could hear it.

’Secret Transmission?’

Xu Yang was shocked. He was at least thirty meters away from Lin Cheng, yet his master could transmit his voice over such a distance.

"Disciple pays his respects to Master!" He quickly arrived at Lin Cheng’s small courtyard.

Lin Cheng was reclining on a lounge chair, while several of his young wives watered flowers nearby.

"Do you have nothing to do now?" Lin Cheng asked.

Xu Yang nodded.

Since he had agreed to join the Lin Family, he naturally couldn’t continue serving as a Tributor for the Liu Family. It wasn’t just that he had nothing to do; he also had no income.

"Your Senior Brother Sun still needs some time to recover, and An Ye is inexperienced. From now on, he’ll be responsible for the mornings, and you’ll take the afternoons. I’ll give you five taels of silver a month and provide three meals a day. How does that sound?"

Hiring a Dragon Ascending Genius for a mere five taels of silver a month was probably something only Lin Cheng would do.

"Thank you, Master!" Xu Yang said, cupping his fists.

He wasn’t about to complain. He would be leaving in two months at most anyway, so he was lucky to have found any work at all.

Besides, Lin Cheng was clearly looking out for him. After all, when Sun Tao and An Ye helped teach the other disciples, they didn’t get paid a cent—they were working for free.

"Come, your Master is in a good mood today. Perform your Turtle and Snake Grand Posture and your Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist. I’ll give you some pointers," Lin Cheng said, sitting up in his chair.

’This old fox probably just wants to check up on my Martial Arts progress again.’ Since he hadn’t practiced his fist techniques at Weiyuan Hall in a long time, Lin Cheng had likely guessed something was up.

"Master, I’d like to learn that Secret Transmission technique you just used, if I may? As for the Pile Skill and Fist Technique, I won’t trouble you with those," Xu Yang said with a sincere expression.

Lin Cheng’s voice deepened. "Don’t bite off more than you can chew. While Secret Transmission is a minor skill, you must reach the level of Qi Cultivation Gang to learn it. The Martial Arts Hall only teaches the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture and the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist not because we are reluctant to pass on other techniques, but because we don’t want you to get distracted.

"In two months, you will be heading for the Dragon Ascension. Your top priority should be reaching Qi Gathering Perfection within that time. It would be best if you could even achieve Marrow Cleansing before entering the Sect."

Qi Cultivation Gang was a Marrow Cleansing method, yet he had to reach that stage just to learn Secret Transmission.

Xu Yang was somewhat disappointed. He obediently cupped his fists and said, "I will follow Master’s teachings."

Reaching Qi Gathering Perfection and attempting Marrow Cleansing within two months was basically impossible for him. Now that he had lost the Liu Family’s monthly stipend, his Cultivation progress was bound to slow down.

"Master, when can I learn the method for Qi Cultivation Gang and Muscle and Marrow Cleansing?" Xu Yang asked, seizing the opportunity.

Many people continued to pay the Martial Arts Hall two taels of silver every month even after reaching Qi Gathering Great Success. The main reason was that the Hall held the methods for Qi Cultivation Gang and Muscle and Marrow Cleansing, so they didn’t dare stop paying their tuition. They feared that the day they finally reached Qi Gathering Perfection, they would have nowhere to learn the next stage of techniques.

Though Weiyuan Hall only had forty to fifty disciples training in its inner and outer courtyards each day, the number of people actually paying monthly tuition was at least over one hundred.

It was just that most of them, despite still paying tuition, no longer came to the Martial Arts Hall.

Hearing this, Lin Cheng pondered for a moment before saying, "The methods for Qi Cultivation Gang and Muscle and Marrow Cleansing are, by rule, only taught after a disciple reaches Qi Gathering Perfection and the Martial Arts Hall reports it to the Government Office.

"However, disciples like you who succeeded in the Dragon Ascension are an exception. I had originally planned to wait for your other martial brothers to recover and return before teaching all of you together.

"Since you’ve asked, I will impart the Fuyue Bear Scripture to you today."

As he spoke, he took a key from around his neck and said to one of his young concubines nearby, "Go and fetch the Fuyue Bear Scripture."

"Greetings, Mistress," Xu Yang said, bowing to the young woman who was not much older than himself.

"Mm."

The Mistress gave Xu Yang a charming smile, took the key from Lin Cheng’s hand, and turned to leave. A moment later, she returned with a book as thick as a finger and handed it to Lin Cheng.