Chapter 34: The Aftermath

The Fu Family Estate.

In the training hall, the fragrance of medicinal herbs filled the air.

Fu Juemin was shirtless, leaning over the edge of a large bathtub. The rising steam had turned his skin slightly red.

Several servants stood by quietly, hands lowered, holding towels in readiness. Little Locust Flower, her sleeves rolled up and cheeks flushed, was vigorously scrubbing his back.

Li Tong sat on a chair a dozen or so paces away. Fu Juemin was completely unconcerned by his presence.

"...After today’s battle, I’ve realized that sparring with fists and feet is completely different from a life-or-death struggle."

Fu Juemin summarized his thoughts, "Combat experience, on-the-spot decision-making, cunning tactics... There are just too many factors that can decide a life-or-death fight. Pure strength and skill aren’t as crucial as I thought..."

Fu Juemin picked up a nearby wet towel and wiped the light sweat from his face, a result of the Medicated Bath’s steam. He sighed with a hint of resignation, "Also, the difference between having a weapon and not having one is just too great. A swordsman against a fist-fighter can almost erase the gap of an entire minor realm."

"What are Martial Arts?"

Li Tong tapped his teacup lightly and said flatly, "A Dharma to strengthen the body, a Skill for killing.

"The original purpose of the Martial Dao was to teach people how to quickly knock down and kill their enemies.

"The so-called Skin Polishing, Bone Forging, Blood Refining, Tongxuan... these are nothing more than boundaries forcibly drawn by later generations to measure strength.

"On a true battlefield of life and death, the means don’t matter, only the outcome—the living are strong, and the dead are weak."

"That makes sense."

Fu Juemin nodded.

Li Tong said, "This time, you just happened to face a large group of armed opponents.

"In the future, you might face those who use drugs, spread poison, or fire arrows from the shadows....

"With eighteen types of weaponry and a thousand different tricks, in the martial world, there are always dirtier tactics, but never the dirtiest."

Fu Juemin grew thoughtful and suddenly told Locust Flower to stop.

He sat up, faced Li Tong, and said seriously, "Uncle Tong, teach me. If I encounter a similar situation again, how should I handle it?"

"See more, train more, fight more... and you will naturally learn how to respond."

Li Tong answered calmly, "No one can teach you that. It all depends on your ability to adapt to the situation. However..."

He paused briefly. "For every extra bit of skill you learn in your daily training, you gain an extra bit of an edge when you need it."

Fu Juemin’s eyes lit up. "Uncle Tong, are you going to teach me a new technique?"

A nearby servant offered a fruit platter. Fu Juemin casually took a tangerine and gestured with his eyes for the servant to bring the platter to Li Tong.

Li Tong smiled and asked in return, "What does the Young Master wish to learn? Weapons?"

Peeling the tangerine, Fu Juemin mused, "No weapon is as convenient to carry as a firearm. I already carry a gun, so it’s not like I absolutely have to learn to use a bladed weapon.

"What I’m thinking is, it would be great if there was a technique that made me unafraid of an opponent’s weapons..."

"A technique to be unafraid of weapons..."

Li Tong shook his head, but then immediately continued, "I do, in fact, know of a technique that, once mastered, makes one fearless against ordinary blades.

"But the training process is extremely arduous. I’m afraid the Young Master won’t be able to endure such hardship."

"There you go again, Uncle Tong."

Fu Juemin’s eyes instantly brightened upon hearing this. "You’ve seen me practice martial arts for so long. When have I ever complained about the hardship?

"I insist on seeing just what kind of hardship I supposedly can’t endure.

"Will you teach me now, Uncle Tong?"

As he spoke, Fu Juemin made a move to stand up in the tub. The startled Locust Flower quickly covered her face and turned away.

But Li Tong raised a hand, quelling Fu Juemin’s eagerness. He then stood up and said in a calm tone, "Don’t be hasty, Young Master. We can talk about training tomorrow.

"You should wash up and get dressed first. After that, go to the study. The Master is waiting for you..."

"Thank you, Uncle Tong! Take care, Uncle Tong."

Fu Juemin replied with a smile. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the peeled tangerine flying toward Li Tong like a shooting star.

Li Tong caught it effortlessly, shook his head with a look of resignation, and turned to leave.

After Li Tong left, Fu Juemin soaked for a while longer before getting out of the tub with the help of the servants. He dressed neatly and then hurried to the study.

When he reached the study door, he knocked lightly.

Fu Guosheng’s flat voice came from inside. "Come in."

Fu Juemin pushed the door open and entered. He saw Fu Guosheng hunched over his desk, seemingly handling business matters.

He didn’t speak, just stood quietly to the side.

This "convenient" father of his, Fu Guosheng, still held a great deal of authority in Fu Juemin’s mind.

Part of it was due to the paternal authority Fu Guosheng had built up over nearly twenty years and his own powerful presence. The other part was that Fu Juemin still had to ask Fu Guosheng for money, whether for his martial arts training or his daily expenses.

Only after Fu Guosheng finished reading the document in his hand did he slowly raise his head.

Fu Juemin said, "Father."

Fu Guosheng nodded slightly. He looked at him and said flatly, "You did well this time.

"But remember, next time, you cannot be so reckless.

"No matter how precious another’s life may be, it is not as important as your own safety. You may go."

With that, without waiting for Fu Juemin’s response, he waved his hand dismissively and lowered his head again, as if he had summoned him just to say that one thing.

Fu Juemin, however, felt a sense of relief.

’According to the memories of this body’s previous owner, as long as Fu Guosheng didn’t scold him, it counted as praise.’

To actually receive a rare affirmation this time was truly unusual.

’It seemed Fu Guosheng was quite pleased with his accidental rescue mission.’

....

Night fell, and Fu Juemin, as was his routine, practiced the Mixed Element Stance in his bedroom.

It had now become an almost mandatory part of his nightly ritual before bed.

After finishing a session of the Pile Method, Fu Juemin walked slowly to the window and gazed at the night scene outside. It wasn’t too late, and a few streetlights were still on outside the Fu Family’s grand residence.

He thought back on the day’s events. Though it had only been half a day, it felt like a lifetime ago.

In the past, practicing martial arts was just that—practice. But after killing those bandits today, the personal power that came with martial strength gave Fu Juemin the feeling that he was gradually rising above ordinary people.

It was a strange transformation in his mindset.

He couldn’t say if it was entirely good or entirely bad.

’The bandits are not the main point. What matters is...’

Fu Juemin’s thoughts turned to the tall, thin man he had seen on New Street during the day. That man was his real target.

Having tasted the benefits of hunting a Demon Fiend, he was naturally unwilling to miss the opportunity when another potential one appeared before him. After all, killing a single Demon Fiend represented a leap in his own power.

Of course, the risks involved could not be ignored.

’I hope the police department can find him...’

’First, I need to confirm the Demon Fiend’s existence and location. Then, I can slowly make a plan.’

’If all else fails, I can still go to my Second Uncle, Fu Guoping, and use manpower and firepower to suppress it. As long as this Demon Fiend isn’t as tricky to deal with as the Water Demon from the docks...’

A night breeze blew in through the window. Fu Juemin had just finished his Stance practice, and with the lingering sweat on his body yet to dry, he actually felt a slight chill.

Overnight, it seemed autumn had arrived in Luan River.

.....

The next day, Fu Juemin woke up bright and early.

Li Tong had promised to teach him New Martial Arts yesterday, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.

So, he made a special trip to the back courtyard and had the servants set up breakfast in the martial arts pavilion, planning to eat while he waited for Li Tong to arrive.

The Fu Family’s guards were also up early, but they had to do their morning exercises first.

News of Fu Juemin bravely smashing the bandit’s den had already spread throughout the Fu Family estate yesterday. The family guards were aware of Fu Juemin’s strength, and after hearing about this, they held him in even greater awe.

Seeing Fu Juemin sitting in the pavilion, they all came up one by one to greet him.

Fu Juemin felt quite content as he ate his breakfast and watched Wang Shuisheng and the others practice their Stances and boxing on the lawn.

After waiting for what felt like an eternity, he finally saw Li Tong’s figure appear leisurely under the porchway.

Fu Juemin’s eyes lit up. Just as he was about to invite Li Tong to sit down and have a bite to eat, a servant suddenly ran up to report.

"Young Master, Miss Leyi is here to see you. She says she came specifically to meet with you."

Xu Leyi?

Fu Juemin frowned and said immediately, "I’m not seeing her."

’What’s there to see about Xu Leyi? I already have a poor impression of the woman. When we ran into each other on the street, she didn’t even greet me.’

’I’d even felt it was bad luck when I tore open the second sack yesterday.’

"Master Xu is here as well," the servant added.

Xu Shirong... ’So Xu Shirong brought Xu Leyi to the door. They must have come to express their thanks for yesterday’s events and explain the situation.’

Fu Juemin thought of the box containing the twenty-year-old Profound Leaf Stone Tiger that Xu Shirong had sent, and he slowly stood up.

But then, as if he had thought of something, he asked, "Did they see my father? What did he say?"

The servant answered honestly, "The Master said he didn’t know if the Young Master was awake yet, so he told me to come and check."

Hearing this, Fu Juemin immediately sat back down and said with a smile, "In that case, go back and tell my father that I’m not awake yet.

"And that I might not wake up at all today."