"Alright, thank you for your trouble."
Lin Changâsheng took out ten taels of silver and handed them to He Jin.
He Jin recorded Lin Changâshengâs age and joining date in the register, then handed him a wooden token with the word "Outer" carved on the front and the Iron Palm emblem on the back. "Take this identification token. In the future, youâll use it to enter the Iron Hand Martial Arts Hallâs training grounds. Come, Iâll take you to the training hall."
Lin Changâsheng followed He Jin into the Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall.
What he saw was a blue-stone square, where several hundred youths of varying ages were practicing Iron Sand Palm in front of black iron sandbags, shouts echoing constantly.
He Jin handed Lin Changâsheng over to Instructor Zhang at the training hall, then left.
"Since youâve become a disciple of the martial hall, Iâll now teach you the entry-level method for Iron Sand Palm!"
"The so-called Iron Sand Palm requires you to send your energy from your Dantian, focusing fully into your palm! When you begin, apply force steadily, and as you exhale, let the sound flow out..."
Instructor Zhang, over fifty, bald, with large, calloused hands, pointed at the black iron sandbag on the stone bench and explained the cultivation method and key points of the Iron Sand Palm to Lin Changâsheng.
The Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall wasnât afraid of disciples teaching Iron Sand Palm outside.
Thatâs because Iron Sand Palm relies on iron sand and medicinal ingredients as training aids, developed through specific training methods into a type of hard palm technique, useful both for attack and defense. Over time, Iron Sand Palm can shatter bricks and split stones.
The key to its practice is relying on medicinal power, and careful attention to luck to strengthen the inner body.
After training, one must use a secret handwashing recipe to disinfect, reduce swelling, and strengthen the tendons and bones. Without the secret handwashing formula, if you train privately, your hands will be ruinedâtherefore, the martial hall isnât afraid if the method is taught outside.
The real secret lies in the handwashing formula!
"Train well, aim to reach entry level in three months!"
Instructor Zhang patted Lin Changâsheng on the shoulder, then went off to coach other disciples.
Following Instructor Zhangâs instructions, Lin Changâsheng repeatedly slapped the sandbag in front of him, while watching his panel.
"Still hasnât shown entry level..."
Lin Changâsheng frowned, continuing to strike. Time passed, and after fifteen minutes, his hands felt numb. He was about to rest when a notification popped up at the edge of his panel.
"Martial Art Iron Sand Palm detected. Spend 1 tael of silver to simplify Iron Sand Palm?"
"Finally, Iâve reached entry level! Excellent!"
Lin Changâsheng managed to keep his composure, informed Instructor Zhang, and headed home.
Back in the small courtyard.
No one else was around.
Lin Changâsheng stood under a tree, focused his mind, and the panel appeared.
"Simplify Iron Sand Palm!"
With anticipation, Lin Changâsheng tapped the button.
[Great Dao is Simple: Simplifying Iron Sand Palm... Simplifying... Simplification successful... Iron Sand Palm == Rubbing Hands!]
The notification flashed.
"Iron Sand Palm simplified to Rubbing Hands?!"
Reading the message, Lin Changâshengâs eyes lit up. He looked at the panel and tried rubbing his hands together.
[Great Dao is Simple: Level 1]
[Lin Changâsheng: 16/55]
[Cultivation: Unranked (99/100)]
[Cultivation Technique: None]
[Martial Arts: Archery (Great Perfection), Iron Sand Palm (Entry Level 17/100)]
[Spend a certain amount of silver taels to simplify cultivation techniques, martial arts, etc.]
[Status: Yin Qi Invasion]
"It really got simplified! Each rub adds 1 point!"
"At this rate, Iâll reach Great Perfection in Iron Sand Palm soon, right?"
As the numbers on his panel leapt with each rub, Lin Changâshengâs heart filled with anticipationâhe kept rubbing his hands without pause.
.........
Only 8 days until Lunar New Yearâs Eve.
During this time, Lin Changâsheng worked at Sister Zhenâs Noodle House in the morning, and in the afternoon, as usual, went to the Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall. His Iron Sand Palm, through constant rubbing, now displayed: Iron Sand Palm (Perfection 62389/62500).
That morning.
Lin Changâsheng found that Sister Zhenâs Noodle House hadnât opened. He went to her home and knocked, but there was no responseâit was pitch dark inside.
When dawn broke, he went next door to the vegetable stand and asked, "Uncle Zhang, do you know why Sister Zhen didnât open up today?"
"You donât know? I heard that her mother-in-law died from poisoning yesterday afternoon. The government office sent people to investigate, said she poisoned her mother-in-law, and took her away."
"Sigh, itâs hard enough for an orphaned widow..."
The vegetable seller, Old Man Zhang, sighed.
"That canât be! Sister Zhen is a kind personâI donât think sheâd ever harm her mother-in-law."
Lin Changâsheng frowned.
He had been at the martial hall the afternoon before, returning after dark, and hadnât expected something like this to happen at Sister Zhenâs house.
Sister Zhenâs mother-in-law may have been vicious, but Sister Zhen treated her well. Why would she kill her?
"Thereâs always trouble at a widowâs door."
Old Man Zhang sighed again and again.
.......
Ma Zhankui was not yet forty, but had already become one of Mu Cityâs wealthy men.
Because his sister, Ma Qian, was the concubine of the Mu City County Magistrate, Ma Zhankui took advantage of this connection to bag many lucrative deals, amassing a fortune and bribing all levels of officialdom, with over a hundred members of the Cyan Snake Gang at his command.
Behind East Street, five li away, Ma Zhankui had built a grand estate, with pavilions and lotus ponds, lavish beyond measure, and a dozen household maids and servants.
"Old Li, howâd it go?"
Beside the lotus pond, Ma Zhankui looked at the old man in front of him and asked.
"Master, I told the widow as you instructedâif she agreed to marry you as a concubine, weâd help her get off the hook. But she refused." Old Liâs eyes flashed darkly.
"She refused? Then go tell her if no one helps her, sheâll be beheaded, and her child left with no one to care for him!"
Ma Zhankuiâs eyes were cold and sinister.
"Yes, Master!"
Old Li turned and left.
"If she refuses, her child will suffer!"
"Heh, I refuse to believe I canât conquer a mere widow!"
"The more chaste you are, the more I want you!"
Ma Zhankuiâs eyes narrowed, ablaze with desire.
Ever since he had seen the owner of Sister Zhenâs Noodle House, Yan Zhen, two months ago, heâd been obsessed with possessing that gentle, delicate beauty. To get her, heâd even arranged for her mother-in-law to be poisoned, then had her arrested to force her into submission.
........
Mu City.
East Street Wayâfive li outâalongside a river that ran through Mu City, the banks lined with big rocks and woods.
A young man in commonerâs clothes stood by the riverside.
It was Lin Changâsheng.
Lin Changâsheng checked to make sure he was alone.
Immediately, he walked up to a large boulder, channeled his Iron Sand Palm in Great Perfection state. His palm radiated blazing heat with a faint, greenish-blue glow flickering around it.
Lin Changâsheng discovered that, having reached Great Perfection in Iron Sand Palm, both his hands had become as hard as iron, much heavier than before!
And not just that.
His whole body had grown much stronger as well, appetite increased, complexion improved, strength soaring. On his panel, his cultivation progress bar: Third Rate (419/500).
However, the Yin Qi Invasion status remained.
"Split!"
Lin Changâsheng slapped his right hand down.
Boom!
A thunderous crashâthe half-meter boulder beneath his feet exploded into fragments, the point of impact reduced to stone dust!
"At Great Perfection, Iron Sand Palm really does shatter stone and split tablets!"
Eyes shining, Lin Changâsheng approached a tree about a foot in diameter and struck with Iron Sand Palm like a blade, piercing the tree through in an instant as wood chips flew everywhere!
"Sister Zhen has helped me a lot. I have to find a way to save her."
Lin Changâsheng muttered, turning to leave.
......
Night fell.
The sky was pitch-dark.
Mu City County Government Office.
An estate five li away.
A lean, middle-aged man lay sprawled on his bed, snoring softly.
This was Mu Cityâs forensic doctor, Li Zhen.
At this moment, the room door slowly opened, and a black-clad figure in a devil-faced mask slipped in, holding a dagger in their right hand.
The masked man tapped Li Zhen on the back of the head with a finger.
"Ahâwho areâ"
Li Zhen woke in fright, just as a cold, hoarse voice said, "Li Zhen, if you shout, Iâll kill you instantly! I just have a few questions for you."
"A-alright! Go ahead, I... Iâll tell you everything!"
Seeing the glittering dagger, fear flashed in Li Zhenâs eyes, his voice trembling.
"What poison killed Widow Yan Zhenâs mother-in-law? Do you know where the poison came from?"
The masked man spoke coldly, dagger pressed to Li Zhenâs throat, drawing a thin line of blood.
"C-cyan... Cyan Snake Powder..."
"A-according to what I know, Cyan Snake Powder is the secret poison of the Cyan Snake Swordsman who vanished ten years ago..."
Li Zhen said, lips quivering.
"The Cyan Snake Swordsmanâs secret poison? Then Yan Zhen canât be the killerâyou know that, so why did you blame her? Speak! Or Iâll kill you on the spot!"
Lin Changâsheng frowned and struck Li Zhenâs right armâa sharp crack as the bone snapped.
Sister Zhen couldnât possibly have the Cyan Snake Swordsmanâs secret poison. Something deeply wrong was going on here.
"Ahâi-it was Ma ZhankuiâMaster Ma... He ordered me to accuse the widow... I donât know anything else..."
Wracked with pain and under threat of death, Li Zhen could only confess.
"Ma Zhankui! Fine. Tomorrow, you will find a way to clear Yan Zhenâs name. If you fail, I will wipe out your entire family!"
Lin Changâshengâs voice was hoarse and icy cold.
"Yes, yes, I promise!"
Li Zhen answered at once.
Bam!
Lin Changâsheng struck Li Zhen with a hand chop, knocking him unconscious.
"Never thought Ma Zhankui could be this ruthless!"
Lin Changâsheng murmured, closed the door, and left.
And so, Lin Changâsheng found outâ
Ma Zhankui was County Magistrate Chen Lingâs brother-in-law. In less than ten years, he had risen to wealth, becoming one of Mu Cityâs richest men. Lin Changâsheng remembered, about two months ago, Ma Zhankui had come to Sister Zhenâs Noodle House to eat. Heâd even asked her to come cook at his place, but Sister Zhen refused.