At sixteen, Qi Ruiliang was young, yet his speech and demeanor carried a polished courtesy beyond his years.

Behind him stood a few other youths.

From their behavior, it was clear they subtly deferred to Qi Ruiliang as their leader.

“No, no,” Xiangzi said with a smile, clasping his fists. “As a newcomer, I should be the one paying visits. I’ve been remiss; tonight’s meal should be on me.”

Qi Ruiliang was slightly surprised. He’d heard this man was a rustic, yet his words were unexpectedly refined.

Recalling the tall figure’s astonishing display earlier, Qi Ruiliang couldn’t help but regard him with newfound respect.

“Brother Li, you jest,” Qi Ruiliang said with a laugh, stepping aside. “How could we let a guest foot the bill for his own welcome? Please, Brother Li.”

Xiangzi knew “hosting” was just polite talk, so he didn’t press the matter, only smiling in response.

Of course, if these young masters truly expected him to pay, it would mean they had no real interest in befriending him—just toying with him.

If that happened, don’t blame me, Xiangzi, for turning cold!

The group chatted and laughed as they walked. From a distance, a round, chubby face poked out from a window across the way. “Young Master Qi! If you’re putting together a gathering, count me in!”

Qi Ruiliang paused, then chuckled. “Well, look at me, forgetting Brother Chen.”

Chen Jiashang, unfazed, grinned and scurried out of his room.

—

The first-class apprentices strode out together, their grey robes fluttering—a rare sight in the apprentice courtyard.

The small golden knife embroidered on their sleeves sparked envy in the other apprentices’ eyes.

As they passed the third-class courtyard, they ran into Jiang Wangshui and Xu Xiaoliu.

Seeing Xiangzi, both lit up with joy, but when Jiang Wangshui noticed the elegant youth leading the group, his expression faltered.

Xu Xiaoliu sensed something amiss. “Young Master Jiang, who’s that? He’s got quite the presence.”

“In front of him, how can I be called ‘Young Master’?” Jiang Wangshui sighed, his expression complex. “He’s from the Qi family—West City’s Qi family.”

“The Qi family?” Xu Xiaoliu’s brows furrowed, his voice rising in shock. “Not the Qi family of the Clear Gang?”

Jiang Wangshui smirked. “In all of West City, is there another Qi family?”

Xu Xiaoliu’s heart raced. The Clear Gang was Forty-Nine City’s top faction, controlling not just the floating docks of West City but many businesses throughout the city.

Then it hit him. A native of East City’s Debao Rickshaw Yard, he’d heard plenty about the Four Seas Gambling House.

Rumor has it the gambling house’s madam is backed by the Clear Gang!

No wonder Jiang Wangshui seemed so subdued in front of this Young Master Qi.

—

“Brother Li, are those two your friends? If you don’t mind, why not invite them along?” Qi Ruiliang paused, asking with a smile.

His social grace was impeccable, making everyone feel at ease.

Xiangzi thought for a moment, said, “Please wait,” and walked over to Jiang Wangshui and Xu Xiaoliu with a smile.

After explaining, Jiang Wangshui hesitated, then laughed. “No, no, this is your gathering, Brother Xiang. I won’t intrude.”

Knowing Jiang Wangshui’s pride, Xiangzi didn’t push, only making plans to meet later before returning to the group.

Jiang Wangshui watched their retreating figures, standing frozen. He touched the two golden knives embroidered on his sleeve—today, he and Xu Xiaoliu had passed the blood energy test with top marks, earning spots in the second-class courtyard.

Yet, seeing Xiangzi walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the Qi family’s young master, his small spark of pride dimmed.

Just days ago, this big guy was sharing a communal bunk with him. Now, he was rubbing shoulders with West City’s Qi family heir?

Jiang Wangshui sighed softly, clenching his fists, and whispered to Xu Xiaoliu, “Little Liu, we’ve got to step up!”

Xu Xiaoliu, straightforward as ever, missed Jiang’s deeper thoughts. “Right! So, Young Master Jiang, are we still heading to the kitchen? I’ve been braising those demon beast offals all day!”

Jiang Wangshui, caught between exasperation and amusement, felt a surge of boldness. “Eat! Why wouldn’t we? No food, no strength to break through the skin barrier!”

—

Stars shifted, time passed like a fleeting colt.

In the blink of an eye, Xiangzi had been in the first-class courtyard for a month.

In the vast training ground, sweat steamed under the sun.

Zhao Mu stood with hands behind his back, his face as cold as ever.

“You’ve trained the Dragon Bone Tiger Tendon Art for a month. If anyone still can’t show results today, they’re out—back to the second-class courtyard.”

At these words, many apprentices’ faces flushed red as they strained to guide their blood energy, grimacing in pain.

Zhao Mu’s face only grew sterner. “If you can’t handle the pain of grinding bones, how will you withstand the Bone-Strengthening Broth’s potency?”

Spurred by this, the first-class apprentices pushed harder.

But tempering muscles and tendons was no easy feat, especially with Zhao Mu’s strict standards. Fail to show progress in the Dragon Bone Tiger Tendon Art within a month, and you were out of the first-class courtyard.

Today was the monthly assessment!

Thud.

A few apprentices collapsed, dragged out by experienced servants.

Zhao Mu sighed inwardly, announcing, “Qi Yu, Bi Zhixue, Gu Tianrui—eliminated!”

Hearing their names, the remaining dozen apprentices’ hearts leapt to their throats, not daring to slack.

Zhao Mu’s gaze swept the field, landing on Xiangzi, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“I don’t expect you lot to reach ‘energy piercing the spine, force issuing from the tips’ in just a month.”

“But take a lesson from Li Xiang. When has he ever complained of pain or fatigue?”

At the name “Li Xiang,” the self-proclaimed prodigies among the first-class apprentices felt a jolt, their faces twisting in frustration.

Over the past month, they’d learned the hard way—no one could match this big guy’s progress!

Even Qi Ruiliang, never one to yield, had admitted publicly that his martial talent paled beside Xiangzi’s.

That was bad enough. Falling behind in martial arts could be overcome with time and medicinal brews.

But this big guy, who’d never endured much muscle or bone tempering growing up, somehow withstood the medicines better than those raised on elixirs!

Over the past month, while others groaned under the strain of precious skin-grinding and tendon-tempering concoctions, this guy relished them.

Where’s the justice in that?

Who can endure medicines like this?

The four pillars of a martial artist—eat, soak, nurture, train—this guy seemed to master them all!

Is he even human? He’s practically a human-shaped demon beast!