Proving God begins with the principle that no effort is wasted.

Chapter 17 Night Raid

The morning classes had just ended, and dust mixed with the smell of sweat wafted in the wind from the training ground, yet the air felt inexplicably tense.

Sun Gengsan emerged from his master's main room, his face tense and mysterious, harboring a secret that could cause an uproar. He glanced at Jiang Lan, who was practicing his boxing against a wooden stake, and deliberately kept her in suspense.

"Shut up, all of you!" Sun Gengsan said in a low voice, waiting until everyone was surrounding him before blurting out, "Manager Liu isn't just pulling in a fishing net; he's clearly here to poach people for the Liu family of the prefectural city!"

The uproar instantly erupted.

"The Liu family of Fucheng? Recruiting martial arts candidates?"

"Who else could it be? Jiang Hao, the genius who opened six acupoints in a year!"

All sorts of gazes were fixed on the inside of the martial arts hall.

Jiang Lan withdrew his fist, his fingertips still covered in wood chips. His face remained expressionless, but he knew perfectly well what was going on—the fact that Steward Liu's carriage had stopped at the gate yesterday meant he was indeed after someone important.

Of all the martial arts school students, only Jiang Hao is worthy of Liu Jiayan's approval.

He was a novice who had just opened his first acupoint, and his Mountain-Crushing Fist technique was not even up to par. He didn't even deserve to be given a second glance.

But the fire in his chest burned fiercely: if he was inferior to others in talent, he would be trapped in Yu City and unable to turn his life around.

He turned around, lowered his waist and elbows, and punched the wooden stake repeatedly.

Tiger Charge! Tiger Swing! Tiger Pounce!

Heaven rewards diligence; no effort is wasted.

【Crushing Mountain Fist (Beginner): 268/300】

……

In the evening, Jiang Lan bumped into Jiang Hao while receiving herbal bath.

The opponent hadn't brought any boxing manuals, his brows furrowed in a deep knot, gazing at the sunset with a face full of hesitation.

"Have you reached an agreement?" Jiang Lan asked directly.

Jiang Hao nodded, his voice muffled: "The Liu family provides room and board and waives tuition, with a monthly allowance of two taels of silver. However, to gain entry, one must train for three years and serve the Liu family before being allowed to take the martial arts examination."

Jiang Lan's heart sank.

Becoming a citizen was like signing a contract of servitude, but it was also his own way of making a living; going to the Liu family was to escape trouble, but it put his life in someone else's hands.

"My master told me to choose," Jiang Hao said with a wry smile. "Going to the Liu family is safe, and the Black Tiger Gang won't dare to touch me; if I take the martial arts exam myself, it's hundreds of miles away with three life-or-death challenges, and if I fail, it'll all be for nothing."

"What about the Black Tiger Gang?"

Jiang Hao's face darkened, his eyes flashing with malice: "They don't know about the Liu family. But they have the Zhao family behind them, and the Liu family is their mortal enemy. Once they find out, I'll just be a scapegoat for the Liu family."

Jiang Lan felt a chill run down her spine. So even geniuses hadn't chosen a path; they were caught in the middle of power struggles, waiting to die.

Jiang Hao took three steps, then suddenly turned back: "No matter which path I choose, I will never vote for the Black Tiger Gang."

Jiang Lan watched his figure disappear, his fingers clenching tightly—he trusted Jiang Hao, but now he didn't even have the right to take a knife for his brother.

……

The scalding medicinal liquid flowed over his shoulder, nourishing the strained meridians.

Jiang Lan stared at the bruises on her arm, her mind racing with thoughts of the day's events.

Grandpa's one-year promise still hangs in the balance, and Mom's hand still aches...

He had no time to think about the future, he only focused on the road beneath his feet: first, to master the Mountain-Crushing Fist and open up the second acupoint.

【Crushing Mountain Fist (Beginner): 278/300】

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next morning, as Jiang Lan was carrying rice at the grain shop, she watched Manager Liu's carriage roll over the bluestone slabs and head towards the prefectural city.

Jiang Hao wasn't in the car.

Uncle Zhou sighed, "With the Liu family gone, Jiang Hao's protective charm is gone."

Jiang Lan didn't reply. He shouldered the eighty-pound sack of rice, his steps as steady as if nailed to the ground. He knew that the Black Tiger Gang would definitely make their move tonight, and Jiang Hao's calamity was imminent.

As Jiang Lan finished work in the evening, he passed by the warehouse and caught a glimpse of a Black Tiger Gang henchman whispering in his ear: "The Zhao family is pressing us hard. We have to arrest him tonight. We can't let him get involved with the Liu family."

Jiang Lan lowered her head and walked quickly, the hairs on the back of her head standing on end—her fate had arrived.

Back home, Madam Cheng was sitting at the bow of the boat weaving a net, her hands still red and swollen. Jiang Lan squatted down to help her weave, not mentioning the Black Tiger Gang, only saying that the work was tiring.

His mother tidied his stray hairs, her voice as soft as the river: "Don't overwork yourself, your health is important."

Jiang Lan felt a lump in his throat and gripped the shuttle tighter. He needed to become stronger, not only for himself, but also to protect his mother and help Jiang Hao.

As night deepened, Jiang Lan stood at the bow of the boat practicing his boxing. The wind on the river stirred up water vapor, and the force of his punches pierced the darkness, striking the deck.

Tiger Charge! Tiger Swing! Tiger Pounce!

【Crushing Mountain Fist (Beginner): 279/300】

【Crushing Mountain Fist (Beginner): 280/300】

Just as the tiger pounced to its limit, a scream suddenly erupted from the direction of the dock!

Immediately afterwards, a chaotic chorus of footsteps, the clashing of weapons, and shouts of battle surged toward the martial arts school like a tide. The crimson lantern light illuminated half the night sky.

Jiang Lan's fist abruptly stopped, the wooden stake slipping under his feet. His fingertips dug into his palms, drawing blood, as he watched helplessly as flames engulfed the direction of the martial arts school—

His worst fears came true.

Jiang Hao's calamity has arrived.