Tan Dong was panting heavily, shirtless, with sandbags tied to his legs, and was briskly moving across the wooden stakes of the training ground.
Zhao Ya watched from below with a thin branch in hand, striking whenever Tan Dong’s form faltered.
"Don’t even think about slacking off. Run properly!" Zhao Ya commanded coldly.
Tan Dong grimaced but didn’t dare show any sign of laziness, trudging on with difficulty.
Finally, he completed a lap around the Plum Blossom Stakes.
Tan Dong collapsed on the ground, drenched as if he had been fished out of water, with a small pool of sweat forming beneath him.
Logically, even at his worst, Tan Dong shouldn’t be so exhausted from just one lap around the Plum Blossom Stakes.
The key issue was the oversized sandbags on his legs, which didn’t seem like much at first but grew increasingly tiring as he continued.
Especially on the stakes, Tan Dong had to be extremely cautious, otherwise a small misstep could send him falling off.
These factors combined left Tan Dong feeling as tired as a dead dog.
Zhao Ya approached.
"Don’t lie down; stand up and walk a lap around the training ground slowly."
"I can’t, I can’t. I don’t have any strength left. Let me lie down and rest for a bit, just for a while. Please, Zhao, you’re like a brother to me!" Tan Dong pleaded incessantly.
Zhao Ya remained unmoved, pushing a piece of earthworm dried meat into Tan Dong’s mouth and forcibly pulling him up.
"If you lie down now, half of the sweat you shed will have been in vain. Get moving and slowly digest your Qi blood."
Tan Dong dared not disobey Zhao Ya.
Because just a few days ago, his father, Tan Ziwang, had sent a letter upon hearing that Zhao Ya was tutoring him.
In the letter, Tan Ziwang praised Zhao Ya’s methods and expressed sincere gratitude, also telling Zhao Ya to do as he saw fit if Tan Dong misbehaved, even to the point of beating him to death if necessary.
Tan Dong dared not question his father’s words and could only follow Zhao Ya’s instructions obediently.
So these days, not to mention going to brothels to drink, his greatest joy was the moment he got home and lay in bed.
No other reason.
He was just too damn tired!
Tan Dong gritted his teeth, walking slowly around the training ground. The earthworm dried meat in his mouth had long been swallowed, gradually turning into Qi blood to replenish his weary body.
As he walked, he felt the bones throughout his body becoming more solid.
Crack, crack, crack!
A series of subtle sounds emanated from Tan Dong’s body.
Not far away, Zhao Ya heard it clearly, knowing that after days of grueling training, Tan Dong was finally on the verge of a breakthrough.
"Practice the fist!"
Zhao Ya’s call snapped Tan Dong out of his focus on his transforming bones.
He immediately started practicing the Five Tiger Fist as instructed.
Thanks to Zhao Ya’s special training, Tan Dong’s Five Tiger Fist had made considerable progress compared to before.
Not that it was profoundly advanced, but the force of his punches now had a distinct power.
As he practiced, the transformation of the bones deepened into the fine details.
When he finished a set of the Five Tiger Fist, Tan Dong felt all the bones in his body had become very hardened, his body brimming with strength.
"Is this...?" Tan Dong was still somewhat confused.
Zhao Ya walked over with a smile, giving Tan Dong a pat on the shoulder.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough. From today, you’re officially a Martial Artist!"
Tan Dong snapped out of his confusion and was instantly overjoyed.
He finally broke through!
I am now a Martial Artist with Great Success in Bone Refining!
Tan Dong wanted to shout for joy, but held back.
"Zhao, thank you."
This thanks came from the depths of his heart.
Because without Zhao Ya’s training, Tan Dong doubted he could have ever achieved Great Success in Bone Refining in his lifetime.
Zhao Ya laughed heartily.
"Come on, no need for such formality between us. I’ll report to the Chief of the Escort, and from now on, you’ll be a porter too."
"Yes, yes!" Tan Dong nodded vigorously, his face flushed with excitement.
When Zhao Ya conveyed Tan Dong’s success to Meng Lei, Meng Lei was pleased, even calling Tan Dong over to personally encourage him.
Soon the news of Tan Dong achieving Great Success in Bone Refining and being promoted to porter spread, causing a slight stir at the Escort Agency.
Most people didn’t think much of it.
After all, Tan Dong had been at the Escort Agency for years and was an old employee, only breaking through to the First Realm now—his progress was infamously slow, not worth mentioning.
But those in the know thought differently.
"Damn it, even Tan Dong can achieve Great Success in Bone Refining. Is there no justice?"
"Right? That guy spends twenty days a month in brothels, and almost every girl in Wuxiang City’s brothels knows him. And yet, he still breaks through—it’s baffling!"
Ignoring the sour comments, Tan Dong was in high spirits after his breakthrough and invited many people for a drink that night.
Zhao Ya naturally was the main guest, and Luo Feng, along with some other porters, also attended.
Most of them were there out of respect for Zhao Ya, but that was enough.
Encouraged, Tan Dong had a drink-filled night, eventually being escorted home by a tipsy Zhao Ya.
The next evening, Tan Dong made a point to bring food and visit, sharing a drink at Zhao Ya’s home.
Zui’Er was delighted to hear about Tan Dong’s achievement, offering a toast before leaving.
Once only Zhao Ya and Tan Dong were left, Tan Dong grinned and handed Zhao Ya a letter.
"Zhao, this is a letter my father wrote you when he heard the news today."
Zhao Ya opened it, finding it filled with words of thanks.
Yet the affection Tan Ziwang had for his son and his contentment were palpable between the lines.
At the end, Tan Ziwang mentioned that the monthly allowance of earthworm dried meat would increase to thirty liang.
Although earthworm dried meat had lessened in its effectiveness to Zhao Ya, he was grateful.
Because Zhao Ya understood that this was Tan Ziwang’s limit.
Handing the letter back to Tan Dong, whose eyes were slightly red after reading it, he then drank heartily.
The two enjoyed another round of drinks before Tan Dong left unsteadily.
Just as Zhao Ya was about to clean up the remains, Zui’Er emerged from inside, thoughtfully bringing a bowl of chilled sour plum soup to sober him up, and quickly tidied up the dishes himself.
By this time, summer had arrived, and the weather was getting hotter by the day.
So after Tan Dong left, Zui’Er changed into casual clothes, his movements revealing occasional glimpses of his figure.
Zhao Ya felt his head heat up but averted his gaze.
He still had to practice later; such sights were best not overindulged to avoid overheating.
After Zui’Er finished cleaning, Zhao Ya suggested he return to his room to sleep, while he stayed in the courtyard to practice.
The Eight Vajra Skills, Five Tiger Fists, Gale Saber Technique, Lightweight Grasshopper Skill...
Each martial art was practiced by Zhao Ya with ease, his movements creating intimidating sounds as he executed his techniques with enthusiasm.