Seeing the survival rate drop from [99%] to [15%]
A sudden drop of '84%'
Zhang Feng truly felt that this martial arts world was not peaceful.
With his current constitution, it was simply a death sentence.
'Normally, shouldn't I grow for another decade or so before joining this?'
Zhang Feng felt that he might have chosen the wrong path in life.
But choosing wrong also has its advantages, at least he could be exposed to more martial arts early on.
'Let's keep it steady for now.'
Zhang Feng calmed his mind and looked at his master, who was full of expectation and waiting for his response.
"Thank you, Master! Zhang Feng is willing to follow you to learn martial arts!"
Zhang Feng replied quite formally, but with a touch of a little adult's cuteness in his elementary school tone.
"Good!" The master laughed heartily, unable to hide his joy.
As long as this prodigy was willing to follow him.
He felt he had time to slowly win over this prodigy with love and kindness into his fold.
"Congratulations, Master!" The third senior brother was relieved and happy to have another 'prodigy junior brother'.
It was quite an honor.
'Zhang Feng has truly become one of our own, haha!' Brother Mouse became invisible at this moment, as no one paid attention to him.
He was cheerfully used to it.
"Let's go check out our training ground." The master quickly assumed the role of the host, introducing the place to the newcomer Zhang Feng, "It's in the backyard."
The front yard wasn't large.
But the backyard was sizable.
Zhang Feng followed the group and saw that the backyard was at least two hundred square meters.
Not only was there a small vegetable garden in the corner, but in the middle, there was a flat area of bluestone ground.
This was the training ground.
On the weapon racks lining either side, there were some slightly worn weapons, with the handles polished smooth, but none were sharpened.
"Hoo! Ha!"
At this moment, there were more than a dozen disciples of varying ages practicing in the training ground.
Some of them were shirtless with muscular arms, sweating in the warm spring, with their training pants soaked halfway.
"Come, come, take a break. Let me introduce you to a new little brother who's just joined us."
The third senior brother took the lead and spoke, gathering everyone.
"Master! Third Senior Brother!"
They quickly stopped, gathered in the middle, their gazes flickering between the master and Zhang Feng.
Though they looked, they remained very quiet.
'Hmm, they're quite well-behaved.' The master calmly watched them, placing a kind hand on Zhang Feng's shoulder.
Zhang Feng quietly looked at these people.
From their practice earlier, Zhang Feng felt their skills did not match the third senior brother's.
Some were even quite raw.
A brief glance was enough to tell most of them were new disciples.
However, each of them was robust with considerable strength in their hands.
Zhang Feng was a bit puzzled, thinking if they were all new, they shouldn't be so well-built.
But on second thought, it made sense.
'This is not a street corner martial arts school, nor a place for strengthening the body.
On the contrary, this is a place of tradition; those who are robust have priority, it's not a place for everyone to be taught.'
Zhang Feng put himself in their shoes and understood why they were all so robust.
Except for that Brother Mouse.
However, he must have some outstanding qualities.
It's just that Zhang Feng hasn't discovered them yet.
Otherwise, there's no way this elder would treat him so well.
"This young brother is Zhang Feng." The third senior brother introduced Zhang Feng as everyone's eyes turned to him,
"From now on, we'll all be family."
The third senior brother paced back and forth in front of them like giving a lecture,
"Also, you should all take good care of young Zhang Feng as he's still very young."
Upon saying this, he suddenly shifted his tone,
"I'm telling you, take good care of Zhang Feng now.
In the future, when you're bullied or wronged outside,
Zhang Feng might remember your kindness and stand up for you."
"Huh? What's the meaning of this, third senior brother?"
"What do you mean by us getting beaten and having to call for help?"
"Is the third senior brother saying that Zhang Feng's skills are advanced?"
On hearing these words, they couldn't help but ask, giving curious looks at the elementary school-aged Zhang Feng.
He didn't look very tall or bulky, at most just seemed mature for his age.
"Exactly!" Brother Mouse was displeased when he saw the disbelieving looks directed at his brother Zhang Feng, "Don't belittle him. Anyway, after Zhang Feng starts training with you, you'll understand.
I'm just giving you a heads-up now!
My brother's talent is several times yours!"
"Several times?" The disciples were somewhat restless.
"Ahem." The master suddenly coughed, feeling that Hao Hao's words were too much.
Of course, if it weren't for Hao Hao's father sponsoring their martial arts school for years with substantial financial support,
the master wouldn't have just coughed, but might have slapped him across the head.
But it was precisely Brother Mouse's unintentional provocation that
made a few new arrivals in the school feel rather uncomfortable.
Among them, a proud teenager of about sixteen or seventeen was the first to speak up: "Master! Third Senior Brother! Brother Mouse!"
He agilely stepped forward two steps, cupped his fist in salute and said, "I want to test my skills with this young brother Zhang Feng!"
Swish swish—
His words drew the attention of the other disciples.
When a new disciple reports to the martial arts school, the old disciples want to gauge the newcomer's abilities.
This is nothing rare.
However, the master suddenly felt a bit troubled, because he had already tested him before.
His most favored third disciple was defeated; what was this brat trying to prove?
'Hehe... Isn't he just asking for a beating?' The third senior brother, seeing someone eager for a 'beating', stopped speaking suddenly.
Brother Hao had a gleam in his eye, continuously signaling Zhang Feng to 'beat him'.
Yet the master looked at Zhang Feng inquisitively, "Zhang Feng, you?"
If Zhang Feng said not to fight, then there would be no fight.
He now cherished Zhang Feng dearly.
Zhang Feng saw so many people watching him, and thought about how he would interact with them in the future, deciding it would be better to show off his skills once more and directly convince them.
Ta ta—
Zhang Feng stepped down a small stair, looked at the young man, and cupped his fist saying, "Then let's give it a try."
The young man also cupped his fists, steadied himself in a horse stance, and assumed the Baji Fist's starting posture.
But his lower stance was unstable, his starting hand wrong, revealing many flaws.
"I am ready." Yet he still had some decorum, confirming before attacking, "Are you ready?"
"Please!" As Zhang Feng uttered the word, he swiftly moved with the grace of a bird flying through the sky, closing the distance in two jumps.
Starting the move, Baji Fist's 'Three Stacks Hand', seemingly changing moves to attack the lower path, mainly aiming for arm grabs.
Actually.
Just as the young man's hand began to rise, preparing to defend.
Zhang Feng turned his back against the young man, using his body's strength to block the young man's forceful arm, his right hand turned into a whip, already aiming at the young man's neck.
Whoosh—
A gust of fist wind shook by his ear.
Baji Fist, Subduing Dragon!
"Brother, I admit defeat."
Zhang Feng jumped back a step and quickly left, standing firm at his position.
The young man's hand was still in mid-air, and he nervously swallowed his saliva.
At this moment, the hair around his ears was all standing up due to the fist wind.
The blood vessels near his temples were also throbbing.
"Whoosh—"
Having traversed the line between life and death, now his spirit loosened, and he sat on the ground with a thump.
His demeanor wasn't nearly as composed as the third senior brother's.
"Thank you... For going easy on me..." Yet he still tried to muster some spirit, courteously expressing his gratitude.
"That was awesome…" The other disciples were astonished for a few seconds, then fell silent.
Like a lightning strike, he subdued his opponent with one move.
What could they possibly say?
Looking again at the young man's terrified, soulless expression.
What could they dare say?
"Welcome Brother Zhang Feng!"
Someone started.
"Welcome, welcome!"
They reacted and greeted him in unison.
...
Night fell.
Four tables of wine and dishes were set up in the backyard.
Zhang Feng ate his fill.
"Tiger and Crane Dual Form, I read several detailed books in my early years…" The master nearby was also explaining some martial arts knowledge, benefiting Zhang Feng immensely.
He understood the nature of other martial arts and some general techniques.
...
"What? You said Xiao Feng was kidnapped?"
At seven thirty.
Inside a small shop at a hardware market.
Zhang Youfa angrily glared at his eldest and second sons.
"He wasn't kidnapped…" The eldest son weakly said, "It was Brother Hao who said Xiao Feng was his fellow disciple, then took Xiao Feng to visit."
"There's also a phone!" The second brother nervously took out a slip of paper from his pocket.
He had been holding it throughout the journey, afraid of losing it.
"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Zhang Youfa relaxed a bit, grabbed it fiercely, and unfolded it to find two numbers were very blurred.
The second brother had been clutching the paper along the way, nerves making his palms sweaty, causing some words to smudge.
"This..." Zhang Youfa stared dumbly at the blurred text; for a moment, he felt as if the sky had fallen.
"What fellow relatives?! Definitely a scam!"
Right now, Zhang Youfa was very anxious, picking up the phone, ready to call the police,
"Nowadays, traffickers love saying, 'Let me take you to find your dad, find your mom.'
You also know Xiao Feng was picked up by our family!
If someone says this, do you think the child wouldn't want to follow such a dubious person, thinking he'd find his real parents?"
Zhang Youfa was worried sick for his son, now only thinking the child was gone, taken away.
He was anxious and distressed, even kicking each of his sons during the phone call.
Startling customers outside ready to come in, making them stand stunned.
'Is the owner so explosive? What if I just inquire but don't buy anything? That wouldn't end well.'
He thought, turning around and running away.