’How can I more smoothly transition between the raw power of Mountain-Shattering Fist and the agility of Surging Wave Kicks? Is there a way to channel my Dark Energy with greater control...?’ These were the things he should be focused on right now.

As for the School Trial, Senior Brother Liu Maolin had told him to just get a feel for it this year. He said that after a few more years of refinement, once his strength had improved, he’d have a good chance of passing. But Yang Jing had no intention of waiting "a few more years."

’Since I have the chance this year, I have to try and seize it. How many years does a person have to waste?’

As his fists flew in a blur, Yang Jing’s gaze grew sharper.

If others didn’t have high hopes for him, then he would just have to prove them wrong himself.

As Sun Yong led the sparring team out of the Martial Arts Hall, the intense training atmosphere in the front courtyard quietly began to change. More accurately, it split into two factions.

The Mingjin Disciples who were qualified for the School Trial didn’t dare to slack off, putting even more effort into every punch and kick. Every year, it was the Dark Energy masters who made the School Trial’s ranking list. Still, these disciples had their own ambitions. They hoped to put on an outstanding performance and make a name for themselves. Even if they couldn’t make the list, they could at least try to catch the eye of some influential figures.

Meanwhile, four or five ordinary Registered Disciples, who had yet to even touch the threshold of Mingjin, gathered in a corner to rest and chat, not bothering to keep their voices down.

"I think Senior Brother Lin Yue is sure to pass this School Trial and get his name on the list," one of them said. "Master really poured his heart and soul into teaching him."

A disciple next to him nodded. "I heard that Senior Brother Lin Yue sparred with an expert from Weiyuan Martial Arts Hall a few days ago and defeated a Dark Energy master from their side within twenty moves. With that kind of strength, he’s probably not much inferior to the First Senior Brother."

"Isn’t that the truth," another disciple with an average constitution chimed in, his gaze unintentionally sweeping over Yang Jing, who was still focused on his training. His tone held a hint of pity. "Senior Brother Yang Jing is also at the Dark Energy stage, but his innate constitution is inferior, after all. He’s ultimately lacking that little something. Look at him, just training by himself every day. Last time, Senior Sister Ning Xiang asked him to join the sparring team, and he didn’t even go. He probably knows in his heart that he’ll just be a background character in this year’s School Trial."

"You can’t say that," a disciple frowned. "Senior Brother Yang’s fundamentals are very solid. The Hall Master even said Senior Brother Yang has the potential to reach Huajin. It’s just... he’s too quiet. Compared to Senior Brother Lin Yue, he lacks a bit of drive and flair, I guess."

What these Registered Disciples didn’t realize was that a Dark Energy master could still faintly overhear their conversation, even though they were keeping their voices down.

Bits and pieces of their discussion drifted into Yang Jing’s ears, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He continued to pound his fists into the wooden stake, his force even and his rhythm unbroken.

Wood shavings showered down, accumulating in a thin layer at his feet.

To him, the opinions of others were like wind past his ears—there one moment, gone the next.

Neither Lin Yue’s glory nor the idle gossip of others could disrupt his rhythm.

He knew his own path.

Dark Energy was not his final stop.

Nor would Huajin be.

The School Trial was an acid test, but it was far from the final goal.

All he had to do now was execute every punch perfectly and train every sliver of his Inner Strength to flow more smoothly.

He would reach the Peak of Dark Energy, break through to Huajin, and finally, ascend to even greater heights.

...

When the sun reached its zenith, Yang Jing finished his practice.

His master had not yet returned with the sparring team.

Yang Jing wiped his sweat with a cloth, put on his short jacket, picked up his old cloth bag, and walked toward the main gate of the Martial Arts Hall.

’Judging by the hour, Brother An and the others should be here soon.’ Yang Jing glanced at the sky. ’I’ll head to the West Market first and buy some meat and vegetables. It’s perfect timing for Brother An’s arrival. From now on, I can hand off all these tedious chores to him. It’ll get him out to interact with people, and it’ll save me a lot of time.’

After leaving Sun’s Martial Arts Hall, Yang Jing headed straight for the West Market.

The clamor of the market could be heard from two streets away.

Yang Jing expertly navigated his way to the hunter’s stall he frequented. The tiger meat hanging there had the fresh red hue of a recently hunted wild animal.

"Young Hero Yang, how much today?" The hunter had become familiar with Yang Jing and greeted him with a smile.

"Old Qin, you’re hanging up a tiger here every few days. Have you killed all the tigers in Yuhe County?" Yang Jing joked.

Hunter Qin grinned and waved a hand. "I don’t have the skill to hunt a tiger all by myself. Those who live by the mountain live off the mountain. Our village is right at the foot of Hushan, and the whole village is full of hunters. We mainly make a living hunting tigers. I just represent our village selling the meat. I have to split the profits when I get back."

Yang Jing smiled.

Both Jizhou and Caozhou were plains, with few high mountains or hills. Yuhe County was famous for the Yuhe River, and its territory was filled with rivers and lakes. There was only one mountain: the Hushan that Hunter Qin had mentioned.

"Old Qin, give me five pounds, please," Yang Jing said. "By the way, my older cousin might be coming here to buy meat for me often from now on. Please take good care of him."

"You’re one of my best customers, of course I’ll take care of him. Just have him mention your name, and I won’t overcharge him, haha," Hunter Qin said with a laugh as he cut the tiger meat for Yang Jing.

Yang Jing took the meat, exchanged a few more words, and then left, carrying the lotus-leaf-wrapped package.

Leaving the hunter’s stall, Yang Jing ducked into a nearby restaurant and bought four side dishes—two meat and two vegetable. There was braised pork knuckle, stir-fried kidney, and two seasonal green vegetables, all wrapped in oiled paper and carried in his hand.

Returning to his courtyard in Tongyi Square, Yang Jing dove straight into the kitchen.

He started steaming rice in a large pot, then set up a clay pot. He cut the tiger meat into chunks, blanched them, added ginger slices to remove the gamey taste, and tossed in a few medicinal herbs he’d gotten from the Liu Family Medical Hall. After bringing it to a boil over a high flame, he turned it down to a low heat to simmer slowly.

The aroma of meat mixed with the slight bitterness of the herbs gradually filled the air, and the courtyard was soon suffused with a warm, comforting fragrance.

After the stew had been simmering for about an hour, a voice called from outside the courtyard gate, "Jing, you home?"

Yang Jing went out to greet them and saw Yang the Third, the goods peddler from his village, driving an oxcart. Standing behind him were two people: his cousin Yang An and Yang the Third’s son, Yang Wei.

"Greetings, Brother Jing."

Seeing Yang Jing, the somewhat frail Yang Wei, who stood behind Yang the Third, quickly gave a slightly stiff bow.

Yang Wei was actually around the same age as Yang Jing, just about half a year younger.

But Yang Jing was an accomplished martial artist who never lacked for meat and devoured all sorts of ingredients to replenish his qi, blood, and Inner Strength. He was a full head taller than Yang Wei and looked as if he were four or five years older.

Moreover, word of Yang Jing’s martial arts accomplishments had spread throughout Yang Family Village and even all of Wazi Town. Just a short while ago, Ning Xuezhi, one of Wazi Town’s most powerful landlords, had sent men to deliver many fine gifts to the Yang Family.

Yang the Third and his son, Yang Wei, had been there at the time, and they remembered the scene vividly.

Although Yang Jing hadn’t returned to Yang Family Village for some time, the village was already buzzing with legends about him.

So now, seeing this "Brother Jing" who was renowned throughout Wazi Town, Yang Wei was naturally quite nervous.

Yang Jing smiled and nodded. "Third Uncle, Brother An, Wei, you’re finally here. Come on, get inside. I bought some dishes from the restaurant, and I’ve stewed some nourishing tiger meat. Let’s eat together."

Yang Jing greeted the three with a smile, taking the cloth bundle from Yang An’s hand at the same time.

"No, no, I still have to buy some goods and then hurry back. You all go ahead and eat. My job was just to get him here to you, Jing. I won’t impose any further," Yang the Third said, quickly waving his hands in refusal.

"Third Uncle, what are you talking about?" Yang Jing insisted, pulling him into the courtyard. "I’ve troubled you plenty of times, and you went through the trouble of bringing Brother An all this way. Is one meal going to bankrupt me?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Yang Jing pulled the man into the courtyard, then shut the gate with a SLAM and bolted it from the inside.

Seeing this, Yang the Third knew that Yang Jing was truly sincere about wanting him to stay for a meal, and he was deeply touched.

’He’s a boy from our village, after all. Our ancestors shared the same blood. Even now that he’s successful, he doesn’t look down on us folks from back home.’

Yang Jing didn’t know what Yang the Third was thinking. He simply led them into the main house, then went with Yang An to the kitchen to bring out all the food.

As soon as the lid was lifted from the clay pot, the rich aroma of tiger meat hit them.

Yang the Third and his son had never seen such a spread, and their eyes went wide.

In times like these, an ordinary family was lucky to eat pork. Meat from a ferocious beast like a tiger was something they had rarely even heard of, let alone tasted.