Chapter 12 The Future Looks Promising

Liu Lingqi saw Han Ye's hesitant expression and frowned,

"Why, you're not willing?"

It took her a lot of effort to escape from her mother's tutelage just now.

Although her mother has been married to her father for more than twenty years, her position in the family is not low. Her father's successful business relies on her mother's connections.

Her mother's words weighed greatly.

If Han Ye were to refuse her, her mother might criticize her again for her attitude, saying that a girl should not be so impetuous and so forth.

She didn't want to be nagged by her mother again.

Naturally, she hoped that Han Ye would agree quickly.

"I'll listen to the young miss."

Han Ye bowed his head and said.

In his view, Liu Lingqi's approach was obviously to train him as a confidant.

His performance on the martial arts platform had long caught the attention of Liu Manor.

He had previously imagined that he could buy back his slave contract with a heavy sum of money.

But at present, it was just a hypothesis.

The current situation did not seem to lead to his freedom.

If he were the master of Liu Manor, having such a brave warrior in the house who had also signed a slave contract, he wouldn't let go—no way!

Therefore, he could only stay here, utilizing Liu Manor's resources and connections to continually improve himself.

Once his strength was strong enough, becoming a real cultivator, no one could stop him.

He had already obtained the ticket to Dragon Sparrow Sect.

This opportunity was not easy to come by.

Next, he just needed to cultivate his foundation steadily, train hard, and he could participate in the sect entrance examination five months later.

Being a stableman was not a problem.

After all, it was only temporary, he would not be one for the rest of his life.

Seeing Han Ye agree to her proposal, Liu Lingqi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This resolved a nagging concern in her heart.

"Report to the inner courtyard after dinner."

"Yes."

Han Ye watched Liu Lingqi leave, then arrived at the dining table in the main hall. Almost everyone was there, except him.

"Brother Han, you are a bit slow, dinner is about to start. I saved a seat for you."

Wang Da Niu patted the seat beside him, signaling Han Ye, with a cheery smile on his face.

"Alright."

After Han Ye sat down, he realized that everyone at the table was those who had just passed the selection on the martial arts platform.

There was only one face he recognized well.

The northern wanderer, Gao Qichang.

Dressed in a gray robe, with a swordsheath behind him, he wore a Douli hat around his neck—an extremely eye-catching appearance. He drank his wine quietly with an indifferent expression.

It seemed that he had noticed Han Ye's gaze.

He also looked up at Han Ye.

Surprisingly, he nodded slightly as a greeting.

Han Ye nodded back in response.

After all, they would be training together in the future, so maintaining a good relationship would be beneficial.

"From now on, we'll all be brothers working together, so let's get to know each other."

Wang Da Niu stood up first, raised his cup of wine, and gave a hearty laugh to the crowd.

"My name is Wang Da Niu, I come from Langlang Village. I'm a tenant farmer for Liu Manor."

Some of the more reserved people were taken aback by this.

"I'm the carpenter Li Chong from County of Skyfire."

"I'm the ironsmith Zhao Jin of Plum Blossom Village, just call me Little Zhao."

However, several of the burly men were warmed by Wang Da Niu's sincere and enthusiastic smile, and they stood up to greet him in return.

Seeing this, Han Ye had to marvel in his mind.

No wonder they call you Wang Da Niu.

True social bull indeed.

Everyone was not yet familiar with each other, so they were extremely unfamiliar; hence no one talked much.

As far as the art of socializing goes, he truly was no match for Wang Da Niu.

"Wolf State, Northern Sea Province, wandering Gao Qichang, progressing together with everyone."

Han Ye originally thought that Gao Qichang was an introverted person. To his surprise, he stood up and proposed a toast to everyone.

After hearing about Gao Qichang's hometown, the people at the table started talking :

"The Northern Wolf State seems extremely far. Reflecting upon our Great Zhou's twenty-four states, Wolf State should be amongst the furthest north. I haven't visited all of them and am curious about what the far north looks like."

"I've never been to the North either. I only know that Beihai Province is known for its exquisite wines. I heard that a nobleman from Fufeng once presented the late emperor with a pot of fine wine from Beihai and a beautiful lady from the south, and was made the prefect of Fufeng. Is that true?"

Gao Qichang responded with a nonchalant smile: "When it comes to fine wine, if Beihai ranks second, no province can claim to be first. However, the tale of a nobleman being promoted because of a gift is nothing more than a rumor. One should not believe such unfounded rumors. Wolf State has nothing special, it can't compare with the freshness and elegance of the south. Life in Wolf State is rather coarse. It's quite unsettled, with barbarian beasts running wild. It's far from being as good as here."

"Brother Gao, even though he is a martial artist, has a rather extraordinary eloquence."

"Yes indeed, no wonder he's traveled far and wide. His experiences are extensive and broad."

Han Ye quietly listened without expressing any opinions.

He had been in this world for only a few months, how would he know about the local customs and cultures of the various regions of the Great Zhou?

He hadn't even left the County of Skyfire before.

However, he could glean a thing or two from Gao Qichang's words. The situation at the border of Great Zhou and beyond wasn't very peaceful.

Besides the human race in this world, there were also monsters, demons, evil spirits, and various unexplored phenomena.

Seeing that everyone was engrossed in their conversation, Wang Da Niu scratched his head awkwardly and cracked a smile: "You guys have been to plenty of places, unlike me. The furthest I've been is the county."

"Hahaha, Brother Da Niu, don't be discouraged. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

A burly man next to him comforted him with a hearty laugh.

"Indeed, we are all training together now, and in a few months we will join the Dragon Sparrow Sect. Our futures are promising."

"Cheers!"

...

Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively chatter, many people became quite drunk.

Wang Da Niu had already passed out on the table, snoring loudly.

Han Ye decided to step out for some fresh air.

Not because he disliked the clamor.

But because the natural quietude suited him better.

Clearing the bustling foyer, Han Ye found his way to the lawn in the inner courtyard.

Looking at the wooden stakes arranged there, he suddenly felt an itching in his palms.

Ever since he found out that his body had undergone a metamorphosis and stepped into the Body Forging Realm - Third Level Internal Organs.

His desire to become stronger had turned increasingly urgent.

If it were up to him, he would have already opened his orifices, commenced his Qi Cultivation and become a cultivator.

"Poom, poom, poom!"

After surveying his surroundings and confirming that no one was around, Han Ye got into position and started practicing his fist technique.

He was practicing the same Tiger Arm Fist that he had used to kill the ferocious tiger.

Tiger Claw Pounce.

Ferocious Tiger Descends the Mountain.

Evil Tiger Heart Plucking.

He imitated each technique, standing tall as a mountain, as firm as a pine tree, and moving like a tiger.

As he practiced the Tiger Arm Fist over and over again, Han Ye felt a change in his body. His blood circulated quickly, guided by an element of Dragon and Tiger Breath. It surged through his meridians, whipping up a gust as he moved, its power surpassing his previous attempts by many times!

In an instant, blood circulated through his body nine times.

Was this the result of absorbing the Nourishing Body Soup?

Only then did Han Ye realize that reaching the Third Level Internal Organs in the Body Forging Realm meant he could introspect his body. His flesh was extremely tough, his muscles and bones were as strong as iron. His internal organs generated vital energy, vibrant and ceaseless, transporting Dragon and Tiger Breath, doubling his strength.

"Boom!"

With his full strength behind one punch, he hit the thick wooden stake, breaking it clean.

These stakes were made of hundred-year-old pine trees and were very sturdy.

With a punch like that, if he were to hit a person, wouldn't they be sent flying, spitting up three jin of blood?

"You've practiced this Tiger Arm Fist quite well. You've been secretly learning it for a while haven't you?"

Just then, a voice rang out behind Han Ye.

...