Just as he expected.
The deduction cost for this Leg Skill was far greater than for the previous stances and fist techniques, which showed how difficult it was to learn.
Wu Liangchen hesitated. He didn't immediately select "Yes," but instead closed the light screen and opened his attribute panel.
[Name: Wu Liangchen] [Age: 17]
[Life Fire: 21 Wisps]
[Cart Pulling (Proficient 103/500)]
[Five Animals Fist (Adept 123/200)]
[Unified Origin Stance (Adept 55/200)]
[Four-Step Fist: Beginner (98/100)]
[Martial Arts Second Realm: Stretching Sinews and Extending Bones (1%)]
He didn't have enough Life Fire, but he wasn't far off. More importantly, he could now replenish it with refined beef, so it wouldn't take long to accumulate what he needed.
His Four-Step Fist was also about to break through. He decided to use this time to advance it first, while also practicing the twelve routines of the Wind-Chasing Leg. He believed this would also reduce the Life Fire consumption significantly.
Having made up his mind, Wu Liangchen first took Yang Lian'Er to the theater.
Despite the impending disaster, the theater was just as crowded as ever, a scene of peace and prosperity filled with song and dance.
After the show ended, Wu Liangchen didn't even go home, heading straight for the section of the city wall where he usually practiced.
Without any surprises or setbacks, he easily advanced his Four-Step Fist to the Adept level.
He immediately felt his strength increase once more. His arms, in particular, would produce a sharp CRACK with just a slight flex of his muscles.
'I wonder how strong I am right now,' he thought.
With the idea of testing his limits, Wu Liangchen left the city wall and went to a small grove of trees.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The crisp sound of snapping wood carried far into the late night.
A figure leaped rapidly through the trees, and every punch he threw snapped a tree in half at the trunk.
Keep in mind, even the thinnest trees in this grove were as thick as an adult's arm, with the thicker ones as wide as a bowl. Yet none could withstand a single punch from Wu Liangchen.
After a round of testing, Wu Liangchen stopped and stood still. He estimated that this advancement had increased his power by at least thirty percent.
The crucial part was that when Wu Liangchen clenched his fist, the skin over his knuckles had become much tougher.
Even after breaking so many trees, his hands were completely unscathed.
Wu Liangchen was very satisfied with this result.
The only uncertainty now was his actual combat ability.
After all, practicing at home was one thing; a real, life-or-death fight was another matter entirely.
When he had dealt with Wu Yang before, Wu Liangchen had used a sneak attack. Plus, Wu Yang was just a street punk, so it didn't really count.
'Speaking of which, Wu Yang has been dead for a day now. His body has probably been discovered.'
But Wu Liangchen wasn't too concerned about it.
First, his work had been clean and swift, leaving no traces behind.
Unless a coroner performed an autopsy, anyone looking at the body would assume Wu Yang had simply slipped, fallen into the water, and drowned.
And Wu Liangchen believed that for a bachelor hoodlum like Wu Yang, who was despised by gods and ghosts alike, no one would be willing to stand up for him.
As the saying goes, "If the people don't report it, the officials won't investigate." The constables would never bother with a case like this, one with no profit to be made.
So, Wu Yang's death was just that—a death. At most, people would talk about it for a couple of days before he was forgotten, causing no further ripples.
This was precisely why Wu Liangchen hadn't acted at the bridge, but had instead waited until night to launch his sneak attack.
His principle was simple: either don't strike at all, or if you do, cut the weeds and pull up the roots to eliminate any future trouble.
Silently pondering how to improve his practical combat skills, Wu Liangchen returned home.
When he arrived, Wu Liangchen found his sister wasn't asleep. Instead, she was busy at the stove.
"What are you making? It smells so good," Wu Liangchen asked.
"Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'm making some lotus cakes."
Lotus cakes were similar to mooncakes, and eating them during the Mid-Autumn Festival was a custom in the Great Yan dynasty.
Only then did Wu Liangchen realize that tomorrow was indeed the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Brother, you're back just in time. I just finished a batch of lotus cakes. Here, try one."
Taking the lotus cake from Wu Mengchan, Wu Liangchen took a bite. It was sweet inside, and the taste was quite good.
"Mm, not bad. What's the filling?"
"Hehe, I cut the fat off the pork you bought today, stir-fried it in the wok, then simmered it with white sugar. Once it cooled, it was ready to be used as filling," Wu Mengchan said, quite pleased with herself.
Wu Liangchen was speechless.
'No wonder it felt like a mouthful of grease. It's made with lard.'
A bite or two was fine, but it would get cloying if you ate too much.
But in this day and age, something like this was a rare treat for the poor to satisfy their cravings.
Next, Wu Mengchan made two more batches of lotus cakes and packaged them up, planning to give them to Third Granny, Brother Yuan Er, and a few other friendly neighbors the next day.
As they were busy, someone suddenly knocked on the door.
Wu Liangchen was a little surprised. 'Who could be here so late?'
When he reached the door, he heard a girl's clear voice from outside.
"Mengchan, are you home?"
It was Bai Erya!
Wu Liangchen instantly recognized the voice. When he opened the door, he saw that it was indeed her.
Upon seeing Wu Liangchen, Bai Erya was stunned for a moment, then she pressed her lips together and smiled.
"Brother Xiaowu, you're back!"
"Yeah. Erya, what are you...?"
"Here! I made some lotus cakes. I had a bit of time now, so I rushed to bring them over. It would be too late tomorrow after we close our stall," Bai Erya said straightforwardly, handing him a bundle.
Wu Liangchen smiled as well and stepped aside. "You came at the perfect time. Mengchan is also making lotus cakes. You should take some back with you."
"No, no, my dad is still waiting for me. I'll get a scolding if I'm late!"
Without waiting for Wu Liangchen and his sister to persuade her to stay, Bai Erya turned and ran off.
Wu Liangchen took a few quick steps, intending to walk her part of the way. It was late, after all, and it would be troublesome if a young woman like Bai Erya ran into any danger.
Just as he reached the courtyard gate, Wu Liangchen heard Old Man Bai's grumbling voice from the street.
"Did you give them?"
"Yup!"
"*Sigh*, you shameless girl. A young lady, rushing to give things to a boy."
"What's wrong with that? Don't you like Brother Xiaowu?" Bai Erya retorted immediately.
"I like him, but he might not be interested in you."
"If he's not, then so be it. I'm doing it because I want to," Bai Erya said, not caring in the slightest.
"You... you! You'll be the death of me!"
"Alright, old man, let's go. No matter how much I annoy you, it's not like you can do anything about it!"
Wu Liangchen stopped in his tracks. Listening to the father and daughter bickering as they walked away, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
He was moved by Bai Erya's fiery spirit and her courage to love and hate so openly.
When Wu Liangchen returned home, Wu Mengchan asked, "They're gone?"
"Yeah, she left with her father."
Wu Mengchan smiled and said suddenly, "I actually think Sister Erya is pretty great."
Wu Liangchen didn't say anything. He just washed up and went to bed.
The next morning, he took the lotus cakes and headed for Brother Yuan Er's house.
Just as he was leaving the alley, he ran right into Yuan Er, whose face was etched with worry.
"What's wrong, Second Brother?" The moment he saw Yuan Er's expression, he knew something had happened.
Just as he thought.
Yuan Er said anxiously, "Brother, you've come at the perfect time! I went to the cart agency to renew my lease, but that Yang Hu somehow found out. Not only did he refuse to renew it, but he also wants to heavily fine me."
"And that's not all. He said you have to go to the cart agency today, or he'll bring his men to find you."