A month had passed since he took up the side job of a training partner. Each day after that involved sparring in the afternoon, but everyone hadn't expected Zhu Xi's recovery speed to be so monstrous. He left the dojo with a sore body and covered in bruises only to return the next day without a scratch. Of course, Zhu Xi faked some days where he wasn't able to spar, he didn't want anyone unscrupulous getting too interested in his recovery abilities.

More muscle had grown onto Zhu Xi's arms and legs since a month ago, and he was beginning to even resemble a Martial Artist. Washing away his thoughts Zhu Xi refocused his attention onto Jung Go. The two fighters got into their stances, and Zhu Xi adopted a stance more similar to Jung Go's. Zhu Xi was the first to approach but not the first to strike. Zhu Xi cleanly slipped through Jung Go's first strike and countered with his own. Zhu Xi's fist landed on with precision smashing into Jung Go's abdomen. Jung Go skidded backward a few steps, it was something Zhu Xi noticed he did a lot after landing a hit.

A faint look of surprise flashed Jung Go's face, but he quickly centered himself. Zhu Xi knew that after the first strike, it usually signified that the spar was going to ramp up in difficulty and that it did. Jung Go closed the slight distance he had created within seconds. Punches slowly rolled in, and Zhu Xi countered those he could and dodged those he couldn't. However, Zhu Xi was certainly no master at this as a fist crushed into his abdomen. Three more strikes followed each hitting higher than the last. Zhu Xi used the momentum from the strikes to move backward, but the damage was already done. Zhu Xi's abdomen, solar plexus, and chest quivered with pain as he gritted his teeth and stabilized his breathing.

The little space he had created disappeared as Jung Go's assault continued. His advantage was lost, and the tides had turned the other way. Two minutes later Zhu Xi lay on the ground unable to get up. Thankfully, this time he was not unconscious. The first sparring session taught him to protect his head. The sparring sessions after that taught Zhu Xi to protect his vital areas like his neck. However, none of that could compare with Jung Go's combat experience and it showed. Despite that Zhu Xi was undeterred, he knew his progress was fast. His status panel did not lie to him.

[Name: Zhu Xi

Age: 16

Golden Finger: Sword Immortality(Active)

Martial Arts Techniques: Stone Fist - (Tier 0: 16.4%)]

Zhu Xi was proud of his very fast progress. Zhu Xi was even more proud of the money he made. A month of near nonstop sparring had raked in a lot of coins for his coin pouch. His current savings allotted to a little more than two silver, this was a lot of coin. It made him wonder why more people didn't become sparring partners. When he asked Senior Brother Cheng this question, he just laughed.

It turns out, that most sparring partners only spar once per week and spend most of their time recovering. They did not have Zhu Xi's inhuman recovery rate, and so couldn't make as much money. They were more like a living punching bag and less like sparring partners. In a sense, Zhu Xi was just a very high-quality punching bag.

Zhu Xi also noticed his combat abilities drastically increasing. If he had to face Fang Gao or his lackeys, Zhu Xi was willing to bet that he'd win. It also seemed constant combat increased his proficiency in the Stone Fist technique. He had made more progress in the span of one month than he did in three months. Zhu Xi guessed that it was due to his recovery rate as he felt his calloused knuckles.

Now that he had enough money to buy a sword, Zhu Xi wondered if he should get one. Even though the sword would likely be one of the cheapest, it was still a sword nonetheless. After consulting Senior Brother Cheng though, Zhu Xi decided to hold off on the purchase.

Zhu Xi learned from Senior Brother Cheng that Sword Arts were really rare. It was to the point where the only dojos that taught Sword Arts were found only in cities closest to the capital. Next, training in Sword Arts was almost entirely based on talent. If you had no talent then it was a meaningless pursuit. Even if a talentless person trained in the sword his whole life, it would amount to nothing to the progress that someone with a smidgen of talent would accomplish. Zhu Xi knew that his talent for Martial Arts was lackluster, so he didn't place any hope that his talent in the sword would differ.

Zhu Xi put his turbulent thoughts to rest as he left the dojo. He wanted to celebrate this month of great progress by splurging a little. The best way to do that was to have some real restaurant-made meal. The last time he had anything like that was before his transmigration. Zhu Xi stood in front of a traditional wooden restaurant. Zhu Xi heard from Jung Go that this was a great place to eat as they provided a decent service to anyone with money. Zhu Xi knew that without any backing his status was as low as a peasant. So desiring to enter one of the high-end restaurants was a fool's dream.

"Greetings customer, table for one? This way." A pretty waitress received and guided him to his table. She handed him a menu and served him tea.

"Thank you," Zhu Xi looked through the menu before his eyes fluttered in shock. Expensive! The food prices were inhumane. The most expensive meal on the menu cost more than two silver coins and the cheapest cost 20 copper coins. What's worse was the price of wine, the most expensive cost a dozen silver. Silver coins, Zhu Xi couldn't believe his eyes. Zhu Xi shivered at the thought of how expensive those high-end restaurants had to be.

Zhu Xi called the waitress over and ordered as soon as possible. He hoped it was like ripping off a band-aid, the faster the better. Of course, he got the snake kabob as it was the cheapest thing on the menu. While waiting for his meal Zhu Xi sipped from his tea. The flavor was pleasantly mellow, and according to the waitress it was served free of charge. While enjoying the fragrant tea, Zhu Xi estimated it was about time for the Wolf-Claw gang to extort some coin from him. This time, however, it won't be so easy for them. Zhu Xi couldn't wait to return the suffering they gave him.

A delicious meaty smell wafted past his nostrils. His snake kabob is finished and it looks spectacular. Six sticks worth and paired with two different sauces. Zhu Xi never had snake meat before, but that didn't mean he would turn down the exotic meal. Taking a bite, an explosion of flavor coated his mouth. It was so juicy and tender, that Zhu Xi suspected they marinated it. He quickly tried the sauces, each was unique in taste. Lost in the world of delicious food Zhu Xi didn't notice the entrance of a new customer. She approached a table where a young man sat, left of Zhu Xi.

"Zhao Guo, why did you want to meet me. You know my stance on the proposed marriage our families came up with. I would never marry a worm like you." Xiao Ai's words thundered throughout the restaurant. In an instant, every patron tuned their ears and watched in anticipation for the drama to unfold. In this world, entertainment remained scarce and limited only to the well-off and wealthy. Since it was so hard to come by people didn't dare interrupt what was going to occur.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"You Dare! Xiao Ai, I have been magnanimous whenever I could. I understand your discontent, but to place matters I have no control over… It is so utterly inconsiderate of you!" The young man Zhao Guo angrily replied.

"Humph, a worm like you only knows how to follow orders. I can't stand the unambitious who only accepts their allotted place in life." For some reason, everyone at the restaurant felt like Xiao Ai's words targeted them specifically. Surprisingly Zhao Guo didn't refuse Xiao Ai's words but did the opposite.

"Compared to people who don't understand the wider picture, I prefer people who can. Xiao Ai, you are clearly not one of them." Zhao Guo verbally shot back.

"Ha, what wider picture? The elders of the Zhao family just want to attach you to my Ye family." Just as Zhao Guo was about to refute her claim, Xiao Ai interrupted him, "Leave it, I have other matters that require my attention." Zhao Guo silently fumed at the disrespect, but there was nothing he could do. The Ye family did indeed hold more power than the Zhao family, but it was not an overwhelming difference.

Xiao Ai turned to her left and stood over Zhu Xi's table. Xiao Ai's stature was short and petite, so her shadow barely even reached him. Zhu Xi glanced at Xiao Ai but returned to eating. Whatever matters Xiao Ai needed to tend to was her business, not his care about. A few seconds passed, but she stood there motionless facing Zhu Xi. Curiosity got the better of Zhu Xi, but it also might've been due to finishing his meal. Zhu Xi slowly twisted his head to meet Xiao Ai's eyes. Xiao Ai's cheek flushed red and her cute eyes glared into Zhu Xi's own.

"Can I help you?"

"Ahem! You are Zhu Xi, correct?" Xiao Ai remembered her original goal.

"Who's asking?" Zhu Xi instinctively responded. It took him a moment to realize how disrespectful of a statement that is. Xiao Ai's clenched fist and shaking body helped in that process of understanding.

"Ahem! Oh, Xiao Ai right? I heard about you, one of the geniuses in the dojo." The other customers in the restaurant silently hissed at the second shot of disrespect. All while Zhu Xi cheered himself on for using his slick silver tongue to butter up the lady. Zhu Xi was sure her beet-red face was full of embarrassment.

"I have an offer for you. If you wish to work for the Ye family, meet me." Xiao Ai uttered each word from her gritted teeth. After finishing her offer, she stomped to the exit and left. The restaurant stayed silent for a quiet minute after she left. Then the impatient ones asked out with silent whispers to their friends.

"Zhu Xi? Who is he?" A whisper from the corner.

"A new Martial Artist? I haven't heard of him." Another guessed with a whisper.

"Think so." Another speculated.

The whole restaurant was abuzz and Zhu Xi was the center of attention. Zhu XI quickly sought for the waitress to settle the bill. But before he could pay, someone placed their hand on Zhu Xi's shoulder.

"Friend, no need. I have you covered. Here," A silver coin was tossed to the waitress.

"Sir Zhao Guo, one moment please." The waitress responded and scrambled to get the change.

"Zhu Xi, just so you know the Zhao Family offers the same deal as the Ye Family. Be sure to keep that in mind before making a decision." After making that offer Zhao Guo grabbed his change and walked out of the restaurant. Zhu Xi watched Zhao Guo's departing figure with mixed emotions. He wasn't an idiot, they were clearly scouting him. To make matters even worse, Zhu Xi got stuck in between the troubles of the two families. If he chose to serve either of the families, the other would be displeased.

Zhu Xi decided to put off thinking about it and return home. Like clockwork, Zhu Xi entered familiar alleyways and turned tight corners. Absent-minded Zhu Xi walked on a one-way path between two buildings. At the end of the path, two figures charged out from the corner. It was the Wolf-Claw gang lackeys that extorted money from him. They had appeared.

The two lackeys, each carried a farming tool to use as a weapon. They likely got it from one of the farmers they extorted. However, that wasn't going to save them. Their approach had caught Zhu Xi off guard, but in response, he grinned. The distance they approached gave him more than enough time to prepare. As for the tools, he just needed to fight around them as they struggled to wield the improvised weapons. Taking a familiar wide stance learned from Jung Go, a trace of hesitance flashed through the eyes of the lackeys. But Zhu Xi gave them no time to regret and struck. Zhu Xi stepped into the overhead strike the closest lackey threw with a hoe. The extremely close distance rendered the overhead strike obsolete and left the lackey open. An uppercut landed squarely on the first lackey's jaw, putting him out of commission.

However, the first lackey's sacrifice did not go in vain. Capitalizing on the distraction, the second lackey jabbed the pitchfork at Zhu Xi. A cut ripped at Zhu Xi's tunic as he barely dodged the fork head. Not wasting the overextension of his enemy, Zhu Xi smacked the weapon of the lackey's hand. Zhu Xi seized this chance and struck the lackey's abdomen. Just as Zhu Xi was about to follow up, a metallic glint flickered in his peripheral vision. An iron knife was heading straight for his head!

In his tunnel vision, Zhu Xi had not heard the footsteps of another person behind him. Adrenaline pumped crazily into his bloodstream as his body went into overdrive acting on instinct. In the span of less than a second Zhu Xi's knees and neck tilted opposite of the knife. That wasn't enough, but that was enough time for Zhu Xi to block the blade's path with his hand. Effortlessly the iron blade slid into his hand as blood spilled. Zhu Xi finally got a good look at his ambusher, it was Fang Gao. The leader of the trio from the Wolf-Claw gang.

Fang Gao grimaced, his sneak attack hadn't killed as it was planned to. Ripping the knife out of Zhu Xi's hand, Fang Gao slashed at his neck. But, the moment of respite between slashes was enough for Zhu Xi to assess and react. Zhu Xi, slipped to the side as a cut opened up on his right cheek. The situation was dire and Zhu Xi didn't know if the Immortal Sword would save him from death. Neither did he want to test that unless circumstances forced him to do so.

The other lackey with the pitchfork also recovered and was soon to join in the fight. Zhu Xi needed to act or else he might really end up dead. Gritting his teeth, Zhu Xi waited for a specific type of stab he'd seen from Fang Gao. It was a type of stab that was aimed at his upper torso. Zhu Xi waited for such a strike, but another opponent joined the fray at that time. Zhu Xi narrowly avoided the pitchfork and Fang Gao's knife. Then he saw it, while the lackey was overextended, Fang Gao stabbed at Zhu Xi's ribs. The chance had arrived, and Zhu Xi didn't retreat but advanced.

In a calculated yet crazy move, Zhu Xi lined his forearm with the blade. It once again slid effortlessly through his flesh, but this time was going to be different. Upon feeling it stab him, Zhu Xi twisted his forearm wrenching the knife out of Fang Gao's hand. Zhu Xi had used the two bones in his forearm as a trap to disable Fang Gao, and it had worked. Fang Gao watched dazed and in disbelief as the knife flew out of his grasp. However, Zhu Xi's fist brought him back to reality. A sickening crunch echoed in that alley as Zhu Xi uppercut Fang Gao's outstretched arm.

Fang Gao's forearm arm bent at the elbow as it grotesquely hung there loosely. The immense pain sent Fang Gao to the ground and out of Zhu Xi's sight. The lackey with the pitchfork continued fighting despite the horrific circumstances. By a stroke of luck, Zhu Xi managed to take down the other lackey despite having an arm completely ruined. With all enemies down, Zhu Xi examined his surroundings wary of another ambush. However, no other ambush came. At the cost of a mutilated arm, Zhu Xi had won.

Taking stock of his downed enemies, Zhu Xi noticed Fang Gao was missing. Zhu Xi guessed he ran away at some point leaving his two companions behind. What to do with the two lackeys, Zhu Xi thought. The guards wouldn't bat an eye at the crimes they committed. Hell, they might even help them as the lackeys are part of the Wolf-Claw gang. A struggle occurred in Zhu Xi's mind after thinking of a possible solution. In the end, his morality lost and his logical mind won. Zhu Xi walked to the first lackey he knocked unconscious, looking down on the sleeping fellow he sighed.

"You caused this to yourself," Zhu Xi stomped on the unconscious man's throat, crushing his windpipe. The man had abruptly awoken, but the desperate clawing at his throat only made the suffering worse. Zhu Xi walked to the other lackey and mechanically repeated the process. Zhu Xi looted the corpses and grabbed any spoils left behind. Unexpectedly, Fang Gao had left his knife behind in his hasty escape. In total, Zhu Xi had profited a hoe, a pitchfork, an iron knife, and a couple dozen copper coins. Zhu Xi's eyes were complicated as he wrapped up his bloody and mutilated arm. A weary Zhu Xi headed home, dragging the loot with a suspicious cloth.