Chapter 3: The Kick-Off Tournament!

  "For the past half month, you've been delivering food for me. From this kind intention, I will help you." Little Gray smiled and said: "Moreover, now that I have no strength to even tie up a chicken, I still need to rely on your protection. Naturally, I hope you become stronger, so I can be safer."

  "What should I do now?" Tang Lin exclaimed, he had never thought that he would be able to practice martial arts again one day, the little grey in front of him was like a lifesaving straw for him when he was drowning.

  In fact, Xiao Hui did not tell the truth to Tang Lin. He was not really a master of the "Hand of Unbound Chicken". Although he could only exert a weak force, it would still be enough to deal with a frail child like Tang Lin who was only eleven or twelve years old. By saying so, he left himself a way out, in case Tang Lin had any evil intentions and also as a precautionary measure. The experience of his body being destroyed made him even more cautious.

  However, Tang Lin's thoughts were simple and pure, having read books since childhood, filled with kindness, completely without any such ideas.

  "You're currently weak in terms of qi and blood, the first step is to improve your body." Xiao Hui said thoughtfully: "In our town's demon clan, there's a type of pill called 'Blood Cloud Pill', specifically used for newborn babies to strengthen their internal blood and qi, allowing them to grow quickly. However, to refine this pill, some materials are needed, I don't know if you can get them."

  "What material?" Tang Lin asked nervously.

  After all, our family is not rich, if the materials are very expensive, then there's no hope at all.

  "A copper furnace, about ten pieces of Longxiang charcoal, a He Shou Wu plant, three pieces of Ba Lian leaves, ten Ren Shen that are hundreds of years old, and a Xue Zang Hua flower." Little Gray looked at Tang Lin, "Once you've gathered all these materials, I'll teach you how to refine them."

  "Ten-year-old ginseng!" Tang Lin's eyes widened in surprise.

  In this whole string of materials, only ginseng and stove are what he knows, the rest of those things haven't even heard of their names, and just these ten hundred-year-old ginseng, at least need twenty or thirty taels of silver, equivalent to a year's rent for the Wu Guan Fu!

  Tang Lin immediately dispelled the idea of borrowing money from his father. When Lantian came to ask for nine months' rent for the mansion today, his father couldn't even come up with it, let alone such a large sum of money.

  "Is there no other way to improve my body besides this elixir?" Tang Lin couldn't help but ask, his voice unable to conceal the disappointment.

  "Don't worry." Xiao Hui comforted Tang Lin, "If we don't have money to buy materials, we can earn it first."

  "Make money?" Tang Lin was taken aback, furrowing his brow. "I'm just a weak scholar, all I can do is write some books and sell calligraphy, even if I sell 100 pieces every day, with my current level of skill, the most I can earn is only a few taels of silver, to make enough for several tens of taels, it would take at least four or five years."

  Xiao Hui smiled, "You don't need to worry about this. Our town's demon-suppressing tribe is skilled in various talismans and array methods, specifically used to deal with monsters. I'll teach you how to draw talismans and arrays, and you can sell them for money. This way, you'll be able to earn the money for materials quickly."

  "What's with the 'Mo Yu' symbol?" Tang Lin's eyes lit up.

  Yes!

  What profession on the mainland can make money faster than a Demon Slayer?

  Tang Lin had seen in the "Wu Dian" that some top-level demon-suppressing masters' talismans were so expensive that they could bankrupt an empire, and their prices were not ordinary frightening.

  "Will you teach me now?" Tang Lin looked at Xiao Hui expectantly.

  Xiao Hui shook his head and said, "Our Town Demon Clan's talismans are mainly divided into attack talismans, defense talismans, auxiliary talismans, and special talismans. Each category of talisman has countless varieties, with different effects and powers, but no matter which type of talisman is drawn, it requires sufficient finger strength!"

  "Internal strength?" Tang Lin was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly came to his senses: "I understand now. Father often said that no matter what kind of fist method is practiced, the most important thing is still the foundation. Only when the foundation is solid can any fist method be practiced quickly. This should be the same principle."

  Xiao Hui nodded in agreement: "You're absolutely right. The strokes on the talisman are extremely intricate, and if one stroke is out of place, the entire talisman will be ruined. If your finger strength isn't strong enough, your hand will shake during the drawing process, and even a slight tremble will cause the talisman to fail."

  "I understand." Tang Lin nodded heavily.

  "So, before you learn to draw talismans, you need to train your finger strength first. Although your body is weak and not suitable for exercise, just training your fingers won't be a problem. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you how to train your fingers." Little Gray said with a smile.

  Tang Lin glanced at the sky, it was already late at night. Although he had wanted Xiao Hui to instruct him now, tomorrow he still had to go to school and couldn't be late. He nodded immediately: "I understand."

  "By the way, before you go to rest," Little Gray coughed and suddenly became a bit embarrassed, saying: "Can you help me get some food first? This little dog's body digests too quickly."

  Tang Lin was stunned.

  Then, Tang Lin secretly carried Xiao Hui to the kitchen, poured today's leftover food into a large bowl, and after Xiao Hui finished eating, he carried him back to his own room.

  "From now on, you can sleep in the room, it's too cold outside. I wanted to put you in the room before, but I was worried that you would run around and be discovered by my father." Tang Lin lay on the bed, also pulling Xiao Hui up, "Tomorrow when I go to school, you have to be careful, don't let my father find out, he doesn't like keeping pets at home."

  In the darkness, Xiao Hui flipped her white eyes and said, "Don't call me a pet."

  Tang Lin: "......"

  ……

  In the early morning, Tang Lin got up very early, washed and dressed, shouldered his book bag and headed towards the main gate. Along the way, he passed by the martial arts training ground and heard a series of "thuds" from punching sounds as well as the stern voice of the martial instructor.

  Tang Lin thought to himself, once he earned enough money and took the "Blood Cloud Pill", he would be able to practice martial arts like these people, and have a chance of becoming a martial artist or even a warrior.

  Money!

  Tang Lin's heart was burning with desire, he had never yearned for wealth so much before.

  He quickly left the house and rushed towards the academy. Although he had the opportunity to practice martial arts, Tang Lin did not intend to give up on reading books.

  "My father once said that no matter how strong a person's power is, if he doesn't have enough cultivation and brains, he is just a mediocre fellow!" Tang Lin attaches great importance to reading.

  But thinking that Xiao Hui would teach herself to practice finger strength after returning home today, Tang Lin couldn't help but look forward to it, and hated that the sun didn't set immediately.

  Time flies when reading in the academy.

  "Finally school is over." Tang Lin listened to the sound of the academy's bell, his emotions surging, quickly gathering up his books and leaving the academy with a swift pace.

  Back home soon.

  As soon as he entered the main hall, Tang Lin was about to put down his book bag and rush to the backyard, but suddenly saw his father and eldest brother Tang Long sitting in the hall, seemingly discussing something. His father's face was somewhat solemn, while his elder brother had an excited look on his face.

  "Father." Tang Lin walked in.

  "Lin Er, you're back." Tang Tian looked at his son and smiled: "Are you tired today?"

  "Not tired." Tang Lin shook his head, but his eyes fell on his father's hand, where he was holding a red letter. "Father, what is this?" he asked curiously.

  "Little bookworm, I've got some good news for you." Tang Long sat beside him, a big smile on his face: "This is an invitation, in just five more months, it's the Dragon Elephant City's triennial Kick-Off Tournament, if we can get a good ranking in this tournament and kick down other houses, we'll be able to get rich rewards!"

  "Kick-off tournament?" Tang Lin was taken aback.

  Years ago, he had heard that the so-called "Kick-off Tournament" was a martial arts competition among all the martial arts schools in Longxiang City, presided over by the city master. If any martial arts school won the final victory, it would be awarded the title of "First Martial Arts School", as well as the honor of a royal reward plaque and a large sum of silver!

  "Dad, don't worry about it this time. Let me take care of it and I'll definitely get a good result." Tang Long said confidently as he turned to look at his frowning father.

  Tang Tian let out a light sigh and said to Tang Long, "Our Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall was always the champion of the martial arts tournament when your grandfather was in charge. Since it was passed down to me, we've only been going through the motions every time, losing early on, and our talents have dwindled. Now it's all up to you. Although you're already a high-level martial artist, don't be arrogant or careless. This time, the age limit for the tournament is thirty years old and under, and you're only eighteen, which is still too young. Your lack of battle experience is your weakness!"

  "Hmm, I know, but don't worry, Father, I will definitely get a good ranking!" Tang Long said confidently.

  "Uh-huh." Tang Tian nodded slightly, "For this period of time, I'll come with you to spar and help you enrich your combat experience."

  "Thanks, Dad!" Tang Long's eyes lit up.

  Tang Lin was also encouraged by his brother and said: "Brother, you must work harder!"

  "It's definitely going to happen, little bookworm! Just watch as I, your big brother, take the title of First Martial Hall!"

  "Hmm!" Tang Lin nodded heavily, secretly thinking in his heart: "I must also work hard and quickly train my finger strength to perfection!"

  He casually said a few words and left the main hall, coming to the backyard.

  "Xiao Hui, I'm here." Tang Lin ran into the room and saw Xiao Hui lying on the desk, looking lazy.

  "Ah, come with me." Xiao Hui saw Tang Lin and jumped down from the desk, heading towards the door and walking along the bluestone path to a secluded area behind the martial arts hall.

  "This is what I found earlier, your family's mansion is very large, but there are few people, and almost no one comes here, so you don't have to worry about being discovered." Xiao Hui walked into this quiet place.

  Tang Lin looked around and remembered, then said to Xiao Hui: "This is a key place in the martial arts hall, just ahead is the Winding Dragon Pool, which is usually off-limits to ordinary students."

  "That's even better." Little Gray nodded and said: "Now, I'll teach you finger strength."