What was destined to come has finally arrived.

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Skill acquired: Eight Trigrams Palm
Eight Trigrams Palm LV0 (0/100)

“Hm? Why is it the Eight Trigrams Palm? Shouldn’t it be some internal technique or cultivation method after fist techniques, lightness skill, and hidden weapons? Is it because the skill that leveled up was hidden weapons, and it only went from level 0 to 1, so what I got is merely a basic traditional martial art?”

Du Ruo absorbed the knowledge flowing into his mind, but his body didn’t slow; he kept running down the mountain. Once he confirmed that the thorns and branches posed him no threat, he broke into an all-out dash, muttering under his breath.

It wasn’t that he thought the Eight Trigrams Palm was weak—on the contrary, as one of the three great internal martial arts, it was remarkable. He had simply hoped he would receive some internal cultivation method instead. But since it was already decided and not something he could control, he stopped dwelling on it and focused on absorbing the knowledge as he hurried down the mountain.

“The Eight Trigrams Palm really does have substance. But why do its basic techniques resemble those of the Natural School so much? And why is my experience already increasing?”

After assimilating the knowledge, Du Ruo realized that much of the Eight Trigrams Palm overlapped with the Natural School. For example, the method of changing force in the Eight Trigrams Palm used walking the mud step around a center, which was nearly identical to the inner circle hand of the Natural School. Even the basic palm strength training methods—striking sandbags—were highly similar, including the techniques and points of attention.

“No wonder Master Du Xinwu became the number one bodyguard. His self-created Natural School must have drawn on the strengths of many styles.”

Thinking of how the tiger’s mouth staff and the adhesive technique in the Natural School overlapped with hidden weapons training, Du Ruo suddenly understood why Master Du Xinwu could invent the Natural School in modern times.

As he pondered the connections among various martial arts, Du Ruo realized that, at their core, they were all means to train the body. He also noticed that his Eight Trigrams Palm experience kept increasing.

By the time he reached the foot of the mountain and stopped, his Eight Trigrams Palm experience had risen by 20 points.

“It seems that as long as I use higher-level skills, the lower-level ones will be stimulated and level up quickly as well.”

Du Ruo paused and changed clothes. Like last time, he had left a spare set at the foot of the mountain—that was why he’d rushed headlong through the forest. His body could ignore thorns and branches, but his clothes could not; by the time he got down, they were in tatters.

After changing, Du Ruo wrapped up his ruined clothes and carried them. Walking through the village, he also absorbed the knowledge gained from leveling up his hidden weapons skill.

Leveling up hidden weapons didn’t involve much new physical training, but he did gain knowledge about more types, both striking and throwing, such as the construction of Sand-Projecting Darts and Thunderclap Bombs.

“Tsk, this is getting more and more illegal.”

After a quick glance, he set it aside. These teachings focused on making such weapons, but in the modern world, they were all but useless. A Sand-Projecting Dart was just a tiny box that fired poisoned needles—could that compare to a gun, another striking weapon?

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Thunderclap Bombs were packed with black powder, exploding with smoke when thrown—could they compare to grenades or smoke bombs?

Exchanging greetings with villagers along the way, Du Ruo hurried back to his rented courtyard.

“Out so early? Weren’t you usually practicing your forms at home at this hour?”

He had just pushed open the courtyard door when a familiar voice greeted him.

“Mom, what brings you here?”

It was his mother, sitting on a stool in the courtyard, a large bag beside her.

“What, not happy to see me? You rent a place out here and don’t plan to come home? I brought you some fruits and vegetables to check if you’ve been living on takeout every day.”

She sounded a little resentful at first, but seeing that Du Ruo looked well, her tone softened considerably.

“Of course not! It’s Friday, I was planning to pick up Yaya and head home for dinner tonight. I don’t eat out every day, I cook for myself. In fact, I still have a bowl of stew left—let me heat it up for you, you and Dad can try my cooking later.”

He led his mother into the kitchen, took out the leftover beef stew from the fridge, and began heating it, eager to show he was living just fine.

“You’re a good kid. But don’t just eat meat. I picked some vegetables for you. Go out, I’ll make you a bowl of noodles.”

Seeing the beef stew, his mother’s expression eased even more. She shooed him out and busied herself in the kitchen.

“Heh, alright, make more, Mom. My appetite’s been great lately.”

Du Ruo swallowed, suppressing his hunger, and went to wash up.

By the time he finished his quick shower, a large bowl of noodles sat steaming on the table—half covered with vegetables, half with generous chunks of yesterday’s beef stew, the aroma mouthwatering and irresistible.

“Smells amazing, Mom, have you eaten yet?”

Not standing on ceremony, he sat down and began to eat heartily.

He had considered bringing out the medicinal wine Yuan Yuan left yesterday, but remembered he’d have to drive to town to pick up Yaya in the afternoon, so he decided against it, focusing all his attention on the noodles.

“I’ve eaten. I just came to check on you; I’ll head back soon. Slow down, there’s no one fighting you for food. Eating so fast isn’t good for your stomach.”

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Watching Du Ruo wolf down his noodles, his mother couldn’t help but chide him again.

“By the way, Aunt Xu introduced you to someone for a blind date. You should go meet her.”

Du Ruo nearly choked, noodles almost coming out his nose. He coughed, sputtering, knowing full well his mother hadn’t come just to check on him.

“Come on, Mom, is that really necessary?”

“What do you mean, not necessary? You’ve been back for a while, now you’ve moved out again. Your father’s about to retire soon—what are we supposed to do, just the two of us old folks at home? We’re not expecting you to make a fortune, but is getting married and having kids too much to ask?”

Her temper flared at once.

Du Ruo dared not argue, bending his head to his noodles. He knew this day would come, just hadn’t expected it so soon.

Just then, his phone rang—the video call chime.

“Mom, let me answer this.”

He glanced at the screen. It was Li Qiyao, who had left yesterday. He had no idea why she was calling, but he explained to his mother and answered the call.

“Hello, Qi, good morning.”

“Boss Du, it’s not exactly early. Did you get the blueprints? I’m at the forge now and have found the master smith. He’s pointed out a few issues, and I need to consult you about them.”

Li Qiyao’s gentle face appeared on the screen, her voice as soft as ever.

Hearing a woman’s voice, his mother immediately fell silent, pretending to clean while sneaking glances at the phone from behind Du Ruo.