From breaking the limits of the White Ape Fist to becoming a martial arts saint.

Chapter 2 Perfection of Skill

Su Yu yawned and opened the door, a strong fishy smell wafted out.

At the door, Third Aunt Chen stood with her hands on her hips, her slanted eyes scrutinizing him from head to toe, her face full of undisguised disdain.

"Xiaoyu, what time is it? Are you already resting at home? I was wondering why I never saw you at the fish market. Turns out you're slacking off at home."

She spoke sarcastically, "Xiaoyu, no offense, but your father's gone, you should be more ambitious. Sleeping all day at home, do you think you'll find a wife?"

Su Yu casually picked at his ear, not wanting to explain further.

The woman was my third uncle's aunt; she was a very gossipy person and always looked down on him.

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Chen felt bored and finally got down to business: "Alright, let's go to your grandfather's house for dinner tonight. I have something important to say."

After saying that, she swayed away.

Su Yu closed the door and washed her face with cold water, finally letting go of the fatigue and fear from the previous night.

He looked out the window; the sky was gradually darkening.

"I'm still 2 points short of proficiency in net casting... I'll go during the day tomorrow," he muttered to himself.

……

Night falls in Qingxi Village, at the Su family's old house.

In the small courtyard built of stone, around an old locust wood table, sat seven or eight members of the Su family, young and old.

The dishes on the table were considered quite plentiful by the standards of the village: a large bowl of wild vegetable porridge, a plate of steamed fish and potato cakes that were shiny, a stack of grayish-black brown rice cakes, a braised black river carp, and a plate of pork stew with cabbage in the very center.

The snow-white vegetable leaves were soaked with oil, and a few pieces of precious fatty meat gleamed temptingly under the dim light.

Su Yu was sitting there, head down, eating his rice, silent.

This is the home of Grandpa Su Manjiang, and also the home of Uncle Su Dawen and his family.

In his early years, Su Manjiang traveled all over the country and built up a small business before settling down in Qingxi Village.

Su Manjiang had three sons: his eldest son, Su Dahai, was conscripted for corvée labor in his early years and has not returned, leaving behind only his eldest grandson, Su Hong. His second son, Su Dashan, was Su Yu's father and died in the Blackwater River a few months ago. Now, only his third son, Su Dawen, and his family remain.

Before long, the food was almost finished, and the last piece of fatty meat on the plate stood out conspicuously under the gaze of several pairs of eyes.

The third aunt immediately reached out with her chopsticks, picked up the last piece of pork, and shoved it into her son Su Can's bowl without saying a word.

Su Can's face flushed red, and she buried her head in the bowl, silently eating the food.

"We've almost finished eating, I have something to tell you."

Su Manjiang pulled out a pipe from somewhere, tapped it twice on the table leg, lit it, took a deep drag, and the swirling smoke obscured his deeply lined face.

"Yesterday, Master Liu from the city examined Can'er's bones. His bone structure is above average; he's a good candidate for martial arts!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the dinner table fell silent, followed by a joyous atmosphere.

"Oh, sister-in-law! This is wonderful news!" Auntie was the first to congratulate. "If Can'er becomes a martial artist in the future, he will bring great honor to our ancestors!"

Chen immediately beamed with joy, and straightened her back a bit.

His cousin, Su Hong, also offered his congratulations, but a hint of sadness flashed deep in his eyes.

A few years ago, he didn't believe in the so-called innate talent. Relying on his daring and fighting spirit, he joined the Snow Wolf Gang and learned martial arts from a junior leader...

Su Yu also offered his congratulations, his expression calm. He had also examined the bones and rated them as "very ordinary," but that was before the panel was available!

"Can'er has talent, and the family must fully support him!" Su Manjiang's voice carried an undeniable authority, and his cloudy eyes shone with barely suppressed hope. "His goal is the martial arts examination! To pass it and become a martial arts scholar!"

He worked hard all his life to finally save up enough to own a fish stall.

If my grandson can become a martial arts scholar and lead the family to move to the city, he will have something to be proud of in this life.

"I asked Master Liu to introduce me to the best martial arts school in the city, Hongshan Martial Arts School. The apprenticeship fee is... thirty taels."

"Thirty taels?!" Auntie exclaimed in shock.

"Grandpa, a regular martial arts school would only cost ten taels..." Su Hong couldn't help but ask.

"No!" Chen's sharp voice interrupted him, glaring fiercely at Su Hong. "My son is talented; he must go to the best martial arts school!"

Su Manhai was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Going to Hongshan Martial Arts School won't be a problem. I've raised twenty taels, but I'm still short ten. Su Hong, Su Yu, you two brothers, each of you can contribute five taels."

As soon as she finished speaking, her aunt burst into tears.

"Father! Dahai has vanished without a trace. I'm a widow raising Hong'er alone; where would I find the spare money?"

Su Manjiang puffed on his pipe, the wrinkles on his forehead looking like old tree bark squeezed together.

"Sister-in-law!" Madam Chen jumped to her feet, grabbing Su Can's shoulder. "When Can'er becomes a martial arts graduate, will he ever forget your kindness? Can'er, quickly kowtow to your aunt!"

"Mother, don't do this..." Su Can blushed deeply. "Going to a regular martial arts school is just as good."

"Shut up!" Madam Chen's eyes widened, looking like a madwoman. "Your mother has only been counting on you for the rest of her life! I'll risk my life to give you the best! If you don't learn martial arts properly, I won't die in peace!"

Uncle San remained silent.

Finally, Su Hong spoke up, "Alright, little brother, I'll pay for this. Just focus on practicing martial arts from now on."

"Oh dear, my nephew is so sensible!" Madam Chen immediately turned from crying to laughing.

After the eldest brother's family agreed, all the pressure instantly shifted to Su Yu.

Chen's gaze was sharp as a knife. "Xiaoyu, you can't just watch your brother ruin his future!"

Su Yu put down her chopsticks and shook her head decisively: "Third Aunt, I have no money."

"You have it!" Chen's voice suddenly rose. "When your father had that accident, the Water Snake Gang paid you five taels of silver! And it was your third uncle and your eldest brother who went to get that back for you!"

Su Yu frowned slightly; that was indeed the case.

"Xiaoyu," Su Manjiang spoke up, making the final decision, "You're the second brother, so you have to pay for this."

Su Yu raised his head, met his grandfather's gaze, and shook his head again: "Grandpa, I also want to learn martial arts. This money is my apprenticeship fee."

"Nonsense!" Su Manjiang slammed his fist on the table, furious. "Don't you know your own limitations? Learning martial arts? Are you just going to squander the family fortune?! Your father didn't believe in fate, that's why he lost his life in the Blackwater River! And you want to follow in his footsteps?!"

The old man's heavy breathing carried a deep sense of disappointment and sorrow.

He had seen too many young people who didn't believe in fate, who had poor aptitude but still wanted to learn martial arts to fight back, only to be crushed by reality and rotten to the ground in the mud!

"Xiaoyu, don't lie to your third aunt... Don't worry about the future, as long as your aunt has food, you won't go hungry!" Third aunt thought Su Yu was making excuses.

Su Yu didn't explain further and simply got up and left.

Behind him came Su Manjiang's furious shouts, "You bastard! Cough...cough cough..."

"father!"

"grandfather!"

……

Stepping out of the old house, the night wind was icy cold.

Su Yu felt little resentment, only a sigh.

Sometimes things in this world are just so messed up. To put it bluntly, it's because you're too weak, without money or status, that you encounter so many difficulties.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

I can live on my own from now on; it might be easier that way.

When he got home, he touched the six taels of silver at the bottom of the jar, and his eyes became incredibly determined.

"Tomorrow, we'll go to the Blackwater River!"

"Knock knock".

Just then, the door suddenly creaked open.

Su Yu opened the door with a puzzled look in his eyes. In the moonlight, there stood his cousin, Su Hong.

"Second brother, don't blame Grandpa and the others."

"I'm afraid my third aunt already hates me." Su Yu smiled self-deprecatingly.

Su Hong didn't say anything more. He carefully took out a heavy money bag from his pocket and stuffed it into the bag: "I know you want to try. Take this five taels of silver. Consider it a loan to your third uncle's family."

Su Yu looked at the hideous scar on Su Hong's face that stretched from the corner of his eye to his chin and fell silent.

That was the injury he sustained when he risked his life to save a minor leader of the Snow Wolf Gang.

He wanted to refuse.

Su Hong grabbed his shoulder, his voice low and powerful: "Second brother, you can't deny the goodness of your third uncle!"

In Su Yu's mind, a scene flashed back a few months ago: his father had just died, and the bully Niu Er came to harass him. It was his taciturn third uncle who chased him away with a fish-killing knife.

In the end, he accepted the bag of silver.

……

The next morning, Su Yu delivered five taels of silver to his third uncle's house.

The tall, imposing third uncle, Su Dawen, said nothing, but patted him heavily on the shoulder.

After leaving, Su Yu felt inexplicably relieved. He returned home, slung the tattered fishing net over his shoulder, and strode towards the Blackwater River.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the river wind was biting.

One network, two networks...

As the third net was pulled in, and Su Yu looked at the several lively crucian carp in the net, a long-awaited voice rang in his mind.

[Skill]: Casting the net (Perfect)

[Skill level detected as perfect. Consume 1 Breakthrough Point to break through the limit?]