At the age of eight, he impersonated the orphan of a military officer and went to the martial world.

Chapter 49 I will personally collect the knife and the silver.

Zhang Family Courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with a faint scent of herbs.

After the doctor administered acupuncture to Zhang Jiumei, her pale face seemed to regain a bit of life, but her brows remained furrowed, as if she were struggling in a nightmare.

The doctor carefully bandaged Zhang Jian's severed arm wound, his movements swift yet silent.

Zhang Gu saw the doctor out of the hospital and took out the consultation fee, but the doctor waved his hand and said in a low voice, "Young Master Qingyang is kind and righteous, standing up for these poor children, so the consultation fee will not be charged."

"Tomorrow, I will arrange for a servant to deliver two more doses of medicine to that girl to replenish her qi and blood and calm her mind."

He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "That girl was too frightened. Although her life is not in danger and she will wake up soon, her mind and spirit have been deeply traumatized. When she wakes up in the future, her temperament will probably... be greatly changed."

"As for that boy with the missing arm," the doctor shook his head, "alas, that arm... it's ruined. He'll probably have a hard time for the rest of his life."

In this world, how can a one-armed boy survive?

Zhang Gu nodded and saw the doctor off.

He turned back into the courtyard and looked at the little beggars huddled in the corner, terrified and filled with grief: Zhang Shi, Zhang Zhu, the unconscious Zhang Jiu Mei, and Zhang Jian, who was enduring excruciating pain and looking pale. His brows furrowed.

He walked over to Zhang Yuan, who had been standing silently in the courtyard, gazing towards the side room. After a moment of contemplation, he said in a low voice, "Young Master, back in the day, Master also liked to associate with outlaws and valued loyalty."

"But... after the master died defending the border, when his coffin returned home, how many of those 'brothers' who had received his kindness came to offer incense at the door?"

He sighed, his voice heavy: "Brotherhood in the martial world, that's all. Today's kindness, tomorrow's enmity, people turn on you faster than flipping through a book. Our Zhang family... is not what it used to be. Young Master, it's already a huge challenge for you to hold the family together alone, it's really..."

"They simply can't withstand the slightest setback. These children... sigh."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet courtyard.

Zhang Shi and Zhang Zhu, who were in the corner, trembled and lowered their heads even further.

With his arm severed, Zhang Jian struggled to stand up. His lips trembled as he tried to say something, but he was rendered speechless by the excruciating pain and immense fear. His eyes were filled with despair and self-blame.

Zhang Yuan didn't turn around, but walked slowly forward until he reached Zhang Jian.

He reached out a hand and placed it firmly on Zhang Jian's uninjured shoulder, gently pressing him back into his seat.

Zhang Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute and penetrating force, echoing through the courtyard:

"I said that since you all share my surname Zhang, I will not abandon you."

"I keep my word, as I said at Xiangyang's grave."

Looking at Zhang Yuan's calm yet resolute profile, Zhang Gu knew that further persuasion was useless, so he could only sigh softly: "Alas... well... this old servant will go and find some bedding first. We'll make a makeshift bed in the side hall for the next few days, so that we can take care of each other."

Xiao Yang, who had been standing to the side with a complicated expression, spoke up at this moment: "There's no need to trouble Master Gu. Let Zhang Jian and the others stay in my courtyard."

"My courtyard is dilapidated, but it's quite spacious. Besides me and Afu, there's no one else there... It's just empty anyway."

His tone carried a self-deprecating nonchalance.

Xiao Bancheng's family has no shortage of houses, but what they lack is human warmth.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gu turned to look at Xiao Yang, his brows furrowing even more deeply: "Young Master Xiao, what about your mistress...?"

Xiao Yang forced a nonchalant smile: "Her? She'd love for me to 'degenerate' like this, hanging out with 'lower-class' people. Out of sight, out of mind, perfect."

Zhang Yuan looked at Xiao Yang, their eyes met, and without saying anything more, he simply nodded: "Okay. Let's settle Zhang Jian like this for now."

"Zhang Shi, Zhang Zhu, and Jiu Mei will stay with me for now. Master Gu, please find some bedding. As for their future, I will make the arrangements."

……

Day two.

Rock Martial Arts School.

Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, steady footsteps echoed across the training ground.

When Zhang Yuan stepped into the martial arts hall, Zheng Chaoyang was already standing with his hands behind his back in the center of the arena, like a silent mountain.

He didn't turn around; his deep voice broke the morning silence:

"Early in the morning, Qin Hu, the leader of the Black Tiger Gang, came looking for me with two hundred taels of silver and your long sword."

Zhang Yuan paused, walked to Zheng Chaoyang's side and stood behind him, without immediately responding.

Zheng Chaoyang slowly turned around, his gaze falling squarely on Zhang Yuan's face, scrutinizing him: "He said the knife and the silver are yours. I'd like to know, what's the meaning of this?"

Facing his master's gaze, Zhang Yuan calmly recounted what had happened at the dock the previous day.

She recounted in detail how she met Zhang Xiangyang and the other beggars, how they formed a friendship, how Qin Hu tortured and killed Zhang Xiangyang and extorted money from her, how she used money and a knife to exchange for the body for burial, and how she took in the other beggars.

Finally, he calmly added, "My father was in the border army, where he had comrades who would risk their lives for him. I feel... I should also have brothers who I can entrust my life to."

Zheng Chaoyang listened quietly, his sharp gaze never leaving Zhang Yuan's face.

Only the faint whistling of the wind through the weapons remained on the training ground.

After a long while, he slowly nodded, his facial features seeming to soften slightly: "I have not accepted the knife or the silver."

Zhang Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

"This is your own business, Zhang Qingyang." Zheng Chaoyang's voice was resolute. "I will only guarantee you one thing: Qin Hu would never dare to harm you."

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Yuan's eyes, and he nodded without hesitation: "I will personally get the knife and the money back."

Zheng Chaoyang showed no surprise, as if he had already expected Zhang Yuan's answer.

His expression remained unchanged, though a faint, indescribable admiration flashed across his eyes before he regained his usual coldness and sternness: "Very well. Let's begin today's lesson."

He changed the subject, pointing to several wooden weapons displayed nearby: "In yesterday's battle at Songshi Town, I saw you maneuvering through the routed enemy ranks, narrowly escaping death. It seems you have some instinctive understanding of military combat, but..."

Zheng Chaoyang shook his head slightly, "Without any method, relying solely on brute force and a bit of innate acumen is ultimately a haphazard approach, unlikely to reach the highest levels, and certainly unable to survive for long in a real military battle."

Before he finished speaking, Zheng Chaoyang flicked his toe, and a heavy wooden shield flew up from the ground with a whoosh, landing precisely in Zhang Yuan's hands.

Immediately afterwards, a three-foot-long wooden knife appeared in his hand, its tip pointing diagonally at the empty space in front of Zhang Yuan.

"From this day forward, I will impart to you the true foundation of military combat—the art of swordsmanship, shield fighting, and spear fighting! Watch closely!"

As soon as Zheng Chaoyang finished speaking, his entire demeanor changed abruptly!

He is no longer a profound and majestic master, but has transformed into a seasoned veteran, covered in blood!

"In the midst of battle, the shield serves as both a bulwark and a weapon of war!"

"When holding a shield, stability is paramount! Your waist and stance must be as one, shoulders relaxed and elbows dropped. The shield is not a static object; it must move with the enemy's movements!"

Zheng Chaoyang let out a low shout, his left arm muscles bulged, and the wooden shield instantly switched from defense to offense. With a swift "Shield Bash Charge", the edge of the wooden shield, carrying a fierce wind, slammed hard into the spot where Zhang Yuan had just been standing.

The ground seemed to tremble with each heavy step he took.

Without pausing, he retracted his shield after the impact to protect his ribs, and his right hand, wielding a wooden sword, flashed out like a viper's tongue, striking out from above the shield at an extremely tricky angle—

"Hidden behind the shield, attack when the enemy is unprepared! Thrust into the throat, pierce the heart—swift! Accurate! Ruthless!"