Sunset Fitness Center.
Hua Wu had always felt that there was something off about the name of this fitness center, as if it carried a hint of decrepitude and bad omen.
Zhong Shenxiu walked into the gym to see a group of middle-aged women in form-fitting clothes excitedly dancing to aerobics; suddenly, he couldn’t help but think Uncle Niu really had a knack for business.
Several young people greeted Hua Wu respectfully when they saw him.
"Little Shitou, Nail, Xia!"
Zhong Shenxiu directly called out the names of the two young men and the woman, all of whom were children adopted by Uncle Niu, a bit younger than Hua Wu, and often took care of them when they were kids.
"I came to see Uncle Niu, where is he?"
"I’ll take you there, he’s in the back."
Xia took the initiative to step forward and lead Zhong Shenxiu to an office.
Uncle Niu was sitting behind a desk, holding a fountain pen, and wearing reading glasses, seemingly reviewing some documents.
"Uncle Niu, Brother Wu is here."
Xia hopped forward joyfully and poured a glass of water for Zhong Shenxiu.
"Mhm, you go out first."
Uncle Niu picked up his thermos and looked at Zhong Shenxiu, "You’re feeling better? Don’t push yourself or you’ll be left with hidden injuries. Many athletes and martial masters have no problems when they’re young but pay the price when they’re old."
"Don’t worry, Uncle Niu, I’m fine."
Zhong Shenxiu clenched his fist, creating an explosive sound.
After nourishing his body with the White Bone True Qi for this period, every bone in his body was refined once, making him feel as though his body had lightened yet become more solid.
"Hm? Your martial arts?"
Uncle Niu’s expression changed.
"I feel... I already have the strength to contend for the title of Martial Artist. I will participate in official competitions or find someone to recommend me to register with the Martial Artist Association," Zhong Shenxiu said in a low voice.
Before he had finished speaking, Uncle Niu smacked the desk violently, "No! I said no!"
His face turned red, and veins bulged from his forehead, showing a rage that Hua Wu had never seen before.
’What’s going on? Becoming a Martial Artist is indeed a good path, and I initially thought Uncle Niu didn’t support Hua Wu taking this path because he thought his martial arts were weak... Now it seems like he just really doesn’t want Hua Wu to become a Martial Artist.’
Zhong Shenxiu was a little shocked, "Uncle Niu... why?"
That’s a Martial Artist!
The pride of the Star Alliance, with incredible benefits.
"I just won’t allow it. If you’ve grown wings and want to anger me to death, then go ahead," Uncle Niu’s lips quivered, but eventually, he didn’t say anything more, only snorted angrily, "Go get yourself killed, and I’ll still have to collect your body."
"Rest assured, now only I can kill others; nobody can kill me."
Zhong Shenxiu chuckled.
Uncle Niu suddenly stood up, giving off an impression of surging Qi-Blood, and reached out to grab Zhong Shenxiu.
’This is... has he touched the threshold of Qi-Blood? It’s a pity he’s too old, he missed the prime time for cultivation and can’t Embrace Elixir...’
His strength was a bit less than Lan Wangchuan’s.
Zhong Shenxiu pressed down with his right hand and steadily caught Uncle Niu’s hand, speaking in a low voice, "What does it actually mean to be a formal Martial Artist?"
"Martial Artist strength? Impossible!"
Uncle Niu’s eyes widened in shock and suddenly, as if his bones had been removed, he slumped back into his office chair.
As his spirit faltered, he looked much more haggard, whispering, "My True Inheritor, my son, Niu Dingtian... He was my pride, also a formal Martial Artist, but two years after passing the assessment, he died..."
Zhong Shenxiu immediately asked.
"I don’t know, but it’s definitely related to the Martial Artist Association... Xiao Niu died without reason, and no one has given me justice..."
Uncle Niu’s voice carried a sob, "He was my only son. Just like that, he’s gone. And they say nothing, just offer compensation... Haha, my fitness center makes more than that in a year. Do they think I’m a beggar?"
’Could it be a vendetta?’
Zhong Shenxiu sensed something amiss and quickly took out his phone to check for news about well-known martial artists.
Interestingly enough, a pattern emerged.
Many famous martial artists, in their thirties and forties—the prime of their lives—suddenly faded into obscurity.
Some secluded themselves, some died from illnesses, some had accidents...
While the circumstances differed, there seemed to be a powerful force online, subtly steering the narrative.
It kept martial artists focused on the glamorous side and distracted from the tragic outcomes.
"There’s definitely a scandal within the Martial Artist Association, with the official martial artists."
Zhong Shenxiu spoke gravely.
He had once been the Martial Arts Supreme and was naturally attuned to such shady dealings.
Such a formidable power might just be the official Star Alliance. No wonder Uncle Niu felt so hopeless, to the point of self-destruction.
"Official martial artists, though some have always shined, others have met with terrible fates. So, what do you think, do you still want to go?"
Uncle Niu asked in a deep voice.
Zhong Shenxiu answered loudly.
In fact, he was rolling his eyes inwardly.
’Even if I know it’s a scandal, or even a trap, I have to jump in. Because this is Hua Wu’s obsession. Without fulfilling it, I’ll be trapped in this world forever. With the thinness of the world’s Qi here, I’m afraid I won’t be able to progress past the Gang Sha Realm...’
"Why?" Uncle Niu asked in surprise.
"Because this is my dream!" Zhong Shenxiu answered loudly.
"No, you want to fulfill my wish, to find out Xiao Niu’s cause of death?" Uncle Niu yelled, "Get out! I don’t need your pity!"
He grabbed papers, a thermos... everything on the desk, hurling them.
"Calm down, I’m leaving."
Zhong Shenxiu quickly dodged out of the office, closing the door behind him, and sighed.
So Uncle Niu had such a heartbreaking past. He must have been quite a martial master to have taught a martial artist.
Indeed, though he seemed to be in his forties, he was actually almost sixty. During his youth, he must have approached the Embracing Elixir Realm of a martial artist to lock in his Qi-Blood.
Without that foundation, given his recent years of decline, his body would have probably been wasted by now.
"What happened? It’s rare to see Uncle Niu that angry." Xia and a few others came over to ask, curious.
"It’s nothing, the old man just got heated. Some tea will help him cool off."
Zhong Shenxiu touched his nose, aware that his meal was now off the table, and walked out of the Sunset Fitness Center.
He thought for a moment and sent a message to Luo Xiaoqing: ’Do you want to switch to doing martial arts live-streaming?’
In less than a minute, a reply came back: ’What are you up to?’
Even through the screen, Zhong Shenxiu could almost see a fierce little face grinding her teeth.
’Nothing much, just planning to go to White Ape Martial Arts Hall and have them feed me.’
Zhong Shenxiu replied.
’I knew it, you want to make a name for yourself in the martial arts circles, don’t you? Big eater.’ Luo Xiaoqing immediately texted back, ’Your future title as a martial artist will definitely be Glutton or Foodie!’
’Cut the crap, are you coming?’
’Give me twenty minutes!’