In the world of martial arts, grind your skill level to become a saint.

Su Hao didn't care about the small amount of money; after handing it over, he continued his forging work.

He's not exactly rich, but he's not poor either.

Moreover, he needed the shop to improve his skills and make money along the way, so there was no need for him to get into a conflict with the Black Tiger Gang.

After receiving their allowance, the Black Tiger Gang members did not linger. After exchanging a few words with Su Hao about the Black Tiger Gang's rules, they left.

Su Hao continued with his own business. As the furnace fire burned brighter and brighter, he took out the prepared blade blanks and began to forge them.

Clang clang clang!!

The dense, heavy clanging of hammering echoed continuously. Su Hao's movements were skillful and powerful. With each hammer blow, the red-hot iron block deformed and extended by an inch or two.

Since breaking through the stone skin, Su Hao's strength has increased significantly. In addition, with his forging skill reaching Lv3, Su Hao's forging speed is more than twice as fast as before!

And the improvement in proficiency is also increasing at a visible rate!

The constant clanging of metal began to attract the attention of passersby outside.

Before long, people began to come to Su Hao's door asking him to help with forging.

Some regular customers also came in and asked Su Hao what had happened to him these days.

However, Su Hao simply smiled and didn't dwell on the topic.

Time flew by and it was noon.

After finishing forging the last knife, Su Hao prepared to shut down the furnace and go check out the boxing gym.

However, just as he was about to pack up and leave, a boy who looked about twelve or thirteen years old, was dark-skinned and thin, and was barefoot, ran quickly into the shop.

He was holding a wood-chopping knife and a small black money bag.

"Brother Hao, Grandpa sent me to return the knife, and also to pay for the knife I bought on credit last time."

The boy, holding the knife, was panting slightly.

"Hmm...? Why are you here today? Where's your grandfather?"

Su Hao asked in confusion.

The visitor was Uncle Fu's eldest grandson, named Zhao Deshou.

When he was a child, Uncle Fu often brought him to wander around Blackwater Street, and over time Su Hao got to know this kid.

"Grandpa caught a cold these past few days, and he said it's inconvenient for him to go out."

Zhao Deshou scratched his head and said.

"Did you catch a cold?"

Upon hearing this, Su Hao couldn't help but frown.

Although catching a cold is no small matter in this world, it's not to the point where you can't go out.

However, he didn't think much of it; at least Uncle Fu had returned the items.

"Take this money back; your grandfather needs it more."

Su Hao did not accept the money Zhao Deshou offered, but returned it.

He knew that Zhao Fu, as a woodcutter, had a hard time going to Zhucheng to chop firewood every day, and that he had a good personal reputation, so it was no problem to sometimes give him a little help.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Deshou quickly thanked him, accepted the money with both hands, and left.

After watching Zhao Deshou leave, Su Hao closed the door and went to the boxing academy to train.

On his way to the boxing academy, Su Hao was also thinking about how to tell Master Liu that he had broken through to the Stone Skin level.

After all, reaching the Stone Skin level is considered being an entry-level disciple of the Yueshan Boxing School.

Their status and treatment are different.

Most importantly, those who reach the entry-level disciple level are generally required to take up a position with an employer who cooperates with Yueshan Boxing School.

The fees for temporary assignments vary, ranging from high to low, but most are calculated based on the level of difficulty.

The money earned from the temporary posting is partly considered as personal income, and a small portion is also handed over to the martial arts school to maintain a balance between the school's income and expenses.

After all, the ingredients needed to make a large pot of blood-nourishing soup every day are not cheap.

Su Hao's current dilemma is whether his temporary assignment will affect his personal freedom.

After all, being on temporary assignment means having to do things, and if it takes up too much time, it will inevitably affect the progress of forging and martial arts training.

Su Hao arrived at the martial arts school and returned to the same spot where he had been practicing before.

After glancing at Master Liu teaching Tang Huang under the shade of a tree with an extremely serious expression, Su Hao thought for a moment and decided not to disturb him for the time being, and instead practice on his own.

However, after practicing the boxing moves a few times, Zhou Zhengtang walked over from the courtyard.

He stopped a few meters away from Su Hao, his gaze fixed on Su Hao as he constantly changed his punches, seemingly lost in thought.

"Senior Brother Zhou."

Su Hao looked at Zhou Zhengtang with some confusion, wondering what the other party meant.

"Want to practice some moves?"

Zhou Zhengtang snapped out of his daze and suddenly asked Su Hao.

"If it's alright?"

Su Hao paused for a moment, not expecting Zhou Zhengtang to suddenly come over to practice his moves.

This is the first time.

"Of course!" Zhou Zhengtang nodded, then took off his shirt, revealing his well-built muscles.

The two then began practicing together on the field.

As the two unleashed their Yue Shan Fist techniques, Zhou Zhengtang's movements became increasingly rapid.

boom!

Another heavy punch landed, and Su Hao staggered back several steps before taking a sudden step to steady himself.

Zhou Zhengtang also stopped his attack and stood still, looking at Su Hao, his voice lowered: "Those people you asked me to inquire about before were killed last night."

Su Hao paused, his expression showing some surprise.

"Who did it?" Su Hao asked.

"I don't know, I only know that several people died tragically." Zhou Zhengtang shook his head.

His gaze toward Su Hao became somewhat enigmatic and meaningful for a moment.

He gave Su Hao his specific information and address just yesterday.

The letter his scouts sent him this morning informed him that all of these people had perished.

So what happened last night, and who did it?

Zhou Zhengtang did not believe it was just a coincidence.

If it's not a coincidence, then his guess is pretty much right.

He never expected that his seemingly calm and reserved junior brother would also reveal such a fanged side.

"Why is Senior Brother Zhou looking at me like that?"

Su Hao asked, puzzled.

However, at the same time, he was secretly alarmed.

It must be said that Zhou Zhengtang's intelligence capabilities are indeed amazing. Not long after that, real-time intelligence from Chen Biao's side was transmitted over.

Moreover, judging from the look in their eyes now, they clearly suspect that I did it.

However, suspicion is nothing to him.

Suspicion cannot be used as evidence.

"No... I just wanted to ask if you've done your homework?"

Zhou Zhengtang gave an awkward smile and changed the subject.

However, her feelings towards Su Hao had changed.

"What homework? You didn't say you had to hand in homework today."

Su Hao countered with a question.

"I just remembered it wrong..."

Zhou Zhengtang patted his forehead, then looked at Su Hao and said, "I just practiced with you and found that your moves are already very proficient. Your strength and reaction are also quite strong. I estimate that it won't be long before you break through to the Stone Skin Realm."

"I've heard that after the Stone Skin incident, new disciples need to be affiliated with a powerful family or a strong merchant guild. I wonder if Senior Brother Zhou could tell me which organizations our Yue Shan Martial Arts School can be affiliated with?"

Seeing that Zhou Zhengtang happened to be free, Su Hao asked him.

"This..." Zhou Zhengtang hesitated for a moment. Then he said, "Our Yue Shan Martial Arts School is quite famous in Hongqiao Town, so we have many forces to rely on. It can be said that in the entire Hongqiao Town, as long as we spread the word, many forces and families are willing to hire people from our martial arts school to do things."

"What is the approximate price for affiliation?"

Su Hao asked the question that concerned him most.