Chapter 0028: Eating Well

"Stance! You need to create a stance out of thin air! What are you all doing? Tensing your muscles like this won't help you develop your skills. If you stand like this for too long, you'll cause yourself problems!" 

After knocking one person down with a kick, Chen Zheng said, "You call that a stance? You can't even take one kick from me. Do it again!" 

"Your stance should be firm. If you can't even hold a proper stance, what martial arts are you practicing?" 

This morning, Chen Zheng was supervising his younger disciples in training. He was unusually strict, especially with the new disciples taken in by Huo Yuanjia in the past few days. Many of them couldn't even hold a proper horse stance. 

Chen Zheng knocked them down one by one, realizing that most of these people weren't serious about training; they were just here to pass the time. 

Now that Huo Yuanjia had so many disciples, there wasn't even enough space for them to stay at the Huo family estate.

"Master, what exactly is the horse stance? I don't believe that if you stand like this, I can't push you down!" One of the muscular men who had just been knocked over by Chen Zheng said, looking displeased. 

"Exactly, just because you started earlier doesn't mean you're special. Why are you acting so smug?" 

These people had a history with Chen Zheng. Though the downfall of his family wasn't directly caused by them, they had played a role in it. 

The troublemaker, Zhao San, was the notorious gang leader from the west side of the city. He had brought some of his subordinates to Huo Yuanjia's school just a few days ago. 

"That's right! You little dog, what's with the arrogance? Daring to kick me? Are you tired of living?" 

"Exactly! You're just a bookworm. What's so special about being a disciple of Huo Yuanjia? Just a few days ago, Huo Yuanjia called us brothers. We're brothers with Huo Yuanjia, and you still have the nerve to call us uncles?" 

"Who do you think you are, talking to our senior brother like that?" Liuzi, one of the other disciples, was infuriated by their words and glared at them. 

With the increasing number of disciples under Huo Yuanjia, training was now divided into groups. Over the past two years, Chen Zheng hadn't shown his martial skills in front of them, and those who had seen him fight had mostly left the Huo family. New disciples only heard stories about Chen Zheng. 

And stories only get exaggerated. These newcomers didn't think much of Chen Zheng's skills. In particular, the ruffians like Zhao San didn't understand martial arts—they only thought of them as people who could fight, not as warriors. 

Huo Yuanjia's reputation for being strong had drawn many seeking protection, and now many of the new disciples were here for the same reason, wanting to benefit from the Huo family's influence. 

"What's the big deal? You're just a bookworm. Do you really think you're so great? I could probably knock you down with one punch!" Zhao San laughed mockingly. 

"Yeah! You just teach us how to stand in the horse stance. Are you scared that if we learn real martial arts, we'll beat you and you'll lose your position as senior brother?" 

"Hahaha, that must be it!" 

"Fine, let's see who's right!" Chen Zheng wasn't angered by their words. He settled into a proper horse stance and said, "Come on, try to push me. Don't even think about knocking me down, but if you can move me even a little, I'll call you senior brother." 

"Alright, this is what you said, don't say I'm bullying you!" Zhao San, feeling confident, walked over and pushed Chen Zheng. 

But Chen Zheng stood firm and didn't move. "What's the matter? Didn't you eat? With that weak strength, you couldn't even swat a mosquito!" 

Zhao San growled, "I don't believe this!" He lunged at Chen Zheng, using all his strength to try to push him, but it was like pushing a wall. No matter how hard he tried, Chen Zheng didn't budge. 

"I really don't believe this!" Zhao San stepped back, gritted his teeth, and kicked Chen Zheng's shin with all his might. 

"Ah! Ohhh~!" Zhao San immediately sat down in pain, clutching his foot, writhing in agony. All his strength had been directed at his own foot, while Chen Zheng remained motionless. 

"Hmph, is this your level?" Chen Zheng sneered. 

"Everyone, get him!" Zhao San, furious, ordered his six men to attack. 

Chen Zheng smirked, unfazed. Even with six people attacking, they couldn't move him an inch. 

"Did you all forget to eat?!" Chen Zheng shook his body, and the six men were knocked to the ground. 

"How's that? Any more questions?" 

"N-no... no more questions! We'll stand properly now!" The men quickly stood at attention, fearing Chen Zheng's wrath. 

The morning practice session lasted for one hour, but with so many disciples, it was becoming difficult to maintain control over their training. 

"Boss, that second dog, he's only trained for a few years, how is he so strong?" 

"That's nothing. After following his method, I could feel heat rising from my feet. I'll be stronger than that bookworm in no time!" 

"Wow, boss, you're truly a martial arts genius!" 

"Of course! That bookworm has no martial arts talent. Didn't you see all those strong disciples leaving the Huo family to venture into the world? They were impressive. Chen Zheng must have bad talent, that's why he's stuck at the Huo family. Just wait, I'll show him who's boss!" 

Zhao San, feeling the heat in his body and basking in his subordinates' praise, started to believe he was a martial arts genius. He even thought that in no time, he'd surpass Huo Yuanjia and become the top fighter in Tianmen. 

"Let's go, we're going to Guyue Lou to eat something nice!" 

"But boss, we don't have any money!" 

"What does money matter? Don't forget, we're disciples of Huo Yuanjia, the number one in Tianmen. Who would dare not show us respect?" 

"Yeah, how could I forget? We're Huo Yuanjia's disciples now. Who would dare refuse us? It's been so long since we've had a proper meal. This time, we're eating well!" 

"Exactly, boss, you're brilliant. I'm glad to be following you, we'll never go hungry!" 

"Boss, you're so smart! I heard the owner of Guyue Lou is Huo Yuanjia's brother. They'll never charge us for food!" 

"Hahaha, Wangzi, go gather the others. We're going to Guyue Lou!" 

"I'll go now!"