In the morning, very often was there a group of two or three people taking a morning stroll at Yellow Wood City.
They would share some anecdotes among themselves.
Yesterday, the events that had happened in Prosperity Martial Arts School had become the talk of the town.
Somehow, the contents seemed to have been modified creatively.
It had deviated from reality.
"Have you heard of the rumors about a genius from Prosperity Martial Arts School?!"
"Huh? Hasn't it been years since Prosperity Martial Arts School nurtured anyone great? Its fees are lower than other martial arts schools."
"Hehe! You're ignorant! I heard that yesterday when Zhou Heng, an apprentice from Prosperity Martial Arts School competed against his ninth-class practitioner, he acquired the skills of the martial arts on the spot and won in just two or three moves!"
"You must be kidding me! How could an apprentice prevail against a ninth-class martial artist? And the tale of acquiring skills of the opponent's martial arts during a match is even more ridiculous! I don't believe it!"
"I saw it with my own eyes! We're not friends if you don't believe me!"
"Was he really that strong?"
"Why should I lie to you? Trust me if you're my friend!"
"I trust you. Are you satisfied now?"
"I don't think you've fully trusted me. How about this? Tomorrow, go attend the competition between Zhou Heng and Sun Zhengpin and see it for yourself."
"Hey! Did you hear about it? Zhou Heng, an apprentice from Prosperity Martial Arts School defeated his ninth-class practitioner in just one move!"
"Are you dreaming? How is that even possible?!"
"I saw it with my own eyes! Although Zhou Heng's only an apprentice, he's super talented! He could learn all of the skills from his practitioner with just one glance!"
"That is just impossible!"
"You still don't trust my words, my friend? Zhou Heng is really that strong!"
"But that just makes him too strong, don't you think?!"
"If so, isn't Sun Zhengpin going to end up really miserably, since he's fighting against this Zhou Heng tomorrow? He stands no chance at all!"
"Sun Zhengpin is the Sun family's second young master. He's living a good life. Why does he even bother about that ten taels of silver?"
"Hehe! You don't understand this, do you?"
"What's the matter?"
"He's actually lusting for the Wang family's eldest daughter's body!"
"I've heard that there's a very powerful apprentice from Prosperity Martial Arts School who's proficient in countless martial arts. When he stood there, even a ninth-class practitioner dared not make a move."
"Is that apprentice called Zhou Heng? I've heard about him too. But I didn't know he's as powerful as what you just said."
"Yes, he's Zhou Heng. I'm afraid those rumors you've heard are only watered-down. Mine is authentic. Moreover, I saw with my own eyes!"
"But when I heard about the news from that person, he also said that he saw them with his own eyes…"
"Would you believe others over your friend?"
"Of course I would believe you! By the way, I also heard that Zhou Heng is going to compete against Sun Zhengpin of Unity Martial Arts School tomorrow."
"Sun Zhengpin? Haha! We've got a show to catch! I think Sun Zhengpin is no match for Zhou Heng."
"I feel the same too!"
Zhou Heng was walking on the street, heading toward Prosperity Martial Arts School.
He heard a lot of similar comments about him along his way.
How much he wished he could dig a hole to bury himself.
Those rumors were over-exaggerated!
They were getting increasingly outrageous!
He felt awkward hearing them.
Who was the real culprit who started these rumors?!
He lowered his head and quickened his pace. He went to the breakfast stall and bought two fried breadsticks before heading toward the martial arts school.
He even left out the tofu pudding.
Also, he did not get a free huge, white bun.
Yun Xiu had returned to the county yesterday. As such, no one was around to give him freebies.
As it was still early, not many people were inside the big hall of the martial arts school.
After Zhou Heng finished eating his breakfast and moved around to warm up, he started to execute the skills of Divine Power Eighteen Styles.
"You're practicing hard for Ninth-Class Divine Power Eighteen Styles. The level of proficiency increased by 1."
"You're practicing hard for Ninth-Class Divine Power Eighteen Styles. The level of proficiency increased by 3."
"You're practicing hard for Ninth-Class Divine power Eighteen Styles. The level of proficiency increased by 2."
The level of proficiency kept increasing gradually. He was getting more proficient with the skills.
He felt a good sense of fulfillment.
Zhou Heng slowly forgot about the embarrassment he had from the rumors. This was his first time discovering that practicing martial arts really felt amazing!
He could not stop practicing them!
If only the cheat code had existed while he was practicing them on Earth.
Zhou Heng felt that as long as he finished one hundred books of mock exam exercise books for the national college exam, he could instantly transform into a study maniac and easily get into the universities registered under Project 985.
Deng! deng! deng!
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps came in. Yu He ran over to him with an anxious face.
"You're still practicing over here, huh?" He came before Zhou Heng and panted, "Have you heard those rumors from outside?"
Zhou Heng fell silent. He nodded and said, "Yes. I've heard them. I wonder who's the main culprit who has spread them. Even though he claimed it's hearsay, it's still a bit too outrageous!"
"I've asked my family to ask around, and it seems like the rumors came from the Sun family," Yu He said, "Did you notice that the rumors are basically all about comparing you to Sun Zhengpin?"
"Indeed." Zhou Heng frowned and said, "What's the purpose of the Sun family spreading those rumors? Are they planning to flatter me first, then only insult me so that they can become famous after defeating me? That's a very low-class trick."
"It doesn't seem like they're targeting you." Yu He shook his head faintly and pondered for a while before he said, "I've listened carefully to those rumors. On the surface, they seem to be flattering you. But in truth, I feel that they're trying to infuriate Sun Zhengpin."
"Infuriate Sun Zhengpin?" The moment Zhou Heng heard him, a thought rose in his mind, and he asked, "Does Sun Zhengpin have any siblings?"
"He has a big brother called Sun Zhengfeng, a ninth-class martial artist who is now in charge of the Sun family's external affairs." Yu He was stunned. Then, he asked in puzzlement, "Why are you asking this?"
"Just coming up with some theories, but they're not clear yet." Zhou Heng shook his head and asked again, "If I remember correctly, the Sun family is a prestigious and large family at Yellow Wood City."
"Initially, I was wondering why would Sun Zhengpin even bother about a wage job offering only ten taels of silver. After hearing those rumors, I may understand more. So, it's related to the Wang family's eldest daughter, right?"
"What's going on with Wang Family's eldest daughter?"
"You actually don't know anything about her?!" Yu He looked at Zhou Heng incredulously and was shocked. "What the heck?! You really don't know about Ms. Wang? Are you even a man?"
"Bah… What are you saying? Haven't I been concentrating on my martial arts?" Zhou Heng laughed and scolded him at the same time. Indeed, he had not been paying much attention to anything else apart from martial arts and making money.
Even as he was working as a part-time guard and lackey, he upheld his belief of focusing on earning money and taking less care about other stuff that were none of his business so as not to delay his martial arts training sessions.
Despite participating in the Wang family's temporary guard selection competition, he only had a general idea about that family.
As for the Wang Family's eldest daughter, he did not know anything more than slight rumors.
"Fine. No wonder you've achieved perfection for your saber technique." Yu He rolled his eyes and explained to him in detail, "The Wang family's eldest daughter is Wang Qinging, she's eighteen years old and is outstandingly beautiful."
"Three months ago, Ms. Wang came to Yellow Wood City with her father and instantly attracted a lot of suitors. She created quite a scene at that time."
"Sun Zhengpin is one of them. The second young master from the Sun family has put down a lot of money in order to win Ms. Wang's heart.
"He spent three thousand taels of silver in the first two months to buy her various kinds of jewelry, silky fancy clothes, and rare and exotic antiques. They're all delivered to the Wang residence.
"He did all this only to invite Ms. Wang out for a meal."
"How much silver again?" Zhou Heng was green with envy. He asked in shock, "Three thousand taels of silver?! Three thousand taels of silver just for the sake of courting a lady?"
'He shouldn't simply spend the money even if he's filthy rich!'
'Isn't it better to give that money to me instead?'
Zhou Heng tried his best to calm himself and continued, "So, did Sun Zhengpin manage to ask her out in the end?"
"No." Yu He shook his head and giggled. He seemed to take great pleasure in that and continued, "However, Sun Zhengpin managed to break the record by making Wang Qinging step out of Wang residence and saw him once at the doorstep."
"Only for that?" Zhou Heng was stunned and asked in surprise, "Three thousand taels of silvers only to see her once at the doorstep?"
This flatterer was really insane!
Perhaps he should bring along the Diary of the Flatterer. It was a collection of tales that had been really popular online just before he transmigrated. He should lend it to Sun Zhengpin.