“Struck it rich…”

  “Ah! Xiao Zhe, are you—are you alright?”

  Su Yuan finally snapped out of his daze and scrambled over to Su Zhe, frantically examining his nephew for any signs of serious injury.

  “I’m fine,” Su Zhe reassured him.

  “But… Xiao Zhe, this crocodile-dragon was fully grown! Even three or five strong men couldn’t take it down—how on earth did you manage?”

  “Lately, I don’t know why, but working the forge has been getting easier. It feels like my strength has grown a lot. When I saw you in danger just now, I didn’t think much and just acted.”

  “And that hammer—where did it come from?”

  “Oh, it’s an old hammer Master Chen gave me for practice. I had it strapped to my belt. Maybe it was too dark for you to notice earlier.”

  The uncle and nephew had narrowly escaped death, but Su Yuan was still in shock.

  The crocodile-dragon that had terrorized the area before was only seven feet long and required three men to slay. This one was even bigger—easily a match for five grown men.

  Su Zhe had been working at the blacksmith guild for three years, and his daily hammering had made him as strong as an adult, but he was still just a teenager. How could he possibly have the strength to beat such a beast? Yet here it was, slain by his hand.

  “Could it really be?” Su Yuan muttered in disbelief, his mind racing. He distinctly remembered that Su Zhe hadn’t been carrying any hammer earlier. The way it suddenly appeared felt almost… magical.

  “Master Chen said I have a knack for martial arts,” Su Zhe added. “He called it a case of latent potential finally breaking through. Lately, I’ve been feeling my strength grow really fast.”

  Su Yuan drew in a deep breath, his eyes brimming with excitement.

  “A talent for martial arts? That must mean you have a special physique—something far superior to ordinary people!”

  “Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Our family is going to have a martial master!” Su Yuan could barely contain his enthusiasm, clapping Su Zhe on the shoulder with his rough, calloused hands.

  To common folk, a martial artist was like a demigod—an existence to be revered.

  “I heard about a boy in Lu County,” Su Yuan began, his voice growing more animated. “Skinny as a starving ghost, not a scrap of meat on his bones, but the leader of the Canal Gang took him in, taught him martial arts, and his progress was incredible. At eighteen, that boy could send five or six grown men flying with just a flick of his arms.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Xiao Zhe must have a physique like that! Our family is truly blessed!”

  The idea brought tears to Su Yuan’s eyes. He had worked tirelessly to raise Su Zhe, always hoping his nephew would achieve greatness. Now, it seemed that dream might finally come true.

  “I knew it was worth it,” Su Yuan thought, his heart swelling with pride. “Brother, Sister-in-law, I’ve done right by you.”

  The two then turned their attention to the massive crocodile-dragon.

  “This creature’s so big,” Su Yuan mused, “that even if it’s not a true monster, it’s close. Its flesh and blood must be highly nourishing for a martial artist.”

  “Remember Old Li? He caught a three-pound treasure fish a few weeks back and sold it to a martial artist for thirty taels of silver.”

  “This crocodile-dragon weighs at least 150 pounds! We’ll keep a few dozen pounds for you, and the rest we can sell. Even if it’s not as valuable as treasure fish, the sheer quantity will make up for it…”

  Su Yuan’s mind raced with possibilities, and a grin spread across his face. Surviving this ordeal felt like a blessing from the heavens.

  When they returned to the village, Su Zhe carried the crocodile-dragon into the courtyard, nearly giving his aunt, Lin Xia, a heart attack.

  It took Su Yuan a full explanation to calm her down. But as he described the perilous encounter, Lin Xia’s face turned pale, and she began scolding furiously.

  “You reckless fool! The night is full of spirits and monsters, and you dragged Xiao Zhe into danger? If anything had happened to him, I’d… I’d bite you to death myself!”

  She chased Su Yuan around the courtyard, wielding a broom with terrifying precision.

  Su Zhe could only stand there awkwardly, thinking, What a terrifying choice of words…

  After venting her anger, Lin Xia turned her attention to Su Zhe.

  “Are you hurt, Xiao Zhe? Let me see.”

  “I’m fine, Auntie,” Su Zhe said with a smile. “But my clothes got torn. Could you help patch them up?”

  “Patch them? Forget it! Tomorrow, your uncle will buy new fabric, and I’ll make you a whole new outfit.”

  “You’ve grown up—able to slay dragons and all,” Lin Xia said, half laughing, half crying.

  The family then set to work processing the crocodile-dragon. Its tough scales were perfect for shoes or armor, and even its bones were valuable as medicine, said to strengthen the body and replenish vitality.

  That night, Lin Xia cooked a feast of crocodile-dragon meat. The aroma was tantalizing, and the meal did not disappoint. Though Lin Xia and Su Yuan could only eat a few pieces before feeling flushed and light-headed, Su Zhe devoured over ten pounds of meat, leaving nothing but an empty bowl.

  Afterward, feeling a surge of energy, Su Zhe picked up an eight-pound hammer and began practicing in the courtyard, his movements powerful and precise.

  The next morning, Su Zhe woke early and brought ten pounds of meat to the blacksmith guild, while Su Yuan headed to the market with the remaining seventy pounds to sell. The rest, Lin Xia preserved for later use, knowing its nourishing properties would benefit Su Zhe as he trained.

  News of the crocodile-dragon quickly spread through the village, and Su Zhe became the talk of the town.

  “A born warrior! With strength like that, he’s sure to become a core disciple of the blacksmith guild!”

  “Congratulations, Lin Xia! Your family’s fortune has turned around!”

  Lin Xia beamed with pride, her smile never fading as the villagers showered her with compliments.

  At the guild, Master Chen accepted the crocodile-dragon meat with a pleased smile. But as he examined Su Zhe more closely, his expression turned serious.

  “Your breathing is stronger… your blood vitality is overflowing. This is the hallmark of a body as robust as a raging bull.”

  Master Chen was so startled he dropped his teacup. Seeing the half-tea, half-wolfberry mix spill onto the floor, Su Zhe couldn’t help but think, Master Chen sure takes his health seriously.