“Third Miss, in the last sixty-year cycle, my The Sutton Family produced five pills from the furnace, which were then divided among us five siblings. This created a golden era for my The Sutton Family, with five powerful inner strength experts. In modern society, although scientific progress has made martial artists lose the mindset of the old days and become more impatient, it has also brought an abundance of resources—money can now buy things that were once unattainable. The last batch yielded five pills, which was the most my The Sutton Family had ever produced since obtaining the pill recipe, and it established our The Sutton Family as a top-tier family in the Qianshan Empire. This time, my The Sutton Family has produced six pills. The prosperity of my The Sutton Family will surely continue, and even surpass the past. Third Miss, by family decision, you are to receive one pill. Now, take the pill.”

Sarah Sutton was filled with emotion, but remained cautious and respectful. She immediately stood up, but before rising, she glanced once more at the meat soup and ribs on the table, then pouted her lips ever so slightly before leaving the dining hall.

After Sarah Sutton left the dining hall and walked onto a secluded path, in almost the blink of an eye, a gleaming, orb-like pill appeared in her arms, shining like a crystal ball. The old voice continued, “Take this pill immediately. The transformation of your innate constitution will begin subtly and last for a hundred days—just over three months. When the hundred days are nearly up, you must enter a week of closed-door cultivation, clearing your mind of all distractions. Only then can the pill’s effects be maximized. Take it now.”

Sarah Sutton naturally dared not delay, and she also knew that the owner of the old voice would never allow her to leave with the pill. First, it was unsafe; second, it was to prevent any mishap. After all, this pill was crucial to the family’s rise and fall—no information could be leaked. Only direct descendants like her might know a little, and even then, it was almost considered legend or rumor. Only now, with the real thing in hand, did she realize it was true. So how could she possibly be allowed to leave with the pill?

Without hesitation, Sarah Sutton swallowed the glowing orb in one gulp. The pill melted instantly in her mouth, turning into a mouthful of nectar that slid down her throat and into her stomach, vanishing without a trace in moments. Only then did the old voice seem to breathe a sigh of relief and say, “Well, my task is complete. Third Miss, the family now awaits the good news of your inner strength breakthrough. Don’t let the family down.”

“I will strictly heed the family’s teachings.”

Sarah Sutton cupped her hands and bowed deeply, finally speaking aloud: “I will always keep the The Suttons family in my heart…”

“I will not hesitate, even unto death!”

(A hundred days… I probably won’t make it in time for that silly boy’s birthday…)

For some reason, Sarah Sutton thought of that foolish boy who had managed to master a worthless, trashy set of boxing techniques…

Chapter 7: On Kung Fu and Promises

(PS: Please continue to bookmark, recommend, and click—every bit helps. The new book period is very important to me.)

“Goodness!”

Natalie Sawyer exclaimed, suddenly leaping backward. Her retreat was not in a straight line, but followed a special rhythm and pattern, making it impossible for Henry Harper to land his next punch.

“His punching power is consistent from start to finish, and after striking, it flows on without end. Such talent, such diligence, such brilliance! Brother Harper has actually mastered this set of boxing techniques. One more step and he’ll reach the ultimate level of this style. Excellent!”

On the sidelines, Paul Thompson saw his fiancée pushed back by a punch, but he cheered loudly. Instantly, Natalie Sawyer’s face darkened. Still, this was a martial contest. Although Natalie Sawyer was displeased, she had her own martial integrity and would never make a scene. Nor would she simply admit defeat. Instead, she pivoted on her feet, gliding toward Henry Harper as if her feet were skimming the ground without actually touching it, moving at incredible speed.

“Brother Harper, be careful! That’s the Spirit Snake Footwork—fast and tricky angles!” Paul Thompson called out loudly, since Henry Harper was only using a set of unranked boxing techniques.

As the daughter-in-law-to-be of the capital’s The Thompson Family, Natalie Sawyer was already qualified to practice the The Thompson Family family martial arts, even though she was only a fiancée. This Spirit Snake Footwork was one of them. By market standards, it would be considered a first-class lightness skill.

Henry Harper, however, stood his ground, unmoving. He watched as Natalie Sawyer darted at him from tricky angles, but he neither looked nor cared, letting Natalie Sawyer attack any part of his body she wished. His fist remained motionless, aimed straight at Natalie Sawyer’s head.

Natalie Sawyer was forced to retreat several times. Her attacks could at most injure Henry Harper, since neither of them possessed inner strength. All they could rely on was physical power and the force of their external martial arts techniques—the so-called “pseudo-inner strength” of internal boxing. This power, while considerable, could not be sustained; each move only had the force of that single move. Only by mastering the external art could this power become continuous and inexhaustible. As things stood, she could at most injure Henry Harper, but since Henry Harper had already mastered this set of boxing techniques, if he landed a punch on her head, it would be fatal. Even though this was just a sparring match and both would hold back, if she got hit, she would lose. This was the way of martial artists—she didn’t have the face to grit her teeth and refuse to admit defeat.