"Alright, Edward Grant senior brother." William Carter bowed slightly in response, his expression calm, though a cold glint flashed deep in his eyes that no one else could detect.

Edward Grant noticed that William Carter showed neither anger nor panic, and a hint of surprise flickered in his narrowed eyes. However, he quickly curled his lips into a contemptuous, disdainful sneer as he brushed past William Carter.

"Master Zuo, good morning!" Edward Grant soon approached Samuel Foster, the cold arrogance on his face already gone, replaced by humility and respect.

"You're here!" Samuel Foster's attitude toward Edward Grant was clearly different. Seeing him come to greet him, not only did he put down his teacup and nod at him with a smile, but his sharp gaze also sized him up from head to toe.

"Your vital energy is surging like a tide, powerful and strong. It seems your father spent a fortune again yesterday. But with your talent and at your current age, it's all worth it. As long as you continue to seal your vital energy with your skin membrane, constantly compressing and tempering it, and practice diligently, you have a good chance of developing internal strength. Only by developing internal strength can you truly unleash the power of the Cold Iron Palm, be considered to have truly entered the martial arts world, become a martial arts instructor, stand on your own, and even be considered a notable figure in our Fangshuo City." Samuel Foster's sharp gaze seemed to see through Edward Grant's very insides, and soon he spoke with a hint of delight on his face.

Edward Grant, hearing his master praise him and say he had a good chance of developing internal strength, couldn't help but show a trace of pride on his face. However, he quickly put away his proud expression and once again bowed respectfully, saying, "All of this is thanks to Master Zuo's careful guidance; otherwise, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"Haha!" Samuel Foster couldn't help but laugh heartily at these words. The more he looked at Edward Grant, the more he liked him, so he invited him to sit beside him and began giving him some private instruction in a low voice.

……

"So, Edward Grant wants to spar with you again?" On the other side, a burly man, as strong as an ox, with a dark, bare chest as tough as iron, was lifting a stone lock to train his strength. He casually tossed a stone lock to the approaching William Carter, glanced from afar at Edward Grant talking with Samuel Foster under the big tree, and showed a hint of disdain and annoyance.

This man was named David Morgan, an apprentice at the martial arts school who had a good relationship with William Carter.

"Yeah," William Carter responded as he quickly stepped forward to catch the stone lock.

But the stone lock was heavy. Although he caught it, he couldn't quite steady himself and had to take a step back before regaining his balance.

"He's just trying to give you a hard time!" David Morgan said indignantly.

"I know!" William Carter replied with a wry smile, glancing at a young woman practicing martial arts on the other side of the training ground.

Chapter 8: Troubles Left by the Ex

That woman was named Charlotte Harris. She wore a dark training outfit, had an oval face, looked fairly attractive, and had a curvy figure, though her legs were a bit on the sturdy side—not the type of woman William Carter liked.

But the original owner of this body happened to like women with big hips and sturdy legs, the kind who looked like they would be good at bearing children. The first time William Carter saw Charlotte Harris, he was stunned by her beauty and developed feelings for her, often finding excuses to talk to her.

William Carter had sharp facial features, sword-like eyebrows, and bright eyes—handsome and dashing. His family had been well-off when he was young, so he had read some books, making his speech and demeanor stand out at the martial arts school. Plus, he was attentive and eager to please. When Charlotte Harris first arrived at the school and had no friends, William Carter, as a "veteran," took care of her in every way, so she naturally developed some affection for him, and the two began a bit of a relationship in private.

Later, Edward Grant also came to the martial arts school.

He, too, was immediately attracted to Charlotte Harris.

Edward Grant's family, while not aristocrats in the county city, was definitely wealthy, owning several shops in town and a hundred or two acres of good farmland outside the city.

With a good family background, no shortage of meat or medicinal supplements, and natural talent, Edward Grant reached the skin membrane level of training after only four months, able to seal his vital energy with his skin, refining and tempering it day and night. He quickly gained Samuel Foster's favor, who saw him as a promising candidate to reach the internal strength level.

William Carter had little talent for martial arts. After nearly three years of training, he still hadn't reached the threshold of the skin membrane level. His family was average, and aside from his good looks, Charlotte Harris was never truly smitten with him—she just enjoyed being pursued and flattered by a man, so their relationship was always somewhat ambiguous.

Later, Charlotte Harris also reached the skin membrane level and became an inner courtyard disciple. With Edward Grant getting involved, she gradually distanced herself from William Carter and grew closer to Edward Grant.

After all, Edward Grant came from a wealthy family, had talent in martial arts, and had hope of reaching the internal strength level. Once he did, he'd be considered a notable figure even in the entire county city.

Moreover, Charlotte Harris's own family background was decent, and though her martial arts talent wasn't as good as Edward Grant's, it was still above average compared to others. With supplements and her own efforts, she reached the skin membrane level in about a year.

The two of them could be considered people of roughly the same social class.

When William Carter saw Charlotte Harris distancing herself and getting close to Edward Grant, he felt bitter but was self-aware enough not to pester her. He just couldn't help but steal a few glances at her in private.