Residence

The sun climbed to the middle of the sky, baking the bluestone slabs of the training ground until they were scorching hot. The once-unceasing sounds of punching had long since faded away.

The youths gathered beneath the shade of the trees to chat, while only the outsider, Xu Li, persisted in practicing the Harmonious Flow Fist in the open space. His arms shook violently, sweat soaked through the collar of his coarse cloth shirt, and a large dark stain spread across his back. He stubbornly finished half a set before bracing himself against a wooden post and gasping for breath.

Wang Yue crouched in a shaded corner by the wall, flipping through the fist manual and silently recalling Wang He's demonstrated movements. Every so often, he raised a hand to mimic them. Though his forms were still stiff and raw, they carried several degrees more certainty than they had that morning.

"Gather!"

Steward Hu hurried over with two guards, sweat beading on his forehead. Those summoned this time were all collateral clan members and youths with other surnames; the direct descendants had long since vanished.

"Follow me. From now on, you'll live in the rear courtyard."

The group followed Steward Hu through two bluestone walls. The rear courtyard before them was spacious and tidy. Stone mills stood beneath several old elm trees, while rows of worn single-story rooms lined the walls.

"Five people to a room. The clan has provided bedding."

Steward Hu pushed open the wooden door of a room on the eastern side, and a faint musty smell rushed out to meet them.

The room was small. Five plank beds stood against the walls, with barely half an arm's length between them. The gray cloth bedding had worn edges, but it was clean.

Wang Yue chose the bed furthest inside and placed his fist manual beside the pillow.

Xu Li entered, first practicing two light strikes of the Harmonious Flow Fist toward the wall before sitting on the bed beside Wang Yue's.

Also sharing the room were the three collateral clan youths Wang Shun, Wang Chen, and Wang Qiang. After briefly greeting one another, they each began arranging their belongings.

Steward Hu entered the room, his tone stern. "From now on, practice your fists at the training ground during the day. The clan will provide meals on time and make sure you eat your fill.

"But let me lay the ugly words out first: if you cannot even touch the threshold of Harmonious Flow Fist initiation within a year, you'll be assigned as menial workers, and you'll never have another chance to practice martial arts."

He paused, and his tone softened somewhat. "Back then, I was just like you. I endured days of practicing until I was too exhausted to lift my arms. Only by practicing your fists well can you rise above the rest.

"This is your best chance. If you miss it and later want to defy fate and change your destiny, it will be harder than climbing to the heavens!"

With that, he turned and left.

The room immediately fell silent. Wang Yue picked up the fist manual and turned to the page on "Wave-Stacking Fist," then began practicing the Harmonious Flow Fist against the shadow on the wall. Sunlight streamed through the window, and faint sounds of punches gradually filled the room.

Before long, the rumble of wooden barrel wheels came from outside, accompanied by a guard's shout. "Food's ready! Everyone line up in the courtyard!"

Wang Yue rubbed his aching arms and rose, heading into the courtyard with Xu Li.

Beneath the old elm trees, Steward Hu stood beside two wooden barrels half a man's height tall. One gave off the fragrance of rice, while the other contained large chunks of greens and radishes, dotted with a few slices of fatty meat. Beads of oil floated atop the vegetable broth.

The youths lined up of their own accord. Wang Yue received a heaping bowl of rice and a ladleful of oily vegetables, then sat on a stone mill and wolfed it down. He had not eaten food with even a trace of oil for three months. The strength drained by his morning practice seemed to be smoothed away the instant the meal entered his mouth.

Xu Li sat beside him and ate just as quickly.

After the meal, as the menial workers collected the bowls and chopsticks, the setting sun had already sunk behind the earthen wall. Steward Hu called out, "Practice your fists well. Don't squander this opportunity," then left with the workers and guards.

Wang Yue and Xu Li walked to the open space in the rear courtyard, where quite a few youths had already scattered out to practice the Harmonious Flow Fist.

Xu Li immediately stepped into an open spot and began training. His arms still ached, but his movements were more orderly than during the day. Sweat dripped onto the ground, spreading into damp stains, as he practiced the Harmonious Flow Fist over and over.

Wang Yue, meanwhile, sat on a stone mill, using the fading daylight to read through the fist manual and silently memorize the key points of practice.

The sky gradually darkened, and a crescent moon climbed into the heavens, spilling its clear radiance over the rear courtyard.

Fewer and fewer people remained practicing. Xu Li finished another set of Harmonious Flow Fist and bent over with his hands on his knees, gasping. His brows were tightly furrowed; he had clearly yet to find the trick to practicing the art, and he looked somewhat disgruntled.

He practiced another half set before stopping, then walked over to Wang Yue and asked, "How's your training going?"

"I've only just figured out some of the key points of Harmonious Flow Fist. I'm not proficient yet."

Wang Yue shook the fist manual. "Practicing with this is better than blindly throwing punches."

Wang Yue raised his head and swept his gaze around. Only a scattered few remained in the open space, so he returned to the room shoulder to shoulder with Xu Li.

Inside, Wang Shun, Wang Chen, and Wang Qiang were already lying on their beds.

Wang Yue quietly walked over to his bed, pulled out the fist manual from his robes, and turned another two pages by moonlight. Only after silently memorizing the key points of Harmonious Flow Fist did he place the manual beside his pillow.

Once he lay down, soreness surged through his entire body, but it did nothing to hinder his sleepiness.

Moonlight outside shone through the window lattice and fell upon the fist manual. Only the breathing of the five boys remained in the room.

Wang Yue's final thought before sleep was: Tomorrow, I need to get up earlier. While there are fewer people around, I'll practice the Harmonious Flow Fist I figured out today a few more times.

Before dawn had fully broken, with only faint traces of light in the rear courtyard, Wang Yue woke up.

The soreness throughout his body had not yet fully faded, but he forced himself up. Quietly pulling out the fist manual beside his pillow, he glanced over the key points of Harmonious Flow Fist by the faint remaining moonlight filtering through the window lattice, tucked the manual away, and headed for the courtyard.

The old elm trees in the rear courtyard were steeped in morning mist, and a thin layer of frost had gathered on the stone mills.

Wang Yue walked to the center of the open space. After taking several deep breaths, he slowly began practicing the Harmonious Flow Fist.

His movements were slower than the night before, as he deliberately felt how strength should flow through each strike. The soreness in his arms was actually somewhat lighter than it had been yesterday.

He practiced the Harmonious Flow Fist again and again. Morning light gradually climbed over the earthen walls, drawing his shadow shorter and shorter.

"Wang Yue?"

A slightly hoarse voice called out. Wang Yue withdrew his fist and turned around, seeing Xu Li standing by the wooden door, one hand braced against it. His eyes were still hazy with sleep, and he clutched half a steamed corn bun left over from last night.

"You... when did you get up?"

Xu Li stared blankly at the sweat-dampened ground beneath Wang Yue's feet, his voice filled with surprise.

"Not long ago."

Wang Yue wiped the fine sweat from his brow and rolled his aching shoulders.

Xu Li took a bite of the corn bun, urgency appearing in his eyes. He walked to the other side of the open space, took a deep breath, and began practicing the Harmonious Flow Fist. His movements were more forceful than yesterday's, and sweat soon streamed down his cheeks.

The two stood several steps apart, each practicing the Harmonious Flow Fist. Only the alternating sounds of their punches remained in the rear courtyard, occasionally mixed with Xu Li's hurried breathing.

After an unknown amount of time, a menial worker pushed a food barrel into the rear courtyard and called out, "Food's ready!"

Wang Yue and Xu Li stopped, rubbing their aching arms as they followed the crowd to line up.

Breakfast was steamed corn buns, millet porridge, and greens with radishes. There were fewer beads of oil than last night, but Wang Yue still ate quickly. They would be heading to the training ground in the morning, and he needed to store up enough strength.

The two had just handed their bowls to the menial workers when Steward Hu's booming voice rang out. "Everyone gather! Follow me to the training ground!"

The group quickly lined up at the courtyard gate. Wang Yue carefully folded the fist manual and tucked it into his robes, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xu Li.

Xu Li lowered his head and flexed his wrists, while Wang Yue looked toward the training ground, silently thinking that he had to master the Harmonious Flow Fist more thoroughly.

After confirming that everyone was present, Steward Hu turned to lead the way, reminding them, "Mind your manners once we reach the training ground, and listen carefully to the arrangements!"

The group followed behind him.

The morning sun rose higher and higher, shortening their shadows and gradually warming the bluestone slabs of the training ground.