Martial Arts Prodigy

After choosing the Martial Arts Prodigy talent, Lin Chan's martial arts training speed improved significantly.

However, he was still a child and shouldn't overdo it—half an hour of practice each day was best. Overtraining could harm his body, stunting his growth and development.

Of course, Lin Chan didn't act too extraordinary on a daily basis. He played when it was time to play and rested when it was time to rest, only appearing slightly sharper than an ordinary child. He didn't come off as some freakish prodigy or child genius.

Besides martial arts, Lin Chan's older sisters often taught him to write and read.

Lin Chan was still too young to attend the private school. He'd have to wait until he was six or seven before he could go.

Of course, given his current situation, going a few years earlier wouldn't be unusual.

For now, Lin Chan was still very young, and his daily activities were confined to the Lin estate. He couldn't go outside.

Only during the annual New Year's festival, under Lin Fangzheng's guidance, could Lin Chan step out of the Lin estate and see the world beyond.

In the dead of winter, in the Lin family courtyard, Lin Chan wore a thin shirt as he practiced his punches with precision in the biting wind. His small body steamed with heat—he didn't feel cold at all.

Winter training required this: dressing lightly to let the heat dissipate promptly.

If he wore heavy clothes and trapped that damp heat inside his body, it would actually be harmful.

As he finished the last move, Lin Chan settled his breath and withdrew his stance.

"Young Master, a born prodigy. In less than a year, your Tong Bei Quan has already reached minor success, brimming with intent."

A middle-aged man with a vertical scar at the corner of his mouth and graying hair praised him.

"Uncle Liu!"

Lin Chan stepped forward, cupping his small hands together in a salute.

This Uncle Liu was the Guard Captain of Lin Fangzheng's household, a martial artist at the Peak Houtian Realm.

Mortal martial arts were divided into Houtian and Xiantian.

Houtian had four stages: first, training the Skin and Muscle Layer; second, training the Organs; third, training the Tendons and Bones; fourth, training the Marrow and Blood.

Uncle Liu, Liu Zi, was a master of Marrow and Blood training.

When Lin Fangzheng was away on business, Uncle Liu taught Lin Chan martial arts.

Still half an hour each day, no more, no less—Proper Rest and Relaxation.

"Uncle Liu, when do you think I'll finish training the Skin and Muscle Layer?"

As they walked back into the house together, Lin Chan asked.

"Young Master, your Tong Bei Quan has already reached minor success. In less than a year, you'll complete the Skin and Muscle Layer. But don't rush martial arts—take it step by step, walk steadily."

Uncle Liu said with a kind smile.

In his view, Lin Chan was already set to become an Innate Grandmaster, with a bright future ahead.

After all, ordinary people usually didn't see results in martial arts until around age ten.

Progress was fastest around fifteen, gradually stabilizing by thirty.

Children couldn't handle intense training; only after ten could the intensity increase.

Yet Lin Chan, at just three years old, had casually practiced a decent martial art to minor success with only light daily training.

He was expected to perfect his skills, temper his body, and reach Houtian Perfection before fifteen.

'Still a year, huh?'

Lin Chan thought, feeling a bit disappointed.

Even as a Martial Arts Prodigy, it was this tough. Being a winner in life wasn't easy either.

In a few days, it would be his birthday again. Then he could pick another talent—that was nice.

After bidding Uncle Liu farewell, Lin Chan played for a while, put on his clothes, and went to his mother Madam Zhang's room to learn reading from her.

Studying alongside him was his Thirteenth Sister, Lin Yuemian.

Among his other sisters, the eldest and second eldest were already married. The unmarried ones had learned some reading and then moved on to embroidery.

Lin Yuemian was five years old and over a meter tall.

Lin Chan had grown quickly and was already a bit taller than her.

"Mother, Thirteenth Sister!"

Lin Chan called out in a childish voice.

"Chan'er's here!"

Madam Zhang smiled and picked up Lin Chan—he was the family's precious treasure.

"Little brother!"

Lin Yuemian also came over and poked Lin Chan's cheek.

"Thirteenth Sister, don't poke me."

Lin Chan spoke.

Lin Yuemian was only five years old, naturally playful, and deliberately stepped forward to pinch and tease.

After a bout of fun, Madam Zhang led the two of them to study.

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The content was roughly similar to elementary texts like the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic.

Though Lin Chan was just a three-year-old child, he had an adult soul. These things were very easy for him to learn; he had already mastered them thoroughly and wanted Madam Zhang to teach him something new.

Madam Zhang could only recall other books she had read and teach them to Lin Chan.

However, she didn't know much herself, and most of her time wasn't spent reading, so she too began to find it difficult.

When Lin Fangzheng returned home, Madam Zhang attended to his washing while bringing up Lin Chan's studies.

"Husband, Chan'er has now learned all the characters I taught him. I have nothing left to teach him."

Madam Zhang was just an ordinary woman—her family was slightly better off, she could write, and she was a step above being illiterate—but her ability was limited; she couldn't teach Lin Chan much.

What she knew more of was women's work and managing household affairs, which weren't suitable to pass on to a boy like Lin Chan.

"You say Chan'er already knows several thousand characters?"

Lin Fangzheng understood what Madam Zhang meant.

"Exactly! In my opinion, it's time to send Chan'er to a private school."

Madam Zhang gave Lin Fangzheng her suggestion.

"Chan'er is still young now. If he goes to a private school, I have some concerns."

Lin Fangzheng was still uneasy about Lin Chan.

Though Lin Chan was already a clever little fellow, he was still so young, and going to and from school every day would mean walking such a long distance.

"Husband, I'm just saying. Chan'er is still small; keeping him at home is fine too."

Madam Zhang added.

"I'll ask Chan'er tomorrow."

Lin Fangzheng said.

The next day, Lin Fangzheng and his son Lin Chan practiced martial arts together in the courtyard first.

Lin Fangzheng looked at Lin Chan and said:

"Chan'er, the poems and texts your mother taught you—do you know them? Recite them for your father."

"Alright!"

Lin Chan then obediently recited all of it from memory.

After listening, Lin Fangzheng's face lit up with joy.

"Good, good, good!"

Lin Fangzheng said three goods in a row, then picked up Lin Chan and asked:

"Chan'er, do you want to go to a private school?"

"Private school? What's that? Is it something tasty?"

Lin Chan pretended not to know what a private school meant and asked blankly.

Lin Fangzheng then explained the meaning of a private school to Lin Chan.

It was either a teacher specially hired by wealthy families in the city to teach their younger generations and nephews, or a school opened by a tutor in the city to teach the children of the well-off.

The Lin family wasn't large enough to hire a private tutor, so they would need to call in some favors to join another big clan's private school, or find a teacher to apprentice under.

"Father! I want to go to a private school."

Finally, Lin Chan said.

"Father will go find a teacher for you right away."

Lin Fangzheng nodded.

He was most attentive to matters concerning Lin Chan.

That very day, he went to ask his friends where to find a good teacher.

He got two leads, but with the year's end approaching, all these private school teachers were on break, so he could only enroll after the New Year.

Hearing this news, Lin Chan understood and didn't say much.

"Chan'er, your mother said you like listening to stories and reading. I have many books in my study. From now on, if you don't want to listen to your mother's lessons, you can go to my study and read instead."

Seeing Lin Chan a little disappointed, Lin Fangzheng said.

"I want to read!"

Lin Chan was very happy at this.

He loved listening to stories and reading books, hoping through these to understand this unfamiliar world.

Lin Chan was not yet three years old and wasn't allowed to leave the house, so his ways of learning about the world were limited.

Still, he hadn't expected Lin Fangzheng to let him into the study so easily.

After spending a few days in Lin Fangzheng's study, Lin Chan realized there was nothing special about it, nor was there any hidden secret.

It was just that the books here were numerous and valuable, so outsiders were forbidden entry.

Most of the books, however, Lin Fangzheng hadn't read; he only had someone dust and clean them occasionally.

After a few days of reading, Lin Chan's birthday was approaching, and it was time for the most anticipated event of the year—the talent selection.