Martial Arts Prodigy

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

However, he was still a child, so it was unsuitable for him to train excessively. Half an hour of practice each day was best.

Overtraining could harm the body, leaving one short and stunted.

Of course, Lin Chan did not act too astonishingly every day. He played when it was time to play and rested when it was time to rest, merely seeming a little smarter than ordinary children without displaying the demon-like intelligence of a child prodigy.

Besides martial arts practice, several of Lin Chan's young sisters often taught him to read and write.

Lin Chan was too young to attend a private school.

At the very least, he had to wait until he was six or seven before he could study at a private school.

Of course, given Lin Chan's current situation, it would not have been strange for him to go a few years early.

Lin Chan was still too young. His daily range of activity remained limited to the Lin Family estate, and he was not allowed to go outside.

Only during the annual festivals, led by Lin Fangzheng, could Lin Chan leave the Lin Family estate and see the world beyond.

In the bitter twelfth month of winter, within the Lin Family courtyard, Lin Chan wore only a single thin garment as he punched through the cold wind with every movement measured and precise. Steam rose from his small body, and he did not feel cold.

This was how one ought to practice martial arts in winter—dress lightly and let the heat escape in time.

If one wore heavy clothes and trapped that damp heat within the body, it would instead be harmful.

As he completed the final move, Lin Chan sank his breath and drew his stance back in.

"Young Master, you are a heaven-sent genius. In less than a year, your Tong Bei Quan has already reached minor accomplishment and carries a fair measure of its true spirit."

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

"Uncle Liu!"

Lin Chan stepped forward, clasping his two tiny hands together in a respectful salute.

This Uncle Liu before him was the guard captain of Lin Fangzheng's household, with strength at the Peak Houtian Realm.

The martial path of ordinary people was divided into Houtian and Xiantian.

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

Uncle Liu, Liu Zi, was an expert in refining Marrow and Blood.

Whenever Lin Fangzheng went out on business, Uncle Liu was the one who taught Lin Chan martial arts.

It was still half an hour each day—not too much, not too little, with Proper Rest and Relaxation.

"Uncle Liu, when do you think I'll be able to refine my Skin and Muscle Layer?"

Lin Chan asked as he walked back indoors with Uncle Liu.

"Young Master, your Tong Bei Quan has already reached minor accomplishment. In less than a year, you will be able to refine your Skin and Muscle Layer. But martial arts cannot be rushed. You must take one step at a time and walk with steady feet."

Uncle Liu wore a kindly smile.

In his eyes, Lin Chan was already certain to enter the ranks of Innate Grandmasters. His future was bright with promise.

One had to know that ordinary people usually could not achieve anything in martial arts until around the age of ten.

Their progress was fastest around the age of fifteen, then gradually stabilized by the time they reached thirty.

After all, children could not withstand too much hardship. Only after the age of ten could training intensity be increased.

Yet Lin Chan was only three years old. He merely practiced casually each day, and had already brought a fairly good martial art to minor accomplishment.

There was hope that before he turned fifteen, he could bring his martial arts to perfection, temper his fleshly body completely, and reach Houtian completion.

Another year?

Lin Chan thought to himself, feeling somewhat disappointed.

He was already a Martial Arts Prodigy, yet it was still this difficult. Becoming a winner in life would not be easy either.

In a few more days, it would be his birthday again. Then he could choose another talent. That was truly wonderful.

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 have her teach him how to read.

Studying alongside him was his Thirteenth Sister, Lin Yuemian.

Among his other sisters, the eldest and second eldest had already married. The unmarried sisters learned a few characters before going off to learn needlework.

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

Lin Chan grew quickly and was already a tiny bit taller than her.

"Mother, Thirteenth Sister!"

Lin Chan called out in his childish voice.

"Chan'er is here!"

Madam Zhang smiled and picked Lin Chan up. He was the precious jewel of their family.

"Little Brother!"

Lin Yuemian also stepped forward and poked Lin Chan's cheek.

"Thirteenth Sister, don't poke me."

Lin Chan said.

Lin Yuemian was only five years old herself, at exactly the age when children loved to play. She deliberately stepped forward and kneaded his face.

After they played around for a while, Madam Zhang led the two of them in their studies.

The material was roughly the sort of elementary instruction found in the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic.

Though Lin Chan was only a three-year-old child, he possessed an adult soul. Learning these things was extremely easy for him. He had already absorbed and mastered them completely, so he 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 did not know much herself. She normally spent little time reading, so she was beginning to find it difficult as well.

When Lin Fangzheng returned home, Madam Zhang attended to his washing and changing while mentioning Lin Chan's studies.

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

Madam Zhang was merely an ordinary woman. Her family circumstances had been somewhat better, and she could write, making her slightly better off than an illiterate person, but her abilities were limited. She could not teach Lin Chan much.

What she knew best was needlework and managing the household's mundane affairs, neither of which was suitable to teach a boy like Lin Chan.

"Madam, you say Chan'er already recognizes several thousand characters?"

Lin Fangzheng understood what Madam Zhang meant.

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

Madam Zhang offered Lin Fangzheng her suggestion.

"Chan'er is still young. If he attends classes at a private school, I am somewhat worried."

Lin Fangzheng still could not fully set his mind at ease over Lin Chan.

Although Lin Chan was already a clever little rascal, he was still so young. He would have to travel such a long distance to and from school every day.

"Master, I was merely making a suggestion. Chan'er is still young, and it is fine for him to stay at home."

Madam Zhang added.

"I'll ask Chan'er tomorrow."

Lin Fangzheng said.

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

Lin Fangzheng looked at Lin Chan and said:

"Chan'er, have you learned the poems and texts your mother taught you? Recite them for Father."

"All right!"

Lin Chan obediently recited all those materials.

When he finished listening, Lin Fangzheng's face lit up with joy.

"Good, good, good!"

Lin Fangzheng said "good" three times in succession, then picked Lin Chan up and asked:

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

"A private school? What is that? Is it tasty?"

Lin Chan pretended not to know what a private school was 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 households in the city to teach their younger descendants.

Or it was a school established by a tutor in the city, where the children and grandchildren of wealthy city residents were taught.

The Lin Family was not large enough to hire a tutor exclusively. They would need to call in some favors to send him to another great family's private school, or else have him formally take a teacher and attend classes.

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

Lin Chan finally said.

"Father will help you hire a teacher right away."

Lin Fangzheng nodded as well.

When it came to Lin Chan, Lin Fangzheng cared more than anyone else.

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

He found two possible leads. However, the year-end was approaching, and all those private school teachers were on holiday. Lin Chan could only enroll after the New Year had passed.

When Lin Chan learned this news, he understood and did not say much.

"Chan'er, your mother said you enjoy listening to stories and reading. There are many books in my study. If you do not want your mother to teach you anymore, you may go to my study and read."

Seeing that Lin Chan was somewhat disappointed, Lin Fangzheng said.

"I want to read!"

Lin Chan was delighted at this.

He enjoyed listening to stories and reading because he wanted to use them to understand this unfamiliar world.

Lin Chan was not yet three years old and was not permitted to leave home, so he had few ways to learn about the world.

However, he had not expected Lin Fangzheng to let him enter the study so easily.

After spending several days in Lin Fangzheng's study, Lin Chan discovered that there was nothing special about the place and no secrets hidden within it.

There were simply many books there, and they were valuable, which was why idle outsiders were forbidden from entering.

However, Lin Fangzheng had not read most of the books. He merely had someone clean the room and dust them from time to time.

After reading for several days, Lin Chan's birthday drew near. It was time once more for the most anticipated part of every year—choosing a talent.