Martial Arts Prodigy

Most people don't even have the chance to offer him a gift.

He wasn't lacking those few coins.

"I've only practiced the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique, not any other martial arts. It's just this Health Cultivation Technique that I've practiced for a long time, day and night without stopping."

"If Master Shan doesn't believe me, I can demonstrate it for you."

Wei Tu was silent for a moment, then recited the explanation he had prepared.

As he spoke, Wei Tu also took the manual for the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique from his embrace and handed it to Martial Graduate Dan with both hands.

At the Li Residence, after the Health Cultivation Technique had reached minor completion for a while, he gained the confidence to participate in the Martial Arts Examination and achieve official career.

This wasn't him being arrogant or speaking without basis; it was because he had compared the gap between himself and the average Martial Masters in the county town.

With 300 jin of strength, the average Martial Master truly didn't have that much power.

They merely possessed a bit more courage and skill with weapons than ordinary people.

That was all.

Although Martial Masters could increase their strength by practicing martial arts, it was the result of relentless daily training, unlike the subtle warm currents of the Health Cultivation Technique that transformed the body.

If the Martial Arts Examination were truly that easy to pass, most Martial Masters wouldn't have ended up as Household Guards for wealthy families.

Furthermore, after the Health Cultivation Technique reached minor completion, Wei Tu's strength had already reached 300 jin.

A few nights ago, his Health Cultivation Technique had reached major completion, and his current strength definitely exceeded 300 jin.

Wei Tu estimated that his current strength should be around 400 jin.

"Day and night, practicing the Health Cultivation Technique..." Martial Graduate Dan's expression softened as he heard this. As he took the Health Cultivation Technique manual, he also said, "Good."

He had been observing Wei Tu these past few days and had indeed noticed signs of Wei Tu practicing the Health Cultivation Technique every night.

It was just that the light in the front yard was dim, so he couldn't see very clearly.

With Martial Graduate Dan's permission, Wei Tu no longer hesitated. He assumed the male-female stance with his feet, adjusted his breathing for a moment, struck a pose, and began to practice the stance training of the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique.

Wei Tu had long since memorized all thirty-two stances of the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique by heart. After practicing day and night, his muscle memory had become ingrained, and when he performed them, there was no sense of stagnation, only extreme fluidity.

"This stance training..."

In the courtyard, Martial Graduate Dan's brows furrowed. His gaze followed the changes between the dynamic and static, the substantial and the illusory, in Wei Tu's stance training, without blinking.

It was the same as his earlier judgment.

Every stance Wei Tu was performing now was no weaker than when he himself was young.

Fists favor the young!

He was far more famous in his youth than he was now, a renowned martial artist in Qingmu County!

"Just a set of Health Cultivation Technique, practiced day and night, can achieve such results..."

After Wei Tu finished his demonstration, Martial Graduate Dan casually flipped through the technique manual in his hand, and at that moment, a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

Initially, Martial Graduate Dan thought Wei Tu's claim of only practicing the Health Cultivation Technique was a perfunctory excuse to deceive him.

He thought Wei Tu had another master.

But after watching Wei Tu's stance training, Martial Graduate Dan overturned his previous thoughts.

Solid stance training couldn't be faked.

To perform the Health Cultivation Technique so skillfully would be difficult to achieve without several years of hard work.

"His background is also verifiable. I was overthinking it earlier," Martial Graduate Dan thought for a moment, no longer doubting.

"Alright, I've seen enough. You don't need to demonstrate the Health Cultivation Technique anymore," Martial Graduate Dan called out to Wei Tu, who was about to start a second round.

"How many years have you been practicing this Health Cultivation Technique?"

He asked curiously.

"A little over two years, about two and a half years," Wei Tu replied honestly.

"Over two years to reach such a level. Besides your good spiritual roots, it's also inseparable from your persistence..."

Martial Graduate Dan nodded slightly, a smile on his face, and praised him.

Judging solely by his mastery of the Health Cultivation Technique, Wei Tu's talent and disposition were top-tier. In Qingshan County, he was considered a martial arts prodigy, one in ten thousand.

"From today onwards, you are my disciple. You don't need to work as a Long-term Laborer in the front yard anymore."

"Leave the tasks of drying grain and feeding horses to Deng An."

Martial Graduate Dan said in a deep voice.

As he finished speaking, Martial Graduate Dan glanced at Madam Shan, who had come out of the main hall, and said, "Go prepare the Respect-Master Tea, and stir-fry a few dishes. I'm taking on a disciple today."

During his time at the Shan family, he had seen Wei Tu's obedience and kept it in mind.

Someone who can be a good Long-term Laborer and not annoy the master will not make major mistakes in the future, whether they achieve official career or remain in the common folk.

Of course, his taking Wei Tu as a disciple was only partly due to his obedience. More importantly, Wei Tu had the aptitude for martial arts and the potential for the Martial Arts Examination.

A disciple for the Martial Arts Examination could not only inherit his legacy but also look after his descendants.

Why not?

"Yes, Master," Madam Shan replied, calling a maid from the courtyard to accompany her to the kitchen.

A short while later.

The maid brought the Respect-Master Tea.

"Offer a bowl of tea, and you'll be my disciple. I'll teach you martial arts, and you must support me in my old age and see me to my end..."

"Of course, I, Shan, have sons and daughters, so I don't need you to worry about that, but... you must have the intention!"

"Do you understand?"

Martial Graduate Dan sat in a straight-backed chair, looking at Wei Tu, who was kneeling before him, and spoke each word deliberately.

"Disciple understands."

Wei Tu nodded in response.

Martial arts techniques were the bread and butter of a Martial Master, much like a craftsman's trade. Learning them could support one for a lifetime.

However, there was also a saying, "Teach the disciple, starve the master."

According to the ancient teachings and social morals of the time, a disciple who learned a trade from their master was obligated to support their master in their old age and see them to their end.

This was the principle everywhere.

Given Martial Graduate Dan's wealth, Wei Tu didn't believe he would ever have the opportunity to offer Martial Graduate Dan even a bite to eat...

But as Martial Graduate Dan said, regardless of the circumstances, he had to possess this "filial intention."

"Good, offer the Respect-Master Tea, and this grand ceremony of master and disciple is complete." Martial Graduate Dan's face showed satisfaction upon hearing Wei Tu's reply.

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu no longer hesitated. He took the large ceramic bowl filled with tea from the maid, knelt on the ground, and respectfully offered the Respect-Master Tea to Martial Graduate Dan.

The tea was drunk down by Martial Graduate Dan in one go.

Then.

Martial Graduate Dan led Wei Tu into the Three-Courtyard House and to his living quarters.

Against the wall of the living room stood an altar table, with two sets of straight-backed chairs on either side.

On the altar table, two candles burned, illuminating an ebony memorial tablet inscribed with the four gilded characters "Late Master Shi Ming."

"When I was young, I apprenticed under the Golden Saber Hero Shi Ming and learned martial arts from him."

"The Golden Saber Hero was my master, and he is also your grandmaster..."

Martial Graduate Dan burned a stick of incense, placed it in the censer, and then, with a nostalgic expression, spoke of his lineage of masters and disciples.

"Golden Saber Hero?" Wei Tu secretly committed the name "Golden Saber Hero Shi Ming" to memory.

Anyone who could teach a disciple who became a Martial Graduate could not possibly be an ordinary person.