Ordinary people did not even have the door open to them if they wanted to give him gifts.
Nor was he short of a few coins.
"I have only practiced the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique, never any other martial arts techniques. It is just that I have practiced this health cultivation technique for a long time, without ceasing day or night."
"If Master Shan does not believe me, I can demonstrate it once for you."
Wei Tu fell silent for a moment before giving the explanation he had prepared long ago.
As he spoke, Wei Tu took the illustrated manual for the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique from his robes and presented it to Martial Graduate Dan with both hands.
After the health cultivation technique had broken through to the minor accomplishment stage at the Li Residence, he had gained the confidence to take the martial examination and earn a title.
It was not arrogance, nor was he shooting arrows at random without a target. He had compared the gap between himself and ordinary martial masters in the county town.
Three hundred jin of strength was truly more than most ordinary martial masters possessed.
They were merely a little braver and stronger than ordinary people, and more proficient with blades and weapons.
That was all.
Although ordinary martial masters could build strength through martial arts practice, that came from grinding away day and night. They did not have the tiny warm current of a health cultivation technique that transformed the human body.
If the martial examination were truly so easy to pass, most martial masters would not have fallen so low as to become guards for wealthy households.
Moreover, when his health cultivation technique reached minor accomplishment, Wei Tu's strength had already reached three hundred jin.
A few nights ago, his health cultivation technique had broken through to major accomplishment. His strength now had definitely surpassed three hundred jin.
By Wei Tu's estimate, his current strength should have been around four hundred jin.
"Without ceasing day or night, practicing a health cultivation technique..." Martial Graduate Dan's expression eased somewhat. As he accepted the health cultivation technique manual, he said, "Good."
Over these past days, he had kept an eye on Wei Tu and had indeed noticed signs of Wei Tu practicing the health cultivation technique every night.
It was simply that the front courtyard was poorly lit, so he had not been able to see clearly.
Having received Martial Graduate Dan's permission, Wei Tu no longer hesitated. He set his feet in a male-and-female stance, adjusted his breathing for a while, assumed his posture, and began demonstrating the stance training of the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique.
Wei Tu had long memorized all thirty-two forms of stance training in the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique by heart. After practicing them day and night, his body memory had become instinctive. Once he began, there was not the slightest sense of obstruction; every movement was exceptionally smooth and rounded.
"This stance training..."
In the courtyard, Martial Graduate Dan furrowed his brow tightly. His gaze followed the shifts between substance and emptiness in Wei Tu's stances, and he did not blink once.
Just as he had judged earlier.
Every stance Wei Tu performed now was already no weaker than what Martial Graduate Dan had been capable of in his youth.
Fists feared the young and strong!
In his younger days, he had been far more renowned than he was now, a martial man whose name rang like thunder in Qingmu County!
"With only a single health cultivation technique, practiced day and night, he has actually achieved such results..."
After Wei Tu finished his demonstration, Martial Graduate Dan casually flipped through the manual in his hands and compared it for a moment. A trace of amazement appeared on his face.
At first, Martial Graduate Dan had thought Wei Tu's claim that he knew only a health cultivation technique was an excuse, a deliberate attempt to deceive him.
That Wei Tu had another master.
But after watching Wei Tu's stance training, Martial Graduate Dan overturned his earlier thoughts.
Real, solid stance training could not deceive anyone.
To practice a health cultivation technique to such familiarity required several years of hard work at the very least.
"His background is clear enough as well. I was overthinking it earlier." Martial Graduate Dan pondered briefly and no longer harbored any doubts.
"Enough. I have seen it. You need not demonstrate the health cultivation technique any further." Martial Graduate Dan stopped Wei Tu, who was in the middle of performing the technique for a second time.
"How many years have you practiced this health cultivation technique?"
He asked curiously.
"More than two years. About two and a half years," Wei Tu answered honestly.
"To reach such attainments in just over two years, apart from having good spiritual roots, it also has much to do with your persistence..."
Martial Graduate Dan nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face as he praised Wei Tu.
Judging solely from Wei Tu's attainments in the health cultivation technique, his talent and temperament were both among the finest. Even in Qingshan County, he could be called a martial arts prodigy found only once in ten thousand.
"From today onward, you are my disciple. You need not work as a hired hand in the front courtyard anymore."
"Leave the grain-drying and horse-feeding to Deng An."
Martial Graduate Dan said solemnly.
After speaking, Martial Graduate Dan glanced at Madam Shan as she emerged from the main hall and said, "Go prepare respect-master tea. Also cook a few dishes. Today, I am taking in a disciple."
During Wei Tu's days at the Shan Family, Martial Graduate Dan had seen and remembered his respectful obedience.
If he could be a good hired hand without making his master's household dislike him, then even if he earned a title in the future, whether he became an official or remained in the wilds, he would not make any grave mistakes.
Of course, Wei Tu's obedience was only a minor reason why Martial Graduate Dan was taking him as a disciple. More importantly, Wei Tu possessed the aptitude for martial arts and had hopes of passing the martial examination.
A Martial Examination Disciple could both inherit his mantle and look after his descendants.
Why not do it?
"Yes, Master." Madam Shan answered, then called for a maid in the courtyard to accompany her to the kitchen.
A short while later.
The maid brought over the respect-master tea.
"Offer up a bowl of tea, and you will be my disciple. I will teach you martial arts techniques, and you must see to my care in old age and my burial after death..."
"Of course, I, Shan, have sons and daughters. I do not need you to worry over such matters, but... you must keep such intentions in your heart!"
"Do you understand?"
Martial Graduate Dan sat in a straight-backed chair and looked at the kneeling Wei Tu before him, speaking each word with deliberate weight.
"This disciple understands."
Wei Tu nodded in reply.
Martial arts techniques were a martial master's means of making a living, just as a craftsman's trade was his livelihood. Once learned, they could feed a person for a lifetime.
But there was also a saying: "Teach the apprentice, starve the master."
As a son-disciple, one who learned a craft from his master, according to the ancient teachings and social morals of the time, had to care for his master in old age and arrange his burial after death.
This was the principle everywhere.
Given Martial Graduate Dan's family estate, Wei Tu did not think he would ever have the chance to offer Martial Graduate Dan even a single mouthful of food...
But as Martial Graduate Dan had said, no matter what, he had to keep that filial devotion in his heart.
"Good. Offer the respect-master tea, and this grand ceremony of becoming master and disciple will be complete." Hearing Wei Tu's answer, Martial Graduate Dan revealed a satisfied expression.
Upon hearing this, Wei Tu did not hesitate. He took the large porcelain bowl filled with tea from the maid, knelt on the ground, and respectfully presented the respect-master tea before Martial Graduate Dan.
Martial Graduate Dan drained the tea in one gulp.
Then—
Martial Graduate Dan led Wei Tu into the Three-Courtyard House and brought him to his living quarters.
Against the wall in the living quarters stood an altar table, with a set of straight-backed chairs on either side.
Two incense candles burned atop the altar table, before an ebony memorial tablet inscribed with four gilded characters: "Late Master Shi Ming."
"When I was young, I studied martial arts under Golden Saber Hero Shi Ming."
"Golden Saber Hero was my master, and your Martial Ancestor as well..."
Martial Graduate Dan lit a handful of incense and placed it in the burner. Then, with a nostalgic expression, he began speaking of the master-disciple lineage of his school.
"Golden Saber Hero?" Wei Tu silently committed the name Golden Saber Hero Shi Ming to memory.
For Golden Saber Hero Shi Ming to have taught a Martial Examination Disciple, he could not possibly have been some ordinary nobody.
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