"Martial Way was like this; the cultivation methods of the Immortal Way were probably based on the same principle as well..."
Wei Tu thought of this.
Then Wei Tu reminded himself that martial cultivation was far from the endpoint. Using the Martial Way to earn merit and raise his status was fine, but he had to remember to avoid contention and conflict, and preserve his life.
He had a bright future ahead of him. There was no need to fight others to the death over some trifling matter.
"However..."
"Though a sword may remain sheathed, it must still be there. Killing arts are means of protecting the Way, and must be learned as well."
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, the first day of the twenty-fourth year of the Qing'an Era arrived.
This day was the New Year's Day festival.
Early that morning.
After washing up in the side room, Wei Tu put on his winter clothes, picked up the holiday gifts he had bought in town several days earlier, and entered the inner quarters under a maid's guidance.
He rounded the corridor.
And arrived at Martial Graduate Dan's living quarters.
At that moment, a middle-aged scholar in a round-collared robe stood in the courtyard. He bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Martial Graduate Dan.
Though their looks were similar, the middle-aged scholar's bearing differed somewhat from Martial Graduate Dan's. He was thin and gaunt, and looked exceedingly refined.
"Brother Yangong." Wei Tu stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting to the middle-aged scholar.
The middle-aged scholar before him was none other than Dan Yangong, Martial Graduate Dan's only son, who had long resided in the Prefectural City.
Dan Yangong had been frail since birth, so he had not followed his father into martial training. Instead, he had taken the path of the Imperial Examinations. More than ten years ago, he had passed the provincial examination and become a Second-class Scholar of Qing Feng Prefecture.
A month ago, Dan Yangong had returned to the Dan Residence with his birth mother, Madam Shan Min.
"Wei, brother."
Hearing this, Dan Yangong turned his head. Seeing Wei Tu, he smiled, gathered his sleeves, and bowed in return.
A short while later.
The door opened.
Wei Tu followed behind Dan Yangong into the living quarters, where they knelt together before Martial Graduate Dan and Madam Shan Min to pay their New Year's respects.
"This child brought gifts again. He's always so formal." Seeing that Wei Tu was still carrying the holiday gifts as he paid his respects, Madam Shan Min chuckled and said.
"This is your lucky money."
After thinking for a moment, the gray-haired Madam Shan Min rose while rubbing her waist, entered the inner room, took out a stack of red envelopes, and pressed one into Wei Tu's hand.
"Thank you, Master's Wife."
Wei Tu did not hesitate for long before accepting the red envelope from Madam Shan Min and thanking her.
Though he was already married and grown, no longer among the children who received lucky money, a gift from an elder could not be refused. Besides, it was not much money, so he accepted it.
It was all Madam Shan Min's heartfelt kindness.
After paying their respects, Wei Tu and Dan Yangong stood to Martial Graduate Dan and his wife's left and right, waiting for the other members of the household to come offer their greetings.
"Why hasn't the youngest daughter come yet?" After waiting a little while and seeing that the doorway was still completely empty, Martial Graduate Dan frowned and said in displeasure.
"Perhaps she was tired yesterday and woke up late this morning." Madam Shan Min was displeased as well, but she still offered a word in her defense.
Seeing this.
Wei Tu also frowned inwardly, growing dissatisfied with Dan Fang's breach of etiquette. Yet as an outsider, he kept those feelings buried in his heart and did not reveal them.
Rising early on New Year's Day to visit one's elders and pay them respects was proper etiquette.
This world was not modern times, but an ancient age that placed immense importance on ritual.
Especially in great households, every word and action had to strictly observe propriety. One could not overstep the bounds.
Dan Fang's breach of etiquette could be either grave or slight. If she encountered an elder who was a pedantic old scholar, she would at the very least be charged with filial impiety.
The group waited a while longer.
A beautiful woman in red entered from outside, followed half a step behind by a burly man in brocade robes.
The burly man held the hand of a child of around seven or eight, whose hair was tied into two little topknots.
When Madam Shan Min saw the child, her expression softened somewhat. She rubbed his head and gave him one of the red envelopes she had taken out earlier.
"Why did you get up so late today?" At that moment, Martial Graduate Dan slapped the tea table beside him and demanded angrily.
Everyone in the living quarters seemed long accustomed to this scene. Even Wei Tu did not look surprised.
Martial Graduate Dan was polite to everyone. Even toward hired laborers, he was generous and forthright, unconstrained by minor formalities, and never quibbled over the smallest gains or losses.
But when it came to Dan Fang alone...
Ever since Dan Fang returned to the Dan Residence, Wei Tu had seen Martial Graduate Dan lose his temper six or seven times over the past month.
"Yiwu was making a fuss last night. He said he wanted to ride a horse, and I... I coaxed him for ages before he settled down. I told him those horses were all your treasures and couldn't be touched..." Dan Fang said aggrievedly.
Hearing this, Martial Graduate Dan revealed an impatient expression. Familiar with his youngest daughter's nature, he knew she was plotting against his property again.
Yet in this matter, he found it difficult to rebuke her and thus spared Dan Fang some face.
"Father, you hardly ride the horses in your stable, and your health hasn't been very good lately. Why not give one to Yiwu?"
"Yiwu has been pestering me about it for ages."
Seeing Martial Graduate Dan's momentum weaken, Dan Fang stepped half a pace forward. Lowering her head, she forced a gentle expression onto her face and spoke in a quick, urgent tone.
As she spoke, she saw Martial Graduate Dan press his lips tightly together, his left hand gripping the armrest of his straight-backed chair as his body stiffened. She immediately understood, stepped forward again, pressed close to his left arm, and repeated what she had just said.
This time, Dan Fang's tone carried several more shades of pleading.
"Yiwu is still too young to ride a horse... As for that old horse in the stable... take it with you when you leave."
Martial Graduate Dan closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly pondering. After several breaths, he finally spoke in fits and starts.
After speaking, he released the chair's armrest, and his body collapsed limply into it as though he had let out a held breath.
To a martial man, a fine horse was a second life.
Every horse in the stable had been tended by Martial Graduate Dan until their coats gleamed, their manes lay smooth, and their spirits were high.
But when facing his daughter and grandson Yiwu...
Martial Graduate Dan still could not bring himself to refuse.
"Yiwu, did you hear that?"
"Your grandfather agreed to give you a horse. When you go home, you'll have a horse to ride."
Rather than thank Martial Graduate Dan for his generosity, Dan Fang carried Dan Yiwu before him and said these words.
"Youngest Sister, you've gone too far." Dan Yangong, standing behind Madam Shan Min, looked grim as he rose and rebuked her.
"Big Brother, the family hasn't even divided yet, and you already dislike me for asking Father for a horse. Yiwu is the one riding it, not me..."
Dan Fang curled her lip.
"Besides."
"You're a scholar who doesn't wield sabers, spears, or staves. Can't you yield a little to your nephew?"
She added another sentence.
"Oh, Father."
"Yiwu is nearly old enough for Stance Training. I want his father to learn our family's inherited boxing art as well..."
"With his father teaching him by word and example, Yiwu will surely pass the martial examination and earn merit when he grows up."
Dan Fang first glanced at Wei Tu, then shifted her gaze to Martial Graduate Dan and said with a smile.
"Of course."
"If Wei agrees to teach Yiwu martial arts in the future, it won't matter whether we have the family's inherited skills or not... It's all for Yiwu..."
Dan Fang smiled.
"This..." Hearing this, Martial Graduate Dan immediately fell silent. He coughed lightly and waited for Wei Tu's answer.
Thank you to Ascending Power for the 100 Qidian coins, and to Book Friend 202203172203803579 for the 100 Qidian coins.
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