That Year, I Stood Like a Lackey

In the year 987 of Great Qian, Chu Qing transmigrated to Stone Rock County.

"The Martial Academy Preliminary Exam tests your muscles and bones."

"Children of wealthy and powerful families have swallowed secret medicines and tempered themselves in medicinal baths since childhood, strengthening their muscles and bones."

"You are all ordinary people, perhaps even paupers. Naturally, your muscles and bones cannot compare to theirs."

The Senior Disciple Brother of Mantis Fist Hall paced back and forth before a group of young men and women clad in hemp clothes, barefoot or wearing cloth shoes.

Chu Qing wore hemp clothes and went barefoot, his face solemn.

Three days ago, he had transmigrated here and inherited the memories of this body's previous owner.

The Great Gan Empire had been founded on martial prowess, and martial arts flourished there. A martial artist killing an ordinary person was like an adult pinching a chick to death.

It was said that beyond martial arts, there were also Strange Arts—far more terrifying and bizarre.

After his parents died, the previous owner had joined the Blood River Gang and become a lowly lackey who waved flags and shouted slogans.

In order to rise high in status, the previous owner had waved flags with all his might and shouted himself hoarse.

Unfortunately, after more than a year of struggling, he had gained nothing but beatings.

A usurer had talked the previous owner into taking out a loan so he could apply to the Martial Academy.

Once he joined the Martial Academy, he would soar into the sky in a single bound.

The previous owner wanted to better himself, and he had just turned sixteen, meeting the Martial Academy's assessment requirements.

Thus, gritting his teeth, he borrowed at usurious rates and joined the Assault Class at Mantis Fist Hall, hoping to temper his muscles and bones and enter the Martial Academy.

The moment he entered, Chu Qing had taken his place.

As a transmigrator, Chu Qing naturally did not want to remain a hemp-clad, barefoot lackey.

"Whoever stops me from soaring into the sky in a single bound, I'll kill them."

"I will enter the Martial Academy at any cost."

Having come to this world, if he did not stand high above all others and soar into the sky in a single bound, would his journey not have been for nothing?

Chu Qing secretly hardened his resolve.

"Our Mantis Martial Arts Hall does not excel at fighting or charging through Army Formations."

"But we are the best at stretching and tempering muscles and bones."

With a proud look, the Senior Disciple Brother said, "Among the thirty-six martial halls, large and small, in Stone Rock County, not one can hold a candle to us in this regard."

"So... joining the Assault Class at Mantis Martial Arts Hall is your clearest choice."

Chu Qing... this sounded familiar. It was the same old routine from his previous life!

The Senior Disciple Brother continued, "You pay money, and we teach you martial arts."

"Watch me."

With that, the Senior Disciple Brother brought his five fingers together, lowered his body, and swung his limbs like a rattling mantis.

He wheeled, shifted, leaped, and moved like an enormous mantis, lifelike and vivid.

One minute...

Five minutes...

The Senior Disciple Brother repeatedly performed Mantis Fist several times, allowing the youths to observe and learn.

"Alright, now everyone practice with me!"

At that moment:

A Profession Slot that only Chu Qing could see appeared in the void:

Chu Qing

Realm—None

Martial Art: Mantis Fist, Uninitiated—practice thirty times daily; Initiated in Ten Suns.

Mantis Fist discovered. Swallow ten mantises to become Initiated.

The attribute panel appeared, and Chu Qing was delighted.

Not only did this attribute panel list his basic information, it also provided methods to rapidly improve his martial arts.

Interesting.

"Don't space out. Practice now!"

A Martial Hall disciple patrolled with a Wooden Stick in hand.

Whenever he found someone distracted or failing to perform a move properly, he went over and struck them with the stick.

Chu Qing had become distracted while looking at the Profession Slot, so naturally, he received a blow.

Though the stick was wrapped in soft cloth, it still hurt badly.

Chu Qing hurriedly began practicing along with the others.

On a pavilion some distance away, Hall Master Zhao Wuji sometimes frowned and sometimes smiled.

When he saw Chu Qing space out and get beaten, his brow furrowed even tighter.

"Hemp clothes and bare feet. A poor family."

"He paid such a great price to enter the Martial Hall, yet he still dares to lose focus?"

"In this life... he is fated for hemp clothes and bare feet."

Beside him stood a bright, lovely girl with red lips and white teeth. She wore a red dress and tassels, speaking in a delicate voice.

"Father, tell Senior Disciple Brother to brag less. Otherwise, once I enter the Martial Academy, outsiders will laugh at us."

Zhao Wuji smiled. "Hongxiu, what has Senior Disciple Brother been bragging about?"

Hongxiu said, "He said Mantis Fist is the best for training muscles and bones."

Zhao Wuji chuckled. "Mantis Fist involves wheeling and shifting, stretching the tendons and fascia. Ordinary people can develop thirty-six Iron Sinews; those with exceptional talent can develop thirty-six Copper Sinews."

"And that is already quite remarkable."

Zhao Hongxiu muttered, "But they only have one month."

If you enjoy this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.

"What do you think? How many of them will develop Iron Sinews after one month?"

Zhao Wuji smiled. "Let me take a look."

Zhao Hongxiu climbed onto the railing and looked down at the crowd as well, selecting promising seedlings.

On the training ground:

Two or three hundred young men and women, including Chu Qing, trained with all their strength.

Once...

Three times...

Five times...

Chu Qing felt pain throughout his muscles and bones. Whenever his movements were not in place, the pain became even worse.

After persevering through several rounds, he was panting heavily and drenched in sweat, unable to continue.

Chu Qing waved his hand, and a Martial Hall disciple led him aside to rest with a look of disdain.

From the pavilion, Zhao Wuji said calmly:

"That barefoot youth will never develop Iron Sinews in this life."

Zhao Hongxiu nodded and said regretfully, "Mantis Fist must be practiced at least thirty times a day."

"He could not endure after only five rounds."

"This person... is not suited for martial arts."

Chu Qing slowly moved his limbs, unconcerned with the gazes of others.

This body was weak and could not endure it. When it needed rest, it had to rest.

Otherwise, before he mastered martial arts, he would cripple himself.

Though he was resting, he kept his eyes on the Senior Disciple Brother's posture, constantly pondering the moves.

"My body's foundation is too poor."

"My aptitude seems lacking too."

"It is simply impossible for me to practice thirty times a day."

"Luckily... I can become Initiated quickly."

At this time, the other hemp-clad youths could not hold on either, retreating one after another to rest.

Seeing that there were many people around, Chu Qing quietly left the Martial Hall to search for mantises.

On the pavilion:

Zhao Wuji and Zhao Hongxiu saw him leave but did not react.

Every year, members of the Assault Class gave up halfway through.

This year's quitter had given up unusually early, but they were not surprised.

Time passed.

Half an hour later:

Only a dozen or so people remained on the training ground.

Zhao Wuji said calmly:

"These twelve will develop Iron Sinews by the end of the month. As for Iron Bone... that depends on their aptitude and resources."

Zhao Hongxiu nodded.

The martial path valued resources above all else.

Even with good aptitude, without resources to support it, one still could not go far.

With poor aptitude but sufficient resources, so long as one worked hard, one could reach Heaven.

"Let's go. You should practice too."

"Mm!"

With the Martial Academy Preliminary Exam approaching, Stone Rock County had become lively.

Vendors selling candied hawthorns, sugar figurines, and roasted chestnuts were everywhere.

Fortified Village Disciples from outside the County Town rode fine horses through the streets in brocade clothes, holding yellow dogs in their left hands and hawks in their right. Who knew how many young ladies and married women they made flutter with excitement?

Chu Qing stood by the roadside, watching this group, when a saying from his previous life suddenly came to mind:

"A true man ought to be like this!"

A whip cracked beside him like thunder.

Chu Qing shuddered.

He saw a person beside him clutching their face and rolling all over the ground.

Before long, blood had dyed the bluestone road red.

Chu Qing sighed inwardly.

"How overbearing!"

There were farmlands outside the city, lush grass and trees, and mantises there.

In only a short while, he caught ten mantises.

Looking at the mantises brandishing their claws and legs, Chu Qing hesitated. "Should I pinch off their heads and tails before eating them?"

But he feared that eating them that way would not count, and he would have eaten them for nothing.

"Forget it. For the sake of becoming Initiated, a little disgust is nothing."

He opened his mouth and swallowed them.

One...

Five...

Ten...

The Profession Slot flickered.