Hairpin

On the training ground, the children were once again sprawled flat on the ground, every one of them battered black and blue. The initial tempering of sinews and bones when learning martial arts was certainly no comfortable affair. If you enjoyed yourself when it was time to suffer, then you would suffer when it was time to enjoy yourself.

Since they had been born at the Sword Qi Great Wall, entered this Winter Resort Palace, and learned fists and martial arts, they had to grow accustomed to hardship and acquire a skill.

Not every hardship under heaven could lead to sweetness after bitterness. A Pure Martial Artist's Martial Gallbladder could only be simmered from bitter gall into its true flavor.

Lord Yin Guan, dressed in a long azure robe, remained calm and composed. "Rest for two incense sticks."

Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, his hands stacked with palms facing upward, and closed his eyes to rest his spirit. All the children struggled to their feet, formed a circle, and copied the young Yin Guan's sitting posture exactly as they closed their eyes and slowly adjusted their breathing.

Chen Ping'an opened his eyes and commented on each person's punches, speaking of both strengths and flaws. He did not favor Jiang Yun simply because he came from the powerful Taixiang Street clans and possessed the finest martial foundation. Whenever Jiang Yun threw a weary punch, Chen Ping'an scolded him. Nor did he slight Zhang Pan of Copper Coin Alley in the least just because his innate physique was the weakest and he learned boxing the slowest. Whenever Zhang Pan threw a good punch, Chen Ping'an praised him. And he certainly did not deliberately hold back his strength simply because Sun Qu of Jade Tablet Street and that tomboy were little girls.

In short,