Buying a Courtyard

Leaving the martial arts hall, Yang Jing happened to see Lin Yue board a luxurious carriage. The carriage compartment was made of ebony, inlaid with silver-thread patterns, and drawn by two fine steeds. The driver wore respectable silk work clothes—one look was enough to tell it was the display of a wealthy household.

As the carriage started moving, faint laughter and conversation drifted out from within. Some great family must have invited him to a banquet again.

"Senior Brother Lin really has it good. All the prominent families in the city fawn over him." A passing servant murmured to someone beside him, his tone full of envy.

Yang Jing raised his head and watched the carriage's retreating back for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and headed briskly toward Datong Ward.

The evening breeze brushed his cheeks, carrying the lively scents of the city streets. Thinking of the bag of gold, silver, and Aged Ginseng beneath his bed, he felt immensely secure.

Lin Yue's path was paved with flowers and brocade; his own was trodden through mud and sweat. Though different, both had been walked step by step on their own.

As for others' admiration and envy, they had never been in his thoughts.

As night deepened, Yang Jing walked along the road back to Datong Ward, the stone pavement beneath his feet washed pale by moonlight.

When he reached the courtyard, he vaguely heard the other tenants talking inside, and a thought suddenly stirred in his heart.

Sharing a place with others was cheap, but it always came with inconveniences.

He had to worry about disturbing others when practicing his fists at night, and he had to stay constantly on guard with valuables hidden beneath his bed.

Besides, he planned to try practicing the Surging Wave Leg he had just acquired. In such a cramped room, he ultimately could not fully execute it.

Yang Jing touched the silver in his clothes and thought of the gold, silver, and valuables beneath his bed. His steps slowed.

Now that he had some money to spare, perhaps it was time to find a small courtyard of his own.

It would be best if it were closer to the martial arts hall. First, it would make training convenient and save him from wasting so much time on the road every day. Second, if he encountered any danger, he could reach the martial arts hall quickly and borrow some measure of protection.

Yang Jing began considering the matter of buying a courtyard.

His funds were relatively ample now, so he could move to a better place. It would also make practicing martial arts more convenient.

Yang Jing pondered it. The courtyard did not need to be large—one main room, a side room, a kitchen, and a small yard would be enough.

As for the price, it would cost no more than a few dozen taels of silver. With his current wealth, he could easily afford it.

There was no rush to find a courtyard. Yang Jing knew of brokers much like the real estate agents from his previous life. Or perhaps tomorrow, he could ask Fourth Senior Brother to inquire first. He knew the city well and might be able to find something suitable.

With a plan in mind, his steps became lighter as well.

With a courtyard of his own, practicing martial arts and storing his belongings would both be much more convenient.

Entering the courtyard, Yang Jing returned to his room, lit the oil lamp, and took out the booklet of Surging Wave Leg from beneath his bed.

The booklet's cover was rough, its pages yellowed with age. The very first page bore a line of large characters: "Leg techniques take agility as their foundation and speed as their blade, rushing like surging waves, unceasing and unbroken."

Yang Jing turned through the pages, growing more startled the further he read.

Like Mountain Collapse Fist, this leg technique actually possessed a complete path of cultivation and advancement. From Bright Strength to Hidden Strength, then to the legendary Transforming Strength, every realm came with detailed annotations on how to train.

The difference was that Mountain Collapse Fist was renowned for its ferocity. Wherever its fist-force reached, nothing could withstand it.

Surging Wave Leg, on the other hand, placed greater emphasis on nimbleness. It stressed that "the steps shift with the body, and the legs arise from the steps." Once trained to a profound level, one's movement would be like a startled swan skimming a shadow, far faster than an ordinary person. Its raw attacking power alone, however, was far inferior to Mountain Collapse Fist.

"So it's a supplementary martial art."

Yang Jing muttered to himself.

Earlier, he had only given this Surging Wave Leg booklet a cursory look. Now that he examined it closely, it greatly surprised him and filled his heart with delight.

Mountain Collapse Fist was for offense; Surging Wave Leg was for speed. If the two could be combined, hardness and softness complementing each other, his strength would surely increase greatly.

Unable to restrain himself, Yang Jing rose and walked to the center of the room, following the diagrams as he began to practice.

He had barely taken half a step with the "Wave-Treading Form" before his toes nearly kicked the table leg.

The "River-Churning Form" required him to spin and swing his leg, but his lower back slammed into the edge of the bed.

The room had been cramped to begin with. He could not stretch out his legs at all, and even the most basic footwork became a stumbling, clumsy mess.

"Sure enough, I still need a courtyard."

Yang Jing stopped moving, his brows tightly furrowed.

The thought that had arisen on his way back now grew ever stronger.

Without a spacious training ground, there was simply no way to properly practice Surging Wave Leg.

Yang Jing then carefully put away the booklet, tidied up, practiced Mountain Collapse Fist for another hour, and blew out the oil lamp before lying down on his bed. Yet sleep would not come at all.

"I need to find a broker as soon as possible. I have to find a detached home with a courtyard. Only with a place to train can this leg technique truly be put to use."

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the window, reflecting the anticipation in his eyes.

The ferocity of Mountain Collapse Fist and the swiftness of Surging Wave Leg complemented one another. If he faced an expert at the peak of Bright Strength like Xu Tai again, even if the other man were uninjured, Yang Jing was confident he could kill him.

Over the next few days, Yuhe County gradually returned to its former peace.

The authorities sent several constables to Xinghua Ward to investigate. After looking over the patch of ruins burned black, they questioned a few nearby residents. In the end, they merely wrote the words "accidental fire; Xu Tai tragically perished" in the case file and closed the case.

Some privately felt that Xu Tai's death was suspicious. How could a Bright Strength expert be trapped in a fire and burned alive?

But private muttering was one thing; no one truly dared to submit a complaint to the authorities.

The Great Fortune Gang usually engaged in such conscience-scouring businesses as mutilating people for begging and lending at usurious interest. They had offended far too many people. With Xu Tai dead, quite a few people secretly clapped their hands in delight. Who would step forward for him?

As time passed, talk in the streets about Xu Tai being burned to death gradually faded.

New topics quickly overshadowed the old news.

Some said the Righteousness Gang had taken the opportunity to swallow up the Great Fortune Gang's territory and was now riding high.

Some said a new restaurant had opened west of the city, its chef hired from the Prefectural City, and his braised pork knuckle was simply exquisite.

Some said fighting had already broken out in Caozhou, and more and more refugees were arriving from the west.

Whenever Yang Jing went to the market to buy meat, he would listen in on such news, paying particular attention to the situation in Caozhou. His father and eldest uncle had both gone to Caozhou with a convoy transporting military provisions, yet no word had returned from them. Yang Jing could not help but worry.

That day, the sun blazed fiercely.

After finishing his punches and resting briefly, Yang Jing left the martial arts school.

Following the address he had asked around for beforehand, he found Stallholder at the entrance to an alley in West Market.

The man was a lean fellow with a goatee who always clutched a ring of keys in his hand. Whenever he saw someone, he plastered on a smile.

"Are you looking for a courtyard, sir?" Stallholder sized Yang Jing up. Though Yang Jing was plainly dressed, his gaze was steady, so the man did not dare slight him. "There are plenty of vacant courtyards lately. Quite a few families moved to the Prefectural City and the provincial capital some time ago, so the prices are very reasonable."

Yang Jing nodded. "A detached house, close to Chengping Ward, with a small courtyard will do."

"Well, isn't that a coincidence?" Stallholder's eyes lit up, and he led Yang Jing eastward. "At the border between Chengping Ward and Tongyi Ward, there's a small courtyard by a stream. An old scholar used to live there, but he moved out last month. I'll take you to have a look."

"Alright," Yang Jing said.

Following Stallholder through two streets and alleys, Yang Jing indeed heard the babble of flowing water.

A row of small blue-tiled courtyards had been built along the stream. The stream was not wide, yet its water was clear enough to reveal the bottom. Several weeping willows stood along the bank, their branches hanging over the water and stirring ripples upon its surface.

Stallholder opened the gate of the easternmost courtyard. With a creak, the scene inside was revealed.

The courtyard was not large, somewhat smaller than the shared-house courtyard Yang Jing had rented, though not by much. Several paths paved with bluestone slabs ran through it. Old flowerpots were piled in a corner, while a few morning glories had climbed up the wall, blooming brilliantly.

There were two main rooms, one for resting and the other for receiving guests. The window paper was intact, and a bundle of dried mugwort hung beneath the eaves, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance.

The east wing had been converted into a woodshed, while there was also a small kitchen on the west side. Yang Jing went in to inspect it; the pots, bowls, ladles, and utensils were all fairly complete.

As Yang Jing stood in the courtyard, he noticed an old locust tree by the wall. Its branches and leaves were luxuriant, shading more than half the courtyard from the sun.

"Look at this location, sir." Stallholder pointed west. "Past that alley ahead is Chengping Ward. It's only about the time it takes to burn an incense stick on foot."

He then pointed to the stream outside the courtyard gate. "This is running water, so fetching water is convenient. It's cool in summer, too."

Yang Jing made a round of the courtyard, his feet stepping over the stone slabs, and felt deeply at ease.

The two main rooms were enough to live in. The courtyard was spacious enough for him to practice punches and legwork freely, and it was close to the martial arts school as well. It was exactly what he wanted.

He had looked at several courtyards over the past few days, but this little one pleased him the most.

"How much is this courtyard?"

Stallholder rubbed his hands together. "To be honest, in normal times, a place in this location would cost at least fifty taels. But times are troubled now, so I'll give you a discount—thirty-five taels of silver, including the deed and all the furniture. They'll all be yours."

Yang Jing did not bargain. He took out silver from his robes, counted out thirty-five taels, and handed them over.

Stallholder's eyes narrowed into slits with delight. He promptly pulled out the property deed, then took down the three keys hanging from the courtyard gate and handed them all to Yang Jing. "Everything is in order. Check it carefully. From now on, this courtyard is yours."

Yang Jing accepted the deed. As his fingertips touched the rough paper, a sudden sense of stability welled up within him.

From this day forward, this was a place that truly belonged to him. He would no longer have to worry about the inconvenience of practicing martial arts, nor would he have to keep things hidden away.

Stallholder offered a few more auspicious words, then cupped his hands and took his leave.

Yang Jing closed the gate and stood alone in the courtyard. Walking beneath the old locust tree and feeling the coolness of summer, he could not help but smile.

After resting for a short while, Yang Jing took a chunk of cooled Cooked Tiger Meat from his old cloth bundle and began devouring it in large mouthfuls.

After finishing the large piece of tiger meat, Yang Jing walked around the courtyard once more. Then he locked the gate and headed to the martial arts school.

Stallholder had said it took the time to burn an incense stick to walk from here to the Sun Clan Martial Arts School in Chengping Ward. But Yang Jing was a martial artist, strong and healthy, and walked faster than ordinary people. From the small courtyard at the border of Tongyi Ward and Chengping Ward to the martial arts school, it took him only half that time.

Having bought a new courtyard, he was filled with joy, and even his steps became light and brisk.

Upon reaching the martial arts school, Yang Jing removed his outer garment and began practicing Mountain Collapse Fist bare-backed in the front courtyard.

Time slowly passed.

The sun gradually shifted from overhead toward the horizon.

Dusk spread like ink slowly bleeding through water, and the training ground in the martial arts school's front courtyard gradually fell silent.

After putting away the equipment, the attendants carried their brooms and left one after another. In the vast grounds, only Yang Jing's figure remained in motion.

He sank his waist and set his horse stance, unfolding the form of Mountain Collapse Fist amid the dusk.

The forceful wind raised by his fists churned the deepening night. Every punch he threw came with a dull whoosh, especially clear in the empty courtyard.

Sweat had long covered his body, dripping from his jaw and striking the ground, darkening small patches before the wind quickly dried them.

Even once the sky had turned completely black, he continued practicing.

Before, he had lacked the means. Now, with an ample supply of Fierce Beast Meat and abundant nourishment from food, he was willing to devote every scrap of energy to martial arts, striving to push himself to the limit each day.

Moreover, through the System Panel, he could clearly see his own progress. This made him even more addicted to such visible improvement, until he forgot the hardship and pain of martial training.

Moonlight climbed over the wall, stretching his shadow long. It intertwined with the shadows of his fists, making it impossible to tell which was fist and which was shadow.

"Ha."

A soft sound came from behind him.

Yang Jing withdrew his fist and turned around, only to see that his master, Sun Yong, had emerged from the inner courtyard at some point and was standing beneath the corridor, watching him.

Sun Yong wore a plain long robe, stroking his beard as his gaze rested on Yang Jing for a moment. He seemed moved, yet quickly shook his head again.

Yang Jing hurriedly bowed. "Master."

Sun Yong gave a faint hum and nodded. Walking over, his gaze swept across Yang Jing's reddened fists before falling on the footprints of varying depths scattered across the ground.

These were the traces Yang Jing had left while practicing his fists, so densely packed that they nearly covered a wide stretch of the surrounding area.

Sun Yong's heart was indeed stirred. Over the past half year or more, he had watched every disciple's martial arts progress. No one in the martial hall could match the diligence of the disciple before him.

But in the end... Sun Yong sighed softly to himself and shook his head.

On the path of martial arts, diligence was certainly important, but one's innate foundation was even more crucial.

Yang Jing's innate foundation could only be considered inferior—indeed, utterly mediocre even among the inferior. His breakthrough into Bright Strength had already been an incredible stroke of luck. As for breaking through to Hidden Strength, that would be as difficult as scaling the heavens. This was likely as far as he would go in this life.

A disciple like this had diligence in abundance, but lacked potential. He simply was not worth teaching with everything Sun Yong had.

Lin Yue, on the other hand, was different. That child possessed a superior innate foundation and exceptional comprehension. Less than half a year into his training, he had already broken through to Hidden Strength. In the future, he even had a strong chance of stepping into Transforming Strength. Only such a genius could hold up the martial hall's future.

"Your fists have more fierceness than agility."

Sun Yong drew back from his thoughts and offered a casual pointer. "Though Bright Strength emphasizes explosive force, you must also understand how to gather momentum. Like drawing a bow: first draw it back, then release it, and the power will be greater. That Split Stone strike just now was too hasty. You wasted thirty percent of your strength."

Yang Jing's heart jolted. He pondered the words "gather momentum" carefully, and the more he thought about them, the more sense they made. He quickly nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Sun Yong waved a hand and said no more, turning toward the inner courtyard.

As he passed through the moon gate, he looked back at Yang Jing, who was still pondering the principles of the fist. In the end, he sighed inwardly. What a pity, such diligence.

Yang Jing failed to notice the complicated look in his master Sun Yong's eyes. He was repeatedly practicing the Mountain-Splitting Form from earlier, trying to slow the rhythm of his punches. Sure enough, he could feel the Bright Strength within him gathering more solidly.