Master Yang's Assessment

Master Yang's Assessment

Master Yang's Assessment

Lin Mo did not have much of an impression of Chen Qing. He only vaguely remembered a few fragments: a man of few words and dull manner, who would get wildly excited over even a bite of plain steamed bun.

After exchanging a few simple words, Chen Qing saw Lin Mo's indifferent demeanor and promptly lost any interest in showing off.

"Senior Brother Sun, give him two coins of silver. Have Lin Mo keep watch over the merchant ship for us, so we can return to the martial arts school early and report to Master."

After the two left, another commotion rose from the dock entrance, accompanied by Kudali's startled cries and the anxious snorting of horses.

"Move! All of you, move!"

"Young Master Zhou is returning to his residence. Are you blind? Get out of the way!"

Several broad-shouldered, thick-waisted men in matching gray martial outfits roughly shoved aside fishermen and peddlers, clearing a path.

A tall steed carried a young man in a parrot-green martial robe, galloping across the dock's brick pavement as his whip whistled through the air.

The men trailing behind him all had vicious gazes, callused knuckles, and sabers at their waists. Every last one was a trained fighter.

"What a grand display."

Lin Mo clicked his tongue in amazement. He waved over several Li family servants and helped them calm the commoners, then seemed to ask casually, "Whose young master is this now? Why is everyone rushing back today?"

The sharp-eyed, short Li family servant looked around to make sure no one else was nearby before explaining in a low voice, "Young Master Zhou from the Qianjin Escort Agency. Those people do everything sideways..."

"I heard them say that water ghosts have been causing quite a stir outside the city lately. The grain merchants and escort agencies have been doing good business, so perhaps he has returned after handling matters outside the city!"

Once the little interlude passed, Lin Mo remembered that apprentices were still waiting at the martial arts school. After tallying the account book and its details, he handed it over to the Li family's manager.

When he returned to Stone Wall Courtyard, the apprentices he passed eagerly greeted him one after another. "Hello, Senior Brother Lin! Senior Brother..."

At the training ground of packed yellow earth, many apprentices were still bare-chested, standing on Plum Blossom Stances and practicing methodically.

Besides Xu Changfeng, who had been there ever since morning lessons, Lin Mo spotted a familiar figure. He hurried forward, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Greetings, Master."

The newcomer was none other than old Master Yang Yun. He smiled as he watched the new batch of apprentices in the courtyard for a while before calling them over to examine their bones.

Lin Mo silently counted the days. Since becoming a Registered Disciple and taking on this nominal post, nearly another month had passed.

Old Master Yang Yun was much as usual. If he was diligent, he came once every half month; if not, he came once a month, just as he had now.

After examining their bones, Yang Yun did not leave. He waved for the apprentices to clear the grounds, then looked Lin Mo up and down.

Stroking his long beard, he nodded with a smile. "You have been diligent. You broke through to Minor Accomplishment in just one month. I simply do not know how well you have trained the White Ape Eight Section Fist..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and instructed, "Xu Changfeng, exchange a few moves with him."

"Yes, Master."

Training through exchanged moves and testing one's fists and kicks was a common method of assessment at Changhe Martial Arts School.

The many apprentices' eyes shone brightly. Most of them were new apprentices from these two batches, and it had always been Senior Brother Xu and Senior Brother Lin teaching them stance work.

They had never truly formed an impression of what a real martial artist was like. Now that they could watch martial artists spar, they were naturally thrilled.

The two exchanged a word of acknowledgment. Lin Mo did not hesitate either, planting his feet as though roots had grown beneath them and assuming the opening stance of the White Ape Eight Section Fist.

"Forgive my offense, Senior Brother Xu."

"Come at me with everything you have."

With a swish, Lin Mo pushed off and lunged forward, his body swift as the wind. His five fingers curled together as he unleashed a White Ape Cannon Fist.

There was no hesitation in this opening move. His Qi and blood surged through his entire body, the blow heavy and powerful like an iron hammer smashing toward the face!

Since this was an assessment, he ought to seize this opportunity to face a second-stage martial artist.

"Good lad, you truly do not beat around the bush. I like that!"

Xu Changfeng shed his usual lazy demeanor. Seeing the force behind the attack, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

With a long shout, he swallowed breath into his abdomen. Neither dodging nor evading, he drove out his right fist in a spiraling thrust, its howling force even fiercer.

Smack!

Gritting his teeth, Lin Mo did not change his move. His fist crashed down with a clang, and a burst of force traveled through his right hand, numbing half his body.

He staggered back two steps, but Lin Mo was even more delighted, grinning broadly.

He understood clearly that Senior Brother Xu was holding back quite a bit. He was perfect as a target for practicing moves!

"Again!"

Lin Mo threw another White Ape Cannon Fist. Xu Changfeng was surprised, inwardly sighing that this junior brother did not know how to adapt.

Yet in the instant their attacks met, Lin Mo stomped his left foot against the ground and borrowed the momentum. His arm trembled and snapped like a long whip as he leaped forward with his footwork.

His right fist swept sideways through the air toward Xu Changfeng's temple, while the five fingers of his left hand curled like claws and shot out from before his chest.

This sudden change used the Cannon Fist as a feint. With the hammer strike concealing his intent, the true killing move lay hidden in this White Ape Heart Pluck.

"Good lad, you're that clever?!"

Xu Changfeng chuckled in praise. He lowered his body to dodge the hammering right fist, then bent and sprang with both legs, leaping backward like an ape. His movements were swift as a gale.

Though his move had failed, Lin Mo was not discouraged. He likewise employed the footwork of the White Ape Eight Section Fist.

He gathered force and leaped, the fingers of one hand slightly curled before suddenly darting forward, like a monkey plucking a peach—yet this strike went straight for the throat.

The force from his fingertips tore through the air with astonishing ferocity, carrying the short-range power of the White Ape Eight Section Fist. It possessed the savage bearing of a mad monkey that had smelled blood.

For a moment, many apprentices present swallowed hard, cold sweat streaming down their backs.

"Fine move!"

Delighted, Xu Changfeng abandoned the White Ape Eight Section Fist stance. His feet tapped rapidly, and his body suddenly became elusive, like a fallen leaf drifting on the wind.

The fierce wind from Lin Mo's fingertips came within half an inch of Xu Changfeng's Adam's apple. Lin Mo only saw the figure before him sway unpredictably, and after the slightest hesitation, his right hand seemed to pass straight through Xu Changfeng's body.

His defenses opened wide in an instant. Xu Changfeng's right fist shot from his waist, only to turn into a palm thrust when it reached Lin Mo's abdomen.

Lin Mo had no time to react. His body swept sideways through the air, and he nearly flew backward before taking several breaths to recover.

He scratched his head without any irritation. "As expected, I'm still far too far from Senior Brother Xu. I thought those two altered moves would at least be somewhat useful."

"Young brother, I am a martial artist on the verge of breaking into the third stage. How could you possibly get the better of me so easily?"

Xu Changfeng did not know whether to laugh or cry. At that moment, Yang Yun also praised him. "Not bad. You have only broken through the Martial Pass for one month, and you have only mastered the first four forms of the style, yet you can already produce such variations. That is truly not easy."

"The White Ape Eight Section Fist has six forms in total. Once you have learned the final two forms proficiently, you should soon advance from Beginner to Minor Accomplishment."

Although the White Ape Eight Section Fist was only a low-grade Human-rank boxing art, there was no threshold for practicing its first four forms. However, Lin Mo needed to reach the peak of the first stage before he could learn the final two.

Learning them too early could easily throw his Qi and blood into disorder. That was the key reason he had yet to reach the Beginner realm in the White Ape Eight Section Fist.

"In consideration of your diligence and exceptional aptitude for martial arts, come collect five Qi and Blood Pills from me every month."

"Thank you, Master!"

Lin Mo was overjoyed. He had been worrying that ordinary meals were not enough to replenish his Qi and blood, while Qi and Blood Pills cost one tael each. The money he had on hand was only enough for daily expenses.

Recently, he had keenly felt his Qi and blood progress slowing down. He had barely grown sleepy before a pillow arrived.

As a martial arts master, Yang Yun was generous with his gifts. This had only been one assessment, yet from now on Lin Mo would receive five Qi and Blood Pills every month.

That was equivalent to five taels of silver per month. Excluding illicit income, it was even more than an ordinary nominal guard earned.