Trouble

Chen Qing dragged his exhausted body back to Yazi Bay.

Chen Qing pushed open the creaking cabin door. Madam Han was mending fishing nets.

Hearing the sound, she immediately looked up. "A Qing, you're back? How did it... go today?"

Chen Qing smiled. "Mother, I made it."

"Really!?"

Joy surged in Madam Han's heart, followed quickly by worry. "Then... then the Apprenticeship Fee... was it expensive? Is your master a good man?"

"Master is very strict, but he follows the rules."

Chen Qing walked into the cabin, picked up a water ladle, and gulped down several ladles of water. "The tuition fee. The silver Cousin Huiniang gave me was enough for now."

Madam Han let out a breath of relief. "That's good."

She brought out some warmed Mixed Grain Beans. "Hurry and eat."

Setting down his bowl and chopsticks, Chen Qing said, "Mother, I'll come back tomorrow evening to help you weave the fishing nets. We can't let the household livelihood fall behind either. After all, Learning Martial Arts still requires food, doesn't it?"

"Mm."

Madam Han answered softly. Dim yellow lamplight flickered across her face.

As if suddenly remembering something important, she looked up at Chen Qing. "I heard a new Tiger Gang arrived, and they're fighting the Golden River Gang tooth and nail. You must be careful when you're out."

Chen Qing's brows drew tight. He nodded silently. "I understand."

What a world!

Mother and son spoke no more, merely eating the warm Mixed Grain Beans from their bowls in silence.

The next day.

Before dawn, Chen Qing arrived at Zhou Academy.

He stepped onto the wooden stakes again and assumed the twisted yet tension-filled stance of Tongbei Stance Practice.

The familiar torment of soreness, numbness, swelling, and pain instantly swept through his entire body.

Chen Qing gritted his teeth. Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat soon soaked through his thin clothes, steaming into a faint white mist.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, and effort shall bear fruit]

[Tongbei Stance Practice: Beginner (6/500)]

The disciples gradually arrived, all looking somewhat surprised when they saw Chen Qing.

"That kid comes ridiculously early."

"I saw him grinding away yesterday too. Wonder how long he can hold out," someone murmured.

Chen Qing kept his head down and trained hard, drawing plenty of attention.

Some were indifferent, some sneered, and others thought he merely wanted to show off in front of Master.

Before he knew it, a month had passed, and the discussions gradually faded.

The disciples in the academy had grown accustomed to that silent, diligent figure. Chen Qing had become "the newcomer who could really endure hardship."

The parasol tree leaves by the stance platform had grown broader by another measure.

Chen Qing stood atop wooden stakes three inches high, his waist and back straight as a javelin. Beneath his lapels, the lines of newly formed muscles could faintly be seen. Compared to when he had first entered Zhou Academy, his shoulders had broadened by more than half an inch.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, and effort shall bear fruit]

[Tongbei Stance Practice: Beginner (211/500)]

That day, Zhou Liang strolled over and asked, "How long have you been in the academy?"

Chen Qing answered respectfully, "Reporting to Master, one month."

Not long ago, Zhou Liang had tested Chen Qing's natural aptitude.

The final result was below average.

There was little change in Zhou Liang's expression. He merely offered a few routine words of encouragement.

Clearly, he had not held much hope to begin with.

Zhou Liang said solemnly, "Stance practice is the foundation for tempering one's blood, qi, sinews, and bones. It all lays the road for fist techniques. Your foundation is now stable. Starting tomorrow, you may join the morning lessons and formally train in combat techniques."

"If there is anything you do not understand, ask more questions."

After giving them their initial instruction, Zhou Liang naturally would not personally teach every disciple.

Only disciples with exceptional natural aptitude, those who might inherit his mantle, could receive his painstaking guidance.

This beginner stance practice also served as a test for the disciples.

Clearly, in his eyes, Chen Qing was no uncut jade, merely dust and sand sifted away.

The senior disciples were all shrewd. There was no profit to be had from looking after this poor junior brother, and he would likely have no prospects in the future, so most could not be bothered with him.

Only Third Senior Brother Sun Shun, honest and kind by nature, would occasionally give new disciples a pointer or two.

Chen Qing cupped his fists. "Yes, this disciple shall remember Master's teachings."

Zhou Liang nodded slightly. "Mm. Continue training."

With that, he returned to the grand armchair beneath the tree. His gaze occasionally swept over the disciples in the yard as he fell into thought, though no one knew what he was thinking.

Chen Qing wiped the sweat from his brow and focused on training again.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, and effort shall bear fruit]

[Tongbei Stance Practice: Beginner (214/500)]

As the sun slanted westward, Chen Qing had practiced Tongbei Stance Practice another three times.

"You lot, it's time to work."

At that moment, a rough shout rang out through the courtyard.

Besides practicing martial arts, the academy apprentices also served as Zhou Liang's handymen. Washing clothes, cooking meals, carrying water, chopping firewood, sweeping the courtyard, cleaning the latrines, feeding horses, chopping fodder—every sort of menial task had to be done.

Chen Qing then followed several senior and junior brothers to begin sweeping the courtyard.

Sweeping the courtyard and feeding the horses were not the hardest jobs. Cleaning the latrines was the worst.

First, they had to use long-handled wooden ladles to scoop water and rinse the cesspits. After rinsing them, they had to scatter a layer of plant ash over them. It was filthy, exhausting, and troublesome.

"Chen Qing, Qin Lie, you two are cleaning the latrines today."

The senior brother in charge of assigning tasks tossed out the order and turned away.

Chen Qing's partner that day was another disciple from a similarly impoverished family, dark and skinny, named Qin Lie.

He had entered Zhou Academy around the same time as Chen Qing. His parents were both dead, and he only had an elder sister at home.

The difference was that Zhou Liang seemed to value him highly. He often gave him personal guidance and extra lessons.

Qin Lie smiled somewhat awkwardly. "Senior Brother Chen, how about... I do it myself? I can manage."

"It's fine. Two people will finish faster."

Chen Qing waved a hand and got straight to work.

The two buried their heads in work amid the foul stench.

Elsewhere in the courtyard, the other disciples chatted while they worked. Some complained that martial arts training was too bitter, while others dreamed of passing the Martial Arts Examination and rising above the rest.

As Qin Lie scooped water to rinse the pit, he asked quietly, "Senior Brother Chen, did you... come to learn martial arts to take the Martial Arts Examination too?"

"To earn enough to eat." Chen Qing answered frankly.

Qin Lie froze for a moment, then clenched his fists. A fierce determination shone in his eyes. "I want to become a Martial Champion! So my Elder Sister... can live a good life and not suffer so much anymore."

Chen Qing raised his eyes and carefully studied the dark, skinny kid.

The chores continued until the sky gradually darkened.

As dusk gathered from all sides, the senior brother who had assigned the work hurried back. He shouted directly at Qin Lie, "Junior Brother Qin, come with me! From now on, you won't need to do these chores anymore!"

Delight rose in Qin Lie's heart at the news. He quickly replied, "Yes, Senior Brother."

As they watched Qin Lie's back disappear beyond the corridor, several nearby disciples could not help muttering in sour voices.

"How long has Qin Lie even been here? Why doesn't he have to work anymore?"

"Tch, can you compare yourself to him? He reached the threshold of Bright Strength in less than a month! He's Master's precious treasure!"

"I heard Master not only waived his tuition fee, but gives him extra lessons every day!"

"..."

Qin Lie's hurriedly departing figure was like a thorn, making the disciples present feel even more keenly that their standing in this academy was ultimately different from those disciples in the front courtyard who received focused training.

Chen Qing felt rather wistful as well.

After all, many people had fantasized that they were uncut jade. They stumbled onward, only to spread open their palms years later and discover they were nothing more than pebbles.

After a while longer, once all the work had finally been completed, everyone dispersed.

There were few pedestrians on the streets.

Gang members occasionally darted out from somewhere, undoubtedly adding a measure of danger.

Chen Qing quickened his pace and detoured around them.

Before long, he reached home.

The dim oil lamp swayed on the table, casting light over Madam Han's hunched figure.

Her rough fingers moved back and forth through the fishing net. Without raising her head, she asked, "A Qing, you're back. Were you tired today?"

Chen Qing took off the cloth shoes he wore for training. "Mother, I'm fine. Have you eaten?"

"I just had some gruel."

Madam Han's hands did not stop moving, threads flying between her fingers. "I sold two fishing nets today. That buyer didn't bargain much. If we scrape together a little more, perhaps we can squeeze out the tuition fee for two months from now."

She bit off the thread and lightly shook out the mended clothes.

These past days, Madam Han had woven nets from dawn to dusk, and her eyes were nearly worn out.

Fortunately, Chen Qing's net-weaving skills had steadily improved, and he worked faster and faster.

The mother and son could rely on those fishing nets to scrape by, but gathering enough for that tuition fee was still like a cup of water against a cartload of firewood.

"Mother, there are still two months. Don't worry about the tuition fee."

Chen Qing crouched down and helped gather the loose threads scattered across the floor.

"Tomorrow Mother will get up early and try her luck at Lushui Market again..." The oil lamp licked up its final drop of oil, and the flame weakened.

Madam Han moved to the doorway. By the cold moonlight, her needle and thread began weaving through the cloth once more.

Bang—!

At that moment, the cabin door was kicked open.

Madam Han's needlework jerked, and the needle nearly pricked her finger.

Chen Qing instinctively looked toward the sound.

Master Qian swaggered in with two broad-shouldered, thick-waisted lackeys. A short blade hung at his waist, and the flesh on his face trembled with every step.

"Oh? Still embroidering handkerchiefs this late? Aren't you afraid of working your eyes blind?"

Master Qian spoke in a mocking, insinuating tone, but his eyes were fixed greedily on the nearly completed embroidered handkerchief in Madam Han's hands.

Without showing it, Chen Qing moved to shield Madam Han behind him. "Master Qian, is there something you need?"

"Don't be nervous, A Qing." Master Qian grinned, exposing several blackened yellow teeth. "This time, I've brought you some good fortune."

Good fortune!?

Chen Qing sneered inwardly, though his face showed confusion. "May I ask what Master Qian means?"

"The Dragon King has shown mercy and bestowed meat!"

Master Qian suddenly clapped his hands. The two lackeys behind him immediately lifted a side of rotten meat and slammed it heavily onto the deck boards.

A nauseating stench instantly spread through the cabin. It was pork from a dead pig that had been soaked for days, its skin already turned a bizarre bluish-gray, with maggots faintly visible writhing through the rotting flesh.

This so-called "meat bestowed by the Dragon King" was actually a scheme by the Golden River Gang to force fishermen to buy diseased, dead, rotten pigs.

Chen Qing's Adam's apple bobbed as he fought down his nausea. "Master Qian, you know we just paid Incense Money."

"What, you won't even give the Dragon King face?"

Master Qian's broad, powerful palm landed heavily on Chen Qing's shoulder. "A Qing, you're a smart man. Don't go muddling your head now."

Chen Qing took a deep breath. "Master Qian, give me some time."

To his surprise, Master Qian did not get angry. Instead, he stood up and patted Chen Qing's shoulder. "Fine. I'll give you three days to gather the money."

Master Qian rose and strode away with his two lackeys.

Once the footsteps of the three had completely faded, Madam Han's lips trembled. "A Qing, what are we going to do?"

There was barely any money left in the house even for rice bran. If they refused to buy the rotten meat, Madam Han did not dare imagine what Master Qian might do with his vicious methods.

"Don't panic."

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes. Qian Biao had failed to threaten him into taking usury loans last time. This time, he was resorting to force.

He was in such a hurry to sell this water-lantern meat, and he had come at night rather than during the day. Was he afraid of something?

Most likely, the Golden River Gang was at a disadvantage in its struggle with the Tiger Gang for territory, and Qian Biao wanted to make one last haul before running.

Thinking it over carefully, Chen Qing seemed to understand something. He said quietly, "Mother, leave this matter to me."