Apprenticing

Li Yi was currently in a state of fantasy.

Many strange thoughts popped into his head. He had experienced too many bizarre things lately, to the point where he doubted the reality of it all. He even wondered if he was possessed, and if everything happening before him was just an illusion.

Seeing Li Yi standing there blankly, Zhao Ge immediately coughed lightly, "Li Mengde, do you think I, Zhao Ge, am not qualified to be your master?"

Li Mengde?

Who was that?

Oh, he remembered now.

Mengde is me.

Li Yi immediately broke out of his fantasy. He hurriedly replied, "Uncle Zhao, that's not it at all. You saved my life, and I'm incredibly grateful. Furthermore, you wanting to take me as your disciple is for my own good. I can't repay you fast enough, so how could I possibly think you're unqualified to be my master? It's just that I have some personal reasons, which is why I hesitated."

Hearing this, Zhao Ge immediately reacted. He slapped his forehead, "This old man almost forgot. You're from Ghost Street, and your attire is completely different from ours. It seems you're not from Xingzhou. You must have things you can't let go of and are still thinking about how to return, right?"

"My parents have been unconscious for six years due to certain reasons and are bedridden. They're still waiting for me to take care of them. I can't be away from home for too long, or my parents will starve to death at home. Therefore, I must find a way to leave Ghost Street and return home," Li Yi said earnestly.

"To think you're also a person with a difficult fate. It's rare to see such filial piety. This old man can't force you," Zhao Ge sighed with emotion.

He had originally planned to take Li Yi back to his Martial Arts School after this trip to Ghost Street to teach him martial arts and pass on his legacy. Although Li Yi's identity was unknown, it didn't matter to him. Such talent was enough for him to pour all his resources into nurturing. That's why he got excited and overlooked Li Yi's concerns.

However, with filial piety being paramount, forcing the issue would be his own wrongdoing.

Yet, watching such a rare gem slip through his fingers, Zhao Ge felt it was a great pity. He might toss and turn at night, and even on his deathbed, he might still be unable to forget this matter, regretting it for the rest of his life.

With that thought, Zhao Ge spoke again, "Our meeting in Ghost Street is a great destiny. Although we may part ways here and never meet again in this life, this old man still cannot bear to see such talent wasted. I still wish to take you as my disciple, but I won't force you. If you're unwilling, then so be it."

With his savior saying this much, if Li Yi refused again, he would be ungrateful.

He immediately knelt down. His agile mind quickly recalled some phrases from online dramas. He immediately said, "I, having wandered for half my life, only regret not meeting a wise master. Today, meeting Uncle Zhao's kindness, I am willing to become your disciple. From this day forward, for one day as a master, for a lifetime as a father. If I break this promise, may heaven and earth destroy me."

After speaking, Li Yi immediately kowtowed three times.

He secretly thought, Are my words and etiquette correct?

After all, this is how discipleship is done in TV dramas.

Zhao Ge, being a martial artist, was stunned at first. Then, tears of excitement welled up in his eyes. He quickly reached out with a slightly trembling hand to help Li Yi up and said, "Good, good, good disciple, get up quickly. You're too straightforward, how could you make such a heavy oath? We're family now, don't speak so formally."

In Zhao Ge's view, this was not just discipleship, it was practically acknowledging him as a father. The etiquette was too heavy.

Because in Zhao Ge's world, discipleship didn't require kowtowing; one only needed to serve tea. Making an oath was a very solemn matter, as those who broke their vows would suffer misfortune.

Therefore, for a disciple to kowtow when becoming a disciple was equivalent to acknowledging you as an adoptive father. If they then made an oath, it meant they could never go against it in their lifetime. The more accomplished a martial artist was, the more strictly they were bound by oaths.

So, when the act of kowtowing to become a disciple and making an oath were combined, and the master accepted this ritual, the disciple's importance was even greater than that of a biological son. Even after the master's death, this disciple could inherit the family business just like a biological son.

Moreover, Li Yi's words, "For one day as a master, for a lifetime as a father," gave Zhao Ge the surprise of having a child in his old age.

Li Yi couldn't understand Zhao Ge's feelings at the moment. He only felt that Zhao Ge had saved his life, and it was only right and proper for him to kowtow a few times. After all, he might not have the chance to repay others in the future, and agreeing to become a disciple was merely to fulfill Zhao Ge's wish.

Zhao Qian, standing by, was also happy to see this. When she looked at Li Yi, she immediately felt much closer to him, as if he were a long-lost elder brother.

"Father, don't just be happy. We don't have much time left in Ghost Street. We still have many things to do during this period, and we can't waste any more time," Zhao Qian said, seeing her father excitedly holding Li Yi's arm for a moment before reminding him.

Zhao Ge finally came to his senses. He glanced at the Soul Guiding Incense and saw that it had already burned more than halfway. It would be finished in at most an hour, and he would have to leave Ghost Street early. His newly accepted disciple would then be forced to part ways.

"It's a pity that time is insufficient. Our master-disciple relationship is deep, but our fate is shallow. During this time, I will do my best to impart the essence of the Martial Way to you, Mengde. Learn as much as you can."

Zhao Ge noticed the time and then began pacing anxiously. What should he teach Li Yi?

Should he teach him techniques for strengthening bones and refining Blood Essence?

No, that wouldn't work.

There was too little time. If he couldn't teach it completely, it would mislead his disciple and lead him astray.

Should he teach the secret art of controlling Blood Essence and channeling Force into the orifices?

Still no. The disciple hadn't even entered the basics, so teaching that would be useless.

As time ticked by, even Zhao Ge, a martial artist who had mastered Blood Essence, began to sweat with anxiety.

Zhao Qian was an intelligent girl. She saw her father's difficulty and urgency and immediately reminded him, "Father, teach Brother Yi how to punch. Let Brother Yi train his Force with punches. When his Force is strong enough in the future and his foundation is stable, perhaps one day he'll achieve orifice entry."

"How can that be? Without the support of Blood Essence, the Punch Force cannot be channeled effectively, and it's easy to become weak and useless," Zhao Ge instinctively retorted.

To practice punches, one must first practice Qi. To practice Qi, one must first nourish the blood. Blood and Qi are the foundation of a martial artist.

Li Yi was a complete novice. If he couldn't refine Blood Essence, he wouldn't be able to maintain a stable Punch Stance. In a life-or-death struggle, he would just be a fancy display, completely useless.

Zhao Qian said, "Father, don't forget, Brother Yi is naturally strong and has a robust physique. Even if he can't refine Blood Essence, he can still practice punches with his own strength. If we have the chance to meet again in Ghost Street, it won't be too late to teach Brother Yi how to refine Blood Essence."

Hearing this, Zhao Ge was instantly enlightened.

"Yes, yes, yes. Most people who practice martial arts first build their foundation, then practice punches. Mengde has dragon-like tendons and tiger-like bones, and is naturally strong. His foundation is already solid enough to support him in developing Punch Force. Good, we'll teach punches."

Zhao Ge collected his thoughts, stopped abruptly, and then looked at Li Yi, "Mengde, are you willing to learn punches?"

"I'll learn whatever Master teaches," Li Yi replied.

"Good child." Zhao Ge was touched again. This child truly trusted him so much. It seemed the oath he made earlier was indeed not false.

For one day as a master, for a lifetime as a father.

What child would doubt their parents?

But time was pressing, and Zhao Ge didn't have time for a lecture. He immediately said, "Practicing the fist, practicing the fist, you have to start practicing first. I'll show you the punch force, and then I'll teach you how to do standing meditation and feel the force."

Afterward, he glanced around, picked up a stool.

Using his hand as a knife, he cut off the wooden legs of the stool, leaving only a thick wooden board.

"Watch carefully," Zhao Ge said, then threw the wooden board out and threw a punch.

Bang!

A dull explosion.

Surprisingly, the wooden board didn't fly out or crack. Instead, it stuck to Zhao Ge's fist.

This situation defied logic.

Zhao Ge then removed the wooden board from his fist, revealing a clear fist print: "This is punch force. When an ordinary person punches, this wooden board will either fly out or crack. This is because their force is scattered. Practicing martial artists are different; their force is condensed into one stream, gathered and not scattered. When they punch, the force looks like this."

"If the master's punch were an inch deeper, this wooden board would be easily pierced. This kind of force cannot be deflected by an enemy and can kill with a single blow."

As he demonstrated, he also explained earnestly, revealing the essence in just a few words.

This was true transmission.

"Amazing," Li Yi's eyes widened, finding it incredible.

Although this punch seemed simple, it was profoundly deep.

"Mengde, although you have divine strength, your force is scattered and useless because your skin, tendons, and bones have not been trained as one. But it's okay. Teaching you to punch is about mobilizing your entire body's force. As long as you learn it, whether it's your fists or your legs, you'll understand everything."

"Watch my stance."

Then, Zhao Ge assumed a slightly crouched posture, standing there with his arm raised and fist clenched. His form appeared relaxed, yet poised for action, possessing a certain mystique.

"Force originates from the ground. Feet, knees, waist, the great dragon of the spine, arms, elbows, and finally to the fist. Feel the force transmit layer by layer, and then explode in an instant. That's how your punch force is formed."

"Now, let's start learning."

Afterward, Zhao Ge finished his demonstration and gestured for Li Yi to begin.

Li Yi's cultivation had evolved, and after activating his Spirit Medium ability, his memory had also improved. He closed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then immediately imitated Zhao Ge, adopting the fist stance.

"No, your waist is too crooked. When you exert force, your waist bones will be damaged. Over time, these bones will develop hidden injuries. If you grow old and your Blood Essence weakens, your lower body will be paralyzed."

"Make your knees a little straighter, otherwise the force won't travel up."

"Raise your fist a bit higher. Your gaze and your fist should be straight, otherwise, your punch will be off, and you'll easily miss."

Zhao Ge immediately identified Li Yi's various flaws and shortcomings, then stepped forward to help Li Yi adjust his stance.

This kind of direct instruction and demonstration was worth months of arduous training for others in just ten minutes.

Li Yi learned quickly and adjusted just as fast.

In less than three minutes, his stance was almost identical to Zhao Ge's.

"Good, the stance is fine. Maintain this position and let your body remember it," Zhao Ge said, looking at Li Yi with a complex expression in his eyes.

No matter how talented one is, they still need time to hone their skills. Although Li Yi had adopted the correct stance under his guidance this time, without his supervision next time, the stance would immediately collapse, and Li Yi himself wouldn't even know where he was going wrong.

If he practiced incorrectly, he would end up injuring himself.

In the end, he could only rely on his strong physique to endure.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ge felt a pang of guilt. Was he teaching a disciple, or harming him?

"Master, how long do I need to hold this pose?" After a few more minutes, Li Yi asked curiously.

Zhao Ge snapped back to attention and immediately said, "If time is not urgent, you should stand for as long as you can. But now, your master doesn't know how long you should stand. It depends on your feeling. You must feel that your body has remembered this state."

"But it cannot exceed half an hour at most. This is the only time your master has to teach you."

Li Yi scratched his head and said, "I see."

"Mengde, why did you lower your fist?" Zhao Ge glared. "In such a short time, your body can't remember it. All your previous efforts will be in vain."

"I'm sorry, Master. I wasn't paying attention. I'll continue right away." Li Yi lowered his body and resumed the fist stance.

But Zhao Ge's eyes narrowed.

Li Yi's stance perfectly replicated the previous state, standing steady and unwavering, without the slightest deviation.

This... his body had already remembered?

What a joke.

A layman who hadn't even honed his tendons and bones could hold the correct stance in such a short time?