Taking the Stage

Ping Yongfeng quickly demonstrated the sequence once, then looked at the crowd. "Did you remember it? Someone come up and practice it!"

Silence fell.

This set of Black Fiend Stake Stance contained eighty-one movements, along with breathing and qi circulation techniques. Unless one possessed a photographic memory, how could anyone possibly memorize it all after seeing it once?

To go up and demonstrate now would surely mean making a fool of oneself and being mocked by the other Martial Students. Therefore, even though some of them saw the benefits of receiving Ping Yongfeng's personal instruction, their first reaction was hesitation, held back by their pride.

Suddenly, a voice rang out. "Master Ping, I'll do it!"

Zhuang Jin spoke without hesitation.

Naturally, he had thought of what the others had thought of. He might embarrass himself and be laughed at—but what was so frightening about a few laughs? He valued tangible benefits over empty reputation. Just as he had not pretended to be generous before the waiter last night by giving a lavish tip of a few copper coins, now that there was something to gain that could help him master the Black Fiend Stake Stance sooner, let them laugh if they wanted!

"Good, then it'll be you." Ping Yongfeng nodded and had Zhuang Jin step forward. "Begin!"

Zhuang Jin took a deep breath and assumed the stance according to what he remembered.

But he had barely begun when he was interrupted. "Your movements aren't in place. How could Stance Training performed like this have any effect?"

As he spoke, Ping Yongfeng pressed down on Zhuang Jin's shoulder. Zhuang Jin instantly lost his balance, swaying and stumbling, nearly falling over. A burst of laughter immediately rose from the crowd.

Zhuang Jin's expression did not change. He swiftly adjusted himself and continued the demonstration, only to be rebuked by Ping Yongfeng again moments later. "You're too stiff! Are you treating yourself like a corpse? Your body should be like a pine, your waist like a bow, your spine like a great dragon!"

"Why are you inhaling here? Can't hold in a fart? Sink Qi to the Dantian!"

Ping Yongfeng did not have the best temper. At the slightest mistake, he would unleash a sharp torrent of scolding, drawing endless laughter from the Martial Students. Someone with a weaker mindset would likely have been unable to focus long ago, their movements all muddled and upside down. Yet Zhuang Jin remained perfectly composed, as though unaffected in the slightest. He corrected each mistake according to Ping Yongfeng's guidance, and with the proper stance, he soon sensed the flow of Blood Qi.

Of course, not every Martial Student was watching for amusement. Xiong Lei, along with several cleverer ones, quickly stopped enjoying the spectacle and began practicing along with Zhuang Jin off to the side.

Watching Zhuang Jin's movements grow increasingly precise, Ping Yongfeng nodded slightly. This boy has a good temperament, but his body seems depleted when I felt his bones. His Blood Qi is insufficient.

What a pity! In his experience, those with depleted bodies were at a disadvantage compared to ordinary people in the first step of "Grasp Blood Qi and refine Inner Breath." One step slow, every step slow—his chances of becoming a true martial artist were slim.

When Zhuang Jin finished, Ping Yongfeng waved him down and looked toward the crowd. "One more!"

With Zhuang Jin going first, the other Martial Students were no longer so afraid of being laughed at. Compared to the benefits of having Ping Yongfeng personally guide their Stance Training, it was nothing at all. This time, seven or eight people immediately volunteered.

Ping Yongfeng swept his eyes over them and picked the most robust-looking of the group, Xiong Lei. "You!"

After Xiong Lei went up to demonstrate, Ping Yongfeng selected another tall Martial Student to take the stage. Once the three were done, he looked at the assembled Martial Students. "You've all learned it, right? Practice on your own from here!"

The remaining Martial Students were dumbfounded. They had thought Ping Yongfeng would guide them one by one. How was that all there was to it?

Had Ping Yongfeng known what they were thinking, he would only have told them to keep dreaming! The silver he received each month was divided into a base Monthly Stipend and pay for assigned duties. This job as a Martial Arts Instructor only brought him one tael of silver a month. How dedicated did they expect him to be?

Naturally, once the minimum required teaching time of one incense stick had passed, he would let these Martial Students practice on their own!

Two quick-witted Martial Students recalled the gray-robed servant who had handed out bedding. They quietly went to slip Ping Yongfeng some money and request instruction, but to their surprise, Ping Yongfeng flew into a rage at the sight of it and directly cursed them away. Then, as if he could not avoid them fast enough, he hurriedly left without even remaining at the Martial Arts Practice Field.

After Ping Yongfeng left, the Martial Students in the Martial Arts Practice Field had no choice but to practice the Black Fiend Stake Stance by themselves.

Zhuang Jin and Xiong Lei were about to find a spot to practice when Qian Wende sidled over with a flattering smile. "Thanks to you two brothers for what happened earlier. Why don't we practice Stance Training together?"

Zhuang Jin glanced at him. "No. You saw what happened when I went up earlier—Master Ping scolded me half to death. I can't even perform it properly myself, so I won't mislead anyone else."

Practicing together would inevitably mean helping one another. But both he and Xiong Lei had received Ping Yongfeng's guidance. Did they need Qian Wende's help? Rather, they would be the ones helping Qian Wende.

The man had clearly come to take advantage of them!

What was more, if Qian Wende's practice results proved unsatisfactory after taking such advantage, he might even suspect that the two of them had sabotaged him.

Why should they agree to such a thankless and exhausting matter? Just because Qian Wende had a thick face?

If he thought that coming to ask would make Zhuang Jin too embarrassed to refuse, then he was dreaming. Zhuang Jin had never been the sort to refrain from rejecting someone merely to save face.

"Then forget it!" Qian Wende still wore a cheerful smile. He had only come to curry favor, hoping to shake the tree twice whether or not there were dates to fall.

Afterward, several more Martial Students came over and said they wanted to practice with the two of them, but Zhuang Jin politely declined them with the same reason.

After they left, Xiong Lei glanced at Qian Wende with disdain. "Forget the others, but that Qian Wende had a grudge with us before. He really had the nerve to come over?"

"When there are a thousand people, there are a thousand different kinds. No need to care about him. We only need to focus on practicing and strive to Grasp Blood Qi and refine Inner Breath as soon as possible, completing the first step."

"Alright!" Xiong Lei agreed, then suddenly scratched his head in embarrassment. "Jinzi, there were a few parts I didn't remember clearly just now..."

"It's fine. We'll verify them against each other."

Xiong Lei was naturally different from Qian Wende. Not only had Zhuang Jin just relied on Xiong Father and Son this morning to avoid a potential trouble, but now that he had entered the Shen Family, although Zhuang Jin placed martial training first and did not wish to involve himself in other messy matters, one must still guard against others. It was necessary to join forces with Xiong Lei so they would not be bullied by others.

In truth, once they began practicing, Zhuang Jin did not help much. Xiong Lei had already gone onstage and received Ping Yongfeng's guidance; he had merely forgotten two or three spots. With Zhuang Jin's reminders, he quickly grasped them, and the two began practicing separately.

Not far from them, quite a few Martial Students watched and imitated them. Zhuang Jin and Xiong Lei could not exactly cover others' eyes and forbid them from looking, but everyone's constitution differed. Such imitation could not compare to Ping Yongfeng's personal guidance. At most, they could learn the outward form; the finer details would be difficult to get right.

Immersed in practicing the Black Fiend Stake Stance, time passed swiftly, and before long it was a quarter past noon.

At that moment, Ping Yongfeng came to the Training Ground again. "That's enough practice for this morning. Go eat!"

"The dining hall provides free meals, but martial training consumes a great deal. Those who can afford it are still advised to eat the paid meals. They have more oil and meat, which helps with Grasping Blood Qi. Paid meals cost five coins for breakfast, ten coins each for lunch and dinner, or six hundred coins for a monthly plan."