Listening Tide Courtyard

Following Zhang Zhenshan deeper into the Inner Court, Chen Yuan found the scenery growing ever more secluded and tranquil.

Compared to the bustle of the Outer Court, this place was far quieter. Several weeping willows had been planted beside the stone-paved path. When the breeze passed, their branches swayed gently. From time to time, the sound of fists and kicks tearing through the air drifted from the training rooms, yet it did not seem noisy.

"Our martial hall's Inner Court is mainly where the instructors and Personal Disciples reside. It also has the Scripture Pavilion, the Armory, and several training grounds specially set aside for Core Disciples in the Skin Grinding Realm."

As they walked, Zhang Zhenshan introduced the place to Chen Yuan. "You have just become a Personal Disciple. By the rules, you may receive an independent courtyard. It is fairly peaceful, suitable for secluded cultivation."

As they spoke, the two arrived before a courtyard with white walls and gray tiles.

The courtyard gate was unassuming, made from heavy pinewood and carrying an air of steady solidity.

A camphorwood plaque hung above the gate, bearing the three words "Listening Tide Courtyard" in vigorous calligraphy. Deep within those strokes seemed to linger traces of the force the carver had infused into them, undispersed even after the passing years.

"Listening Tide Courtyard." Zhang Zhenshan stopped and smiled faintly. "The name comes from 'watching the sea and listening to the tides.' It signifies that a martial artist should possess the broad-mindedness to embrace a hundred rivers like the sea, while also having the keenness to perceive the slightest detail and listen to the shifting tides."

"This place is not far from the martial hall's rear wall. In the stillness of deep night, if you concentrate, you truly can vaguely hear the distant roar of the sea."

When he pushed open the gate, it gave a soft creak. A scent mingling the freshness of grass and trees with the faint warmth of sunlight rushed over them.

The small courtyard was not large, yet it had been arranged with exquisite elegance.

Smooth bluestone slabs paved the ground, with bright green moss dotting the gaps between them.

On the left, a small cluster of Phoenix Tail Bamboo grew against the wall. Its branches and leaves swayed gracefully in the wind, rustling softly like a natural spell that calmed the heart.

On the right stood a separate training room. Its window lattice was spotless, and through the paper windows Chen Yuan could see several Wooden Dummies wrapped in thick cowhide, along with a number of heavy sandbags hanging inside.

Directly opposite the courtyard gate stood two main rooms, one a bedroom and the other a Quiet Chamber.

The roof was covered in fish-scale-like gray tiles. Beneath the corners of the walls, several unknown vines wound upward, blooming with scattered pale blue flowers that added a touch of life.

"Take a look. Are you satisfied?" Zhang Zhenshan gestured for Chen Yuan to inspect the place himself.

Chen Yuan stepped inside. He first went to the training room and pushed open the door. The equipment within was complete, while the floor had been laid with shock-absorbing cork.

He reached out and touched one of the Wooden Dummies. The wood was hard yet slightly springy, and the cowhide wrapped around its surface was thick and tough, far beyond anything found in the Outer Court.

He then patted the sandbags. Their filling was neither too hard nor too soft and felt excellent to the touch. They had clearly been prepared with great care.

"These Wooden Dummies are made from thirty-year-old Golden Pine Wood. They are exceptionally tough and can withstand the full-force blows of a Skin Grinding Realm martial artist. The sandbags are filled with Black Iron Sand mixed with dried cotton wadding. They retain their weight while providing sufficient cushioning, making them suitable for tempering the hardness of fists and feet without easily injuring the tendons and bones."

Zhang Zhenshan's voice came from behind him, carrying a trace of nostalgia. "When I first became a Personal Disciple, I did not have conditions this good."

Chen Yuan entered the Quiet Chamber next. It was spotless, containing only a meditation cushion and a low table. The walls appeared to have been thickened, making the room especially silent.

Just as Zhang Zhenshan had said, the window faced an excellent direction. Morning sunlight would fall right into the room, warm without being scorching, while the afternoon remained cool and shaded. It truly was an ideal place to calm one's mind, meditate, and regulate one's inner breath.

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Chen Yuan made a full circuit of the small courtyard, his heart brimming with delight.

Back when he had lived in the martial hall's Outer Court, he had stayed in a communal dormitory. It had been crowded and noisy, making it impossible to cultivate in peace. Even after reaching Skin Grinding, he had only been moved to a two-person room, which still came with many inconveniences.

Now that he had this independent courtyard, he could finally raise his strength without restraint.

"Thank you, Second Senior Disciple Brother. And thank you to Master for his generous favor!" Chen Yuan said sincerely.

"We are family. No need to be so polite." Zhang Zhenshan waved a hand. "Come, I will take you to the Armory to collect your monthly allotment. We will also stop by the Accounting Office to receive this month's cultivation subsidy. The treatment for a Personal Disciple is far better than that of an ordinary disciple."

When the two arrived at the Armory, the steward was seated behind the counter sorting through the accounts.

Upon seeing Zhang Zhenshan bring Chen Yuan over, the steward immediately rose to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles. "Instructor Zhang! This must be the new Junior Brother Chen, yes? The Martial Hall Master has already given instructions. Please, this way."

The steward led them into an inner room, took down an exquisite wooden box from a shelf, and opened it. Inside lay ten portions of Skin Tempering Ointment arranged neatly in rows. Each portion was stored in a lustrous white jade box. Once a jade box was opened, a rich medicinal fragrance rushed forth, brimming with spiritual vitality and far beyond the ordinary ointment Chen Yuan had used before.

The steward gently opened one box, and an intense, refreshing medicinal fragrance immediately spread through the room. It carried a faintly cool, fishy scent of the sea along with the fragrance of plants and trees. Merely inhaling it made one's blood and qi stir slightly, while one's skin faintly warmed.

"Junior Brother Chen, this is your monthly allotment: Sea Jade Skin Tempering Paste," the steward explained. "It uses the gallbladder of a Jade-Striped Sea Snake as its principal ingredient, supplemented by ten-year Purple Gold Flower, Deep Sea Blood Coral Powder, and more than ten other precious medicinal ingredients. It is carefully simmered by the martial hall's apothecaries."

"Its medicinal nature is mild, yet its penetrating power is exceptionally strong. It has miraculous effects in helping Skin Grinding Realm martial artists temper their skin membrane, strengthen their toughness, and guide their force. Apply it evenly over the body before training, and you will achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Chen Yuan accepted the wooden box. It felt heavy in his hands, and his heart was even more shaken.

The ointment he had used before had merely been ordinary medicine issued by the martial hall. Compared to this Sea Jade Skin Tempering Paste, it was like clouds and mud.

The value of these ten portions of ointment alone likely exceeded several months' worth of resources for an ordinary Core Disciple.

After leaving the Armory, Zhang Zhenshan led Chen Yuan to the Accounting Office.

The accountant had evidently received notice as well. After verifying Chen Yuan's identity and waist token, he directly took out an official silver note worth twenty taels and handed it over.

"Junior Brother Chen, this is your cultivation subsidy for the month, the regular allotment for a Personal Disciple. From now on, you may collect it at the beginning of every month with your waist token."

Twenty taels of silver. Holding the light yet weighty silver note, Chen Yuan was dazed for a moment.

In the past, after a full year of work, his family could save only a dozen or so taels after deducting all expenses, and that was already considered a good year. Yet now he received twenty taels in a single month, not even counting the far more valuable ointment.

His family had just purchased the Flying Swallow. Though selling Sea Beast materials had brought in a large sum, building the boat and acquiring new fishing nets had also cost an enormous amount. This was precisely when they needed money.

"This is the treatment afforded to a Personal Disciple." Seeing Chen Yuan's expression, Zhang Zhenshan smiled. "The martial hall pours resources into cultivating you because it hopes you will achieve something in the future, bring glory to our lineage, and become a force capable of protecting one region. You need only cultivate with peace of mind and break through soon. That will be the best repayment to the martial hall and to Master."

Chen Yuan nodded heavily and carefully put away the silver note and ointment. He could feel the weight of these expectations and resources.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhenshan smiled and turned around. "Come. I will take you to meet Fifth Junior Disciple Brother and Sixth Junior Disciple Sister. They are also cultivating in the martial hall's Inner Court now, so it is a good chance for you to get acquainted."