Chopping Wood to Train Saber Techniques

Both men and women were present, half of them youths just past eighteen, and the other half boys under eighteen.

Among them, only three were female—two young women and one girl.

Clearly, this detail revealed that this world still couldn't escape the mindset of favoring men over women.

In the crowd, some practiced with sabers, some with fists, some lifted stone locks to build strength, some trained on stakes for movement techniques, and a few sparred in pairs.

Their spirits were high and their physiques robust, clearly no ordinary people.

Poverty led to study, wealth to martial arts—they must have eaten meat regularly, coming from wealthy or noble families, all from prominent households.

Ordinary people couldn't even afford meat, let alone train in martial arts.

Training at a martial arts school in this world was like hiring a private tutor for piano or other arts in his past life—expensive, beyond the monthly wages of common folk.

Surrounding them were rows of connected houses, dormitories for apprentices and disciples, looking decent from the outside.

Apprentices paid to learn martial arts; disciples, upon reaching the Skin Refining Realm, formally acknowledged the Master as their teacher and paid no tuition.

"The environment's not bad. Let me take you to see the lodging."

"Not bad, I like it." Zhao Han replied casually.

Arriving at the lodging, there were four beds in a four-person room, all wooden, two meters long and one and a half meters wide.

The room wasn't antique in style, but at least it was clean and hygienic, with good ventilation and lighting, and the wardrobes, tables, and chairs were all wooden.

"In our Mad Saber Martial Arts School, apprentices only focus on training. Chores like washing clothes and bedding, cooking, and sweeping are handled by the hired help."

"If Junior Brother Zhao successfully refines his skin, you'll have the chance to become a disciple by acknowledging a teacher. If you choose not to, we can also find you a job with a higher monthly wage."

"Becoming a disciple gets you a private room, plus a monthly salary of two taels of silver. If there's work, you can earn extra on the side."

Liang Feng kept explaining, giving a general rundown of the Mad Saber Martial Arts School's basics.

"I've made up my mind, Senior Brother Liang. Keep these three taels of silver. I'll train here, and I can move in today."

Seeing Zhao Han so eager, Liang Feng was taken aback.

Three taels of silver was no small sum.

Most apprentices did their homework beforehand, comparing three schools to see which suited them best.

This one before him seemed different.

"Alright then, congratulations to Junior Brother Zhao for joining the Mad Saber Martial Arts School family. I'll take you to get your training clothes, bedding, pillow, and our school's martial art, the Mad Saber Nine Forms."

Liang Feng was overjoyed—recruiting an apprentice earned him a commission.

For every month an apprentice trained, he got a commission of three coins of silver. As long as the apprentice kept paying, he kept earning.

Recruit ten apprentices, and that was three taels a month—easy money lying down.

At the main entrance's warehouse, the key was with Old Man Mi, who needed to open the door.

"Young man, now that you're a school apprentice, train hard. Don't dwell on useless things. Martial arts require single-minded focus to achieve anything."

Old Man Mi, hunched over, rose from his chair and spoke with a knowing smile.

Liang Feng said, "Old Man Mi, no need for you to teach him that. You're a cripple who knows nothing about martial arts—just hand over the key."

"I understand." Old Man Mi smiled, took the warehouse key from his waist, and handed it over.

"Click!"

Liang Feng opened the warehouse door beside him, and a damp smell hit their noses.

"Junior Brother Zhao, wait a moment. I'll get your things."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Liang."

Liang Feng rummaged through the warehouse for about two minutes before gathering everything.

Two sets of summer training clothes for rotation.

One set of bedding, including a mattress, sheet, blanket, and pillow.

And a manual for the Mad Saber Nine Forms—clearly a cheap handwritten copy, on par with the Black Wolf Fist and Snake-Style Deft Hand.

"Creak!"

Handing the items to Zhao Han, Liang Feng closed the main door, and the two returned to the lodging.

"Junior Brother Zhao, lunch at the school is just past eleven, dinner just past six. Lunch just ended, so you've probably missed it. Get familiar with the rest, and I'll head out to recruit more people."

"If you have any questions, you can ask me in the training room. Us disciples who've acknowledged a teacher usually stay there."

"Then I'll trouble Senior Brother Liang."

"Don't speak so formally!"

Settled in, Zhao Han didn't head to the training ground. Instead, he lay down on the made bed.

He'd been sleeping on a communal bed until now, so having a soft bed to stretch out on was truly comfortable.

The surroundings weren't bad—at least there was no threat to his life, perfectly safe.

He opened the System Panel.

[Scanning...]

Martial Artist: Zhao Han Realm: Skin Refining Martial Skills: Black Wolf Fist, Snake-Style Deft Hand, Mad Saber Nine Forms [Unsimplified, Unranked] Ghostly Path: Shanyin Art [Unsimplified, Low-Grade] Simplified: Black Wolf Fist [Simplified, Unranked, Mastery 770/1000, Practice Black Wolf Fist 1000 times] Snake-Style Deft Hand [Simplified, Unranked, Mastery 0/1000, Kill one python (at least eight meters long, as thick as an arm)]

"Simplify Mad Saber Nine Forms!" Zhao Han took out Five Taels of Silver and silently intoned.

The silver spent today was a bit much, a full eight taels and five mace.

Only four taels and five mace of silver and one tael of gold remained.

[Simplification Successful]

Mad Saber Nine Forms [Simplified, Unranked, Not Yet Initiated 0/10, Split ten logs]

"Splitting logs is all it takes!" Zhao Han broke into a smile. This was way too easy.

Splitting logs—he was very practiced at that.

He got up, walked out the door, and first watched the others train in martial arts, then wandered nearby to familiarize himself with the surroundings.

Soon, in the side courtyard of the Training Ground, he spotted the kitchen, the Wood Shed, the storage room, the well, and the communal bunk bed where the laborers slept.

Laundry, cooking, boiling water, decocting medicine, splitting logs—all such chores were done here.

He headed straight for the Wood Shed. Inside, a laborer was struggling to split logs; from his strained expression, he seemed to be new.

"Young Master, what orders do you have for coming here?" The log-splitting laborer, Er Gouzi, saw Zhao Han approaching and stood up to ask cautiously.

These young masters looked decent enough, and some even seemed well-versed in the Book of Rites;

but in truth, they did nothing but bad deeds, often teasing or even beating up laborers on a whim.

"No need to be nervous. I've just been cooped up in the greenhouse too long, so I'm here to experience life."

Zhao Han smiled, patted Er Gouzi on the shoulder, then plopped down onto his wooden stool.

He grabbed the Chopping Axe and started splitting logs.

"Crack!"

Er Gouzi watched silently from the side, observing Zhao Han's performance.

Some young masters were just strange, their thought processes beyond ordinary understanding.

When Zhao Han had split enough logs—ten in total—he stood up, and Er Gouzi thought it was over.

But then this young master, as if his brain had been addled, spoke up again: "By the way, what's your name?"

"Ah? Me? Young Master, I'm called Er Gouzi."

"Er Gouzi, go get me more firewood. I want to split to my heart's content today."

"Ah, this..." Er Gouzi was stunned, at a loss.

"What are you standing there for? Afraid I'll eat you? Hurry up." Zhao Han urged.

"Yes, yes, yes... I understand."

Er Gouzi quickly went to the Wood Shed to bring out firewood for Zhao Han to split.