Both men and women were present. Half were young adults just over eighteen, and the other half were boys under eighteen.
There were only three women: two young adults and one girl.
Clearly, this small detail showed that this world still clung to the notion that men were superior to women.
Some in the crowd practiced saber techniques, some trained their fists, and others lifted stone locks to build strength or stepped across wooden stakes to practice their movement techniques. There were even pairs sparring with each other.
They all looked full of energy and had fairly robust physiques. Clearly, they weren't ordinary people.
Learning by the written word was cheap, but martial arts were for the rich. They must have eaten meat regularly; they were either wealthy or noble, all from well-off families.
Ordinary people couldn't even afford meat, let alone martial arts training.
Training at a martial arts school in this world was like hiring a private tutor in his previous life to learn piano or other arts: it cost a fortune, beyond what an ordinary person could afford on a month's wages.
There were many adjoining houses nearby. They served as lodgings for apprentices and disciples, and looked quite decent from the outside.
Apprentices paid to learn martial arts; disciples had reached the Skin Refining Realm and become the Master's students, so they didn't have to pay tuition.
"The accommodations are pretty good, right? I'll take you to have a look."
"Not bad. I like it," Zhao Han replied casually.
They reached the lodgings. Each room had four beds, each a wooden bed two meters long and one and a half meters wide.
The room wasn't exactly steeped in antique charm, but it was clean and hygienic, with good ventilation and lighting. The wardrobe, table, and chairs were all made of wood, too.
"At Mad Saber Martial Arts School, apprentices only need to focus on training. Menial chores like washing clothes and bedding, cooking, and sweeping are all handled by the hired hands."
"If you, Junior Brother Zhao, manage to reach the Skin Refining Realm, you'll have the chance to become the Master's disciple. If you don't want to become a disciple, I can also help you find a job with a higher monthly wage."
"Disciples get their own rooms and a monthly salary of two taels of silver. If there's work available, they can earn extra money, too."
Liang Feng kept explaining, giving him a rough overview of Mad Saber Martial Arts School.
"I've made up my mind, Senior Brother Liang. Take these three taels of silver. I'll train here. I can move in today, right?"
Seeing how eager Zhao Han was, Liang Feng was taken aback.
Three taels of silver was no small sum.
Most apprentices did their research beforehand and compared prices at several schools, carefully weighing their options to see which suited them best.
This one seemed a little different.
"Very well. Congratulations on joining the Mad Saber Martial Arts School family, Junior Brother Zhao. I'll take you to collect your training clothes, quilt, and pillow, along with our school's nine saber techniques, the Mad Saber Nine Forms."
Liang Feng was overjoyed. He earned commission for every apprentice he recruited.
For each month an apprentice trained, he earned three qian of silver in commission. As long as the apprentice kept paying, he kept earning.
Ten apprentices meant three taels a month. He could make money just lying around!
They went to the warehouse by the main entrance. The key was with Old Man Mi, so they needed him to open the door.
"Young man, now that you've become an apprentice at the martial arts school, train hard. Don't let your mind wander. To achieve anything in martial arts, you have to focus completely."
Old Man Mi rose from his chair, his back hunched. He spoke with a knowing smile.
Liang Feng said, "Old Man Mi, you don't need to lecture him about this. You're a cripple and don't know martial arts. Just give me the key."
"Got it." Old Man Mi smiled and took the warehouse key from his waist, handing it over.
"Click!"
Liang Feng opened the warehouse door beside them, and a damp, musty odor wafted out.
"Wait here, Junior Brother Zhao. I'll go get your things."
"Thanks, Senior Brother Liang."
Liang Feng rummaged through the warehouse. In about two minutes, he'd found everything.
Two sets of summer training clothes to change into and wash.
A set of bedding, including a mattress, sheet, quilt, and pillow.
There was also a manual for the Mad Saber Nine Forms. It was obviously an inferior handwritten copy, no better than the Black Wolf Fist or Snake-Style Deft Hand manuals.
"Squeak!"
Liang Feng handed the items to Zhao Han and closed the warehouse door. Then the two returned to the lodgings.
"Junior Brother Zhao, lunch at the school is a little after eleven, and dinner is a little after six. Lunch has just passed, so you've probably missed it. For now, just get familiar with the place. I have to go recruit people on the street."
"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me in the Training Room. We disciples usually spend our time there."
"Sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother Liang."
"Don't be so formal!"
Once he'd settled in, Zhao Han didn't go to the Training Ground. Instead, he lay down on the neatly made bed.
He'd been sleeping in a big communal bed until now. Having a soft bed to stretch out on felt wonderful.
The surroundings were pretty good. At least there was no threat to his life; it was quite safe.
He opened the System Panel.
[Scanning...] Martial Artist: Zhao Han Realm: Skin Refining Martial Arts: Black Wolf Fist, Snake-Style Deft Hand, Mad Saber Nine Forms [Not simplified, inferior] Ghostly Path: Shanyin Art [Not simplified, lower grade] Simplification: Black Wolf Fist [Simplified, inferior, proficient 770/1000, practice Black Wolf Fist 1000 times] Snake-Style Deft Hand [Simplified, inferior, proficient 0/1000, kill a Python (at least eight meters long, as thick as an upper arm)]
"Simplify the Mad Saber Nine Forms!" Zhao Han took out five taels of silver and thought the words.
He'd spent quite a lot of silver today—eight taels and five qian in all.
He had only four taels and five qian of silver and one tael of gold left.
[Simplification successful] Mad Saber Nine Forms [Simplified, inferior, not yet mastered 0/10, chop ten pieces of firewood]
"I can complete it just by chopping wood!" Zhao Han smiled. This was way too easy.
He was an expert at chopping wood.
He got up and walked out of the room. First, Zhao Han watched everyone train, then wandered around nearby to get familiar with the place.
Soon, in the courtyard beside the Training Ground, he found the kitchen, Wood Shed, utility room, well, and the hired hands' communal sleeping quarters.
All the chores—washing clothes, cooking, boiling water, brewing medicine, chopping wood, and so on—were done here.
He headed straight for the Wood Shed. A hired hand inside was chopping wood with all his might. From the way he was struggling, he seemed to be new.
"Young Master, what can I do for you?" The hired hand chopping wood, Er Gouzi, saw Zhao Han approaching and stood up to ask nervously.
These Young Masters looked proper and respectable, and some were even well-read and courteous.
But in truth, they were always up to no good, often teasing or even beating the hired hands.
"Don't be nervous. I've been cooped up in a greenhouse for too long, so I came to experience life."
Zhao Han smiled, patted Er Gouzi on the shoulder, then plopped down on his wooden stool.
He picked up the chopping axe and began splitting wood.
"Crack!"
Er Gouzi stood silently to the side, watching Zhao Han do his thing.
Some Young Masters were just strange, with thought processes no ordinary person could understand.
When Zhao Han had chopped ten pieces of firewood, he stood up. Er Gouzi thought that was the end of it.
But the Young Master seemed to have gotten his brain baked soft. He spoke again: "By the way, what's your name?"
"Huh? Me? Young Master, I'm Er Gouzi."
"Er Gouzi, get me some more firewood. I'm going to chop to my heart's content today."
"Uh..." Er Gouzi froze, unsure what to do.
"What are you standing there for? Afraid I'll eat you? Hurry up," Zhao Han urged.
"Yes, yes... I understand."
Er Gouzi hurried into the Wood Shed and carried out more firewood for Zhao Han to chop.
Before you continue