Jade and Stone

At the martial arts academy's entrance, Cui Hao ran into Lin Da and his father, Old Man Lin.

"Brother Hao," Lin Da said, his eyes wide with nervousness. "You came to see me off."

A faint smile appeared on Cui Hao's face. "I've been studying martial arts here for a month."

Lin Da: "..."

Old Man Lin: "..."

"I took down a big one," Cui Hao explained. "It was just enough to cover the tuition."

Envious of Cui Hao's good fortune, Old Man Lin entrusted his son to him.

After bringing Lin Da into the courtyard, Cui Hao found Sun Cheng. "Fourth Senior Brother, this is my childhood friend from the same village. His full name is Lin Da. He's here to study martial arts and has brought the tuition. Please take him to see Master."

Sun Cheng agreed and took Lin Da to see Master.

Wang Nian came over and asked, "Since he's your childhood friend, why didn't you take him to see Master yourself?"

Since entering Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy, Cui Hao had only spoken to Master alone on the first day. They hadn't interacted since, and Master still felt like a stranger.

By contrast, he was more familiar with Sun Cheng and Liu Yan. They were the ones who taught him how to build strength, the methods and formulas, how to stand in the horse stance, and how to accumulate qi and blood.

Seeing that Cui Hao ignored him, Wang Nian said quietly, "I'm thinking of using Qi and Blood Powder."

"Have you made up your mind?"

"I have," Wang Nian sighed. "Clear Force, Dark Force, becoming a Martial Xiucai—they have nothing to do with me. Ordinary martial arts are enough for me. I'll work as a bodyguard for some rich family."

It was a very down-to-earth plan, but Cui Hao still wanted to give it a shot. He changed into his coarse-cloth training clothes, quietly walked to a corner, planted his feet, took a deep breath, and began loosening up.

His arms, shoulders, back, waist, and hips—he stretched every joint into place, his muscles shifting between relaxed and taut.

Just then, Liu Yan, with delicate features and a sturdy build, came over. "Junior Brother Cui, you're taking your first stance today. Remember the method."

"Please, Senior Sister."

"Grip the earth with five toes, as if rooted deep. Lift your crown as though a cord were pulling it up. Hollow your chest and round your back; let your shoulder blades sink. Knees like stone, waist like a wheel."

"Thank you for teaching me, Senior Sister. I've memorized it."

"Memorized it?" Liu Yan smiled warmly. "Explain what it means."

"Curl my toes into the ground and grip the stance platform firmly. Keep my head lifted as if a cord were pulling it, with my spine straight. Hollow my chest and round my back to keep my qi flowing smoothly. Keep my knees steady, while my waist and hips turn as nimbly as a wheel."

"Right. Practice well. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me or Fourth Senior Brother. Remember, don't disturb the others. Everyone's busy."

"Senior Sister," Cui Hao called out before Liu Yan could leave. "What's the goal of this training?"

"First, you need to grip the stance platform firmly. After that, you'll practice the Broken Fist on it. You'll be taught footwork when you reach that stage."

After a pause, Liu Yan added, "Try to hold the stance as long as you can. Stance training is the basic way to build up your qi and blood."

Cui Hao clasped his fists in thanks.

Since he was expected to grip the stance platform firmly, he only needed to manage a horse stance, keeping the soles of his feet tightly against it. He couldn't stand with his legs spread apart.

With a decent foundation, Cui Hao managed to hold the stance for only about two quarters of an hour. His legs began trembling badly, forcing him to step off the plum-blossom stakes. He sat on the ground, catching his breath as he pondered.

He'd originally planned to go into the mountains once to hunt and earn some money. But after last night's haul, he had enough to buy rice and meat without going into the mountains for now.

Thinking of food, Cui Hao reached into his clothes and took out the provisions Su Yun had prepared: a coarse-flour cake wrapped around pork cracklings, the sort of filling food that kept hunger at bay. He took a big bite and chewed slowly, savoring it.

As he ate, he observed the courtyard. Over the past month, people had come and gone, familiar faces had grown scarce, and new ones had kept arriving. He could now be considered one of the old hands at the academy.

He could still keep his cool, but several of his fellow disciples from the same intake wore gloomy expressions.

The newly arrived Lin Da had changed into training clothes and begun building his strength. His lively, vigorous manner stood in stark contrast to the old hands, who all seemed burdened with worries.

After a brief rest, Cui Hao mounted the stakes a second time. He silently recited the formula and planted his feet firmly.

Before long, Xu Dian passed by and stopped to ask Cui Hao, "How long have you been at the academy?"

Cui Hao stepped off the plum-blossom stakes and replied respectfully, "Reporting to Master, one month and seven days."

Xu Dian's expression barely changed. He offered a few routine words of encouragement, with little hope in his heart, and said, "If there's anything you don't understand, ask more questions."

Cui Hao clasped his fists in acknowledgment. He watched Xu Dian walk over to Xiao Li and give him careful instruction.

Clearly, only exceptionally gifted disciples received Master's attentive guidance. Were Cui Hao and most of the others just there to fill out the numbers?

The senior disciples were all shrewd. They tended to ignore junior brothers with mediocre aptitude, nothing to gain from them, and little hope of making something of themselves.

Only Fourth Senior Brother Sun Cheng and Senior Sister Liu Yan were exceptions. Sun Cheng was honest and kindhearted, and occasionally offered some pointers to newly enrolled disciples.

Liu Yan had once bought chicks from him, so she was willing to give him a few tips now and then.

Apart from them, Cui Hao barely interacted with the many people who came and went at the academy.

The sun dipped toward the west. After practicing the Broken Fist three times, a loud-voiced Senior Brother Zhao shouted, "Time to get to work!"

His gaze swept over the disciples who had just finished practicing but hadn't yet entered the ranks of ordinary martial artists. Zhao Ming pointed at Cui Hao. "Wang Nian... Li He! You two are cleaning the windows today! Don't tear the paper!"

Li He, a dark, skinny boy who had arrived about half a month after Cui Hao, seemed to slump at the shoulders when he heard his name.

Compared with mopping the floor, cleaning the windows took more time. There were more corners and narrow crevices, and the paper was easy to tear.

"Cui Hao, Guo Yong, you're cleaning the storeroom."

With their tasks set, the two picked up brooms and rags and went into the storeroom.

Guo Yong was an unremarkable fellow. He worked as hard as he practiced martial arts, putting his back into everything.

As they worked, Guo Yong suddenly asked, "Senior Brother Cui, do you think... all this head-down, hard training is actually any use?"

Cui Hao was carefully wiping the floor. He answered, "It is. People won't dare bully us so easily."

"Is that all?" Guo Yong looked bewildered, and a little resentful. "My mother... she brought out every last bit of her dowry silver. She's nearly worked herself blind... I don't want to be just a little stronger than before..."

"The road is walked one step at a time." Cui Hao spoke evenly, even with a trace of helplessness, but it was the plainest truth.

After hearing that, Guo Yong scrubbed the wall even harder, as if he meant to scour sparks from the stone. He almost seemed to have a grudge against it.

Just as the two were about to finish cleaning the storeroom, Senior Brother Zhao, who had assigned their tasks earlier, appeared again. His expression was a little strange as he looked toward Li He, who was cleaning the windows.

"Li He!" Zhao Ming's voice was gentler than before, but left no room for argument. "Stop cleaning. Hurry to the back courtyard. Master wants to see you."

Li He paused, then abruptly lifted his head. A look of disbelief and delight flashed across his face.

"What are you standing there for? Go!" Senior Brother Zhao urged.

"Yes! Yes, Senior Brother Zhao!" Li He hurriedly dropped the rag, wiped his hands haphazardly on his old clothes, and dashed toward the inner courtyard.

"You two..." Senior Brother Zhao ordered Cui Hao and Guo Yong. "Clean the windows."