Eldest Miss Lin, Martial Opportunity

Another half month passed. The first winter snow fell silently, draping Huaiyuan County in silver. Li Bufan's life continued in a busy, fulfilling routine between Huichun Hall and the Small Thatched Hut. Nearly a hundred copper coins had accumulated in his Pottery Jar. A trace of oil could occasionally be seen on the brothers' table, and old but thick straw had been spread over the heated bed. This winter no longer seemed quite so hard to endure.

His fist training had never stopped. His proficiency rose steadily, already nearing the peak of the proficient level. He could feel the tremendous improvements in his strength, speed, and reflexes. The thread of heat within him had grown as thick as a finger, and when it circulated, it filled him with warmth.

[ Nameless Fist Technique ] Proficient (988/1000)

That afternoon, the snow stopped, and sunlight barely pierced the clouds. Several richly dressed guests arrived at Huichun Hall. At their head was a lovely young girl draped in a snow-white fox-fur cloak, though her face carried a touch of cold pride. Beside her stood a middle-aged woman with a steady aura and sharp eyes, along with two guards who clearly possessed exceptional skill.

Steward Zhang and Doctor Liu did not dare slight them, personally stepping forward to receive them. From the quiet murmurs of the other clerks, Li Bufan learned that the girl was none other than Eldest Miss Lin of Lin Manor, Lin Zhiyan. It was said that Eldest Miss Lin had been frail since childhood, yet deeply favored by Old Master Lin. She usually lived in seclusion, but today she had personally come to Huichun Hall to collect specially prepared nourishing medicinal ointments.

Li Bufan did not dare look too much. He lowered his head and continued wiping down the medicine cabinet, though his ears perked up.

Suddenly, a burst of urgent hoofbeats and cries rang out from outside the hall! A startled fine horse was actually dragging its carriage madly toward Huichun Hall's entrance, about to crash into Eldest Miss Lin, who had just collected her medicine and was preparing to board the carriage!

"Miss, watch out!" The middle-aged woman reacted with astonishing speed. She yanked Lin Zhiyan backward while striking the startled horse with her palm, her palm wind fierce!

But the horse, pained by the blow, reared up even higher. Its bowl-sized hooves came crashing down, aimed directly at Lin Zhiyan, who had staggered backward and gone pale with fright!

Everything happened too fast. The two guards had their view blocked by the carriage, while the middle-aged woman's old force had just faded and her new force had yet to arise!

In that flash of lightning and spark of flint, a figure suddenly shot out from Huichun Hall!

It was Li Bufan!

He had been inside the doorway and was the closest. Spurred by that hair-raising sense of mortal danger, he moved almost on instinct! The thread of heat within him erupted in an instant. His feet drove against the ground, and the footwork from the fist technique he had practiced countless times came naturally to him. He was so fast that even he was shocked!

He did not try to confront the startled horse head-on; that would have been like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Instead, he narrowly threw himself into Lin Zhiyan, knocking her fiercely out of the range of the descending hoof.

"Bang!" The two of them fell into the icy snow together and rolled into a tangled heap.

Almost at the same moment, a muffled "Thud!" rang out as the horse's hoof smashed into the spot where they had just stood, cracking fine lines through the Blue Stone paving!

The middle-aged woman had stabilized herself by then. A chill flashed through her eyes as she leaped up and kicked precisely at a vital point on the startled horse's neck. The horse let out a mournful cry and crumpled limply to the ground. Only then did the driver and guards rush forward in a panic to bring the scene under control.

"Miss! Are you all right?" The middle-aged woman hurried over, helping the still-shaken Lin Zhiyan up and carefully examining her.

Lin Zhiyan's face was pale and her breathing hurried. Her fox-fur cloak was covered in snow, leaving her looking somewhat disheveled. With uncertainty in her eyes, she looked toward Li Bufan, who had just crawled up from the snow.

Li Bufan's arm had been scraped raw against the ground, and it burned fiercely, but he had no time to care. He hurriedly bowed. "This one offended Miss in his desperation. Please forgive me, Miss!"

Only after confirming that Lin Zhiyan had suffered no serious harm did the middle-aged woman let out a breath of relief. Her gaze settled on Li Bufan, carrying a hint of scrutiny and surprise. That burst of speed and timing just now were not something an ordinary medicine hall apprentice should possess.

"It is nothing." Lin Zhiyan steadied herself, her cool voice sounding out. She looked at Li Bufan with complicated eyes. "You saved me. What crime could there be? What is your name? Are you a clerk at Huichun Hall?"

"In reply to Miss, this one is Li Bufan, an apprentice at Huichun Hall." Li Bufan answered with his head lowered.

Only then did Steward Zhang and Doctor Liu come running over, drenched in sweat as they repeatedly apologized and asked after her condition.

Lin Zhiyan waved her hand, indicating that she was unharmed. Her eyes turned to Li Bufan again as she said to the middle-aged woman, "Nanny Wu, reward him."

Nanny Wu took a silver ingot from her robes. It looked to weigh a full ten taels, and she held it out to Li Bufan.

Li Bufan's heart skipped a beat. Ten taels of silver! That was enough for him and his little brother to live comfortably for an entire year! Yet after hesitating for a moment, he did not immediately reach for it.

A trace of surprise flashed through Nanny Wu's eyes.

Lin Zhiyan raised an eyebrow slightly as well. "What? Is it too little?"

"I would not dare!" Li Bufan quickly bowed. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his courage and said, "This one dares not ask for silver. This one... this one boldly wishes to ask for an opportunity!"

"Oh? What opportunity?" Lin Zhiyan seemed somewhat interested.

"This one has admired the martial path since childhood, but no one has guided me. I could only blindly practice a few crude moves by myself. Today, having witnessed Nanny Wu and the guards' extraordinary skills, my heart yearns for them. This one humbly begs Miss or Nanny Wu to grant me an opportunity. Even if I could only become the lowest-ranking guard apprentice at Lin Manor, this one would be endlessly grateful!" Having finished, Li Bufan bowed deeply to the ground.

This was a gamble he had considered carefully. Ten taels of silver were certainly good, but they were a one-time gain. An opportunity to encounter true martial arts and escape the bottom rung of society, however, was something ten thousand pieces of gold could not buy!

Nanny Wu said nothing, merely looking toward Lin Zhiyan.

Lin Zhiyan looked at the youth before her, his clothes thin yet his gaze unwavering. Recalling his swift and decisive collision just now, she fell silent for a moment. Though she was a woman, she had been born into a great household and had seen much. Naturally, she could tell that Li Bufan's move had not relied solely on brute strength; he seemed to possess some shallow foundation.

"Have you trained in martial arts?" she asked.

"In reply to Miss, this one has blindly practiced a set of fist techniques for Body Nourishment." Li Bufan answered cautiously.

Nanny Wu suddenly spoke. "Show me."

Li Bufan knew this was a test and did not dare be careless. Right there in the snow-covered open space before Huichun Hall, he centered his mind and calmed his breath, performing the Nameless Fist Technique from beginning to end. His mind was free of distractions as he displayed all the results of his days of hard practice. His fists gave off faint gusts of wind, his footwork was steady, and the thread of heat within him circulated along with his movements, causing wisps of white vapor to rise from his head in the bitter winter cold.

After finishing the set, Li Bufan withdrew his stance and stood still, breathing slightly hard.

A sharp gleam flashed through Nanny Wu's eyes, and for the first time, obvious surprise appeared on her face. "To figure it out by yourself and actually cultivate a trace of Blood Qi Power? Though it is mixed and impure, you have already touched the threshold of Body Nourishment. You are material for martial training."

She turned to Lin Zhiyan and nodded slightly. "Miss, this boy's natural physique is passable. More importantly, he has temperament and quick wits. The Guard Camp does recruit apprentices year-round. If he is willing, this old servant can recommend him. But whether he can remain will depend on whether he can pass the assessment himself."

Hearing this, Lin Zhiyan nodded faintly and said to Li Bufan, "In that case, Nanny Wu will give you this opportunity. Tomorrow at the hour of the dragon, go to the side gate of Lin Manor. Someone will take you to the Guard Camp. As for this silver reward..." She paused. "Since you do not want it, so be it. If you can pass the assessment, Lin Manor has never mistreated its own."

Ecstasy surged through Li Bufan's heart. He bowed deeply again. "Thank you for your grace, Miss! Thank you, Nanny Wu, for the recommendation!"

Lin Zhiyan said no more. Surrounded by Nanny Wu and the guards, she boarded another carriage and departed.

Steward Zhang walked over to Li Bufan. His tone remained calm, though it seemed to carry an indescribable undertone. "I never expected you to have such fortune. Go tomorrow and seize it properly. Do not disgrace Huichun Hall."

"Yes! Thank you for Steward Zhang's usual guidance!" Li Bufan replied respectfully. He knew that without being at Huichun Hall today, he would never have received this opportunity.

That night, Li Bufan shared the good news with Ping'an. His little brother was so happy that he jumped and danced. Later that night, Li Bufan went out into the courtyard to practice his fists again, but his state of mind had completely changed.

He recalled Nanny Wu's words—"Body Nourishment," "Blood Qi," "mixed and impure."

So the heat I cultivated is Blood Qi Power? Body Nourishment is the starting point of the martial path? Then what comes after? Skin Tempering, Muscle Tempering, Tendon Tempering, Bone Tempering, Blood Tempering? One unfamiliar term after another swirled through his mind, opening an entirely new door before him.

He knew that tomorrow would be the true turning point of his fate.

He took a deep breath of icy air and threw a punch, his momentum like a rainbow piercing the heavens.

[ Nameless Fist Technique ] Proficient (989/1000)

Only one final kick at the threshold remained before his breakthrough.