Registered Disciple

After learning that Chen Feng, like them, had started out by training his strength,

and that the only thing he had known before was Health Cultivation Kung Fu,

he had never formally studied fist techniques.

For a moment, the shock in everyone's eyes deepened.

"What kind of freak is this? So he doesn't even know Basic Fist Technique?"

"Look at his eyes. He's clearly wondering, 'So you have to learn Basic Fist Technique before learning Five Elements Fist?'"

"Comparing people really is enough to drive you mad!"

Chen Feng's comprehension was so dazzling that everyone completely forgot he was only Zhong Xia Gen Gu.

"Shanyue."

"Here, Master."

Zhao Shanyue stepped forward and bowed.

"From now on, you'll be responsible for looking after Chen Feng and arranging the relevant matters."

"I obey."

"Chen Feng."

"Here."

Zhou Bingzhong looked at Chen Feng much more gently as he spoke.

"You used Health Cultivation moves to temper Rigid Strength. That showed a little cleverness, but don't do it again. Don't try to combine two techniques before you've mastered them. Otherwise, something could go wrong and you could stray onto the wrong path."

"And don't force yourself to perform Martial Arts again. It puts a heavy burden on your body and can easily damage your foundation. If I hadn't been there today, one mistake could have left you with a Hidden Injury to plague you for the rest of your life."

"Do you understand what I've said?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I'll remember it."

After Zhou Bingzhong finished advising him, the Staff-Wielding Youth nodded amicably at Chen Feng, who returned the gesture respectfully.

Then Zhao Shanyue took Chen Feng to get the necessary supplies and collect a set of Formal Disciple clothes from the storeroom.

"Senior Brother Zhao, I'm a Registered Disciple. Why did you give me a Formal Disciple's uniform?" Chen Feng asked, puzzled.

"Haha, Junior Brother Chen, you really didn't know? Your status as a Registered Disciple is higher than that of an ordinary Formal Disciple."

Zhao Shanyue had become extremely warm toward him, treating Chen Feng completely like one of their own.

"Do you know? Master hasn't taken on a Registered Disciple in years. Even someone with Upper Grade Root Bone wouldn't be worthy of becoming one."

A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Feng's eyes. He hadn't expected that.

He had thought his Gen Gu was so poor he couldn't even become a Formal Disciple.

"At Dragon Walk Martial Arts School, once you become a Martial Artist, you're promoted to Formal Disciple. We're all brothers here. So why have Registered Disciples at all? Wouldn't that be unnecessary?"

Zhao Shanyue kept him in suspense for a moment before finally explaining.

"Once a Registered Disciple becomes a Martial Artist, he becomes a Personal Disciple, with a status far above that of an ordinary Formal Disciple. There'll even be a proper ceremony to take him as a disciple. Haha, just thinking about it gets me excited. Master hasn't taken on a Personal Disciple in ages."

"Of course, there's a time limit for Registered Disciples: half a year. If you can't become a Personal Disciple within six months, you'll be just an ordinary disciple. But since you've caught Master's eye, you shouldn't have any trouble becoming a Martial Artist within half a year."

Zhao Shanyue patted Chen Feng on the back, as if to say, I believe in you.

"Master currently has only five Personal Disciples. I'm Fourth. The one standing beside Master just now was Second Senior Brother, Yao Xingzhi. If you're learning staff, Second Senior Brother will demonstrate the staff techniques for you."

The image of the Staff-Wielding Youth flashed through Chen Feng's mind.

He had looked very young, much younger than Zhao Shanyue.

As if he understood what Chen Feng was thinking, Zhao Shanyue smiled.

"Second Senior Brother has been with Master since childhood. I've only been under Master for a few years. I may be older, but I still have to call him Senior Brother. Besides... Second Senior Brother is really strong. I'm no match for him at all."

"All right, wear these clothes for now. They're just temporary. Once you truly become a Personal Disciple, they'll prepare a new outfit for you. Also, you can throw away the Wood Token. Take this instead."

Chen Feng took it. It was an Iron Token engraved with his name. It had the same shape as the Wood Token, but its pattern was more finely detailed.

"This is temporary, too. It's the same as the Formal Disciples' tokens. Once you become a Personal Disciple, Master will announce it publicly. Wherever you go after that, you'll represent our school. Here in Pingcheng, Dragon Walk Martial Arts School is considered a top power."

"Remember the first time I met you? I'd taken in so many students, but you were the only one who secretly slipped me money—and you did it every time you came. I could tell at a glance you'd go far."

Chen Feng sensed Senior Brother Zhao's goodwill and chatted with him.

"I saw how tall and imposing you were, Senior Brother. You looked powerful, so I figured I should try to get on your good side."

"Hahaha, you're really my kind of guy. I can't wait for the day you become Sixth..."

Chen Feng: "..."

Without realizing it, the two of them had grown much closer.

After becoming a Registered Disciple, Chen Feng gained many privileges. For example, other students were taught by senior brothers or the school's Jiao Xi, while Chen Feng received personal instruction from the Hall Master.

What delighted Chen Feng even more was that Registered Disciples got meals, too!

Now he could spend more time practicing his punches without worrying that he'd be too poor to afford food.

The only small disappointment was that he still had to find his own place to stay.

In the days that followed, Chen Feng didn't slack off just because he had become a Registered Disciple. If anything, he trained even harder.

He spent all day at the school, practicing Five Elements Fist again and again to hone the Qi Blood within him. The Qi Blood column, which had been as thick as a little finger, gradually grew larger.

Zhou Bingzhong was very satisfied with Chen Feng. He was neither arrogant nor impatient, and he practiced martial arts with diligence.

The Martial Way Path most abhorred working hard for three days and slacking off for two. Only through perseverance could one become strong.

Chen Feng's Splitting Fist grew more and more practiced. Gradually, he could complete an entire set. He felt that he was getting closer and closer to becoming a Martial Artist; he could already sense the barrier faintly.

Becoming a Martial Artist wouldn't take half a year at all!

Chen Feng couldn't help wondering, was his Gen Gu really only Zhong Xia?

Dusk. Dragon Walk Martial Arts School.

A small courtyard on the east side of the school housed the disciples' quarters.

Two old trees stood in the courtyard, their lush branches and leaves casting a patch of shade. The rooms were built of gray bricks and roof tiles, plain and unadorned, with a hint of Solemn Aura.

The Wealthy Family sent their children here to study martial arts at great expense, and they were housed here, with lodging and meals far superior to those of the other students. They ate the same lean meat as the Formal Disciples and even had specially prepared medicinal soups and Medicinal Baths to support their training.

"Brother Lin, want to go have some fun tonight?"

A few students called to one another, laughing and joking.

"Sure. I just made a breakthrough, so how about I treat everyone tonight?"

"You broke through again? Impressive, Lin Yan. You've been keeping that hidden. How do you manage to improve so fast when you spend every day eating, drinking, and having fun with me?" one disciple exclaimed.

"Brother Lin has Upper Grade Root Bone. A little bit of training is worth four or five days of progress for the rest of us. In a few days, he'll be a Formal Disciple. If the Hall Master takes a liking to him and makes him a Personal Disciple, his future will be boundless."

Lin Yan heard this and curled his lips slightly, a trace of pride rising to his face.

"Speaking of Personal Disciples, have you heard? The Hall Master took on a Registered Disciple a few days ago."

"A Registered Disciple? How long has it been since Dragon Walk Martial Arts School last had one? What kind of talent does he have? Could he be Top Grade?"

One disciple shook his head. "I heard he's only average. I'm not sure, though. He's from the Fist Academy. Those of us who study staff barely ever see him."

"I've heard something, too, but the version I heard was that his Gen Gu is only Zhong Xia, and he got into the Hall Master's good graces through incredible comprehension. I think his name was... Chen... Chen something. I've forgotten."

"Chen Feng?"

"Right, right, that's the name. I'd never heard of him before. Who knows where he came from?"

A strange look flickered through Lin Yan's eyes, then he shook his head.

Impossible. There are plenty of people with the same name. It definitely isn't the same person. Besides, that person is already dead...