At dawn the next day, the stars had yet to fade, and the rooster had yet to crow.
Chen Mo rose early. As soon as he pulled aside the tattered curtain, he saw his elder sister quietly closing the door. Even though she had taken care not to make a sound, the broken door still let out a long, drawn-out creak.
Chen Lan had gone out again to do odd jobs.
Chen Mo saw a bowl of thin rice porridge on the table, with a small dish of pickled vegetable stems beside it. He knew his sister hadn't eaten a bite and had left it all for him.
The watery porridge was clear to the bottom, and salt crystals clung to the pickled stems, but this was still the best meal they could manage.
Chen Mo gulped down a couple mouthfuls of porridge, pinched up a clump of pickled stems and stuffed them into his mouth, then wiped his dry lips with the back of his hand.
When he finished, he headed out, leaving the rest for Chen Lan's dinner.
At the Iron Furnace Room, Chen Mo ran through a few sets of punches before lighting the furnace and starting to work the iron. The charcoal crackled and popped in the fire.
Half an hour later, the crude iron glowed red as the rosy clouds of sunset. He immediately lifted it out and placed it on the anvil, then raised his hammer and began to pound.
He had learned a few smithing skills from Master Wu. He knew a little about hammering and quenching, though he was far from proficient.
All day long, Chen Mo did nothing but stoke the furnace and hammer iron. When Zhang Cai asked why he was working himself so hard, he only replied:
"If I learn more and do more, I'll have a skill to make a living with someday."
Zhang Cai nodded in sudden understanding.
Late that night.
[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation] [Fuhu Fist: Fists contain the roar of a tiger, concealing imposing power] [Comprehension: 13/50 (Not yet initiated)]
Today, he had raised his comprehension of Fuhu Fist to seven points. Compared with yesterday, the haze surrounding the first move had thinned a little more. This wasn't only about the simple act of throwing a punch, but also about how to exert force and make his stance more stable.
Power began at the waist and gathered in the arm.
At this rate, in another half a month, he might be able to absorb a small portion of the Fuhu Fist manual.
But learning only grew more difficult the further one went. He figured that even with the ability to refine his comprehension of martial arts, he still had to abide by the basic rules.
Most importantly, he didn't have much time left.
"Tomorrow, I'll ask Master Wu which martial hall is more lenient about taking students."
Chen Mo murmured to himself.
When he returned home, Chen Lan insisted he eat more porridge and pickled vegetables. Then she suddenly said:
"Mo, if we really can't scrape together enough money, I... could do some other things..."
Her expression twisted with struggle as she trailed off, but she did her best to hide it.
Black River Town had no shortage of shady corners where people with nowhere else to turn could make quick money, but some who went down that road fell into an abyss.
Chen Mo's eyes stung. "Sis, you've already done more than enough for me. You need to think about yourself, too."
He wasn't one for sentimental words, but Chen Lan had given him everything she had. He saw it all and kept it in his heart.
As for his plan to join a martial hall and learn martial arts, he couldn't give her any definite promise just yet.
"Things will get better, Sis. Get some sleep."
Chen Mo pulled back the curtain and stepped into his cramped little "room." He wasn't going to sleep. He was going to practice his punches!
The first move of Fuhu Fist surfaced in his mind. He punched, set his stance, then punched again. Faint sounds of wind cutting through the air came from behind the curtain...
The next day.
Chen Mo was once again the first to arrive at the Iron Furnace Room. He lit the fire, and the cold retreated at once. As usual, he ran through a few sets of punches, then began refining his comprehension of Fuhu Fist.
It was noon, with the sun already high in the sky.
Chen Mo found Master Wu and handed him a bundle of oiled paper. Inside was a roast chicken he had bought that morning for five copper coins. Chicken fat had already seeped through the paper, and the mouthwatering aroma drifted from it.
"Uncle Wu, I bought this for you. Thank you for lending me Fuhu Fist to study."
Master Wu paused slightly and accepted the chicken, but his tone turned reproachful. "You and your sister are already struggling to get by. Why spend money on this..."
"Wait, what did you just say?" Master Wu caught himself. "It's only been three days. What could you possibly have to thank me for? Wait six months. If you really manage to learn a move or two, then you can thank me!"
"Well..." Chen Mo gathered his thoughts.
"I've been studying the first move of Fuhu Fist these past two days and have had a few insights. I wanted to ask which martial hall in town is more lenient about taking students. If I really have a knack for this, I'd like to start preparing early."
Master Wu straightened up. "You've already had insights? Tell me about them."
Chen Mo explained what he had gleaned over the past two days, seven parts truth and three parts lie, deliberately mixing in a few mistaken details about the technique.
After all, he lived in troubled times. No matter what, he shouldn't show outsiders his full hand.
After listening, Master Wu's cloudy old eyes suddenly cleared.
"It took me a full four and a half months to reach your level. There aren't many martial halls in town, just two. Panshi Martial Hall judges students by their family's means, and training there costs a lot. It isn't right for you. Tianqing Martial Hall cares more about talent and doesn't charge tuition. Give that one a try."
Chen Mo gave him a grateful look. "Thank you, Uncle Wu."
He had heard of the two martial halls, but didn't know the details. Master Wu, who had spent fifty years making his way through Black River Town, could certainly help him avoid a few detours.
Five more cycles of sunrise and sunset passed.
That evening, twilight settled over the land.
[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation] [Fuhu Fist: Fists contain the roar of a tiger, concealing imposing power] [Comprehension: 37/50]
Chen Mo suddenly unleashed the first move, Stone-Crushing Strike. The sound of wind was now unmistakable. His power had once gathered in one arm; now it converged at a single point, and the move was beginning to take shape.
He had also begun to comprehend the second move, Wave-Intercepting Style.
Chen Mo left the Iron Furnace Room and hurried toward Tianqing Martial Hall in the south of town. Everything depended on this one attempt.
As for why he had waited until today, naturally, the more insights he gained, the better his chances.
As he passed a shabby alley, he saw Huang E and another Black Tiger Hall underling from behind.
He only glanced into the alley.
A frail man's hands were bound with thick rope, and Huang E was dragging him along the ground.
Chen Mo didn't stop for a moment. He quickened his pace.
He knew another man had been dragged off for a living sacrifice. Things like this happened every day.
A weak old voice drifted faintly from behind him. "Let my son go! My son... you damned fiends..."
A kick landed with a sudden thud. The old voice cut off, and the man let out a heart-rending cry for his mother.
Then came Huang E's coarse voice, brazen and unrestrained:
"Once we've dealt with this family, there are a few more. Especially that brother and sister from the Chen family. Deal with the boy tomorrow. As for the girl, she's got a bit of a pretty face..."
Chen Mo clenched his fists until his nails dug into his flesh. A cold wind howled in his ears like a demon's shriek.
Before long, Chen Mo reached Tianqing Martial Hall. The rhythmic thuds of people striking wooden dummies echoed from within.
He knocked. A girl about his age opened the door. "Who are you looking for?"
"I'd like to join your martial hall." Chen Mo cupped his hands in a bow and spoke earnestly.
The girl looked him up and down. Seeing how thin he was, her girlish interest immediately vanished. She simply called into the hall:
"Father, someone's here to join the hall."
After that, she led Chen Mo through the martial hall's main gate, then turned and went into the inner hall, leaving him alone in the courtyard.
Chen Mo waited there for a while. A middle-aged martial artist in practical clothes strode over, his gaze sharp as lightning as it fell on Chen Mo.
"What's your name, and where do you live?"
Chen Mo answered truthfully. "This junior is Chen Mo. I live in Withered Well Alley, Black River Town, not far from here."
The man was the master of Tianqing Martial Hall. He placed a hand on Chen Mo's shoulder bone and moved it down along his frame. In just a few breaths, he withdrew his hand into his sleeve.
"To become a martial artist, we first examine your frame, then measure your bone structure. You're sorely lacking in both. Though my martial hall doesn't charge tuition, we still judge a student's bone structure. Go home and build up your strength for another two years."
Chen Mo couldn't hide the disappointment on his face, but he didn't budge. A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes.
"This junior has taught himself a set of fists and feels his comprehension is decent. I ask you to test me, senior."
His voice rang out with conviction, cleaving through the night.
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