Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice, External Training Stance Art!

Inner City, Dragon Tiger Martial Arts Hall.

Liu Chu had come here several times before. Back when his friend Han Qi had caught a Treasure Fish, he had joined this martial arts hall to learn martial arts. Liu Chu had naturally envied him immensely.

During that time, whenever he finished selling the day's catch, he would come outside the hall and wait for Han Qi to finish training so they could head home together.

Now, standing once more before the martial arts hall, he felt entirely different. No longer was it envy and longing, but excitement and resolve.

After entering the hall and telling the gatekeeper receiving visitors that he wished to learn martial arts, he was quickly introduced to the hall master.

"Learn martial arts? Do you have tuition?"

The hall master looked to be around forty or fifty. His face bore the aspect of a tiger and leopard, his eyes bright and profound as stars, while his tall, powerfully built frame resembled a fierce tiger of the forest.

No wonder he's a martial artist...

Liu Chu felt as though he were facing a tiger, so suffocated that he hurriedly raised the fish basket in his hand. "I have a Treasure Fish to offer. Could it offset the tuition?"

"Oh? A Treasure Fish!"

Hall Master Yang Wenhuai raised his brows, surprise appearing on his face as he accepted the basket and weighed it in his hand.

"There's a hidden compartment beneath it. The Treasure Fish is inside."

Liu Chu quickly reached out and opened the hidden compartment, revealing the crimson, single-horned Treasure Fish.

"A Single-horned Red Carp. Not bad—it truly is a Treasure Fish!"

Yang Wenhuai looked at Liu Chu in surprise, then revealed a meaningful smile and nodded. "This Treasure Fish is worth twenty taels of silver. It can cover three months of tuition."

Liu Chu understood the hall master's meaning.

He knew that this Treasure Fish should have been worth around twenty-five taels of silver.

However, the hall master had clearly seen through the fact that he had slipped past the Golden Fish Gang's checkpoint and had not paid half the proceeds as tribute to the Golden Fish Gang.

This might bring the martial arts hall a little trouble.

Naturally, the hall master did not fear such minor trouble, but all things under heaven demanded an equal exchange!

Since trouble might follow, those extra five taels of silver were the payment for smoothing it away.

"Thank you, Hall Master!"

Liu Chu understood perfectly, yet his expression grew even more respectful.

The hall master's acceptance of the Treasure Fish meant that for these three months, Liu Chu could train in peace without fearing the Golden Fish Gang's watchful eyes or retaliation.

In truth, he could have simply gone to the fish market, sold the Treasure Fish for silver, and then come here to train.

But if he did that, there was a high chance the Golden Fish Gang's informants would spot him. The loss would outweigh the gain.

Members of the Golden Fish Gang lurked in the fish market. Liu Chu had once seen a fisherman evade the fish stall inspection and go sell fish at the market, only to be caught red-handed. That very night, his corpse sank into Blackwater Bay—a chicken killed before the monkeys to warn them!

When struggling at the bottom, every step had to be cautious and steady. Not the slightest mistake could be tolerated.

That was why Liu Chu had chosen the quickest method: carrying the fish basket straight to the martial arts hall, lest something go wrong along the way.

Now, joining the martial arts hall was a settled matter!

Even if the Golden Fish Gang learned of it, there was nothing they could do to him for the time being.

"Since you understand, come with me. I'll first teach you the External Training stance art!"

The hall master smiled approvingly and led Liu Chu into a spacious courtyard.

A group of youths were practicing martial arts in the courtyard, their fists and kicks stretching wide amid shouts of "Hey! Ha!" as sweat poured down like rain.

"A newcomer's here!"

"Great! We get to watch the hall master demonstrate the stance art again!"

When the youths saw the hall master arrive with Liu Chu, their eyes immediately lit up. They stopped training one after another and looked respectfully toward him.

By custom, whenever the hall master brought in a newcomer, he would demonstrate the stance art once before everyone. While teaching the new apprentice, he also gave the other apprentices another chance to observe and learn.

Sure enough, seeing the youths stop their training, the hall master said nothing to them. Instead, he said to Liu Chu, "The martial path is divided into nine grades. The Lower Three Grades are the External Training Realm, which trains the sinews, bones, and skin externally... The foundational external training art of our Dragon Tiger Martial Arts Hall is called the Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice."

"This art consists of nine moving stances and nine still stances, eighteen stance forms in all. I'll demonstrate them for you first..."

Having said that, the hall master began demonstrating the stance art without caring whether Liu Chu was watching closely.

"First form, Dragon Soaring!"

The hall master straightened his body and raised both palms above his head, as though holding up the heavens. He slowly brought them together, rose onto his toes, bent his knees slightly, and gradually opened the muscles along his spine. Then his body twisted violently from top to bottom. From afar, his spine seemed like a dragon, while the muscles all over his body vibrated at high frequency along with it.

Why does this posture feel a little embarrassing...

Liu Chu watched the sight before him and secretly muttered to himself, but his eyes were utterly focused, fixed on every movement the hall master made without missing the slightest detail.

"The first form is a moving stance. The spine moves like a dragon, and the force it erupts is transmitted through the limbs and bones. The qi and blood naturally surge forth!"

After completing the first form, the hall master patiently explained a few points before beginning the second.

"The second form is a still stance, called Tiger Walk. As the saying goes, an eagle stands as if asleep, while a tiger walks as if sick..."

The hall master bent his legs and slightly raised his left foot, leaning his body forward as if he might fall at any moment. His left palm pressed against empty air, while his right hand formed a hanging claw. Every muscle in his body was taut, like a sick tiger stalking prey.

The third form, the fourth form, the fifth form...

After demonstrating and explaining the entire stance art, he called over a disciple. "Chen He, you'll teach him from here. I'll watch from the side."

"Yes, Master!"

Chen He bowed respectfully, then pulled Liu Chu over and began teaching him.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Chen."

With a respectful expression, Liu Chu began practicing the stance art under Chen He's instruction.

Meanwhile, Hall Master Yang Wenhuai reclined in a grandmaster's chair, his eyes half-closed as he watched the two of them, occasionally speaking up to correct them.

Before long, the afternoon had passed.

"Alright, we'll stop here for today. You still have three months, so train well and seize this opportunity!"

"Also, remember this: martial arts must not be passed on to outsiders, or you will bear the consequences yourself!"

Yang Wenhuai waved his hand, gave a stern warning, then rose and left.

He secretly shook his head. A poor child with no prior foundation and merely average bones... He'll probably end up like that fisher boy three years ago...

The image of a young fisherman from three years ago flashed through his mind. When that boy had entered the martial arts hall, his gaze had been resolute, and he had boasted that he would surely break through the barrier and enter the ranks. Yet three months later, he had left in dejection.

"Senior Brother, how long does it usually take to get started with the stance art?"

Seeing that Chen He was also about to leave, Liu Chu hurriedly asked.

"Usually, ten days to half a month is enough to get started. Those with better talent can get started in six or seven days..."

Chen He was a kind man. Though he was a martial artist who had broken through the barrier and entered the ranks, he carried no airs and answered Liu Chu with a smile.

He patted Liu Chu on the shoulder and encouraged him. "Don't overthink it, Junior Brother. Just train in peace. Who knows? You might be a one-in-ten-thousand martial arts prodigy!"

"Ten days to half a month... If my talent is truly decent, I should get started within six or seven days!"

"Then I'll set seven days as the limit. If I still haven't gotten started with the stance art by then, I'll sacrifice one year of lifespan and ten taels of silver to enhance my talent!"

Liu Chu pondered seriously on his way home.

If his talent was good enough for him to get started with the stance art in six or seven days, then there would be no need to sacrifice lifespan. He could also break through the barrier and enter the ranks within three months, becoming a martial artist.

Once he became a martial artist, he could earn money and buy Treasure Fish for sacrifices. Naturally, there would be no need to waste his lifespan or silver.

Lifespan was extremely precious!

After returning home safely, he immediately spotted Han Qi standing at the door with a saber at his waist, waiting for him.

"How was it? Did you successfully become an apprentice?"

The moment Han Qi saw Liu Chu, he strode over and asked excitedly.

Liu Chu nodded lightly, a smile also appearing on his face.

"Hahaha, good! Once your martial arts training bears fruit, join the Golden Fish Gang too. The two of us can help each other, and sooner or later, we'll climb to the position of hall master!"

Han Qi happily punched him on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go drink and celebrate!"

As he spoke, he took the fish basket from Liu Chu's hand, helped him put it back inside, then pulled him toward the nearest tavern.