Practicing Martial Arts

Jiang Tian carried Xiao Yuexi into the kitchen.

A woman was placing freshly prepared dishes onto the dining table.

She looked to be in her early twenties, with skin so fair it was almost excessive. Her features still held the delicate grace of her youth, and despite being nearly thirty, there was not a single trace of time on her face.

Hearing footsteps, the woman looked up and swept a glance at Jiang Tian. Her eyes were as calm as still water, but the disdain hidden in their depths was obvious at a glance.

Jiang Tian gave a bitter smile in his heart, though his expression remained calm.

At this moment, a small, translucent panel appeared above his sister-in-law's head.

[Extractable Trait Detected]

[Name: Bai Zhiruo]

[Realm: None]

[Trait: Virtuous Wife and Good Mother (White)]

"Extract." Jiang Tian thought to himself.

As the word fell, the panel suddenly transformed into a shimmering white light, like a wisp of smoke, and darted into the center of Jiang Tian's brow.

[Trait Points: 10]

Bai Zhiruo was completely unaware, turning around to continue her chores.

Facing his sister-in-law's disdain, Jiang Tian only offered an awkward smile; he was neither angry nor did he feel wronged.

He understood.

His older brother, Jiang Minghai, and Bai Zhiruo had been married for six or seven years, and they only had one daughter, Jiang Yuexi.

His brother was a Squad Leader at the Patrol Inspection Office, managing a dozen men. His salary was neither high nor low, barely enough to make ends meet.

Yet, the couple had raised Jiang Tian for so many years, providing his food, clothing, and education, with all expenses coming from that already strained household.

It was only natural for his sister-in-law to have some grievances.

It was human nature.

Moreover, there was the recent incident.

His predecessor had been beaten half to death, and the costs for doctors, medicine, and tonics had drained a large sum of silver.

Later, although the Wang Family had sent someone to deliver a sum of money as "hush money," Jiang Tian felt it wasn't even enough to cover the medical expenses.

On top of that, with the constant natural and man-made disasters this year, grain prices rose daily, and the rice and flour jars were nearly bottoming out.

No matter who it was, they wouldn't feel comfortable.

Jiang Tian placed Xiao Yuexi on a stool and was about to sit down when the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

A burly man strode into the small courtyard.

He was dressed in a black official uniform with a Goose Feather Saber slung at his waist. His features were upright, and his facial contours were seventy percent similar to Jiang Tian's—thick brows, large eyes, and a high nose bridge—only he possessed more weathering and sharpness than Jiang Tian.

It was his older brother, Jiang Minghai.

Jiang Tian's heart stirred slightly, and he subconsciously looked above his brother's head.

There was nothing.

No trait panel.

He quickly realized that the system had stated he could only extract traits from those of the same realm.

As a Squad Leader in the Patrol Inspection Office, his brother had practiced martial arts for many years and had long since stepped onto the path of martial arts; his realm was naturally not on the same level as a powerless scholar like himself.

It was normal that he couldn't see it.

As soon as Jiang Minghai entered, his gaze fell upon Jiang Tian's face.

He studied him carefully for a moment, and seeing that his younger brother's complexion was much better than it had been a few days ago, a faint smile finally appeared on his tense face.

"Xiao Tian, how is your recovery?"

"Just about there." Jiang Tian nodded with a smile.

He couldn't very well tell his brother that his younger brother only had one year left to live, could he?

"That's good." Jiang Minghai nodded, unbuckled the saber at his waist to lean it against the door, and strode to the table to sit down. "Sit, let's eat."

The family sat around the dining table.

Xiao Yuexi sat obediently between Jiang Tian and her mother, holding a bowl larger than her own head with her small hands, burying her face in it to shovel rice, her mouth covered in grains.

Jiang Minghai first picked up some greens and meat for Bai Zhiruo, then placed a piece of meat into Jiang Tian's bowl before picking up his own, saying casually, "I see that registration for the imperial examinations starts in a few days. You've prepared for so long; it's time to give it a try."

The chopsticks in Jiang Tian's hand paused slightly.

The imperial examinations.

If his predecessor had heard this, he would likely have been so excited his hands would be shaking.

But Jiang Tian was different; he came from Earth, had seen guns and cannons, and had witnessed a much broader world. He knew very well that in this chaotic world where might made right, what use was it to be well-read?

Wasn't his predecessor the perfect example of that?

What's more, he only had one year of life left.

Only by practicing martial arts would he have a chance to extend his lifespan.

He set down his chopsticks, slowly swallowed the food in his mouth, and looked up at Jiang Minghai with a serious expression.

"Big brother, I want to practice martial arts."

The dinner table suddenly fell silent for a moment.

"Practice martial arts?" Jiang Minghai was stunned for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly. The expression on his face turned serious, even somewhat stern.

"Xiao Tian, you've just recovered from a major illness, and your body hasn't fully healed yet; you need to rest... Besides, you've spent so many years studying books, why the sudden desire to practice martial arts?"

Neither of them noticed that when Jiang Tian said the words "practice martial arts," Bai Zhiruo's hand, which was reaching for food, paused, and her complexion suddenly turned a bit unsightly.

Jiang Tian's expression remained unchanged, his gaze firm: "Big brother, you see more clearly than I do just how terrible this world is. Following the path of literature cannot change this world. Neither can martial arts."

"But at the very least—it can allow me to protect myself and protect the people around me who are important."

Jiang Tian's tone was calm, but his eyes were incredibly resolute.

Jiang Minghai looked into his younger brother's eyes and remained silent for a few moments.

"Good!"

Jiang Minghai nodded heavily, and just as he was about to continue, his sleeve was tugged hard.

It was Bai Zhiruo.

She didn't look at Jiang Minghai; she kept her head down, gripping her chopsticks so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

Jiang Tian pursed his lips and said nothing.

Jiang Minghai turned back to glare at Bai Zhiruo, then turned his head and said to Jiang Tian as if nothing had happened: "Tomorrow, I will go find a Martial Arts Hall for you."

"Big brother, don't you practice martial arts too? Why not let me train with you?" Jiang Tian asked the question that had been on his mind.

Jiang Minghai waved his hand and laughed: "You don't understand. It's true that I practice martial arts, but that doesn't mean I know how to teach others. Besides, my level of cultivation doesn't even rank in the Patrol Inspection Office; what kind of expert would I be? If you train with me, wouldn't you just end up learning it all wrong?"

He paused, seemingly noticing the worry in Jiang Tian's eyes, and his tone softened, becoming more reassuring: "Don't worry about the money. There is still plenty left from the compensation the Wang Family paid; it's enough for you to train for a year or two."

Jiang Tian nodded slightly, though he felt a bit confused in his heart.

Between hiring a doctor, getting medicine, and buying tonics, a lot of money had been spent. Even if the Wang Family had sent money, how much could it have been? He feared it had long since been spent.

He didn't press the issue and swallowed his doubts.

"As for the Wang Family..." Jiang Minghai's tone suddenly turned cold, a hint of chill flashing in his eyes, "Don't worry. Although your brother doesn't have much ability, I won't let you take that beating for nothing."

"Big brother..." Jiang Tian was about to speak, but Jiang Minghai raised a hand to interrupt him.

"Alright, go back and get some rest."

Jiang Tian looked at his brother's expression and knew that saying anything more would be redundant, so he acknowledged him, picked up Xiao Yuexi, who had finished eating and was starting to get sleepy, and got up to return to the west room.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away.

Only Jiang Minghai and Bai Zhiruo remained at the dinner table. The embers in the stove crackled once, then returned to silence.

Bai Zhiruo slammed her chopsticks onto the table with a sharp "clack" that made the bowls and plates jump.

She didn't say a word, stood up, and walked toward the bedroom.

Jiang Minghai sat where he was, a helpless and weary smile appearing on his face as he let out a long sigh.

Inside the room.

Bai Zhiruo sat on the edge of the bed with her back to the door, her shoulders trembling slightly.

When Jiang Minghai followed her in, she could no longer hold it back. Her voice was low, but it couldn't hide the grievance and heartache: "What money did the Wang Family send? They didn't send a damn thing!"

"Do you know how much silver your brother's treatment cost this time? Two hundred taels! A full two hundred taels—my dowry is all gone!"

Her voice was trembling.

"He is your brother! He is not your own son!"

"Practice martial arts? Do you know how much money that costs every month? Have you calculated it? The rice jar and flour bin at home are bottoming out; have you even looked?"

Bai Zhiruo's eyes were red. After saying this, as if she had exhausted all her strength, she took off her shoes, lay down on the bed fully clothed, turned her back to Jiang Minghai, and buried her face in the pillow, her shoulders heaving as she sobbed softly.

Jiang Minghai stood by the bed for a long time.

He took off his shoes, removed his outer robe, and carefully climbed into the covers, reaching out from behind to wrap his arms around Bai Zhiruo's waist.

He rested his chin on his wife's shoulder, his voice low and hoarse, filled with deep self-reproach and shame: "These years with me... you've really suffered."

Bai Zhiruo's sobbing grew louder, but she didn't push him away.

After a long while, the sobbing gradually quieted down.

A moment later.

Bai Zhiruo's face was flushed. She buried her face in Jiang Minghai's chest and sighed muffledly, her voice still carrying a tearful tone: "Your brother has just recovered from a major illness, and his constitution is weak... Can he really succeed in practicing martial arts?"

Jiang Minghai patted her shoulder gently, over and over again.

"I believe in him."

His voice was not loud, but it was firm.

"My life is already set; I won't achieve anything great." Jiang Minghai looked down at his wife in his arms, then glanced toward the west room, his gaze deep, "But my brother, he is destined for a limitless future. Once he achieves success and fame, he will surely repay us both."

In the west room, Jiang Tian lay on the kang, staring at the pitch-black ceiling, unable to close his eyes for a long time.