Learning Martial Arts

Jiang Tian carried Xiao Yuexi into the kitchen.

A woman was setting the dishes she had prepared on the table.

She looked barely into her twenties. Her skin was almost unnaturally fair, and her delicate features still held traces of the beauty of youth. Though she was nearly thirty, not a hint of age showed on her face.

Hearing footsteps, the woman glanced up at Jiang Tian. Her gaze was as calm as still water, but the distaste in her eyes was plain to see.

Jiang Tian gave a bitter smile inwardly, keeping his expression neutral.

Just then, a small, translucent panel appeared above his sister-in-law's head.

[Detecting extractable entries]

[Name: Bai Zhiruo]

[Realm: None]

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

"Extract," Jiang Tian silently thought.

As soon as the words left his mind, the panel abruptly turned into a gleaming white light. Like a wisp of smoke, it darted into the space between Jiang Tian's brows.

[Entry Points: 10]

Bai Zhiruo remained completely unaware and turned back to her work.

Facing his sister-in-law's distaste, Jiang Tian merely smiled awkwardly. He wasn't angry, nor did he feel wronged.

He understood.

His elder brother, Jiang Minghai, and Bai Zhiruo had been married for six or seven years, and their only child was their daughter, Jiang Yuexi.

His brother was a Squad Leader in the county's Patrol Inspection Office, in charge of a dozen or so men. His salary wasn't high, but it wasn't low, either—just enough to scrape by.

Yet the couple had raised Jiang Tian for years, providing him with food, clothes, and an education. Every expense came out of an already-strained household budget.

It was only natural that his sister-in-law had grievances.

It was human nature.

What was more, this latest trouble had only made matters worse.

His previous self had been beaten half to death. They had spent a fortune on a physician, medicine, and tonics.

The Wang Family had later sent someone with a sum of silver as "compensation for the shock," but Jiang Tian felt it wasn't even enough to cover the medical bills.

On top of that, disasters had struck one after another this year, and grain prices changed by the day. Their rice jar and flour jar were nearly empty.

Who wouldn't be unhappy in their shoes?

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

A burly man strode into the little courtyard.

He wore a dark official uniform, with a Goose Feather Saber at his waist. His features were handsome and regular, and his face bore a strong resemblance to Jiang Tian's—thick brows, bright eyes, and a high nose bridge. But he had more of the weathering and sharpness of a man who had seen much.

It was his elder brother, Jiang Minghai.

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

There was nothing there.

No entry panel.

He quickly realized why. The system had said he could only extract entries from people of the same realm.

As a Squad Leader in the Patrol Inspection Office, his brother had practiced martial arts for years and had long since entered the martial path. His realm was naturally far beyond that of a scholar like Jiang Tian, who couldn't even truss a chicken.

It was only normal that he couldn't see anything.

As soon as Jiang Minghai came in, his gaze settled on Jiang Tian's face.

He studied him closely for a moment. Seeing that his younger brother looked much better than he had a few days ago, the tightness in his face finally eased into a faint smile.

"Xiao Tian, how's your recovery?"

"More or less," Jiang Tian replied with a smile and a nod.

He couldn't very well tell his brother, Your younger brother only has a year left to live, could he?

"That's good." Jiang Minghai nodded, unfastened his saber and leaned it by the door, then strode over to the table and sat down. "Sit. Let's eat."

The family gathered around the table.

Xiao Yuexi sat obediently between Jiang Tian and her mother. Her little hands held a bowl bigger than her head, and she buried herself in her rice, eating until grains stuck all over her mouth.

Jiang Minghai first put some greens and meat in Bai Zhiruo's bowl, then added a piece of meat to Jiang Tian's bowl. Only then did he lift his own bowl and say casually, "The imperial examinations will probably open for registration in a few days. You've been preparing for so long. It's time to give them a try."

The chopsticks in Jiang Tian's hand paused slightly.

The imperial examinations.

If his previous self had heard those words, he would probably have been so excited his hands were shaking.

But Jiang Tian was different. He had come from Earth. He had seen guns and cannons, and a world far broader than this one. He knew full well that in this chaotic age, where might made right, what good was it to be the best-read man around?

Wasn't his predecessor proof enough?

What was more, he had only a year left to live.

Practicing martial arts was his only chance to extend his life.

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 table fell silent for a moment.

"Practice martial arts?" Jiang Minghai froze. His brows drew together, and his expression grew serious, almost stern.

"Xiao Tian, you've only just recovered from a serious illness. You haven't regained your strength yet and need to rest... Besides, you've studied for so many years. Why the sudden urge to practice martial arts?"

Neither of them noticed that when Jiang Tian said "practice martial arts," Bai Zhiruo's hand paused as she served herself, and her face darkened.

Jiang Tian's expression didn't change. His gaze was firm. "Big brother, you understand better than I do how bad things have gotten. Studying for the civil service can't change this world. Practicing martial arts can't, either."

"But at least it'll let me protect myself and the people who matter to me."

Jiang Tian's voice was calm, but his gaze was utterly resolute.

Jiang Minghai looked into his younger brother's eyes and fell silent for several breaths.

"Good!"

Jiang Minghai nodded firmly and was about to continue when someone tugged hard at his sleeve.

It was Bai Zhiruo.

She didn't look at Jiang Minghai. With her head lowered, she gripped her chopsticks so tightly that her knuckles had gone white.

Jiang Tian pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Jiang Minghai shot Bai Zhiruo a glare, then turned back to Jiang Tian and said as if nothing had happened, "I'll find you a Martial Arts Hall tomorrow."

"Big brother, don't you practice martial arts too? Why can't I train with you?" Jiang Tian asked, voicing the question on his mind.

Jiang Minghai waved a 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 anyone. Besides, my realm doesn't even rank in the Patrol Inspection Office. What am I, some big shot? If you trained with me, wouldn't I just teach you wrong?"

He paused, seeming to notice the worry in Jiang Tian's eyes, and softened his tone to reassure him. "Don't worry about the money. There's still plenty left from what the Wang Family paid. It'll be enough for a year or two of training."

Jiang Tian nodded slightly, though he was puzzled.

They had spent quite a bit on the physician, medicine, and tonics. Even if the Wang Family had sent money, how much could it have been? Surely it had all been spent by now.

He didn't press the matter and swallowed his question.

"As for the Wang Family..." Jiang Minghai's voice suddenly turned cold, and a chill flashed in his eyes. "Don't worry. Your big brother may not amount to much, but I won't let you take that beating for nothing."

"Big brother..." Jiang Tian began, but Jiang Minghai raised a hand to stop him.

"All right. Go back and rest."

Jiang Tian took one look at his brother's expression and knew there was no point in saying more. He answered, picked up Xiao Yuexi, who had eaten her fill and was growing sleepy, and headed back to the west room.

His footsteps gradually faded.

Only Jiang Minghai and Bai Zhiruo remained at the table. The last embers in the stove crackled once, then fell silent.

Bai Zhiruo slammed her chopsticks onto the table with a sharp crack, making the bowls and plates jump.

Without a word, she got up and went into the room.

Jiang Minghai stayed where he was, a helpless, weary smile on his face. 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.

By the time Jiang Minghai followed her in, she could no longer hold it back. Her voice was low, but she couldn't hide her hurt and bitterness. "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 entire dowry is gone!"

Her voice trembled.

"He's your brother, not your own son!"

"Practicing martial arts? How much silver will that cost every month? Have you even thought about it? The rice jar and flour jar are nearly empty. Have you even looked?"

Bai Zhiruo's eyes were red. After saying all that, she seemed to have exhausted every ounce of strength. She kicked off her shoes, took off her clothes, and lay down, turning her back to Jiang Minghai. She buried her face in the pillow, her shoulders bobbing as she sobbed softly.

Jiang Minghai stood by the bed, silent for a long time.

He took off his shoes and outer robe, then carefully climbed into bed. Reaching around her from behind, he wrapped his arms around Bai Zhiruo's waist.

He rested his chin in the hollow of her shoulder. His voice was hoarse with deep guilt and shame. "You've suffered so much, all these years with me..."

Bai Zhiruo cried a little harder, but she didn't push him away.

After a long while, her sobs gradually quieted.

A moment later

Bai Zhiruo's face was flushed. She tucked her face against Jiang Minghai's chest and let out a muffled sigh, her voice still choked with tears. "Your brother has only just recovered from a serious illness, and his Root Bone is so weak... Can he really practice martial arts?"

Jiang Minghai gently patted her shoulder, again and again.

"I believe in him."

His voice was quiet, but full of certainty.

"My life's already set in stone. I'm not going to amount to much." Jiang Minghai glanced down at his wife in his arms, then looked toward the west room, his gaze profound. "But my younger brother is destined for boundless success. Once he makes a name for himself, he'll repay us."

In the west room, Jiang Tian leaned against the kang and stared at the pitch-black ceiling, unable to close his eyes for a long time.