Simple and Crude

Yu Kan slowly shook his head as well. "A wild fantasy, or a desperate gamble—who can say? But in times like these... tsk."

He said no more, turning and heading back inside. To him, this was no more than an insignificant interlude. One or two taels of silver in hand, no trouble—that was enough.

Chen Yue turned into another alley and looked at the panel before him.

"Technique discovered. Spend one tael of silver to simplify Iron Mountain Fist?"

"Technique discovered. Spend one tael of silver to simplify Roaming Mountains and Rivers?"

"Technique discovered. Spend one tael of silver to simplify Iron Mountain Saber?"

Chen Yue's steps paused slightly.

Like the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique, each simplification cost one tael of silver. It seemed that, by the panel's judgment, these three techniques were roughly on the same level as the breathing technique—basic, entry-level martial arts.

Thinking back to the way those two men at Iron Mountain Hall had taught them, Chen Yue understood that these were indeed no profound secret manuals. They were more like common wares martial halls used to cast a wide net and recruit ordinary disciples.

The truly core techniques, those that could lead directly to higher realms, would never be displayed so easily, much less shown once for a single tael of silver.

Chen Yue's gaze flickered slightly.

"However good profound techniques may be, I cannot even touch their threshold. These common wares are the only things I can reach right now. I have no right to be picky."

Chen Yue felt the remaining silver in his clothes.

He had just spent one tael, but the loose silver he had left added up to a little over four taels—more than enough to pay for simplifying these three techniques, with plenty left to buy medicine.

Without further hesitation, Chen Yue issued the command in his mind:

"Simplify!"

"Iron Mountain Fist simplifying... Simplification successful... Iron Mountain Fist → Punching!"

"Iron Mountain Saber simplifying... Simplification successful... Iron Mountain Saber → Swinging a Saber!"

"Roaming Mountains and Rivers simplifying... Simplification successful... Roaming Mountains and Rivers → Walking!"

"Punching? Swinging a saber? Walking?"

Though he had already seen the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique simplified into breathing, Chen Yue was still struck dumb for an instant when he saw these three rather imposing-sounding martial arts reduced to such plain, everyday actions.

"This... is simple and crude to the extreme."

Chen Yue did not know whether to laugh or cry, but a tremendous surge of excitement immediately welled up within him. The simpler it was, the fewer restrictions there were on training, and the faster it could be mastered.

Chen Yue immediately prepared to give it a try.

Walking was readily available. But what about punching and swinging a saber? Subconsciously, he touched his waist, where a somewhat rough Clam Knife was tucked away—the tool he normally used to pry open clams and defend himself.

"A Clam Knife... counts as a saber too, right?" Chen Yue did not hesitate. He directly gripped the Clam Knife in his right hand.

The next moment, Chen Yue walked down the alley at a normal pace while clenching his empty left hand into a fist and punching forward. At the same time, he held the Clam Knife in his right hand and made chopping motions.

The instant he performed all three simple actions at once, it was as though three cool streams suddenly poured into his mind. The force-generating techniques of Iron Mountain Fist that he had only watched once, the subtle shifts of balance in Roaming Mountains and Rivers, the paths of power in Iron Mountain Saber...

The key formulas Ma Jun had recited while demonstrating, the stances he had shown—all of them suddenly became incomparably clear and profound, as though Chen Yue had practiced them thousands upon thousands of times, forming the most direct muscle memory and comprehension of the techniques!

At the same time, the numbers in the panel's technique column began to jump:

[Iron Mountain Fist (Beginner 1/100 → 2/100...)

Iron Mountain Saber (Beginner 1/100 → 2/100...)

Roaming Mountains and Rivers (Beginner 1/100 → 2/100...)]

It works. I can do them simultaneously! Chen Yue was overjoyed. His steps unconsciously quickened, and the movements of both hands became smoother and more forceful.

The scattered farmers and traveling merchants he encountered along the way first cast him puzzled looks. But once they saw him waving a weapon with vacant eyes, occasionally muttering under his breath, every one of them changed expression and instinctively detoured around him.

Some even muttered softly, "Could he be possessed?" and the like.

Chen Yue was utterly unaware of it all, immersed in that wondrous state.

With every step, the subtle adjustments of balance in the Roaming Mountains and Rivers footwork became clearer. With every punch, the twisting of his muscles and coordination of his breathing when exerting force through Iron Mountain Fist became more deeply ingrained. With every swing of the saber, he grasped a little more of Iron Mountain Saber's heavy, fierce, utterly resolute intent.

The proficiency numbers on the panel rose in rapid jumps like abacus beads being flicked, swiftly transforming the shallow impressions gained from watching once into body memory and martial understanding tempered a thousand times over.

A short while later, Chen Yue stopped reluctantly. The city was not a good place to train, and he still had other matters to attend to.

Following Yu Kan's directions, Chen Yue passed through several chaotic, crowded streets and found Donkey Market Alley.

The air here was thick with the mingled stench of livestock, dung, and cheap food. Most pedestrians wore hurried, numb expressions.

Chen Yue cautiously asked around about the Martial Examination. Comparing the information with his current strength, he gained a rough understanding. Then, in a dark storefront, he found a lean, middle-aged Broker.

After Chen Yue explained his purpose, the Broker looked him over from head to toe.

"You want to find a guarantor and register for the Martial Examination?"

The Broker rubbed his fingers together, revealing a shrewd smile. "This matter... it is neither difficult nor easy. The clerks in the county yamen's rites office, along with others, all need to be greased. And your status is rather special, so it will cost extra."

"How much?" Chen Yue asked directly.

The Broker held up five fingers and gave them a shake. "This number—five taels of fine silver. I guarantee your name will appear on this year's County Examination Martial Examination list. Guarantor, household registration documents, everything will be handled. But let me make this ugly truth clear first: I only guarantee registration, not that you will pass."

Five taels!

Chen Yue frowned. He did not have nearly enough money on hand.

"How about two taels? I'll find a way to scrape it together."

The Broker immediately shook his head like a rattle-drum. "No, no! Two taels? That is not even enough to fill the clerks' teeth! Five taels, one fixed price! One coin less, and you can seek someone more capable."

Chen Yue fell silent for a moment. He did not argue, merely saying, "I need time to raise the money."

The Broker chuckled and reminded him, "Fine, go raise it. But let me remind you: there are only twenty-three days left before this year's County Examination Martial Examination officially begins."

"Registration, verification, and preparation of the register must all be completed within ten days at the latest. After ten days, even if you bring mountains of gold and silver, I will have no way to stuff your name in. Ten days—remember that!"

"Understood." Chen Yue nodded. Saying no more, he turned and left the room.

Standing outside the door, Chen Yue took a deep breath. He had dug up another medium pearl before, so money would not be a problem. It was just that the little savings he had painstakingly accumulated would be nearly gone.

Chen Yue did not stop walking. He first went to the medical hall he knew well and collected medicine for his father, Chen Shan, carefully wrapping it and tucking it into his clothes. Then, without further delay, he headed straight out through the city gate and set foot on the dirt road back to Pearl Village.