A Ridiculous Joke

The man in brown turned back to glance at Chen Yue. Seeing him looking at the plaque, he said nothing more, only, "Wait here."

With that, he stepped forward and opened the door a crack, slipped inside sideways, and the door swiftly shut again.

Chen Yue stood outside and could vaguely hear a few low murmurs from within the courtyard.

Before long, the courtyard gate opened again. This time, two people came out—the brown-clothed man who had led the way, and a middle-aged man of around thirty.

The middle-aged man was not particularly tall or broad, but his shoulders were wide and his back thick. Standing there, he was like a solid wall, giving off the steady, mountain-like air of a man who could not be shaken.

He wore a dark indigo fitted outfit, its sleeves rolled up to reveal bronze-colored muscles on his forearms. His features were ordinary, with short whiskers along his jaw, and his eyes were calm and still.

His gaze fell upon Chen Yue, inspecting him carefully from head to toe. His eyes lingered especially on Chen Yue's hands and gaze for a moment before he slowly spoke.

"Are you the one who wants to learn martial arts?"

"Yes!" Chen Yue met the middle-aged man's eyes and nodded.

"You are a Pearl Diver?" the middle-aged man continued.

Chen Yue hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

There was no surprise on the middle-aged man's face, as though he had expected Chen Yue's answer all along. He gave a slight nod. "It is good that you admit it. As a Pearl Diver, you carry the Sea Shark Gang's rules and troubles with you.

"Besides, you are a pearl gatherer. You must either dive into the sea every day or labor in the settlement. Under the Sea Shark Gang's control, it is impossible for you to get away and come into the city to study martial arts every day. Have you considered all that? How do you intend to practice martial arts?"

Chen Yue opened his mouth, about to speak, but Yu Kan had already raised a hand and cut him off.

"No need to explain."

Yu Kan's tone carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "The current state of Iron Mountain Hall does not allow us to draw attention. Nor do I wish to invite the Sea Shark Gang's notice and stir up needless trouble for the sake of a little money."

He paused, his gaze landing on Chen Yue's face with almost tangible weight. "If you sincerely wish to learn a few skills to defend yourself, then today, here and now, I can make an exception and teach you one set of boxing techniques. I will teach, you will learn, and we settle payment by the session.

"Afterward, you and I are strangers. We have never met. If you are willing, we continue. If not, the door is open."

The terms were practically harsh. What kind of martial art could be learned in a single day?

Chen Yue neither agreed nor refused at once. After pondering for a moment, he looked up at the middle-aged man. "Master, may I ask what exactly martial arts entail? Is it as people say in the streets—divided into many branches such as movement techniques, boxing techniques, and weapon techniques?"

The middle-aged man did not answer. Instead, the young man in brown beside him gave a derisive snort first. "Kid, you do know a thing or two. That is right. A proper martial arts inheritance includes stance training and strength-building, fist and palm combat, movement and footwork, and the use of weapons. Those are all fundamentals.

"Though Iron Mountain Hall's inheritance cannot claim to be unmatched in Hepu County, every bit of it is solid, resounding hard work! So long as an ordinary person diligently masters even one of them and develops some skill, finding a means to settle down and make a living in Hepu County will be no difficult matter."

As he said this, his face bore undisguised pride.

Chen Yue fell silent for a moment before asking, "Then may I ask, how exactly are the realms of martial arts divided?"

The young man raised a brow, obvious impatience entering his voice. "Why do you have so many questions? Those who temper their strength and lay foundations are broadly called Martial Apprentices. Only when one's skin and membranes become like leather, with toughness arising on its own, can one be called a Skin Refining Realm martial artist."

His tone shifted as he looked toward the middle-aged man beside him, his voice filled with admiration. "As for the more profound Flesh Refining Realm, one must condense one's qi and blood and set one's sinews and membranes surging!

"Our Senior Brother Yu has already completed the Skin Refining Realm and is only one step from breaking into the Flesh Refining Realm!"

"With such strength, he ranks among the best among the martial hall disciples of Hepu County. Today, he is willing to make an exception and personally teach you a set of boxing techniques. Do you know what a great opportunity that is? Under normal circumstances, with your status... hmph, do not even dream of it!"

Hearing his junior brother Ma Jun's lavish praise, Yu Kan finally revealed a faint smile.

He did not offer any modest denials. Clearly, he was quite pleased with his strength, which was on the verge of breaking through to the Flesh Refining Realm. When he looked at Chen Yue, the lofty arrogance in his eyes deepened further.

If the hall master had not shut down the martial hall and cut off its main source of income, and if he had not been stuck at the peak of the Skin Refining Realm for some time, desperately needing money to buy medicinal meals that would strengthen his qi and blood so he could break through sooner and accumulate capital for opening his own establishment in the future—

Why would Yu Kan need to stand here speaking to some lowly Pearl Diver?

Chen Yue seemed not to notice Yu Kan's arrogance or Ma Jun's impatience. After pondering for a moment, he looked at Yu Kan and asked directly, "Master Yu, according to what you said, how much would it cost to learn only one set of boxing techniques?"

Yu Kan's heart settled. He knew business had come knocking. Holding up three fingers, he spoke evenly. "Ordinarily, to formally enter Iron Mountain Hall, the admission gift alone costs three taels of silver before one may study the basics alongside the others. Today's circumstances are special. I would be teaching only you, and passing down only one set of boxing techniques..." He paused in thought, then lowered one finger. "Two taels of silver. You pay, I teach the boxing techniques, and afterward we are square."

Two taels of silver was already a substantial sum for an ordinary farming household or small peddler. For a Pearl Household, it might represent who knew how long of hard-earned savings.

After hearing the price, Chen Yue slowly shook his head. Meeting Yu Kan and Ma Jun's gazes, he said, "Two taels of silver to learn only one set of boxing techniques is not worth it."

"What did you say?" Ma Jun's expression darkened.

Chen Yue's tone remained calm. "I mean that I want to learn all three things Iron Mountain Hall has that you just mentioned: boxing techniques, movement techniques, and saber techniques. But I will only pay one tael of silver."

"You!" Upon hearing this, anger rushed straight to Ma Jun's head. He took a step forward and glared at Chen Yue. "Kid, do you know what nonsense you are spouting? One tael of silver, and you want to learn all three? Do you take martial arts for cabbages in the marketplace, for you to pick and choose as you please?

"Leave this place and ask around Hepu County again. See which martial hall would even spare a Pearl Diver like you a second glance! Do not mistake kindness for weakness!"

Yu Kan's face also darkened instantly, his eyes filled with displeasure. Chen Yue's bargaining was practically an insult to Iron Mountain Hall's martial arts—and an even greater slight against him, a martial artist on the verge of the Flesh Refining Realm.

Facing Ma Jun's fury and Yu Kan's cold expression, Chen Yue did not back down. "Gentlemen, it is not that I do not know martial arts are precious, nor am I deliberately belittling them. But as Master Yu himself said, as a Pearl Household, my time is not my own. There is no possibility that I can come here every day to train and seek instruction like ordinary disciples."

Chen Yue paused, then continued, "Therefore, for the three branches of fist, movement, and saber, you need only demonstrate each one fully for me and explain the key points once. I will learn them only that one time. Afterward, I will pay immediately and leave, never to trouble you again. We will owe each other nothing. How about it?"

"Teach them only once?"

Ma Jun looked as though he had heard the greatest joke under heaven. His brows shot up high, and even the anger on his face was somewhat washed away by shock and a sense of absurdity.