The Inner Courtyard of the Azure Cloud Martial Hall was a world apart from the Outer City.
There was no smell of damp earth or moisture here, only the fresh scent of bamboo leaves.
The flagstone paths beneath their feet were perfectly level, without a single blade of grass growing in the cracks.
Pei Guang led the way at an easy pace.
"From now on, you'll be staying here."
Pei Guang pointed to a small, detached courtyard. A wooden plaque with no writing hung on the gate.
"This is a privilege reserved for True Disciples. There are practice posts and stone locks in the courtyard. Don't go running off to the Outer Courtyard unless you have a reason. Settle down and focus on your training."
Li Pingsheng pushed open the gate.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it had everything he needed, from a stone table and stools to a Wooden Dummy.
The windows and doors of the side rooms had all been freshly coated with tung oil, gleaming in the sunlight.
This place was far bigger and cleaner than the shack the Li Family called home.
Pei Guang watched Li Pingsheng simply take in the courtyard, without a trace of wild joy on his face. His gaze remained perfectly calm, and Pei Guang couldn't help nodding to himself.
This kid really had a steady nature.
"Here's your waist token and uniform. Go change."
Pei Guang handed him a bundle.
The bronze waist token felt a little heavy in his hand. The two characters Azure Cloud, wrapped in cloud patterns, were engraved on the front. A freshly carved "Li" was on the back; the mark was still new.
The uniform was made of fine blue cotton, far better than the old robe he wore, which had been washed until it was nearly white.
When Li Pingsheng came back out in his new clothes, his handsome, refined face had taken on a more heroic air.
Pei Guang looked him over and nodded in satisfaction. Then he took a thread-bound book from inside his robe. Its pages had yellowed, and its corners had grown frayed.
"This is the foundation fist technique of our Azure Cloud Martial Hall: Thunderbolt Fist."
"You have good bones and more vigorous blood and qi than most people. That's a good thing. But remember, the path of martial arts comes down to one thing: diligence."
"Study the technique on your own for now. In three days, go to the Martial Practice Field, and I'll personally see how you're doing."
Li Pingsheng accepted the manual with both hands. It felt weighty in his grasp.
"Thank you, Master Pei."
"Mm."
Pei Guang gave a brief nod, then went over a few more rules of the martial hall before turning to leave.
Only after Pei Guang's figure disappeared behind the moon gate did Li Pingsheng close the courtyard gate.
He went inside, sat down at the table, and opened Thunderbolt Fist.
The technique wasn't complicated; it had only nine moves. But beside each illustration, the margins were filled with tiny red-ink notes explaining how to circulate his qi and exert his strength.
He focused his thoughts.
[Li Pingsheng] [Martial Arts: Thunderbolt Fist (Not Yet Initiated)] [Talent Specialties: Beginner · Blood Strengthening (Vitality), Beginner · Tiger Bone (Constitution)] [Talent Potential: 0.05]
As expected, the Martial Arts section had lit up.
But seeing that measly 0.05 potential, Li Pingsheng shook his head.
Thinking he could use that little potential to bring the technique to the entry level was pure wishful thinking.
It seemed he could only buckle down and practice on his own.
The next day, just as dawn began to break,
Li Pingsheng got up and headed to the Martial Practice Field reserved for True Disciples.
The practice field was enormous, paved from end to end with thick blue bricks. More than ten disciples in blue uniforms were already there, each practicing on their own.
No one paid any attention when Li Pingsheng arrived.
He found a corner and, like the others, began practicing the opening moves of Thunderbolt Fist, one motion at a time.
He didn't rush to exert his strength. He simply followed the manual's instructions, feeling how his blood and qi circulated through his body.
Just then, a commotion rose at the entrance to the practice field.
A boy in brocade embroidered with gold thread strolled in at an unhurried pace, surrounded by a group of auditing disciples.
The boy was quite handsome, but his brows and eyes were full of arrogance. He held his chin high and looked at everyone from the corners of his eyes.
His name was Zhao Ming, the eldest legitimate son of the Zhao Family in Qingyun County's Inner City. He was also one of the new recruits with superior bone structure.
Zhao Ming swept his gaze across the field, then fixed it on the thin figure in the corner—Li Pingsheng.
He let out a scoffing laugh, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
"Heh. The Inner Courtyard's standards keep getting lower. Any stray cat or dog can get in now."
"I heard he crawled out of a place like the Wealthy District. Tsk, tsk. I bet he got lucky and used a whole pile of pills to force his blood and qi up, fooling Master Pei in the process."
The moment he finished speaking, the auditing disciples around him caught on and hurried to chime in.
"Brother Zhao is right. How could someone from a place like that have any real ability?"
"Exactly. There's no way he can compare to someone born into wealth like you, Brother Zhao."
"I bet he'll be driven out with his tail between his legs in a few days."
The chatter continued around them.
But Li Pingsheng kept practicing his moves, focused on his own fists.
Being ignored as if he were nothing made Zhao Ming's face darken on the spot. He seethed with resentment.
Just as he was about to say something more, a middle-aged instructor walked onto the practice field carrying a large wooden crate.
"Quiet."
It was Instructor Wu.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered around.
Instructor Wu cleared his throat and looked over the disciples one by one. When his eyes landed on Zhao Ming, his face immediately broke into a fawning smile.
"All right, line up and collect this month's Bone Strengthening Pills."
Instructor Wu opened the wooden crate. Inside were rows of small blue porcelain bottles.
"Zhao Ming."
"Instructor Wu."
Zhao Ming stepped forward, that same haughty expression returning to his face.
Instructor Wu's smile grew so wide it looked ready to split his face. He took three bottles straight from the crate and handed them to Zhao Ming himself.
"Young Master Zhao, you're gifted and you train diligently. The Hall Master made a special exception for you. Take these three bottles."
Three bottles.
The other disciples' eyes filled with envy.
Zhao Ming shot a smug look in Li Pingsheng's direction. His meaning couldn't have been clearer.
Instructor Wu continued handing out the pills. Every other disciple received one bottle.
At last, it was Li Pingsheng's turn.
Instructor Wu called his name without expression.
"Li Pingsheng."
Li Pingsheng stepped forward.
Instructor Wu picked up the last porcelain bottle, pulled out the stopper, and gave it a flick of his wrist.
"Clink."
A brown pill rolled out of the bottle and fell into his open palm.
Just one.
Instructor Wu tossed the empty bottle back into the crate. His movements were full of contempt and impatience.
The entire practice field fell silent.
Everyone stared at Li Pingsheng and the pill in his palm.
Zhao Ming laughed out loud, clearly delighted to watch the show.
At last, Li Pingsheng's brows furrowed.
He looked at Instructor Wu and asked calmly,
"Instructor Wu, why did I only get one?"
Instructor Wu gave a cold laugh.
"Why? Oh, you're new here. Don't you know the rules?"
He pointed toward Zhao Ming, then at several of the other senior disciples.
"Resources have never been divided equally in our martial hall. Want more? Sure."
"Then prove your strength to me!"
"Once you can hold your own on the Martial Practice Field, you can come ask me why."
"For now, take your share and get out of the way. Don't hold up everyone's training!"
Li Pingsheng lowered his eyes to the pill in his hand, then looked up at Instructor Wu's expressionless face.
He said nothing more.
"Now that's what I call letting strength do the talking!"
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