Fourth-Grade Root

"Master, my name is Zhu Daqi. I'm sixteen, and my family runs a meat workshop where we slaughter pigs."

"Come over."

Zhu Daqi obediently stepped forward and stood straight.

Following the same method as before, Fu Huaixing felt Zhu Daqi's bones.

Unlike Wang Xiaofei, Zhu Daqi didn't make a sound the whole time, as though he barely felt anything.

Fu Huaixing had been wearing a calm expression, but the moment his fingertips touched Zhu Daqi's waist, his movements suddenly stopped.

His brow lifted slightly, and the lazy nonchalance in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a trace of barely concealed surprise. Even the pressure of his fingertips increased.

He probed far more carefully than he had with Wang Xiaofei.

A few breaths later, Fu Huaixing finally withdrew his hand. His eyes held a hint of delight.

"Not bad. Fourth-grade root!"

Before Zhu Daqi had time to recover, Fu Huaixing stepped closer, his eyes fixed intently on him. The laziness was gone from his expression.

"You're Zhu Daqi, right? Are you willing to become my disciple?"

"I am."

Zhu Daqi wasn't a fool. Seeing Fu Huaixing's reaction, he agreed at once.

Fu Huaixing's weathered face crinkled with a smile.

But he didn't forget about Li Yun.

"You, come here."

"Yes, Master."

Only when it was his turn to step forward did Li Yun truly understand that Wang Xiaofei's earlier shrieks hadn't been an exaggeration.

The pain of having his bones examined drilled into him, all the way to his marrow.

When Fu Huaixing's gaunt hand settled on his shoulder, Li Yun felt a tremendous force suddenly bear down on him. The palm seemed to cling to him, digging firmly into his flesh.

Fu Huaixing's fingers traveled down along his shoulder blade. Every press and every rub felt as though they were scraping directly across the bone membrane. A mix of aching, numbness, and swelling spread through the gaps between his bones and into every limb.

After a dozen or so breaths—

"How old are you? What does your family do for a living?"

Li Yun took a deep breath, suppressing the lingering pain from the bone examination.

"Master, I just turned eighteen. I don't have any family. I usually make a living by hunting in the mountains and gathering wild goods."

"Eighteen..."

At that, Fu Huaixing's brow furrowed unconsciously. He shook his head slightly.

"You're seventh-grade root, too. At your age, and without anyone to support you..."

"The path of martial arts costs money at every turn. You'll also have to spend time making a living. With your attention and energy divided, trying to push forward..."

"Will be difficult."

Li Yun didn't think it was all that difficult.

He believed in his own talent.

"Master, you know what the world is like. I still want to give it a shot."

Fu Huaixing nodded and said no more.

He gave a few instructions to the disciple beside him, then left with Zhu Daqi.

"Xiao Shun, show them around, then teach them the Tiger-Subduing Stance."

The disciple beside him relaxed his stern expression and broke into a broad smile.

"Come on, follow me.

"I'm Master's second disciple, Xiao Shun.

"Even though you're only Front Courtyard apprentices and not formal disciples of Master's, you can still call me Second Senior Brother."

"Second Senior Brother."

"Second Senior Brother."

Xiao Shun led Li Yun and Wang Xiaofei around the Martial Hall.

"The Martial Hall is roughly divided into four sections.

"The Front Courtyard is where the apprentices train every day. The Inner Courtyard is where the formal disciples practice. The Back Courtyard is where Master lives, so don't enter without permission.

"The side courtyard has the Storage Room, Dining Hall, Dormitory..."

Small as it was, it had all the vital organs.

Xiao Shun took the two of them to the Storage Room, where they received two sets of Martial Hall clothes, each embroidered with the words "Tiger Subduing."

As he changed, Li Yun took out thirty taels of silver and handed them to Xiao Shun.

"Second Senior Brother, this is my fee."

Seeing that, Wang Xiaofei also took ten taels of silver from his small cloth bag.

But unlike Li Yun's neat silver pieces, Wang Xiaofei's money was all broken silver and copper coins.

After taking their money and changing clothes, Xiao Shun led them toward the Dining Hall.

"It's getting late. Let's eat first. This afternoon, I'll teach you the Tiger-Subduing Stance."

At that, Wang Xiaofei hesitated, as if he wanted to say something.

Xiao Shun was sharp-eyed and saw his embarrassment at once. He smiled warmly, his voice turning gentle.

"You've only just joined the Martial Hall. As your senior brother, I'll treat you to a good meal today, to welcome you as my new junior brothers."

"Heh, then thanks, Senior Brother. We've been on the road all morning, and I'm already so hungry my belly's touching my back."

Li Yun had also noticed Wang Xiaofei's predicament. Afraid he'd be left standing there awkwardly, he spoke up with a smile.

With Li Yun smoothing things over, Wang Xiaofei relaxed. He quickly lifted his head and clasped his hands to Xiao Shun.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

After the meal.

After a short rest, Xiao Shun led the two of them to the Outer Courtyard to teach them martial arts.

"To practice martial arts, you first need to understand what we're training for.

"We temper our muscles, bones, and skin, and open up the channels through which qi and blood flow near the body's surface.

"We strengthen the muscles, bones, and fascia, clear blockages within the body, and let qi and blood flow smoothly through every limb.

"When your physical strength breaks past the limits of ordinary people and your qi and blood are abundant and unobstructed..."

"You'll be able to punch with a gust of wind and leave marks with your steps."

"At that point, you'll have reached the first realm of a martial artist."

"The Body Tempering Realm."

As he spoke, Xiao Shun began to move.

He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing straight ahead.

He bent his knees and lowered himself until his thighs were parallel to the ground, keeping his knees behind his toes.

He raised both hands before his chest, palms down and fingers spread as if pressing on a tiger's head. He kept his back straight, tucked in his chin, and looked forward.

"The Tiger Subduing Fist imitates the fierce tiger pouncing on its prey, crouching on a mountain, and clipping its tail.

"Its core principles are 'laying the foundation with force, hiding the edge in softness, and returning to the truth through harmony.'

"The Tiger-Subduing Stance is designed to temper the body and refine qi and blood.

"The tiger's form must be true, and its strength must sink deep.

"Your stance must be steady, and your breathing even."

Li Yun and Wang Xiaofei hurriedly copied him.

The stance looked simple, but it demanded that the muscles throughout their bodies move along with it.

At first, it was manageable. But with every passing breath, the pain doubled.

Thump—

Wang Xiaofei promptly dropped onto his rear.

Li Yun lasted a little longer. Just as he was about to fall, he quickly straightened up.

"The key to the Tiger-Subduing Stance is to sink your shoulders and elbows, hollow your chest and lift your back, and breathe from your abdomen.

"When you can hold the stance for a full hour..."

"That means you've mastered the basics."

Xiao Shun gestured for Wang Xiaofei to stand, then continued teaching.

"Besides standing stances to build up qi and blood, there are basic fist and leg techniques to stretch your muscles and bones.

"Follow me."

Li Yun immediately followed, copying him move for move.

A quarter of an hour later.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance: +1]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance (Uninitiated): 1/1000]

Before he could take a closer look, Li Yun swayed and nearly fell.

Seeing that, Xiao Shun turned and headed to the Dining Hall.

Before long, he came back carrying a bowl of some unidentified soup.

"Here, this is Muscle and Bone Soup.

"It nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens the muscles and bones, and eases the soreness in your waist and legs from standing stances and practicing fist techniques.

"This means you really worked hard. You're just not used to it yet.

"Few people manage to train to this level on their first try. You've got pretty good aptitude."

The Muscle and Bone Soup went down, and a warm current flowed through every limb.

Strength gradually returned to his numb muscles.

"Thank you, Second Senior Brother. This Muscle and Bone Soup..."

"The Martial Hall brews it with secret medicines. One bowl costs one tael of silver, but newcomers can try one bowl for free.

"Keep practicing. Once your physique improves, this won't happen again."

"Yes."

The Muscle and Bone Soup was truly remarkable. In just a moment, Li Yun felt all his earlier exhaustion vanish.

He took a deep breath and resumed practicing the Tiger Subduing Fist.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance: +1]

[...]