River-Breaking Fist

"Alright, you understand the rules now. It's noon, so go eat first. We'll discuss the rest once you're full."

Zhuang Tao patted Chen Jing on the shoulder and suddenly added, "Oh, right. Our martial arts hall only provides lunch. For breakfast and dinner, you newcomers will have to fend for yourselves."

He paused, then continued, "Of course, you can eat at the hall if you want... but it'll cost you."

With that, Zhuang Tao led Chen Jing toward the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was already packed, with official disciples sitting on one side and uninitiated disciples on the other, the divide clear as day.

The air was thick with the rich aroma of meat, making Chen Jing's stomach churn just from the scent.

Before long, Zhuang Tao brought Chen Jing a bowl of rice.

The white grains were crystal clear and plump, topped with thick slices of meat. The fragrance of pork fat was so intense it felt like it was drilling straight through his nose and into his brain.

A bowl like this would probably sell for dozens of coins outside.

Zhuang Tao shoved the bowl into Chen Jing's hands and laughed, "Junior brother, we don't have much else here, but the rice is all you can eat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he buried his head in his bowl and began shoveling food into his mouth.

Seeing this, Chen Jing set aside his reserve and began to eat.

The fat mixed with the fragrance of the rice slid down his throat, warming him until his whole body felt at ease, as if the suffering of the past few days had dissipated with the rising steam.

More importantly, the Exemption Bead required the absorption of vital energy, so the more Chen Jing ate, the lighter his body felt.

And so, one bowl, two bowls, three bowls... until his stomach was round and taut, Chen Jing finally set down his bowl and chopsticks with reluctance.

Watching Chen Jing not waste a single grain, Zhuang Tao beamed and quickly said, "Junior brother, with an appetite like that, becoming an official disciple is only a matter of time."

He wiped his mouth and continued, "Are you full now? If so, go to the front courtyard and wait. Since you're a new initiate, the master will surely give you a few pointers personally. Opportunities like this are rare."

Seeing Zhuang Tao share this advice so freely, Chen Jing bowed solemnly, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

When he arrived at the front courtyard, Chen Jing had only just stood still when Fei Feng slowly approached.

Fei Feng looked Chen Jing over before asking bluntly, "You're new here, so I'll ask you this: why do you practice martial arts?"

Chen Jing pondered for a moment and replied, "To strengthen my body and protect myself?"

Fei Feng shook his head. "Wrong."

"Martial arts are for beating others, for killing them as quickly as possible!"

"If you can beat others, you are strong; if you can't, you are trash. As for 'strengthening the body'..."

Fei Feng sneered, "That's just a pleasant-sounding facade."

Chen Jing felt a jolt in his heart, yet it felt undeniably true.

This martial art, designed to defeat and kill others as quickly as possible, was exactly what he wanted to learn!

Fei Feng continued, "The first step in practicing martial arts is to cultivate vital energy and blood; the second is to temper the tendons and bones."

"Cultivating vital energy and blood is the foundation of foundations, but it is also the most tedious and grueling. You must strike the wooden stakes repeatedly until your arms go numb, your bones ache, and your skin breaks and bleeds. Only by boiling your vital energy and blood can you advance."

Fei Feng raised his hand and pointed to a row of black, polished wooden stakes beside the courtyard.

"Those stakes look ordinary, but they have iron blocks embedded inside. The first time you strike them, you'll wonder if you've broken your hands."

"But only if you endure can you practice martial arts."

Looking at the stakes, Chen Jing swallowed hard and clenched his fists in secret.

Fei Feng continued his explanation, "Our River-Breaking Fist style is divided into three levels: Blood Creek, Blood River, and Blood River-Sea."

"These are titles for the strength of one's vital energy and blood. Outside, they would be called First-Blood martial artist, Second-Blood martial artist, and Third-Blood martial artist."

"Only when your vital energy and blood circulate through your body to a certain degree can it be called a Blood Creek. By the time you reach the Blood River, your strikes will carry the force to penetrate marrow. As for the Blood River-Sea... your fists will rise like a tidal wave, capable of shattering stone."

Fei Feng looked at Chen Jing, his tone turning serious again. "Only when your vital energy and blood reach the Blood Creek level will you truly enter our River-Breaking Fist and become an official disciple."

Hearing this, Chen Jing realized that Blood Creek, Blood River, and Blood River-Sea were martial arts ranks.

If he wanted to continue training here, he would have to reach the Blood Creek level within three months.

"Blood Creek means your internal vital energy and blood can flow like a small stream, rhythmic and powerful. When you strike, the energy surges; when you stop, it flows back slowly without dissipating."

Fei Feng suddenly stopped and took a half-step back.

"Come, stand in the stance with me."

Fei Feng spread his legs to shoulder-width, knees slightly bent, toes turned inward.

He raised his arms as if holding a heavy ceramic vat, fingers slightly curled, the webbing between his thumb and index finger spread wide. His posture looked relaxed, yet it radiated a hidden, coiled tension.

The stance was strange, yet steady as a rock.

"This is the River-Severing Stance."

Fei Feng continued, "Standing in this position will make your legs ache, burn, and go numb, as if someone is driving needles into your tendons and bones. But as long as you can hold it, it will help you gather vital energy and blood and temper your bones. It is the first step toward the Blood Creek."

"You try."

"Yes, Master!"

Chen Jing took a deep breath and immediately mimicked the stance Fei Feng had just demonstrated.

But after only ten seconds, his legs began to tremble violently!

It was a bizarre, aching sensation, as if the tendons in his legs were being pulled out, stretched taut one by one, and then twisted back in with brute force.

His knees felt as though they had been stuffed with scorching stones, his ankles felt like they were filled with lead, and his entire body was on the verge of collapse.

"Stand steady."

Fei Feng glanced at Chen Jing and continued, "It's normal not to be able to hold it the first time. If you can't hold it, stand again. If you still can't, keep standing."

"Only when you can hold this stance for a full day will you have laid a proper foundation."

"Our River-Breaking Fist trains the internal through stance work and the external through fist techniques. If the stance is stable, the fist is stable. If the stance is chaotic, the fist is nothing but a flashy display."

Hearing this, Chen Jing gritted his teeth, forced his body to steady, and replied, "Yes!"

He adjusted his posture again, toes turned inward, arms raised as if cradling a heavy, massive vat.

On his second attempt, Chen Jing was mentally prepared.

This time, he lasted a full sixty seconds.

Although he ended up in extreme agony as if his muscles were cramping to the limit, nearly collapsing to his knees, he forced himself to hold on by clenching his teeth.

Fei Feng watched him and nodded.

"Not bad."

With that, he said nothing more and turned to leave.

The courtyard fell silent, save for the sound of the wind rustling the leaves.

Time flew by, yet it felt maddeningly long.

Chen Jing felt only soreness, pain, numbness, and swelling.

The four sensations blended together, like countless nails being driven, twisted, and pried into his legs.

Sometimes the pain felt like burning fire, and other times it felt as if his legs no longer belonged to him, completely devoid of sensation.

At this moment, the veins on Chen Jing's forehead bulged, sweat dripped down, his chin was soaked, and his shirt clung entirely to his back.

Yet, he remained motionless, holding the stance with grim determination.

Because he knew: if he slacked off even a little now, he wouldn't even qualify as having entered the threshold of Blood-Qi.

If he gave up now, he would forever remain a wretched laborer pulling a rickshaw on the streets.

Chen Jing bit down hard, his face flushed red, and he did not move an inch.

I do not know how much time passed before Zhuang Tao's voice reached his ears: "Junior brother, that's enough. You can stop now and take a break."

Zhuang Tao's tone carried a hint of surprise, "This is your first day of stance training; lasting this long is already quite impressive. Continuing further will only tear your tendons."

Hearing Zhuang Tao's words, Chen Jing felt as if he had been pulled out of deep water, his body nearly collapsing.

His legs were uncontrollably numb, stiff as wooden stakes, yet throbbing with a dull ache.

"Come, come drink the soup first."

Zhuang Tao helped Chen Jing to the eaves of the house, explaining as they walked, "It's the rule here at River-Breaking Fist: besides providing a meal at noon, we prepare Blood-Qi Soup for disciples practicing their stances in the afternoon."

"It's a formula specially concocted by Master to replenish Qi, invigorate blood, relax tendons, and dispel soreness. As long as you've paid the fees, everyone gets a bowl."

Chen Jing took the wooden bowl. The medicinal soup inside was a deep red, thick like ox blood, yet it carried a unique herbal fragrance.

Chen Jing tilted his head back and downed it in one gulp. His throat immediately burned as if he had swallowed scorching spirits!

But the next moment, the Blood-Qi Soup spread out from his chest.

He felt his legs, which had been stiff as stone, loosen up as if soaked in hot water.

His entire body felt a bit lighter, and a warm current flowed faintly within his chest.

"To think it's this effective..."

Chen Jing couldn't help but sigh in a low voice.

Zhuang Tao smiled and patted Chen Jing's arm, saying, "After a few days of adapting, you'll realize how precious this soup is. We all rely on it to keep going every day."

"Let's go. Rest for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea; I'll be teaching you how to strike the wooden dummy later."