Apprenticeship at the Martial Arts School

Lin Yan returned home to find his aunt had not yet come back. He continued his routine, practicing his stance training in the courtyard as usual.

Half an hour later, with his aunt and younger brother still missing, Lin Yan stopped his training, set the rice to boil, and headed out.

"Aunt Liu, have you seen my aunt?"

"Aunt Zhang, have you seen my little brother?"

"Your aunt headed that way; she likely went back to her maiden home."

Back to her maiden home?

Listening to the neighbors, Lin Yan pondered silently. Unlike the Lin family, which had few relatives, his aunt's side had quite a few, including four brothers alone.

While the Liu Family wasn't exactly wealthy, their large number of siblings gave them some influence in the neighborhood—certainly more than the Lin family had.

However, Lin Yan was unfamiliar with the Liu family. In his memories, they only visited annually when his uncle wasn't away on corvée labor. Once his uncle disappeared during his service and his aunt moved them away, he had never seen them again.

Why would his aunt go back to her maiden home now?

Could she be going there to borrow money?

A sudden realization struck Lin Yan. He was about to start learning skin-tempering techniques at a martial arts school. Even though his aunt didn't practice martial arts, she would have looked into it after he started and would know that tuition was expensive; the family savings were likely insufficient.

If it wasn't enough, she would have to borrow.

Lin Yan hurried toward the Liu residence, but he encountered his aunt and younger brother halfway there.

"Yan'er, why are you here?"

Liu was surprised to see her nephew, then smiled. "I took Mo to visit my family and got delayed. We're heading home now."

Though his aunt masked it well, Lin Yan saw the distress in his younger brother's expression.

Mo couldn't hide his feelings; his face was flushed with anger.

Since his aunt didn't want to talk about it, Lin Yan decided not to press her. "Aunt, I came to bring you good news. Zhang Wei, who works at the Might-Vast Escort Agency, told me that a martial artist there heard I developed strength in just four months. Not only did he recommend a martial arts school, but he also sponsored me with fifty taels."

"Fifty taels?"

Liu paused in her tracks. "Yan'er, are you telling the truth?"

It was no wonder she doubted him; for a family like theirs, fifty taels would take over a decade to save.

"It's the truth," Lin Yan nodded. "Aunt, fifty taels is a lot to us, but to a martial artist, it's nothing. They make over twenty taels a month. That master saw potential in me and wanted to invest. Once I succeed in my training and earn money, I'll pay him back."

"That master is so kind. You must train hard, Yan'er, and not let him down."

Liu's expression turned solemn, then she added, "We have some money at home; I'll give it to you as well."

"Thank you, Aunt."

"Don't thank me. The Lin family only has you and Mo left now; the family money is for you two to use."

Back home, they finished dinner.

"Mo, come out."

With his aunt inside mending clothes, Lin Yan pulled his brother outside.

"Tell me, what happened when you and Aunt went to her family's house today?"

Lin Mo hesitated, then shook his head. "Brother, Mom told me that if you asked, I had to say nothing happened."

Lin Yan's mouth twitched. "I'm not asking. You're telling me voluntarily, so Aunt won't blame you."

"Brother, you always have a way."

Lin Mo tilted his head, deciding his brother made sense, and immediately spoke with indignation: "Today, Mom took me to Grandfather's house to borrow money. My uncles found out, and instead of helping, they scolded Mom, saying she was favoring outsiders and didn't treat the Liu family as her own."

Listening to his brother, Lin Yan's face darkened.

Perhaps thinking Mo was too young to understand, the Liu family hadn't bothered to hide their true colors in front of him.

In their eyes, since his uncle had disappeared, his aunt was the head of the household and should have been loyal to her maiden family. They felt she should have notified them when she sold the fields and the house, as the Liu family had many members and needed the space.

But his aunt hadn't told them for a simple reason: she knew that if she sold to them, they would offer far below market value, and they likely wouldn't even pay the full amount, dragging it out for years until the debt vanished.

Even now, the Liu family still coveted the house his parents had left behind.

No wonder his aunt rarely visited; she didn't want to be targeted.

"My eldest uncle also said that the only reason our family has been safe is because of them. If Mom doesn't help them, they'll cut ties, and then the local thugs will come after us."

Lin Yan narrowed his eyes. Over the years, his aunt had raised him and Mo without much trouble. While the Liu family's influence played a part, that was no excuse for them to eye the family inheritance.

"I know about this now. Don't mention it in front of your mother."

"Okay, I won't." Lin Mo looked up at Lin Yan. "Brother, they said that once you learn martial arts, you'll be very powerful. Can you beat up my second uncle and cousin later?"

"Beat up your second uncle?"

"Yes! He was the one who scolded Mom the hardest today. He even said his son is learning martial arts at a school and will definitely be more successful than you."

Lin Mo wasn't close to those cousins; every time he visited, they would badmouth his brother and tell him to stay away from him.

But he wasn't stupid, and his mother often told him that he was a Lin, and since only he and his brother remained, they had to look out for each other.

"Alright, once I make a name for myself, I'll take you along to beat up your cousin."

Lin Yan ruffled his little brother's hair. For his aunt's sake, he wouldn't go out of his way to target the Liu Family once he succeeded in his martial arts training, but they shouldn't expect to take advantage of him either.

Early the next morning.

After finishing breakfast, Lin Yan prepared to head to the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

Liu gave Lin Yan a money bag containing nearly thirty taels of scattered silver, twenty of which had been a gift from the Cai Mansion.

"Don't worry, the employer will pay my wages soon, so we have enough for household expenses." Seeing Lin Yan hesitate, Liu smiled and reassured him.

Lin Yan didn't stand on ceremony; he took the bag and bid his aunt farewell.

His little brother clamored to follow him to the martial arts hall to see the sights, but his aunt held him back, leaving him to watch longingly as Lin Yan departed.

Upon arriving at the gates of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, a sturdy man sitting in the gatehouse led Lin Yan inside after hearing his intentions.

In the front courtyard, Lin Yan saw a group of youths around his age standing in stances under the scorching sun.

"These are disciples who joined the hall from the start. They haven't successfully established their foundation yet. Since you've already established yours, you won't need to practice the stance work."

Seeing Lin Yan's gaze linger on the youths, the guide explained their status before leading him to the middle courtyard.

The middle courtyard's training ground was quite crowded, but the people there were noticeably older. At a glance, Lin Yan could tell that aside from one or two who looked his age, the rest were several years his senior.

"Master, someone is here to apprentice."

Under a pine tree in the training ground, a middle-aged man wore a worn indigo linen shirt, slightly open at the collar to reveal a smooth-lined chest, with faded black harem pants below.

This man was Yang Qingfeng, the master of the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall.

"To join my Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, the apprenticeship fee is sixty taels. The hall covers room and board for the first month. After that, you may choose to pay to continue living and eating here, or handle it yourself outside."

Yang Qingfeng swept a glance over Lin Yan without much change in expression, nor did he ask how long it had taken Lin Yan to build up his strength.

Martial cultivation was, at its core, a competition of wealth.

"This junior has brought enough money."

Lin Yan prepared the silver notes and scattered silver to hand over, but Yang Qingfeng raised a hand to stop him.

"To join my Yang Family Martial Arts Hall, you must follow our rules. There are three."

"First: You may not pass on the hall's techniques without my consent."

"Second: Fellow disciples may not attack one another without cause."

"Third: Regardless of your success in martial arts, you may not join any gangs."

"Now, are you still willing to join my Yang Family Martial Arts Hall?"

Lin Yan did not hesitate: "This disciple is willing."

Yang Qingfeng nodded and accepted the money Lin Yan offered: "From today on, you are a disciple of this hall."

"Disciple Lin Yan pays respects to Master."

Lin Yan performed the disciple's salute, and Yang Qingfeng's tone softened slightly: "What stance work did you practice?"

"Rock Stance."

Yang Qingfeng frowned and asked again: "How long did it take to develop your strength?"

"Four months."

There was no surprise on Yang Qingfeng's face regarding Lin Yan's four-month progress; as long as one had enough money, let alone four months, ten or fifteen days would suffice.

"You can stop practicing the Rock Stance. From now on, you will practice the Mountain Splitting Fist I teach you. Watch closely."

Is he starting to teach the skin-tempering technique right away?

Lin Yan was quite surprised. The bone-touching and talent-testing he had imagined never happened.

Is my master a man of action?

Yang Qingfeng walked to an open space in the courtyard covered in fine sand. He lowered his stance slightly, assuming a starting position somewhat similar to the Rock Stance, with his right fist tucked at his waist.

The other disciples gathered around, their eyes fixed intently on their master.

Lin Yan saw the right fist tucked at Yang Qingfeng's waist snap forward like a released bowstring.

The movement wasn't fast, even appearing somewhat heavy, yet as the fist broke through the air, it produced a short, muffled "woosh," as if it were truly pushing aside the heavy air.

At the end of the strike, the muscles in his forearm twisted slightly, as if rocks were rolling and cracking.

Yang Qingfeng demonstrated the move once, teaching the method of breathing and force exertion, then finished his stance and looked at Lin Yan: "Did you understand?"

Lin Yan shook his head honestly.

Yang Qingfeng wasn't surprised: "Follow me, move by move."

Copying his master, Lin Yan learned it one move at a time.

"Here, at the Dantian, keep it loose and empty. Don't tense your breath."

At some point, a twig had appeared in Yang Qingfeng's hand. He traced it through the air across Lin Yan's abdomen. "Here, the dantian. Relax naturally. I didn't tell you to puff out your stomach."

"Your knees are too far forward."

"Your hips are stiff again. You're supposed to be in a horse stance."

"Your left shoulder is too high."

"The force in your arm swing is insufficient. Keep it taut."

The twig in Yang Qingfeng's hand struck Lin Yan's flawed posture with the precision of a serpent, only stopping once every movement was standardized.

After just one round, Lin Yan was already drenched in sweat.

"Did you memorize what I just taught you?"

"This disciple is dull-witted; I could not remember it all."

Lin Yan answered truthfully. By the time his master reached the breathing and respiration techniques, his mind had turned to mush, and he hadn't retained a thing.

"You are certainly honest."

Yang Qingfeng was somewhat surprised. Over the years, he had taken in many disciples. Many of them, upon first entering the sect, would clearly fail to memorize the techniques but would claim they had, either to make a good impression or out of a desire to save face.

He never bothered to call those disciples out.

The path of martial arts is arduous; those who feign understanding out of vanity rarely achieve much.

He also knew that such disciples would eventually seek guidance from the senior students in private and learn the techniques sooner or later.

Or, as was the case now, they would simply watch from the sidelines while he instructed the new recruits.

Once Lin Yan had rested and regained his composure, Yang Qingfeng began his instruction again.

"Did you memorize it?"

"I still haven't mastered some of the breathing techniques."

"Did you memorize it?"

"This disciple is slow; I forgot some of the middle parts."

"And now?"

"This disciple is dull-witted..."

On the training grounds, many disciples who had stopped to rest or were drawn by the commotion began to wear strange expressions.

This was the first time they had ever seen someone make their master teach the same thing ten times in a row.

How bold.

To act so foolishly—was he not afraid of incurring his master's displeasure?

Lin Yan remained completely oblivious to the gazes of those around him. His entire focus was immersed in comprehending the Mountain Splitting Fist. If there was even a hint of ambiguity, he would earnestly ask for clarification.

Although he had the Martial Arts Tree to help him, mastering the Mountain Splitting Fist was not difficult.

He could rely on the Martial Arts Tree, but he could not allow himself to develop a habit of depending on it.

After fifteen consecutive rounds, Lin Yan was finally able to stumble through a complete set of the Mountain Splitting Fist.

There was no sign of impatience on Yang Qingfeng's face despite the repeated instruction; since he had accepted the apprenticeship fee, he would fulfill his duty to teach.

"It's starting to take shape. Familiarize yourself well with the Mountain Splitting Fist and strive to reach the entry level as soon as possible."

With those words, Yang Qingfeng walked away. This was the first time he had ever felt thirsty from teaching a disciple.