In the front courtyard, Chen Jianghe had just finished a set of punches and was wiping his face with a sweat towel when Li Chengyue strode over, with Su Derong—his face bruised and swollen—following behind him.
"Master, Third Senior Brother." Chen Jianghe clasped his fists in salute.
Li Chengyue said nothing. He walked up to Chen Jianghe and looked him over from head to toe.
"Were you practicing just now?" Li Chengyue asked.
"Yes."
"Do another set. Let me see."
Chen Jianghe replied, "Yes," stepped back a few paces, lowered his waist and settled his hips, then assumed the Three Body Stance.
He began with Splitting Fist.
This time, he deliberately slowed down, but the flow of power through his movements became even clearer.
As his fists rose and fell, the faint sound of sinews and bones resonating could be heard. The air rippled slightly wherever his fists swept through.
After finishing the Five Elements Fist, Chen Jianghe settled into a standing posture. His breathing was a little hurried, but his gaze remained clear.
Li Chengyue stared at him without a word for a long while.
The courtyard fell silent. Only the lantern beneath the eaves swayed gently, casting shifting shadows.
Su Derong couldn't help edging closer. "Master, what do you think? I was right, wasn't I?"
Li Chengyue still said nothing. With his hands behind his back, he paced twice across the courtyard, then suddenly raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose and muttered, "Damn heaven..."
Su Derong hadn't heard him clearly. "What did you say, Master?"
Li Chengyue waved him off, walked up to Chen Jianghe, and held out his hand. "Give me your hand."
Chen Jianghe extended his right hand.
Li Chengyue gripped his wrist and let his fingers probe deep, carefully examining his sinews, bones, and blood and qi. The longer he felt, the tighter his brows furrowed.
"Your sinews and bones..." He released Chen Jianghe's hand, circled behind him, and pressed several key points along his back and hips. "When you first joined, I felt your bones. Your aptitude was ordinary, and you were already older than most. By all rights..."
He paused and looked at Chen Jianghe. "How have you been training these past two months?"
Chen Jianghe answered honestly. "I get up every day at the hour of the tiger. First, I stand in stance training for an hour, then I practice the Five Elements Fist. During the day, aside from meals and helping Mother with odd jobs, I spend all my time practicing in the courtyard. Before bed, I stand in stance training for another half hour."
Li Chengyue stared at him. "That's all?"
"That's all."
"What about meat?"
"Third Senior Brother provides some, and the martial arts school allots ten jin. It's just enough to get by."
"What about tonics?"
"I can't afford them." Chen Jianghe shook his head. "I only gritted my teeth and bought three bottles of Blood Qi Powder at the critical point of 'changing strength.'"
Li Chengyue fell silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a long sigh.
He turned away from Chen Jianghe and gazed at the old locust tree in the courtyard. His voice carried an indescribably complicated emotion. "I've practiced martial arts for forty years. I've seen no fewer than eight hundred disciples. Some were born with extraordinary talent and reached Bright Strength in three months; some had wealthy families and used piles of medicine to force their way up; others endured ten years of hardship before finally breaking through the bottleneck."
He paused, then continued slowly. "But someone like you, with ordinary aptitude and nothing to your name, who reached Bright Strength from 'changing strength' in just over half a year through sheer hard work... I've never seen that before."
Li Chengyue turned around. His eyes settled on Chen Jianghe's face again, their expression difficult to read. There was surprise and satisfaction in them, along with a deep-seated, burning intensity.
He was silent for a moment, then said, "Wait here."
With that, he turned and hurried back to the rear courtyard.
A short while later, Li Chengyue returned, carrying two celadon bottles and several paper-wrapped parcels.
He shoved everything into Chen Jianghe's arms. "Take these."
Chen Jianghe looked down. Red labels were stuck to the celadon bottles: one read "Bone-Strengthening Powder," the other "Blood Qi Powder." A faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the paper wrapping the parcels. They were clearly prepared medicinal ingredients.
"Master, what are these...?" Chen Jianghe asked in astonishment.
"They're for you. Apply the Bone-Strengthening Powder externally and use it alongside your stance training to strengthen your bones and sinews. Take the Blood Qi Powder internally, mixed with warm water, to nourish your blood and qi. From now on, come here once a week to collect more."
He paused and looked at Chen Jianghe, his tone turning serious. "You've achieved Bright Strength, which means you've truly crossed the threshold of martial arts. But the road ahead gets harder with every step. Training in Dark Strength requires medicinal baths to open the meridians and temper the internal organs. This old man can't afford to support you through that."
Chen Jianghe tightened his grip on the bottles and replied solemnly, "This disciple understands."
Li Chengyue clasped his hands behind his back. "Good. When the time comes, I'll naturally pass on the medicinal bath formula for Dark Strength. But you'll have to find a way to pay for the ingredients yourself. Taking an official position, escorting goods, even guarding a wealthy family's home... There are plenty of ways, but they're all dangerous. Remember this one thing your master says—"
He turned his head, his gaze as deep as an ancient well, and looked straight into Chen Jianghe's eyes. "Practicing martial arts is like climbing a perilous peak. Talent, opportunity, and resources are all indispensable. But the most fundamental thing is the word 'steadiness.' Don't grow proud or impatient; don't rush ahead recklessly. Take one step at a time and build a solid foundation. The deeper your roots, the farther you'll go. You only have one life, so be exceedingly cautious."
Chen Jianghe's heart tightened. He bowed deeply. "This disciple will remember your teachings, Master!"
"Mm." Li Chengyue nodded.
At that moment, Su Derong, who had been quiet all this time, sidled over with a shameless grin. "Master, look... I played no small part in helping Junior Brother achieve what he has today! So about my allowance this month..."
Before he could finish, he got kicked in the butt again.
"Young master from a wealthy family, lazing around all day, and you still have the nerve to ask for money?" Li Chengyue said irritably. "You have money for wine, but none for medicine? Go to your pleasure house and listen to music! Stop loitering at the martial arts school—you're an eyesore!"
Su Derong rubbed his backside without getting upset. He waved his fan and smiled. "Master, you can't put it like that. My family may be fairly well off, but that money doesn't fall from the sky. Besides, I help look after the junior disciples while I'm here!"
"Look after them?" Li Chengyue scoffed. "You look after them all the way to the pleasure houses?"
Su Derong wasn't fazed. If anything, he sounded more indignant. "That's cultivation too! Tempering the heart amid the mortal world. You wouldn't understand, Master."
"Get out of here. Now." Li Chengyue raised his foot again.
"Right away! Since you've given the word, Master, I'll go find mothers for your future grand-disciples!"
With that, Su Derong waved his fan and hurried toward the exit. As he passed Chen Jianghe, he lightly tapped his shoulder with the fan's ribs. "Junior Brother, keep at it. Your senior brother believes in you. When you make it big, don't forget me."
The courtyard fell quiet.
Only then did Li Chengyue look back at Chen Jianghe. He was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Has your mother grown accustomed to living at the martial arts school?"
Chen Jianghe quickly replied, "Yes. Mother says it's peaceful here, and she feels more at ease than she did in Loach Bay."
"Mm." Li Chengyue nodded. "Remember what I told you. When practicing martial arts, put 'steadiness' first."
"This disciple will remember."
"Keep practicing." After saying those three words, Li Chengyue clasped his hands behind his back and ambled off to the rear courtyard.
Chen Jianghe watched his master's retreating figure and fell into thought.
I've reached Bright Strength now, but I still need to work harder. Tomorrow, I'll ask Third Senior Brother if he can find me an official position. Then I can save up more silver and get Mother a house near the martial arts school.