Comprehension

Chen Wang set down his bowl of water, turned, and ran for the inner courtyard. His foot caught on the threshold, and he nearly took a tumble.

"Mas... Master!" He staggered into the inner courtyard, his voice cracking. "Junior Brother Xu has held the stance! He's entered the gate of the Three Talents Stake!"

Zhao Yan was sitting upright in a grand armchair, drinking tea. At this, he did not even raise his eyelids. "So he held it. What's so surprising about entering the gate of the Three Talents Stake?"

He assumed some disciple in the outer courtyard had improved in his stance work and that Chen Wang had come to report the good news. It never occurred to him that it could be Xu Qing.

Chen Wang swallowed, secretly marveling. Master's composure truly is remarkable. Hearing that a new junior brother entered the gate of stance work in less than an incense stick's time, he didn't even bat an eye.

Of course. What had Master not seen?

He caught his breath and continued, "I'd only been teaching Junior Brother Xu stance work for half an incense stick's time when he entered the gate. Master, is that really middling-to-poor bone structure?"

"Who did you say?" Zhao Yan's hand holding the teacup abruptly froze. "Xu Qing? The one who just arrived?"

Those gleaming eyes snapped open like an old tiger startled awake from a doze.

"Yes, Master, Junior Brother Xu Qing." Chen Wang shuddered all over beneath that gaze, and even his words became clumsy. "Didn't you tell me to teach him stance work? I demonstrated the stance, explained the essentials, and had him stand it himself... but after only half an incense stick's time, he... he entered the gate..."

Zhao Yan stared at him for a long while. The corner of his mouth seemed to twitch, though it was impossible to tell whether he wanted to laugh or found it unbelievable. Yet he quickly returned to normal, lifted his teacup, and took a sip as though nothing had happened.

"Mhm. I understand," he said blandly.

Chen Wang scratched his head, utterly baffled as he stood there.

Just then, Master had clearly looked as though he had been struck by lightning. How had he become perfectly calm again in the blink of an eye?

"Mas... Master, is Junior Brother Xu truly of middling-to-poor bone structure?" he could not help asking again.

This time, Zhao Yan merely gave a quiet "Mhm."

He was certain he could not have erred in judging someone's bones.

But if what Chen Wang said was true—if Xu Qing had brought his stance work to the entry level in only half an incense stick's time—then there was only one explanation: the boy possessed extraordinary comprehension.

Seeing Chen Wang still looking confused, Zhao Yan said softly, "His bone structure is middling-to-poor. There can be no mistake."

Then he changed the subject. "But bone structure is merely the rice bowl Heaven grants a person. Some hold golden bowls; some hold coarse porcelain bowls."

He paused, his gaze growing distant. It was as though he spoke to himself, yet also to the disciple before him. "But there are plenty in this world who starve to death holding golden bowls. Whether you can hold it steady, how long you can hold it, and what you can make of it—the bowl has never been the only thing that matters."

Chen Wang listened in a daze, scarcely daring to breathe.

"I told all of you long ago: though the martial path values bone structure, it also values temperament and comprehension." Zhao Yan's voice sank. "Xu Qing entered the gate of stance work in half an incense stick's time. He has exceptional comprehension. Though his bone structure is lacking, he can still make a living from this bowl of martial arts."

"Since he has held the stance, teach him the forms. Go." He put down his teacup and waved a hand.

With that, his gaze lowered to the teacup.

A trace of desolation slipped into his eyes.

"Your disciple understands!" Chen Wang was perceptive enough to see that his master had recalled those old matters again. He said no more, bowed, and quickly withdrew to the outer courtyard.

It was not as though Zhao Yan had never accepted disciples with excellent comprehension.

He had even had disciples whose bone structure and comprehension were both outstanding.

More than one.

Two.

Two young faces rose in his mind. One had smiled with pure brightness; the other had always carried a touch of pride between his brows and eyes.

He had poured his heart and soul into both of them, teaching them hand in hand, feeding them every move and every stance, wishing he could stuff all his skills straight into their bones.

But what had come of it?

One had had his foot tendons severed because of him. From then on, he walked with a limp. Barring a miracle, he could make no further progress on the martial path.

The other... the other had learned all he had to teach, only to betray the sect and become the most painful thorn in his life.

"Master, the tea has gone cold. Let this disciple replace it with a fresh pot."

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

Chen Wang had only just left when a young man in a fitted blue outfit approached.

He was handsome, smiling with his eyes, and looked like an open, talkative person at a glance. Yet there was something odd about the way he walked—when his left foot touched the ground, it dragged slightly. He limped with every step, as though he could not put much strength into it.

Zhao Yan suddenly came back to himself. His gaze immediately softened, and he smiled gently. "Ah, good."

The young man carried the teapot and headed toward the rear hall.

Zhao Yan watched that limping figure walk away, and the smile on his face gradually stiffened. His old eyes reddened, filled with self-reproach, guilt, and heartache, as though needles were pricking him again and again.

At that moment, he was no longer the Transformation Force expert whose fists could kill tigers.

He was only a helpless, lonely old man.

"A Yun, your master has wronged you..."

He mouthed the words soundlessly, his lips moving faintly, but no sound emerged.

When he saw the limping young man turn back with the teapot, he hurriedly drew a deep breath, swept away all his desolation in one stroke, and put on a smile again as though nothing had happened.

By the outer courtyard's training ground, several disciples were resting against the weapon rack.

Zhou Wen leaned close to Xu Qing and jerked his chin toward Xu Qing's direction, lowering his voice. "Xu Qing, that stinking little fishmonger seems to have found the knack of stance work?"

"How long has he been standing? He can already hold it steady? It took me a full seven days to hold my stance. What about you? How many days did you take?"

"Just a blind cat stumbling into a dead mouse." Xu Qing curled his lip and did not mention how he himself had still not entered the gate after ten days.

He gave a contemptuous laugh and added, "Learning martial arts isn't just about standing stances. You also need tonics and meat."

"The hall only provides enough plain food to fill your belly, not that stuff. If you want it, you have to pay extra. With that poor, sour family of his, the apprenticeship fee probably emptied out their entire savings. Without tonics and meat, he'll wear down his body. Let's see how he keeps standing then. If he can stay in the hall peacefully for three full months, that'll be impressive enough!"

After a pause, he added, "Once the three months are up, he can go right back where he came from. A lowborn fishmonger thinks he can turn his life around by learning martial arts? Wishful thinking."

"That's true." Zhou Wen laughed and chimed in. "Our families all have shops supporting us, and even we're stretched thin practicing martial arts. As for those mud-legged country bumpkins in the hall, which day do they not tighten their belts while standing stances and throwing punches?"

"Ah, enough of that." Zhou Wen looked off into the distance, then suddenly tugged Xu Qing's sleeve. "Senior Brother Wu has finished practicing his boxing. Let's go over."

His mouth kept moving as his voice dropped even lower. "Senior Brother Wu has invited Senior Sister Tao, Senior Brother Cao, and Senior Brother Ye out to eat tonight. We agreed, didn't we? This time, you're treating..."

Xu Qing's expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly forced a smile. "Leave it to me."

He touched his money pouch. It was rather flat. Secretly, he calculated that after the banquet, he would ask his mother for more silver when he got home.

The sky gradually darkened.

Bang!

Xu Qing drove a Crashing Punch into the wooden training dummy. His fist carried little force, but the form was quite convincing.

Before he could retract his fist, he heard Chen Wang call out loudly, "Junior brothers and sisters, that's enough training for today! The kitchen has finished cooking. Those who want to eat in the hall, go wash up in the washroom."

Before Chen Wang had even finished speaking, Qin Liang was already walking toward Xu Qing. "Junior Brother Xu, come on. I'll take you to the washroom. Tonight's staple is white flour steamed buns—you must fill yourself up!"

There were more than a dozen rooms in the outer courtyard, and Xu Qing had been assigned to share one with Qin Liang.

Since they were roommates, and Chen Wang had specifically instructed him to look after Xu Qing, Qin Liang naturally gave his junior brother a little extra care.

By the time they finished washing, white flour steamed buns and large basins of food had been served in the courtyard. It was only ordinary cabbage stewed with tofu and some vermicelli, but the dozen or so people ate to their hearts' content.

Those who stayed to eat and live here were not young masters and misses from wealthy families.

There was a saying in Qinghe County: "The east is noble, the west is lowly." If truly rich and powerful families wanted to learn martial arts, they either had family inheritances or entered the great martial halls in the eastern district. Being able to enter the Zhao Family Martial Hall said enough about one's family circumstances.

After Xu Qing finished eating, he let Chen Wang and Qin Liang know, then headed for his aunt's home again.

It was not that he was thinking about getting an extra meal at his aunt's house. He simply felt he should tell his aunt and uncle that he had settled down to train safely at the martial hall, so they would not worry.

In less than half an hour, he spotted his uncle's bun shop.

Outside the shop, Xu Cheng kept glancing toward the street corner.

When he saw Xu Qing, delight lit up his face. He hurried over and said with a smile, "A-Qing, why are you only getting here now? Your aunt stewed mutton for you! Hurry, come inside and eat!"

"Thank you, Uncle." Xu Qing smiled and quickly stepped closer.

He did not stand on ceremony. Martial arts training consumed a great deal of energy; he ought to eat meat.

His belly had clearly been full just moments ago, but at the mention of "mutton," it began to growl uncooperatively again.

Xu Cheng led Xu Qing into the back room, where Xu Yan had already served the mutton. There was a whole small basin of it, steaming hot and fragrant.

Xu Yan affectionately rubbed Xu Qing's head. "Qing'er, eat as much as you want! Whenever you want meat, come to your little aunt's house, understand?"

Xu Cheng smiled beside them as well. "A-Qing, don't be a stranger with your uncle. Whenever you want meat, come by. Your uncle's family doesn't have much money, but we can still afford meat every few days."

Xu Qing ate the mutton in large mouthfuls, responding as he slowly told them about matters at the martial hall.

When they heard Xu Qing had entered the gate of stance work, Xu Cheng and Xu Yan were stunned at first. Then heartfelt joy blossomed across their faces.

"Good! Wonderful!" Xu Cheng slapped his thigh, grinning from ear to ear. "I knew our Qing'er was no ordinary person!"

Xu Yan's eyes reddened slightly, though she smiled as she scolded him, "Look how happy you are. You'd think you'd passed the provincial examination yourself."

"Isn't this even better than passing the provincial examination?" Xu Cheng replied, entirely justified.

Laughter filled the room. The steam from the mutton swirled through the air, keeping the chill of the autumn night outside the door.