Fist Stance

Fortunately, because of the Sun Family's recruitment, Old Liu had not yet had the chance to sell the treasure fish.

After devising a plan, Wei Luo did not reveal much to the three of them, only saying that he would give the Crimson Firefin to Steward Li.

After hearing this, Liu Qing frowned and said,

"Xiao Luo, the Crimson Firefin may be worth a few taels of silver, but Steward Li isn't someone who's easy to talk to."

Liu Qing had worked under Steward Li for several years, so he naturally knew this was not a matter of money.

Old Liu also tried to persuade him a few times, afraid that Wei Luo would give away a treasure fish for nothing and end up drawing water with a bamboo basket—getting nothing in the end.

But Wei Luo had long understood the key to the matter. In the end, he still carried the Crimson Firefin to seek out Steward Li.

On the open ground, the Sun Family was still continuously selecting people with suitable natural aptitude.

The line was very long. At first, the man examining everyone's bones did so carefully, but after a while, he merely pinched each person a couple of times and made quick judgments.

Very few passed the selection. Those who did were overjoyed, standing among the Sun Family's ranks and enjoying the envious gazes of the watching fishermen.

Steward Li sat to one side drinking tea. When he saw Wei Luo approaching again, a trace of irritation immediately flashed across his face.

He had already made his decision. If Wei Luo continued pestering him, he would be refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit.

He immediately beckoned to a servant accompanying him, pointed at Wei Luo, and said casually,

"Drive him away."

Wei Luo did not waste words either. He went straight to the point.

"Steward Li, I have something that can cure your esteemed wife's illness!"

As he spoke, he opened the fish basket and revealed the treasure fish inside.

"I heard from a friend that this fish is called a Crimson Firefin. Its nature is yang, and it can be used as medicine."

After hearing those two sentences, the disdain on Steward Li's face immediately vanished. He hurriedly waved to stop the servant.

His gaze locked tightly onto the Crimson Firefin. His wife's recent illness had left him in a state of burning anxiety.

It was not that he could not afford treasure fish. Rather, treasure fish circulating on the market were already scarce, and they were usually bought by martial artists the moment they came ashore. Not to mention that his wife's illness required several specific kinds of fish.

The Sun Family did have a fleet dedicated to catching treasure fish, but it had not gone out recently.

As a result, more than a month had passed, and his wife's condition had only worsened. She was now completely bedridden.

"Bring it over quickly and let me have a look."

Seeing Steward Li's excitement, Wei Luo's heart immediately settled.

Sure enough, after taking two looks, Steward Li's face lit up with delight.

"Not bad. You've been thoughtful. Go register over there, then come to Sun Manor tomorrow."

In his excitement, Steward Li immediately made the decision. He also told Wei Luo to perform well after entering the Sun Family. Then he took the Crimson Firefin and hurried home.

After Wei Luo registered and returned to the Liu family's group, the three of them, having witnessed the entire process, all wore expressions of astonishment.

None of them had expected Wei Luo to actually pull it off.

If a Crimson Firefin were sold, it would fetch at least two taels of silver, and at most four taels.

Yet they had spent a full five taels of silver just to grease the wheels!

That was only because Liu Qing belonged to the Sun Family. If they had been outsiders, they would not even have had a way in.

"Wei Luo, you lucky brat. A single treasure fish got you into the Sun Family. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Sun Family together!"

Liu Changle was happy for Wei Luo when he learned that he had succeeded. Wei Luo merely smiled and nodded.

Old Liu, however, gently shook his head.

Luck? Luck alone could not get someone into the Sun Family. The Zhao Clan had truly raised a fine son.

Only when dusk fell did the crowd at the docks finally disperse completely.

That old turtle had not been sold. Wei Luo gave it to the Liu family.

After all, if Old Liu had not tacitly allowed it, he would not even have been able to see Steward Li.

Early the next morning.

Wei Luo and Liu Changle arrived early at one of the Sun Family's side residences.

Several dozen youths had already gathered in the courtyard, all of them brimming with youthful vigor.

There were also several sturdy men practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Their fists and kicks struck wooden posts with dull thuds, filling Wei Luo and the others with longing.

Before long, Steward Li emerged from the inner courtyard with an elderly master whose beard and hair had begun to gray.

Though Master Qin was somewhat advanced in years, he walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, carrying an imposing air. Wei Luo knew at once that he was likely the one teaching martial arts.

"Master Qin, I'll leave these brats to you. There are thirty-two in total. If you need anything else, just let me know."

Before leaving, Steward Li even specifically pulled Wei Luo aside to thank him, saying that his wife had already shown signs of improvement.

After the handover, Master Qin swept his gaze across the youths.

"Have you all signed the labor contracts?"

"We have!"

Everyone answered in unison.

"Good. Since you've entered the Sun Family, it is your good fortune. But becoming a crewman won't be so easy.

"If you fail to become crewmen within two months, you will serve as servants in the Sun Family for three years, whether you live or die!"

Every youth had signed the labor contract Master Qin mentioned, Wei Luo included.

Pies did not fall from the sky, and the Sun Family was not recruiting crewmen out of charity.

The labor contract stated it clearly: only those who became crewmen within two months could receive the monthly wage of half a tael of silver.

Rather than a labor contract, it was more like a wager.

But for poor fishermen like them, this was already a heaven-sent chance to turn their lives around.

"All Sun Family crewmen must first attain entry into the Folding Waves Fist. I'll now teach you the foundation of the fist art. Watch carefully."

Master Qin did not waste words. He directly bent his body into a half-crouch and assumed a strange posture.

His body swayed slightly, making him seem as though he were drifting in water.

At the same time, his entire body turned crimson red, his muscles rapidly swelling as a fierce aura radiated from him.

"This is the Stacked Waves Stance. It tempers the qi and blood. For beginners like you, training stances is far more important than practicing fists."

"Remember this: qi and blood are the foundation of martial arts. No matter how high your cultivation becomes in the future, never neglect your fist stances."

Qi and blood, fist stances... Wei Luo and the others watched without blinking. These were precisely why they had entered the Sun Family.

They had countless questions about martial arts that they wanted to ask Master Qin, but he had already withdrawn his fist stance and impatiently waved his hand.

"What's with all the questions? Start practicing the fist stance now. For these two months, you don't need to worry about anything else. You only need to train the Folding Waves Fist to the entry level."

Having said that, Master Qin called for someone to bring over a rattan chair, then sat beneath the cool shade to rest.

He ate peanuts and drank tea, his eyes constantly studying everyone in the courtyard.

Seeing their stances wobbling as though they might collapse at any moment, he offered another reminder.

"Don't deliberately imitate my movements. Find the smoothest, most natural feeling of the fist stance instead."

Although Master Qin said that, very few people could plant a fist stance steadily.

"Wei Luo, this instructor is way too casual. He demonstrated for only a few seconds, then told us to stand stances. How are we supposed to manage that?"

Liu Changle muttered quietly.

Wei Luo said nothing. He continued trying his best to stand the stance.

This was not a martial arts school, and Master Qin was not their master. Whether he taught them or not would naturally depend entirely on his mood.

The only person they could rely on was themselves.

Half an hour passed. Master Qin merely watched from the side, leaving everyone to fumble their way through it.

By now, the gaps in natural aptitude had gradually begun to show.

A few people were slowly beginning to look the part, while the others still could not grasp the knack.

Wei Luo frowned as he continued trying, but even after a long while, he was basically the same as Liu Changle, unable to pierce that thin layer of window paper.

At that moment, Master Qin rose and walked over to one of them.

"What's your name?"

The youth immediately cupped his fists respectfully.

"Master Qin, my name is Shen Wu."

"Mm, not bad. Set up your fist stance again and let me see."

Shen Wu immediately assumed the posture, while Master Qin reached out and adjusted several parts of his movements.

"Remember this feeling. Do it this way from now on."

Everyone looked at Shen Wu with envy. His fist stance had already been better than the others', which was why Master Qin had been willing to guide him.

Afterward, Master Qin guided several more people. Wei Luo also realized that this was the advantage of good natural aptitude.

The logic was simple. Teachers naturally liked teaching those who understood at the slightest prompting. As for those who could not grasp it, they would only fall farther and farther behind everyone else.

After guiding several people, Master Qin returned to his rattan chair and leisurely continued eating peanuts.

Wei Luo frowned slightly. His natural aptitude should have been among the most ordinary of the group. If things continued like this, how could he become a crewman?

Sure enough, a person still had to rely on himself.

Great Revelation, deduce for me!