One Month

[Stacked Waves Stance Posture Simulation]

[Time required: ten days]

When he saw that it would take ten days, Wei Luo was not surprised.

He could feel it himself—assuming a steady Stacked Waves Stance would probably take him ten days as well.

But he quickly changed his approach. Since he could not form the complete Stacked Waves Stance, he would start with the finer details.

His fists, arms, hips, legs, joints—he constantly used the Great Thousand Revelation to simulate them.

Whenever something took too long, he broke it down again and rapidly adjusted his movements.

Only after truly beginning to practice boxing did Wei Luo understand its wonders.

This boxing stance looked unremarkable, yet once he assumed it, sweat poured down like rain. At most three minutes later, the muscles all over his body would tremble and his blood and qi would surge without end.

That was already the effect while his movements were still unskilled. Once he truly mastered the boxing stance, that would be real bodily tempering.

"This boxing stance really builds strength!"

Assume the stance, adjust his movements, rest, then assume the stance again—over and over, Wei Luo's boxing stance gradually improved toward a perfect posture.

In the blink of an eye, the sun had climbed to the center of the sky, and waves of fragrance drifted from the kitchen.

Master Qin's nose twitched. Knowing it was time to eat, he finally opened his eyes and looked at the people still holding their stances.

Just as he was about to call for a stop, his gaze was caught by a figure.

"Hm? Strange... his lower body is so steady, but his upper body is a complete mess."

Master Qin watched for a moment, but chose not to offer any guidance. He merely called out.

"It's time to eat. Continue training this afternoon."

After holding their boxing stances all morning, everyone was already hungry enough to have their stomachs pressed to their backs. The moment they heard it was time to eat, their spirits soared, and they followed Master Qin toward the dining hall.

Other Sun Family sailors training in the courtyard also gradually arrived at the dining hall, but when they saw Wei Luo and the others, they paid them no mind.

Only those who became true sailors could remain in the courtyard. Once two months had passed, it would be impressive if more than a quarter of the thirty-odd people remained.

The instant they entered the dining hall, everyone smelled the rich aroma of meat.

Immediately, the sound of swallowing filled the room.

"There's braised pork, and white rice too?!"

"There's braised beef as well! I haven't eaten beef in over a year!"

"The treatment is this good? Even being a servant for three years would be worth it!"

The moment they saw the several large food boxes laid out in the dining hall, everyone became excited.

How could poor fishermen like them ever eat meals like this? Throughout the year, only during the New Year could they taste meat. Usually, fish was the most they could manage.

Even Wei Luo could not help sighing. The Sun Family truly was willing to spend money.

At that moment, a hint of amusement flashed across Master Qin's lips.

"Well? Not bad food, right?"

Everyone immediately nodded again and again, shouting that it was excellent.

"Good. Then let's eat."

At Master Qin's command, everyone snatched up the bowls and chopsticks on the tables and rushed forward.

But the next moment, Master Qin kicked over the people in front and barked out.

"What are you doing?"

Everyone looked utterly confused.

"Eating."

Hearing that, Master Qin pointed to the side and said leisurely.

"Your food is over there."

Everyone froze and looked over.

In the corner stood two large buckets. One contained steamed brown rice, while the other held rotten vegetable leaves without much trace of oil.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and eat! After you're done, continue practicing the boxing stance!"

Everyone stood there in stunned disbelief, while Master Qin tossed out those words and left with his hands clasped behind his back.

A few minutes later, Wei Luo lined up for food like everyone else.

There was as much brown rice as they wanted, but even after Wei Luo ate three bowls, he still felt somewhat hungry.

The Sun Family intended to train sailors, but they were unwilling to spend extra money.

Master Qin had deliberately put on this little performance.

On one hand, it was to stir everyone's determination to become sailors. On the other, it was to tell them that martial artists could not do without meat to replenish their blood and qi.

It seemed that if he wanted meat, he could only spend his own money to buy it.

But those who came to the Sun Family were mostly poor fishermen. Less than half of their families had any savings.

Before long, Wei Luo experienced what it meant to train thirty percent and eat seventy percent.

That afternoon, they continued practicing the boxing stance.

But after practicing for barely an hour or two, Wei Luo felt as though his stomach were on fire. The food he had eaten at noon had long since been digested away.

The longer he trained, the more his body ached, like a kettle being dry-boiled.

He swept his gaze around. Most of the others were much the same, their faces strained and their boxing stances limp and weak.

Only those with exceptional natural endowments, like Shen Wu, could still train with vigor, clearly pulling ahead of the others.

Day after day passed, and Wei Luo ran back and forth between the river and the Sun Family.

Wei Luo had no money on hand, but fortunately, he could use the Great Thousand Revelation to simulate information on fish catches and add fish meat to his meals.

As for the others who had entered the courtyard with him, they either relied on their families to support them or went out to borrow money. Wei Luo had heard that some had even taken out donkey-roll loans.

Every day before dawn, he took his boat out to fish, returning near noon to practice his stance.

Fishing delayed his schedule, so he trained extra on his own. Every day, he refused to stop until he had squeezed every last bit of strength from between his muscles and bones.

During the first few days, Master Qin would offer pointers when he was in a good mood. Later, he barely showed himself, leaving them to train entirely on their own.

With the Great Thousand Revelation, Wei Luo's boxing stance gradually surpassed everyone else's.

In the blink of an eye, nearly a month had passed.

Hah!

Before dawn had broken.

The muscles in Wei Luo's arms bulged. With a sharp cry, he raised a stone weight overhead, held it there for several seconds, then lowered it again.

Others nearby were also using stone weights to test their strength.

The stone weight struck the ground with a dull thud.

After more than twenty days, Wei Luo had changed enormously.

He had grown nearly twenty centimeters taller. His once somewhat thin body had filled out with muscle, gradually developing toward the build of a burly man.

Of course, his greatest improvement was in his strength.

"This stone weight is nearly two hundred jin. I can already lift it steadily. These bitter efforts have not been in vain."

A gratified smile rose to Wei Luo's lips.

[Fish Catch Information Simulation]

[Time required: half an hour]

[In the lower reaches of the Hun River, there is a school of dace at the third fork. It can be caught tomorrow at the hour of the Snake.]

Although there had not been any particularly valuable catches recently, as Wei Luo's fishing skills improved, the fish catch information had changed as well.

He could now precisely simulate the species of fish and the timing.

Dace had a fresh flavor, with firm yet tender flesh. Made into fish maw, it became an exceptionally fine dish.

Restaurants loved buying dace. Several dozen fish could sell for three to five hundred copper coins.

Seeing this information, Wei Luo made up his mind.

It had been a long time since he had returned home. Tomorrow, after selling the fish, he would keep one to bring home for his mother.

At that moment, a figure hurried into the courtyard.

"Wei Luo, this is bad! Feng Hao seems to have set his sights on your family again these past few days!"

The moment Liu Changle saw Wei Luo, he spoke directly.

Wei Luo hurriedly withdrew from his boxing stance and asked Liu Changle to explain.

"Last night, I went home for dinner, and my father said Feng Hao has been hanging around outside your house a lot these past few days..."

By the time Liu Changle finished, a fierce glint had already surfaced in Wei Luo's eyes.

He had told his mother before that if Feng Hao came to their door again, she was to come find him.

But judging from the situation, his mother had likely feared disturbing his martial arts training and had endured it all in silence.

Knowing Wei Luo had no money, Liu Changle hesitated briefly before speaking.

"Wei Luo, don't worry too much. If it really comes to it, I can ask my father to lend your family some money first, so you can repay the debt."

But Wei Luo merely patted Liu Changle on the shoulder.

"No need. I still have money."

"Since he wants money, I'll give it to him."

"Today, I'll repay that debt."