Wang Jin's Study

Chapter 28: Wang Jin's Study

Jiang Ning understood perfectly why Wang Jin did not believe he could meet the requirements to enter the Inspection Office within three months.

It was perfectly normal.

After all, he had practiced martial arts for far too short a time.

What could three months accomplish?

Looking at the test for Wang Jin's true disciples, one only needed to bring any stance of the Five Forms Fist to mastery within six months to become his true disciple.

From this, one could see just how difficult martial arts training was.

His own elder brother had trained for so many years, yet had only reached the level of blood and qi mastery, with his limbs fully connected.

But the requirements for joining the Inspection Office were to reach a ranked level in martial arts and be under thirty years old.

In Luoshui County, anyone who could achieve that was either a martial arts genius or someone born into wealth and status, a martial artist piled up with money.

A smile appeared on Jiang Ning's face, his expression brimming with confidence. "Master, don't worry! The day I master the Five Animals Fist won't be far off!!"

"Good! That's exactly the confidence you should have!" Wang Jin praised him again.

He then lifted his head slightly and glanced at the moonlight. "It's getting late! These old bones of mine won't keep tossing around with a young man like you! I'm going back to rest! You shouldn't practice fist techniques tonight either. You pushed yourself a little too hard just now. Go back to your room and rest well, gather your strength, and practice again tomorrow!"

Jiang Ning nodded. "This disciple understands!"

Then Jiang Ning spoke again. "This disciple has an unreasonable request to make of Master."

"Stop hemming and hawing. Just say it!" Wang Jin said.

"This disciple would like to borrow some books from Master's study. It's still early before midnight, so I can read for a while. And during my usual breaks from practicing fist techniques and recovering my strength, I can read to broaden my knowledge!" Jiang Ning said.

"You're that driven?" Wang Jin was somewhat stunned. He had meant for Jiang Ning to go back and rest early tonight.

Yet he had never expected Jiang Ning to think that since it was still early, he should borrow books and read.

Jiang Ning scratched his head. "A child from a poor family has no choice but to strive! How else can I change my fate if I don't strive? And Master knows that the reason I asked to stay at the martial arts hall for a long time is because someone outside wants to harm me! Next spring, I also want to take the civil service examination and earn official honors. Only then can I obtain true peace."

"You need official honors to obtain peace?" Wang Jin continued in surprise. "Is the pressure coming from someone with official status?"

Jiang Ning said, "Not truly official status, yet better than official status."

"I see!" Wang Jin nodded slightly, but did not ask further. Then he said, "It is rare and precious for you to have such aspirations. Being accomplished in both literary and martial pursuits is indeed important! A true powerhouse has never been someone invincible only in strength, nor someone invincible only in intellect and wisdom, but someone who possesses both! Among the true powerhouses of the martial path, there has never been an illiterate man."

Jiang Ning nodded in strong agreement. "This disciple greatly agrees with Master's words as well!"

Wang Jin nodded again. "Since you have such aspirations, how could I not support you? From now on, you may enter my study whenever you wish. Later, just get a key from Auntie Sun!"

"Thank you, Master!" Jiang Ning said solemnly, cupping his hands in salute.

Knock, knock, knock—

A knock sounded at the door.

"Coming! Coming!"

A voice rang out, followed by a series of heavy footsteps beside Jiang Ning's ear, steadily drawing closer.

Creak—

As the small courtyard's gate opened, Auntie Sun's somewhat burly figure appeared.

"I knew it was you, kid!" Auntie Sun said.

A smile also appeared on Jiang Ning's face. "Big Sister, sorry to disturb you so late!"

"Ah, what disturbance? I haven't gone to sleep yet!" Auntie Sun waved her hand, then asked, "Why are you suddenly looking for me at this hour instead of practicing? Is something the matter?"

Jiang Ning said, "I overtaxed my body today, and without wild ginseng to replenish what my body consumed, how could I still practice? So I just spoke to the hall master about borrowing some books from the study. After he agreed, he told me to come to Big Sister Sun for the key!"

"I see!" Auntie Sun nodded in realization. "Wait here! I'll get you a key to the study!"

"Mm-hm!" Jiang Ning nodded repeatedly.

A short while later.

Auntie Sun hurried over to Jiang Ning.

"Here's the key! Don't lose it!"

"Don't worry, Big Sister!" Jiang Ning smiled as he accepted the key Auntie Sun handed him.

Then he spoke again. "Oh, right, Big Sister."

"What is it?"

Jiang Ning said, "The hall master just said that starting tomorrow, I can drink a bowl of medicinal soup every morning, noon, and evening."

"Not bad, kid! I didn't expect Hall Master Wang to think so highly of you. He actually raised your treatment to that of a true disciple! Xiao Peng only received this much after becoming a true disciple today!" Auntie Sun said happily, giving Jiang Ning a heavy slap on the shoulder.

Then she continued, "I just heard that you had no wild ginseng to replenish the energy you use in training, and I was worried that you might train your body into the ground! After all, in all my years at this martial arts hall, you're the child I've seen who can endure hardship in training the best."

Jiang Ning merely smiled without speaking.

He had heard people call him hardworking many times already.

But with the panel, every bit of effort brought gains. He could see himself improving bit by bit, feel his physique constantly growing stronger—who could help but be diligent?

The reason people were not diligent or hardworking was often because they could not see the gains, because their efforts brought no reward.

Especially when stuck at a bottleneck—after striving for a week, a month, even a year, only to be unable to advance even an inch—how many people could continue persevering?

After bidding Auntie Sun farewell, Jiang Ning quickly headed toward the study.

Wang Jin Martial Arts Hall's collection of books would certainly be far greater than what he had at home. There might even be secret manuals of martial arts techniques inside. Because of his previous performance, his standing in Wang Jin's heart had risen, and he had gained permission to enter the study. This filled him with anticipation.

Arriving before the study.

He unlocked the door and walked inside.

After lighting the candle stand, the entire layout of the study came into view.

Large bookshelves stood along three walls of the study, each one neatly lined with book after book.

Holding the book, Jiang Ning approached the bookshelf on the right. At a glance, he saw volumes upon volumes of medical texts and pharmacological treatises.

As the saying went, medicine and martial arts were not separate families.

Martial arts involved the mysteries of every part of the human body. Anyone capable of creating martial arts techniques would surely possess vast learning and experience, with a deep understanding of the body's hidden workings.

Medicinal herbs were the same.

The path of martial arts was inseparably bound to all kinds of medicinal herbs.

Without the aid of medicine, a person's lifelong martial achievements would certainly be greatly limited, and their rate of improvement would slow dramatically.

One had to know that the best golden age for learning martial arts began at fifteen, once the bones and body had matured. Until around the age of thirty-five was the peak golden age, when progress was greatest and fastest.

From around the age of forty onward, martial artists gradually began going downhill, their blood and qi steadily declining.

By then, let alone improving in martial arts, even maintaining one's strength without decline was difficult.

Unless one cultivated martial arts to a profound level, strengthening the five internal organs and extending the body's functions, could one possess a longer golden age in which to advance along the martial path.

As these stray thoughts flashed through his mind, Jiang Ning's gaze swiftly swept over the titles on the bookshelf as he slowly moved forward.

Thanks to Give You a Treasure for 1 monthly ticket, 299585 for 2 monthly tickets, Mo Jia for 1 monthly ticket, Numeric Book Friend for 1 monthly ticket, and Lingka Luo'er for the 100-point reward from Peerless Beauty.

(End of chapter)