Huang Sihai nodded slightly, seemingly fairly satisfied with Li Xiuwen's performance.
Li Xiuwen had only trained for a day, yet he could already feel a stinging pain in the acupoints throughout his body. He stood a chance of reaching entry level within half a month.
He couldn't compare to A Chun, who had reached entry level in three days, but he was far better than Liu Daqiang, who had become a disciple a month ago.
After all, judging by Huang Sihai's examination of his bones, Li Xiuwen's martial constitution wasn't much better than Liu Da's.
A Chun's martial constitution came close to a superior physique.
All he could say was that this kid's inner bone constitution might be decent.
What a shame he started fist training so late. Had he come earlier, he might have been able to defy fate and change his destiny, Old Huang thought.
After a full day of training, Li Xiuwen reached his limit. He was nearly spent, his legs weak.
"That's enough. We'll stop here for today," Huang Sihai said.
"Whew..." Li Xiuwen collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
No wonder plenty of people refused to learn martial arts even when they had the money.
It was sheer torture!
If you had money, finding a way to get a pistol or hiring a martial artist as a bodyguard was a thousand times more cost-effective than training yourself!
Huang Sihai said, "Once your arms take on a faint bluish sheen, your tendons become like great pythons, and your skin grows as tough as cowhide, so ordinary people can't hurt you with their blows, you'll have reached entry level.
"From now on, I won't guide you personally. Train with everyone else and exchange what you've learned. A master leads you through the door, but your progress depends on you."
With that, Huang Sihai ended the lesson.
Lying on the floor, Li Xiuwen remembered that Brother Ji's arms had possessed exactly the "faint bluish sheen" Master Huang had described.
Looking back with what he knew now, Brother Ji hadn't been all that strong. He was merely at entry level.
The night was black as ink.
As countless lights shone in the Walled City,
"Master Huang." A short-haired youth in a black Tang suit, roughly six feet tall, strode through the Martial Arts Hall's entrance with powerful, confident steps, his eyes bright.
"Hahaha, Thunder Boy!" Genuine delight appeared on Huang Sihai's face as he went out to greet him.
The students also looked pleasantly surprised and full of admiration, each offering a greeting.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao!"
Li Xiuwen, who had just recovered his strength, hauled himself upright to welcome him too. He asked quietly, "Brother Chen, who's this big shot?"
Old Chen whispered, "That's Xiao Tianhong, one of the Four Seas Three Heroes. He used to be a Second-Floor Disciple."
"Second Floor?"
"You've only just arrived, so you wouldn't know..."
Only after listening to Old Chen's explanation did Li Xiuwen understand what "Second Floor" meant.
The Four Seas Martial Arts Hall occupied the first and second floors of this building.
Newcomers all trained on the first floor.
Anyone who earned Huang Sihai's appreciation could train on the second floor.
Among themselves, the students called the first floor the "Lower Hall" and the second floor the "Upper Hall."
Those who trained on the second floor were the elite of the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, and every one of them strutted around with their nose in the air.
"Are there any benefits to training on the second floor?" Li Xiuwen asked.
"You get more guidance from Huang Sihai, and the monthly fee is waived. I don't know what other hidden benefits there are. Those Second-Floor Disciples keep their mouths tightly shut."
Xiao Tianhong seemed cheerful and easygoing, without any airs. He greeted everyone in turn. When he saw Li Xiuwen, he smiled. "New here?"
Li Xiuwen nodded. "Li Xiuwen. I only joined two days ago. Greetings, Senior Brother Xiao."
Huang Sihai smiled. "A Wen, your Senior Brother Xiao became my disciple three years ago, but he's already completed his training. He now trains at the Learning Society.
"Forget about the likes of Mr. Ming and Inspector Lei. If you achieve even half as much as your Senior Brother Xiao in your lifetime, that'll be enough to bring honor to your ancestors."
Li Xiuwen cupped his fist in salute. "I've long heard of your accomplishments, Senior Brother. My admiration for you truly flows like a mighty river, endless and unbroken!"
Completing one's training meant a disciple's strength was about equal to his master's, leaving the master with nothing more to teach.
That meant Xiao Tianhong had traveled the road Huang Sihai had spent so many years walking in less than three years. What a beast!
Xiao Tianhong laughed heartily and patted Li Xiuwen's shoulder. "We only met today, but for that bit of flattery alone, I'll have to look out for you from now on!"
"You're a generous man, Senior Brother!"
Xiao Tianhong announced, "Tonight, we're all having dinner at the teahouse. My treat, so eat your fill! Master Huang, does that sound good?"
Huang Sihai paused, then smiled. "Sure. You're paying, after all."
"Hahaha, you haven't changed a bit, Master Huang."
At dinner,
Li Xiuwen kept his head down and ate his meat and vegetables, polishing off five bowls of rice in a row. Food really did taste better when someone else was paying.
Throughout the meal, the students flattered Xiao Tianhong to their hearts' content.
"Senior Brother Xiao, you're so generous!"
"Tianhong, how are things at the Learning Society?" Huang Sihai asked.
"Very good," Xiao Tianhong said. "Brother Beiwang and Sister Qiuxiang take good care of me."
"Everyone who gets into the Learning Society is a prodigy. In all the years our hall has been around, only you Three Heroes have made it in. The competition there is fierce. You need to support one another."
Li Xiuwen watched Huang Sihai, who was as kindly as an old father-a completely different man from the one who faced them first-floor disciples.
I need to find a way onto the second floor. Li Xiuwen made up his mind. Getting there would mean more resources directed his way, giving him a better chance of entering the Learning Society.
Partway through the meal, Xiao Tianhong drew Huang Sihai aside to speak privately elsewhere.
The other students said their goodbyes and left once they finished eating.
Only Xiao Tianhong and his master, Huang Sihai, remained in the old teahouse.
"Thunder Boy, have you come this time because you've passed the Three Gates?"
"I have."
"You've passed the Three Gates at sixteen. You're far better than these old bones of mine! You have a chance of securing your peak permanently before your vitality starts to decline!"
Huang Sihai spoke with emotion, unable to hide the pride and gratification in his eyes.
"Master Huang, how have you been lately? Cultivation really is difficult after passing the Three Gates," Xiao Tianhong sighed.
"I'm about to enter the declining phase," Huang Sihai said. "For now, diligent training and medicinal supplements still let me make a little progress.
"But if I haven't secured my peak permanently by around forty, even maintaining my current level will be difficult once I grow old."
"Don't give up, Master Huang!" Xiao Tianhong said, taking Huang Sihai's hand. "Once I make something of myself, I'll find you the best medicinal supplements!"
Huang Sihai laughed heartily. "The thought is enough. If you get medicine that good, you'd be better off taking it yourself."
"Oh, right, Master Huang. How talented is A Wen, the one who joined this month?"
"He's very diligent. His outer bone constitution is ordinary, but his inner bone constitution might be decent... Unfortunately, he's too old. It'll be very difficult."
"Then it looks like A Chun is the one with a chance of joining our circle and becoming the fourth hero."
"A Chun has a good martial constitution. Getting onto the second floor should be a sure thing... But whether A Chun can enter the Learning Society and become the fourth hero depends on fate."
Chen's Rice Noodle Factory, Longjin Road.
Li Xiuwen returned home and flopped onto his bed to rest.
"Why are you limping?" Aunt-in-law looked at Li Xiuwen with concern. "Did you get into a fight?"
"No. I started proper fist training today, and my body hasn't adjusted yet," Li Xiuwen said.
"Was it hard?"
"Much harder than I imagined."
"A Wen, tell me if you can't take it. There's no need to force yourself."
"Don't underestimate my martial resolve!"
"You brat... This was only one day. From now on, it'll be day after day, year after year. Even a superman couldn't stand it."
"You need to have faith in me, Aunt-in-law. I'm doing pretty well at the Martial Arts Hall."
"I knew it. We Lis are no slouches."
Before you continue