Deduction

On the training ground.

More than thirty outer court disciples formed up, then demonstrated the Mystic Eagle Stance before Mei Shuangfeng one by one.

"Your center of gravity is too high. Again!"

"Your lower stance is unsteady, like rotten floss in the wind. Practice it again!"

"Your eagle claws have no bones, limp and weak. Go lift a bluestone lock for one hour!"

"..."

With her hands clasped behind her back, Mei Shuangfeng paced through the lingering snow, inspecting them one by one.

Her face was as still as water, and her reprimands showed no mercy. She scolded many disciples until their faces flushed red, leaving them silent as cicadas in winter.

Until she came before Shen Xiuhan.

His entire sequence rose and fell in orderly rhythm, his lower stance as steady as Mount Li. In the rise and fall of his ten fingers, there was already the faint outline of an eagle snatching a rabbit.

At last, Mei Shuangfeng's expression eased slightly, and she gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Though she offered no verbal praise and merely paused briefly before moving on to the next person, such treatment had already been noticed by those with keen eyes in the yard.

The moment the assessment ended, everyone felt as though they had been granted a pardon. They scattered, rubbing their legs and resting.

Just then, a faint fragrant breeze of rouge and powder drifted quietly to Shen Xiuhan's side.

"Junior Brother Shen."

The newcomer wore a well-tailored crimson martial outfit that outlined her slender waist. With a lovely face, she cupped her fists and said:

"I am Luo Qiaoqian."

In the days since entering the hall, Shen Xiuhan had interacted little with anyone besides Xiao Wen.

Yet he had learned quite a bit about the backgrounds of the outer court disciples.

For instance, Luo Qiaoqian before him was a collateral descendant of the Luo Family in the inner city.

The Luo Family, together with the Bai, Ji, Han, and Wang clans, was known as Longcloud County's Five Great Families, with deep foundations indeed.

Shen Xiuhan nimbly flipped down from the wooden post and returned the salute with neither servility nor arrogance.

"Senior Sister Luo."

"There is no need for such formality, Junior Brother. I merely saw something I liked and wished to chat with you for a while."

Luo Qiaoqian smiled sweetly, her gaze circling over him.

"During the assessment just now, Master was quite pleased with Junior Brother Shen. At your pace, knocking open the Blood Gate and entering the inner court is surely only a matter of time."

"You overpraise me, Senior Sister."

Shen Xiuhan said without changing expression:

"All my senior brothers and sisters are ahead of me in cultivation. I am merely a stupid bird that flies first, unworthy of such excessive praise."

"Oh, Junior Brother, you are too modest..."

Luo Qiaoqian gave a delicate laugh, taking a light step closer by half an inch.

"Seeing Junior Brother train so diligently is truly rare. But the martial path has always stressed that 'three parts training, seven parts medicine.' If you only grind away at your qi and blood, I fear you may damage your very foundation..."

She paused, her beautiful eyes locking directly onto Shen Xiuhan's as she breathed out fragrance like orchids.

"Tonight, I have reserved a quiet private room at the Drunken Immortal Tower in the inner city. I have specially prepared some qi-and-blood medicinal dishes. Would Junior Brother honor me with your presence?"

Shen Xiuhan's gaze flickered.

Was this... recruitment?

Or rather... an appointment?

Over the past half month since entering the hall, though he had not socialized much, he had more or less figured out its inner workings.

For example, the inner court's several personal disciples were all experts who had knocked open Bright Force.

Yet aside from Second Senior Brother Xu Chuan, who supervised the outer court on behalf of their master, the others were nowhere to be seen.

Only after asking around did he learn that they had all gone to take up positions with the major powers in the inner city.

As the saying went, poor scholars, rich martial artists.

Once one entered Bright Force, every realm thereafter burned through real gold and silver!

The precious beast flesh that strengthened qi and blood, the costly medicinal broths that tempered sinews and bones—each was a bottomless pit that devoured gold.

Ordinary small households simply could not afford to support a Bright Force martial master.

Thus, any martial artist from a martial hall needed to find someone to attach themselves to and earn the resources needed for cultivation.

Serving as guest retainers and guards, martial instructors, or teaching masters for Longcloud County's wealthy clans, escort agencies, and medicine halls was undoubtedly the safest and most lucrative path.

As for collateral descendants of great clans like Luo Qiaoqian, at best they might one day muddle through as a manager in one of the family businesses. The family's true power and grand enterprises would never be theirs to touch.

Why would inner-city aristocratic families willingly pay tuition to send them into major martial halls? Merely to let them temper their qi and blood and learn a few fist techniques?

Of course not.

Their real task was to keep an eye on the promising talents emerging from the martial halls and place their bets early, drawing them in before they made their names!

But in Shen Xiuhan's eyes...

Luo Qiaoqian's invitation was nothing more than an idle move casually laid upon the board.

A martial apprentice who had not yet knocked open the Blood Gate and merely had a fairly practiced stance... what fucking investment value did he have?

This was nothing but a means aristocratic descendants commonly used to control people!

Spend a little money to forge goodwill in advance. If Shen Xiuhan one day entered Bright Force, she could naturally use this layer of "friendship" to bring him under her command.

If he remained stuck where he was for the rest of his life, then all she had lost would be the cost of a single meal and some wine.

One investment, ten thousandfold profit—guaranteed gains without loss.

So Shen Xiuhan did not hesitate for long before politely declining on the grounds that his aptitude was dull and he still needed to diligently practice his stance.

Just as he expected, Luo Qiaoqian's warm smile did not stiffen in the slightest. It remained as bright as before.

She nodded understandingly and left behind the words, "Junior Brother's heart for the martial path is steadfast, so this senior sister will not press you. We have plenty of time ahead," before turning away.

After all, these were idle moves cast with a wide net.

If this piece would not move, there would always be another willing to take the bait.

Several heavy snowfalls came one after another, and seven days slipped by in the blink of an eye.

During these days, Longcloud County was filled with the sound of wind and the cry of cranes, and the entire city discussed the dispute between the White Family and the Through-the-Back Martial Hall.

Since the gambling den had been shut down that day, the grudge between the two sides had only deepened.

Their disciples had even fought openly in the streets and markets of the outer city, leaving several seriously injured.

The conflict was clearly growing more intense.

Yesterday, Yan Xiao, master of the Through-the-Back Martial Hall, personally delivered a calling card and visited the White Family. He held a closed-door discussion with Bai Shan, the White Family head and the county constable of this county.

The result was an unhappy parting.

It was said that when Yan Xiao strode out of the White Estate with a dark face, his foot suddenly came down. The entire bluestone step beyond the threshold was crushed beneath his foot into powder, sending shattered stones flying.

Anyone with eyes could see that the two sides had essentially torn off all pretense.

The struggle ahead would only become fiercer!

Yet the raging storm outside did not affect Shen Xiuhan in the slightest.

Mei Martial Hall.

A corner of the training ground.

"Phew..."

Shen Xiuhan withdrew his stance and stood upright, expelling a breath of turbid air.

Fifteen full days of buried, grueling training, supplemented by three nourishing meals a day, had made his thin body much sturdier.

Compared to the frail, wind-blown appearance he had when he first entered the martial hall, it was like he had shed his bones and changed his body.

And today, Shen Xiuhan had finally performed the obscure and difficult Mystic Eagle Stance smoothly from beginning to end!

He had mastered all twenty-eight foundational stance forms!

Though he had only grasped their outer shape and had yet to feel his qi and blood surge forth.

Such progress was already enough to make those inner-city disciples look at him in a new light.

Over the past few days, people like Luo Qiaoqian had occasionally approached Shen Xiuhan to speak with him, even inviting him to gather at restaurants for drinks.

Shen Xiuhan politely declined every one of them, his manners impeccable.

Those seeking to recruit him did not react much, but the ordinary disciples gathered around them were filled with righteous indignation, secretly cursing him for failing to appreciate kindness.

Shen Xiuhan turned a deaf ear.

He had not learned martial arts for the eyes of others.

From beginning to end, his purpose in learning martial arts had been simple.

It was only so his old mother would no longer have to soak her hands in icy water during the bitterest winter days, washing and mending clothes for the powerful and wealthy.

It was only so his young little sister could sleep one full, peaceful night in this chaotic world.

And also so that he himself...

Could change heaven and alter fate!

This was his martial path.

And now...

The time had come.

Shen Xiuhan slowly closed his eyes, sinking his consciousness into the pale golden screen.

[Detectable martial art "Mystic Eagle Stance" can be deduced. Deduce?]

"...Yes."