Willow Stake

Though it was called a martial hall, it was really more of a private residence.

It had two courtyards. The front courtyard was used to teach martial arts, while the rear courtyard was where people lived.

Quite a few weapons were displayed in the front courtyard, and many men were sweating as they practiced martial arts.

On the way here, Gu Zheng had introduced the martial hall's owner to Zhou Muyun.

Li Qingliang had once been an Attendant of a great Lineage. Later, he suffered a lingering injury and returned to Yunlin County to open this martial hall.

"Constable Gu, I already told Master. He asked you to bring the boy to the rear courtyard."

The man who had opened the door earlier jogged over from the rear courtyard and spoke to them.

"Thank you for the trouble."

"No trouble at all. It's only what I should do."

Gu Zheng cupped his fists toward the man in thanks, then led Zhou Muyun toward the rear courtyard.

The two entered the rear courtyard one after the other. Before them lay a neat little yard, with bamboo groves and flowerbeds that gave it a refined charm.

A stone table and several stone stools stood in the middle of the yard. A man was seated on one of the stools.

The man had graying hair and wore a black short tunic. His body was packed with muscles, and his arms bore many old scars. He looked vigorous and full of life.

His eyes in particular were sharp and spirited.

"Master Li, sorry to disturb you," Gu Zheng said with cupped fists.

"So you're the one who wants to become my disciple? How old are you?" Li Qingliang nodded, sweeping his gaze over Zhou Muyun as he asked.

Zhou Muyun cupped his fists and bowed slightly. "This junior is Zhou Muyun. I just turned sixteen, and I'm a native of Yunlin County. I live in Withered Well Alley."

Li Qingliang beckoned Zhou Muyun over, rose to his feet, and reached out to feel his meridians.

Zhou Muyun only felt those hands clamp down like iron pincers, causing him sharp pain, but he endured it without making a sound.

"You didn't lie about your age. Your bones haven't fully set, so it's not too late to begin martial arts. With Constable Gu vouching for your background, there's no problem. Do you know the rules?"

"This junior knows. Eight taels of silver for half a year."

Zhou Muyun took out his money pouch and respectfully offered eight taels of silver with both hands.

Li Qingliang accepted the silver and put it away.

Then his tone turned stern. "When the tuition period ends, you must renew it. If you don't, I won't recognize you as a disciple.

And learning martial arts means enduring hardship. If you can't endure hardship, your skills will remain poor. Don't turn around and blame me for not teaching you properly!"

"This disciple will remember!"

"Mo Qi, take your new junior brother around the martial hall and let him get familiar with the place," Li Qingliang called toward the front courtyard in a booming voice.

A tall man with an honest, simple-looking face walked in from the front courtyard and respectfully replied, "Yes, Master."

"Come on. I'll show you around." Mo Qi grinned.

Seeing that Zhou Muyun had successfully become a disciple, Gu Zheng also smiled.

After bidding Li Qingliang farewell, he instructed, "Little Yun, now that you've successfully become a disciple, work hard. I'll head back to the County Commandant's Office first."

"Got it, Brother Gu Zheng. Thank you so much."

"No need for that. We're neighbors. It's only right."

With that, Gu Zheng left first, while Zhou Muyun followed Mo Qi around the martial hall.

The rear courtyard was Li Qingliang's private residence. Without being summoned, it was off-limits to disciples.

The front courtyard, on the other hand, belonged entirely to the disciples. It had a training ground, dining hall, bathing area, and changing room. Though small, it had everything it needed.

Mo Qi was among the earlier batch of disciples who had followed Li Qingliang. By seniority, Zhou Muyun had to call him Fifth Senior Brother.

Mo Qi told Zhou Muyun that Master usually kept a low profile, so he also had several requirements for his disciples:

First, they were not to cause trouble. Anyone who did would be expelled from the martial hall.

Second, they were not to use their martial arts to bully others, oppress men and women, or tarnish the martial hall's reputation.

Third, when forced to act, they were not to reveal their school. They had to bear their own troubles themselves.

Fourth, they had to respect their elders and teachers. They were not to disregard seniority or act arrogant and overbearing."

After hearing this, Zhou Muyun nodded repeatedly and said he would keep it firmly in mind.

Mo Qi also took him to collect a set of training clothes. They were covered in patches, clearly having been mended many times.

Soon, it was lunchtime. The martial hall provided each disciple with two large steamed buns and a plate of vegetables. There was no meat for the time being.

Even so, Zhou Muyun ate with great satisfaction. Compared to watery porridge, these buns tasted incomparably sweet.

He immediately felt that the tuition was somewhat worth it.

The martial hall did not only provide lunch. Breakfast and dinner were included as well, and he had heard that a plate of meat was served every ten days.

After lunch, Li Qingliang found Zhou Muyun and brought him alone to the rear courtyard.

"You only entered today, so for the next few days, I'll teach you martial arts personally."

"Thank you, Master." Zhou Muyun nodded excitedly.

Martial arts! He was finally going to come into contact with them.

He wanted to know whether martial arts in this world were as miraculous as those in novels.

Li Qingliang brought him before a row of wooden stakes and lightly leaped onto one like a swallow.

"Martial arts are not fancy displays, nor are they fixed moves. To learn them well, the first step is to build a solid foundation.

To practice martial arts is to temper the body and refine one's vitality and blood. There can be no slackness whatsoever.

At Greenwood Martial Hall, we practice the Willow Stake and train in the Flurry Fist. Now, I'll teach you how to stand the stake!"

Li Qingliang stood atop the stake in a strange stance. His arms hung at his sides like drooping willow branches, his knees slightly bent, and his lower body resembled the trunk of a willow tree, seamlessly united and exuding a steady aura.

The slender wooden stake formed a stark contrast with his powerful body, as though a massive willow tree had taken root firmly atop it.

"The Willow Stake takes its meaning from willows hanging in the wind," Li Qingliang declared. "Let the wind blow and rain lash—I remain unmoving!"

"Give it a try."

"Yes, Master."

Zhou Muyun copied his movements, stepping onto a wooden stake and assuming the Willow Stake stance.

At first, it was fine. But before long, he felt dizzy and drenched in sweat.

This seemingly simple stake stance required constant exertion. The muscles throughout his body strained against one another, making it truly grueling.

It seemed learning martial arts wasn't so simple after all!

Forcing himself to endure the soreness, Zhou Muyun stepped down from the stake. Panting heavily, he asked, "Master, are there realms in martial arts? How are they divided?"

Li Qingliang explained, "The Willow Stake I'm teaching you has the stages of minor mastery, major mastery, and perfection. They correspond respectively to the three martial realms: Body Tempering, Viscera Refinement, and Blood Exchange.

The Body Tempering Realm is the threshold that disciples like you, who have just entered, must overcome.

So-called body tempering means polishing your vitality and blood to the limit, then sensing that trace of blood force. Only then can you enter the Body Tempering Realm. Only then can you truly be considered to have stepped onto the martial path."

Hearing this, Zhou Muyun finally gained a faint understanding of the martial path in this world.

One must enter Body Tempering before truly getting started. Doesn't that mean I only have half a year?

Zhou Muyun hurriedly asked, "Master, how long does it take to sense blood force?"

Li Qingliang chuckled. "How long? Over the years, I've taught countless disciples, yet fewer than thirty percent truly entered the martial path.

If one comes from a wealthy Household and can support oneself with medicinal herbs and meat, the chances are much higher.

Also, each attempt to break through a realm is fine if it succeeds. But if it fails, it damages one's foundation. After too many failures, the martial path will be cut off!"

The martial path is this difficult?

No wonder Master, as a martial artist, could own such a sizable courtyard at the edge of the inner city, Zhou Muyun thought.

"Enough. That's all I'll teach you today. Go practice diligently and do not slack off!"

"This disciple will remember."

After Zhou Muyun turned and left the rear courtyard, heading toward the front courtyard, he thought as he walked.

There were three martial realms, and each should have its own threshold.

They might be obstacles to ordinary people, but they should not be a problem for him.

He possessed the destiny, Stairway to Godhood.

There would be gains for every effort he made. That was his advantage!

He had to work even harder in order to make the most of it.

Once he reached the outer courtyard, Zhou Muyun began practicing the Willow Stake.

Standing on the wooden stake in the Willow Stake stance, his entire body soon began to tremble, and sweat poured down his face.

But this time, he did not immediately give up. He gritted his teeth and persisted for a while before finally stepping down.

He repeated this over and over as time passed.

About half an hour later, golden light flashed in his mind.

[Heaven rewards diligence; every effort brings gain. Diligence points are settled daily.]

[Willow Stake Initiated (1/600)]

I've entered the beginner stage! Just as I expected.

Seeing the information on the panel, Zhou Muyun began practicing even more vigorously.

When his training clothes were soaked through, he took them off and practiced bare-chested.

He wolfed down the two large steamed buns at dinner. For one thing, he truly was hungry after training all afternoon.

For another, he felt that since he possessed such a destiny, he should work harder and escape his predicament as soon as possible.

Many disciples saw Zhou Muyun practicing so hard and merely assumed that the newly initiated disciple was acting on a burst of enthusiasm.

Some even secretly bet on how many days he could last.

Meanwhile, Zhou Muyun simply trained the Willow Stake alone on the training ground.

Once... twice...