Joining the Martial Arts Academy

The next day, before dawn had broken.

Fang Han did not disturb anyone. He dressed in the dark, tucked the iron box he had dug up the night before into his robe, and slipped out without a sound.

Mud Bay Alley was quiet. Now and then, vendors heading for the morning market passed by.

Fang Han kept his head lowered and walked quickly. After leaving Mud Bay Alley, he changed in an unoccupied corner into the old clothes, straw hat, and mask that covered half his face, all prepared the night before.

Once dressed, he smeared a handful of wood ash across his face, blackening it completely so no one could make out his true appearance.

Only after finishing all this did Fang Han feel at ease enough to head for the Black Market in the Outer City.

The Black Market lay deep within a shantytown in the western part of the Outer City.

On the surface, it was a marketplace dealing in sundries. Beneath the surface, anything could be traded there. Fish and dragons mingled in its murky waters, and forces from every side crossed paths.

Fang Han blended into the crowd, lowered the brim of his straw hat, and wound his way through several turns before finding a medicine shop that appeared fairly reputable.

An old man, dry and gaunt, stood watch in the shop. Seeing someone enter, he asked without even lifting his head from behind the counter, "What are you buying?"

Fang Han said nothing. Seeing that the old man was the only person in the shop, he quickly stepped up to the counter.

"Do you buy medicinal herbs?"

Only then did the old man raise his head. He looked Fang Han over and said, "What sort of herb? Take it out and let me see."

Without hesitation, Fang Han took the iron box from his clothes and opened it, revealing the Jade-whisker Ginseng.

The old man narrowed his eyes and leaned closer, inspecting it carefully. He gently touched the ginseng whiskers, sniffed its medicinal scent, and quickly named a price.

"Fifty-year Jade-whisker Ginseng, in excellent condition. Fine goods."

Fang Han inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, though his expression did not change. "Name your price."

The old man glanced at him and held up four fingers. "Forty taels."

Fang Han's heart sank. This old fox had likely seen that he was in a hurry to sell and had slashed ten taels off the price without a word.

To be fair, Fang Han truly wanted to haggle with him.

Having sold fish at the fish market for years, he was no stranger to bargaining.

But after giving it a second thought, he decided it was better to get rid of this scalding-hot Jade-whisker Ginseng as soon as possible.

The Black Market was the sort of place where every extra moment meant another measure of danger.

If someone with ill intent set their sights on him, forget forty taels—he might leave his life here as well.

"Fine."

The old man was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Fang Han to agree so readily.

He turned around, took forty taels of silver from a cabinet, and handed them to Fang Han, then carefully put the Jade-whisker Ginseng away in a jade box.

Fang Han carefully stored the silver away and turned to leave.

After quickly exiting the Black Market, he wandered through the nearby shantytown in circles several times. Only after confirming no one was following him did he return to Mud Bay Alley.

He found several familiar and extremely well-hidden spots, then separately concealed twenty-five taels of silver.

Next, he returned to his small fishing boat to change back into his clothes. He took out the fifteen taels of household silver he had hidden on his person, made up thirty taels, and headed straight for the Outer City.

Outer City, Prefectural Office Street, Flood Peak Martial Arts Academy.

A plaque bearing four large gilded characters hung above the imposing gatehouse, glittering brilliantly beneath the sun.

Two stone lions stood on either side of the academy entrance, baring fangs and brandishing claws. The vermilion gates were tightly shut, radiating an aura that warned strangers to keep away.

Standing before the academy, Fang Han could not help feeling excited.

Once he took this step inside, another road would unfold beneath his feet!

Fang Han took a deep breath and stepped forward to knock.

Knock, knock, knock. No one answered.

He knocked three more times. This time, the door finally opened, and a young woman came out.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a high ponytail. Her features were not especially beautiful, but she gave off a crisp, capable air.

Her eyes in particular were sharply defined, bright and spirited. At a glance, one could tell she practiced martial arts.

Lin Rou looked Fang Han up and down, then her gaze fell upon his faded old clothes, washed nearly white and patched in several places. Her willow-leaf brows creased ever so slightly.

"There's no work here. Go ask somewhere else."

As soon as she spoke, Lin Rou made to close the door.

Fang Han froze. Seeing that she had misunderstood him, he hurriedly clasped his hands in salute. "Miss, you misunderstand. I came to enroll and learn martial arts."

Lin Rou's hand paused. She studied Fang Han once more, and this time, her eyes carried a hint of astonishment.

"You came to learn martial arts?"

"Exactly."

Lin Rou fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "My name is Lin Rou, a disciple of the academy's Outer Court. Wait here. I'll call someone over."

With that, she turned and went inside. Before long, a young man came out with her.

The man looked to be in his twenties. He was thin, plain-faced, and steady of step; he made no sound at all as he walked.

"This is Inner Court Senior Brother Huo Zheng. He handles enrollment for Outer Court apprentices," Lin Rou introduced.

Huo Zheng nodded to Fang Han and asked in an even tone, "Since you're here to enroll, come in."

Fang Han followed the two into the martial arts academy.

Beyond the gates was an extremely spacious training yard. Neatly laid bluestone slabs paved the ground, weapon racks stood against the walls, and all eighteen kinds of weapons were available.

More than a dozen youths in gray training uniforms were either holding horse stances or throwing punches.

Fang Han could not help taking a few extra looks, excitement rising in his heart once again.

This was a martial arts academy.

Soon, he too would become one of them.

Huo Zheng led Fang Han toward the enrollment desk and asked as they walked,

"What's your name, little brother?"

"Fang Han."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-three this year."

"Where do you live?"

"Mud Bay Alley in the Outer City."

Huo Zheng stopped and stared at Fang Han. "The slums?"

Fang Han nodded.

"What does your family do for a living?"

"Fishing."

Huo Zheng fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Have you had your bones examined?"

"I have. Lower-grade Bone Constitution."

The moment the words "Lower-grade Bone Constitution" left his mouth, Huo Zheng came to a complete stop.

He turned around to look at Fang Han, frowning.

"Twenty-three years old, Lower-grade Bone Constitution, and from Mud Bay Alley besides."

Huo Zheng sighed. His gaze was calm as he looked directly into Fang Han's eyes, his tone sincere.

"Little Brother Fang, there are some things I must make clear, so you do not regret this in the future."

He pointed toward the apprentices training in the yard. "They all entered the academy at fourteen or fifteen, and all possess Middle-grade Bone Constitutions.

There is a golden age for martial training. You're already twenty-three, so you're starting far behind them.

On top of that, you have a Lower-grade Bone Constitution. It will be exceedingly difficult for you to achieve anything in the future."

"Senior Brother Huo is right," Lin Rou agreed from the side.

Huo Zheng continued, "So I advise you to take these thirty taels and go back to live a good life while you have not yet paid. The road of martial arts truly is not one that everyone can walk."

Hearing Huo Zheng's words, Fang Han's heart remained utterly still.

He understood that the other man meant well. Huo Zheng's eyes were upright and clear, his tone earnest, and there was no trace of disdain in his manner.

Fang Han clasped his hands and gave Huo Zheng a solemn bow.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Huo, for speaking frankly, and thank you, Senior Sister Lin, for the reminder. But on the matter of learning martial arts, my mind is made up."

He raised his head, his gaze calm. "If Flood Peak Martial Arts Academy will not accept me, then I'll go to another academy. If one will not do, I'll try another, until there is an academy willing to take me."

Huo Zheng fell silent. Looking at Fang Han, a trace of complicated emotion flashed through his eyes.

Lin Rou muttered softly, saying something along the lines of "refusing to recognize good intentions."

"Fine. Then let's enroll you."

Huo Zheng shook his head, said no more, and led Fang Han to register.

Once the enrollment was complete, Fang Han received a gray training uniform and a fist manual titled Gale-Breaking Fist.

Huo Zheng had already left, leaving only Lin Rou beside Fang Han.

"I'll explain some of the academy rules to you now. Remember them well."

"If you can read, you have one day to study the fist manual in the academy. If you cannot read, you may find someone to teach you.

Once you have finished reading the manual, you must return it. At that time, Senior Brother Huo will teach you three times—only three times. Whether you can learn the Gale-Breaking Fist depends on yourself.

Also, the academy provides a free lunch every day, including meat and Blood-Qi Soup;

Apprentices are not official disciples and may not use the academy's name to cause trouble outside;

The Outer Court assesses cultivation progress once every ten days. If you rank near the top, you will receive additional rewards..."

Lin Rou patiently explained the academy's rules, and Fang Han committed every one of them to memory.

After Lin Rou left, Fang Han looked at the fist manual in his hands and sighed inwardly. At last, the gate of martial arts had opened before him.