Old Learners Set Out

The next morning, people from the County Office arrived at the entrance of Blue Martial Arts Hall.

They were not runners who delivered documents on ordinary days, but two brawny men dressed in short jackets, swords hanging from their waists.

Before the horses had even come to a full stop, one of them swung down and handed a document wrapped in oiled cloth to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper took it and merely glanced at it, but his expression immediately changed.

"Where's the hall master?"

"He's in the rear courtyard."

"Sorry for the trouble, but please inform him."

Before long, Instructor Li hurried out from inside.

He did not greet them first as he usually did, nor did he say much. He took the document, read it once, then looked up.

"Come with me."

The two runners followed him into the rear courtyard.

The courtyard gate soon closed.

The apprentices in the Outer Courtyard naturally had no idea what was being discussed inside. They only knew that this document seemed far weightier than usual.

The news still came from the kitchen.

"Did the County Office send another assignment?"

"Seems to be to the west."

"Weren't there always missions to the west?"

"This time's different."

"How is it different?"

"I heard they're going into the mountains."

As soon as those words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Soon, someone lowered his voice and said:

"Wasn't it just supposed to be a patrol?"

"How would I know? Anyway, they called for the senior learners this time."

"How many?"

"Seven, I think."

"Seven?"

Zhao Chuan had just walked over with his rice bowl when he heard that. His eyes immediately lit up.

"Seven senior learners going out together?"

The man nodded.

Zhao Chuan set his rice bowl down on the table.

"Then this definitely isn't a minor assignment."

Zhou Ye sat beside him, lowering his head as he continued eating.

"Don't get excited so quickly."

"Was I getting excited?"

"Your eyes are practically glowing."

Zhao Chuan touched his face.

"Are they?"

Wang Lie sat on the other side without saying anything.

He merely raised his head and glanced toward the rear courtyard.

Chen Mo followed his gaze.

The rear courtyard gate was tightly shut.

After a while, the hall master and Instructor Li came out one after the other.

The hall master's expression was not much different from usual, but he paused as he passed through the Outer Courtyard.

"Train your punches as usual today."

"Do what you're supposed to do."

"Don't gather around and watch the rear courtyard."

His voice was not loud, yet the people who had been preparing to go over and watch the excitement all shrank back.

Zhao Chuan whispered:

"The more you say that, the more I want to look."

Zhou Ye shot him a glance.

"If you really want to look, wait until Instructor Li hauls you back and then talk."

"..."

Zhao Chuan immediately shut his mouth.

The morning training did not stop.

But it was obvious that no one's mind was completely on their punches.

On ordinary days, someone in the Outer Courtyard would always chat halfway through training.

Today, however, it was much quieter.

Smack!

The wooden post trembled slightly after being struck by a punch.

Chen Mo withdrew his fist and took a step back.

He did not continue punching, instead shaking his wrist.

Beside him, Zhao Chuan had already looked toward the rear courtyard for the fourth time.

Chen Mo could not help saying:

"Are you practicing punches or watching the gate today?"

"Of course I'm practicing punches."

"Then what do you keep looking at?"

"I'm checking whether anyone's come out."

"..."

Chen Mo could not be bothered with him.

Not far away, several senior learners were packing their things.

They were different from the newcomers in the Outer Courtyard, who had only recently joined the hall.

Although their clothes were not especially good either, they were clearly much sturdier.

One person changed his leg wraps.

Another inspected his short blade.

Someone else put on an old leather cuirass and lowered his head to fasten it tightly.

There were seven of them in all.

One of them was around thirty, with a composed expression and broad, sturdy shoulders.

He was the leader for this assignment.

Instructor He.

He had been at Blue Martial Arts Hall for many years.

He rarely taught disciples from the Outer Courtyard. Only when there was an assignment outside would the hall master have him lead the group.

Zhao Chuan stared until his eyes went straight.

"Now this is what you call martial arts."

Zhou Ye followed his gaze for a while.

"Were you not practicing martial arts before?"

"I mean this kind."

Zhao Chuan pointed at those people.

"Carrying blades, wearing armor, going out to handle assignments, and even getting paid. Once I've trained for a few years, I'll go too."

"First, get your Seventy-Three Forms steady."

"Of course."

After saying that, Zhao Chuan lowered his voice again.

"Let me tell you, if I can really become like them someday, my family will definitely be thrilled."

Zhou Ye let out a laugh.

"First save up your own food money, then talk."

"I just eat more because I train more."

As the two bickered, Zhao Ming was also standing among the crowd.

He was quieter than usual today.

It was not until a senior learner walked past him that he could not help speaking.

"Senior Brother."

The man stopped.

"What is it?"

Zhao Ming glanced at the blade at his waist.

"This time... are you really going west to suppress the mountain beasts?"

"That's what the County Office document says."

"Is it dangerous?"

The senior learner looked at him.

"How could suppressing mountain beasts not be dangerous?"

With that, he left.

Zhao Ming stood where he was. The excitement on his face had not completely vanished, but it had clearly faded.

Someone beside him laughed and said:

"What are you afraid of? Once we train to Senior Brother's level, we'll be able to go too."

Zhao Ming immediately chimed in.

"Exactly."

"In a few years, I'll definitely be able to do it too."

His voice was louder than before as he said this.

It was as if he were telling the people beside him.

And as if he were telling himself.

Wang Lie did not join in.

He kept staring at the senior learners' feet.

He examined their leg wraps, their soles, and the positions of the short blades at their waists.

After a while, he suddenly asked:

"Why are they all carrying short blades?"

Zhou Ye said:

"They're convenient in close combat."

"No."

Wang Lie shook his head.

"I've seen them go out on assignments before. Not everyone carried one."

Zhou Ye took another look as well.

"There are indeed more this time."

Chen Mo said nothing.

He recalled the injuries on several senior learners when they had returned a few days earlier.

One had an arm wrapped in cloth.

Another had been walking with a slight limp.

There was also one whose facial scrapes had yet to heal.

No one had been willing to say much at the time.

Now, with all seven carrying blades and wearing armor,

the matter was clearly not an ordinary medicine delivery or road repair.

But he could not say exactly what was wrong.

In the afternoon, Instructor Li called the seven people to the entrance.

The new learners consciously moved farther away.

No one laughed or chatted loudly anymore.

Instructor He stood at the front.

The hall master only said a few words.

"The County Office requires you to go to the mountain forests on the western side."

"The mission will mainly involve suppressing and driving away mountain beasts."

"If you encounter anything unusual, do not venture deeper on your own."

Instructor He nodded.

"Understood."

The hall master looked toward the others.

"Remember, avoid it if you can."

"Don't overreach."

"Clearing them out isn't sending you to your deaths."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the few young apprentices froze for a moment.

The hall master rarely said things like that.

Instructor Li added afterward:

"When you return, report that you're safe before turning in the mission."

"Understood."

The seven men answered in unison.

Chen Mo stood at the back of the group.

He suddenly felt the weight of those words.

Not because their content was frightening.

But because Instructor Li had spoken with such gravity.

Before they left, Zhao Ming still couldn't help edging forward.

"Senior Brother!"

One of the older students turned around.

Zhao Ming said with a grin:

"When you come back, I'll have to ask you to teach me a few moves."

The man smiled too.

"Sure."

"Come back and talk after you've trained to my level."

Zhao Chuan called from the side:

"Senior Brother, remember to tell us about the mountains!"

"Got it."

"Make sure you tell us every detail!"

"You sure do ask a lot of questions, kid."

At last, a bit of laughter rose in the courtyard.

The seven men swung onto their horses.

Instructor He led the way.

The hooves trampled across the bluestone road, their sound fading little by little into the distance.

Zhao Chuan kept watching until their figures turned the corner, only then withdrawing his gaze.

"I'm so envious."

Zhou Ye said:

"Envious of what?"

"Envious that they get to accomplish something so grand."

Zhao Ming nodded as well.

"I'll go too someday."

Wang Lie merely lowered his head and looked at his own hands.

Chen Mo stood beside him without saying a word.

After a moment, he turned around.

"Let's go."

"Where are you going?"

"To practice my punches."

Zhao Chuan paused.

"Didn't you just finish training?"

"Again."

With that, Chen Mo was already walking toward the training ground.

Zhao Chuan glanced at him, then at the now-empty street corner.

"This guy..."

Zhou Ye chuckled.

"Come on."

The others followed him back into the courtyard.

At dusk, the gates of the Blue Martial Arts Hall were closed once more.

The street outside gradually fell silent.

Inside, beside the wooden posts, the muffled thuds of fists and feet striking them rang out once again.