A Different Road Ahead

Early the next morning.

Chen Mo rose even earlier than usual, before dawn had fully broken.

He packed his things, bade farewell to his parents and little sister, and slung his bundle over his back once more.

Before he left, Chen Shan gave him another reminder.

"Practice well at the martial hall. Don't try to show off."

Chen Mo nodded.

"Got it."

After thinking for a moment, he added:

"Even if I wanted to show off, I'd have to be able to beat someone first."

Chen Shan froze for a moment, then laughed.

"As long as you know your own measure."

"Dad, don't underestimate me."

Chen Mo said it with his mouth, but he laughed as well.

By the time Chen Mo arrived at Clear River Martial Hall, the sun had already risen.

People had already begun practicing in the training yard.

Chen Mo set down his bundle, changed into his clothes, and joined everyone in the morning training.

Basic Fist was still rather exhausting.

After only a few repetitions, his arms began to ache.

But compared to when he had first arrived, he had become much more proficient.

He had a rough idea of which movements were easy to get wrong and where the transitions always felt awkward.

After the morning training ended, the people in the training yard gradually dispersed.

Some disciples returned to their quarters to wipe off their sweat and change clothes, while others headed straight for the dining hall.

Chen Mo went over with Zhao Chuan.

Quite a few people were already seated in the dining hall.

The youths sat in twos and threes, eating as they chatted about their morning fist practice.

"Did you see Wang Lie's punch today?"

"I did. He nearly knocked the wooden post crooked with one punch."

"That strength of his really doesn't seem like it belongs to a newcomer."

Wang Lie himself acted as though he had not heard them, keeping his head lowered as he ate.

Zhao Chuan sat down, took two bites from his bowl, then suddenly said:

"Tell me, what do you think the martial halls in the county seat are like?"

The people beside him looked over.

"Why did you suddenly think of that?"

"I was just curious."

Zhao Chuan spoke as he ate.

"I once heard caravan people say that the county seat is much bigger than our Qinghe Town."

"The streets are packed with people from morning till night."

As he spoke, his voice grew louder.

"I heard a single courtyard there is bigger than this whole place."

"And they have loads of disciples too."

"They even have shops that specifically sell things for martial artists."

A youth beside him asked:

"What kind of things?"

Zhao Chuan thought for a moment.

"Medicine, all kinds of weapons, and things used for cultivation."

"I heard that people from some great Lineages grow up soaking in medicinal baths from childhood. They never lack such things."

He spoke with great confidence.

The more the others listened, the more serious they became.

Chen Mo listened too.

"Soaking in medicinal baths since childhood?"

He could not help laughing.

"Wouldn't that boil you alive?"

Zhao Chuan slapped the table.

"What do you know? That's called cultivation!"

"Have you ever soaked in one?"

"..."

Zhao Chuan was instantly left speechless.

Chen Mo burst out laughing.

But laughter aside, he was somewhat curious too.

If the county seat truly had that many cultivation resources, those people would surely have a much easier time practicing martial arts than they did.

Someone asked:

"Then are the martial artists in the county seat all very powerful?"

Zhao Chuan nodded.

"They're definitely stronger than us."

"If only I could go to the county seat someday and have a look."

"Maybe I could even enter a better martial hall."

When he said this, his eyes were filled with anticipation.

Chen Mo glanced at him.

"You really want to go?"

"Of course."

Zhao Chuan grinned.

"Who wouldn't want to go out and see the world?"

"I can't stay in Qinghe Town for my whole life, can I?"

Chen Mo thought about it.

"That's true."

He lowered his head and picked up a piece of meat.

"But first, save up enough money."

"I know."

Zhao Chuan paused.

"That's why I've started saving now."

After saying that, he touched the few copper coins he had received yesterday.

Chen Mo looked at him.

"Don't tell me you still haven't spent them?"

"Why would I spend them?"

Zhao Chuan looked utterly serious.

"This is my travel money."

Chen Mo was amused.

"You haven't even gotten the first stroke of the character yet, and you're already thinking about travel money."

Zhao Chuan snorted.

"Do you understand what dreams are?"

Laughter erupted around the table.

Chen Mo laughed along with them.

He actually wanted to go and see for himself too.

But Zhao Chuan longed for the bustle of the outside world, while what Chen Mo thought of was something else.

The martial halls in the county seat.

More medicinal herbs.

Stronger fists and kicks.

If those things were real, perhaps he would be able to come into contact with them someday too.

But it was still too early.

He had not even mastered the Basic Fist before his eyes.

"Wang Lie."

Zhao Chuan suddenly turned his head.

"What about you?"

Wang Lie was picking up some vegetables.

"Me?"

"You don't want to go to the county seat?"

Zhao Chuan asked.

"I heard there are many powerful people there."

"You could meet stronger martial artists in the future. Don't you want to exchange blows with them?"

Wang Lie fell silent for a while.

"We'll talk after I've practiced my fist well."

Zhao Chuan froze for a moment.

"You're not curious at all?"

Wang Lie shook his head.

"There's no use thinking about that now."

"If I haven't even mastered my fist, it'll be the same even if I go."

After saying that, he lowered his head and continued eating.

Zhao Chuan stared at him without speaking for a long while.

Then he could not help laughing.

"Is there nothing in your life besides practicing fist techniques?"

Wang Lie did not answer.

Chen Mo spoke from beside him.

"There is."

Zhao Chuan's interest was piqued.

"What?"

"Eating."

Zhao Chuan froze.

"Since when did you become so clever?"

"I've always been this clever."

Chen Mo laughed at his own words.

The dining hall grew increasingly noisy.

Some people talked about the county seat.

Some talked about martial techniques.

Others said that they would definitely become formal martial artists someday and venture out into the world.

At that moment, several apprentices who had paid to enter joined the conversation as well.

Zhao Ming rubbed his hands.

"Tell me, is practicing martial arts always like this?"

"Like what?"

"My hands hurt every day."

He held out his hands.

"I practiced all day yesterday, and when I woke up this morning, my hands were still sore."

Someone beside him laughed.

"It's only been a few days."

"You've got plenty more suffering ahead of you."

Zhao Ming pulled a bitter face.

"I used to think that once I entered a martial hall, I'd learn a few powerful fist techniques."

"Who knew we'd have to practice all these basics first?"

Chen Mo listened and glanced at his own hands as well.

The calluses on his palms and the rough skin were left behind by years of weaving bamboo baskets and chopping firewood.

Then he looked toward Zhao Ming and the others.

After practicing fists for the same day, some people's hands were merely a little red, while others were already covered in old calluses.

Chen Mo lightly flexed his wrist.

He had always thought these things about himself were ordinary.

Only now did he realize they were not entirely useless.

At least when practicing Basic Fist, he could hold out a little longer than those who had never done heavy labor since childhood.

The thought made him feel slightly pleased with himself.

"What are you looking at?"

Zhao Chuan asked.

"Nothing."

Chen Mo picked up a bite of food.

"I just think these hands of mine are pretty useful."

Zhao Chuan glanced at them.

"What can those hands of yours do?"

"Weave baskets."

"..."

Zhao Chuan burst out laughing.

"You really have great prospects."

"That's still a skill."

The two traded a few more barbs.

After they finished eating, Zhao Chuan kept talking.

"I heard the county seat holds martial school competitions every year."

"Young martial artists from all over take part."

"The winners might even catch the eye of the martial schools in the county seat."

The eyes of several youths nearby lit up as they listened.

"Really?"

Zhao Chuan said:

"The caravan people said it themselves."

"But whether it's true or not, I don't know."

After hearing that, Chen Mo's heart itched a little too.

Not because of the rankings.

But because, for the first time, he felt that beyond Qinghe Town, there truly seemed to be a vast world.

There were more martial schools there.

More martial artists.

More things he had never seen.

Before, those had merely been stories from other people's mouths.

Now, he had already entered a martial school.

If he really got the chance someday, he wanted to see it with his own eyes.

But the thought flashed through his mind and vanished.

He lowered his head and looked at his fist.

"First, learn this properly."

Zhao Chuan patted his shoulder.

"Come on."

"We still have to train this afternoon."

Chen Mo stood up.

"I'm coming."

The two left the dining hall.

When they reached the edge of the training ground, Chen Mo unconsciously glanced outside the martial school.

That was Qinghe Town.

He had lived there since childhood.

He used to think Qinghe Town was already big enough.

Only now did he know that there was an even larger county seat beyond it.

And more people.

More martial schools.

Chen Mo stood there for a while.

Then he shook his head.

"Why think so far ahead?"

Zhao Chuan had already walked several steps away.

"Chen Mo, hurry up!"

"Got it!"

Chen Mo chased after him.

The afternoon sunlight spilled into the training ground.

Their figures soon blended back into the crowd of people practicing fists.