Ninggan Street, Su Residence.
Qin Geng straightened his clothes, walked familiarly to the side gate, and cupped his hands to the young servant guarding it.
"Brother Wang, could you help me out?"
The servant was named Wang He. He was leaning against the doorframe, picking his teeth with a toothpick. At the sound, he lazily raised his eyes.
"Well, if it isn't..."
Wang He recognized Qin Geng at once.
But the name "Xiao Wu" stuck in his throat before he could say it.
He was astonished.
He remembered Qin Geng: Seventh Madam's poor nephew, a hard-up Carriage Driver.
Qin Geng had visited many times before. Even last month, he had still looked chronically underfed—small and thin, his eyes carrying the weary caution of someone struggling to scrape by.
But today, he seemed like a different person.
Qin Geng was still plainly dressed, but he was noticeably broader. His once slightly hunched back stood straight as a spear.
Most striking were his eyes, dark and bright with life. When they swept over Wang He, a chill ran down the back of his neck.
After Qin Geng had thrown that punch at the uncanny Paper Person with every bit of strength in his body and mind, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had undergone a transformation on the edge of life and death.
Once he broke through to Bright Force and his blood and qi grew abundant, an ordinary person would see a man as vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger, someone they dared not look in the eye.
Wang He was quick-witted. He immediately dropped his lazy manner, and his smile gained a touch of sincerity.
"Why, Brother Wu!"
"Brother Wu" rolled naturally off his tongue.
In Tianjin, whether a man wore a long gown or short fighting clothes, if he carried an air that made others wary, people called him "sir" or "brother."
No one knew what skills he might have up his sleeve.
"What brings you here today? Looking for Seventh Madam?"
Wang He stood straight as he asked politely.
Last time, Wang He had teased Qin Geng about skipping work with his rickshaw to ask his aunt for silver dollars. This time, he did not dare.
Qin Geng nodded with a warm smile, showing no arrogance at the change in attitude. "Yes. It's been a while. There are some matters I'd like to discuss with Seventh Madam, and I also need to see Zhou House Guard. Sorry to trouble you, Brother Wang, but could you let them know I'm here?"
"Of course. Please wait here."
Wang He straightened his expression, turned, and shouted to a younger gate boy inside. "Hey, Xiao Yan'er! Go tell them Seventh Madam's nephew from her maiden family is here. Brother Wu's waiting at the gate. Be quick about it!"
"Right away!"
Xiao Yan'er answered and took off running.
"Have a seat over here, Brother Wu."
Wang He pointed to a long bench nearby. "There are lots of rules in a grand house like this. Sending word in and getting an answer back takes a little time. Hope you'll bear with us."
"I understand."
Qin Geng sat on the bench without ceremony, his back still straight.
Last time, he had waited a full half hour, squatting by the foot of the wall.
This time, he had a bench, and less than fifteen minutes later, Xiao Yan'er came running back, breathless. He leaned close to Wang He's ear and whispered a few words.
Wang He nodded, then turned and cupped his hands to Qin Geng, looking apologetic. "Brother Wu, I'm afraid your timing's unfortunate. We asked a maid in Seventh Madam's courtyard. She said Seventh Madam isn't home."
"She isn't?"
Qin Geng paused in surprise.
"That's right."
Wang He lowered his voice and leaned closer. "Seventh Madam went to Spirit Mountain Temple outside the city yesterday to burn incense. First thing this morning, she went to St. Mary's Cathedral in the Concession. They say she's praying for a child."
Qin Geng understood.
His aunt had been a concubine for some years. Though she was favored, she had yet to bear a child.
In a household like this, without a child to rely on, she was duckweed without roots. However splendid her life was now, there was no telling what the future held.
Praying to Buddha and then to a foreign god—she must have been desperate.
"Since my aunt isn't here, I won't disturb her."
Qin Geng rose. "But I also came to return something to Chief Zhou House Guard. Is he here?"
"You're looking for Master Zhou?"
Wang He thought for a moment. "He should be at the training ground. Xiao Yan'er, take Brother Wu in. Go straight to the main training ground."
"This way, Brother Wu."
Xiao Yan'er answered brightly.
"Thank you."
Qin Geng cupped his hands to Wang He and followed Xiao Yan'er across the threshold of the Su Residence.
They passed through several courtyards. The noise around them gradually faded, replaced by muffled shouts and the sound of weapons cutting through the air.
The Su Residence's main training ground lay beside the stables. It covered a vast area, with thick yellow earth underfoot and stone locks, weighted stone bars, wooden dummies, and other training equipment arranged around its edges.
As soon as Qin Geng entered, a fierce atmosphere struck him.
Seven or eight burly men were building their strength on the training ground.
Some lifted stone locks weighing hundreds of pounds, muscles bulging as sweat poured off them;
others sparred, fists and feet meeting with thudding blows;
every one of them had fierce eyes and bulging temples. Clearly, they were trained fighters with real skill.
Qin Geng took one look and knew they were not Zhou Yonghe's disciples.
Every move they made was vicious, and they carried the wild air of men from the martial underworld. They were experts at a glance.
These were the Su Family's House Guards.
A "House Guard" was the elite muscle a wealthy family kept on retainer, the leader of its household guards.
They were fed and treated well, with no chores to do. But when trouble came, they had to put their lives on the line—take bullets for their employers and settle their disputes.
"Master Zhou isn't here."
Xiao Yan'er looked around without spotting Zhou Yonghe, then drew his neck in. He was plainly afraid of these formidable House Guards.
Qin Geng remained calm. He walked straight up to a man wiping down a stone lock and cupped his fists. "Greetings, sir. I'm Qin Geng. I came to return something to Chief Zhou House Guard. Do you know where he is?"
The man was bare-chested. He stopped what he was doing and looked Qin Geng up and down.
He was the Su Family's Second House Guard, and his eye was sharp.
He did not look at Qin Geng's face or clothes.
He looked first at Qin Geng's legs, then at his hands.
The muscles in his legs had smooth lines and taut strength. Standing there, his feet seemed rooted to the ground. His stance was casual, yet his balance was rock-solid.
His finger joints were thick, and his thumbs bore calluses. They were not the calluses of someone who gripped weapons; they looked more like marks worn by years of clutching some kind of handle.
Like a Carriage Driver.
But he had trained in martial arts, though he had yet to reach a higher level.
"Trained in martial arts?"
The Second House Guard raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying the courtesy of one practitioner to another.
The young man had not developed Bright Force yet, but there was no faking his Essence, Qi, and Spirit or the solid work in his lower body.
He had put in hard work in the martial world.
"Just practiced a few moves."
Qin Geng answered modestly.
"The Chief House Guard is out on business. He won't be back until noon."
The Second House Guard pointed toward a weapons rack nearby. "If you have a message, you can leave it with us and we'll pass it on. If you'd rather not, you can wait here."
Privately, he was also trying to guess where Qin Geng came from.
Anyone who came to return something to Zhou Yonghe must have some connection to him.
Could he be a new disciple Zhou House Guard had taken on?
"Then I'll wait."
Qin Geng thought for a moment and made up his mind.
The Xingyi Dragon and Tiger in his robe was only a handwritten copy, but it was still a secret manual not to be passed on.
When Zhou Yonghe had given it to him, he had warned him harshly: "Lose it, and bring me your head."
Qin Geng knew the warning had probably been meant to scare him, but the book was too valuable. If something went wrong after he handed it to someone else, he could sell himself and still not make up the loss—all while needlessly offending an expert.
"All right. Suit yourself."
The Second House Guard did not press him. He nodded, turned away, and went back to lifting his stone lock.
Qin Geng walked beneath a large locust tree at the edge of the training ground.
Waiting idly would only waste time.
Skill flourishes through diligence. I can't let it go to waste.
With that thought, Qin Geng took up a stance beneath the shade of the tree.
He set his feet shoulder-width apart, bent his knees slightly, held his hands loosely before his chest, pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth, and sank his qi into his dantian.
It was the core Stance Training of the Xingyi Dragon and Tiger—the Three-Body Stance.
An expert only had to make one move for others to know whether he had the skill.
As soon as Qin Geng took up the stance, the House Guards who had been training slowed their movements. Their gazes drifted toward him.
Qin Geng stood like a sturdy pine, not moving an inch.
His breathing was deep and long, his chest and belly rising and falling slightly in time with the stance, as though his whole being had become one with heaven and earth.
His feet, in particular, seemed to have sunk deep roots into the earth, though he stood on soft yellow soil. It looked as if even a charging ox could not budge him.
"Well now. That Stance Training is something."
The Second House Guard studied him and praised him inwardly.
"That stance is right!"
"He must have had a good teacher and put in at least a year of hard work. Otherwise, he could never have developed that feel."
"He's still young, too. That kind of composure is rare."
"Is he Zhou House Guard's disciple?"
The other House Guards thought much the same.
They might risk their lives for money, but they were genuine Martial Artists.
Martial arts were the purest of things.
There was no room for fakery.
Step by step, every drop of sweat you shed and every hardship you endured showed in each move you made and each stance you held.
As they watched Qin Geng's focused expression and steady Stance Training, the last trace of disdain in the House Guards' eyes vanished like smoke. In its place came genuine respect.
Time passed, drop by drop.
The sun slowly climbed from the east to its place overhead.
Qin Geng stood for four full hours without even a sip of water. His body did not sway once.
By now, sweat had soaked him through. Thin wisps of white steam rose from his head and lingered.
His breathing had grown as heavy as an ox's. Each time he exhaled, he stirred the falling locust leaves in front of him.
Stance Training of this intensity consumed a tremendous amount of energy.
That long-absent hunger, deep in his bones, surged over him again like a tide.
But along with the hunger came the pleasing chime in his mind.
[Ding!] [Profession: Martial Artist (Level 3), experience +3] [Experience threshold exceeded. Level up!] [Profession: Martial Artist (Level 4)] [Experience: 1/40]
Boom!
As his level rose, a surge of heat stronger than before climbed from his spine and swept through his entire body.
Qin Geng could clearly feel his muscles being kneaded and compressed by an invisible hand, becoming denser and tougher.
His bones gave faint creaks, as though their density was increasing.
The aching muscles and joints left by his long stint in the stance recovered instantly under the heat's nourishment. More than that, they brimmed with explosive power.
Level four...
Qin Geng slowly eased out of the stance and let out a long breath.
He had not unlocked a new talent yet, but he could clearly feel his stamina, strength, and ability to take blows improving across the board.
According to Shopkeeper Lu, level ten probably corresponds to Bright Force.
Once I reach level ten, I'll truly enter Bright Force and become a Martial Artist of some standing. Then I can earn money with my fighting skills.
Qin Geng clenched his fist, feeling the power gathering in his palm. Anticipation filled him.
"Not bad."
A voice of praise interrupted Qin Geng's thoughts.
The Second House Guard walked over, his eyes full of appreciation. "Young man, that's fine composure. You've captured the essence of the Three-Body Stance."
"You're too kind, sir."
Qin Geng cupped his hands modestly.
"Keep waiting. He should be back soon."
"Time to eat!"
The Second House Guard called out, and the House Guards who had trained all morning stopped and streamed toward a side courtyard beside the training ground.
That was where meals were prepared for the guards and House Guards.
The Su Family spared no expense on that front. These men risked their lives for pay, after all, and the food was excellent.
When the wind blew, Qin Geng caught a rich aroma of meat that set his stomach clamoring.
Just then, footsteps sounded at the training ground's entrance.
Qin Geng turned and saw Zhou Yonghe enter in a blue cloth gown, his hands clasped behind his back.
A young woman of seventeen or eighteen followed him.
She wore white training clothes and a ponytail. Her skin was not the pallid white of a sheltered young lady, but a healthy wheat color.
Tall and athletic, she walked with a spring in her step. A restrained gleam shone in her large eyes, along with a hint of heroic spirit.
Qin Geng's eyelid twitched.
This young woman was an expert.
Judging by her stride and the rhythm of her breathing, she had likely entered Bright Force long ago, if not reached something higher.
"Zhou House Guard!"
Qin Geng hurried over.
Zhou Yonghe stopped and looked at Qin Geng.
In the few steps Qin Geng took toward him, Zhou Yonghe's pupils contracted slightly.
Amateurs watched the spectacle; experts saw the craft.
Qin Geng's steps were too steady.
His feet landed without a sound, each stride as precise as if measured with a ruler. His center of gravity barely rose or fell.
That was plainly the mark of someone who had trained his lower body to a formidable level.
"Qin Geng?"
Surprise flashed in Zhou Yonghe's eyes. "What happened to you...?"
The Qin Geng he remembered was merely a carriage driver with a little courage and composure, but a rather frail body.
Yet the Qin Geng before him was practically a different person from the one he had seen a month ago.
How could this be the result of a month of fumbling through practice alone?
Zhou Yonghe would have believed Qin Geng had spent a year painstakingly practicing Stance Training under a renowned master!
"Zhou House Guard, I've come to return your book."
Qin Geng took the handwritten copy of Xingyi Dragon and Tiger, tightly wrapped in oiled paper, from inside his robe and offered it with both hands.
"Mm."
Zhou Yonghe accepted the book, glanced at the oiled paper, and nodded in approval.
"Judging by your Essence, Qi, and Spirit, you've practiced what's in this book quite a bit."
"Diligence can make up for clumsiness. I haven't dared slack off for a single day."
Qin Geng spoke respectfully.
"Diligence can make up for clumsiness..."
Zhou Yonghe mulled over the words, then suddenly asked, "Qin Geng, may I examine your bones?"
The young woman beside him glanced at her master in surprise.
Her master had exacting standards. He usually ignored people even when they brought gold bars and begged him for a few pointers, yet today he had offered to examine someone's bones?
"Of course. Sorry for the trouble, Zhou House Guard."
Without hesitation, Qin Geng spread his arms.
Zhou Yonghe stepped forward without ceremony. His calloused hands closed around Qin Geng's shoulders like iron pincers.
"Bear with it."
Before the words had left his mouth, Zhou Yonghe's fingers suddenly tightened.
"Hiss—"
Qin Geng sucked in a sharp breath. It felt as though the bones in his shoulders were about to be crushed.
But he gritted his teeth and made no sound.
Zhou Yonghe's hands moved down from his shoulders, pressing along his spine, ribs, and hips, then his thighs and calves. He even checked his ankles and feet.
With a thoroughly professional motion, he even felt around Qin Geng's crotch, leaving Qin Geng red-faced.
By the time the examination ended, cold sweat poured off Qin Geng. He felt as though someone had taken his skeleton apart.
"Whew..."
Zhou Yonghe withdrew his hands, his expression unreadable.
"No hidden ailments or deficiencies. Your body's sturdy enough."
He said evenly, "Just keep training step by step."
"Thank you for your guidance, House Guard."
Qin Geng rubbed his aching shoulders and cupped his hands again. "Now that the book's back with its rightful owner, I'll be off."
"All right. Go on."
Zhou Yonghe waved a hand and did not ask him to stay.
Qin Geng turned and left the training ground with steady strides.
Once Qin Geng had disappeared beyond the courtyard gate, the young woman, Xia Jingyi, could finally hold back no longer.
She sidled up to Zhou Yonghe with a grin. "Master, what did you find? Are you planning to take him as a disciple? Am I getting a junior apprentice brother?"
"That Xingyi form of his looked pretty good to me. Especially his eyes—tsk, tsk. He's weathered some storms."
"Our Xingyi boxing is all about 'killing with a single punch.' I think he has the makings of it. If I'd known it looked that impressive, I would've practiced Xingyi properly too."
So said Xia Jingyi.
"Wipe that grin off your face!"
Zhou Yonghe glared at her and snapped, "He earned that presence by risking his life. What the hell would you know about it, girl?"
"Then tell me, how are his bones?"
Xia Jingyi pressed him curiously.
"Ordinary."
Zhou Yonghe shook his head and spoke frankly. "His frame isn't particularly large. His connective tissue is tough, but his natural gifts are limited. He's about average. He won't be your junior apprentice brother."
"Oh..."
Xia Jingyi drew out the word, looking disappointed. "Master, your standards are too high. Don't you always say your own bones were ordinary back then? Grandmaster took you in, so why won't you give a young person today a chance?"
"Quiet!"
Torn between laughter and exasperation, Zhou Yonghe raised a hand as if to swat her. "In martial arts, diligent study and hard work matter more, but you know the things I teach aren't on the same level as what your grandmaster taught out on the street."
"Without excellent natural gifts and insight, practicing that manual I fished out of the water would be pointless. It would only damage the body."
"You might not even master it, let alone a carriage driver with ordinary bones."
Zhou Yonghe shook his head.
"If you don't want to take him as a disciple, why teach him Xingyi Dragon and Tiger?"
Xia Jingyi protested, unconvinced. "Isn't that a contradiction?"
"I owed his aunt a favor."
Zhou Yonghe sighed and looked in the direction Qin Geng had gone, his gaze turning distant.
"Besides... I didn't teach him."
"What do you mean, you didn't teach him?"
"He's practiced for only a month, entirely on his own. All I did was give him the Xingyi Dragon and Tiger manual."
Zhou Yonghe spoke with a note of wonder.
Martial arts training depended on having a teacher.
Why?
Because when you made a mistake while holding a stance, you could neither see nor feel it yourself.
Only with a master teaching you step by step at your side could you avoid going wrong.
"He practiced on his own for a month?!"
Xia Jingyi's eyes widened, and she cried out, "Master, you're joking, right? With that lower-body skill, that form, that Essence, Qi, and Spirit, you're telling me he's practiced for one month? He managed all that without hidden injuries?"
She knew the craft, so she understood what that meant.
Xingyi boxing focused on tempering sinews and bones and building strength; its techniques brimmed with killing intent.
An ordinary young adult, even with a master teaching him every step of the way, would be doing well to get the form right after a month of honest practice.
To attain Qin Geng's mountain-steady bearing, even under the hands-on guidance of a renowned master, would take a year or more of hard work!
"That's why I find it strange."
Zhou Yonghe rubbed the coarse stubble on his chin, thought glinting in his eyes.
"Ordinary bones, yet astonishing progress."
"Could there really be an odd talent whose bones are nothing remarkable, but whose insight reaches the heavens—or who's exceptionally suited to one particular style?"
He recalled Qin Geng's feet, which had seemed rooted in the earth, and fell into thought.
"They say Li Shuwen of the Divine Spear, Guo Yunshen of the Crushing Fist, and Sun Lutang of Eight Steps Chasing the Cicada... Before those Grandmasters made their names, they were all carriage drivers, or so I've heard. They built their skills running on their own two legs."
"A carriage driver has to run steadily and quickly, even while carrying a load."
"That does have something in common with the stances and footwork of boxing."
Zhou Yonghe murmured to himself, as though he had worked something out.
"Mediocre people bite off more than they can chew."
"Geniuses can never have too many skills; standing, walking, sitting, and lying down are all part of their training."
At that, Zhou Yonghe suddenly turned and looked his disciple up and down. She was usually pampered and, despite her exceptional talent, had always lacked a measure of steadiness.
His gaze made Xia Jingyi's skin crawl. She took an instinctive step back. "M-Master, why are you looking at me like that?"
Zhou Yonghe grinned, showing a row of white teeth. "Jingyi, your master has just had an idea."
"Tomorrow, I'll get you a rickshaw."
"Stop waving your arms around in the training ground. Go to one of the counties outside Tianjin and pull a rickshaw."
"What?!"
Xia Jingyi was utterly dumbfounded. Her mouth fell open in a little circle as she stood there, lost in the wind.
Pull... a rickshaw?!
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