Joining the Martial Hall

Although Xie Yuzhu knew no more of the inside story than Wang San, as Su Dahe's partner, how could he not have known something of what Su Dahe had been doing?

If he had only been gathering something like stone ear grass, why wouldn't he have taken Xie Yuzhu along?

He must have learned something and concealed it for fear that Su Yan would seek revenge and throw his own life away.

Judging by the timing, Niu Han and his lot will be coming to collect their debt soon. I need to find a way to deal with them.

If it had merely been a debt incurred to save his mother, Su Yan would have repaid it for his predecessor, even if it was a usurious loan. It was only a dozen or so taels of silver. Though a considerable sum, it was not worth stirring up trouble over.

But now, old grudges and new hatred had all been added to the reckoning. Forget repaying the debt—once he found an opportunity, he would dispose of them one by one.

Early the next morning, while the sky was still dim, Su Yan tucked fifty taels of silver into his clothes and headed straight for Cloudcang Town.

Cloudcang Town lay between the eight-hundred-li expanse of Cloudridge Mountain and the six-hundred-li stretch of White Reed Lake, much farther away than the Mountain Market.

Su Yan left home, took the main road, and traveled for nearly half a day before he finally saw streams of people converging on the road.

Traffic flowed in an endless procession. Ox carts and horse-drawn carriages rolled past without pause, while peddlers and traveling merchants carried baskets and luggage on their backs, queuing with their goods to enter Cloudcang Town.

The Mountain Market might seem bustling, but it was only a place where mountain folk gathered to trade. Cloudcang Town was where merchants truly converged, money circulated, and goods changed hands in volume.

After he queued and entered the town, the clamoring voices seemed to boil around him.

"Meat buns! Freshly steamed meat buns! Five copper coins each!"

"Flatbread! Flatbread, three copper coins each!"

The cries of hawkers never ceased. People jostled shoulder to shoulder along the streets, from ordinary folk in coarse cloth and hemp to wealthy people in fine fabrics and satin.

Vendors set up stalls on either side, while buildings served as shops, with signboards and banners hanging outside their doors.

The countryside and the town are worlds apart. No wonder people strain every muscle to get here.

Without something like the Fierce Insect Cauldron, Su Yan would probably have had to risk his life Mountain Trekking, save some money, and only then come to town to earn a living, making money with foods from his previous life or the like.

Casting those thoughts aside, Su Yan stepped into the crowd and asked a passerby where the Golden Ape Martial Hall was.

Then he headed straight toward the southeastern part of Cloudcang Town.

After about ten minutes, he finally arrived. Compared with the surging crowds on the main streets, there were far fewer pedestrians here.

Those who came and went, however, were powerfully built, their strides stirring the air. They were visibly much stronger than ordinary people.

Even if they were not martial artists, they had probably spent some time conditioning their bodies.

When Su Yan reached the entrance to the Golden Ape Martial Hall, a grand residence with a lofty gate and three successive courtyards stood before him.

A glossy black plaque hung over the gate. Its gold-painted strokes were sharp as blades, with the spirit of an ape forming their bones, as though an ape had transformed into written characters.

Written squarely and proudly upon it were the words "Golden Ape."

The gates of the Golden Ape Martial Hall stood open, revealing a large courtyard beyond.

Beneath the eaves to the left of the entrance sat a wooden table, with two young men in training clothes seated behind it.

Seeing someone approach, the younger man raised his head. "Are you here to enroll and learn martial arts?"

Su Yan nodded. "Yes."

"If you're here to learn martial arts, you should know the rules. A tuition fee of fifty taels makes you a registered disciple. The hall will teach you body conditioning and unarmed combat. Only once you've conditioned your body adequately can you learn Stance Training and become an outer disciple."

As Ma Shengming spoke, he looked Su Yan over. He certainly has a handsome face, but his frame looks a little weak.

So there really is a distinction between registered and outer disciples.

He took out the fifty taels of silver and Song Qi's calling card.

"Senior brother, Steward Song of the Hundred Herbs Hall recommended me."

Ma Shengming looked surprised, and his tone grew warmer. "So you're a friend of the Hundred Herbs Hall. In that case, you presumably won't need to condition your body like the ordinary disciples. Your physique should be sound."

People from Cloudridge Mountain, White Reed Lake, or impoverished households in town not only lacked a foundation but were physically weak, so they needed conditioning.

It also allowed the hall to observe their character. If they proved so poor as to be beyond teaching, there would be no question of imparting its arts.

Only if they passed muster would they be taught Stance Training.

But with someone recommending him, that preliminary effort could naturally be spared.

"I hunt in the mountains and travel back and forth Mountain Trekking. My body is reasonably sturdy."

Ma Shengming nodded. "Tell me your name and where you're from. I'll write them down, then take you to the Middle Courtyard."

"Su Yan, from Yunqian Village."

Ma Shengming recorded his information, left matters in the hands of the junior disciple beside him, and led Su Yan through the gate.

"My surname is Ma, and my given name is Shengming. I'm an Inner Gate disciple, and I've been assigned to receive new applicants during this period. Just call me Senior Brother Ma."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Ma."

The two walked straight through the front courtyard.

The front courtyard was enormous. Sabers, spears, staffs, and clubs lay in its open spaces, along with stone locks of different weights, all used to develop strength.

Around one or two hundred people were training their strength and conditioning their bodies throughout the courtyard, practicing a handful of moves and sparring with one another.

As they walked, Ma Shengming explained, "This is where the registered disciples train. Their foundations are shallow, so they need to condition their bodies."

As they were about to leave the front courtyard, he paused briefly. "And if you want to make something of yourself in martial arts, you'll need more resources. Without some family means, it's utterly impossible."

As he spoke, they entered the Middle Courtyard. It was slightly smaller than the front courtyard, and far fewer people trained here.

There were only twenty or thirty of them, holding stances that made them resemble old apes.

"This is where the outer disciples and Inner Gate disciples who've learned Stance Training practice."

"Senior Brother Ma, is there a difference between the outer disciples and the Inner Gate disciples, too?"

Ma Shengming said, "Master Bai holds an examination once a month. If your progress is adequate and you earn his approval, you can enter the Inner Gate. Only then do you truly count as a member of the Golden Ape Martial Hall, and you can learn an additional supplementary art and a martial technique."

"Junior Brother Ma, what's this?"

Before he could finish, a red-faced man approached them, wearing a short, sleeveless tunic that left his arms bare. He was tall and powerfully built, like a bear.

"Senior Brother Gao."

Ma Shengming greeted Gao Zheng, then said, "This junior brother was recommended by the Hundred Herbs Hall to study here. As usual, he'll begin as an outer disciple, so I've brought him to you."

"A friend of the Hundred Herbs Hall?"

Gao Zheng studied Su Yan closely. His eyes are bright. Though his frame is a little slender, his steps are steady.

"Whose calling card does he have?"

"Steward Song Qi's."

"Old Master Song? Didn't he go to manage things at the Mountain Market? It's been a long time since the old gentleman showed his face in town."

Gao Zheng looked slightly surprised. Ma Shengming explained, "Junior Brother Su Yan is from Yunqian Village."

"Let me examine Junior Brother Su's physique so I can make the proper arrangements."

With that, he looked at Su Yan. "Junior Brother Su, don't move."

His large hand reached for Su Yan's spine and worked up and down it as though feeling his bones. Surprise spread across his face. "Thin on the outside, strong in the bones. These muscles and tendons are remarkably sturdy—a first-rate physique. No wonder the Hundred Herbs Hall recommended you. Junior Brother Su, you truly can't be judged by appearances."

After examining his bones, Gao Zheng's attitude toward Su Yan warmed considerably.

His physique was good, and he had the Hundred Herbs Hall behind him. His resources could hardly be too poor. If he was willing to work hard, entering the Body Tempering Realm and achieving skin refining might well be possible.

"Senior brother, can martial talent really be measured so easily?"

"Heh, that's where you're wrong. Physique is only a threshold. True talent lies in visualization and comprehension. If your visualization achieves nothing and your Beast Spirit never emerges, you can forget about attaining True Intent for the rest of your life."

A trace of disdain slipped onto Gao Zheng's face, but remembering that Su Yan had never practiced martial arts, he reined it in somewhat.

"Only people with good physiques can progress in body tempering. If your physique is too poor, forget practicing martial arts and tempering your body—even basic conditioning could kill you. People like that certainly can't learn martial arts."

"Thank you for the guidance."

Only then did Su Yan understand a little more. That made sense. It would have been strange if talent could be determined merely by feeling someone's bones or performing some test.

"Senior brother, the front courtyard still needs watching, so I'll head back first. I haven't yet explained the arrangements for meals, lodging, and medicinal decoctions to our junior brother. Sorry for the trouble, but please tell him about those as well. I'll treat you to a drink afterward."

Seeing that Su Yan had a good physique and would have no trouble becoming an outer disciple, Ma Shengming did not linger over the matter. He took his leave and strode out of the Middle Courtyard.

"Come with me."