Song Qi's guidance

Outside the Martial Arts Hall, people still streamed along the broad street, and vendors' cries drifted over from distant roads.

Su Yan stepped through the door, yet felt an unreal sense that a lifetime had passed.

Five days of training, forgetting food and sleep, made it easy to lose track of time—especially when those five days had brought earth-shaking changes.

He was only a little short of minor attainment in skin tempering, but now, a casual exertion of his arms could produce two or three hundred jin of force, already beyond an ordinary person.

The Four Body-Tempering Realms... if I reach perfection, I'll be no different from a monster among ordinary people. Above that is the True Intent realm, where martial artists cultivate the Beast Spirit True Intent. And above that?

Through conversations over those five days, Su Yan had gradually realized that martial arts were probably even more terrifying than he had imagined.

The Great Li Dynasty had endured for a thousand years. No one would believe it relied solely on True Intent martial artists.

But all that was still far beyond his reach.

I have four taels of silver left, set aside for taxes and mountain fees. Besides that, my Hardwood Bow needs replacing. I need to head into the mountains as soon as possible.

After counting the silver on him, Su Yan did not return directly to Yunqian Village. Instead, he asked a passerby for directions and first paid a visit to the Pan Family Restaurant.

The Pan Family Restaurant was quite grand, a three-story establishment bustling with people inside and out. Its spacious dining hall was filled with guests enjoying food and wine.

Waiters in matching white coarse-cloth robes moved between the tables, their bodies slightly bowed and their manner courteous. Even the service was excellent.

Su Yan looked around briefly, found a waiter, and ordered several of the Pan Family Restaurant's famous pastries. Only after having them wrapped did he turn to leave.

He hurried along the road, using the Monkey-Leaping Step from the Eight Forms of Monkey Fist.

His footwork was steadier and more agile now, and he traveled much faster. In roughly an hour, he had reached the Mountain Market Ward.

"Stop. Come here for inspection."

Su Yan had barely reached the entrance to the Mountain Market Ward when several men blocked his way.

He frowned inwardly, then noticed that these men were not the Mountain Market's guards, but officers dressed in yamen uniforms.

What's going on?

Though puzzled, he made no other move and walked over to them.

The men studied him carefully. Seeing a thin, frail-looking youth, they did not press him further.

The leading officer rested a hand on his saber and pointed at the noticeboard beside them. "Have you seen this man?"

A roughly sketched portrait was posted there, depicting a man in his early forties with deeply sunken eyes and a gaunt, wolfish face that exuded viciousness.

"No." Su Yan shook his head. "Sir, is he a wanted criminal?"

"Yes." The officer nodded. "Go in. Report to the yamen if you see him. The first person to report him gets twenty taels of silver."

Without saying more, the officer moved on to inspect the next person.

As Su Yan passed them, he noticed that the leading constable stood straight-backed, his expression composed, with a faintly imposing air.

They all practice martial arts.

With that thought, he refrained from meddling. Anyone who warranted such a deployment of constables and officers was probably a martial artist turned outlaw.

The Great Li Dynasty's people were fierce, and martial prowess was revered. It was nothing like his previous life.

One thought could make a martial artist; another could make a bandit. No one could keep them in check.

The atmosphere in the Mountain Market Ward had changed considerably from a few days ago.

There were fewer mountain folk coming and going, and all seemed in a hurry. Presumably, the sudden appearance of a wanted notice had frightened them too.

Su Yan arrived outside the Hundred Herbs Hall's shop. Bai Shan's eyes brightened slightly when he saw him. "Brother Su Yan, it's been days. What brings you here today?"

"I'm here to see Elder Song."

Bai Shan hesitated briefly at that, then said, "The steward is in the back hall. I'll take you in."

He led Su Yan to the back hall and announced, "Steward, Brother Su Yan would like to see you."

"Su Yan?" A voice came from inside. "Let him in."

Bai Shan let Su Yan enter alone. Naturally, he did not dare follow.

Beyond the back hall was the same little open-air courtyard.

Song Qi raised his eyes toward Su Yan. His steps were light and steady, and he stood tall and straight, like a green pine.

"It seems you've crossed the threshold."

"Thank you for recommending me, Elder Song. Otherwise, I would have had to grind away for another year or two."

Su Yan's thanks were sincere. The kindness of guidance was not something to treat lightly.

"I brought some pastries from the Pan Family Restaurant. It's a humble little gift; I hope you won't mind, Elder Song."

He gently set the pastries on the table, but Song Qi froze.

Peeling back the kraft paper, he picked up a mung bean cake and took a bite.

Suddenly, a smile spread across his face, making even his beard tremble slightly.

"A light gift, but a weighty sentiment indeed. How thoughtful, how thoughtful."

It was not that he had failed to notice what Su Yan was carrying. He had simply assumed it would be some sort of useful object—after all, this was a return gift.

But he had not cared. How much money could a mountain villager have, especially after just paying the Martial Arts Hall's tuition?

Yet he had never imagined that a boy raised in the mountains would have such a deft and thoughtful mind.

The pastries were inexpensive, but the thought behind them mattered.

As steward here, he did not lack money, but these treats were not easy to get.

This boy has some talent, and such a perceptive mind too. He might well make something of himself.

So he asked, "It's been five days. You've learned the Golden Ape Stance Art, haven't you? Show me your stance."

Su Yan's eyes flickered. He immediately realized that Song Qi wanted to test him, and delight rose in his heart.

"Please give me your guidance, Elder Song."

He stepped forward, his posture ape-like, his breathing rising and falling with exceptional naturalness.

"Minor attainment in Stance Training?!"

Shock appeared on Song Qi's face. He immediately rose and examined Su Yan closely before confirming that his eyes had not deceived him.

He reached out, seized Su Yan's forearm, and tugged with considerable force.

Yet Su Yan's stance remained as unshakable as a mountain, unaffected.

His skin, in particular, was remarkably tough, unlike an ordinary person's.

"Good, good, good! Just five days—even allowing for two doses of the Golden Ape Martial Arts Hall's decoction, and another Treasure Plant or two you might have tucked away—to reach this level, only a step from minor attainment... I underestimated your talent."

Song Qi laughed, immensely pleased.

His delight had little to do with who Su Yan was. It was rather the joy of a talent scout discovering a fine steed.

"Keep your steps steady and your body moving. Your breathing must be stable, but like an ape's, it must also lie deep within your chest. Imagine you are an old ape in these mountains."

Song Qi offered his guidance. "You must do more than resemble it in form. Try to gather that presence as well. With an ape's presence, with essence, qi, and spirit united, this Stance Training can truly come alive and help temper your body."

Song Qi was deeply experienced. He understood the workings of this introductory Stance Training perfectly.

Listening to his guidance, Su Yan made slight adjustments to his posture.

He sank his mind into the image, as though he were an old ape roaming through the mountain forests.

Sometimes cunning, sometimes nimble, sometimes savage, sometimes mischievous...

As form and spirit gradually aligned, Stance Training became even more effective at mobilizing his qi and blood...

A full half hour passed. His skin was red as though he stood inside a furnace, and only when his strength began to fail did Su Yan stop training.

[Golden Ape Stance Art 10/200 (minor attainment)]

In just half an hour, his proficiency in the Golden Ape Stance Art had risen several more points.

Su Yan finished his practice. Song Qi stared straight at him as though looking at some sort of monster. "Have you always learned things quickly, even as a child?"

He had seen it clearly just now. Su Yan had not adopted the correct stance from the outset, but had reached a suitable state through gradual adjustments.

His comprehension was considerable. Although he needed a process, he was still far better than the average person.

"Yes, Elder Song. I do learn a little faster."

"You're good raw material indeed."

Song Qi nodded, then said, "Of the Four Body-Tempering Realms, skin tempering, sinew and bone tempering, and blood mobilization all lay the foundation. The stronger your body and the fuller the presence you nurture, the better your chance of entering the fourth realm, essence nurturing. Since you have a knack for finding medicinal herbs, look for more Treasure Plants."

"Earthhorn vine, blood velvet fungus, and stonefang ginseng are all good materials for body tempering, and all are treasured plants found on Cloudridge Mountain. They work better than the Golden Ape Martial Hall's decoction."

Su Yan committed those names to memory. Song Qi thought for a moment, then added, "If you have money to spare, buy meat from the butcher's shop beside the temple in Cloudcang Town's back alley. Though it can't compare with medicinal herbs, it can still gently nourish your qi and blood."

"A butcher's shop?"