Tiger-Crouching Stance

The autumn wind rustled, carrying a chill that bit into the bones. Mo Yun walked briskly and arrived early at the Servants' Court's Martial Training Ground.

It was still early, with only a streak of fish-belly white showing on the horizon.

There was still some time before the hour of the Rabbit, and Mo Yun was the only person at the Martial Training Ground.

He wasted no time. Holding his breath and focusing his mind, he assumed his stance and began practicing yesterday's test fist routine.

For others, the test fist routine might become useless once they earned the right to train in martial arts.

But for Mo Yun, any breakthrough in a martial art's mastery could charge his white points.

And the test fist routine was relatively simple and easy to advance in, making it ideal material for farming points.

While practicing on his own yesterday, he had already discovered that the routine was indeed not difficult. Through his own efforts, he could bring it to a higher level of mastery.

This way, I can save some black points.

In fact, Mo Yun had made a careful comparison while practicing yesterday.

Without allocating points, relying entirely on his own efforts, he could have grasped the test fist routine to roughly the same extent as Han Tang and Luo Shan within two hours.

This showed that his comprehension was not poor.

Of course, he did not regret having allocated points right away.

He had not dared to gamble. After all, his innate aptitude was average, and his physique was somewhat weak. If his comprehension had not been dazzling enough either, Commander Li might not have given him a training spot.

After practicing the test fist routine several times, Mo Yun felt warmth spreading through his body and a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. He stopped and focused on examining his condition.

Sensing a slight improvement in the test fist routine, Mo Yun concentrated and made a quick estimate. A smile immediately bloomed on his face.

At this rate, if I set aside a couple of hours each day to practice, I'll only need half a month to advance the test fist routine to the next level!

Taking a deep breath, Mo Yun grew more focused. He adjusted the rhythm of his breathing and prepared to practice the test fist routine once more.

Just then, however, the horizon began to brighten. A gentle ray of morning light broke through the thick clouds, bathing the Martial Training Ground in a faint layer of gold.

It was nearly the appointed hour of the Rabbit, and the servants who had earned the right to train yesterday began arriving one after another.

Before long, Xiao Liu arrived too. He hurried over to Mo Yun, his face full of astonishment.

"Whoa! Old Mo, you're way too diligent! You left before the sun was even up! Wait, hold on-why are you still practicing the test fist routine?"

He felt that he and Mo Yun hit it off fairly well. They had become more familiar with each other over time, and they would be training together for a long time to come, so he spoke rather casually.

He edged a little closer and lowered his voice, looking conspiratorial.

"Take some advice from your Brother Liu. Stop practicing that thing. It's useless. Practicing it is a complete waste of time."

"Listen, Old Mo. I heard from someone that the manor lord actually created that test fist routine by extracting a move from the Tiger-Crouching Fist and simplifying it."

"The reason they use a test fist routine created that way to assess our comprehension is to indirectly see whether we have the talent to learn the Tiger-Crouching Fist..."

"Now that we've earned the right to train, we can learn the Tiger-Crouching Fist directly!"

Mo Yun nodded thoughtfully at his words.

Naturally, he had heard of the Tiger-Crouching Fist. It was the signature martial art of the Crouching Tiger Manor, and mastering it to a profound level could grant considerable fighting power.

Meanwhile, Xiao Liu continued, "So, Old Mo, there's absolutely no point in practicing that test fist routine anymore. Stop while you can!"

Mo Yun merely smiled at that and did not answer Xiao Liu.

He would practice the Tiger-Crouching Fist, but of course he would practice the test fist routine as well. After all, his only aim was to charge the White Mark.

He had already decided that if the Tiger-Crouching Fist proved too difficult and required too much time, he would spend more time practicing the test fist routine.

As for the Tiger-Crouching Fist? He would just allocate points to it!

Seeing Mo Yun smile and stop practicing, Xiao Liu assumed he had taken the advice to heart and said no more.

Meanwhile, Han Tang, Luo Shan, and Zhang Qiang had all arrived as well.

The morning light grew ever brighter, and Commander Li arrived as promised, his heavy metal armor gleaming.

To everyone's surprise, two youths were following behind Commander Li.

Mo Yun remembered them both. The rather burly, pockmarked youth on Commander Li's left was called Tie Zhu.

The unremarkable-looking youth on Commander Li's right, who always wore blue, was called Tang Yin.

"Why have those two come with Commander Li?" Zhang Qiang asked with a puzzled frown.

"Something's not right..." Han Tang furrowed his brow and quietly moved behind the others.

"Did these two get in through the back door?" Xiao Liu rubbed his chin, feeling that he had guessed the truth.

Luo Shan's expression remained cold as he watched the two approach without saying a word.

Soon, Commander Li reached them. Pointing at the two youths behind him, he said in a deep voice:

"These two have been admitted as supplementary candidates and have also earned the right to train in martial arts. From now on, they will train alongside you. I hope you will support one another and improve together!"

Seemingly guessing what they were thinking, Commander Li explained:

"After finishing work yesterday, Tie Zhu came to me and requested that we open the Tiger-Crouching Ladder trial. I sought the Village Master's permission, and he approved.

"In the end, with unyielding determination, courage that never faltered, and the resolve to succeed or die trying, Tie Zhu successfully climbed ten steps of the Tiger-Crouching Ladder and earned the right to train."

At those words, everyone froze and turned to stare at Tie Zhu in astonishment.

They knew about the Tiger-Crouching Ladder. It stood deep in the Rear Mountain behind the Servants' Court.

It was said that besides following the usual assessment process, anyone who wanted the right to train could apply to open the Tiger-Crouching Ladder. Climbing just ten steps would earn them that right.

But very few people did so.

It was simply too dangerous.

A faint trace of the Village Master's Martial Dao will lingered on the Tiger-Crouching Ladder. For anyone without a certain level of martial cultivation, even approaching it would make their hair stand on end, let alone climbing it.

Once someone began climbing, that martial will would assail them. If their willpower was not firm enough, the milder consequences included a shattered mind, a severe illness, or being reduced to an imbecile. In the worst case, the vital channels of their heart would rupture, killing them on the spot.

"He looks so slow and simple, but who'd have thought he was this ruthless..." Xiao Liu murmured in wonder.

Mo Yun nodded in wholehearted agreement, also feeling that the youth lived up to his name, Iron Pillar.

Meanwhile, Commander Li continued, "As for Tang Yin..."

As he spoke, he turned to Tang Yin and opened his mouth. After struggling for quite a while to think of something to say, he finally managed, "Mm, Tang Yin is also very outstanding."

Everyone: "?"

"This one got in through the back door!" Xiao Liu blurted out.

Mo Yun: "..."

Knowing is enough! Don't say it out loud, Liu! You're going to get yourself beaten up!

Commander Li frowned and shot Xiao Liu a glare. A chill immediately ran down Xiao Liu's back. He hastily gave an embarrassed smile and lowered his head.

Meanwhile, feeling everyone's strange looks on him, Tang Yin was so embarrassed that his toes curled against the ground. He wished he could find a crack to crawl into.

Although his martial talent was not particularly outstanding, he believed he had great potential and was sure to be a late bloomer. Thus, he had quietly pulled a few strings and secured a training spot.

He simply had not expected someone to point it out in public.

At that thought, Tang Yin shot a fierce glare at Xiao Liu's bowed head, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes. He silently thought, Spreading reckless judgments-this brat has already chosen the road to his own death.

Just then, Commander Li's thunderous voice rang out:

"Enough! It's getting late. I'll teach you martial arts now!"

"At our Crouching Tiger Manor, the primary martial art we practice is the Tiger-Crouching Fist. It must be paired with a specific breathing method and tireless practice of the Tiger-Crouching Stance over many long years to temper your qi and blood!"

"The Tiger-Crouching Stance is of paramount importance. It is the foundation of everything, the very bedrock of the Tiger-Crouching Fist!"

"Although you can only study the first volume of the Tiger-Crouching Fist, the Tiger-Crouching Stance remains indispensable!"

"So, I will teach you the Tiger-Crouching Stance first. Watch my movements carefully, observe the rhythm of my breathing, and put your hearts into sensing the form and force emanating from within my body!"