Is there truly no path to martial arts? A fleeting chance bursting forth from the depths of utter desperation!

Is there truly no path to martial arts? A fleeting chance bursting forth from the depths of utter desperation!

Yet not long after.

The scraps of lofty ambition Ji Xiu had only just kindled plunged into an icy abyss.

"Passing down martial arts without registration is a grave crime."

A mouthful of fiery liquor went down Qin Biao's throat, and he bared his teeth.

Across from him, Ji Xiu sat on a small wooden stool.

He lowered his head to look at the lavish spread before him: poached chicken, sliced pork elbow with mashed garlic, smashed cucumber salad, a plate of broad beans, and several thick, solid-looking flatbreads.

The hunger that had been stirred in him quietly subsided as Qin Biao wolfed down his food without a care for talking.

His mood gradually sank to the bottom.

"Only martial men recorded in the yamen's Martial Register, those who have successfully Entered the Ranks, are qualified to open schools, take disciples, and write martial manuals. For anyone else, if it gets passed around, it's a beheading offense."

"Where would there be any cheap roadside goods for me to dig up a couple of manuals for you to study and practice on your own?"

"You, you'd better give up on this idea while you still can."

The air was chilly.

On both sides of the ancient, dilapidated street, old locust trees swayed gently in the morning breeze.

In these times, he had finally managed to have a proper meat meal, yet these words had stripped Ji Xiu of all appetite for feasting.

"Is there... no other way?"

Still unwilling to give up, Ji Xiu spoke.

He had clearly gained this providence and acquired some money. The chance to change his fate was right before his eyes—could a few weightless words really send it all down the drain?!

Of course not!

Perhaps seeing the resolve in Ji Xiu's eyes, seeing him clutching the corners of the wooden table—worn smooth with age—so tightly that his fingers were nearly rubbed raw.

Qin Biao stopped chewing. His expression remained calm; he knew all too well what the boy was thinking.

But thinking was only thinking.

If daydreaming could make one a Qi Refining Expert who could send qi beyond the body and walk upon water, or even a Martial Arts Myth who could sever rivers, halt their flow, and soar through the heavens—

Then martial men would already be everywhere.

Casually wiping his mouth with his sleeve, Qin Biao said:

"This is an iron law."

"At least in Anning County, even if there are some shady, illegal black markets and gray markets, you basically won't find such things there."

"This carries a far greater risk of losing your head than selling illicit salt!"

"Practicing the saber and practicing the fist both require nurturing three parts viciousness."

"Once you've got some skill, but can neither rise high nor stoop low and have no decent trade to turn to, do you think these half-baked martial men would willingly go stoke kilns and dig mines, or work as stallhands and errand boys at Firewood Market?"

"What mud-legged commoner at the bottom hasn't dreamed of turning his life around?"

"But if martial arts became common roadside goods, and everyone learned a few moves, the prefectural cities above might manage, but wouldn't the county yamen and villages below fall into chaos? People would draw their blades at the slightest disagreement. How could the constables possibly keep up?"

"Only..."

Qin Biao suddenly sighed.

"If you insist,"

"Then so long as you have enough silver, those small martial schools and lowly fringe sects can teach martial arts too, but..."

"I'm speaking as someone who's been there. Take my advice—so what if you learn it?"

"It won't change your fate."

"Ah."

As he said this, the fierce baleful aura between his thick, silkworm-shaped brows was suddenly replaced by frustration. He gave a somewhat self-mocking smile.

"Not everyone can forge a body of martial skill, knock upon the threshold of Entering the Ranks, and become a true martial man."

"How difficult is that?"

"And even if you had a secret manual, what the hell use would it be? A master shows you a couple of moves, you don't understand them, then go home and blindly practice. If you can grasp the basics after several years, that's already remarkable."

"Take your old brother here. Back then, I refused to accept it and practiced for so long, yet I'm still just a worthless country martial artist, fit for nothing but guarding homes and courtyards."

Having drunk too much morning liquor, intoxication appeared on his face, along with unwillingness.

But even more than that, resignation.

"Anning County is so large. The famous martial schools pick and choose, but those little boxing halls will let you learn ordinary martial arts for ten-odd taels of silver a month."

"But what can you really learn there? Most of them are scams targeting poor folk like us."

"Unless you offer dozens or hundreds of taels of silver, properly serve tea, and formally acknowledge a master, who would teach you their true inheritance or secret martial arts for Entering the Ranks for no reason?"

"And you have to train horses all day long. With only that little spare time, and no one to guide you, you can only figure things out yourself."

"You won't make it."

"With that money, take your old brother's advice and honestly find a maid in some residence. Make do with her, have a wife, children, and a warm kang bed—that's better than anything. Better than..."

He seemed to want to say something more, but stopped himself. In the end, he did not finish.

Ten-odd taels of silver for one month of learning.

Dozens, even hundreds of taels, before one could learn the true teachings within.

Ji Xiu scraped his fingers across the tabletop, his face darkening as he nearly cursed aloud.

Learning martial arts was even harsher than he had imagined.

He had sold himself, stamped with the mark of Anning Lin Residence, just to make a living, and his settlement fee had only been three taels of silver!

Afterward, working himself to the bone every month, he could earn three or four hundred copper coins. Compared to the bitter laborers outside at Firewood Market and the Fire Kiln, or sedan bearers selling nothing but brute strength, that was already considered "well-off."

Even so, unless some unexpected fortune fell into his lap, he would still need to save for years before gathering enough money to take a gamble and study martial arts.

It sounded manageable enough.

But as the old saying went: poor scholars, rich warriors. Never mind what he could actually cultivate from a month of boxing and kicking—

The sheer expenditure and depletion from practicing martial arts and wielding a blade was not something ordinary people could bear.

This table piled high with dishes—if not for trying to pry some information out of Qin Biao, Ji Xiu would never have indulged so extravagantly.

The two of them had eaten fifty or sixty copper coins' worth, enough to buy several jin of pork at the market, or quite a few jin of coarse rice and rough flour!

The flatbreads he had gnawed on before, hard enough to hurt his teeth and mixed with wood shavings, cost only one copper coin each.

What sort of household could afford to eat like this every meal?

No wonder kiln workers stoked fires year-round, and sedan bearers worked until their backs broke;

Woodcutters on East Market and West Street, fishermen and butchers stained with fish stench and blood, went through three generations without much changing.

He had never heard of some family's son going to a martial school, undergoing Metamorphosis, becoming a disciple of a great sect, and soaring to prominence.

At the very most—

There were only a rare few who learned a couple of fist-and-foot techniques, joined a gang, or became a constable. That was considered turning their lives around.

If he had not gained this providence—

He would most likely have ended up the same.

Ji Xiu had thought that Lin Ruyue giving him five taels of silver meant that, if things went smoothly, he could obtain a couple of martial arts secret manuals, advance a little, then rise to greatness and rule the world alone.

But now, it seemed...

The control this dynasty, the martial world, the great clans, and the various powers held over "scriptures and manuals" had reached an utterly appalling degree!

Link after link locked into place—how could one simply turn one's life around just because one said so!

"Brother Qin, I know you mean well."

"But..."

"I still want to try."

Ji Xiu gritted his teeth and took a small piece of broken silver from his robes.

At current prices, it could be exchanged for a full thousand copper coins. For a horse groom like him, or even a guard like Qin Biao, it was a huge sum.

"These past few days at the Lin Residence, I didn't know anyone or anything. I've relied entirely on you to look after me. And that day, I was able to receive Miss Lin's reward thanks to your reminder. Otherwise, it might not have fallen into my hands."

"As for today's matter, whether it succeeds or fails afterward..."

"Take this money."

"Point me toward a path."

Ji Xiu rose to his feet, cupped his fists, and fixed him with a blazing gaze.

Qin Biao had grabbed a flatbread and was scooping up bits of pork elbow, garlic, and cucumber, mixing and rolling them together before stuffing them into his mouth.

At the sight of that nearly one tael of broken silver, he immediately choked.

He looked at the spread of dishes, then at the small piece of silver. His eyes brightened, and he sobered somewhat.

"You really won't give up, will you?"

Qin Biao set down his chopsticks and raised his hand.

But after hesitating, he did not take the money.

"Put the silver away. Add a little more and I really would take it."

"But first, I can't teach you martial skills passed down by others for self-defense. Second, I've already eaten a free meal from you. Taking more money wouldn't be right."

"Still, if you insist..."

"There really is a lower threshold for learning martial arts."

"Anning County is large. Back in the day, many martial men who roamed the martial world and entered these parts returned home in their old age."

"Some spent their entire lives unable to comprehend the mysteries of True Martial, and the skills under their hands were not strong enough."

"Before becoming a Qi Refining Expert, one cannot lock in one's qi and blood, so there is the saying that fists fear the young and strong. Once they open a martial school, if they cannot hold the place down, they are just giving away money and smashing their own signboard, ruining their reputation in old age."

"So,"

"If you seek out those old boxing masters and old martial instructors who have some skill but cannot establish themselves in the county, and serve them a cup of tea..."

"Perhaps you can figure out some way in for a few taels of silver."

"Only, there aren't many good goods among the cheap ones."

"Your old brother has practiced external arts for more than ten years. I can be considered half a foot through the door. With a weapon in hand, I can split stone steles and crack rocks. Though I still cannot strike out force with bare fists, if we really measured things up, those old men whose bodies are failing might not be much stronger than me."

"Hmm..."

Qin Biao pondered for a moment, then suddenly drew on his drunken courage and slammed his fist down.

"But there is one exception."

"I've heard that beside the Fire Kiln on the eastern end of the county, there's a one-armed martial man surnamed Duan. A few years ago, he came to Anning from elsewhere and served as Duantou Duan for two years before stepping down. Since then, he has kept a low profile, and it seems he has real skill."

"There were once rumors that he was no weaker than the head boxing masters of ordinary martial schools!"

"Only..."

"This man has an eccentric temperament. He sets up a 'Dragon Gate Formation' in his own courtyard, and he does not seem like the sort who sees money and his eyes light up."

"They say only those who pass his test can determine whether they have the makings of martial arts and qualify to pay for training."

"If you fail, he won't accept you no matter how much silver you offer."

"If you truly want to learn some real skill, you can go try."

"Even if it doesn't work out, you can still save yourself a wasted sum of money."

Qin Biao had barely finished speaking through his drunken haze.

Yet Ji Xiu had already committed every single word to memory.

"East of the county... Duantou Duan?"

He clenched his fists.

Then, his heart already reached a decision.