Joining the martial arts hall

Li Xuan set the bundle on the table and motioned for his elder brother and sister-in-law to sit down. Lowering his voice, he briefly recounted what had happened that day.

When they heard that the children Li Xuan had rescued were actually the daughter and son of Shen Wanjun, owner of the largest rice shop in town, Li Zhong and Wang both sucked in a breath, their eyes round as saucers!

"Heavens above! The... the young lady of the Shen Household?!"

Wang covered her mouth, her voice trembling.

"They're one of the foremost families in Pingshan Town! Third Brother, you... you really saved the Shen Household's young lady?"

Li Zhong was also too stunned to speak and could only nod repeatedly.

The Shen Household's Abundant Harvest Rice Shop was a name that rang loud and clear throughout Pingshan Town and the surrounding villages.

They were a truly wealthy household, with countless fields and shops. It was said they even had businesses in the county seat and the prefectural city.

Their Third Brother had actually saved the children of a family like that?

Wang patted her chest, filled with both lingering fear and pride.

"Our ancestors must have been watching over you! That was far too dangerous! But our Third Brother certainly has what it takes!"

She looked at the bundle and asked cautiously, "Then this..."

"A thank-you gift from Master Shen. Some cloth and food."

Li Xuan opened a corner of the bundle to show them. "But more importantly, there's this."

He took out the letter of recommendation he had kept close to his chest and carefully unfolded it.

"This... what's this?" Li Zhong asked in confusion, unable to read.

"A letter of recommendation. Master Shen wrote it himself, recommending me to study at the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall," Li Xuan said slowly.

"A martial arts hall?!" Li Zhong and Wang exclaimed in unison, their voices rising out of pitch.

"Third Brother, you want to practice martial arts?!" Li Zhong asked anxiously.

"That's no child's play! I've heard martial arts halls set a very high bar! Not only do you need an apprenticeship gift-what they call a 'presentation gift'-you also have to pay a great deal of 'tuition' every year. It's frighteningly expensive! And the most important thing is your 'root bone'! They say you have to be 'martial arts material'!"

"Wasn't there a rich landowner in neighboring Xiahe Village a few years ago who smashed his pots and sold his iron to send all three of his sons to a martial arts hall in the county seat? He wanted a martial artist in the family to bring glory to his ancestors. And what happened?"

"They trained for three years, spent all the money, and still had nothing to show for it. They came slinking home with their tails between their legs, and even ended up with injuries! Everyone said their root bone wasn't good enough-they couldn't earn their rice that way!"

Wang nodded repeatedly too, her face full of worry.

"That's right, Third Brother. Practicing martial arts means suffering, and it all comes down to talent! For farming folk like us, there's nothing wrong with hunting and working the fields honestly. Why put yourself through that misery? What if... what if you don't achieve anything? Wouldn't that just waste money and grain, not to mention your time?"

Seeing how anxious and worried his brother and sister-in-law were, Li Xuan felt warmth in his heart, but his resolve only grew firmer.

He put away the letter and looked at them calmly. "Brother, Sister-in-law, I understand everything you're saying. But you've seen what the world is like. There are savage beasts in the mountains and bandits on the roads. With nothing but brute strength and luck, I might protect our family for a while, but not for a lifetime."

"People like the Xu Family are only a minor nuisance. If we really run into a tough opponent, without any real skills, we'll be lambs waiting for slaughter."

He paused before continuing, "Root bone? I don't know what that is. But I do know I'm stronger than most people, quicker on my feet, and not slow to learn. Since Master Shen was willing to write this letter, the masters at the martial arts hall should at least give me a chance to try. As for money..."

He hefted his remaining money pouch.

"What I earned from selling things this time, along with what I had before, should be enough to last a while. If I really don't have what it takes, I'll quit before it's too late. I won't push beyond my limits. But if I don't even dare to try, I won't be able to accept it."

His tone was steady and resolute, and his eyes held a certainty Li Zhong and Wang had never seen before.

The two exchanged a glance, knowing their younger brother had made up his mind.

They thought of how he had changed recently: hunting a mountain goat alone, catching fish in an icy river, even daring to fight bandits to the death...

Perhaps Third Brother really was different from them.

Wang sighed and finally gave in, only reminding him:

"Then... then you must be careful. Stay within your limits, and don't try to prove yourself."

Li Zhong also nodded with his usual good-natured air. "Right. There's no harm in trying. If you really succeed, our family will have someone who knows martial arts!"

Seeing that they were no longer strongly opposed, Li Xuan felt reassured. He glanced at the sky and said:

"Brother, Sister-in-law, take these things home first. Let Father and Xiu'er know we're safe, and bring back the gifts from the Shen Household too. I..."

His gaze turned toward a certain part of town.

"I want to go straight to the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall while it's still early. With this letter, the sooner I become an apprentice, the sooner I can put my mind at ease."

"You're going today? In such a hurry?" Wang asked in surprise.

"Yes. The longer the night, the more dreams can trouble it. Brother, Sister-in-law, find some other people to travel with on your way back, and stick to the main road so you don't run into bandits again."

Li Xuan spoke.

More than anything, he wanted to find out as soon as possible whether the hunting panel's ability to "add points" could work on "martial arts training"! That was his greatest source of confidence!

Though Li Zhong and Wang were reluctant to leave him and still worried, they saw that their younger brother's mind was made up and knew they could not dissuade him.

They could only remind him over and over to be careful. Then, carrying the supplies they had purchased and the bundle of gifts from the Shen Household on their backs, they headed out of town, turning back three times with every step.

After seeing his brother and sister-in-law off, Li Xuan stood outside the tea shop and drew a deep breath of the crisp winter air.

He touched the letter inside his robe, then got his bearings and set off.

He strode toward the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall in the eastern part of town, recalling the location Steward Chen had mentioned.

Before long, Li Xuan arrived at the entrance to the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall.

Before him lay a spacious courtyard paved with gray bricks, with stone locks and wooden posts set along its edges. The gate stood open, and he could see several figures moving inside.

He tightened his grip on the bundle in his hand and walked in.

He had just crossed the threshold when a man in a short gray outfit emerged from a room beside him. The man glanced at him and called out loudly:

"Hey, what are you here for?"

"Brother," Li Xuan said, stopping, "I've come to become an apprentice."

"An apprentice?" The man walked over and sized him up. "Know the rules? The apprenticeship fee is thirty taels. Did you bring enough?"

Thirty taels! Li Xuan's heart lurched. Everything he owned amounted to only a few taels of loose silver.

"I... I haven't brought that much money."

The man's face fell, and he waved a hand to shoo him away. "What are you doing here making trouble if you don't have money? Go on, get out!"

"Wait!" Li Xuan hurriedly took the letter of recommendation from inside his robe and offered it to him. "I have this. It's for the hall master."

The man took it impatiently, still muttering, "What the hell is this..."

But the instant he saw the signature on the letter, his voice cut off.

He raised his head and took another careful look at Li Xuan. His expression shifted, and his tone softened a little.

"A letter from Master Shen? You-

wait here."

With that, he turned and hurried into the courtyard with the letter, his strides swift.

Li Xuan waited where he stood. He could hear cries of "Hah! Ha!" from the courtyard, along with the dull thuds of fists striking something.

Before long, the man came running back, a little smile pasted on his face. He was no longer as brusque as before.

"Young brother, sorry for the poor reception, sorry about that. My name's Zhao Meng, a formal disciple of the hall. Master read the letter and told you to come in. Follow me."