Literacy and Breathing Technique

Early the next morning.

For once, Chen Shi made breakfast. She boiled two eggs and simmered a pot of vegetable soup.

She also took out some of the family's pickled fish and prepared a lavish meal that they normally only got to eat during holidays.

This meal had been made especially for Fang Yue.

"Mother, I'm already full. Please give these two eggs, one each, to you and Sister."

Under Chen Shi's watchful eye, Fang Yue had forced down two flatbreads. The two eggs had been meant for him as well.

But how could Fang Yue keep such a "scarce commodity" as eggs all to himself? In the countryside, eggs were usually saved to nourish the sick or pregnant women.

He was perfectly healthy. Eating them would be "wasteful."

"Hmph, so your wings have grown hard now, and you dare disobey your mother. You're going to learn skills from Uncle Fang Hu. How will you have the strength if you don't eat your fill?"

"Then... I'll eat half."

Chen Shi refused to yield, and Fang Yue had no choice in the end. Still, he only ate half an egg and refused to touch the rest no matter what.

"I'm full. I'm leaving now, or I'll be late."

As he spoke, Fang Yue gave Chen Shi no chance to object. He immediately rose to his feet and quickly headed out.

Fang Hu's courtyard was not far from Fang Yue's home, situated at the very edge of the village.

But his yard was huge, a full mu in size.

Its rammed-earth walls blocked the view from both inside and out, hiding the courtyard from prying eyes.

The courtyard did not resemble a farmer's home, nor did it look like a hunter's home. Rather, it looked more like a martial training ground.

Along the eastern side stood a row of Stone Locks. Beside them was a weapon rack holding sabers, spears, and staffs, along with two wooden training dummies.

Three targets had been set up on the western side of the courtyard.

"Fang Yue, you're here. There are Stone Locks in the yard. Try them first."

The moment he entered, Fang Hu was already waiting in the courtyard. Upon seeing Fang Yue, he did not waste words and directly told him to test his strength.

Perhaps because he was preparing to take him on as a disciple, the way he regarded Fang Yue had naturally changed.

He used to call him by his childhood nickname; now, he called him Fang Yue.

"Start with the three-hundred-pound one. Know your limits and don't force yourself. Let me see how strong you are."

There were ten Stone Locks in this row, starting at one hundred pounds. Each was one hundred pounds heavier than the last, far more uniform than the Stone Locks Fang Yue had used by the river to cultivate strength.

They even had handles specially made for easier exertion. One look was enough to tell they were highly professional.

A moment later, Fang Yue focused, gathered his strength, and lifted the Stone Lock before him, marked with the words three hundred pounds.

It took little effort. He raised it with ease.

After setting it down, Fang Yue walked over to the four-hundred-pound Stone Lock.

This time, lifting it was somewhat difficult. His breathing became unsteady, but he still managed to raise it.

However, after holding it for only ten breaths, he could go no further.

"As expected, your aptitude is excellent. Without cultivating a Breathing Technique, you already possess nearly four hundred pounds of strength, just as yesterday. After training for only a month, you have gained such power. This is inborn divine strength."

Martial arts had always placed great emphasis on aptitude. Those without it would only harm themselves by forcing their cultivation.

Fang Yue's performance proved that his martial aptitude was extraordinary. If he truly began cultivating, he would certainly progress swiftly.

In the future, his accomplishments would surely surpass both Fang Hu's and Er Gou's. Perhaps he might even pass the Imperial Martial Examination, fulfilling Fang Hu's long-held wish.

"Your foundation is good, but if you truly want to enter the mountains and hunt, your current strength is still far from enough. At the very least, you need to be able to draw a Five-stone bow."

"Oh, right. You can't read yet, can you? Next, I'll teach you literacy first."

As Fang Hu spoke, he took out a thin booklet and began explaining it to Fang Yue, following along with its contents.

I never thought I'd be illiterate.

At that moment, Fang Yue listened as Fang Hu patiently explained the first two lines of text in the little booklet again and again.

Afterward, he even had Fang Yue use a branch to write and draw the characters on the ground.

Only then did Fang Yue discover that he was illiterate in this life!

It seemed he only knew how to write his own name and a few simple numbers. He had never thought about it before, so the matter had never occurred to him.

Now, looking at the booklet in Fang Hu's hand, he realized that without the other man's explanation, he could not recognize more than a few characters. Only then did he understand that he was illiterate.

Who would have thought it? In his previous life, he had at least attended university and earned a degree.

He might not have been a scholar with five cartloads of books, but he had possessed some learning.

And now, he had become illiterate.

The vicissitudes of life truly made one sigh.

"All right, we'll learn these twenty characters today. Now listen to me and breathe according to this rhythm."

Having ended the literacy lesson early, Fang Hu began teaching Fang Yue a standing stance.

As he held the stance, Fang Hu had him adjust his breathing rhythm and begin training according to a unique Breathing Technique containing a certain cadence and rhythm.

Though Fang Yue was illiterate, his comprehension was quite good.

He quickly got into the rhythm.

This child has good aptitude. I never expected his comprehension to be so strong as well. I was right to choose him.

Fang Hu discovered that although Fang Yue could not read, he learned quickly. Thus, he raised his original literacy task of ten characters a day to twenty.

He could have raised it further, but there was no need. To swallow dates whole was to gain less by trying to gain too much.

As for the standing stance and Breathing Technique, Fang Hu was only teaching him their surface-level basics, letting Fang Yue get a feel for them.

To truly enter the doorway, he would need at least ten days to half a month.

Fang Hu then sat directly on a stone stool, enjoying the shade as he leisurely sipped his tea.

Meanwhile, Fang Yue held his stance and followed that unique breathing rhythm.

He felt his body gradually warming, while the flow of his blood and qi began to quicken.

It seemed as if his body was changing somehow, yet he could not put it into words.

He only felt increasingly awkward. Gradually, his muscles began to ache, making it hard for him to remain standing. All he wanted was for it to end quickly.

After persevering for about the time it took to burn an incense stick, sweat was already pouring down him like rain.

He was finally on the verge of being unable to endure any longer.

"All right, stop."

At that very moment, Fang Hu's voice came.

He rose to his feet, his expression stern and his tone grave. "You can't stand any longer already? Look how little time has passed. I haven't even finished this pot of tea."

Fang Yue immediately felt somewhat ashamed. Feeling the soreness radiating through his body, he could not imagine how anyone could maintain such a stance for even longer.

He had thought his aptitude was good, almost reaching one hundred points—an aptitude of One in a hundred.

That should have been quite good, right? But after hearing Fang Hu's words, it seemed he was still lacking by quite a bit.

Arrogance invites loss. He absolutely could not grow complacent and slack off just because he had a Golden Finger.

At once, his heart turned solemn, and the pride that had risen within him these past days vanished completely.

"Uncle Fang Hu, I'll work hard!" Fang Yue promised.

"Mm. That's enough for today. You must be thirsty. Drink this cup of tea." Fang Hu handed him a cup.

"Thank you, Uncle Fang Hu."

Fang Yue accepted the tea and drained it in one gulp.