Out west, Gong and Drum Alley, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency...
Had Luo Dongsheng mentioned it in passing when he came to visit?
Lu Sui's eyes flickered as he asked, feigning shock:
"I heard Chief Escort Lin was an external martial arts expert who had undergone four blood exchanges and developed iron bones. Did he meet with disaster too?"
Tan Chuanjie sighed deeply:
"Yes. His death was gruesome, his corpse shriveled, as though all his blood essence had been drained.
"Who knows what sort of monstrous thing the Zhenyuan Escort Agency provoked.
"Everyone outside is on edge now. All four great martial arts schools in Changle County have been invited over to discuss countermeasures."
Lu Sui immediately grew wary.
This supernatural calamity had better not land on his head.
He had only just managed to enjoy a few peaceful days!
"Ah, if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Leave these headaches to the martial trade. It's not our place to get involved."
Tan Chuanjie led him into the martial arts school, taking the opportunity to change the subject:
"Young Master Lu, let me show you around so you can familiarize yourself with the place."
Lu Sui nodded, brushing away the shadow over his heart.
Master Chai was right outside. With an expert like him providing close protection, even if a supernatural calamity did latch onto him, they might be able to send it to the afterlife through sheer force.
Tan Chuanjie said:
"This is the outer courtyard. Entry-level apprentices who have offered their initiation tea learn here."
Lu Sui observed carefully. The Hundred Victories Martial Arts School occupied a sizable area. Large stretches of terrazzo tiles covered the front courtyard, divided into several "training grounds." Numerous stone locks and stone rollers stood on either side, used to build strength.
Thirty or forty apprentices were scattered about. Some practiced stances, some practiced punches, and others squatted at the foot of the walls, resting and chatting.
Lu Sui was inwardly surprised:
The Hundred Victories Martial Arts School has a high threshold, yet so many people still rush to hand over their money, hoping to master martial arts.
Xiaotang had specifically mentioned that the initiation tea fee for the four great schools alone cost fifty taels.
After that, fees were paid monthly, with neither room nor board included, much less any guarantee of instruction until mastery.
There was practically no "after-sales service" to speak of.
Lu Sui silently reflected:
Clearly, beyond the pass, the martial trade is a "popular major" everyone wants to squeeze into.
It made sense when he thought about it. Among the Five Great Trades, the merchant trade valued background. Without connections and financial resources, hoping to work one's way up from shop assistant to manager was an idiot's dream.
The brokerage trade formed cliques and factions, staking out their territories by village, settlement, and stockade. Outsiders could not even get a foot in the door.
As for the last two, the cart and boat trades, they were all gang members. Joining the boat trade required paying respects at the docks, and joining the cart trade required a guarantor. Their barriers to entry stood high.
Only the "martial trade" seemed to offer some possibility of turning one's fortunes around and changing one's fate overnight!
Tan Chuanjie's voice rang across the training grounds, startlingly loud:
"This is Young Master Lu of the Lu Family! He intends to hang his curtain at the Hundred Victories Martial Arts School, so from now on, he'll be your senior brother in the inner courtyard!"
"Hurry up and greet your senior brother!"
The apprentices all stopped what they were doing, turned toward Lu Sui, and called out in unison:
"Greetings, Senior Brother Lu!"
The booming wave of voices washed over him. Lu Sui's expression remained calm, but inwardly he thought:
Good thing I became a young master. If I'd started at the bottom instead, I'd be miserably practicing punches right now, worrying about getting thrown out because I couldn't pay enough silver at the end of the month...
Tan Chuanjie said with a smile:
"Young Master Lu, most outer courtyard apprentices are at the introductory stage of 'nurturing the breath.' The clever ones can grasp Qi Sensation after two or three months of hard work. Those with duller talent may need half a year.
"By the way, Young Master Lu, what level are you at now?"
Lu Sui replied mildly:
"The second stage of Internal Nourishment, strengthening Qi and Blood. I've only just opened the pathways through both arms. I still need more practice."
Tan Chuanjie's brows furrowed slightly, then immediately relaxed. He concealed his surprise with laughter:
"Hahaha! As expected of someone of great promise, Young Master Lu. Grasping Qi Sensation and gaining command of Qi, which trip ordinary people up, are as easy as turning your palm for you. Yours truly is a heaven-gifted talent!"
Though his mouth offered flattery, Tan Chuanjie was muttering to himself inwardly.
Rumors had long circulated in Changle County that the Lu Family's sole heir had contracted a dreadful illness and spent a full six months bedridden, kept alive entirely by aged ginseng. He had only recovered recently.
Now Lu Sui claimed to have entered the second stage of Internal Nourishment. A sickly invalid had suddenly taken up martial arts, yet made such rapid progress.
He must have consumed plenty of powerful tonics, perhaps even heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
At that thought, Tan Chuanjie could not help feeling envious.
Being born into the right family really was a discipline unto itself!
If his own father were Lu Yulin, with the backing of the Dacheng Trading Firm, perhaps he could hope to undergo nine blood exchanges and develop golden bones...
Lu Sui smiled:
"You flatter me, Brother Chuanjie. The Hundred Victories Martial Arts School has plenty of outstanding talents. What does my little bit of progress amount to?
"I hear you're not yet twenty-five, Brother Chuanjie, but you've already undergone five blood exchanges and developed iron bones..."
The two exchanged professional flattery as they walked toward the inner courtyard.
The number of people here abruptly halved, but every one of them was sturdily built, like a young calf.
Their training was different as well. Rather than simply practicing stances and seeking Qi Sensation, they were stepping across wooden stakes!
Lu Sui looked up. There were four or five sandpits in all, filled with wooden stakes of varying heights.
Some stood around three or four feet high, while others reached a full twenty feet, rising far above the courtyard walls.
Five or six inner courtyard disciples dressed in fitted black martial outfits were leaping and maneuvering atop the stakes, constantly shifting their footing.
Tan Chuanjie pointed at the people on the training grounds:
"Young Master Lu, our Hundred Victories Martial Arts School specializes in leg techniques. As the saying goes, a punch strikes along a line, while a kick sweeps a whole swath.
"But in martial arena bouts, leaving the ground is taboo. It's the easiest way to expose an opening.
"So outer courtyard apprentices first practice standing stances. Once they grasp Qi Sensation and nurture a finger-thick strand of Qi, they're considered to have truly crossed the threshold.
"Pay enough silver, and they can enter the inner courtyard to practice on high stakes."
As Tan Chuanjie spoke, a disciple atop the dozens of three-foot stakes lost his footing, slipped, and fell heavily into the sandpit.
Thump!
A spray of yellow sand flew up. The man failed to get up for a good while.
Tan Chuanjie was thoroughly accustomed to the sight. He smiled at Lu Sui and said:
"An embarrassing sight, Young Master Lu. Falling off and suffering a few flesh wounds is an everyday occurrence when training on stakes.
"On the twenty-foot stakes, broken arms and legs are common, but our Hundred Victories Martial Arts School has secret medicinal liquor for traumatic injuries and ointment to nourish bones and mend tendons. We can heal them!"
Lu Sui looked toward that "forest" of twenty-foot stakes. Their tops were shaped like upturned bowls, leaving only a palm-sized foothold. He nodded:
"It certainly puts one's skills to the test."
Tan Chuanjie continued:
"After you've hung your curtain, Young Master Lu, you'll practice in the inner courtyard.
"Let me introduce these junior brothers and sisters so everyone can get acquainted. If you need anything done, just give them the word."
Tan Chuanjie clapped his hands, gathered everyone together, and introduced them by name.
"Wei Erhe lives in Auspicious Alley. His elder sister works in the cart trade. He used to be a hunter himself, and now he's entered the martial trade..."
"This youngest one is Liang Bao! He's from Great Willow Village, a good swimmer who often catches rare fresh fish..."
"Bai Fangfang. Her father is with the Dragon King Gang..."
"Deng Yun. His father is one of Changle County's most renowned blacksmiths..."
Hunter, fisherman, blacksmith, Dragon King Gang...
The Hundred Victories Martial Arts School certainly has a wealth of talent!
Lu Sui looked over them one by one, his mind clear as a mirror.
Anyone who could enter the Hundred Victories Martial Arts School's inner courtyard either had some talent or some family resources.
Deng Yun was quite sharp. Seeing Lu Sui's fine clothes, his robe of the finest silk, and the way Tan Chuanjie treated him, he knew Lu Sui must have an impressive background.
So he spoke first:
"Greetings, Senior Brother Lu!"
Liang Bao and Bai Fangfang likewise cupped their fists and bowed:
"Hello, Senior Brother Lu!"
Wei Erhe was the one who had fallen from the stakes just now. His response lagged a beat, as though he were recalling something.
After two or three breaths, he gathered his courage and said:
"Senior Brother Lu... you're Young Master Lu Zhan'ao, aren't you?"
The original owner had spent half a year bedridden without leaving home, yet someone actually recognized him?
Lu Sui raised an eyebrow and asked:
"Junior Brother Wei, have we met?"
Wei Erhe scratched his head:
"My eldest sister drove a carriage for you, Young Master Lu. She often took you to the opera gardens in Pleasure Ward."
Pleasure Alley?
That name doesn't sound like any respectable place.
Lu Sui frowned.
Was the original owner's personal conduct that bad?
That shouldn't be right. Uncle Wen clearly said I was still a virgin!
Wei Erhe seemed a little dim, insisting on carrying on with the subject:
"Miss Liu Ruyan of Tongchun Garden has really been missing you, Young Master Lu. A while ago, Young Master Zhou from the brokerage trade wanted to buy out her contract, but she threatened to kill herself and refused, saying she wanted to wait until you recovered..."