The Zhao Clan Martial Hall stood at the eastern end of the inner city, with the moat at its back, roughly five or six li from the outer city.
High walls of blue brick, vermilion-painted gates, and two stone lions half a person's height standing at the entrance.
A black plaque with gold lettering hung high above the gates,
the words "Zhao Clan Martial Hall" written in bold, vigorous strokes, majestic and imposing.
The gates stood open, and quite a few boys and girls around Jiang Fa's age were scattered outside.
A small group wore neat clothes, with fair, clean faces and composed manners. They chatted and laughed freely, their bearing marking them at a glance as children of wealthy families.
The larger group consisted of poor youths dressed in coarse hemp clothing,
who tried to remain calm but could not quite hide the unease on their faces.
The two groups kept a subtle distance, as clearly divided as two distinct rivers.
Occasionally, martial hall disciples with upright postures and steady breaths passed through the gates, drawing repeated glances from the youths.
"Are you all here to enroll today?" A booming voice came from inside.
Jiang Fa looked up and saw a sturdy, vigorous middle-aged man walk out of the martial hall.
He wore a fitted black martial outfit,
with a black belt around his waist. His waist was lean, his hips narrow, his gaze sharp, and his presence overbearing.
"Yes, yes."
A boy stepped out ahead of the wealthy youths, hurried forward, and bowed. "Greetings, Master Zhao. I'm Liu Wen of the Liu family in the inner city. Liu Zhenshan is my father. I dined with you last year. Do you remember?"
He took a red letter from his sleeve.
The middle-aged man opened it and skimmed it briefly, then nodded at him. "Mm. Give your father my regards when you return."
Overjoyed, the boy nodded repeatedly. His gaze happened to sweep over the youths beside him, and a hint of arrogance crept into his expression without his noticing.
The middle-aged man stood in the center of the courtyard and looked at everyone expressionlessly. "Stand properly. Form a line."
Everyone hurried into line, a mismatched assortment of tall and short, fat and thin.
"My name is Zhao Zhong. You may call me Master Zhao."
The middle-aged man's voice rang loud and strong. "Before you enter the martial hall, there are a few things I must make clear. Listen carefully."
"The martial hall is no charity. You must pay ten taels of silver a year. I assume you all know that?"
Everyone nodded.
His gaze swept across every face, his tone stern. "Paying does not make you an official disciple of this martial hall. The Zhao Clan Martial Hall does not take in trash. Anyone who fails to reach Ming Jin within three months will pack their bedding and leave, and no tuition will be refunded!"
"Anyone who objects may leave now."
His words immediately caused a stir.
Zhao Zhong swept a cold gaze around,
then suddenly struck a wooden post beside him with his palm.
A dull thud sounded,
and the surface of the post sank half an inch, leaving a clear palm print.
The next instant,
the commotion stopped dead.
Everyone stared in horror, not daring to make another sound.
"What, you all think my rules are unreasonable?"
Zhao Zhong scoffed as he looked at the many ignorant youths before him.
"When you walk the jianghu, villains won't spare you the slightest consideration. Government runners, street thugs, local bullies-all of them strike to kill. I expend time and effort teaching you fist techniques and overseeing your daily training. Am I supposed to raise a bunch of lazy, gluttonous good-for-nothings who never improve, all for nothing?"
"Three months is already a generous allowance for the introductory Ming Jin test. The martial path is rugged and thorn-strewn. If you cannot pass even this most basic trial, continuing to train will be futile, nothing but wasted time."
He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade as it fell on each of them in turn. "Now, anyone who still wishes to leave, step forward. I will not stop you. If you have decided to stay, you must obey the Zhao Clan Martial Hall's rules and follow instructions from now on. Violators will be expelled and have their cultivation crippled. I hope you will consider this carefully."
His words fell, and the courtyard went silent as a roost without a single crow or sparrow calling. A few faces showed hesitation.
Zhao Zhong waited a moment,
but still no one left.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Withdrawing his oppressive presence, he said slowly, "Since no one wishes to leave, come forward in order to pay your tuition and register your names. Assemble punctually at the outer courtyard training grounds tomorrow at the hour of the Rabbit. Anyone late will immediately lose their place as a disciple."
After that, he briefly explained a few minor matters, then left an elderly steward surnamed Ma to lead everyone into the martial hall.
Under Steward Ma's direction, everyone paid their tuition, received numbered tags, and was finally brought before a large courtyard on the western side.
"This is where the outer courtyard disciples live, and where you will be staying for the next three months."
The elderly Steward Ma spoke somewhat slowly. "Four to a room. Move in according to your room numbers. If anything is unclear, you may find me in the rear courtyard or ask your senior brothers and sisters. Any of us can answer your questions."
He looked at everyone and went over every detail. "There is a dining hall in the rear courtyard. Meals are served at set times, and no one will wait for latecomers. Payment is collected on the first day of each month, one tael of silver per person. Of course, the martial hall does not require this. You may make your own arrangements."
Jiang Fa nodded along with everyone else.
Once everything had been explained, Steward Ma waved them off to go about their business.
Jiang Fa found his room according to his numbered tag and stepped inside.
He looked around. The room was small, just large enough for four people.
There were four beds inside, all unoccupied. Apart from the bedding being somewhat yellowed and worn, the room was reasonably clean overall.
He had just put down his bundle and chosen a bed when footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.
"Hey, brother, what's your name?"
Jiang Fa turned and saw two boys behind him. One was dark-skinned and scrawny, while the other was built as solidly as an ox.
The dark-skinned boy had spoken.
Jiang Fa vaguely remembered them both. They were fellow disciples who had joined the hall with him today.
"Jiang Fa."
The dark-skinned boy grinned.
"My name's Li Tie." He pointed at the sturdy boy beside him. "He's Wang Dahu."
Noticing Jiang Fa's clothing, his smile grew a little warmer. "Looks like we're all the same sort. Let's look out for each other."
Jiang Fa nodded,
all three came from poor families, leaving fewer unspoken barriers between them.
"What's that smell? Can anyone live here?"
Just as the three were arranging their luggage and bedding, a voice full of distaste suddenly came from the doorway.
All three turned toward the voice and saw Liu Wen, the young master of the Liu family, standing in the doorway.
He was frowning and fanning the air, surveying the room with undisguised disgust.
"I smelled mildew before I even entered the courtyard. Dust everywhere, damp bedboards-it's no different from a woodshed or a pigsty. I'm amazed you can stand it."
Liu Wen pinched his nose, his face full of distaste.
Li Tie's hands paused over the bedding, and embarrassment flickered across his dark face.
Wang Dahu was straightforward by nature. His brows immediately shot up, and he was about to argue in his deep, rumbling voice,
but Li Tie quietly reached out to stop him.
Jiang Fa remained calm and ignored the mockery, continuing to wipe down his wooden bed by the window.
Seeing that none of them spoke, Liu Wen snorted. "Hold on. There are four beds in this room. I'll take the one by the window. Divide the other three however you like. From now on, sorry for the trouble, but you'll have to take care of the cleaning, fetching water, and chopping firewood."
His tone was high-handed and thoroughly condescending.
Li Tie pressed his lips together and said quietly, "The steward said four people share a room. We should take turns doing the chores."
"Take turns?"
Liu Wen scoffed as though he had heard a joke and cast Li Tie a sidelong glance. "Do you know that a single piece of my clothing is worth ten years of your family's savings? Have me sweep floors and fetch water? If word got out, wouldn't people laugh their teeth out?"
He snorted. "It's already your good fortune to share a room with me today. Mud-legged peasants like you wouldn't ordinarily even qualify to carry my shoes."
Wang Dahu's muscles tightened, his fists clenched, anger held back in his eyes.
Only then did Jiang Fa raise his eyes, his gaze resting mildly on Liu Wen. His voice was flat. "The steward only said four people to a room. Beds go to whoever arrives first. If you dislike this room, you're welcome to ask Steward Ma for another."
Liu Wen's face darkened at once. He looked Jiang Fa up and down, taking in his coarse short tunic washed pale and his shabby appearance, then sneered. "A mud-legged country peasant thinks he can lecture me about rules? Believe it or not, one word from me could have Steward Ma move you to a drafty, run-down room in the farthest corner."
Jiang Fa remained calm. "If you have that much influence, you needn't eat and live with us."
The words seemed to strike the finely dressed boy in a vital spot. His face flushed crimson, but he did not know how to retort.
Jiang Fa was right. However wealthy his family was, it had not reached the point where he could order the martial hall around.
Seeing that none of the three would yield, Liu Wen's face alternated between ashen and pale. But since they were inside the martial hall, he could only swallow his anger.
He glared fiercely at Jiang Fa and the others and said through gritted teeth, "Fine. Very good. I won't hold this against you today. We'll have plenty of time to get along slowly from now on."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked to the empty bed farther inside, never looking at the three again.
Li Tie leaned toward Jiang Fa and lowered his voice. "Liu Wen seems to come from a pretty wealthy family. I'm afraid we won't have much peace from now on."
Jiang Fa shook his head helplessly. "We'll take it one step at a time."