The scholar lost at poetry and wanted to win at martial arts, so I turned around and sent him on his way

Gu Moran the tea.

This is too hasty; Ye Qingyun will become suspicious.

If we push too slowly, the Second Prince won't wait for us.

Ye Qingyun needs to be encouraged to step on it himself.

Ye Qingyun just lost the poem contest.

Gu Moran loosened his grip on the teacup between his fingers.

"Literary fame was suppressed, and the Old Testament was overturned."

"As for the Shun'an Martial Arts School, they only gave him an empty plot of land."

Gu Moran looked at the ink dot on the map indicating Shun'an Lane.

"When one person practices, no matter how loudly he hits the wooden stake, only the pageboy can hear it."

Uncle Fu placed the tea tray down gently.

As Boss Zhao continued to ponder the words, his brows furrowed.

"Your Highness means that what he lacks is not a suitable place."

"Go on."

Gu Moran placed the teacup back on the table.

Boss Zhao stared at the ink spot, tapping his knee twice with his finger.

"He needs someone to watch him."

He lost the poetry competition in front of everyone, and he wouldn't accept it if no one saw him practicing martial arts.

Gu Moran raised her eyes slightly.

"Anything else?"

Boss Zhao paused for a moment.

"He's impatient for quick results and needs someone to test his skills."

"The wooden stake doesn't cry out in pain, nor does it admit defeat."

"What he wants is for the fist to land and the person opposite him to take half a step back."

Gu Moran then laughed out loud.

" Boss Zhao, your teahouse has been worth the investment."

Boss Zhao cupped his hands in greeting.

"I only know the bad habits of people in the world."

Ye Qingyun is not a member of the martial arts world.

Gu Moran tapped the table with his fingertips.

"But now he wants to follow the path of a charlatan."

Uncle Fu chimed in from the side.

"Having lost in literature, they want to win in martial arts."

Gu Moran glanced at Uncle Fu.

" Uncle Fu, what you said is very hurtful to scholars."

Uncle Fu hung down.

"This old servant has not had much schooling and dares not harm you."

Boss Zhao coughed lightly, looking down.

Gu Moran pushed the map half an inch towards Boss Zhao.

"So, for the first three days after Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School opens, don't pay any attention to him."

Boss Zhao looked up.

"Aren't you going to invite him?"

"No need to invite me."

What if he comes by himself?

"Make him wait in line."

Gu Moran pushed the teacup aside.

"If he comes on his first day, he should say that all the spots are filled for that day."

"If he comes the next day, tell him the instructor wants to see the previous group practice their stances first."

"If he comes again on the third day, give him a number and put him at the back of the line."

Boss Zhao's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but ask.

"Your Highness, given his temperament, he certainly won't be able to bear being treated so disrespectfully."

"That's exactly what I want—for him to be unable to stand it."

Gu Moran moved her fingertips from Shun'an Lane to the location of Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School.

The more you invite him, the more suspicious he becomes.

"Let him stand at the door, watching the porters go in, watching the water carriers go in, watching the security escort apprentices go in."

He would ask himself, why can these uncouth people get in, but he, the chosen one, cannot?

Boss Zhao continued.

He'll be even more eager to prove himself.

"Right."

Gu Moran picked up the folding fan and gently tapped the fan ribs against his palm.

"If he turns and leaves, have the instructor perform a set of military boxing moves at the street corner."

"Don't use fancy moves in your punches; don't use roundabout techniques."

"Keep your steps heavy and your fists straight."

"When you retract your fist, don't rush to finish the movement; let the ground make a sound."

Boss Zhao's eyelids twitched.

"This is to keep him in suspense."

Gu Moran corrected.

"Let the people of the south of the city know that Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School teaches real skills."

Boss Zhao looked at him.

Gu Moran was also looking at him.

The room was quiet for a couple of moments. Uncle Fu picked up the iced tea and poured a cup for Boss Zhao.

Boss Zhao held the cup but didn't drink it.

"What if he can really hold back?"

Gu Moran leaned back in his chair.

"You won't die from missing a meal."

"Craving for three days straight is a agonizing experience."

"Can he really hold back?"

Boss Zhao remained silent for a moment.

"What if he gets enraged and starts a fight in the street, trying to prove he's qualified with his fists?"

"Let him prove it."

Gu Moran answered quickly.

"Send a reliable coach to take on a few of his moves, but don't hurt him, and don't let him lose too badly."

After the match, he'd praise her, saying she had good potential, but was unorthodox, lacking foundation and established techniques.

Boss Zhao was waiting for the second half of the sentence.

Gu Moran added.

"Then tell him to remember to take a number."

Uncle Fu gently touched the rim of the cup with the lid of his teacup.

Boss Zhao lowered his head to drink his tea, but almost choked as soon as the tea entered his mouth.

"Your Highness, those words hurt more than being punched."

What's bothering you?

Gu Moran spread his hands.

"Business is done on a first-come, first-served basis."

"Talented individuals from humble backgrounds value integrity above all else, and they absolutely cannot cut in line."

Boss Zhao put down his teacup.

"Understood."

"Understanding is not enough."

Gu Moran tapped the two characters "Dragon Abyss".

"If he really joins the martial arts school, don't make things difficult for him."

Boss Zhao looked up.

"Aren't you going to stop him?"

"I won't stop them."

"Not holding back either?"

"Do not hide."

Gu Moran placed the folding fan next to the map.

"Standing stance training, fist techniques, sword techniques, and spear techniques."

"Teach as much as the instructor knows."

Boss Zhao's face darkened.

"Your Highness, this is giving him wings; this is raising a tiger to cause future trouble."

Gu Moran picked up the herbal tea, then put it down again.

"The wings are too thin to fly high."

"The tiger has lost weight; it doesn't look good."

Boss Zhao stared at him, his fingertips tapping twice on his knee.

"Does Your Highness intend to fatten them up before killing them?"

"No."

Gu Moran looked at Boss Zhao's fingers.

"I want him to eat until he's stuffed."

Boss Zhao pondered those words repeatedly, a look of doubt appearing in his eyes.

" Boss Zhao, when you take on apprentices, what kind of foundation do you prefer, and what kind of foundation do you dislike the most?" Gu Moran asked.

Boss Zhao answered quickly this time.

"In every profession, teachers prefer blank slates and dislike those who have learned a lot but have a lot of miscellaneous knowledge."

After saying that, he paused for a moment, then became excited.

"Your Highness, Ye Qingyun first learned some unorthodox boxing, then switched to the proper methods. His internal energy gets disordered, and his hands and feet start fighting."

Gu Moran held up two fingers.

"Clever, you were watching him from the sidelines that day at the poetry recital."

Boss Zhao recalled the scene from that day.

His hand was red.

"And the neck."

Gu Moran pointed to the side of his neck.

"The energy is pushing upwards, and the meridians are bulging too rapidly."

Uncle Fu's eyebrows twitched.

Gu Moran lowered his hand.

"In proper martial arts practice, you need to sink your qi so that your feet are stable."

"His style is characterized by a quick start and a fierce charge."

Boss Zhao pursed his lips.

He had seen this kind of person in the martial arts world: impatient, wanting to learn everything, and greedy for more.

He defeated his old friend in three months, but three years later he was lying in bed taking medicine.

It's fast, really fast.

It's useless, truly useless.

"Your Highness intends to let Dragon Abyss's righteous path suppress his unorthodox path."

"It's not pressure."

Gu Moran his head.

"The coach just needs to teach."

"Let him choose his own path."

Boss Zhao handled the situation more smoothly.

He wants it fast.

"Let's open the door faster for him."

Boss Zhao took a breath and then slowly exhaled.

"Your Highness, this round was clean."

"Of course it's clean."

Gu Moran closed his folding fan.

" Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School's rules for accepting disciples are written at the entrance."

He came on his own.

"He learned it on his own."

"His skill is remarkable because of the excellent coaching."

He practiced incorrectly; he tried to do too much at once.

Uncle Fu glanced at Gu Moran, and his eye twitched.

Gu Moran added another sentence.

"I have always been very proper; otherwise, how could I have avoided those old men at the Imperial Academy?"

Boss Zhao's shoulder twitched.

Gu Moran looked at him.

"Why are you laughing?"