"The lady's belt is sturdy; the craftsmanship of the Northern Territory artisans is excellent."
"I'm asking you where to grab it!"
"Belt."
"Let go."
"I can let go, but my lady, please stop the horse first. My life is hanging by a thread because of your belt. If you want me to let go, are you planning to become a widow tomorrow?"
"You still dare to say that?"
Despite her harsh words, Murong Xue didn't kick him down.
She slowly brought the horse to a stop.
Batuer stood up, forgetting to even chew his jerky.
Gu Moran flipped back onto the horse, his palm still pressed against the edge of the belt.
Murong Xue looked at him for a while.
"Let go."
Gu Moran immediately released her grip.
"Good."
Murong Xue dismounted and tossed the reins to Batuer.
That's all for today.
Gu Moran rubbed his arm.
Have I made progress?
Murong Xue did not turn around.
"He's not dead."
Batuer added in a low voice.
"Your Highness, when the princess says you're not dead, she's praising you."
Gu Moran looked at him.
"Don't you Northern Territory know how to properly compliment someone?"
Batuer led the horse into the shed, and after a moment spoke mysteriously.
"Your Highness, the princess has never allowed a man to get close enough to grab her belt on the grasslands."
Gu Moran paused for a moment.
Batuer added, "A belt allows one to draw a sword and also to trust others."
Gu Moran looked at the courtyard gate that had already been closed.
A soft sound came from inside the door as a knife was sheathed.
[System notification: Murong Xue's favorability +7.]
[Current favorability: -8.]
[Added tag: Trusted Distance.]
Just as Gu Moran was about to laugh, Murong Xue's voice came from inside the door again.
"Fall three more times tomorrow."
Gu Moran: "..."
Batuer looked down at the ground, his shoulders twitching slightly.
The next day.
Ye Qingyun stood in the Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School School's line.
Shuhe stood by the wall, holding an empty bowl, his eyes glancing between the porridge bucket and Ye Qingyun.
He wanted to speak.
Ye Qingyun didn't look at him.
Shuhe had no choice but to hug the bowl tightly.
Ma Liu, with a blade of grass in his mouth, swayed from the front to the back of the line, his shoes leaving a trail of footprints in the wet mud.
"Today we'll practice basic boxing."
He brushed the blade of grass towards the corner of his mouth.
"Anyone who wants to reach the heavens in one step should first go to a tea stall and ask where the ladder to heaven is."
A boy killing fish raised his hand.
"Instructor, where exactly is that Heavenly Ladder?"
Ma Liu looked at him, and paused eating the grass stalk in his mouth.
"In your dreams."
The boy killing the fish didn't react in time.
Ma Liu then said, "When you wake up from your dream, remember to set up your stakes."
The laughter at the doorway was uncontrollable.
Ye Qingyun did not laugh.
He looked at the compacted mud in the center of the courtyard, the bamboo slips at his waist clinging to his clothes, the heat seeping into his flesh.
This set of basic punches is too slow.
It's too scattered.
If the energy pathways in the bamboo slips are incorporated, the punching power can be increased by at least 20%.
Liu Laosan walked over, leaning on his wooden cane.
Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun looked up.
"Exist."
"First, practice standing meditation."
Ye Qingyun frowned slightly.
"It was tested yesterday."
Liu Laosan slammed the wooden stick into the ground.
Yesterday's test showed whether you could stand.
He looked down at Ye Qingyun's feet.
"Can you stand properly during today's practice?"
Ye Qingyun did not argue further.
They argued, it seemed like they were in a hurry.
Even if we don't fight, at least we can stand there for the time it takes to burn half an incense stick.
He walked up to the pile.
Spread your feet.
My waist feels heavy.
Shoulder rest.
After he finished the routine, the way the surrounding teenagers looked at him changed.
The boy carrying water whispered, "That scholar's legs are really steady."
Ma Liu raised his hand and tapped him on the head.
Instead of looking at other people's legs, look at your own knees.
The boy carrying water shrank his neck.
"Oh."
Half an incense stick was lit.
Ye Qingyun stopped.
Sweat slid from his forehead to his chin, but he didn't wipe it away.
Shuhe tried to hold back, but couldn't help straightening his chest.
"My young master is naturally very capable."
Half an incense stick burned out.
Liu Laosan wooden stick.
"Pass."
Shuhe hurriedly asked, "Instructor, how is my young master standing?"
Liu Laosan said, "It can be viewed."
Shuhe's face fell.
"Only what you can see?"
Ma Liu moved the grass stalks to the other side.
Should we present the plaque with a gong?
He glanced at Ye Qingyun.
"Write it: Jizhou's Number One Stance Master."
Laughter broke out in the courtyard again.
Ye Qingyun glanced at Ma Liu.
Ma Liu didn't dodge; instead, he raised his chin at him.
What, you're not convinced?
Ye Qingyun withdrew his gaze.
"No need."
Liu Laosan walked to the front.
"Basic Fist, First Form."
He lifted his foot, landed it, twisted his waist, and sent his fist flying.
"Send with your foot, turn your waist, follow with your shoulder, and throw your fist."
After the punch was thrown, the wind from the punch wasn't strong, but there was a rustling sound from the cuff.
Sun Kui stood to the side, holding a wooden stick.
Don't use brute force.
He raised his hand and pointed to the ground beneath his feet.
"The power comes from the feet, passes through the waist, and is delivered to the fist."
Ma Liu added a sentence.
"Whoever only swings their arms will have less minced meat in their porridge tonight."
The group began practicing their boxing.
Ye Qingyun followed up with a punch.
The first time, he suppressed the airflow through the bamboo slips.
The punches are slow.
It's so slow it's annoying.
The second time, he tried to draw the warmth from his waist into his abdomen.
The punches were too fast.
On the third attempt, he pushed off with his feet, causing the energy from the bamboo slip technique to surge upwards. When he threw his fist, the sound from his sleeves was louder than others.
Sun Kui's gaze fell on his shoulder.
"Stop."
Ye Qingyun withdrew his fist.
Sun Kui took two steps closer.
How did you exert your strength just now?
Ye Qingyun said, "As the instructor instructed."
Sun Kui shook his head.
The airflow path is incorrect.
Shuhe immediately said, "My young master has only practiced it twice. What's wrong with it?"
Sun Kui looked at him.
"Who will practice, you or him?"
Shuhe choked and took a half-step back while holding the bowl.
Ye Qingyun spoke.
What's wrong?
Sun Kui tapped his chest with a wooden stick, then tapped his side.
"You've lifted your breath upwards."
He pressed the wooden stick down.
"The punches are fast, but the foundation is in the air."
Ye Qingyun said, "The faster the punch, the more likely it is to hit first."
Liu Laosan chimed in from the side.
If you can't hit the target, you'll fall first.
Ye Qingyun's fingers touched the bamboo tube.
The image from the poetry recital stage was then brought back on screen.
Those few lines of poetry by Xie Wanqing.
The applause from the audience.
There was also the image of Gu Moran sitting at the table drinking tea.
If you're even a step too slow, you'll be completely overwhelmed.
The path of martial arts cannot be slowed down.
He looked at Sun Kui.
"If the enemy's knife is already at your doorstep, can a slow punch save your life?"
Sun Kui said, "A hasty punch can be fatal."
Ye Qingyun stared at him.
I want to try.
Ma Liu got excited and spat out a blade of grass.
"Give it a try."
Liu Laosan didn't stop him, he just said one sentence.
" Ma Liu, 30%."
Ma Liu walked to the center of the courtyard and patted his face.
"Talented scholar, come here."
He added another sentence.
Don't hit me in the face, I make a living off my looks.
Ye Qingyun stepped forward.
Shuhe hugged the bowl tightly.
The boy carrying water didn't even dare to breathe.
Ye Qingyun threw the first punch.
The punch was incredibly fast; the cuff snapped open with a loud crack.
Ma Liu sidestepped, grabbed Ye Qingyun's wrist with one hand, and lightly tripped him with his other foot.
Ye Qingyun took two steps back.
The soles of the shoes scraped through the mud.
He stopped.
Ma Liu clicked his tongue.
"My legs are alright."
Ye Qingyun threw another punch.
This time, the heat from the bamboo slip traveled up his wrist, and his fist moved even faster than before.
Ma Liu didn't catch it, but dodged to the side and slapped his shoulder with his palm.
Ye Qingyun's shoulder slumped, and he forcefully pulled back.
Sun Kui frowned beside him.
"Pull it up again."
Liu Laosan wooden stick.
"Stop."
Ye Qingyun stopped his stance, suppressing the rise and fall of his chest, but his forehead was covered in even more sweat than before.
Liu Laosan said, "If all you want is speed, Dragon Abyss can't teach you."
Ye Qingyun asked, "Does Dragon Abyss only teach slow boxing?"
Liu Laosan said, " Dragon Abyss will teach you to throw a punch while you're still alive."
Ma Liu shook his hand.
"You have a heavy punch and a wild style; you're good enough to beat street thugs."
Ye Qingyun looked at him.
"What if I win?"
Ma Liu smiled.
"Practice for another six months."
Shuhe couldn't help but say, "My young master will win in half a month."
Liu Laosan looked at Ye Qingyun.
You think so too?
Ye Qingyun did not answer.
The Ma Liu isn't even in the queue.
The person he wants to beat is Gu Moran.
It is the Prince Yi's Residence.
It's those who stand on high and watch him laugh.
But first, they had to defeat the skilled secret guards of the Prince's mansion, whom the Second Prince had mentioned—guards who weren't idle.
[ Batuer has been changed to a woman, thank you for your feedback, my darlings. Love you all, please give me your support and positive reviews, I'm going to study now.]