Chen Yuan knew perfectly well that dealing with a petty, greedy market woman like Mrs. Li meant that the more he yielded, the more she would push her luck. He had to be ruthless when necessary. Didn’t she treat her precious son like the apple of her eye? He had hit her exactly where it hurt!
If Mrs. Li still insisted on making trouble, Chen Yuan would respect her choice. Correspondingly, he would fulfill his promise.
Upon returning to the Dining Hall, Chen Yuan found Xue Anping sitting in a corner, wallowing in dejection. Meanwhile, Sun Chengjie and the others were still in the same spot, chatting over their meal. Seeing him approach, they quickly waved him over.
"Brother Chen, take a seat! If you don’t eat soon, the meat will get cold. Congratulations, Brother Chen! We figured you would achieve initiation before us, but we didn’t expect it to be this fast!"
Liu Jin’s eyes were filled with envy as he chimed in, "Yeah, you’ve caught up to the progress of those two in the Lower-C tier. It turns out that persistence and hard work really do pay off."
With such progress, even the Gu Family would likely think highly of him. There was a high chance his funding would be increased next month. In contrast, Liu Jin’s own initiation was nowhere in sight. He glanced at Xue Anping not far away and suddenly realized that he should be even more depressed than him.
"Brother Chen, congratulations. May your journey in the Martial Dao be long and prosperous," He Qing said, cupping his hands in salute.
Chen Yuan smiled. "Just a bit of good luck, that’s all."
After a few polite exchanges, Sun Chengjie couldn’t wait to ask, "Brother Chen, did you go to learn combat techniques earlier? Are they fierce? The senior brothers in the courtyard said that Master Huo’s combat techniques are top-tier, even in Qingyuan County!"
"They are somewhat fierce, but truly exquisite," Chen Yuan nodded. He had studied for a couple of hours, yet the panel for being "Uninitiated" hadn’t even appeared yet. It seemed the techniques were profoundly deep and complex.
In the Inner Courtyard, Tao Ping accompanied Master Huo over tea.
Thanks to Junior Brother Xu Heng, Master Huo’s mood had improved significantly over the past couple of days. Even in their current casual conversation, half of everything he said revolved around the boy.
Tao Ping casually brought it up. "Master, do you plan to train Junior Brother Xu Heng for the Martial Examination? However, the next exam is only a little over a year away. I’m afraid it might be a bit rushed..."
Passing the Martial Examination was the dream of almost all martial artists. Becoming a Martial Scholar meant gaining the Court’s recognition, which not only exempted one’s family from taxes but also allowed one to enter officialdom as a minor official with real power in Qingyuan County. The benefits were endless! For Martial Arts Halls and Martial Arts Academies, producing a Martial Scholar was also a mark of honor, a true testament to their foundational strength.
Huo Lin took a sip of tea, seeming to have a plan already. "It won’t be rushed. With my personal guidance and his extraordinary talent, he will definitely be quite competitive when the exam arrives."
Although Xu Heng was still young and could easily wait for the exam after the next, passing it three years early would better demonstrate his boundless potential. With that, he instructed Tao Ping, "Go call Xu Heng over. I’ll guide him on the Xin Yi Liu He Fist a bit more."
Tao Ping couldn’t help but smile. His master was truly grooming Xu Heng as a Direct Disciple. He nodded slightly, then thought for a moment before asking, "Master, just Xu Heng? What about Junior Brother Chen...?"
Huo Lin took another sip of tea, not caring much. "Fine, call Chen Yuan over too. How much he can learn will depend on his own capability."
During the afternoon’s instruction, although Chen Yuan had worked hard, the gap between him and Xu Heng was still quite obvious. However, since Chen Yuan was his disciple, passing down his teachings was still his duty as a master.
Being called into the Inner Courtyard alongside Xu Heng surprised Chen Yuan a little. He knew perfectly well that their master generally didn’t teach techniques at night. He glanced at Xu Heng, guessing that he was mostly just riding on his junior brother’s coattails. In that case, he had better seize this opportunity!
Under the moonlight, silhouettes danced in the shadows.
Master Huo assumed the starting stance of the Xin Yi Liu He Fist, demonstrating as he explained, "The Xin Yi Liu He Fist emphasizes whole-body power. The Three Internal and Three External Harmonies are the foundation, and the method of generating force is also crucial. Watch my footwork closely: a T-stance with thirty percent of the weight on the front foot and seventy percent on the back. Hollow your chest and straighten your back, relax your waist and settle your hips, lowering your center of gravity. Keep your steps low. Power must rise from the ground—it originates from the feet, is governed by the waist, takes shape in the fingers, and flows through the entire body."
Chen Yuan took a deep breath and began to follow along.
He set his stance and adjusted his posture. His lead hand formed an eagle catch—five fingers spread, the webbing rounded, and the palm hollowed—kept between the height of his chest and shoulder. His rear hand guarded his navel, with the elbow close to the ribs and the hand close to the heart.
Then, he struck out with a Chopping Fist, trying to feel the power rising from the ground.
"When you’re first learning, don’t focus too much energy on the outward form of the moves. The Internal and External Six Harmonies are the foundation and must be maintained at all times. Wait until you can feel the whole-body power before you start nitpicking the details of the forms," Master Huo reminded them as they practiced. "Bend those knees, and the elbows too. Keep your cervical and spinal vertebrae straight. Relax your waist and settle your hips..."
Learning a new skill was always difficult at the start.
Watching Master Huo correct Xu Heng’s movements bit by bit, Chen Yuan benefited immensely by comparing them to his own. However, Xu Heng adapted quickly. Chen Yuan didn’t have time to absorb many of the finer details, so he could only memorize them by rote for now.
Another two hours passed.
[Xin Yi Liu He Fist (Uninitiated): 0/10]
It wasn’t until Master Huo finished teaching the Cannon Fist and Cross Fist of the Five Elements Fist that the panel finally appeared.
"We’ll stop here for today. The Five Elements Fist will be enough for you two to practice for a while. As for the subsequent Twelve Forms Fist, I’ll teach it whenever you reach Minor Achievement."
Chen Yuan expressed his thanks and tactfully took his leave.
Master Huo’s gentle voice faintly drifted over to him. "Practicing martial arts drains Qi and blood. Go to the Dining Hall. I’ll have the chef get you another bowl of beef to replenish yourself."
The psychological gap Xue Anping felt when comparing himself to Chen Yuan earlier was probably no different from this. However, Chen Yuan merely rubbed his hands together and went home, completely expressionless. Reality was just this cruel, and all he could do was accept it. He would turn today’s disparity into tomorrow’s motivation.
The next day, Chen Yuan woke up early. Glancing up, he saw that sure enough, there was another settlement evaluation:
[The Low-key Path does not mean blind endurance; a coward hiding in a shell cannot become a saint. Be ruthless when necessary, and fight when it is time to fight. Intimidating Mrs. Li to prevent trivial matters from entangling you ensures peaceful cultivation, aligning with the true essence of the Low-key Path. Low-key Points +8.]
Added to his previous 4 points, he had a total of 12 points, all of which Chen Yuan continued to allocate to Root Bone. His Root Bone reached 31. The gap between him and Xu Heng had shrunk just a little bit more.
Birds chirped to greet the clear sky, and the water surface was calm and round. Bathed in the gentle, dappled sunlight, Chen Yuan began another day of cultivation. He continued to receive Master Huo’s guidance alongside Xu Heng. During the rest of their time, at Master Huo’s suggestion, the two frequently sparred to deepen their comprehension.
"Senior Brother, please instruct me!"
"Senior Brother, your Rocky Pile Skill is so solid. I can’t find a single flaw."
"Senior Brother, be careful! Today I gained some insights into the Xin Yi Liu He Fist. I think I’ve grasped the secret to whole-body power."
"Senior Brother, how far do you have to train in the Martial Dao before you’re considered an expert? Does passing the Martial Examination mean you’ve made a name for yourself? My mother would be very happy, wouldn’t she..."
"Senior Brother! Are you alright? I’m sorry, my hand slipped. I’ll definitely be more careful next time..."
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother Song was right. In this man-eating world, the gap between people is like an unbridgeable chasm. If my Root Bone wasn’t decent, I would be nothing but an ant meant to be trampled on. I have to become stronger."
"Senior Brother Chen, your fists aren’t hard enough, nor are they ruthless enough. You need to practice more; otherwise, fists and feet have no eyes."
"Chen Yuan, my Xin Yi Liu He Fist is about to reach Minor Achievement. You’re too weak, your progress is too slow, and you’re too mediocre. You’re no longer qualified to spar with me. Look out for yourself."
Time flew by unnoticed. It had already been a month since Chen Yuan arrived at the Huo Courtyard.
Xu Heng’s changes were drastic. His Rocky Pile Skill had long since surpassed Chen Yuan’s, and Chen Yuan was no match for him in the Xin Yi Liu He Fist either. Every time they sparred, Chen Yuan was completely suppressed. Recently, Xu Heng should be about to fully build up his Qi and blood to attempt breaking through the Skin Gate.
What made Chen Yuan sigh with even more lament was that the gentle, polite boy with clear eyes had completely vanished. The current Xu Heng had cold, arrogant eyes that often flashed with ferocity. He now hung around with Senior Brother Song Bridge, who had joined the academy years prior, and the two were quite close.
It truly was a case of things remaining the same while people changed, leaving everything else behind.