Chapter 11: Song Qi Discusses Martial Arts
“Old Song thinks highly of me, but with so many mountain hunters in and out of the mountains willing to work for Hundred Herbs Hall, why choose an unknown kid like me?”
Su Yan was very puzzled and felt some vigilance in his heart at the same time. Did finding a treasure plant really require seeking him out specifically? There were so many mountain villagers. Although his luck was better, it might not compare to a human wave tactic.
“A private matter, not Hundred Herbs Hall business, and your herb gathering and herb identification skills are much better than ordinary mountain folk.”
Song Qi just hinted at it but did not point out that Su Yan might be raising some kind of small exotic beast.
Whether treasure hunting mouse or mountain hunting dog, being able to domesticate these things was itself a mountain villager’s method, of course the skill of skilled mountain folk.
Ordinary ones were methods tightly gripped by old mountain hunters and hunters, indeed precious.
But it was only relative to mountain folk. For him Song Qi, he certainly couldn’t seize the exotic beast and go into the mountains himself, right? Whether it would obey was another question.
He stopped there, but Su Yan reacted and realized that his using the Yin Water Centipede to dig medicinal herbs had probably been noticed.
‘This Song Qi should only have noticed I have a helper but doesn’t know what it is. Mountain folk raising mountain hunting dogs and hunting falcons is common, though only in the hands of a few. For a person like him, he couldn’t personally go mountain hunting and chase rabbits either.’
His eyes flickered as he quickly thought, pondering: ‘Better to hear what he has to say first.’
“Old Song, whether there are treasure plants like Blood Tendon Flower in the mountains is hard to say. Although I can do herb gathering and herb identification, I can’t guarantee it.”
He didn’t agree directly. Hearing this, Song Qi said: “I received news that among dozens of mountain peaks in the inner mountains, there have been rumors around the three inner mountain peaks near Yun Qian Village and Big Ditch Village; it might be worth searching. I’m not asking you to exchange Blood Tendon Flower for my recommendation. If you agree, I’ll first tell you about practicing martial arts.”
As Song Qi spoke, his hand suddenly reached to grab Su Yan’s shoulder.
Su Yan was startled, his expression changed abruptly as he wanted to dodge the big hand.
But unexpectedly, the slow big hand was unavoidable; his dodge seemed like he was moving forward to meet it.
Not good!
He only sensed something wrong when his shoulder was already grabbed by the dry and thin big hand, like an iron hoop.
He struggled fiercely, but Song Qi just pressed lightly. His shoulder bore great strength and couldn’t move at all.
“Not bad. At fifteen or sixteen, muscle and bone and power are initially formed. Though a bit big for one or two years, it’s still a suitable age. In a month, you can build strength like a young calf. Your bone structure must be good.”
Song Qi released Su Yan’s shoulder and said: “Even if you can’t find it, no matter. Just consider it fate, showing you the way.”
Song Qi rose from humble origins; it was the Hundred Herbs Hall shopkeeper who picked him up from among the refugees that led to his current status.
He saw that though Su Yan was from humble origins, he sought to advance. From that Hundred Herbs Illustration onward, he felt some goodwill and curiosity.
Now, going with the flow to do a favor was also an investment.
Yun Cang Town’s three martial arts schools were each their own, but among them, Hundred Herbs Hall, weapon shops, wealthy families, and gangs, there were degrees of closeness.
Su Yan had good bone structure and could gather herbs. In the future, he might be a capable person. If sent to a martial arts school friendly with the rival Little Mountain Association, it wouldn’t be good.
Su Yan naturally didn’t understand the intricacies, but he knew it was beneficial and harmless to him.
‘Whatever relation the martial arts school has with this Song Qi, no need to guess for now. Just offending him now, I couldn’t withstand it. What I rely on, there’s also the Fierce Insect Cauldron line, not entirely on martial arts. There’s room for trial and error.’
He quickly made up his mind in his heart and, as if without thinking, cupped his hands and thanked: “Su Yan is willing to give it a try.”
Seeing Su Yan agree, Song Qi took out a calling card from his pocket.
“You have no background and aren’t a genius, so you can’t enter the quotas for yamen runners or city guards. You probably wouldn’t want to be an apprentice for a few years at Hundred Herbs Hall or a weapon shop either.”
Song Qi hit the nail on the head: “Take my calling card and go join Golden Ape Martial Arts School. You can save a year or so, directly learn stance training. Whether you can become a beginner depends on your own fortune.”
Su Yan took the calling card, but his face showed a surprised expression.
“Isn’t it said that joining a martial arts school means you can learn real skills?”
“Do you think a martial art is worth fifty silver taels?”
Fifty silver taels was very expensive, because ten taels of silver could cost a poor person their life.
Even selling oneself into slavery might not fetch fifty taels.
But thinking of that martial artist who killed a tiger with one finger.
Such power, how could it compare to a few dozen taels of silver?
He shook his head. Song Qi continued: “Those who pay money to enter are mostly physically weak. They temper their bodies and learn some fighting techniques, enough to bully ordinary people. But to learn real things, you have to be a registered disciple for months or even a year.”
He glanced at Su Yan: “Of the three martial arts schools, Golden Ape is on good terms with Hundred Herbs Hall. I can sell some face there. Black Stone only looks at money. For stance training, martial skills, auxiliary skills, to learn them all, it takes no less than a thousand taels, and only if that old guy Black Stone is willing to teach.”
“As for Seven Blades Martial Arts School, it has connections with Little Mountain Association.”
Song Qi just sneered. Su Yan’s eyes moved slightly: ‘I’ve heard Little Mountain Association, Lin Family, Hundred Herbs Hall all rely on Yunling Mountain to sustain themselves, with many past disputes. It seems true.’
‘Him recommending me to Golden Ape Martial Arts School probably means not wanting me to lean toward Little Mountain Association, but more importantly, it’s the Blood Tendon Flower.’
“Thank you Old Song for the guidance. This kid understands.”
“If you understand, go back. Enter the city early; fifty taels of silver will inevitably attract ruffians.”
Song Qi began to see him off. What he told Su Yan was already plenty; whether he succeeds depends on his own fortune.
In Yunling Mountain over a hundred years and generations, few have crawled out of the mud to become somewhat human.
Like Song Qi, it was just good fate.
This kid, leave it to fate.
Su Yan came out from the inner hall. Bai Shan had been waiting a long time and handed him the settled money together.
Su Yan took the silver taels, shouldered his empty backpack, and walked straight through the queued crowd toward the outside of the mountain market.
While hurrying along, he pondered today’s events in his mind.
What Song Qi said earlier, he couldn’t figure out at the moment, but later it pointed to Golden Ape Martial Arts School, Seven Blades Martial Arts School, and Little Mountain Association matters.
He also reacted: it was just that Little Mountain Association gang competing with Hundred Herbs Hall for benefits, naturally not wanting him to lean that way.
Of course, that was secondary.
Most importantly, it was Blood Tendon Flower. This thing was very important to Song Qi.
‘Enhancing qi and blood, for a Hundred Herbs Hall steward like Song Qi, finding a substitute probably isn’t hard. The effect must be on repairing meridians.’
Su Yan’s eyes moved slightly: ‘Could Song Qi be injured, done by Little Mountain Association? Otherwise, why avoid people like this?’
What Hundred Herbs Hall can acquire, Little Mountain Association can too. If they make a big fuss, there are a hundred methods to keep you from getting it.
‘Others’ grudges aside for now. Just this calling card saving months or even a year is enough.’
Su Yan had no choice. After all, if even Golden Ape Martial Arts School requires first tempering the body and grinding for a year or so before passing on martial arts.
Then the other martial arts schools were probably similar, or even worse.
He didn’t have that much time to waste. Practicing martial arts, the earlier the better.
Only by becoming stronger himself could he better protect himself.
Su Yan walked all the way home and saw from afar a large backpack added at the home entrance, covered with fern leaves and full of things.
Xie Yuzhu stood to the side, not knowing how long he had waited.
“Uncle Xie, what’s this?”
Seeing Su Yan come over, Xie Yuzhu grinned: “Thanks to you, those spots had plenty of Dan Zhi Mushrooms, and some Purple Lingzhi, all sellable medicinal herbs. Deeper in, there were many mushrooms. We picked four large backpacks total and brought you one.”
The backpack was completely full, looking like it was carried down from the mountains and then added to, protruding a bit beyond the basket.
“Uncle Xie, you don’t need to do this. Those nests…”
Before Su Yan finished speaking, Xie Yuzhu interrupted him.
He put on a stern face: “How can you refuse? The nest locations were given by you. If you didn’t say, they would all be yours. We’re the ones who took advantage of you. If you don’t take it, I won’t leave.”
With words to this point, Xie Yuzhu meant it. If Su Yan didn’t accept, he would sit at the entrance and not leave.
“Alright, thank you Uncle Xie.”
Su Yan had no choice but to accept, but in his heart, he thought of his predecessor’s father and suddenly mentioned it.
“Uncle Xie, ask you something. Did my dad really go pick Stone Ear Grass that day?”
At Su Yan’s question, Xie Yuzhu stiffened like he was electrocuted, his expression turning off.
He hurriedly said: “Why ask this? You mustn’t go adventuring too; it’s not worth it.”
His eyes flickered, and he quickly added: “He did pick Stone Ear Grass, but he suddenly decided and didn’t call me. Don’t think too much. Take this basket, exchange it for money, get a wife, buy two mu of land, and live a good life.”
After saying this, he turned and left hurriedly.
“I’ll head back first. If something comes up, call me. For your family’s shortages, if someone comes chasing, if it’s not enough, I have some here. Don’t conflict with people.”
Xie Yuzhu soon left the entrance and, upon reaching his yellow mud courtyard, slipped inside like hiding.
Su Yan’s eyes flickered as he pondered in his heart: ‘Uncle Xie seems to know something. Absolutely must not conflict? That’s not up to me.’
