Chapter 12: Joining The Martial Arts School
Although he didn’t know more inside information than Wang San, as Su Dahe’s partner, how could Xie Yuzhu not know some of Su Dahe’s movements.
If it was just picking things like Stone Ear Grass, how could he not bring him along?
He must have learned some things and was worried that Su Yan wanted revenge, fearing for his own life, which was why he was hiding it like this.
‘Calculating the time, Niu Han and the others should be about to collect the debt soon. I need to think of a method to deal with them.’
If it was just debt to save his mother, even if it was usury, Su Yan could pay it off for his predecessor. After all, a dozen or so taels of silver, though precious, wouldn’t cause any major trouble.
But now, both new and old grudges were involved. Not to mention the debt, if he found an opportunity, he wouldn’t hesitate to deal with each of them one by one.
——
On the second day, early in the morning under the hazy sky, Su Yan pocketed fifty taels of silver and headed straight for Yun Cang Town.
Yun Cang Town was located between the eight hundred li Yunling Mountain and the six hundred li Bai Lu Lake, much farther than the Mountain Market.
Su Yan left the house and hurried to the main road. After traveling for half a day, he finally saw the gathering crowds on the road.
Carriages and horses streamed continuously, ox carts and horse carriages endless, peddlers and merchants carrying backpacks and luggage, driving goods in queues to enter Yun Cang Town.
Don’t think the Mountain Market is bustling; that’s just a place for mountain villagers to gather. Yun Cang Town is where merchants converge, money flows, and goods are traded in large volumes.
After queuing to enter the city, the bustling voices were like boiling water.
“Meat buns, freshly steamed meat buns, five copper coins each.”
“Sesame cakes, three copper coins each.”
Hawkers’ calls came endlessly, crowds jostling shoulder to shoulder on the street, with ordinary folk in coarse hemp clothes, but also no lack of wealthy people in fine silk garments.
Vendors on both sides set up stalls, houses turned into shops, signs and banners hanging outside the doors.
‘The city is completely different from the countryside. No wonder they go all out to come to the city.’
Without something like the Fierce Insect Cauldron, Su Yan would probably have to risk his life mountain hunting, save up some money, then come to the city to make a living, using food from his previous life to earn some money.
Putting those thoughts aside, Su Yan entered the crowd and asked passersby for the location of the Golden Ape Martial Arts School.
Then he headed straight toward the southeast of Yun Cang Town.
After about ten minutes, he finally arrived. Compared to the surging crowds on the main street, there were far fewer pedestrians here.
But the people coming and going had quite robust figures, striding briskly, visibly much stronger than ordinary people.
Even if not martial artists, they were probably people who had tempered their bodies for some time.
Arriving at the entrance of the Golden Ape Martial Arts School, a tall-gated large courtyard with three sections in depth appeared before Su Yan.
The courtyard gate bore a jet-black glossy plaque, outlined in gold ink, strokes sharp as blades, ape intent like bone, as if an ape monkey had transformed into characters.
Boldly inscribed with the two characters “Golden Ape.”
The Golden Ape Martial Arts School gate stood wide open, revealing a large courtyard at first glance.
Under the eaves to the left of the entrance, a wooden table was placed horizontally, with two young men in cultivation practice clothes sitting behind it.
Seeing the arrival, the younger man looked up: “Are you here to sign up for martial arts training?”
Su Yan nodded: “Yes.”
“Since you’re learning martial arts, you should know the rules. Fifty taels for the tuition fee makes you a registered disciple. The martial arts school teaches you body tempering and fist and foot techniques. If you temper well, you can learn stance training techniques and become an outer disciple.”
Ma Shengming spoke while glancing at Su Yan, thinking to himself: ‘He’s quite handsome, but this body looks a bit weak.’
‘As expected, there’s a distinction between registered and outer sect.’
He took out fifty taels of silver and Song Qi’s calling card.
“Senior Brother, I was recommended by Steward Song of Hundred Herbs Hall.”
Ma Shengming showed a surprised expression, his tone becoming more friendly: “So you’re a friend of Hundred Herbs Hall. Then you probably don’t need to temper your body like ordinary disciples. Your physique should be fine.”
For the poor in Yunling Mountain, Bai Lu Lake, and the city, with no foundation and weak bodies, they need body tempering.
It also allows the martial arts school to assess character. If truly incorrigible, there’s no teaching.
Only if passable will there be teaching of stance training.
But since recommended, this step is naturally skipped.
“Mountain hunting in the mountains, coming and going, my body is still quite sturdy.”
Ma Shengming nodded and said: “Tell me your name and native place, I’ll record it, then take you to the middle courtyard.”
“Su Yan of Yun Qian Village.”
Ma Shengming recorded the native place information, handed the matter to the junior brother beside him, then led Su Yan inside.
“My surname is Ma, given name Shengming, an inner disciple. I’m in charge of receiving those coming to apprentice this period. Just call me Senior Brother Ma.”
“Greetings, Senior Brother Ma.”
The two walked, passing straight through the front courtyard.
The front courtyard was extremely large, with open areas holding blades and spears, staffs, and stone locks of different weights, all for honing strength.
About one or two hundred people were honing strength and body in various places, practicing a few basic techniques, sparring with each other.
Ma Shengming walked while introducing: “This is where registered disciples practice cultivation. Their foundation is shallow, so they need to temper their bodies.”
As they passed the front courtyard, his voice paused slightly: “Moreover, to practice martial arts to achievement, you need more resources. Without some family background, it’s impossible.”
As he spoke, the two entered the middle courtyard, which was slightly smaller than the front, with far fewer people cultivating here.
Only about twenty or thirty, standing in stance steps, shaped like old apes.
“This is where outer disciples and inner disciples who have learned stance training are.”
“Senior Brother Ma, is there a difference between outer and inner sect?”
Ma Shengming said: “Master Bai holds a monthly exam. If progress is good and he approves, you become inner sect. Only then are you truly part of Golden Ape Martial Arts School, able to learn one auxiliary skill and one martial skill.”
“Junior Brother Ma, what’s this?”
Before finishing, a sleeveless short-clad, bare-chested red-faced big man approached, tall and sturdy like a bear.
“Senior Brother Gao.”
Ma Shengming greeted Gao Zheng, then said: “A junior brother recommended by Hundred Herbs Hall for training. Per convention, start as outer disciple, specially handing him to Senior Brother.”
“A friend of Hundred Herbs Hall?”
Gao Zheng scrutinized Su Yan carefully, thinking: ‘Eyes full of spirit, though figure slim, steps steady.’
“Whose calling card?”
“Steward Song Qi’s calling card.”
“Old Master Song? Didn’t he go to manage the Mountain Market? The old man hasn’t appeared in the city for a long time.”
Gao Zheng was slightly surprised. Ma Shengming explained: “Junior Brother Su Yan is from Yun Qian Village.”
“Let me check Junior Brother Su’s bone structure to make arrangements.”
He then looked at Su Yan: “Junior Brother Su, don’t move.”
His large hand grabbed toward Su Yan’s spine, feeling up and down like bone-touching, his expression turning astonished: “Outwardly slim but bones strong, these muscles remarkably sturdy, superior bone structure. No wonder Hundred Herbs Hall recommended you. Junior Brother Su, you truly can’t be judged by appearances.”
After feeling the bones, Gao Zheng’s attitude toward Su Yan improved even more.
With good bone structure and backing of Hundred Herbs Hall, resources won’t be lacking. If willing to work hard, entering Body Tempering Realm and achieving Skin Refining is possible.
“Senior Brother, is martial arts talent measured so simply?”
“Heh, you’re wrong. Bone structure is just a threshold. True talent is visualization comprehension. Without successful visualization, no beast spirit emerges, and you’ll never become true intent your whole life.”
Gao Zheng couldn’t help showing contempt, then remembered Su Yan wasn’t a martial artist and restrained it.
“With good bone structure, Body Tempering has progress. If too poor, not only martial arts and body tempering, even basic body tempering might kill you, certainly unable to learn martial arts.”
“Thank you for the teaching.”
Su Yan now understood a bit. This made sense. If talent could be known just by bone-touching or some test, that would be strange.
“Senior Brother, the front courtyard still needs watching. I’ll head back first. Junior Brother here still needs info on food, lodging, and herbal medicine. Please inform him together, and later this junior brother will treat Senior Brother to drinks.”
Seeing Su Yan’s bone structure was good, no issue entering outer disciples, Ma Shengming didn’t linger, bid farewell, and strode out of the middle courtyard.
“Follow me.”
