Chapter 15: Song Qi’s Guidance
Outside the martial arts school, the wide street was still bustling with people coming and going, with calls of vendors from the distant street.
Su Yan came out from the door, yet he had a feeling of unreality as if a lifetime had passed.
Five days of cultivation without sleep or rest could easily make one forget time, not to mention the earth-shaking changes in these five days.
He was only a slight gap away from Skin Refining Minor Accomplishment, but now his arms could exert two or three hundred jin with a casual burst of strength, already surpassing ordinary people.
‘Body Tempering Four Realms, if reaching Body Tempering Perfection, one would already be no different from a monster among mortals. And above that is the True Intent Realm with Beast Spirit True Intent cultivated, what about even higher?’
In five days, through exchanges, Su Yan gradually realized that this martial arts path was probably even more terrifying than he had imagined.
The Dali Dynasty had inheritance for a millennium; no one would believe it relied only on True Intent Realm Martial Artists.
However, these were still too far away from him for now.
‘Still 4 taels of silver left, set aside for taxes and mountain fee; besides that, the hardwood bow also needs replacing, have to go mountain hunting soon.’
Counting the silver on him, Su Yan did not return directly to Yun Qian Village; instead, he asked a passerby for directions and first went to Pan Family Restaurant.
Pan Family Restaurant was splendid, a three-story building with people coming and going inside and out, the hall spacious, all guests there to eat and drink.
Attendants in uniform white coarse cloth long robes moved between tables, slightly bowed, with humble attitudes, and even the service was excellent.
Su Yan looked around and found an attendant, ordered a few famous dim sum from Pan Family Restaurant, packed them up, then turned to leave.
Along the way, hurrying sometimes fast and sometimes slow, using the Monkey Leap Step footwork from the Eight Forms of Monkey Fist.
His foot strength was now more steady and flexible, his travel speed much faster; in about an hour, he had arrived in the Mountain Market marketplace.
“Stop, come over for inspection.”
Su Yan had just reached the entrance of Mountain Market marketplace when he was stopped by several people.
He frowned inwardly, but saw that those few were not the guard team of Mountain Market marketplace, but officials in yamen runner uniforms.
‘What’s going on?’
Puzzled in his heart, but without other actions, he came before those few.
Those few looked him over carefully, seeing he was a thin and weak youth, then no longer bothered him.
The leading yamen runner pressed his hand on his saber, pointing to the notice board beside and said, “Seen this person?”
A simple sketch portrait was posted up there, of a man with deep-set eyes, gaunt face like a wolf, around forty-something, exuding ruthlessness.
“Haven’t seen him.” Su Yan shook his head: “Big Brother, is this a wanted criminal?”
“Mm.” That official nodded: “Go in. If you see this person, report to the yamen; the first reporter gets a reward of 20 taels of silver.”
The yamen runner said no more and went to check the next person.
As Su Yan passed by them, that leading constable had a straight back, steady face, with faintly extraordinary aura.
‘All martial artists.’
He thought inwardly; he didn’t make trouble, but to mobilize such head constable yamen runners, it was probably a fugitive bandit martial artist.
The Dali Dynasty had fierce folk customs, martial arts esteemed, unlike his previous life.
One thought a martial artist, one thought a bandit; no one could control them.
The atmosphere in Mountain Market marketplace was already very different from the past few days.
Fewer mountain villagers coming and going, all with hurried appearances; they were probably scared by this sudden wanted event.
Su Yan came before the Hundred Herbs Hall shop; Bai Shan saw him, his eyes lighting up slightly: “Brother Su Yan, haven’t seen you for several days. What’s up today?”
“I’m here to find Old Song.”
Bai Shan paused slightly upon hearing this, then said: “The steward is in the back hall; I’ll take you in.”
He led Su Yan to the back hall and announced: “Steward, Brother Su Yan wants to see you.”
“Su Yan?” A voice came from the back hall: “Let him in.”
Bai Shan let Su Yan go in by himself; he naturally didn’t dare follow.
Entering the back hall, it was still that courtyard with a central well.
Song Qi looked up at Su Yan, seeing his steps light and steady, figure upright like a young pine.
“Looks like you’ve gotten started.”
“Thanks to Old Song’s recommendation; otherwise, this kid would have had to grind for another year or two.”
Su Yan gave thanks, his tone sincere; the grace of guidance could not be taken lightly.
“This is some tea and pastries brought from Pan Family Restaurant; a small gift, hope Old Song forgives the meager offering.”
The tea and pastries were gently placed on the table; Song Qi was stunned.
Unwrapping the cowhide paper, he picked up a piece of mung bean pastry and took a bite.
Suddenly, he broke into a smile, his facial hair trembling slightly with the laugh.
“Good, a light gift but heavy sentiment; thoughtful, very thoughtful.”
He wasn’t blind to the thing in Su Yan’s hand; he had thought it would be some utensil or such, after all, it was a return gift.
But he didn’t care; after all, from a mountain household, and just paid the martial arts school tuition, how much money could there be?
Yet he never imagined that a kid raised in the mountains would have such a delicate mind.
The pastries weren’t expensive, but they were heartfelt.
He was the steward here; though not short of money, such things were hard to come by.
‘This kid has some talent, and such a delicate mind; he might become someone.’
So he spoke: “In five days, you’ve learned Golden Ape Stance Training; stand and let me see.”
Su Yan’s eyes flickered; he immediately knew Song Qi had some intent to examine, and he was delighted inwardly.
“Please give pointers, Old Song.”
He took a step, his figure like an ape, his breathing undulating especially naturally.
“Stance Training Minor Accomplishment?!”
Song Qi showed a shocked expression, immediately stood up, examined carefully, then confirmed he hadn’t seen wrong.
He reached out to grab Su Yan’s forearm; one grab and pull, with no small strength.
But Su Yan’s stance remained steady and unmoved, unaffected.
Especially this skin was very tough, unlike ordinary people’s skin.
“Good, good, good; in five days, even if you used two doses of the martial arts school’s herbal medicine, or even hid away one or two treasure plants, to reach this level, just one step from Minor Accomplishment—your talent, I somewhat misjudged.”
Song Qi laughed loudly, delighted in his heart.
This pleasure had nothing to do with who Su Yan was; rather, it was somewhat the joy of a talent scout.
“Steps steady, body moving; breath steady, but also like an ape, deeply hidden in the lungs, imagine you are that old ape in the mountains.”
Song Qi gave pointers: “Not just form similar, but condense that momentum as much as possible; have ape momentum, essence, energy, and spirit united—this stance training can come alive, help you temper your body.”
Song Qi was so experienced; he knew thoroughly the subtleties of this beginner stance training.
Su Yan listened to the pointers and slightly adjusted his form.
His mind sank, as if he were an old ape shuttling through the mountain forest.
Or cunning, or agile, or brutal, or mischievous.
Thus, form and spirit gradually united; the effect of this stance training in mobilizing qi and blood strengthened a bit more.
For a full half hour, skin red all over, as if in a furnace; Su Yan gradually exhausted his strength and then stopped cultivating.
【Golden Ape Stance Training 10/200（Minor Accomplishment）】
In half an hour’s work, the Golden Ape Stance Training proficiency grew a bit more.
Su Yan finished; Song Qi stared straight at him, as if looking at some monster: “You learn things fast?”
Just now he had seen clearly; Su Yan wasn’t standing correctly from the start, but reached a suitable state through gradual adjustments.
His comprehension wasn’t low; though there was a process, he was still better than ordinary people.
“Replying to Old Song, yes, I learn a bit fast.”
“Indeed good material.”
Song Qi nodded, then said: “Body Tempering Four Realms—Skin Refining, Muscle and Bone, Blood Moving are all building foundation; the stronger the body, the fuller the momentum nurtured, then possible to enter the fourth realm Spirit Nurturing. Since you have herb gathering skills, find more treasure plants.”
“Ground Corner Vine, Rong Blood Mushroom, Stone Tooth Ginseng are all good materials for body refining, also treasure plants found in Yunling Mountain. Better effect than the martial arts school’s herbal medicine.”
Su Yan noted these names; Song Qi thought a bit, then said: “If spare money, go to the butcher shop by the temple in the back alley of Yun Cang Town to buy meat; though not as good as medicinal herbs, it can warm and supplement qi and blood.”
“Butcher shop?”
