Chapter 539: Entering the Wuguan (2000 added, 4K seeking support)

Early spring.

Fish Market.

Aaron had just sold a "Seven-Star Catfish" and collected forty large coins when he saw the "Smiling Tiger" walking over.

Well, ever since he smilingly chopped off the fingers of Lao Chu and his son, "Hu Ye" now had an extra nickname—"Smiling Tiger"!

"Yo, Yu, you've caught a big fish again."

He greeted him with a smile, yet it made one's hair stand on end.

"Hu Ye."

Aaron nodded: "It's all luck!"

He saw that the tall and sturdy Huang Dacheng was the leader, so he immediately gripped his hands tighter.

Behind the door was a small training room; a thick, pungent medicinal smell wafted out, and tools like wooden dummies were scattered around.

Although being cautious and timid is the way of survival for the common folk.

Especially knowing that one cannot be soft at this moment; if you are soft, others will take advantage of you.

The Disciples, dressed in neat training uniforms, stood in three rows.

A Martial Master frowned, unable to stand the fishy smell, but he could stand the smell of money: "Cheng... follow me inside!"

"If you don't look for trouble, trouble comes looking for you."

"Stop!"

"Brother Fang, my family runs a tea shop," Huang Dacheng replied with a fawning smile: "I just want to learn some martial arts for self-defense!"

"Brother Fang, Grandpa Fang, from now on you are my grandpa!"

Aaron naturally could not say that this was something he just happened to catch, so his face showed longing, heartache, and regret.

"Although I don't know what the Smiling Tiger is up to."

"But when things are abnormal, there must be a demon!"

The next day, the sun had just risen.

"Good, now that the Master is away, I will accept you as a disciple on his behalf," Great Senior Brother Ding Shan nodded with satisfaction: "Ten taels of silver, two months of martial arts training, you can eat and live at the Wuguan; of course, you can also eat outside, though I presume you don't have that kind of money."

Great Senior Brother Ding Shan did not show the slightest expression of disdain on his face; he raised his hand and weighed the money: "Hmm... it wasn't easy to save up this much money, was it?"

Huang Dacheng faintly stood in a circle with Liang Wu and Song Sanjin, squeezing out outsiders.

Accompanied by a deep, resonant voice, this Martial Master pushed open the main gate and led Aaron inside.

A Disciple used too much force, and the thick wooden staff in his hand actually snapped!

"Did you see that? This is the Great Senior Brother of our Qingshan Martial Arts Hall—Ding Shan! You must pay respects when you see him in the future, understand?"

"Yes, Great Senior Brother, please walk slowly."

Zhai Yong's face immediately turned from cloudy to sunny: "I'll take Junior Brother to where you'll be staying; it's all a large communal dormitory. You can collect meals at the canteen every day with a meal card; the food is actually not bad... If you have money, Junior Brother, you can even find another courtyard to live in outside the Wuguan..."

"Haha... Yu is a straightforward person." "Hu Ye" laughed until his eyes disappeared, then his tone suddenly changed: "You haven't tasted the flavor of a young lady yet, right? Should big brother take you to see the world?"

"Hu Ye" said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Years of hard work, every bit earned with blood and sweat."

The red-lacquered gate with copper nails opened with a boom, as if the door to a new world had been opened.

Zhai Yong nodded and bowed as he sent Great Senior Brother Ding Shan away, then turned to look at Aaron, his chin slightly raised.

"Certainly, certainly." Aaron feigned a look of being flattered and agreed readily.

Moreover, he was very measured in his strikes, hitting only the fleshy parts, not fearing a medical examination.

Aaron was slightly surprised, then his voice turned cold: "Who are you calling?"

Aaron pushed the fish basket over.

But sometimes the ways of the world are just that unreasonable; a sudden disaster falls from the sky, and there is nothing you can do but endure it!

"Is this considered... being bullied?"

There was not a trace of unusual color on Aaron's face; he followed Great Senior Brother Ding Shan to pay respects to the portrait of the founder, and that was it for entering the sect; the Ritual was quite simple.

"After grasping your own Qi and Blood, you can refine 'Qi and Blood' into 'Force'... this is the second level of the Taoism of martial arts—Bright Force! Also known as 'Skin and Flesh Refining'!"

"Song Sanjin!"

"Looking at how this kid usually spends money lavishly, I presume there isn't much grease left..."

Zhai Yong nodded nonchalantly: "You all get to know each other; he will be living here from now on."

"Greetings, Senior Brothers."

After he left, a lackey asked: "Hu Ye... are we just going to let him go like that?"

"Taize Lake, fishing."

"That's more like it!"

Bullying these newly initiated, half-grown teenagers was as easy as pie.

Song Sanjin replied.

"Fang Yu, a fisherman from Taize, has come to apprentice and learn the arts!"

Huang Dacheng rolled up his sleeves, very self-aware of his role as a lackey.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhai Yong, this Junior Brother has just entered the sect, please take care of me."

Huang Dacheng let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.

Zhai Yong led Aaron to a courtyard and pushed open the door.

"Ayu, I think highly of you, how about this... in a few days I'll prepare a banquet at home and invite you for a drink; you must give me this face."

"Ah!!!"

Very tactfully, he handed over twenty large coins.

"Hu Ye" stroked his chin: "Ever since we lost Laili Liu, we've lacked eyes and ears among the fishermen. The incident with Lao Chutou last time was only discovered by chance after the fact. This won't do! I think this kid Ayu is quite sharp, and I want to promote him."

"Great Senior Brother, someone has come to apprentice and learn the arts!"

'Sigh... paying money to learn a craft, it's just like this... someone like me doesn't even count as a disciple of Xue Qingshan, at most just a student...'

"Ma Zhu!"

"Liang Wu!"

"Understood, understood!"

Outside the tightly shut red-lacquered gates, two Martial Masters scanned Aaron with piercing gazes: "Who goes there?"

Ding Shan's tiger-like eyes swept over the group of Martial Master Apprentices, especially Aaron and the others at the very end!

"The fourth stage of Wu, the final stage is 'Techniques'!"

Amidst the dull sounds, his muscles moved in sync, and it seemed that force would rebound from time to time, causing the wooden staff to emit sounds of being unable to bear the strain.

With this added to his previous savings, he had finally gathered enough money.

'So soft?'

"Fine, then call for people; everyone can accept the punishment together!"

Huang Dacheng hurriedly changed his tune.

Bang!

Aaron had practiced a bit after all, possessed rich combat experience, and his skills were top-tier among ordinary people.

Aaron blinked: "If the Senior Brothers outside or those living in the other courtyards bullied me, that would be one thing... but you lot have ended up living with me; don't you have any self-awareness about your own status in the Wuguan?"

It was time to make contact with the martial arts of this world!

Several male Disciples were busy with their own tasks, and at this moment, they all stood up in unison: "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhai!"

"Mm, this is a newly entered Disciple just like you all, named Fang Yu!"

"Not bad, not bad, quite sensible."

This Martial Master stepped forward to knock on the door and said respectfully.

Huang Dacheng's expression changed, and then he saw a fist smashing toward him.

"Those who haven't grasped their Qi and Blood are at most ordinary people who understand a few techniques!"

After paying the money according to the rules, "Hu Ye" and his ilk could not make things difficult for him openly, otherwise, all the fishermen would feel insecure.

Qingshan Martial Arts Hall.

But while they couldn't do it openly, they could do it in the shadows!

For example, coaxing you into their private brothels or secret gambling dens! Instigating you to visit prostitutes, to gamble... and then losing everything until you are penniless, or even selling yourself into it!

It was the first time Aaron was wearing the newly issued clothes, standing with Huang Dacheng and the others, listening to Great Senior Brother Ding Shan's lecture.

Immediately, Great Senior Brother Ding Shan instructed the Martial Master who had brought Aaron in: "Zhai Yong, take this Junior Brother to get settled, collect his meal card, and teach him the rules while you're at it."

"Big... Brother Fang, use my bedding."

When encountering a siege, one must attack the leader first! Grab one and beat them to death! This is also common sense!

"Ah... so painful!"

"Mm... seeing you all so brotherly and friendly, I am relieved."

Aaron looked around; the cold and awe-inspiring feeling brought about by countless killings made lackeys like Liang Wu and Song Sanjin retreat in fear: "Don't come over here, I'm going to call for help."

The last one, Ma Zhu, remained silent, saying nothing at all.

At this time, to maintain one's reputation, one must rely on Personal Disciples.

He immediately smashed a fist into Huang Dacheng's stomach, kicked him to the ground, and grabbed his arm joint, twisting it fiercely.

A youth with an honest appearance immediately stood out: "Greetings, Junior Brother Fang, my name is Huang Dacheng!"

"You smell too bad, you aren't allowed to sleep in the dormitory with us."

Aaron sighed.

Clatter!

Aaron asked calmly: "Where do I sleep?"

For instance, within the Wuguan, other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters are fine, but the one person you absolutely must not offend is Great Senior Brother Ding Shan!

This is not only because Ding Shan has the highest martial arts, but also because he is the Master's Personal Disciple! He is the one used to hold up the facade when the Master gets old!

Aaron rolled his eyes internally, put on a smile, and slipped a few large coins over.

"My family are blacksmiths; they scraped together the money for me to come learn martial arts, hoping I can guard homes for others in the future and earn a living."

"What did you say?"

"With this much money, it's enough for you to take a wife. If you use it to study martial arts and end up with nothing to show for it, will you truly not regret it?"

Huang Dacheng had been disciplined into total submission, and his ability to read the room was actually quite good; he hurriedly brought over a roll of bedding.

"Come in!"

Huang Dacheng screamed repeatedly: "I was wrong, let me go..."

"Easy, easy."

As he spoke, he opened the fish basket, revealing it was full of copper coins.

Although their family backgrounds were average, they were all city folk who looked down on those farming outside the city, and as for those Fishing, they were at the very bottom of the contempt chain!

Last night, Huang Dacheng and the others had already confessed everything to him.

Aaron nodded hurriedly, feigning a look of admiration, while inwardly he laughed: "Do they think I didn't see the look Ding Shan gave? It was clearly because he saw someone approaching, so he deliberately told his men to use more force to show off..."

Aaron revealed the reckless temperament of someone who has nothing to lose: "I'm a barefoot man who doesn't fear those wearing shoes; the challenge is laid out right here, come on!"

Taize Prefecture City.

Aaron waved his hand, knowing that before he arrived, this Ma Zhu was likely the punching bag who took all the abuse.

"I don't regret it!" Aaron gritted his teeth and said loudly: "I want to be a person above others, I don't want to be bullied!"

"My family are tailors, and I don't want to learn how to embroider like a woman!" Liang Wu replied.

But now, Master Xue Qingshan was away on business, and there was no telling how long it would be before he returned.

……

The Martial Master leading the way said to Aaron, full of reverence.

Hu Ye laughed heartily and let it pass just like that, rendering the several sets of excuses Aaron had prepared useless, which only made him more vigilant.

"Entry-level Bright Strength can immediately increase one's strength by several hundred catties based on one's own foundation!"

On the training ground of the Qingshan Martial Arts Hall.

'This... is really simple...'

He took the towel handed over by another Disciple, wiped his sweat casually, and said: "Follow me later to pay respects to the founder's portrait, and you will be considered initiated."

"Haha... Yu, your taste is truly unique, but although that Si Niang is a bit old, she still has charm, and the key is that she is considerate and knows how to cherish a man!"

Aaron arrived at his bunk and began to frown.

"In the Wuguan, morning exercises are at the hour of the Rabbit, meals are at the hour of the Dragon..."

He was thin and small, but there were some muscles on his arms, so he clearly had quite a bit of strength.

Aaron tossed his money bag, not even going to the Yuyang Restaurant, and went straight to the pier to take his boat and leave: "But... if you want to plot against me, I can also jump off the chessboard and stop playing with you!"

Although he did not look for trouble, he was not afraid of it either.

After Zhai Yong left, Huang Dacheng closed the courtyard gate, and his face changed as quickly as a dog's: "You smell so bad, where did you come from?"

A bare-chested man was exposing his upper body, letting several men holding sticks around him beat him.

He looked at the few of them and coughed: "Since we are fellow apprentices learning the arts, we should love and help each other, do you understand?"

"I am..."

"Brother Fang, this kid doesn't like to talk and is very arrogant; he ignores everyone he sees, only saying a word or two when the senior brothers come. Let me help you teach him a lesson!"

"But I won't act as the big brother either; from now on, things will just be as they are."

Several days later.

Aaron took a deep breath and followed this Martial Master, passing the training plaza, the back garden, and turning through several corridors until they arrived in front of a main room.

Back when Great Senior Brother Ding Shan practiced boxing, Xue Qingshan taught him hand-in-hand, pouring all his heart and soul into it; one could say he was closer than his own son!

Hmm, in the Wuguan, it is fine to offend Xue Qingshan's children, but if you offend the Great Senior Brother, you will definitely not have a good end!

In the Wuguan, it is Great Senior Brother Ding Shan who teaches on behalf of the Master!

"If you want to practice martial arts, don't be afraid of suffering!"

Aaron wore a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, carrying a fish basket: "Fisherman of Taize Lake—Fang Yu, here to apprentice and learn the arts!"

Seemingly because there were many newcomers, Ding Shan began to outline the essentials: "Every school is different, but there is only one main goal... through constant practice of moves, learn to control your own Qi and Blood! Only by controlling your Qi and Blood can you be considered to have truly entered the Taoism of martial arts!"

Bang! Bang!

"This... no need, I only have my heart set on Si Niang."

Aaron's expression tightened.

Aaron pretended to be a blockhead and replied in a muffled voice.

Once a Martial Master passes forty or fifty, their Qi and Blood are no longer at their peak, and they can no longer fight.

"How about it? Come on!"

Aaron patted his shoulder and looked at Liang Wu and the others: "What do your families do? Why did you come to learn martial arts? What do you want to do after learning martial arts?"

"Hu Ye, you are high, truly high!"

But this was also normal. Aaron saw that Ding Shan, the Senior Brother with eyes like Electric light, had casually draped a jacket over his shoulders, his body seemingly still emitting heat, his eyes under thick eyebrows looking at him: "A fisherman?"

Zhai Yong nodded, handed the meal card to Aaron, and then walked away swaggeringly.

A gentle smile appeared on Aaron's face.

In the misty rain.

Aaron let go and pulled Huang Dacheng up; he had only acted arrogant because he saw these people had no background.

"Bright Strength Small Success can increase one's strength by a thousand catties!"

Ding Shan came to a huge stone lock, extended one hand forward, and simply lifted the thousand-catty stone lock high, then turned to look at his Junior Brothers: "Bright Strength Great Success brings internal Divine Power! Once you put on iron armor, you are a match for ten thousand in the army, and in the Jianghu, you are considered a figure; no matter which force you go to, you will be an honored guest!"

(End of chapter)