Chapter 17: Martial Arts Hall

Qingxi County is divided into an Inner City and an Outer City; the Outer City is a mix of the good and the bad, filled with gangs, and the dregs of society and the lower classes generally all reside in the Outer City.

The Inner City is different; that is the territory of wealthy merchants and powerful gentry, so it is naturally much cleaner.

As the saying goes, the County Magistrate is like flowing water, while the clerks are like iron.

If a County Magistrate performs well, they will be transferred and promoted, but the clerks are different.

They are basically all locals, or wealthy merchants, or in-laws and relatives of the powerful gentry.

Without some connections, if one were to miss news unfavorable to oneself, that would be no ordinary loss.

It is fine when nothing is happening, but during turbulent times, a moment of carelessness can lead to paying out Silver to avert disaster at best, or the destruction of one's home and family at worst.

If you ask where this experience comes from, the families or factions that are still alive and have been passed down in this Qingxi County are the proof.

Cheng Feng has come to the county town this time to find a Martial Arts Hall to practice martial arts.

The autumn harvest has passed, there is no shortage of anything at home, and Lao San can no longer go into the water to catch fish, so he helps with odd jobs at home.

If you talk about the countryside being idle, it is truly idle; one doesn't even know what to do.

People visit each other in twos and threes to chat, scouting to see whose house has more food, rice, or flour so they can trade for some or borrow some, to be repaid next year.

Cheng Feng has his own plan and can only wrong Lao San by making him wait a little longer.

He told his family he had business in the county town and left as soon as he said it.

The family is also very reassured about Lao Er.

As they asked when he would return and such, Cheng Feng brushed them off perfunctorily.

Before leaving, he told Lao San to run more, practicing roughly four laps in the morning and four laps in the evening of 100 meters each, along with simple exercises to improve physical fitness like push-ups.

He told Lao Da to watch over him, saying that at the latest, Lao San would have the hope of practicing martial arts next year.

Upon hearing this, Lao Cheng looked at Cheng Feng with an instantly strange expression.

Some time ago, his wife's younger brother sent word that his recent situation was quite good, having reached a middle-level position in a gang.

At the time, he had thought about sending Lao Er over, which would count as a path, at least so he wouldn't have to live a miserable life in this mountain gully forever.

But gangs fight to the death, and Cheng Fu truly could not bear for his son to go out and risk his life like that.

Yet his own Lao Er has also made something of himself.

The money earned over the past half year has replaced everything inside and outside the house.

It is all new furniture.

He prepared to throw away the old, but Lao Cheng was sentimental and couldn't bear to.

Cheng Feng took this opportunity to suggest making a basement, and to make it deeper and larger, so that all this furniture could be put inside.

Otherwise, there really is no place to put it.

The Cheng family home is built of earth, stone, and wooden planks, with three flat-roofed rooms and a large courtyard surrounded by a fence.

With the facts before him, Cheng Fu agreed to this suggestion.

Cheng Fu and Cheng Shu were digging the cellar together when they heard Cheng Feng's instructions to Lao San.

Cheng Fu knows that practicing martial arts is indeed a good way out, but that requires money—money that an average family cannot afford in a lifetime.

Cheng Fu had no objections to Cheng Feng's proposal; the changes in the family over the past half year were all because of Cheng Feng, and capable people are tolerated everywhere.

Not to mention that he is the one bringing convenience to his own family.

He just kept a closer eye on Lao San.

Dare to slack off in training?

Cheng Fu would be the first to disagree.

If Lao Er really is this capable and can find someone to arrange Lao San's future as well,

then Cheng Fu could truly die with a smile.

At the very least, he would be able to speak to his ancestors.

Cheng Feng does not know Lao Cheng's thoughts, nor does he know that his uncle is in a gang.

He is just following his plan step by step, laying a good foundation for his own future.

First, he definitely must practice martial arts; at the very least, he must understand whether practicing martial arts requires maintaining a virgin body or something similar.

This condition is related to Cheng Feng's second step.

According to information Cheng Feng gathered, there are six Martial Arts Halls in the county town: the Yingyue Martial Arts Hall, which only accepts women and is the first choice for the young ladies of wealthy and powerful clans; and two with gang connections, the Black Tiger Martial Arts Hall and the Red Snake Martial Arts Hall.

Of the remaining three, one teaches boxing, one teaches kicks, and one teaches blades, each with its own specialty.

Cheng Feng himself harvested a Blade Technique Manual from the skeleton.

Naturally, he is prepared to follow the path of learning the blade.

The full name of the blade hall is Iron Mountain Martial Arts Hall; it has two stone lions guarding the entrance, pillars made of red sandalwood, and a door made of ironwood—it is quite imposing.

The plaque on the door frame should read "Tieshan Martial Arts Hall," but unfortunately, Cheng Feng is illiterate and can only look at it.

Cheng Feng stepped forward to knock on the door, and half the door was pushed open from the inside; a young man with a sturdy build and a sharp temperament looked Cheng Feng over and said, "What are you here for?"

Cheng Feng hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute: "Excuse me, I would like to learn martial arts; I wonder how the teaching works?"

Hearing that it was business, the man softened his expression: "Two taels a month for minors, five taels a month for adults; if you haven't mastered the basic skills within three months, you leave the Martial Arts Hall, and the money will not be refunded."

Although Cheng Feng had inquired about it before, he did not expect it to be this expensive.

Two taels of Silver is enough for a rural family to eat for half a year, and that is eating quite well.

Five taels is basically more than a year's living expenses, and that is at the best level.

Fortunately, Cheng Feng had an idea in his mind, so he was not panicked, just confirming.

"Excuse me, big brother, I will only be considered an adult after the New Year; this will still be calculated as two taels a month, right?"

"Don't think about cheating; we will check your bone structure when the time comes. If you aren't an adult, it will be calculated as a minor," the young man warned.

"I understand. My family is preparing to arrange a marriage for me; will doing that have any effect during the time I am practicing martial arts?" Cheng Feng asked, his face looking slightly nervous.

"That won't happen, it's just that one shouldn't overindulge in sexual activity, otherwise it will affect the progress of one's cultivation."

Hearing the man's answer made Cheng Feng feel much more at ease.

The second step was settled.

"Then I'll learn. After paying the silver, what is the procedure?" Cheng Feng looked curious, and even appeared somewhat eager.

This time, the young man did not rush to answer, but instead introduced himself first, "I am Zhang Zhuo. After entering the gate, little brother, you may call me Senior Brother. Taking on a disciple depends on whether the Master nods; you go in first and let the Master take a look."

As he spoke, he stepped aside to let Cheng Feng enter the door.

Just inside the entrance was a large stone screen; turning past it was a long corridor, and after passing the corridor was a large Martial Arts Training Ground, where no fewer than fifty people of various sizes were practicing.

Some were bare-chested, not even fearing the autumn chill.

Others were sparring back and forth, making for quite a lively scene.

Just around a corner, Cheng Feng encountered a different scene.

Seeing Cheng Feng dazed, Zhang Zhuo did not mind and reminded him, "The Master is in the Inner Courtyard; the Outer Courtyard is where the disciples who are tempering their bodies stay."

Watching Zhang Zhuo say half and leave half unsaid, Cheng Feng felt a bit nervous; this was clearly a case of needing the Master's approval to see if he could even enter the gate.

Cheng Feng lowered his posture even further.

It was as if he were going to see an interviewer.

Cheng Feng cheered himself on.

Entering the Inner Courtyard, he saw an old man with a robust physique and muscles all over his body wielding a large saber.

Heat was radiating from his entire body, and Zhang Zhuo did not say much, just waited there.

Cheng Feng also learned to stand in a proper manner.

After finishing a set of combos, the old man stopped and stood still, picking up a towel from the side to wipe his sweat.

"It's Lao Jiu, is this a newcomer?" Cheng Feng watched as the old man swept his gaze over.

His body trembled slightly; the old man's eyes seemed to contain the glint of a blade.

The scrutiny carried an imposing aura, and for the first time, Cheng Feng felt so insecure.

Even that time he encountered the giant snake, there was distance, and he could run.

In front of this old man, Cheng Feng's body told Cheng Feng that he couldn't run at all.

That was the oppression belonging to the top of the food chain.

And this oppression made Cheng Feng yearn for it even more in his heart.

That was power.

Cheng Feng imagined being as strong as this old man.