Chapter 2: Stillness and Motion in Harmony, the White Ape Cloak Hammer

The Daoist was washing the pot.

Three great iron cauldrons that fed a hundred and eighty-odd people, each one bigger than a bathtub — Li Yuan found the washing quite a chore, draped over the rim with half his body leaning inside to scrub.

Splash splash splash!

A whole bucket of water poured into the cauldron; Li Yuan did the final rinse, while none of the other apprentices could stay idle either.

Splitting firewood, hauling water, preparing charcoal, carrying all kinds of iron ingots, wiping down weapons, sweeping up…

"Sigh, so tired. I heard the front-court fellows — Du Yun, Lu Zhong and the rest — get to rest before noon every day, and get two days off in five…"

"Sigh, what can you do? We're weak-bodied and didn't get picked. I heard the front-court ones might even get to learn Wu Gong!"

"Sigh, just endure it. Three years…"

"Tomorrow I have to ask for a day off, I'm so tired… sigh, I really want to eat meat!"

……

Without Fatty Sun hovering at their side, the apprentices chatted among themselves as they worked.

"The front court…"

Li Yuan did stretching exercises in a corner, listening all the while to the apprentices' chatter.

The Weapon-Forge's apprentices were of course not limited to their seven or eight in the kitchen — five or six served the Shopkeeper's household in the rear court, and another ten-odd helped out in the front-court shop, assisting the masters.

Among the front, middle, and rear court apprentices, the treatment was naturally worst for the middle-court kitchen crew, next worst for the rear court, and best for the front court.

That batch of front-court apprentices not only had it easier than they did, they earned a hundred-odd copper coins a month and had the chance to learn martial arts.

But he was weak-bodied, truly no match for those front-court apprentices who were like little bullocks; if he hadn't known his characters, he might not even have been taken on.

"Learning Wu Gong is probably even harder… but first I have to try whether the 'ritual' actually works…"

Li Yuan silently finished the work in hand, preparing to ask Fatty Sun for half a day off and draw his monthly wages to buy what the ritual required.

Middle-court apprentices got one day off in ten; he hadn't gone home before, so he'd saved up three days of leave, available to take whenever he wished.

He had just finished washing up and hadn't yet had time to go find Fatty Sun when he heard a stir in the courtyard.

"Hm? Why have they come to our place?"

An apprentice stood up.

A dozen-odd youths about their own age but quite burly, carrying great hammers with wooden hafts, arrived at the yellow-earth open ground before the middle court.

"Front-court apprentices? Every one of them this stocky?"

Li Yuan muttered inwardly.

Compared to the middle-court apprentices who looked like little chicks, the front-court ones were each stocky as little bullocks.

Over this past month or so, his own body had built up quite a bit, but compared with these bullock-like front-court apprentices, the gap was visibly large.

Clearly, though all were apprentices, beyond the differences in treatment within the shop and in natural constitution, the front-court and middle-court apprentices also differed in family background.

Still, compared with the man behind those 'little bullocks,' these fellows were a case of a minor sorcerer before a great one.

'That man is huge!'

Li Yuan's eyelid twitched.

That middle-aged man was well over a hundred and ninety centimeters tall, thick-armed, knotted with muscle, fierce of feature, striding with a wind about him — daunting to behold.

"It's Guard Qin!"

An apprentice cried out, and every apprentice including Li Yuan hurriedly rose and went out to greet him with Fatty Sun.

The Weapon-Forge was rooted in Gao Liu County, but its trade had long since spread to the neighboring counties and even to Fucheng of Zhe Long; besides the masters, the shop also had quite a few guards.

Their status was high, their treatment good — second only to the Shopkeeper's.

Li Yuan remembered these guards vividly: each had a monstrous appetite, one man matching seven or eight apprentices.

"Brother Qin Xiong!"

Fatty Sun, round as a meatball, rocketed out of the kitchen and went to meet him with a smiling face:

"I still have a jar of good wine set aside at my place — shall we brothers have a few cups tonight?"

"We'll see!"

Qin Xiong's rough face showed no expression; he turned to look at the middle-court apprentices lined up like quails beside him:

"All the middle-court ones are here? A bit too thin and scrawny…"

"A few have gone out to haul charcoal…"

Fatty Sun kept smiling, making himself small: "They've put on some flesh these past few days — they were even thinner before."

"Mm."

Qin Xiong replied coolly; his stern, unsmiling manner made both front- and middle-court apprentices feel their breathing grow tight.

Clatter clatter~

In a moment, the sound of disordered footsteps came from outside the middle court — two or three dozen apprentices hurried in from various places, male and female alike.

"The rear-court, sundries-court, and external-affairs-court apprentices are all here?"

Li Yuan was slightly startled.

Such a big commotion?

"Good, we won't wait for those who haven't come!"

Qin Xiong's voice was loud, his gaze fierce; any apprentice caught by his eye grew short of breath and instinctively stepped back.

"What Qin Mou has come here to do today, some of you have no doubt already guessed."

Li Yuan kept his head low, his sidelong glance sweeping the other apprentices; sure enough, he saw a few of them looking pleased, and his heart stirred.

Could it be that even without being assigned to the front court, there was a chance to learn martial arts?

"Among the hundred trades and families of Gao Liu County, the work at our Weapon-Forge is among the bitterest and most tiring — yet every time we take on apprentices, people flock to sign up? Some even pay bribes to become our apprentices?"

As Qin Xiong spoke, he glanced at Li Yuan; the latter kept his eyes lowered and manner meek, though inwardly rather surprised.

'Second Brother slipped in some money? No wonder Sister-in-law looks at me with disapproval...'

Li Yuan felt slightly enlightened, yet couldn't help but feel depressed.

So I had to slip in money just to get in as an apprentice?!

He truly didn't know that...

"Because, among the families of Gao Liu County, only the Four Seasons Medicine Hall, the Sanhe Gang, the Chai Gang, the Yizi Inn, the Fishing Gang, and our Weapon Forge will teach apprentices Wu Gong!

Even for apprentices in your Middle Courtyard, after working for a year or two, you normally have this chance!"

Teaching Wu Gong in advance?

Li Yuan's eyes lit up, and he felt enlightened again.

Did Second Brother slip in money just to send me here because of this?

The apprentices were extremely excited; several even couldn't help but clench their fists, including the apprentice Liu Qing whose head was broken by Fatty Sun earlier, and Niu Gui, who arrived at the Middle Courtyard just before and after him.

However, everyone was sensible; no one dared to make a sound.

"You apprentices are either from impoverished families or your families have fallen into decline; if you hadn't joined the Weapon Forge, at most one or two out of ten would have the chance to learn martial arts. Today, I teach you Wu Gong on behalf of the master family; remember the master family's grace in the future and work hard!"

Qin Xiong's voice was loud and full of energy; the last few sentences were even deafening.

'This energy is a bit too abundant...'

Li Yuan felt his eardrums buzzing; he was somewhat shocked and also somewhat resentful in his heart.

That last sentence was definitely not meant for them to hear...

"Today, I teach you 'Bai Yuan Cloak Hammer'. Little brats, this is your only chance to join the Inner Courtyard; whether you can change your fate depends on yourselves!"

Learning martial arts!

Bai Yuan Cloak Hammer!

Qin Xiong's voice echoed across the martial arts ground; all the apprentices breathed heavily, and the fatigue of a day's labor seemed to vanish instantly.

Children from poor families grow up early; among those sent here as apprentices, which one doesn't know the importance of a skill?

Let alone Wu Gong; this is something that can truly change one's fate!

As for joining the Inner Courtyard, most apprentices actually appeared calm, knowing that was something they could not covet.

"No wonder he was carrying so many large hammers..."

Li Yuan felt enlightened; his glance swept over, and all the apprentices were tense; Liu Qing, whose head was smashed by Fatty Sun earlier, clenched his fists even tighter, breathing heavily.

"Lu Zhong, you first let them get familiar with standing the post!"

After finishing his speech, Qin Xiong casually pointed to an apprentice from the Front Courtyard to stay, then turned and left.

"Yes!"

Once Qin Xiong left, the other apprentices in the Front Courtyard also dispersed one by one, leaving only the iron hammers they carried.

Only a black, burly youth with a gloomy face walked to the center of the platform, slowly standing the post, squatting halfway, swinging his arms, like a long-armed ape.

"No wonder it's called Bai Yuan Post!"

Li Yuan focused intently, memorizing Lu Zhong's movements and trying to learn, yet felt somewhat disappointed in his heart.

Is this Wu Gong?

"Learn to stand the post from me!"

Lu Zhong didn't seem like someone with the patience to guide one by one; he just stood the post by himself for half a shi.

After briefly instructing Niu Gui and a few other apprentices, he waved his hand and left.

As soon as he left, someone immediately broke their stance; it wasn't laziness, but truly because they were tired after a day's work and had no strength left to stand this physically draining post.

"Memorize it first; practice slowly later..."

Li Yuan also relaxed his stance accordingly, already panting heavily.

His body was even thinner than most present; he truly couldn't hold on.

Grinding his teeth to persist wasn't impossible, but forcing practice would likely be futile and harm the body.

"The Inner Courtyard! I heard long ago that the forge has an Inner Courtyard; the apprentices there don't even need to work, and their monthly wages are very high!"

"Forget the Inner Courtyard; being able to learn Wu Gong in advance is already a huge blessing!"

"I wonder how long it will take us to master this Bai Yuan Post? I heard from an old apprentice sent to the mine that just reaching the entry level takes two or three years?"

Back in the Middle Courtyard, several apprentices were very excited.

"This is so tiring; how can we practice martial arts? Wanting to join the Inner Courtyard is probably impossible..."

Li Yuan wiped his face again and sighed in his heart.

The Front Courtyard apprentices have better food, work half the day and practice boxing half the day, and get two days off every five days; whereas they get only one day off every ten days, not to mention they have no free time all day.

How can they compare?

This Wu Gong might not be unlearnable, but who knows if it will take years or even a decade or more...

Just before entering the room, he looked back; only Niu Gui, who arrived at the Middle Courtyard just before and after him, was gritting his teeth and standing the post under the night, covered in sweat.

"This child is truly hardworking..."

(End of this chapter)