Chapter 71: Poor Scholars, Rich Warriors

The next day.

After Li Zhengshan left his house, he waited at the Zhang Family Restaurant outside.

Luo Zijun arrived shortly after.

"Did your sister suspect anything?"

"No, I just said I was bored staying at home and was going out to buy some books."

The two talked as they walked toward Dongcheng.

"Martial Arts Halls are usually in secluded locations, and there aren't any signs outside, so you definitely wouldn't be able to find one on your own."

"People practice martial arts inside every day; if it were too close to a residential area, it would disturb others."

"Martial Masters at Martial Arts Halls nowadays generally don't take on disciples. So, if we want to go in and practice, we can only pay money, and it's paid month by month. If you need a Medicine Bath at the hall or to eat some supplements, you have to pay extra..."

Li Zhengshan hadn't had any contact with Martial Arts Halls for years; he had only asked someone about it yesterday.

"In the past, when we went to apprentice, as long as the master took a liking to you, he would take you as a disciple. Once a master, always a father; the relationship between master and disciple was very close, and there was no need to pay money at all. Not only would the master pass on his best martial arts, but he would also spend his own money on us."

"Now, times have changed, and everyone values profit..."

"If you don't have money, they won't teach you a damn thing, and you won't even be able to step through the door."

Li Zhengshan complained the whole way.

Soon, the two arrived in Dongcheng, crossed two streets, and turned into a secluded alley.

This was already close to the city gate of Dongcheng.

The two entered the alley and kept walking forward until they reached the end, where they discovered a large courtyard with a Wooden Plaque hanging very crudely outside.

On that Wooden Plaque, a few large characters were scrawled: Liu Clan Martial Arts Hall.

Li Zhengshan went up to knock on the door.

Soon, a bare-chested Han came to open the door, panting heavily as he asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Clearly, this person had just been practicing in the courtyard.

Li Zhengshan cupped his hands: "I am Head Constable Li Zhengshan from the yamen. I had an appointment with Brother Yang Kaiming of your esteemed hall to bring my younger brother here to take a look today."

The Han glanced at the two, turned his head, and shouted, "Junior Brother Yang, there's a Head Constable Li here to see you!"

After saying this, he left on his own, grabbed a Millstone from the courtyard, and began to squat in a horse stance to lift weights.

The heavy Millstone went up and down in his hands, as if it were light as a feather.

Li Zhengshan whispered: "This is also a form of Flesh Tempering. This person has thick legs and a very stable base. Look at that skin and muscle; they have been tempered to be extremely tough. With your current strength, even if he stood there without moving, you wouldn't be able to knock him down, and your own fists would get hurt instead."

At this moment, a tall and thin young man walked over, smiling as he cupped his hands: "Head Constable Li, my brother already told me about this yesterday. Come, I'll take you inside to have a look."

Li Zhengshan hurriedly cupped his hands in thanks and introduced: "Zijun, this is Brother Yang."

Luo Zijun hurriedly cupped his hands in salute: "Brother Yang."

Yang Kaiming looked at him and smiled: "You are Head Constable Li's younger brother, right? Why, are you interested in practicing martial arts?"

Luo Zijun nodded: "I have some interest."

Yang Kaiming led the two inside, looked at him again, and said with a smile: "It's not that I'm being harsh, Brother Zijun, but looking at your physique, it doesn't seem very suitable for martial arts. Besides, practicing martial arts is something one starts from childhood. Even if you have the heart to walk this path now, I'm afraid it's too late."

Li Zhengshan said somewhat awkwardly: "Brother Yang, we just came to take a look. To tell you the truth, my Zijun is currently studying at the Academy, and his sister wouldn't let him practice martial arts anyway. Also, my family really can't afford it."

Yang Kaiming was a bit surprised: "Studying at the Academy? Tsk tsk, no wonder I thought he looked like a scholar at first glance. Studying is good; it has a future, and you can go out to enjoy the mountains and rivers every day, unlike us, who are here lifting iron and stones every day. Brother Zijun, our martial arts practice not only requires enduring hardship but is also very expensive. Since you are studying, just take a look today and don't think about anything else."

Luo Zijun did not speak, his gaze turning toward the others in the courtyard.

Some were punching, some were practicing kicks against wooden stakes, some were lifting stones, and others were standing on wooden stakes.

The three talked as they continued to walk forward.

They soon arrived at the backyard.

The backyard was larger, containing a martial arts training ground.

At this time, there were only two people inside, one practicing with a sword and one with a staff.

"There isn't much to see; this is all there is."

Yang Kaiming turned around and said with a smile: "There are some weapons over there. If Brother Zijun's hands are itching, you can go pick them up and play with them, but don't hurt yourself."

He thought the young man before him was just curious about the place where martial arts were practiced and wanted to satisfy his eyes and touch the weapons.

Luo Zijun suddenly asked: "Brother Yang, how much silver does it cost to sign up for martial arts here?"

Yang Kaiming smiled and said: "Two hundred taels a month."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Zhengshan's expression changed: "Two... two hundred taels?"

This was a terrifying amount.

You have to know that when he practiced martial arts back in the day, he only paid two taels of silver when he joined, and that included meals.

Yang Kaiming explained: "To practice martial arts here, the master provides guidance twice a month, and you can choose your own techniques. You can use the weapons and tools here. When others are practicing, you can also observe; you can learn any of those techniques, and as long as you can master them, they are yours. In the future, the master won't care what you do with them or who you pass them on to." Li Zhengshan thought to himself: So that's how it is.

The techniques here could actually be passed on, and one could freely observe and practice the techniques others were cultivating; no wonder it was so expensive.

"As for the medicinal herbs for the Medicine Bath and the pills consumed daily, you need to pay extra to purchase them. If you make a mistake while practicing, we also take no responsibility."

Yang Kaiming said with a smile.

Luo Zijun nodded and said: "Many thanks for informing me, Brother Yang."

Yang Kaiming led the two to look at each room and said: "These are individual training rooms. Some people don't want to practice outside, so they come here."

Seeing that they had seen enough and fearing he would disturb others' practice, Li Zhengshan hurriedly cupped his hands: "Many thanks to Brother Yang today. We shall take our leave now and not disturb Brother Yang's practice."

Yang Kaiming said with a smile: "It's fine, I was planning to take a day off today anyway."

Li Zhengshan took Luo Zijun and left.

Yang Kaiming walked them all the way to the door, and only after seeing them leave did he close it.

!

"Holy crap! That is way too expensive!"

After walking some distance away, Li Zhengshan could not help but curse.

"I haven't been here in a few years, but the market rates have become so outrageous now; if an ordinary person wanted to learn martial arts, wouldn't they go bankrupt?"

"Sigh, the old saying 'the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts' is truly not wrong."

"Back when we practiced martial arts, we already felt it cost a lot of silver, especially the medicinal herbs; I didn't expect it to be even more outrageous now..."

Li Zhengshan shook his head while sighing.

Luo Zijun said, "It is indeed a bit expensive."

With all the assets he currently had on him, he was actually unable to sign up.

Li Zhengshan turned his head to look at him and said, "Given up now?"

Luo Zijun nodded, "Given up."

Li Zhengshan laughed, patted his shoulder, and comforted him, "It's fine. If you really like it, just practice the Taizu Long Fist your brother-in-law taught you every day. You must also diligently practice that Inner Cultivation Method; although you cannot advance without external techniques to complement it, it can still strengthen your body."

"Alright, you head back; I still have to go to the yamen."

After saying this, he strode away, thinking to himself: That kid should have completely given up now.

Luo Zijun stood at the crossroads, blowing in the spring breeze and bathing in the morning sun; after thinking for a moment, he walked toward Tianxian Pavilion.

He wondered how the newly written "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" was doing.

He hoped it could be sold soon.

He had to come here to sign up quickly so he could begin cultivation.

Give up?

That doesn't exist.

The things he had experienced during this period, especially the incident of being humiliated by the female flower-plucking thief at Hanshan Temple, made his determination to practice martial arts even firmer; it would never be shaken!

Time to earn money!

Hmm?

Xu Xian has been at the Academy these past few days; there shouldn't be any problems, right?

It shouldn't happen so quickly.

In two days, he would go to the Academy to see him, and at that time, he would start taking him to visit the Brothel.

The third floor of Tianxian Pavilion.

A certain private room.

The morning sunlight spilled in through the gaps in the window.

Inside the room, curtains were drawn.

A young girl wearing a thin white long dress was wrapped in a quilt, sleeping soundly on the bed.

She was lying on her side facing outward, with a head of black hair cascading down from the edge of the bed.

Bi'er was also lying on a small bed nearby, sleeping sweetly.

At the same time.

Bookstores throughout the Outer City began to receive a batch of new books.

Simultaneously.

These books were also delivered to the Hidden Book Pavilion of every Academy at the first opportunity.

"West Chamber Romance?"

In the Hidden Book Pavilion of a certain Academy, a woman picked up a book that had just been delivered and curiously flipped to the first page.

"Author, Jun Chujian..."

(End of chapter)