Chapter 11: Mu Shulan

Zhao Jin couldn't hear his uncle's silent praise. His eyes were already stinging with sweat, his legs aching to the extreme. By now, Zhao Jin could no longer feel his body swaying — he was nearly at his limit.

But Zhao Jin was still gritting his teeth and holding on. He had long understood a truth: no matter what you do, only diligence, hard work, and persistence will yield results. Zhao Jin had one strength, perhaps a strength forged by the hardships of that other life — he could endure suffering, he could keep his composure. All of that was now being put to use in martial training.

Because he used to be combative and aggressive, he had wanted to build a strong body, so he paid extra attention during PE class. Zhao Jin clearly remembered the teacher saying that everyone hits a limit state during exercise. At that limit, the whole person feels like they're about to collapse, but if you push through it, your body will actually stabilize.

Zhao Jin didn't know if he had truly reached his limit now, but he hoped he could just push through. Just as he was gritting his teeth, he heard a timid voice call from outside: "Is Brother Xiao Jin here?"

Both uncle and nephew looked toward the courtyard gate. A little girl in a red padded jacket was peering inside. When she spotted Zhao Jin, her eyes instantly curved into crescent moons.

This was Xiao Lan — Mu Shulan. She wore her hair in twin ram's-horn braids, her features were well-proportioned, her skin fair and clear, and a silver lock pendant hung at her chest. Over the past few days, Zhao Jin had grown more and more familiar with his surroundings and could now glean things from many small details.

Mu Shulan's family circumstances must be quite good. In times like these, children who didn't get enough to eat or wear were mostly dark and scrawny. To be fair-skinned and well-proportioned required a very well-off household to raise. Mu Shulan's family was clearly prosperous — the daughter of a wealthy merchant from out of town who had come to Xuzhou to do business. What problem could a girl like that have? He had no idea why his father, Zhao Zhentang, wanted to keep their family at a distance.

"Brother Xiao Jin, I only got back today. Aunt Zhao said you were here." She spoke in the official tongue, but with a trace of a Shandong accent, crisp and pleasant to the ear. Before Zhao Jin could answer, he heard the whistle of a rattan cane slicing the air. His uncle Zhao Zhenxing said, "Don't lose focus!"

Zhao Jin's body jolted. He quickly corrected his posture. With that interruption, his limit state had already passed. He steadied his breathing and stood firm once more.

Seeing Zhao Jin's state, Zhao Zhenxing was rather surprised. He hadn't expected his nephew to pass the test of composure. He had endured the most exhausting moment — another hurdle Zhao Jin had cleared. He really was a promising seedling for martial arts!

Little Lan, standing at the gate, was very well-behaved and sensible. Besides, she had been here with Zhao Jin before and had spoken with Zhao Zhenxing. Mu Shulan added, "Uncle, I won't talk. I'll just sit on the side and watch, alright?"

Zhao Zhenxing frowned, about to refuse, but he glanced at Zhao Jin and changed his mind. Smiling, he nodded. Little Lan let out a cheer and scampered into the courtyard, finding a clean rock to sit on. Zhao Zhenxing smiled and spoke again: "Xiao Jin, if you lose focus, it's ten strikes on the palm!"

Having such a fair and pretty little girl nearby, even if she didn't speak, was a pleasant thing. But with Zhao Zhenxing's words, it became a test. Zhao Jin hurriedly concentrated his mind.

Mu Shulan was even younger than Zhao Jin. Holding a horse stance meant being completely motionless — utterly boring. He assumed the little girl would watch for a while, get bored, and leave. He never expected that Xiao Lan would sit there smiling, showing not the slightest intention of leaving. As if watching some street acrobatics, she watched Zhao Jin with keen interest, all the way until he finished his horse stance.

He had stood for a full two hours. Zhao Jin's knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. Little Lan, watching from the side, immediately stood up, as if about to run over and support him.

"Let him stand up on his own!" his uncle Zhao Zhenxing said flatly. Normally, Zhao Zhenxing was very gentle, but at this moment, his words and manner carried an unyielding authority. Hearing this, Little Lan shrank back and sat down again.

Zhao Zhenxing's gaze sharpened. He had thought his nephew would need a while before he could stand. He hadn't expected that the moment those words were spoken, Zhao Jin would grit his teeth and rise. Truly perseverant. How had he never seen this kind of character in him before?

"Second Uncle, I'd like some water," Zhao Jin said weakly. He had sweated a great deal and lost a lot of fluids.

A look of approval appeared on Zhao Zhenxing's face. His nephew hadn't begged for mercy or complained. Zhao Zhenxing pointed to a corner of the courtyard, where a kettle wrapped in a cotton insulator sat, a bowl beside it.

Before Zhao Jin could move, Little Lan ran over, poured a bowl of water, carefully carried it over, and offered it with both hands, saying, "Brother Xiao Jin, drink."

Zhao Jin really didn't know how to respond. He could only nod, take the bowl, and drink. In this weather, even with the insulating cotton wrap, the water had gone cold, though it wasn't icy.

The little girl watched Zhao Jin with a beaming smile and said crisply, "Brother Xiao Jin is so amazing. The brothers back in my hometown can't hold out after just a short while."

Zhao Jin finished the water, and Little Lan took the bowl. Neither in the past nor now had Zhao Jin had much experience dealing with girls. The reason this Little Lan was close to him was because Zhao Jin had a gentle and honest nature and knew how to be considerate and caring. He didn't know how to respond to her words, but he did notice the content of what she said.

Mu Shulan's family had quite a few children around his age who were also training in martial arts. Zhao Jin casually asked, "Xiao Lan, where is your family from?"

"I've told you so many times, and Brother Xiao Jin still can't remember. From Caozhou in Shandong," Mu Shulan answered, pouting.

Still no real impression. Zhao Jin was about to continue talking when he heard his uncle Zhao Zhenxing speak: "Xiao Jin, that smallest chest over there — grab it with both hands and lift it flat to your chest twenty times."

On one side of the courtyard were stone locks, and beside them were several wooden chests, ranging from large to small. The chests all looked very old. Zhao Jin had already guessed what these were for. The stone locks weighed dozens of jin — far beyond his ability to handle. He could only start with the small ones. Those wooden chests were probably filled with dirt and stones.

Zhao Jin went over and lifted one. Sure enough, it was very heavy. There must be stones inside. Lifting it wasn't hard, and raising it flat to his chest wasn't hard either, but doing it twenty times was quite difficult. On the last few reps, Zhao Jin's face turned red and his neck bulged before he finally completed them.

His uncle Zhao Zhenxing nodded slightly. Today's horse stance and chest-lifting were genuine training, but they were also challenges he had set for his nephew. He hadn't expected Zhao Jin to endure them all. Anyone could see his strength was lacking, but lack of strength could be built up through training. Perseverance and character, however, were not things everyone possessed.

Though satisfied in his heart, his expression remained indifferent. The little girl, seeing that Zhao Jin had finished, didn't need anyone to tell her — she went on her own to pour water for Zhao Jin to drink. Zhao Zhenxing shook his head and said, "Rest for a bit first, then do the horse stance again!"

Zhao Jin didn't have the energy to complain about the hardship, because the little girl beside him was chattering away nonstop — about how bustling Jining was, what delicious food she had eaten. His only headache was how to get through this rest period.

The training just now had left Zhao Jin aching all over. Hearing that he had to continue soon, he didn't just plop down anywhere. Instead, he moved his wrists, lifted and stretched his legs, and then jogged slowly around the courtyard.

He had taken PE class quite seriously in the past, and after starting work, he had learned some fitness knowledge. He knew that before and after intense exercise, you shouldn't come to an immediate stop. You needed to do some relaxing movements — warm-up and cool-down routines were crucial.

His uncle Zhao Zhenxing had been about to stop him, but after watching for a while, he realized these strange-looking movements made a lot of sense, so he let Zhao Jin be.

Mu Shulan just watched cheerfully from the side, not finding it dull or boring in the slightest.

The rest period was short. Soon, it was back to the tedious horse stance. The morning passed quickly.

When lunchtime came, this time Zhao Zhenxing didn't wait for Zhao Jin to invite him. He directly led Zhao Jin and Mu Shulan toward the Zhao household. In the past, when the little girl played with Zhao Jin, she almost always ate lunch at the Zhao house. It had become a habit.

Walking on the road, Zhao Jin felt his muscles and bones aching and weak, his steps unsteady. He was utterly exhausted. He was practically dragging his legs forward, while the little girl skipped along happily.

When he finally shuffled to his doorstep, Zhao Jin caught a whiff of a rich, gamey aroma. His family must be stewing mutton. His appetite immediately surged. The morning's physical exertion had been considerable, and he urgently needed to replenish.

He had just stepped over the threshold when Little Lan had already run into the courtyard, calling out crisply, "Auntie, I'm back from Shandong! Brother Xiao Jin and the others are back too!"

Anyone who didn't know better would think Zhao Jin and Mu Shulan had returned from Shandong together. He Cuihua's loud voice rang out: "Hurry up and wash your hands, then help Auntie bring out the bowls and chopsticks."

An answering call came, and the little girl happily bustled off to help. At this moment, Zhao Jin felt like even taking a slightly bigger step would tear his muscles. He grimaced in pain. His uncle Zhao Zhenxing, strolling slowly behind him, asked with a smile, "Xiao Jin, you're this tired after just one morning. There's still training this afternoon, and more tomorrow. Do you still want to practice martial arts?"