parentshiftbook Chapter 4 Junior Brother
Chapter 4 Junior Brother
Another day has passed, and it's time for Baihe Martial Arts School to personally teach boxing again.
Everyone from the martial arts school arrived at the training ground early, and Lu Li was no exception.
Lu Li looked around at the crowd and found that there were more than 30 people in the group. At the front of the group were the master's disciples: the eldest brother Liang Jing, the second brother Duan Kang, the third sister Xu Fang, and the fourth sister Qin Yushuang.
Among them, the fourth senior sister, Qin Yushuang, is the granddaughter of the master.
Before long, an old man with a goatee came out from the inner courtyard.
Although this man's temples were gray and his face showed deep wrinkles, he walked with a powerful stride, showing no sign of weakness, and was probably more robust than many young people.
This is Qin Yan, the master of the White Crane Martial Arts School.
A renowned master of internal energy in Lin'an City!
"Greetings, Master."
"Greetings, Master."
The disciples all bowed in greeting.
At the White Crane Martial Arts School, the title of "Master" is not something anyone can just call out.
Those who pay to learn martial arts can only be considered apprentices. Only those who successfully pass the test and become Ming Jin martial artists can be accepted as disciples and can use the name of the martial arts school.
Once one's cultivation reaches the level of Dark Force, one can advance further and become an inner disciple. As the name suggests, this means one can enter and leave the master's residence, demonstrating the close relationship between the two.
Only disciples who have entered the inner circle are allowed to freely enter and leave the inner courtyard.
Qin Yan's gaze swept over the crowd, then landed on the few unfamiliar faces. Knowing that new people had arrived, he then spoke:
"Duan Kang, make the arrangements first."
"Before learning martial arts, you must first know what martial arts are."
"Martial arts, in the trade, are called 'Guazi Men'. The fake moves performed by street performers to make the martial arts movements look good and attract attention are called 'Xing Guazi'. Some people also call them 'Acrobatics'. The two are worlds apart."
"Because true martial arts are techniques for killing!"
As soon as Qin Yan finished speaking, his figure suddenly changed.
Before the crowd in the training ground could react, they heard a series of sonic booms.
Qin Yan struck a pose, and his legs and arms began to change.
At the start, Qin Yan brought his legs together and slightly bent, his right arm as if embracing a baby, and suddenly punched out with a drilling punch. As his left leg stepped forward, his left fist transformed into a palm and burst out. His legs suddenly came together, and his right fist thrust out, followed by a step and a collapsing punch.
"Drilling Fist, Chopping Fist, Step-Back Crushing Fist, Retreating Horizontal Fist, Advancing Crushing Fist, White Crane Spreads Wings, Advancing Cannon Fist, Advancing Tiger Support, Alligator Right Stance, Eagle Catcher Hand..."
Sonic booms echoed as Qin Yan punched, until he delivered his final punch and arrived in front of a bluestone slab.
The next moment, Qin Yan's fist arrived, the fist imprint deeply embedded in the stone surface, cracks spreading like a spider web, and fragments of stone flying everywhere!
This scene left all the disciples present stunned.
Those who come here are all oppressed by this world and want to turn their lives around. Fancy moves cannot change their situation; only real skills can break the deadlock.
Lu Li's heart was also stirred.
With such methods, even mastering only one or two tenths would be enough to establish oneself in Lin'an City.
"Duan Kang, after you have instructed the new disciples on matters concerning the sect, lead them in practicing horse stance. As for the older disciples, practice your boxing diligently and strive to break through as soon as possible."
After saying that, Qin Yan patted the dust off his clothes.
"Disciple understands." Duan Kang bowed to Qin Yan.
After giving some instructions, Qin Yan left while eating persimmon cakes. Lu Li stood there, his mind replaying the scene of the master practicing his boxing.
After continuously analyzing the points of force and movements, Lu Li returned to his usual training ground and continued to practice diligently until the sun began to set. His short shirt was soaked through and emitted a foul odor that made people want to stay away.
[Introduction to Liuhe Zhuang Gong (231/500)]
[Introduction to Xingyi Quan (211/500)]
Today's hard practice increased my proficiency in Liuhe Zhuang Gong by five points and in Xingyi Quan by six points.
Lu Li looked at the panel in front of him and was somewhat satisfied.
Duan Kang glanced at the sky and said:
"That's all for today. It's getting late. Everyone, please go and have your meal. Success in martial arts is not something you can achieve by simply burying yourself in study. Replenishing your blood and energy is equally important. After you finish eating, those who want to practice can continue."
As soon as the words were spoken, many disciples, especially the new ones, collapsed to the ground. Some who were better off chose to go out to eat, but most could only eat cornbread with pickled vegetables.
"Master, the rice is ready."
From afar, the voice of the second senior brother, Duan Kang, could be heard.
Then, the aroma of meat wafted over, attracting all the apprentices who remained in the outer courtyard. They all looked towards the inner courtyard separated by a wall.
On the large mahogany table were more than a dozen mouthwatering dishes.
Stewed pork hock, poached chicken, roast goose, glistening cured pork...
"Gurgle..."
Someone swallowed hard, or perhaps no one could resist...
They are separated by only a wall, yet it feels like two different worlds.
In the inner courtyard, the master Qin Yan was eating persimmon cakes, chatting and laughing with his disciples about many novel things.
Third Senior Sister Xu Fang was among them.
No wonder the original owner pursued him so relentlessly, but the other party never paid any attention to her.
How could an inner court disciple possibly look down on someone like me who has been unable to enter the sect for three months and comes from a poor family?
Lu Li shook his head, took out his cold, hard cornbread, and forced it down, savoring the aroma of meat in the air.
The faint aroma of meat in the air made Lu Li feel hungry no matter how much cornbread and pickled vegetables he ate.
Practicing martial arts consumes the most qi and blood. Ordinary coarse rice and grains cannot make up for the deficiency. The cheapest and simplest way is to eat meat to replenish strength and nourish the muscles and bones after training.
Lu Li also wanted to use this cheapest method, but the conditions simply did not allow it.
He planned to use the two taels of silver his third uncle gave him for two months, one tael per month. If he didn't buy meat, it would be fine, but if he did...
A pound of pork costs thirty coins, and the price has been rising recently. After deducting his other living expenses, he can't even buy thirty pounds a month. His plan is to eat it once every other day.
Of course, Lu Li is already very grateful for her current life.
Because most of the disciples in this martial arts school are not as good as him.
My third uncle not only provided me with enough living expenses, but also supported my martial arts training.
You should know that in this outer courtyard, most of the disciples borrow money to learn martial arts, just to gamble on that one last chance of survival!
If the loan was from relatives or neighbors, it would be fine; even if the martial arts training failed, the loan could be repaid gradually. But if it was borrowed from a gang's "usurious loan"...
If one fails to learn martial arts, it may lead to the destruction of one's family and death.
"I must repay my third uncle properly." Lu Li took a deep breath.
His third uncle had truly done him a great favor. If it weren't for his third uncle's help, he probably wouldn't have been able to survive in Lin'an City.
Lu Li swallowed the last mouthful of salted vegetables and washed it down with some water.
After a short rest, while his fellow disciples were still resting, Lu Li chose to return to the wooden stake.
He knew that to repay his third uncle's kindness, he had to do his best to knock on the gate. Only by knocking on the gate could he save his third uncle's shop and get out of the current predicament of the family.
All Lu Li could do was put in more effort than others.
[Six Harmonies Stance Skill Proficiency +1]
[Xingyiquan Proficiency +1]
……
Until the last rays of the setting sun were swallowed up, and darkness was about to fall,
Lu Li stopped and planned to wash the clothes that had accumulated over the past few days.
As soon as I got back to my shared dormitory room, I pushed open the door and heard a burst of laughter.
At this moment, the people inside also noticed Lu Li, and one of the new faces immediately walked over with a smile:
"My name is Zhang Wu, a new apprentice who arrived today. May I ask how I should address you, senior brother?"