Chaos begins when one joins a martial arts school

Chapter 30 Buying a Yard

As they exited the martial arts school, they bumped into Lin Yue boarding a luxurious carriage. The carriage was made of ebony and inlaid with silver thread patterns. Two fine horses pulled the carriage, and the coachman was dressed in a respectable silk jacket and blouse. It was clear that this was the style of a wealthy family.

As the carriage started moving, faint laughter could be heard coming from inside, suggesting that some prominent family had invited them to a banquet.

"Brother Lin is truly blessed; all the prominent families in the city fawn over him," a passing servant whispered, his tone full of envy.

Yang Jing looked up at the departing carriage, then looked away and walked briskly towards Datongfang.

The evening breeze brushed against my cheek, carrying the scent of everyday life. Thinking of the bag of gold and silver and the old ginseng under my bed, I felt a sense of peace.

Lin Yue's path is paved with flowers and brocade, while his path is paved with mud and sweat. Although they are different, they are both paths that he has walked step by step.

As for the admiration and envy of others, he never cared about it.

As night deepened, Yang Jing walked back to Datongfang, the stone pavement beneath his feet gleaming white in the moonlight.

As I stepped outside the courtyard, I could vaguely hear the voices of other tenants inside, and a thought suddenly occurred to me.

While sharing an apartment with others may be cheaper, it can be inconvenient.

Practicing boxing at night might disturb others, and there are valuables hidden under the bed, so one must always be on guard.

Moreover, he planned to try practicing the "Surging Waves Kick" technique he had just acquired, but the small room made it somewhat difficult to perform it properly.

Yang Jing touched the silver in his pocket, then, thinking of the gold and silver treasures under the bed, slowed his pace.

Now that I have more money, maybe I should find a small, detached house.

It's best to live close to a martial arts school. Firstly, it's convenient for practicing martial arts, saving a lot of time spent traveling every day. Secondly, if you encounter any danger, you can run to the school quickly and get some protection.

Yang Jing started considering buying a courtyard house.

He has more money now, so he can move to a better environment, which will also make it easier for him to practice martial arts.

Yang Jing thought to himself that the courtyard didn't need to be too big; a main house with a side room, a kitchen, and a small courtyard would be enough.

As for the price, it's at most a few dozen taels of silver, which he can easily afford with his current wealth.

There's no rush to find a courtyard. Yang Jing knows some brokers, similar to those who handled real estate transactions in his previous life. Maybe he can ask his fourth senior brother to inquire tomorrow. He's familiar with the city and might be able to find a suitable place.

With a plan in mind, my steps became lighter.

Having one's own courtyard makes it convenient for kings and nobles to practice martial arts and store their belongings.

Entering the courtyard, Yang Jing returned to his room, blew out the oil lamp, and took out the book "The Turbulent Legs" from under the bed.

The booklet's cover was rough, and the pages were yellowed with age. The opening line read: "Leg techniques are based on agility and sharpened by speed, like surging waves, continuous and unending."

Yang Jing flipped through the pages, becoming increasingly alarmed with each reading.

This leg technique, like the Mountain-Crushing Fist, has a complete training and improvement path, from Ming Jin to An Jin and then to the legendary Hua Jin, with detailed training instructions for each level.

Unlike other styles, Bengshanquan is known for its fierce and powerful punches, which are invincible wherever they strike.

The "Surging Waves Leg" emphasizes agility, stressing that "steps follow the body's movements, and legs are born from steps." When practiced to a high level, the body movements are as swift as a fleeting shadow, with speed far exceeding that of ordinary people. However, its pure attack power is far inferior to the Mountain-Crushing Fist.

"So it turns out to be a minor skill."

Yang Jing muttered to himself.

He had only glanced at the booklet "The Turbulent Legs" before, but now, upon closer inspection, he was quite surprised and delighted.

The Mountain-Crushing Fist is primarily offensive, while the Surging Wave Leg is primarily fast. If the two can be combined, achieving a balance of strength and flexibility, his power will definitely increase significantly.

Unable to contain himself, Yang Jing got up and walked to the center of the room, tracing the diagrams.

He had barely taken half a step in the "wave-riding" style when his toes almost hit the table leg.

The "Turning the River" move requires twisting the body and swinging the legs, but the lower back hits the edge of the bed.

The room was already cramped, making it difficult to stretch one's legs properly, and even the most basic footwork became stumbling and awkward.

"As expected, you still need a courtyard."

Yang Jing stopped what he was doing, his brows furrowed.

The thought that arose on the way back has become even stronger now.

Without a spacious area, it's impossible to properly practice the "Surging Waves Kick".

Then Yang Jing carefully put away the booklet, tidied it up, practiced the Mountain-Crushing Fist for an hour, blew out the oil lamp and lay down on the bed, but he was not sleepy at all.

"We must find a dentist as soon as possible, and make sure to find a detached house with a yard. Only with a place to practice can this leg technique truly be put to use."

The moonlight shone through the cracks in the window, reflecting the expectation in his eyes.

The ferocity of the Mountain-Crushing Fist and the swiftness of the Surging Waves Kick complement each other. If he were to face a master like Xu Tai, who is at the peak of Ming Jin, he would be confident of killing him even if the opponent were not injured.

In the following days, Yuhe County gradually returned to its former tranquility.

The government sent several constables to Xinghua Ward to investigate. After looking at the charred ruins and asking a few questions of the surrounding residents, they simply wrote "An accidental fire caused the death of Xu Tai" in the case file and considered the case closed.

Some people privately felt that Xu Tai's death was suspicious. How could a master of Ming Jin be trapped in a fire and burned alive?

They might grumble about it privately, but no one actually dared to go to the government office to file a complaint.

The Dayun Gang usually engages in heinous businesses such as harvesting and cutting up animals and lending money at exorbitant interest rates, offending too many people. With Xu Tai's death, many people secretly rejoice. Who will stand up for him?
As time passed, the rumors about Xu Tai being burned to death gradually faded away.

The new topic quickly overshadowed the old news.

Some say that the Righteousness Gang has taken advantage of the situation to annex the territory of the Great Fortune Gang and is gaining momentum.

Some people say that a new restaurant has opened in the west of the city, and the chef was hired from the prefectural city. His braised pork knuckle is absolutely delicious.

Some say that war has broken out in Caozhou, and more and more refugees are coming from the west.

Every day when Yang Jing went to the market to buy meat, he would listen to these stories, paying particular attention to the situation in Caozhou. His father and uncle had gone to Caozhou with the grain transport convoy, and there had been no news of them since, which made Yang Jing very worried.

The sun was blazing that day.

After finishing his boxing practice, Yang Jing rested for a while before leaving the martial arts school.

He found Zhang Yaren at the address he had inquired about beforehand at the entrance of West Market Alley.

This man was a lean fellow with a goatee, always carrying a bunch of keys in his hand, and always putting on a smile when he saw people.

"Are you looking for a courtyard house, sir?" Zhang Yaren sized up Yang Jing, noticing that although he was simply dressed, his eyes were calm and composed, so he dared not be negligent. "There are plenty of empty courtyard houses available recently. Many families have moved to the prefectural city and the provincial capital recently, and the prices are very reasonable." Yang Jing nodded and said, "I want a detached house, close to Chengping Ward, with a small courtyard."

"What a coincidence!" Zhang Yaren's eyes lit up, and he led him eastward. "There's a small courtyard by the stream at the intersection of Chengpingfang and Tongyifang. It used to be where an old scholar lived, but he just moved out last month. I'll show you there now."

"Okay," Yang Jing said.

Following Zhang Yaren, we passed through two streets and alleys, and sure enough, we heard the sound of flowing water.

A row of small courtyards with green tiles was built along the stream. The stream was not wide, but it was crystal clear. Several weeping willows were planted on the bank, their branches hanging over the water and creating ripples.

Zhang Yaren opened the easternmost courtyard gate, which creaked open to reveal the scene inside.

The courtyard wasn't big, a bit smaller than the one he rented in the dormitory, but not by much. There were several paths paved with bluestone slabs, some old flower pots piled up in the corners, and a few morning glories climbing up the wall, blooming brightly.

The main house consists of two rooms, one for resting and the other for receiving guests. The window paper is intact, and strings of dried mugwort hang under the eaves, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance.

The east wing was converted into a woodshed, and there was a small kitchen at the west end. Yang Jing went in to take a look and found that the pots, pans and utensils were all there.

Yang Jing stood in the courtyard. There was an old locust tree by the courtyard wall, its branches and leaves so thick that they could block out most of the sun from the courtyard.

“Look at this location,” Zhang Yaren pointed to the west, “after passing that alley ahead, you’ll reach Chengpingfang, which is only a short walk away.”

He then pointed to the stream outside the courtyard gate, "This stream is flowing water, making it easy to get water, and it's also cool in the summer."

Yang Jing walked around the courtyard, his footsteps landing on the stone slabs, feeling very at ease.

The two main rooms were enough to live in, the courtyard was spacious enough to practice punches and kicks, and it was close to the martial arts school, which was exactly what he wanted.

He had visited several courtyards in the past few days, but this small courtyard was the one he was most satisfied with.

"How much is this yard?"

Zhang Yaren rubbed his hands together. "To be honest, this place would normally cost at least fifty taels. But the world is in chaos now, so I'll give you a discount: thirty-five taels of silver, including the deed and furniture, all yours."

Yang Jing didn't haggle. He took out some silver from his pocket, counted out thirty-five taels, and handed it over.

Zhang Yaren's eyes narrowed into slits with a smile. He quickly pulled out the house deed from his pocket, counted the three keys on the courtyard gate, and handed them to Yang Jing. "The paperwork is complete. Please check carefully. From now on, this courtyard is yours."

Yang Jing took the property deed, his fingertips touching the rough paper, and a sense of security suddenly welled up in his heart.

From now on, this place truly belongs to him. He no longer needs to worry about the inconvenience of practicing martial arts, nor does he need to hide it anymore.
Zhang Yaren said a few more auspicious words, then bowed and took his leave.

Yang Jing closed the door, stood alone in the yard, walked to the old locust tree to feel the coolness of summer, and couldn't help but smile.

After resting for a while, Yang Jing took out a piece of cooled cooked tiger meat from his old cloth bag and ate it in big bites.

After finishing a large piece of tiger meat, Yang Jing wandered around the courtyard, then locked the gate and went to the martial arts school.

Zhang Yaren said it would take an incense stick's worth of walking from here to Sun's martial arts school in Chengpingfang, but Yang Jing was a martial artist, strong and healthy, and walked faster than ordinary people. From the small courtyard at the junction of Tongyifang and Chengpingfang to the martial arts school, he only needed half an incense stick's worth of walking.

I was overjoyed to buy the new yard, and I walked with a light step.

Upon arriving at the martial arts school, Yang Jing took off his coat and began practicing the "Crushing Mountain Fist" in the front yard of the school, his back bare.

Time passes slowly.

The sun slowly moved from overhead to the horizon.

As dusk slowly spread like ink, the training ground in front of the martial arts school gradually fell silent.

After the servants finished packing up the equipment, they left one after another, carrying brooms. Only Yang Jing's figure remained moving on the vast field.

He lowered his waist and assumed a horse stance, unleashing the stance of the Mountain-Crushing Fist in the twilight.

The force of the punches stirred the deepening night, each punch accompanied by a muffled "whoosh," which was particularly clear in the empty courtyard.

Sweat had already soaked his body, dripping down his chin and hitting the ground, leaving a small dark stain that was quickly dried by the wind.

He was still practicing when it was completely dark.

Previously, there were no resources available, but now there is an ample supply of wild beast meat, which replenishes his energy. He is willing to put every bit of his energy into martial arts, striving for maximum improvement every day.

Moreover, he could clearly see his progress through the panel, which made him even more addicted to this visible improvement, forgetting the hardships and pain of martial arts training.

The moonlight climbed over the wall, stretching his shadow long, intertwining with the shadow of his fist, making it impossible to distinguish which was the fist and which was the shadow.

"Ah."

A soft sound came from behind.

Yang Jing withdrew his fist and turned around, only to see his master, Sun Yong, emerge from the inner courtyard at some point and stand under the eaves looking at him.

Sun Yong, dressed in a plain long robe, stroked his beard and looked at him for a moment, seemingly moved, but then quickly shook his head.

Yang Jing quickly bowed and greeted, "Master."

Sun Yong gave a soft "hmm," nodded, and stepped forward. His gaze swept over Yang Jing's reddened fist, then looked at the footprints of varying depths on the ground.

These are traces left by Yang Jing practicing his boxing, densely covering almost a large area around him.

Sun Yong was indeed somewhat moved. Over the past six months, he had witnessed the training progress of each disciple, and the diligence of this disciple was unmatched by anyone in the martial arts school.

But in the end, Sun Yong sighed softly and shook his head slightly.

In martial arts training, diligence is important, but physical constitution is even more crucial.

Yang Jing's physical constitution can only be considered inferior, even mediocre among the inferior. It was already incredibly lucky that he was able to break through to the Ming Jin level. As for breaking through to the An Jin level, it was as difficult as ascending to heaven. At most, he would stop there in this lifetime.

Such a disciple is diligent but lacks potential, and is not worthy of his full instruction.

On the other hand, Lin Yue is a child with superior aptitude and extremely high comprehension. He broke through the Dark Force in less than half a year of martial arts training, and there is a great hope that he will step into the Transformation Force in the future. Only such a genius can support the future of the martial arts school.

"Your punches are powerful but lack agility."

Sun Yong snapped out of his thoughts and casually pointed out, "While Ming Jin emphasizes explosive power, it also requires knowing how to build up momentum. It's like drawing a bow; you need to retract first and then release for greater force. Your 'Stone-Splitting' punch just now was too hasty and wasted 30% of your power."

Yang Jing was startled by these words. He pondered the word "accumulating power" carefully, and the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He quickly nodded and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Sun Yong waved his hand, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the inner courtyard.

As he passed the Moon Gate, he glanced back at Yang Jing, who was still pondering the principles of boxing, and finally sighed, thinking to himself, "What a pity for such diligence."

Yang Jing didn't notice the complicated look in his master Sun Yong's eyes. He was practicing the "Mountain Splitting Stance" repeatedly, trying to slow down the rhythm of his punches. Sure enough, he felt that the internal energy in his body was becoming more solid.

(End of this chapter)