Starting with photographic memory, I've worked my way up to become a martial arts immortal.

Jiang Yuan was taught humility and tolerance when he was young.

He suffered a lot of bullying because of this, and society didn't seem to accept it.

Later he realized a truth: the purpose of living is to strive—to strive against heaven, against earth, and against other people!

If you don't want to be used as a stepping stone to be trampled underfoot, you can't hesitate to fight for what you should fight for.

He would feign ignorance and avoid Zhang Yong, and he would fawn over Liu San. He couldn't deal with these people at the moment, so he had to endure them.

In the martial arts school, at least in this outer courtyard, everyone's status has been brought to the same level, and he is unwilling to step down any further.

The most basic requirement in the early stages of martial arts training is food; how can you have the strength to train if you're not well-fed?

Can two steamed buns really sustain you for a day of martial arts training?

This kind of plot only exists in novels.

If he chooses to back down, the others in the martial arts school will think he is weak and easy to bully, which will cause more trouble later.

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Jiang Yuan pushed the bowl of food towards Yu Heng: "Since Senior Brother Yu Heng says so, then it's yours."

Upon hearing this, Yu Heng was overjoyed, thinking to himself that his provocation had indeed worked.

We're all young and impetuous, and once he says something like that, the other person's pride gets hurt, and they'll want to solve the problem on their own.

In that case, as long as the disturbance doesn't get too serious, the martial arts school usually won't interfere.

I'll have plenty of ways to handle things when the time comes. If I win, I can earn an extra meal; if I lose, I won't suffer any loss.

He grinned and said, "It's good that you've figured it out, junior brother. If you need anything in the future, just come to me. I won't refuse you."

Jiang Yuan nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Of course I've thought it through. Master just taught me the sect rules yesterday, and he's going to test me this afternoon. I'll just ask him to get my food fees back from the martial arts school. If I can't get food, I won't pay. What do you say, Senior Brother Yu Heng?"

Just kidding. Since you can borrow your master's influence, why take the burden yourself? Are you going to gamble with the other party? That would be playing right into their hands.

Of course, if the other party still doesn't back down, he has other ways to deal with it; he won't actually go to his master to complain.

Upon hearing this, Yu Heng's expression changed. He glanced at the food in front of him, let out a cold snort, got up and left without uttering a single harsh word.

Jiang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was not afraid, he did not want to cause any more trouble.

He glanced around and noticed that many people were looking at him. Some had indifferent expressions, while others had kind faces. Even Niu Fan, who had reminded him that morning, was watching with great interest, but no one stood up to speak up for him.

Jiang Yuan picked up his chopsticks again and began to eat.

······

An hour later, inside the house.

Jiang Yuan stood respectfully upright.

Wei Xuan, sitting opposite him, spoke up: "Standing meditation is the foundation of martial arts. It can regulate the body, the breath, and the mind. This is what is called 'the unity of the three.' It must be practiced every day without slacking off. Since you have already memorized the forty-eight movements, I will start teaching you directly from the first movement."

Wei Xuan was sitting on the armchair, but in the next instant, he was standing in the center of the room, standing on one leg with his arms outstretched, looking like a crane spreading its wings.

"Its roots are in the feet, it originates in the legs, it is controlled by the waist, and it manifests in the fingers... This stance is inspired by the posture of a crane about to take flight. You must experience the profound yet alluring charm within it."

"Did you remember?"

"I'll remember that, Master."

"Come here!"

Jiang Yuan walked to the spot where his master had been standing and began to perform the first move.

He had practiced in the morning and felt he had roughly mastered it.

I had only been standing for a short while when I felt my right leg, which was the only leg I was standing on, became sore and swollen.

Suddenly, a ruler touched his calf.

"Keep your legs straight, don't bend them!"

Wei Xuan's stern voice rang out.

"hiss."

The ruler didn't hit very hard, but a sharp pain shot through him, jolting him awake and instantly dispelling his fatigue.

"Your arms need to be stretched out; they're too stiff!"

The ruler struck the crook of his arm again.

"Don't let your breathing become erratic; follow the breathing rhythm I just gave you!"

The ruler rained down on Jiang Yuan, making him wince in pain but he didn't utter a sound, silently enduring the pain.

Wei Xuan watched and nodded in approval.

[Crane-style stance training experience points +1]

Jiang Yuan was shocked. No matter how he tried to practice stance training in the morning, his experience points hadn't increased. Now, they had finally increased.

……

After an unknown amount of time, the outer courtyard suddenly became noisy.

"Everyone take a break and have some soup!" came the sharp voice of the woman serving lunch.

Wei Xuan's eyes flickered: "Go, and bring back half a bowl of soup."

"Yes, Master!"

Jiang Yuan dragged his tired body outside and quickly returned with a bowl.

The bowl contained half a brown liquid that emitted a foul, fishy odor.

He wrinkled his nose and looked at his master.

"Drink it while it's hot, it won't be as effective when it's cold. This is a good thing." Wei Xuan chuckled.

Jiang Yuan no longer hesitated, pinched his nose and drank it all in one gulp. It wasn't as bad as he had imagined. A warm current spread from his stomach to his whole body, making him feel languid, and his previous fatigue gradually disappeared.

"That's amazing!"

Jiang Yuan sighed inwardly.

Wei Xuan went into the inner room, took out a wooden box, and tossed it to him.

"Apply to the sore areas. This is a week's supply, so use it sparingly."

"Thank you, Master." Jiang Yuan happily accepted the gift, opened the lid, and carefully scooped out a little and applied it to his calves.

After resting for a while, without his master urging him, he got up and continued practicing standing meditation.

······

Bathed in the afterglow of the sun, Jiang Yuan pushed open the door to his home with heavy steps.

As soon as I closed the door, I saw my mother, Li Guihua, sitting on the edge of the bed with an icy expression, holding a rattan cane in her hand.

"Mother?" Jiang Yuan smiled and shamelessly moved closer.

"Kneel down!"

Jiang Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but he still obediently knelt on the ground.

Do you remember what I have in my hand?

"I remember," Jiang Yuan said in a low voice. "When I was little, I would hit me with this rattan cane when I misbehaved."

Li Guihua shouted in a trembling voice, "So you still remember! When you were little, you were disobedient, and your father would beat you with this rattan cane. Later, your father died, and you became more sensible. I thought I would never need this thing again."

"Mother, I..."

"Tell me, where have you been these past ten days? If someone hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you hadn't been working at the docks for so long. Someone saw you going to the city a lot lately, are you hanging out with some shady characters! Cough, cough!" Halfway through her sentence, Li Guihua suddenly started coughing violently.

"Mom, don't be angry, your health is important." Jiang Yuan rushed over and patted his mother's back to help her calm down.

"I worry about next month's lamp-lighting fee every day, but you don't go to work and earn money. I think you're deliberately trying to drive me crazy!" Li Guihua pushed her away defiantly, tears streaming down her face. "Autumn is coming soon, and the court's autumn tax is due soon. Where will the money come from! Son, can't you be a little more ambitious!"

Jiang Yuan wiped away his mother's tears, took out a small cloth bag from his bosom, slowly opened it, and a few taels of silver rolled out.

Li Guihua wasn't surprised to see the silver; instead, her face turned pale with fright: "Where did so much money come from!"

"Son, did you go off to rob people on the road?"