A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

"If you've already cancelled it, then you've cancelled it."

Zhou Yuan said calmly, without any emotional fluctuation.

Song Fang's appearance was indeed outstanding in the sewage alley area.

When the Zhou family was still relatively well-off, it was Wang who took the initiative to propose marriage.

Now that the Zhou family has fallen on hard times, it's no surprise that the other party wants to break off the engagement.

Seeing Zhou Yuan like this, Zhou Ting felt even more sorry for him, thinking that her brother was just pretending to be strong.

"Yuanzi, don't take it to heart. It's just that our family isn't good enough for them."

She reached out and took Zhou Yuan's hand, which was covered with tiny calluses from years of needlework.

"Don't worry, I'll embroider more handkerchiefs and work an extra hour each day until I've saved enough money for you to get married."

A warm sensation came from the back of his hand, and a warm feeling welled up in Zhou Yuan's heart.

"Sis, I'm fine."

He raised his head and looked at Zhou Ting solemnly.

"I just don't want to get married yet."

"I want to become an apprentice and learn martial arts."

Zhou Ting was stunned.

She thought Zhou Yuan was talking nonsense because he was upset about the annulment of the engagement.

"Yuanzi, don't be foolish! Learning martial arts is something we can't even dream of! Is it because of Song Fang...?"

"Sis, I didn't do anything stupid."

Zhou Yuan looked at her with an unprecedentedly firm gaze.

"Working as a laborer at the docks means you'll never get ahead in life, and you could be driven to your death by the canal gangs at any time."

"Joining a gang is a dead end."

"Only by practicing martial arts and acquiring skills can we truly survive and avoid being bullied by anyone!"

He recounted everything about the canal gang withholding wages, the corpse hanging on the mast, and Wang Laizi's arrogance and domineering behavior.

These words struck Zhou Ting's heart like hammer blows.

Zhou Ting fell silent.

Looking at her younger brother's young yet resolute face, and at the glaring scars on his hands, she felt utterly confused.

She knew her brother was right.

The expenses of practicing martial arts...

After a long while, as if she had made up her mind, she got off the bed and limped to the corner.

She pried open a loose floor tile and pulled out a small package wrapped tightly in oilcloth.

Open the oilcloth, and inside is an old, faded money bag.

Zhou Ting handed the money bag to Zhou Yuan, her eyes reddening.

"This is the last bit of money my parents left me, plus what I've saved over the years. You... take it and use it first."

Zhou Yuan took the money bag; it felt heavy in his hand.

This is not just money, but also my sister's complete trust and the last hope of this family.

......

The next morning, while it was still dark, Zhou Yuan carefully hid the heavy money bag close to his body.

He pushed open the creaking wooden door, and a chilly morning air rushed in.

But as soon as he took a step, he froze.

Not far from the alley entrance, three familiar figures were loitering around, glancing at his doorstep from time to time.

The one leading them was none other than Wang Laizi, whose face was covered in pockmarks.

Zhou Yuan's heart sank.

Without hesitation, he immediately retreated back into the house, quickly bolted the door, and then moved a long bench to brace the door.

"Yuanzi, what's wrong?" Zhou Ting was startled awake and asked worriedly, holding onto the edge of the bed.

"It's okay, sis, you can go back to sleep," Zhou Yuan said in a low voice.

"No matter who knocks on the door today, don't open it. Wait for me to come back."

Although Zhou Ting didn't understand why, she nodded vigorously when she saw her brother's serious expression.

Zhou Yuan pressed himself against the crack in the door, peering out.

Wang Laizi and his two companions clearly lacked patience. They paced around in place a few times, muttering something under their breath, before finally walking away towards the other end of the alley.

Only after confirming that they had completely left did Zhou Yuan move the bench and unlatch the door latch.

He couldn't wait any longer. His sister being home alone was his biggest weakness.

He must acquire the power to protect her as soon as possible.

Zhou Yuan didn't linger any longer and quickly walked out of the muddy alley.

Qingyang Martial Arts School is located in the eastern part of the outer city. Compared to the large martial arts schools in the inner city that charge tens or hundreds of taels of silver for apprenticeship, Qingyang Martial Arts School has the lowest entry requirements.

Two stone lions, each about half a person's height, stand at the entrance of the martial arts school. A black plaque with gold lettering hangs on the vermilion gate, giving it a rather imposing appearance.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and went inside.

In the courtyard, a dozen or so men in short shirts were shouting and practicing their boxing, their movements powerful and vigorous.

A middle-aged man with a goatee sat in a grand chair in the courtyard, resting with his eyes closed.

Zhou Yuan stepped forward and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"Senior, I wish to become your disciple and learn martial arts."

The middle-aged man opened his eyes, looked him up and down, and held out a hand. "Five taels of silver, entrance fee, non-refundable."

Without hesitation, Zhou Yuan took out five taels of silver from his pocket and carefully placed it in the man's hand.

This is almost half of the family's savings.

The man weighed the silver in his hand, his expression unchanged. "Come here, give me your hand."

He grabbed Zhou Yuan's wrist and then pinched his arms, shoulders, and legs.

This is what is known as "bone palpation," used to determine a person's potential for martial arts training.

After a moment, the man shook his head slightly and withdrew his hand, looking uninterested.

"His physical constitution is below average; he can train, but there's not much of a future for him."

This comment was like a bucket of cold water poured over Zhou Yuan's heart.

But he didn't argue; he just stood there quietly.

"Dazhuang," the middle-aged man called out.

A burly, honest-looking young man immediately ran over. "Master, what are your orders?"

"Take him to familiarize himself with the rules and teach him the Six Harmonies Stance Exercise."

The middle-aged man, Zhu Xiaowen, the head of Qingyang Martial Arts School, waved his hand after speaking and closed his eyes again, as if Zhou Yuan was just an insignificant interlude.

"Yes, Master."

Li Dazhuang led Zhou Yuan to a corner of the courtyard, smiled憨厚ly, and said, "Junior brother, don't be discouraged. Master is just like that, cold on the outside but warm on the inside. My name is Li Dazhuang, I arrived two months earlier than you, you can call me Senior Brother Li from now on."

"Senior Brother Li." Zhou Yuan nodded.

"Our martial arts school doesn't have many rules," Li Dazhuang began to explain.

"First, no fighting among fellow disciples is allowed; second, no using the martial arts school's name to cause trouble outside; third, respect your master and senior brothers. Got it?"

"I've got it."

"That's good." Li Dazhuang nodded in satisfaction.

"Master taught you the Six Harmonies Stance Technique, which is the foundational skill of our Qingyang Martial Arts School."

Don't underestimate this seemingly simple stance training. If you can master it to the basics, you'll overcome the first hurdle in body tempering: skin refining.

"Skin refining?" This was the first time Zhou Yuan had heard this term.

"Yes, watch closely!"

As Li Dazhuang spoke, he stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and arms wrapped around himself in a strange pose.

In just a few breaths, an astonishing scene unfolded.

Li Dazhuang's exposed skin began to turn red at a visible speed, and wisps of heat rose from it.

He looked like a boiled shrimp, his whole body flushed and burning hot.

Zhou Yuan was stunned and his longing for martial arts grew even stronger.

"This...this is what skin refining is?"

Li Dazhuang finished his practice, let out a long breath, and the red color on his body slowly faded away.

He scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, "This is still a long way off. This is just the surface of my Qi and blood circulation; I'm far from mastering it."

"Senior brother, how long have you been practicing?"

"It's been two months, and I still haven't even scratched the surface," Li Dazhuang sighed. "Learning martial arts is difficult."

Two months and you still haven't gotten the hang of it?

Zhou Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

It seems that practicing martial arts is a hundred times more difficult than he imagined.

Li Dazhuang patiently demonstrated the key points of the movements to Zhou Yuan several times, pointing out a few crucial points for exerting force, before being called away by other disciples to help him.

Zhou Yuan stood alone in a corner, took a deep breath, and slowly assumed a fighting stance, imitating Li Dazhuang.

The posture was awkward, and all the muscles in my body seemed to be twisted with tension. The soreness, numbness, and swelling sensation instantly spread throughout my limbs and bones.

Just when he felt he was about to give up, that familiar virtual panel suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Exercise: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Beginner Level)]

[Progress: 1/300]

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