This martial saint is too cautious.

Weiyuan Escort Agency.

"Stone, what brings you here today? Aren't you working at the shop?"

Upon receiving the gatekeeper's notification, the young man who emerged from the side gate of the escort agency saw Lin Yan and a look of surprise in his eyes.

"I need to talk to you about something."

Lin Yan got straight to the point: they were all childhood playmates, and although his aunt moved away later, they had never lost touch.

"What is it? Just tell me if there's anything I can do to help."

"I'd like to learn about martial arts; do you have any connections?"

"Is it related to martial arts?"

Zhang Wei hadn't expected Lin Yan to ask this, and asked curiously, "You want to learn martial arts?"

"I obtained a martial arts technique from a relative."

Lin Yan didn't hide anything from Zhang Wei and briefly explained that his aunt didn't want her younger brother to tell anyone, just to avoid gossip among the neighbors, while he didn't want Zhang Dahai to know.

"I see." Zhang Wei thought for a moment: "I'm just doing odd jobs at the escort agency now, so I don't have much contact with real martial artists. But Master Zheng at the escort agency practiced martial arts for a while when he was young. Although he didn't succeed in getting his skin shaved, he can usually take on two or three people. He must know a lot about martial arts. How about I invite him to my house tonight? You can come over and ask him then."

"Let's not go home, let's go to Zhou's Teahouse instead."

Lin Yan shook his head; it wasn't appropriate to go to Zhang Wei's house if he needed something from him.

He could still afford a pot of good tea and a few plates of snacks at Zhou's Tea House, which cost him several dozen coins.

"Zhou Family Teahouse, Stone, you've struck it rich?"

"I went to a place to make money, and someone supported my learning of martial arts and gave me some donations."

"Okay, I'll go ask Master Zheng now. You wait here for me for a while."

After a short while, Zhang Wei returned: "Master Zheng immediately agreed when he heard it was to Zhou's Teahouse. The escort agency still has three quarters of an hour before he finishes his shift."

"Okay, I'll go wait for you at the teahouse first."

……

Zhou Family Teahouse.

Lin Yan arrived fifteen minutes early, ordered a pot of tea and two servings of snacks. It wasn't that he was stingy, but rather that he planned to leave the rest for Chef Zheng to order himself.

When it was about time, Lin Yan got up and went to the door. Soon after, he saw Zhang Wei and a middle-aged man with a goatee walking towards him.

"Master Zheng, this is my good brother Lin Yan."

After Zhang Wei spoke first, Lin Yan greeted Zheng the bodyguard.

The conversation Lin Yan had with that Guard Zhou at the Cai residence a few days ago also made him reflect on his actions.

I'm only eighteen years old, so I should have the awkwardness of an eighteen-year-old in dealing with people. If I act like a seasoned old hand, it will only make people dislike me more.

Phrases like "I've long admired your name" or "It's a household name" are inappropriate.

"Master Zheng, I often hear Wei Zi mention you, saying that you took good care of him in the escort agency. I'd like to offer you a cup of tea instead of wine."

While he couldn't say anything too cliché, he still offered the necessary flattery. Zhang Wei, standing to the side, was taken aback, realizing he had never mentioned Master Zheng to Shi Tou.

After some polite exchanges, Lin Yan said, "I didn't know if Chef Zheng had any dietary restrictions, so I didn't dare to order more. Chef Zheng, would you like to add anything else?"

"I heard from Zhang Wei that you have acquired a martial arts technique and have already started practicing it. If you want me to guide you in your practice, I'm afraid that's not possible, and I don't have that ability. But if you want to know some information about martial arts, I can tell you a thing or two."

Zheng Guang was very straightforward. If he could instruct others in martial arts, he wouldn't have practiced for several years without success and ultimately had to rely on his physical strength to make a living at the escort agency.

"Thank you, Master Zheng, for your help."

Lin Yan expressed his gratitude, and Zheng Guang finally smiled and called over the waiter to order two more servings of pastries.

"Okay, you ask, otherwise it's too complicated to explain."

Zheng Guang picked up a piece of pastry and ate it. Lin Yan didn't stand on ceremony either. This was like a paid knowledge service in another world. He paid money to ask questions.

"Master Zheng, how are the skill levels of martial arts practitioners classified?"

"Standardized postures cultivate the foundation, followed by four rounds of skin resurfacing."

Lin Yan waited quietly for Zheng Guang to continue, only to find that Zheng Guang stopped to drink tea and did not continue after finishing it.

That's all?

Is there only two realms in martial arts?

"What, you think martial arts is easy?"

Zheng Guang saw what Lin Yan was thinking from his expression and smiled wryly: "The first stage, foundation building, can be achieved even without talent, but the fourth stage, skin polishing, is like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge."

"Master Zheng, it's not that I find it simple, but rather that I find it strange. Is it just skin-grinding, with no subsequent stages like bone forging or tendon transformation?"

"Skin and flesh are connected, even if you break bones, the tendons still connect. You think skin resurfacing is just about training the skin?" Zheng Guang smiled slightly: "Four skin resurfacing sessions correspond to the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones. I've been training for over ten years, and I haven't had a single skin resurfacing session yet."

"One skin smoothing session is enough to make you a martial artist, and you can become a bodyguard in a security escort agency. If you don't want to be a bodyguard, you can find a job as a guard in a merchant's business and live a comfortable life."

Lin Yan pondered silently. It seemed that Guard Zhou must also be a martial artist who had undergone skin-smoothing.

"Master Zheng, how should we understand the practice of cultivating one's foundation through stance training?"

"Martial artists rely on their Qi and blood as their foundation. No matter what level of master they are, they need to cultivate their Qi and blood. Without the support of Qi and blood, physical training will only lead to more and more injuries."

Zheng Guang stared at Lin Yan for a moment: "When you practice standing meditation, do you feel that your body can't keep up after a while? This is because your qi and blood are insufficient. If you continue to practice, you will only damage your foundation."

As he finished speaking, Zheng Guang's eyes dimmed; he had been injured by this very injury years ago.

Practicing day and night resulted in damaging the body's foundation, making it unable to even break through with a single dermabrasion treatment.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Zheng. I will remember it."

There's a saying in the martial arts world: "One year to cultivate the foundation, three years to refine the skin." Martial arts training emphasizes gradual progress and should never be rushed.

"Three years, that's a long time." Zhang Wei clicked his tongue in amazement.

"What do you mean three years? It's four years in total. One year to build up enough strength, and then three years to refine your skin."

"Four years?"

Zhang Wei's eyes widened, and then he seemed to realize something: "Wait a minute, the young master has only been practicing martial arts for two years, and he's already had his skin smoothed twice."

"Do you think anyone can compare to the young master of the escort? What kind of status does the young master of the escort have? He has been taking care of his health since he was a child. After entering the skin-grinding industry, his monthly expenses are several tens of taels."

Several dozen taels!

This number caused Lin Yan's pupils to shrink sharply.

"The most important thing in martial arts training is financial resources, because only those with money can afford secret medicines. Ordinary martial arts practitioners like us might only have the chance to get a skin resurfacing treatment once every two or three years, while martial arts school disciples can get a skin resurfacing treatment once every few months as long as they are willing to spend the money."

Zheng Guang stared at Lin Yan: "Don't even think about selling your pots and pans or borrowing money to buy medicine to get yourself a quick skin resurfacing treatment. That would cost several hundred taels of silver. What will you do after that? After the skin resurfacing treatment, you have to eat better and better to maintain your qi and blood. Otherwise, your qi and blood will decline. If you still want to practice martial arts then, you'll have to sell yourself to the powerful or a gang and risk your life for them."

These are heartfelt words.

Before coming, Zheng Guang hadn't planned to say these things, but considering Lin Yan's courteous manners, he ultimately offered a word of advice.

Lin Yan nodded to show he understood, and continued to ask, "Master Zheng, how do you determine if the blood and qi are sufficient to proceed to the next step of skin resurfacing? Are there any distinguishing features?"

"It's simple. No matter what kind of stance training you practice, if you can stand in a stance for an hour without feeling tired, or if you can lift a hundred-pound stone lock in front of your chest with one hand for a hundred breaths, then you can proceed to the next step of skin resurfacing."

"How do I practice skin smoothing?"

When Zheng Guang heard Lin Yan ask this question, his lips twitched slightly: "It seems that the martial artist who taught you stance training didn't think you could make a name for yourself, and didn't even tell you these things."

Lin Yan smiled shyly, didn't reply, and picked up the teapot to refill Zheng Guang's tea.

"The skin-smoothing technique is very valuable. To learn it, you either need to join a martial arts school and become an apprentice, or work for a martial arts family in exchange for the technique, or join a gang in the city. Take our Weiyuan Escort Agency for example, we also have the skin-smoothing technique, but you have to sign a contract and serve as an escort in the agency for ten years. The last way is to buy it with money, but it is hard to tell the real from the fake. If you are wrong, you will not only lose money, but fake techniques can also easily injure your body."

Zheng Guang took a sip of tea: "When you have truly cultivated your Qi and blood enough, I suggest you join a martial arts school. Although the apprenticeship fee is high, it is safer and does not restrict your freedom. Even if you need to find a job in the future, you will be more sought after than other martial artists."

"I understand. May I ask Master Zheng, are there different levels of this skill, and will it affect my subsequent martial arts training?"

"Standing exercises are just for building a foundation and have little impact on the later stages. In fact, practicing lower-level standing exercises is the most suitable for you."

Zheng Guang noticed Lin Yan's confusion and smiled, "Superior stance training simply increases qi and blood faster, but it also requires a high standard of living. You need to eat plenty of meat and fish at every meal, otherwise you won't be able to sustain your body's energy expenditure. On the other hand, you can take your time with ordinary stance training."

Hearing Zheng Guang's explanation, Lin Yan felt relieved. It seemed that practicing the Rock Stake was actually a good thing.

If you don't have enough money, time will make up for it.

Next, Lin Yan asked a few more questions, which Zheng Guang answered in detail.

With the teapot empty, Zheng Guang said calmly, "It's getting late, I should head back now."

"I heard that Master Zheng has a granddaughter. Why don't we bring some pastries over to satisfy her craving?"

Lin Yan had already instructed the waiter to pack two portions of pastries. Zheng Guang didn't refuse and took the pastries. As he stood up, he suddenly said, "The Wang family's pharmacy in the city has a good reputation. They don't sell inferior medicinal herbs."

These words were the hint for the extra two pastries.

After seeing Master Zheng off at the door, Lin Yan asked the waiter to bring two sheets of oil paper to wrap the remaining pastries on the table into two portions.

"Wei Zi, take this home and let your sister try it."

Zhang Wei has a younger sister who is the same age as his younger brother. Kids of that age are all greedy.

"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony with you. I'll try to gather information for you while I'm working at the escort agency, and I'll let you know if I find anything useful."