From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

"Can you really make the decision regarding these regulations?"

Zhu Hong's gaze suddenly sharpened.

"No, no, no—" Zhang Lu'er waved her hands repeatedly and said with a forced smile:

"I am merely a messenger. If you find these terms and conditions acceptable, I will go and fetch the 'manager' right now."

One thought subsides, another arises.

Zhu Hong's mind raced with a thousand thoughts, until it became a tangled mess, and he couldn't dwell on it any longer. "Thank you for your trouble," he said, nodding.

"Let's ask the manager to come and discuss this."

"Alright, esteemed guest, please have a seat and some tea." Zhang Lu'er was overjoyed, as if he had just closed a big deal:

"I'll be right back."

After speaking, he bowed crisply, turned around, lifted the curtain, and hurried away.

"Fifteen taels..."

Watching Zhang Lu'er's retreating figure disappear in a hurry, Zhu Hong's thoughts were racing. "Earning this much money is no easy feat."

Fifteen taels of silver is a sum that ordinary people might not be able to save even if they didn't spend it for a year.

Fortunately... I have some confidence.

He pondered to himself.

Now that I've entered the martial arts world, my earning power is incomparable to what it used to be. If I really fail the exam, I'll risk everything and hunt a few beasts at the Flesh Refining Realm in the mountains outside the city within three months to raise the fifteen taels.

Although it is difficult, it is not necessarily impossible to do.

……

Soon.

A soft tinkling of jade pendants came from outside the corridor.

Peeking through the crack in the window paper, the woman at the head of the group wasn't stunningly beautiful, but she possessed a mature charm.

Her eyebrows resembled distant mountains, slender and long, reaching her temples. She wore a long, crimson-purple brocade dress, and as she walked, the gold-embroidered flower stamens peeked out from the folds of her dress, giving her a captivating charm.

"Manager Jin, this is the young man."

Zhang Lu'er stepped aside respectfully.

The woman, known as Manager Jin, had eyes beneath her brows that were as calm and gentle as spring water, quietly fixed on Zhu Hong.

"I am Jin Yi Niang from Tingfeng Tower."

After a moment, a slight smile curved her eyes: "So, young man, you wish to draw up a contract in preparation for selection?"

Zhu Hong felt a sudden, inexplicable pause as her gaze swept over him, and he thought to himself:

"No wonder he can govern a region; just that gaze alone commands respect." Thinking this, he quickly composed himself and bowed, saying:

"It is I."

"Very good." The woman in brocade lightly brushed the hem of her skirt and sat down gracefully in the chair that Zhang Lu'er had so attentively pulled out. "These are the terms." She took out a roll of silk from her sleeve and spread it out on the table.

"Young Master Hong may examine it more closely. If you have no objections, please affix your seal as proof."

Zhu Hong stared intently at the silk paper, pausing slowly to ensure that there were no hidden clauses or traps concealed within.

A while:

The lingering concerns have finally been put to rest.

"It's not some 'rat' in the gutter after all; it's all unfair terms and conditions."

Without further hesitation, he took the prepared cinnabar, dipped his thumb in it, and firmly pressed his fingerprint on the end of the contract.

As soon as the fingerprint was left, the woman in brocade did not immediately put away the contract.

She lightly tapped the table with her fingertip, and the scroll rolled up slowly without any wind: "The contract is now in effect. According to the rules of the building, there is still a small verification step."

Zhu Hong's heart skipped a beat: "How do I verify it?"

"One move from this young lady will suffice!"

The woman in brocade chuckled softly, her delicate hand pressing down from afar. Without rising, her fingertips seemed to instantly transcend the barrier of the square table, closing in on her.

Zhu Hong felt a tightness in his chest, as if a small mountain was pressing down on him, and he inwardly cried out:

"not good--"

He dared not be negligent, so he quickly lowered his waist and sat on his horse, throwing out both fists with pure force to meet the jade-white palm.

"puff."

A soft sound, like the sound of leather being struck.

Zhu Hong was jolted back three steps, but he did not fall. Instead, he steadied himself and bowed to the woman in brocade robes.

"Manager Jin has excellent skills."

"Young man, you've got some backbone." The woman in brocade chuckled, her tone tinged with approval.

"You've successfully completed the deal with Tingfenglou."

With that, she lightly flicked her jade-like fingers and produced three thread-bound thin books from who-knows-where, gently placing them on the table: "Choose one of these three martial arts manuals for yourself."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Hong leaned down to look at the three thin books on the table.

The cover of the first book is inscribed with the title "Twelve Forms of Taizu Long Fist" in vigorous small regular script. The middle book is "Five-Step Mountain-Crushing Force" and the last book is "Hunyuan Stance Horse Stance".

It was the three-piece introductory set printed by the government office.

[Common Skills (Medium)]

"But which one should I choose?"

He frowned slightly, unsure of what to do.

"May I ask, Steward Jin?" After a moment's thought, Zhu Hong suddenly raised his eyes, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to the woman in brocade, and spoke in a humble tone:

"May I please take a look through a few pages of these three martial arts manuals before making a decision?"

The woman in brocade leaned back in her chair and said leisurely:

"random."

"Thank you, Manager Jin." Having received confirmation, Zhu Hong was no longer reserved and picked up the three thin books, quickly flipping through them.

Although these three martial arts manuals are merely ordinary techniques, they are, after all, officially approved by the government and the most widely circulated introductory skills, with a complete system and clear explanations.

The "Twelve Forms of Taizu Long Fist" features expansive and powerful movements, emphasizing momentum and continuity, and advocating using strength to overcome weakness and orthodox methods to defeat unorthodox ones. The "Five-Step Mountain-Crushing Force" focuses on short bursts of power, with footwork combined with unique power-generating techniques, launching a series of attacks within a small space, aiming to break through defenses in an instant.

"Hun Yuan Zhuang Ma Ding Shi" is a pure foundational stance training and basic body movement training, which is solid and steady, and strengthens the foundation.

Soon, the time allotted for an incense stick will be up.

Zhu Hong closed the booklet, his brows furrowing slightly. "Both Taizu Long Fist and Bengshan Jin are options. However," he still felt somewhat uncertain.

"To master a martial art in just a few days... hiss..." He took a deep breath.

"That might be difficult to do."

"What's wrong?" Jin Xinniang asked with a smile when she saw him frowning in thought and not making a move for a long time.

"I'm overwhelmed by all the choices and don't know where to begin!"

"I truly don't know how to bring myself to eat this." Zhu Hong raised his eyes, a hint of melancholy in his brows, and said with a wry smile:

"Time is of the essence, and the selection process is imminent. Although these martial arts manuals are only introductory, if one wants to truly master them to the point where they can meet the requirements of the assessment, it will probably take only a few days..."

He paused, then his bitter smile deepened:

"It's a bit difficult, so I don't know how to make a decision?"

Upon hearing this, the woman in brocade robes felt a surge of curiosity. "By the way, are you from Jinyang? Or... do you have a master?"

A hint of amusement appeared on her lips:

"Otherwise, how could someone who has become a martial arts student not have even been exposed to these three martial arts?"

"Steward Jin, you flatter me." A glint flashed in Zhu Hong's eyes, and he quickly chuckled, "I'm a native of Jinyang, as for my teacher..." He scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"I do long for a mentor to guide me every day."

"Never mind." Seeing his expression, the woman in brocade stopped asking questions. She gently pointed her jade-like finger at the book "Taizu Changquan" on the table, her gesture carrying a hint of guidance:

"I saw you throw a punch just now, and your stance was quite stable. I'll learn this Taizu Fist from you." She lowered her eyes and said:

"If you have some talent, you might actually have a chance after a few days."