The next morning, a thick fog hung in the air.
To be on the safe side, Su Yu went into the city with his older brother, Su Hong.
The two paid the city entrance fee and passed through the bustling main thoroughfare. They then turned into a relatively quiet neighborhood on the west side of the Outer City. The alleys here were deep and secluded, the bluestone paths twisting and turning.
Eventually, Su Hong stopped before a large, somewhat dilapidated courtyard with a green-tiled roof.
A black plaque hung above the door, inscribed with the four powerful words: White Ape Martial Arts Hall. The calligraphy was vigorous, but the plaque itself was old and mottled.
"This is the White Ape Martial Arts Hall. Hall Master Qin might have a strange temper, but his skills are the real deal," Su Hong said, patting Su Yu's shoulder. "If you've made up your mind, go on in."
"Right. You should head back to the gang, big brother. Be careful."
Watching Su Hong leave, Su Yu took a deep breath and straightened his clothes.
'The Health-Preserving Fist Technique from the Chang Chun Martial Arts Hall is not what I'm looking for. In these chaotic times, only lethal methods can keep me safe!'
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
He stepped forward and struck the Copper Ring against the door.
A moment later, the heavy wooden door opened with a CREAK, just a crack.
A bare-chested, brawny man poked his head out. "What do you want?"
Su Yu respectfully cupped his fists. "I am Su Yu. I've come seeking to become a disciple and learn Martial Arts, drawn by your hall's reputation."
The brawny man looked him up and down before stepping aside. "Come in."
After entering the main gate and walking past a spirit screen, the space suddenly opened up.
Dozens of disciples were practicing their Fist Technique bare-chested in the front courtyard. Their shouts were thunderous. Even though it was late autumn, the powerful fluctuations of their Qi and Blood and the steam rising from their bodies left Su Yu secretly alarmed.
Passing through the front courtyard, Su Yu was led into a quiet rear courtyard.
Beneath an old locust tree, an elderly man with a white beard and hair was resting in a reclining chair, his eyes closed. A pot of cool tea sat beside him.
"Master Qin, someone is here to become a disciple," the brawny man announced respectfully.
This elder was Qin Fangqiong. He had arrived in Black Stone City decades ago and made a name for himself with his ferocious White Ape Fist, eventually founding the White Ape Martial Arts Hall. Though he was now old, his intimidating presence lingered.
Qin Fangqiong slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint shone from within their cloudy depths, like an old ape waking from a nap.
His gaze locked onto Su Yu, exerting an inexplicable pressure.
The pressure made Su Yu feel completely uneasy, giving him the urge to look away. It was as if he were being targeted by a wild beast, poised to tear him to shreds at any moment.
A timid person would have buckled under the pressure right then and there.
But Su Yu endured the prickling discomfort, straightened his back, and met the old man's gaze directly. He cupped his fists again. "This junior, Su Yu, from Qingxi Village, has come to ask for your tutelage!"
Qin Fangqiong nodded slightly at Su Yu's display.
'This kid looks thin and weak, but his courage and temperament are decent. A martial artist without courage is a lost cause—utterly hopeless.'
'I don't accept people like that!'
'Unless... they pay extra!'
"How old?"
"Eighteen."
"Starting Martial Arts at your age... it's a bit late." Qin Fangqiong shook his head. He rose from his chair, circled Su Yu, and then a long, withered hand shot out like lightning to grip Su Yu's shoulder.
"Endure it!"
Before his voice faded, an excruciating pain shot through Su Yu.
Qin Fangqiong's fingers were like iron pincers, digging down along Su Yu's shoulder, spine, and ribs as if trying to shatter his bones.
Cold sweat beaded on Su Yu's forehead from the pain, yet he remained stubbornly silent.
A moment later, Qin Fangqiong withdrew his hand, his brow furrowed slightly. He bluntly spat out two words:
"Poor aptitude!"
'A pity. His temperament seemed decent enough.'
"The tuition is ten taels of silver for three months. After those three months, you can only stay and continue your training if you can break through a barrier. Are you willing?"
Su Yu had long been mentally prepared for this.
'Poor aptitude?'
'Doesn't matter!'
'I have a peerless talent! Hard work can make up for a lack of skill, and my grind can defy the heavens!'
He unhesitatingly pulled the heavy pouch of silver from his robes and presented it with both hands. "I am willing!"
Taking the silver, Qin Fangqiong's expression softened slightly. He waved a hand. "Xu Feng, take him to the front courtyard to get registered. You'll be in charge of this month's newcomers."
"Yes, Master Qin."
...
「In a corner of the front courtyard.」
Xu Feng's expression was serious. "Su Yu, you're now a member of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall. I am your Senior Brother Xu, and I'll be responsible for your entry-level training."
"Before I teach you any Fist Technique, let me first explain the hall's rules."
"For the first three months, room and board are included; you'll stay in the common dormitory. You get two rest days per week, which you can spend as you please. If you need to leave at any other time, you must ask for permission. Until you become a Martial Artist, you are considered only an apprentice and are forbidden from causing trouble outside under our hall's name!"
"Understood, Senior Brother Xu," Su Yu replied respectfully.
Xu Feng nodded, then changed the subject. "In that case, I will begin your formal Martial Arts instruction."
Su Yu immediately listened with rapt attention.
Xu Feng nodded again, satisfied. 'Many others have shown disappointment when they realized Master Qin wouldn't be teaching them personally. But this Su Yu kid is quite composed.'
"On the path of Martial Arts, the first three realms are Skin Tempering, Flesh Refining, and Sinew Forging."
"The first realm is Skin Tempering. Once you break through, you become a Martial Artist—a complete transformation! Your skin becomes as tough as cowhide, resistant to injury from ordinary clubs. Your Qi and Blood will be abundant, and you'll have the strength to lift a great cauldron.
"With that kind of combat power, you can stand firm anywhere. In a gang, you could be a chief. An ordinary person would be seriously injured just by touching your fist. On the battlefield, you'd be a squad leader. With a weapon, you could kill ten soldiers without your Qi and Blood running dry!"
Su Yu's heart pounded with excitement as he listened. 'A Martial Artist, gathering such power in one's own body... it's truly something to aspire to!'
'If I can break through and become a Martial Artist, I'll finally have a firm foothold and the power to protect myself in these chaotic times.'
"Martial Artists are strong, but breaking through to that realm is not so easy!" As he said this, Xu Feng's gaze hardened, and he stared intently at Su Yu.
"'You'll need to temper your muscles and bones day in and day out, enduring pain that ordinary people cannot imagine. Only by finally breaking through three Qi Blood Barriers can you become a Martial Artist! Each of these barriers stops countless people. That's why reaching this level is as hard as climbing to the heavens!'"
"'And your aptitude is mediocre at best. Without immense willpower, you should just give up now and save your silver.'"
Su Yu's expression remained calm. 'Is training difficult?'
'I'm not afraid! I'm blessed with a peerless talent!'
Seeing Su Yu's calm expression, Xu Feng inwardly shook his head. 'He hasn't truly experienced it. He can't possibly understand the hardship involved.'
'Besides natural aptitude, willpower, and determination, training also requires a massive amount of resources. That alone bars the door for most ordinary people.'
'I've seen too many common folk fantasize about fighting their way to a better future through Martial Arts. Sadly, all of them were crushed by the cruel reality.'
'They spend their whole lives trying and never become Martial Artists!'
Nevertheless, Xu Feng would still do his best to teach them. It was his duty as their senior brother.
"Watch carefully! I will now teach you the Foundation Establishment Pile Skill of the White Ape Fist: the Pile Skill White Ape Six Transformations!"
Xu Feng let out a low shout, and his entire presence changed.
The man, who had seemed somewhat simple and honest before, now radiated the agility and ferocity of an ape.
"Lower your center of gravity, grip the ground with your feet, and form a circle with your arms before your Dantian! First stance: White Ape Seal!"
He held his arms out as if embracing something, his muscles tensed, looking as if he were truly holding an incredibly heavy seal.
Su Yu held his breath and focused, staring intently at every detail of his movements.
"Second stance: Long Arm Waist Pulling!"
Xu Feng took a wide step to the side, his spine straightening like a great dragon ascending to the sky. He stretched his arms to their absolute limit, and his joints emitted a series of sharp CRACKS.
"Third stance: White Ape Leaning on the Mountain!"
"Fourth stance: White Ape Shaking Armor!"
...
By the time he finished the set, Xu Feng's skin was crimson and steaming. The lines of his muscles trembled, presenting a mixture of agile beauty and raw power.
"Your turn," Xu Feng said, relaxing his stance and breathing a little heavily.
Not daring to delay, Su Yu stepped forward and did his best to imitate the movements.
"First stance, White Ape Seal..."
As soon as he started, Su Yu felt something was wrong.
This Pile Skill looked simple, with only six stances, but it was incredibly difficult in practice.
It wasn't just about striking the poses; he also had to coordinate his breathing and control his muscle tension. He felt like a marionette, his movements stiff and clumsy. He couldn't replicate the feeling of surging Qi and Blood that Xu Feng had demonstrated at all.
But he didn't stop. Steeling himself, he stumbled through the complete set.
His posture was awkward and his application of force was all wrong. He looked nothing like an agile, ferocious white ape...
Su Yu felt the awkwardness of a botched imitation, but thankfully, a familiar line of text appeared.
[Martial Arts]: Pile Skill White Ape Six Transformations (entry-level 1/800)
As the text appeared, a new understanding of the Pile Skill flooded Su Yu's mind. Insights regarding force application techniques and muscle control surfaced from nowhere.
'As long as I practice it once, no matter how poorly, the panel will grant me entry-level mastery!'
'This... this is my peerless talent!'