Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Becoming a Disciple
The Main Hall in the rear courtyard.
Yang Wei sat down, with Zhou Hu standing respectfully to the side.
"Master," Zhou Hu said in a low voice, "the day before yesterday, Liang Cheng asked me about the Silver-headed Shark."
Yang Wei looked up. "Oh?"
"He said he heard some fishermen talking about it and was just curious," Zhou Hu paused. "But watching him fight today, his Qi Blood was far more vigorous than before. Combined with his sudden breakthrough to Bright Force, I’m afraid it wasn’t as simple as mere curiosity."
Yang Wei’s knuckles tapped lightly on the table. "Are you saying that by some fortunate coincidence, he consumed a Silver-headed Shark?"
"That is my speculation," Zhou Hu nodded. "Otherwise, with his damaged Root Bone and old injuries, breaking through to Bright Force in two months is far too abrupt."
Yang Wei was silent for a moment. "If that’s truly the case, then it’s his good fortune. However, possessing a treasure invites disaster. This matter must not be publicized."
"Yes."
At that moment, Liang Cheng and Zhao Yuan were already waiting outside the door.
"Come in."
The two entered in succession. Zhao Yuan’s face was still a little pale, while Liang Cheng stood quietly to the side with his eyes lowered. Yang Wei took it all in.
Yang Wei first looked at Zhao Yuan and asked, "What are your thoughts on today’s battle?"
Zhao Yuan gritted his teeth. "I was careless and rash."
"More than that," Yang Wei’s voice turned cold. "You saw that Liang Cheng’s defense was solid and grew impatient. You forcefully gathered your Power for a fierce assault, completely forgetting the principle of ’finding softness within hardness.’"
"Remember, Bright Force isn’t brute strength; it’s Whole Force. If you fight like this in a real battle, you’d already have died ten times over!"
Hearing this, Zhao Yuan trembled and quickly bowed his head in apology. "I was wrong."
"You are confined for three days to reflect on your actions." Yang Wei’s tone softened slightly. "However, your Root Bone and innate talent are indeed excellent. Although you were defeated in this minor exam, the original first-place prize, a serving of Seven Treasures Soup, will still be given to you."
Zhao Yuan’s head snapped up, his eyes slightly red. "Thank you, Master!"
Yang Wei waved his hand. "You may go."
Zhao Yuan glanced at Liang Cheng, his expression complicated. In the end, he said nothing and turned to leave. Only then did Yang Wei look at Liang Cheng.
"Liang Cheng."
"I am here."
"I’ve given the Seven Treasures Soup to Zhao Yuan. You have no objections, do you?"
"Everything is for Master to decide. I have absolutely no complaints."
This was what Liang Cheng truly thought. The item belonged to Yang Wei, and it was his right to dispose of it as he wished. Besides, his treatment at the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall these past two months had been fair, something exceedingly rare in this world.
Yang Wei nodded to himself. "Although your Root Bone is damaged, you managed to achieve Minor Success in the Mixed Element Stance and break through to Bright Force within two months. What’s even rarer is that you understand how to play to your strengths and cover your weaknesses, substituting defense for offense."
"Starting today, you are officially my Disciple. Your tuition is waived, you will move into the West Wing of the rear courtyard, and you will share the same medicated baths as Zhao Yuan and the others."
Warmth spread through Liang Cheng’s heart. He cupped his fist and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master!"
Then, Zhou Hu brought over a teacup. Liang Cheng knelt, respectfully offered the tea, and Yang Wei accepted the ceremony, taking the cup and sipping from it.
"As my Disciple, you must remember," Yang Wei’s gaze was like a torch, "on the path of the Martial Dao, fortuitous encounters are important, but your foundation is what is fundamental. What you have gained today is all due to your tireless daily training. As for other matters... since they are in the past, do not bring them up, and do not ask about them again."
The words were cryptic, but Liang Cheng immediately understood that his master was alluding to the matter of the Silver-headed Shark, telling him to keep his mouth shut about it from now on.
"I understand," Liang Cheng replied respectfully.
"Mm." Yang Wei nodded. "Including you, there are now nine disciples in the rear courtyard. Zhou Hu will supervise your daily Cultivation. On the first and fifteenth of every month, I will personally test you. Go on, Zhou Hu will get you settled."
"Yes."
Next, Zhou Hu led Liang Cheng toward the West Wing.
"There aren’t many rules in the rear courtyard, only three: First, no private duels. Second, attend the medicated baths on time and do not waste them. Third, you must not pass on the Cultivation Techniques taught by the Master to outsiders."
Zhou Hu spoke as they walked, "Starting tomorrow, morning practice will be at 5:00 AM sharp, together with the other rear courtyard disciples. The medicated bath is once a day, beginning at 5:00 PM."
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother," Liang Cheng said.
The West Wing was a private room, much more spacious than the large common room of the front courtyard. It was fully furnished with a bed, table, and stool, and there was a small cabinet in the corner.
"Bedding will be sent over shortly," Zhou Hu said. "Get yourself settled first. After the evening meal, I’ll come show you the pharmacy and the bathhouse."
"Yes."
After Zhou Hu left, Liang Cheng stood in the room, looking around.
From a dock laborer to a Martial Arts Hall apprentice, and now to an Official Disciple—two months of hardship, and he had finally crossed this threshold.
But he knew in his heart, ’This is just the beginning.’
’Of the nine people in the rear courtyard, Zhao Yuan is the most talented. Although I had the help of the Silver-headed Shark, my Root Bone is still my weakness. The master accepted me, but he clearly favors Zhao Yuan more.’
’The Seven Treasures Soup is proof of that.’
"It doesn’t matter," Liang Cheng muttered to himself.
’Now that I have medicated baths and a stable environment, I must take each step with even more care. The higher my Realm in the Mixed Element Stance, the more my old injuries will naturally heal, until I’m as good as new.’
He opened his bag and placed his few articles of clothing into the cabinet. The Stone Armor Skill Fragment and the silver coins he had gotten from Liu Biao were wrapped in oilcloth and hidden in the compartment of his bed planks.
There was also a small, partially used pouch of lime powder. After a moment’s thought, he tucked it away securely against his body again.
Once he finished tidying up, he sat on the edge of the bed to regulate his breathing and calm his mind.
Deep within his consciousness, several lines of information appeared:
[Mixed Element Stance: Minor Success (76/500)]
[Fierce Bull Force: Minor Success (2/800)]
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment): Beginner Level (143/200)]
[Realm: Bright Force Early Stage]
’Cultivating three techniques at once, my foundation is solid.’
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. It was one of the Servants delivering the bedding. Liang Cheng accepted it with thanks and made his bed.
When the bell for the evening meal rang, he went to the dining hall with the other rear courtyard disciples.
Besides Zhou Hu and Zhao Yuan, there were six unfamiliar faces. They were mostly between eighteen and twenty years old, and their auras were all at the Bright Force Realm or higher.
When they saw Liang Cheng enter, some nodded in acknowledgment, while others just gave him a cursory glance. Zhao Yuan sat at a table further inside, surrounded by two or three others. He looked away when he saw Liang Cheng.
Liang Cheng went to get his own food and ate quietly.
At 5:00 PM, in the pharmacy.
Zhou Hu was already waiting there. A row of medicine furnaces lined the room, steaming with heat and filling the air with a thick, medicinal aroma.
"Your Medicated Bath Formula is slightly different from Zhao Yuan’s." Zhou Hu pointed to a smaller tub. "The Master adjusted it based on your old injuries. It focuses on gently nourishing the muscles and bones while also replenishing Qi Blood. For the best effect, circulate your energy with the Mixed Element Stance while you soak."
"Yes."
Liang Cheng was grateful. No matter what, Yang Wei was an absolutely competent master.
He quickly undressed and got into the tub. The medicinal soup was dark brown and slightly scalding. The moment his skin touched the liquid, a warm current seeped in, but it wasn’t the searing pain of the Stone Armor Skill’s ointment. Instead, it was a gentle, nourishing warmth.
He focused his mind and circulated the Mixed Element Stance, guiding the Medicinal Power. A stinging sensation gradually spread through his body, but Liang Cheng gritted his teeth and endured it without a sound. ’So much milder than cultivating the Stone Armor Skill?’
Nearby, Zhou Hu was very satisfied. ’His patience is much better than that kid Zhao Yuan’s.’
An hour later, the Medicinal Power began to fade. Liang Cheng got out and dried himself off, feeling comfortable all over. A pleasant warmth suffused the areas of his old injuries in his waist and knees.
He put on the uniform of a Martial Arts Hall Disciple. It was a perfect fit. If he were to walk down the street now, who would recognize him as the down-and-out boy from the Fisherman’s Family?
On the way back to his room, the moon was bright and the stars were few.
He looked up at the sky and took a deep breath.
’A new starting point, a new path.’
’Tomorrow, at 5:00 AM, I continue.’
