Favors: None
Iron Mountain Fist (43-100)
Basic Breathing Technique (87-100)
Heavenward Force (42-100)
Iron Mountain Saber Technique (52-100)
Basic Body Technique (37-100)
(Remaining Lifespan: 58)
Chu Lingguang stood up from the water vat. His Iron Mountain Saber Technique had unexpectedly increased by eighteen points, reaching fifty-two and becoming the second strongest Kung Fu he had mastered.
'Master was right. Combat really is the best way to improve my Kung Fu.'
'Unfortunately, life-and-death battles are too dangerous. It's not worth it for me to take such risks just to improve my Kung Fu.'
Chu Lingguang mused.
He had the support of Favor Points, so there was no need to take risks. As long as he had enough time, he could sooner or later train his Kung Fu to Perfection.
「Early the next morning.」
After quickly washing his face and brushing his teeth with a willow twig, Chu Lingguang prepared to head to the Martial Arts Hall to practice his forms. To his surprise, the Village Chief and his son were coming to find him just as he stepped out the door.
"Lin Guang, my son wants to try for the Martial Arts Scholar examination with you. Could you help recommend him to Master Guo?"
Liu Lishi said with a fawning expression, offering a braised pig's trotter, wrapped in a bundle tied with cattail reeds, to Chu Lingguang with both hands.
The story of how Chu Lingguang had sold all his fields to train at the Martial Arts Hall, only to have his engagement broken off overnight, had long since spread through the village. Now that his training had borne fruit and he had successfully become Guo Wei's disciple, it was a tale known by everyone, young and old.
Many people's imaginations were running wild, and they dreamed of following his unorthodox path.
"Master Liu, martial arts training is exhausting and arduous," Chu Lingguang cautioned.
He reminded him, "Liu Quan might not be able to endure it."
'Liu Lishi's son is named Liu Quan, two years my junior,' Chu Lingguang recalled. 'He was studying under an Accountant in the county seat and seemed to be doing alright. Why the sudden interest in pursuing fame and status through martial arts?'
"I can handle it! So are you going to recommend me to Master Guo or not?"
Liu Quan demanded, his head held high.
Since both of their fathers had been Village Chiefs, he'd never paid Chu Lingguang much mind, even when they were little.
"Quan, Lin Guang is Master Guo's disciple now. Even if you manage to train under Master Guo, you'll still have to call Lin Guang 'Senior Brother.' Now, put that attitude of yours away."
Liu Lishi scolded.
"I'm just asking if he's willing. If not, I'll go find Master Guo myself."
Liu Quan muttered under his breath.
Liu Lishi shot Liu Quan a glare, then pulled Chu Lingguang aside and said awkwardly, "I won't hide it from you. Quan couldn't make it in the county seat; the Accountant sent him packing. He heard you'd found success in your training and were accepted by Master Guo, so he begged me to come ask for your help. He wants to follow your example and test for Martial Scholar.
Of course, I know what he's made of. I'm just hoping that Master Guo can teach him a lesson or two at the Martial Arts Hall. When he comes back to the village, it wouldn't be so bad for him to become a Village Chief like me."
Having said his piece, Liu Lishi looked at Chu Lingguang expectantly.
"It's not that I can't recommend Liu Quan," Chu Lingguang said seriously.
"But the Martial Arts Hall has its rules. I can only put in a few good words for him with my master. If he wants to train at the Hall, he'll have to pay the full fee in silver taels like everyone else. As for whether he can become my master's disciple in the future, that will depend on his own destiny."
'Of course, it wasn't as simple as Liu Lishi claimed. The man obviously hoped I would look after Liu Quan, help him develop his Fist Force quickly so he could become Guo Wei's disciple, and eventually pass the exam for Martial Scholar to get a post at the County Yamen.'
'If all he wanted was for his son to be a Village Chief, why bother suffering at the Martial Arts Hall?'
Ever since he'd developed his Fist Force just one day before his term expired, many people assumed that anyone could train at the Martial Arts Hall for a year and become Guo Wei's disciple, just as he had.
Liu Lishi wasn't the first to come asking for a recommendation.
Chu Lingguang wouldn't refuse to help in these matters if he could, since it was a way to gain Favor Points. However, for those who assumed paying the fee guaranteed entry as Guo Wei's disciple, he would make the risks and realities clear to avoid them causing trouble for him later.
Most people chose to give up after hearing his advice. Even if they privately suspected he just didn't want to help, they didn't dare say it to his face.
"Of course, of course. I understand all that. Please, take this pig's trotter. From now on, you'll be Quan's Senior Brother. If he gets out of line, you must help me discipline him."
Liu Lishi was a clever man and understood the subtext of Chu Lingguang's words. But as long as Chu Lingguang agreed to recommend his son to Guo Wei, he figured he could use gifts and favors later to ensure Chu Lingguang would genuinely help Liu Quan.
"Such a large piece of fatty meat can replenish a good deal of Qi Blood. In that case, I thank you, Master Liu."
Chu Lingguang didn't refuse.
'With my current status in the Martial Arts Hall, a simple word of recommendation could at least keep the other students from bullying Liu Quan. That alone is worth a pig's trotter.'
"Quan, learn well from Lin Guang and don't cause him any trouble."
"I know."
After giving Liu Quan a few more instructions, Liu Lishi left his son in Chu Lingguang's care.
Chu Lingguang first took the pig's trotter home and hung it from the rafters, only then leading Liu Quan toward the Martial Arts Hall.
As they passed through the wheat fields and by the gates of two villages, Chu Lingguang listened closely to the surrounding chatter. He wondered if the nearby villagers knew he had cut down Cai Touli with his saber the night before.
But all the way to the Martial Arts Hall, he heard no one discussing what had happened in the wheat fields the previous night.
'I wonder if Wang Chao took Cai Touli's body to report back after I left, all without being seen,' Chu Lingguang thought.
He remembered Wang Chao saying there was a ten-silver-tael reward for Cai Touli's capture, and Chu Lingguang felt he ought to claim it. Even if there was no reward money, he had saved Wang Chao's life the night before. The man owed him a Favor.
But he still hadn't received any Favor Points. He wasn't sure if Wang Chao was simply heartless and ungrateful, or if he just didn't know where to find him to deliver a reward, which was why the Favor Points hadn't registered.
However, he recalled that Guo Wei's birthday was in a few days. Several senior brothers who held posts outside the village would be returning to celebrate. He figured he'd probably run into Wang Chao on that day; it wouldn't be too late to demand an explanation from him then.
"Senior Sister, I have a friend who wants to train at the Martial Arts Hall. I brought him to you to get registered."
Instead of rushing to take Liu Quan to see Guo Wei, Chu Lingguang went to find Guo Fang first.
"Then have him come with me. Once he pays the fee in silver taels and gets some protective gear, I'll personally teach him a few moves in a bit."
Seeing that he was someone brought by Chu Lingguang, Guo Fang didn't ask too many questions. She even went out of her way to pick out some high-quality protective gear for Liu Quan.
Liu Quan, however, kept his brow furrowed the whole time.
'Chu Lingguang didn't even take me to see Guo Wei. Instead, he brought me to some weak-looking girl,' he thought, feeling rather displeased.
"Just focus on doing your best," Chu Lingguang said. "If there's anything you don't understand, ask Senior Sister Guo or the other senior brothers. You can also come to me. In a few days, I'll find an opportunity to introduce you to my master."
'I know he's not happy,' Chu Lingguang thought, 'but these things can't be rushed. If I'm going to recommend him to Master Guo, I need to wait until he's adapted to life at the Martial Arts Hall and has shown at least a little talent.'
'Otherwise, if I take him to see Master Guo now, not only will he be ignored, but if he says the wrong thing, it could even bring trouble down on me.'
"I get it."
Liu Quan looked completely reluctant, but there was nothing he could do.