At the dockside, Lin Chen waved to his older brother and only after watching him leave did he carry his bundle and head into the city.
Today's county town was even more bustling than the last time Lin Chen visited, with a constant stream of pedestrians on the streets.
Under the eaves of the shops, the lanterns from yesterday's Lantern Festival were still hung, attracting many children to stop and watch.
Lin Chen didn't linger too long and headed straight for the Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall.
Clear Wind Martial Arts Hall, Martial Arts Pavilion.
"Junior brother, do you need anything?"
A young man in the Martial Arts Pavilion saw Lin Chen come in and greeted him with a smile.
With restrained Qi Blood, he had already reached the Opening Acupoints Realm.
He knew all the students from the previous class who reached the Opening Acupoints Realm in the martial arts hall, and this unfamiliar face must be a new student from this year who already reached the Opening Acupoints Realm upon entering.
He didn't need to think twice to know that this was someone from a wealthy family who obtained an Opening Acupoints Pill. Even though he also reached the Opening Acupoints Realm, it was only three months after joining the martial arts hall, so he couldn't compare.
Being financially strained, he could only endure and push hard through the Martial Arts Realm.
The saving grace was that this year, the Martial Affairs Office introduced a so-called diligent work-study directive, allowing martial arts hall students to earn some silver taels by helping with some tasks in the martial arts hall. Although it wasn't much, it was better than nothing.
Thanks to the one at the Martial Affairs Office who proposed the "diligent work-study" initiative, they were truly a benefactor to us ordinary students.
"I'm here to return the Clear Wind Palm Secret Manual."
"Please show your identity token, junior brother." Ma Hao was very polite, not assuming a superior attitude despite having opened Four Acupoints. He knew very well that this junior brother could surpass him, and half a year would be more than enough.
These students are all future prominent figures in the martial arts hall. Even if they couldn't establish friendly relations, offending them was out of the question.
Seeing Lin Chen take out his identity token, Ma Hao was somewhat surprised: "Junior Brother Lin, in the martial arts hall, we use the martial arts hall's student identity card, not the resident registry token issued by the government office."
"I haven't registered for a student identity card yet."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, although Ma Hao was puzzled, he still accepted the identity token and the secret manual: "Junior brother, please wait a moment."
Ma Hao went to the backyard of the Martial Arts Pavilion and respectfully asked Zhao Ce, who was sipping tea, "Instructor Zhao, do we have a new junior brother named Lin Chen in this class?"
"Lin Chen?"
Zhao Ce put down his cup and nodded, "There is indeed a new student by that name. What is the matter?"
"Junior Brother Lin is here to return the Clear Wind Palm Secret Manual."
"Hmm." Zhao Ce acknowledged lightly. Seeing that the instructor had no other words, Ma Hao turned around to leave.
"You should ask him how many acupoints he has opened now. If he has opened Two Acupoints, let him come in. If he hasn't even opened Two Acupoints, let him leave on his own."
Upon hearing Instructor Zhao's words, Ma Hao, though puzzled, still agreed and then left the backyard to return to the front pavilion.
"Junior Brother Lin, I've confirmed that the secret manual is fine. Please sign here." Ma Hao took out a ledger from under the counter and handed it to Lin Chen. As Lin Chen signed, he casually asked, "Junior Brother Lin, how many acupoints have you opened now?"
"I'm ashamed to say, still only One Acupoint."
Lin Chen didn't lie about this, as the martial arts hall surely had a method to verify it.
"It's okay. With Junior Brother Lin's ability, it shouldn't take long after joining the martial arts hall to open the second acupoint."
Ma Hao didn't show any disdain just because Lin Chen had only opened One Acupoint. He stood by the saying that they were simply not on the same level as these wealthy students.
"Do you need anything else, Junior Brother Lin?"
"No, thank you, senior brother."
Lin Chen had initially wanted to ask about the Clear Wind Palm, but he thought better of it.
The Martial Arts Pavilion surely had instructors on duty. The fact that this senior brother went inside clearly indicated he reported to the instructor. If they weren't willing to meet with him, there was no point in pushing for it.
The main thing was that he had the booklet given by Instructor Yu, which contained all of Instructor Yu's insights on practicing the Clear Wind Palm. There was no harm in having no guidance.
...
...
Jingshui Martial Arts Hall, Lin Chen visited for the second time.
This time, compared to the quietness before the New Year, the martial arts hall was much more lively. Right at the entrance, there were many female disciples, all looking valiant. While he was observing these female disciples, they were also sizing him up.
Compared to the female disciples, Lin Chen, as a male disciple, was even more eye-catching.
Under the gaze of these female disciples, Lin Chen strode boldly through the gates of the martial arts hall.
"Well, we have a male disciple at our martial arts hall? That's rare."
"He got the wrong hall, surely not. The Jingshui Martial Arts Hall sign has those big four characters; he shouldn't mistake it."
"Could it be a girl with masculine features?"
"With such a pronounced Adam's apple, clearly a man."
"Male disciples are great. I can't even recall how long it's been since I've seen a man. If he's truly a new junior brother, I'd really want to touch."
"Where does Junior Sister Yu want to touch?"
"Everywhere, even if he's carrying something!"
...
...
After entering the Opening Acupoints Realm, Lin Chen's senses became much sharper. Hearing these senior sisters' brazen words, he almost stumbled. When a woman becomes a rascal, there's nothing left for men.
In this world, women can also practice martial arts, and the social norms aren't that strict.
In the past, when he followed his elder brother An Diling in the village, he often heard those women at the river gossip while doing laundry. The bawdy talk opened his eyes.
He walked towards the direction of the dormitory, and just as he was about to pass a corridor corner,
Lin Chen heard a conversation in the corridor and couldn't help but stop and listen.
"Junior Sister, congratulations on becoming a disciple of the Martial Arts Hall. Today, Senior Sister is treating you to a celebration."
"Oh, I couldn't let Senior Sister Chen treat me! It's my turn to invite you."
...
...
This conversation sounded so familiar.
The warm-hearted Senior Sister Chen.
Lin Chen thought, if only he had money, he would really like to invite Senior Sister Chen to a meal.
Now, he could only avoid them to spare both from embarrassment.
Upon reaching the dormitory, Lin Chen was quite satisfied with the accommodations provided by the Martial Hall.
A single room with a small courtyard was the arrangement for those who had taken the Opening Acupoints Pill.
Tuition, meals, and accommodation were all free.
On the bed in the dormitory, new bedding was laid out. Lin Chen touched it; it was a brand new cotton quilt.
Since coming to this world for the past half year, it was his first time encountering a cotton quilt. His family's bedding was made of hemp with some straw stuffing, which wasn't warm at all during winter according to the original owner's memory.
With his current Qi Blood, warmth didn't matter, but a cotton quilt's comfort was unmatched by hemp-stuffed straw.
On the dormitory table, there were also two sets of Martial Hall practice clothes, but Lin Chen didn't hurry to change into them. He put the clothes from his bundle into the wardrobe and then took out all his silver coins.
A Silver Ticket for twenty taels from Instructor Yu, another thirty taels from the village, also exchanged into a Silver Ticket. Additionally, there was a reward of thirteen taels from the Martial Hall, but only seven taels remained now.
Fifty-seven taels of silver were his entire fortune.
Instructor Yu wrote in the booklet that the Opening Acupoints Realm had twenty-four acupoints. To uncover the first ten acupoints, the monthly expense at the Martial Hall would be thirty taels for Nourishing Acupoints Pills, needing one and a half months to open one acupoint.
If one wanted to accelerate, they would have to spend more money.
A bottle of Nourishing Acupoints Pills cost thirty taels and contained ten pills, with one pill to be taken every three days.
Rich students could buy two or even three bottles.
The Martial Hall offered a discount, with the first bottle of Nourishing Acupoints Pills at only thirty taels. The second bottle returned to the regular price of forty taels, and the third bottle cost fifty taels.
Those from wealthy families didn't care about these silver taels and even consumed additional precious poultry meat beyond the three bottles of Nourishing Acupoints Pills each month.
His money wasn't enough for a month's expenses for those people.
With experience in the Qi Cultivation Realm, Lin Chen understood the [Natural Progress] Life Chart.
In the Opening Acupoints Realm, there are twenty-four acupoints. When reaching sixteen acupoints, his Life Chart would have no effect. This meant that compared to other students, he wouldn't have an advantage in opening the first eight acupoints.
In the early phase, he had to endure.
If he couldn't gather enough money each month for the Opening Acupoints Pills, his progress would be delayed.
The Martial Path is difficult!
No wonder these Martial Halls looked down on him; given his family background, where could he find so much silver?
After a sigh, Lin Chen summoned the panel.
[Name: Lin Chen]
[Occupation: Martial Artist]
[Realm: Opening Acupoints Realm (1/24)]
[Cultivation Technique: Clear Wind Palm (Proficiency: 1/100)]
[Life Chart: [Natural Progress]: Martial Arts First Realm, Against the Current, Step by Step, Unstoppable, Braving Thorns and Thistles.]
[Martial Title: All the Way Black]
Clear Wind Palm, after burning the midnight oil, finally reached the proficiency stage this morning.
Instructor Yu mentioned in his booklet that most students, even those from noble families, would take a month to get started with an Entering the Grade Martial Arts Technique and three months to reach proficiency. Beyond that, it depended on comprehension to reach mastery. Achieving mastery within half a year was considered superior comprehension.
In other words, from starting a technique to achieving mastery, a student would need seven to eight months or even longer. Reaching mastery within a year was considered passing.
In the early phase, without the advantage of his Life Chart, his martial arts comprehension was his only advantage.