Suddenly,
As if realizing he had lost his composure,
Lu Yu glanced at Captain Duan, who had remained completely still from the beginning, his lips tightly pursed, his expression inscrutable. 'This is bad,' he thought.
He realized that he had overstepped.
The reason he had been able to become Captain Duan's only apprentice—aside from Ji Xiu—after stumbling upon the man's true Martial Arts all those years ago wasn't just because he had passed a trial.
More importantly, it was because he knew the rules. He never leaked the slightest detail about Captain Duan to the outside world.
Even his own father, Manor Master Lu, who had established Lu Manor and managed several businesses and establishments in the county!
He knew very little of the truth, only believing this "Captain Duan" was a Martial Dao expert who had reached the Skin Refining realm.
But in reality...
Only Lu Yu knew the truth.
The Captain had, at the very least, perfected Skin Refining and had even manifested 'Outer Gang'!
Otherwise...
How could he have remained untouched by a single drop of rain when Lu Yu stumbled upon him that year!?
However,
he couldn't really be blamed for his sudden gaffe.
After all, the practice of Martial Arts didn't place much importance on natural aptitude.
No matter how strong your innate constitution, could you compete with someone constantly consuming medicinal baths, Pills, and even gorging on Earth Treasures and Celestial Materials?
Without resources, the greatest inborn physique was nothing but empty talk.
But,
there was one exception.
Innate talent.
An unparalleled comprehension of the 'Scriptures'...
...was the one and only thing a person of humble birth could rely on for a chance at becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
At first,
when Ji Xiu began practicing the saber,
Lu Yu could see that Captain Duan merely thought the boy had a tenacious spirit. He was willing to risk it all on a single gamble, which made him good material, and so the captain had taken a moment of pity and given him a chance.
But he had only given him a 'six-month' deadline.
He was certain.
A poor boy like him—with no lineage, no foundation, busy all day, and without even the proper conditions to practice—couldn't possibly achieve anything noteworthy in half a year.
In the end, he would have no choice but to accept his fate, his hopes shattered.
And yet...
Ji Xiu had shattered that 'cage'.
'A servant?'
'What family has a servant like that!'
'To take a 'martial arts prodigy' like this—so hardworking he wakes before dawn to serve others, tend the horses, and practice his saber, all with such earnest dedication—and just boss him around?'
'Whoever they were, they were utterly blind!'
'I must get to the bottom of this in the next few days...'
With a final, deep look at Ji Xiu,
Lu Yu turned and left without a backward glance.
Because he knew
that if he stayed any longer, he would be overstaying his welcome.
...
"Hn."
"Your practice is acceptable."
"Go light the stove and cook."
After a long silence,
it was unclear what the Purple-clothed Martial Artist was thinking. He simply grunted, pointed to the kitchen, and ordered Ji Xiu to cook, just as he always did.
He didn't so much as lift an eye at Lu Yu's departure.
Ji Xiu saw this and said nothing. Accustomed to it all, he slid his saber onto the weapons rack, grabbed a bundle of firewood, and with grunts of effort, started the fire to cook the fish and stew the meat.
'Thankfully, between my past life and this one, I happen to know a little about cooking.'
'Otherwise,'
'with Captain Duan wanting extravagant meals of fish and meat every day—four dishes every time—I'm not sure I could have made anything to his taste.'
A short while later,
a stewed meat so tender it fell off the bone, a creamy white fish soup, a plate of crispy-skinned and tender "tiger-skin" chicken feet, and a dish of crispy fried fava beans.
Swallowing his own drool, Ji Xiu carried the dishes to the stone table beside the weapons rack and set them out.
He then fetched a jar of wine from the cellar and placed it beside Captain Duan.
Through his observations these past few days,
Ji Xiu had discovered that the master enjoyed pairing the chicken feet with his wine and always drank quite a bit more whenever they were served, so he had deliberately made them to curry favor.
His chores done,
even though the fragrant dishes were of his own making,
Ji Xiu suppressed the rumbling in his stomach, ignored his hunger, and focused his thoughts. He was about to grab a blade from the weapons rack and use this rare, precious interval to practice a few more times.
However,
Captain Duan, who had not once called him to the table in all these days, now spoke, a rare occurrence:
"Come here."
"Sit."
He extended his chopsticks and pointed to the stool on the other side of the table.
"From now on, at mealtime,"
"you may set a place for yourself."
Captain Duan didn't say anything else,
But Ji Xiu's spirits soared.
In the past few days, although Captain Duan had occasionally offered him guidance, the time was too short for Ji Xiu to produce any meaningful results.
On the surface, nothing was wrong.
But Ji Xiu could acutely sense it...
The favorable impression he had struggled to win from Captain Duan just days before was fading at a visible rate.
A moment of pity, a fleeting connection, would not last forever. Ji Xiu understood this truth better than anyone.
At first, he had been treated as a 'Disciple'.
But...
If things continued on this path, in less than half a month, his standing in Captain Duan's eyes would devolve to that of a mere 'underling'.
At that point, he would be no different from the 'Groom' back at the Lin Residence!
Fortunately...
By 'advancing' his mastery of the Celestial River Saber Technique and successfully reaching the introductory stage, he had finally turned the tables.
At the very least, he had now earned Captain Duan's recognition, gained a firm foothold, and solidified his status as a 'Disciple'.
As for the rest,
he just had to keep working hard.
'You eat a meal one bite at a time, and you walk a path one step at a time. That's the only way to keep your feet on the ground!'
Ji Xiu sat ramrod straight, his mind wandering.
Although Captain Duan had invited him to the table, the man hadn't picked up his chopsticks or said a word.
'I really don't dare make a move!'
"Sixteen years old. Mastering the introduction to a saber technique in six days."
"With that kind of Innate Talent."
"You could go to your Senior Brother Lu and ask to become his subordinate. Not only could he tear up your slave contract, he could help you soar to the heavens in a single leap. You would never have to suffer the cold stares of others again."
"Perhaps you don't know what that means."
"Let me tell you."
"A single word from him, and you could be making a monthly salary of ten silver—ten thousand coins. You'd have meat with every meal, live in a grand residence, and be given a post with three to five idlers to serve you day and night."
"From then on, you would be considered a cut above others."
"If you are willing, I can take you to him. All you'd have to do is give him a grand bow, kowtow, and the deal would be done."
"You'd have an easy life, with more time to polish your saber skills."
Captain Duan picked up a piece of stewed meat with his chopsticks, chewed it thoughtfully, and spoke suddenly.
Ji Xiu was stunned.
'Is he...'
'showing me a path forward?'
He had to admit it.
He was tempted.
Just by lowering his head and serving as a subordinate, he could reap such rewards. It was a case of 'it's not what you know, but who you know.' He wouldn't have to live hand-to-mouth as he did at the Lin Residence, never knowing what the next day would bring.
Where else under the heavens could you find such a blessing, like a pie falling from the sky?
But,
as Ji Xiu looked at Captain Duan's face, as calm and deep as an old well, his heart suddenly stilled.
Just now, the reactions from him and Senior Brother Lu to him 'achieving the introductory level' of his Saber Technique were anything but ordinary.
Perhaps, for a Martial Artist, this was an incredible accomplishment. Otherwise, why would just any random person be offered such a fine job?
But in truth, if he really possessed such 'value'...
Then his relationship with Lu Yu would naturally grow closer over time.
When that happened, he could bring up the opportunity himself. It wouldn't even matter if Captain Duan stepped in or not; he could secure that kind of position on his own.
Besides, from what he'd learned of the man over the past few days,
Ji Xiu felt these words didn't match Captain Duan's character at all.
It felt more like...
a test.
And so, he weighed his words carefully.
Finally, he took a risk and spoke.
"I... am unwilling."
Captain Duan raised an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised.
He studied the boy's face again. Seeing no joy at having been offered 'riches from the heavens,' he couldn't help but ask,
"Oh? Why not?"
"You do know that opportunities like this don't come knocking twice."
His tone was probing.
"When I sold myself to the Lin Residence as a Groom, I only received three taels of silver. That's not even a third of the monthly salary Master Duan just mentioned."
"By all rights, I should be overjoyed."
"But..."
"These six days of saber practice have helped me see things clearly."
Ji Xiu took a deep breath. Having just refused an astronomical offer, his heart was surprisingly at peace, and his words flowed evenly, without haste.
"Being a Groom for the Lin Residence or a servant for Senior Brother Lu... at the end of the day, there's no difference. It's just jumping from one cage into another."
"The path one seeks through martial practice should be one of proving your own worth, compelling others to treat you with courtesy and to lower themselves to befriend you as an equal."
"That means being a 'friend,' a 'Guest,' a 'comrade-in-arms'."
"Anything... but a servant!"
"There is a world of difference between what is begged for and what is earned."
"My body is my own, and the Martial Dao is infinite. If I am to be something, I will be an Honored Guest, not a lowly subordinate!"
"While that is a path,"
"it is not the path Ji Xiu wishes to walk."
"With Senior Brother Lu absent, it was wrong of me to speak such 'arrogant' words."
"Master Duan, please, you eat first."
"I'm going to practice my saber."
With that, Ji Xiu apologized and moved to put down his chopsticks.
But at that moment, Captain Duan rose and pressed him back down into his seat.
"Sit down."
Ji Xiu looked up. For a fleeting instant, the Martial Artist before him seemed to burn as brightly as a lion.
A moment later, that presence subsided, and he returned to his usual tranquility.
"My surname is Duan."
"My name..."
"is Duan Chenzhou."
"Remember it."
Staring into Ji Xiu's eyes, Duan Chenzhou's tone was complex.
"Mastering the basics of the saber technique in six days is impressive, but only just impressive."
"If you want your Senior Brother Lu to truly see you as an equal, to treat you as an 'Honored Guest'..."
"First, you must become a true Martial Artist."
He reached out, pushed an empty cup in front of Ji Xiu, and personally filled it. His tone grew... gradually solemn.
"If you can reach that day."
"You,"
"will be my, Duan Chenzhou's, disciple in name."
"As for now,"
"allow me to tell you what a Martial Artist truly is, and what is meant by... the Three Gates and the Ninth Realm!"
He tapped his chopsticks on the table, his face showing a solemn, almost... reverent expression for the first time.
This was,
a sight Ji Xiu had never seen before.
And from that moment on,
he knew...
His gamble had paid off!