Fang Hu looked at the young man before him. He had considered this before.
However, while the boy's Talent was good, success on the Martial Dao couldn't be achieved overnight.
Besides, he had planned to observe him for a while longer.
After all, even with great Talent, the Martial Dao required diligence and hard work.
And compared to innate Talent, diligence and hard work were just as important.
Once, in Xiahe County Town, there had been a man with the highest level of Martial Dao Talent. This person became a disciple at Xiahe County's number one Martial Arts Hall.
At first, relying on his outstanding gifts, his cultivation realm progressed by leaps and bounds. He mastered the basics in a single day and achieved minor success within three months.
He flew through Skin Grinding and Bone Forging, his realm soaring. He dominated Xiahe County Town for years, with no one able to match him.
He even surpassed many Martial Artists of the older generation.
But then he reached the Marrow Transformation stage. This was a gradual process that relied mainly on time, often taking years of effort to complete.
Upon reaching this stage, the man naturally assumed he would be the first of his generation to break through, just as he always had.
Unfortunately, as his strength and reputation grew, his father began parading him around the various powerful factions in Xiahe County Town.
Although they gained many benefits from this—fields, manors, and beautiful maids—the genius became immersed in this lifestyle, neglecting his Martial Dao cultivation.
Eventually, he was surpassed by his peers. Having wasted his time, he was already old by the time he came to his senses. This, coupled with his lack of restraint, had led to the decay of his Qi and blood. He found himself completely unable to advance even a single step.
In the end, he lost all trace of his former brilliance and faded into obscurity.
If memory served, the man's name was Zhou Fangyong.
Because of this lesson, from then on, all the great families and Martial Arts Halls made it a point to examine a candidate's character when accepting disciples. They had to possess the perseverance for diligent and arduous training.
Therefore, Fang Hu had originally planned to see if Fang Yue could endure hardship.
But he never expected that plans can't keep up with changes.
Fang Yue's Talent was actually still improving. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to rate it as high-grade Talent now.
He could only move his plan forward: go to Xiahe County Town and, with his own master as a witness, formally accept Fang Yue as his disciple.
As for diligence and resilience, those could be reinforced later. He wouldn't let him waste his potential.
~~~~~~
「On the third day, just before noon.」
At the end of the road, a blue-gray city wall slowly came into view.
They were about to arrive at Xiahe County Town.
"Dad, we're finally here. This time... can we not go to Master Zhang's house?"
Fang Ergou shook his head like a rattle.
It was hard to say what he had gone through, but he acted as if Master Zhang's home was plagued by floods and ferocious beasts.
"Hmph, why not? If we don't go to Master Zhang's house, where will we sleep tonight!"
Fang Hu rapped Ergou on the head, flatly refusing his request. Then, ignoring him, he led the cart onward toward the county town.
Following behind, Fang Yue found this scene rather amusing.
From the title, Fang Yue gathered that Master Zhang was probably one of Fang Hu's martial seniors.
It seemed Fang Hu stayed at Master Zhang's house every time he came to Xiahe County Town, which clearly meant their relationship as martial brothers was good.
He just couldn't figure out why Fang Ergou was so afraid of Master Zhang's house.
It was a far cry from his usual simple and honest demeanor.
"Halt!"
"Surrender and you will not be killed!"
Just then, a cloud of dust billowed up ahead.
The ground trembled with the pounding of hooves, and soon, a dozen or so riders in black appeared, galloping down another road.
Fleeing before them were seven or eight men clad in animal skins and carrying various weapons.
"Careful! Everyone, stay close to me."
Seeing this, Fang Hu's expression turned grave. He had already taken the Strong Bow from his back and held it in his hand.
Fang Ergou also had his bow in one hand and an arrow in the other, ready at a moment's notice.
"Those are the city guards hunting down mountain people from the Mo Mountain Tribe. Those people don't pay taxes; they're uncivilized savages. If they come this way, shoot."
Fang Hu added a few more words of explanation for Fang Yue's sake.
After all, Fang Yue had never left Da Liushu Village and had certainly never seen anything like this.
The Mo Mountain Tribe resided in Mo Mountain, over three hundred li northwest of Xiahe County Town. They were originally wild folk of the mountains who refused to submit to the authorities.
They refused to pay grain tributes or taxes and often raided surrounding villages during times of famine.
For this, they were on the wanted list of Xiahe County Town. He had no idea why they would appear so close to the town this time. They were far too bold. Weren't they afraid of the Government Office?
In just a few moments.
The men in animal skins were gradually overtaken by the riders.
How could two legs outrun four hooves?
Seeing this, the men immediately dropped to their knees to beg for mercy.
But the expected "surrender and be spared" did not happen.
The long sabers in the riders' hands flashed with a brilliant light, carving streaks through the air as they swung.
A single slash decapitated a man. Blood sprayed as the head flew high into the air, only to be caught by the rider and stuffed into a bag on his horse.
The other riders did the same. In a few short moments, several living, breathing men had their lives cut short right before Fang Yue's eyes.
Seeing that there was no escape and that surrender was not an option, the remaining men in animal skins stopped fleeing. Turning around, they let out guttural cries and began to fight desperately against the riders.
The outcome was, of course, a foregone conclusion.
Though the men in skins seemed taller and more robust, they couldn't last a moment against the attack of fully armed riders on warhorses. They were quickly slaughtered to the last man.
Seeing this, Fang Yue couldn't help but clap a hand over his mouth.
His stomach churned, and a sour feeling rose in his throat.
He was only a few dozen meters away from the riders, close enough to clearly see the men in skins being beheaded, their bodies torn apart.
He could see the spraying blood, hear the wretched screams and enraged curses, and even smell the coppery tang of blood.
The combined assault on his senses overwhelmed him. It was a struggle for Fang Yue to even remain standing.
"What are you people doing?"
"What are you hauling? You got any contraband? Pull that cover back and let me inspect it!"
Just then, one of the riders broke away from the group and approached Fang Yue's party and their cart.
He looked down on them from his horse, his saber held at the ready.
But when the man saw the goods on the cart, he moved to lift the cover with his saber to take a look.
'Is he trying to use this as an excuse to extort us?'
Looking at the rider's demeanor and the greed in his eyes, the thought suddenly surfaced in Fang Yue's mind.
'We're in trouble!' he thought.
But Fang Hu was prepared. The moment the soldier finished speaking, he handed over their Road Guide.
"Please look, Officer. We're from the White Tiger Boxing Hall in the city."
"White Tiger Fist people?"
"Damn my luck."
Hearing this, the soldier muttered to himself, sheathed his saber, glanced casually at the Road Guide, and then tossed it back to Fang Hu.
With that, he turned and left.
He rejoined the group of riders, pointed back at Fang Yue's party, and then the whole troop finished cleaning up the battlefield and rode away.