"Fifth Senior Brother, when the teacher pressed on my tiger's mouth, it initially caused pain, then I lost consciousness, and afterwards, I felt a gentle warmth. What exactly happened?" Wei Tao asked, still reflecting on the extraordinary sensation he experienced earlier.
"That's how we begin our training in the Red Line Fist," Fifth Senior Brother replied, pondering for a moment. "Once you can freely control the flow of qi and blood, you can delve into deeper cultivation."
"Senior Brother, how long does it usually take to meet the entry requirements?"
"It varies. Some progress quickly, like our most talented Eldest Senior Brother. It is said that after receiving guidance from the teacher, he achieved free control of qi and blood in just one night. And the Second Senior Sister took only a few days to get started."
"On the other hand, there are slower learners. Many honorary disciples before you have spent months of hard work without meeting the entry requirements. Eventually, they had to leave the Martial Arts Hall and seek other paths."
Wei Tao inquired further, "Senior Brother, if I can't meet the entry requirements, how long can I stay in the martial arts hall?"
"How long is considered long..." Fifth Senior Brother responded with some uncertainty. "Generally, it shouldn't exceed six months. Even if you meet the entry requirements after five months of diligent practice, it's unlikely that the teacher will accept you as an Official Disciple. After all, it takes a few months to get started, and it's practically impossible to learn much beyond that."
Peng Yue, also known as Fifth Senior Brother, was chosen by Master Zhou as one of his official disciples in martial arts last year. Wei Tao noticed that he had a rather modest personality, often preferring silence, which gave off an aura of aloofness.
As they conversed along the way, they found the journey engaging, and before they knew it, they had crossed most of the outer city, arriving near Wei Tao's residence.
Once they entered a small alley, Wei Tao suddenly halted in his tracks, then resumed walking as if nothing happened.
Peng Yue furrowed his brow slightly. "Junior Brother Wei, do you know those two individuals we passed just now?"
"Not to embarrass Fifth Senior Brother, but they robbed me of my money yesterday..."
Before Wei Tao could finish his sentence, the ground shook violently, and a gust of fierce wind rushed past him, stirring up a cloud of dust.
When he regained his senses, Peng Yue, his Fifth Senior Brother, was already standing at the corner, waving at him. At their feet lay two men, one tall and one short—the very same individuals who had snatched Wei Tao's two copper plates during the rainy afternoon.
"Junior Brother Wei, what do you want to do with them?" Peng Yue asked while patting down the two men and retrieving all the silver coins.
"We are So's Seventh Uncle's men, you..."
Ka-cha!
The tall man who was speaking suddenly let out a scream, as he looked down at his right leg, now twisted in an abnormal manner. Beads of sweat instantly formed on his forehead.
The short man's face turned pale. "Spare our lives, spare us, sir!"
Ka-cha!
Another crisp sound.
The short man's right leg received the same treatment.
Fifth Senior Brother straightened up, spat on the ground, and said, "As for those who claim to be associated with Seventh Uncle, I don't believe a word of it. Don't waste your breath. Do you think you're worthy of Seventh Uncle's attention?"
When he looked up, he had transformed into a gentle and mischievous smile. "Junior Brother Wei, this is the money bag they used to rob you."
Wei Tao instinctively took the weighty money bag, thought for a moment, poured out all the silver coins, and handed a large portion to Peng Yue.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. If you hadn't accompanied me today, I'm afraid they would have extorted money from me again... Oh, and they claimed to be from the Hidden Blade Society yesterday."
Peng Yue looked at the broken silver and copper coins in his hand. His smile grew even more generous, tinged with a hint of shyness. "Junior Brother Wei, you are too polite. Now that we are fellow senior and junior brothers in the same sect, we naturally need to look out for each other..."
Ka-cha!
Wei Tao's pupils constricted sharply, and a cold sensation rushed from his back to his brain.
He held his breath and saw Peng Yue slowly withdraw his foot, while the two men on the ground groaning in pain turned their heads to the side, no longer breathing.
"Junior Brother Wei, I was concerned that they might be part of a gang without a long-term vision, and they could cause trouble for your family again."
Peng Yue scratched his head, and there seemed to be some hesitation in his words. "Dealing with people like them, either you don't do it, or if you do, you eliminate them completely, leaving no consequences."
Wei Tao listened silently and then looked up at the smiling Fifth Senior Brother. Aside from the surprise caused by the stark contrast between his humbleness and ruthlessness, he was also shocked to witness death for the first time.
It dawned on him that in this increasingly chaotic world, human life can be so disposable.
Without protection, he might have died silently in a dark corner in the near future.
Even now, if Peng Yue hadn't accompanied him back tonight, it was uncertain whether he would see the light of day tomorrow.
Only strong forces, forces in every sense, can provide safety and freedom.
Those two individuals who had robbed him were simply weaker than Fifth Senior Brother, and as a result, they were swiftly killed on the spot. No one cared about their true identities or past experiences.
A quarter of an hour later, Peng Yue watched Wei Tao enter his house and waved his hand once again. "Junior Brother Wei, your place is too far away. I think it would be better for you to move to the Martial Arts Hall. The teacher mentioned that the outer city has become somewhat restless lately, and continuing to walk alone at night increases the risk of encountering danger, don't you think?"
"However, if you live at the Martial Arts Hall, you will need to pay an additional two silver taels for accommodation and meals each month. Junior Brother, make sure you prepare it in advance."
Wei Tao touched the wallet he had just received, deep in thought, and nodded in agreement.
..................
Dawn arrived, and Wei Tao plunged his hands heavily into the iron sand in front of him. As he pulled them out, a cloud of smoke rose into the air.
A faint herbal scent tickled his nostrils, a mixture of medicine powder blended into the iron sand. Combined with the daily applied potion, it enhanced the absorption into his body.
It was his thirtieth day of practicing Red Line Fist.
Stir-frying the medicinal sand, boiling potions, applying the mixture, and cultivating the awareness of qi and blood.
Every day, he repeated these monotonous exercises.
Though repetitive, these exercises ensured his sustenance and nourishment, allowing his body to grow stronger compared to when he first joined the Martial Arts Hall. His muscles had developed, shedding his previously thin and short appearance.
During this time, the Martial Arts Hall had quietly bid farewell to a few familiar faces, replacing them with new recruits who joined Wei Tao in what he referred to as "scrub" training.
Although he hadn't yet reached the entry requirements for Red Line Fist, Wei Tao felt that he had made progress after this period of training. His body had become more resilient, particularly his hands, which had developed thick calluses from the continuous scrubbing and the application of potions. Now, splitting a green brick was an easy task.
Aside from physical changes, the daily meals provided at the Martial Arts Hall also played a role. The taste of the cauldron stew was not exceptional, but it was far better than what he had eaten at home. Furthermore, meat was served regularly, often in large fatty portions, providing Wei Tao, who was still growing, with ample nutrition.
After a half-morning of scrubbing, Wei Tao washed his arms by the well and then moved to the nearby stone lock to begin his strength training for the day.
A month had passed, and he still hadn't met the entry standard for Red Line Fist. Although there was still time before the deadline set by the Martial Arts Hall, the lack of progress despite his relentless efforts weighed heavily on him. The pressure was mounting, and he wondered if he would ever achieve his goal.