For over a decade, seven or eight groups of bandits appeared in the nearby counties to revolt. They were all suppressed, but due to their proximity to the big lake, these bandits were never truly eradicated.
Hence, the control of local government in this area was incredibly weak. The nearby towns had actually fallen under the control of the Fish and Dragon Gang.
Even the slightly farther counties had an official mayor. Still, the real power lay in several large clans,
These large clans all shared one common thing, they all had high-ranking martial artists.
In this world, might makes right!
If Chen Yi could go to a martial arts school, even if he only paid one month's tuition and learned a few moves, he would gain some status in this fishing village,
At least, he could work for a wealthy family in town as a security guard or, with luck, join a gang and be at the bottom of the hierarchy.
That would be more than enough to ensure the safety of the Chen ladies for half of their lives.
Since Chen Yi's mother married into the Chen family, gave birth to a son and a daughter, and experienced the sudden death of Chen Yi's father, her only wish was to send Chen Yi to learn martial arts.
"Be careful, this is all our family has. Tomorrow at dawn go straight to the martial arts school in town without stopping anywhere else. Make sure you aren't found by the gang's lackeys, understand?" Chen Yi's mother advised earnestly.
Chen Yi nodded heavily.
He lay in bed with the money bag as his pillow and couldn't fall asleep for a long time. He pondered about the fan-shaped Jade Token that lit up almost 99% in his mind and quietly said to himself:
"16 years, you've been shining incrementally every day, and you're finally about to be fully lit. I don't know what power this tiny jade token holds. Please show yourself soon!"
....
The next day, just as the sun appeared over the lake,
Chen Yi had already walked several miles around the lake and arrived at a martial arts school in the Lakeside Town.
At that moment, a group of people were already shouting 'Hei, Ha' while practicing their martial arts inside.
After knocking on the door, a muscular tall man opened the door to look at Chen Yi: "What do you want?"
"I'm here to learn martial arts." Chen Yi replied, hugging his oilcloth bag.
The man sized up Chen Yi a few times and subtly shook his head before saying:
"Two taels of silver for one month. Did you bring the money?"
"I did, here are 200 copper coins."
"Come in."
.....
"Master, this kid is here to learn martial arts."
Underneath the eaves at the rear of the training ground, a man with frosty temples opened his eyes, peered at Chen Yi and closed his eyes again before saying nonchalantly:
"Take the money, tell him the rules, and let Yunhu teach him standing stake."
"Yes! Come with me."
Chen Yi followed this muscular young man without exchanging a word with the martial arts school's master throughout.
"Kid, our martial arts school is called the Iron Fist Sect, we practice the Iron Wire Fist. Once you pay and start learning, you'll be considered an enrolled disciple. The rules are not to betray or leak our martial arts, you'll understand the rest in due time.
This is Brother Yunhu, you will begin by learning the standing stake from him."
The muscular young man said this and left Chen Yi with a youth who seemed to be around the same age as Chen Yi.
The youth's beard was still immature, but there were already some calluses on his fists. He had a certain demeanor about him as he stood.
Yunhu turned to Chen Yi and asked casually:
"Did the master bone test you?"
Chen Yi shook his head: "No."
"Did you buy any nourishing soup from the third brother?"
Chen Yi still shook his head: "I didn't buy anything."
The youth nodded and casually pointed towards a few boys standing stake in the corner and said:
"Go and stand stake over there. Come here every day for two hours. Arrange the rest of your time by yourself. I'll teach you the basic techniques and simple breathing techniques in a while."
Chen Yi had a bad feeling in his heart. The old master just glanced at him without doing a bone test. There was also no one telling him to buy nourishing soup,
It was clear that he didn't have the talent. Even selling the soup medicine seemed unnecessary.
Even Yunhu, who is my age, casually explained a few things and didn't even say when I would join him to practice martial arts.
"Brother Yunhu, am I only supposed to stand stake? When can I start learning martial arts with everyone else?"
Chen Yi asked.
"You?" Yunhu looked at Chen Yi, shook his head, and sighed: "Start with the standing stake for a few months. If you can master your Vitality and Blood, then we'll talk about learning martial arts, otherwise ..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Chen Yi already got the idea, he had been judged as having no talent and would never reach the stage of mastering Vitality and Blood.
In the corner, Chen Yi tried to imitate the posture Yunhu had shown him. After Yunhu personally corrected his posture a few times, he began to stand behind a skinny boy and practice.
He bend his legs slightly, feet not too spread out and not too close together, brought his hands in front of his chest, and tried to understand the alternating breathing method Yunhu had taught.
Not even half a quarter of an hour later, his legs felt so sore that he couldn't stand still any longer and began moving around.
"Hey new guy, what's your name?" A boy wearing a brand new, finely tailored shorts asked while turning his head to look at Chen Yi.
"Chen Yi."
"Tsk tsk, you're not good at this, you didn't even last a quarter of an hour during your first attempt. You probably won't be able to master your Vitality and Blood in three months.
Hehe, I was a little better than you during my first time, but my father bought me ten decoctions of nourishing soup. Now not even two months have passed and I can stand for half an hour already!
According to the master, I'll be able to master my Vitality and Blood in another month and officially start practicing martial arts."