Pu Kui had a towering figure, and his aggressive approach was quite impressive.
Zhao Rong watched the momentum of his punches and roughly gauged his level of martial skill.
Thus, he deliberately concealed his skill, holding back the majority of his Inner Strength and only channeling a small part of it, layered with a concealed force in his punches and kicks.
"Come! Face my 'Hungry Eagle Hunting Rabbit' move!"
With a shout, Pu Kui bolstered his imposing aura.
Zhao Rong saw him adopt a left bow stance and throw a fierce right punch at his head, so he thrust his left palm straight forward, blocking Pu Kui's right forearm to the left side, while positioning his right palm with a bent elbow in front of his stomach ahead of time.
Sure enough...
Zhao Rong's right palm took the initiative, pulling from in front of his belly towards the upper left, snagging and pulling back on the forearm of Pu Kui's approaching right punch.
Having seen Bao Datong use this 'Hungry Eagle Hunting Rabbit' move, and since Pu Kui had declared his style, Zhao Rong thought it fitting to respond with an Eagle for an Eagle.
Their punches and palms clashed, exchanging a move.
Pu Kui felt a jolt in his left and right arms. Zhao Rong's Inner Strength compensated for the disparity in stature and still had excess.
It was just one blow.
Pu Kui was already in pain.
Well done, lad!
In his moment of shock, he saw Zhao Rong's extremely fast handwork, his left palm sweeping downward, then around to the left before powerfully striking forward.
"This lad has fierce Inner Strength; I must not let it strike my chest."
Tensing up, Pu Kui shifted his body to the side and raised his right foot to kick back at Zhao Rong's right knee.
Such a response showed he had abundant combat experience and was familiar with this boxing technique.
But Zhao Rong was quick-witted. He smoothly stepped aside, causing Pu Kui to kick at thin air.
Missing his mark, Zhao Rong followed with a move known as "Iron Body Lean" and firmly leaned against his opponent's side.
Considering Pu Kui's unstable lower body defense, Zhao Rong pulled his punch slightly. But with a surge of Inner Strength, that lean sent Pu Kui toppling over like a man knocked off his horse!
He fell to the ground, rolling thrice before dissipating the force.
Meanwhile, Zhao Rong revealed a faint smile and approached the disheveled Pu Kui, his power now reined in.
"My apologies, Brother Pu," he said.
"Brother Zhao has impressive skills!"
Helped up by Zhao Rong, Pu Kui's address changed from "young Brother Zhao" to "Brother Zhao," evidently not daring to presume superiority due to age anymore.
Thinking back to his prior claim about "certainly not harming young Brother Zhao," he felt immediately embarrassed.
Off to the side, Lu Shilai retracted his continuous, amazed gaze and interrupted Pu Kui's attempt at making platitudes about how "fists fear the vigor of youth," immediately asking with curiosity,
"Brother Zhao, who did you practice this boxing technique with?"
"Bao Datong couldn't have taught you this level of martial arts. No wonder he tried to curry favor; it seems the Iron Fist Martial Arts School is too small for him."
Zhao Rong thought to himself.
"Lu Shilai is an old hand in the martial world. By directly mentioning Bao Datong, he cuts off any excuses I could make, wanting me to show my hand."
His mind raced for a response,
"I practiced the forms by observing Bao Datong and the school's boxing masters. After being accepted, Master Bao gave me some boxing manuals, which I used to figure out the technique on my own."
"I've practiced for two and a half years. Plus, I was naturally strong and loved the fundamentals of fists and feet since I was a child. This boxing technique suits me perfectly, and that's how I've fortuitously achieved my current proficiency."
"Two and a half years?"
"Brother Zhao is truly remarkable. It seems I've wasted my thirty-odd years," Pu Kui exclaimed admiringly.
Lu Shilai, however, appeared relieved.
He believed this explanation more than a hundred times over any claims of Bao Datong's teaching.
His eyes looked at Zhao Rong differently now.
At fifteen, having figured out his own set of skills showed his perceptiveness.
Lu Shilai's gaze gleamed subtly.
"In recent years, the disciples I've introduced to my master have all been assigned elsewhere, not one was considered suitable."
"I've been out in the world for so many years; my judgment has indeed been poor."
"If I could recommend a disciple with both talent and virtue to inherit my master's mantle, he would certainly be delighted."
"Regretful indeed."
"If it were this Zhao Rong lad... alas, I wonder if he could meet my master's discerning eye."
Lost in his thoughts, he saw the youth before him looking his way and promptly asked with a smile,
"Brother Zhao, are you from Hengzhou Prefecture?"
"Indeed."
"I was born in Hengyang, and I live below Zhao Family Fort."
"I usually fish for a living and am quite adept at swimming."
"Do you have any elders at home?"
"My parents passed away early. Only my grandfather is still alive," Zhao Rong said with a saddened expression. "Grandfather is nearly seventy, and I've learned these martial arts and fight with my fists and feet so that he doesn't have to toil and can enjoy his later years in peace."
"Now, because ruffians on Tanshui are causing trouble, the fishermen can't live in peace..."
Zhao Rong spoke with genuine emotion, without a hint of deceit in his words.
Unable to hold back, Lu Shilai praised him with a "good lad" and patted Zhao Rong's shoulder with the hand he used for practicing claw techniques.
Although there was still a need to verify Zhao Rong's story, Lu Shilai instinctively believed it all to be true.
Standing by was Pu Kui, a man of sentiment.
Upon hearing Zhao Rong's story, he too, moved by a sense of common suffering, teared up and lamented, "Both my parents died at the hands of bandits, and my wife was killed by thieves while escorting cargo, leaving only my young daughter and myself to rely on each other."
"Brother Zhao, if you ever need anything, just call on me, and if bandits trouble you, I'll join you in fighting them off."
Zhao Rong gave him a fist salute and offered a few comforting words.
In the brief time they had spent together, the friendship between the two men grew rapidly, and they even took up an invitation to drink together.
Lu Shilai started to feel somewhat superfluous.
However, his gaze towards Zhao Rong was filled with kindness, and he steered the conversation back to the Changrui Escort Agency, confirming once again whether Zhao Rong wanted to join.
Zhao Rong naturally nodded in agreement.
Even with Lu Shilai taking the lead, the process took nearly a day.
The procedure was primarily used to verify Zhao Rong's identity, including a visit to Zhao Family Fort for confirmation, and then to find Bao Datong, the recommender. Given Lu Shilai's high position in the Changrui Escort Agency, he could have easily delegated the task to his subordinates.
But Lu Shilai took a liking to Zhao Rong's talent and character, seeing him as a promising candidate, and prepared to recommend him for an evaluation as a potential disciple of the Hengshan Sect.
Therefore, he examined the details of Zhao Rong's identity meticulously, personally seeing to everything.
Not only was his identity without issue, but it also came with a pleasant surprise.
In the western market where he sold fish, there were many tales of Zhao Rong's righteous acts in punishing the fishmonger bullies.
Lu Shilai was extremely satisfied.
Master, you would surely be pleased with this find.
He decided then that after observing Zhao Rong calmly and in detail for a period, examining his speech and conduct, he would report to his master during the New Year visit—it could wait until then.
The next evening, under the enthusiastic lead of Pu Kui, Zhao Rong formally joined the Changrui Escort Agency.
He received a set of clothes typical for escort staff and a gray flat-topped hat.
This hat, with its wide brim, could shield from sunlight and sand. Long black ribbons attached to the edge could be used to tie up hair or secure sleeves to avoid hindering movement.
The boots were sturdy, with rough patterns on the soles for strong grip, suitable for walking on various complex terrains.
For a life spent traversing from south to north, practicality was key.
The storeroom manager also gave Zhao Rong a simple Jade Pendant, the most interesting item of all.
It wasn't particularly expensive.
Engraved on it by a craftsman were tiny characters, reading:
"Green waves rise along the spring bank, in this world who wouldn't wish to be immortal. The endless dike threads thinly: could there be a storm that lifts the roof off the house?"
This short poem was written vertically, and Zhao Rong read the starting character of each line in sequence—the words formed "peace and prosperity."
At the very bottom, in neat characters, it read "Zhao Rong."
Those were clearly freshly engraved.
Seeing Zhao inspect the Jade Pendant with a look of pleasure, Pu Kui told him:
"This is a peace charm the agency seeks for everyone; each person who joins gets one."
"Each one is engraved with the respective person's name, so if a brother dies on the road, you help bring back his pendant as a keepsake for the family."
Pu Kui was about to continue but he let out a silent sigh.
He touched his chest.
There, he wore two Jade Pendants.
...
Zhao Rong went to see Lu Shilai again, who was busy with matters and had no time for idle chat.
Lu Shilai handed him a small booklet with a very serious face, as though sharing a secret.
Zhao Rong was excited, thinking it must be a martial arts manual.
Martial arts manuals were not uncommon in the Jianghu, but they were either incomplete, too common, substandard, or simply fabrications that could lead to deviating from the proper path if practiced.
Zhao Rong's resources were rather scarce, so he could only practice the combined edition of "Muscle-Tendon Change Scripture" and "Sinew-Cleansing Scripture."
He followed the postures from his memory, and since he didn't understand the profound theories of acupoints and meridians, his practice of Internal Cultivation Methods was only at a superficial level, unable to unleash its full power.
If he had a master's guidance to systematically learn about this realm of knowledge, then he could fully comprehend the texts from his memory in a short time and make significant progress.
Lu Shilai, coming from the Hengshan Sect—one of the Five Peaks Sword Sects—would undoubtedly provide a manual superior to those circulated in the Jianghu.
Finding a secluded spot, Zhao Rong took the small booklet from his bosom, gleefully unveiling the gray cloth that covered it.
When he saw what was written on the booklet, Zhao Rong's smile faded.
"Head Lu, did you get the wrong one?"
"This..."
"'Xie Lin's Ancient Lost Sounds'"
"It's a music score..."
...