SNT Chapter 19: Closing Disciple

After the roll call, Chen Qing practiced Swift Wind Blade Technique for another hour before heading home.

"Mother, I'm back." Ducking into the boat, Chen Qing placed his sword on the table and grabbed the water ladle, tilting his head back to gulp down several mouthfuls.

The cool water down his throat finally calmed his burning chest somewhat.

He removed his short jacket, sweat stains spreading dark traces across the coarse cloth.

"Have you eaten? There are still some beans in the pot."

Lady Han sat by the window, her fingers flying as she stitched shoe soles.

Chen Qing responded and was about to pick up his chopsticks when he noticed Lady Han's expression grow slightly tense. She looked left and right, then lowered her voice, "The Tiger Gang people came to collect incense money again these past two days, but they passed by our house. Recently the water bandits have been fierce, the fishing boats on the river don't dare cast their nets far. Old Gao's family is strapped for cash, I heard they even pawned their iron pot to scrape together the money..."

Ever since Xu Chengfeng learned that Chen Qing had entered obvious strength, the Tiger Gang had stopped coming to collect incense money. Lady Han sighed and continued, "Should I take a bag of rice bran over to them later? We're neighbors after all, can't just watch them go without food."

Chen Qing nodded, "Mother, it's your decision."

He too often heard his martial brothers discussing the water bandits, who were indeed more rampant than before, with many merchant boats suffering losses.

When evening approached, Lady Han carried a cloth bag and quietly went to the Gao family's connected boat.

Old Gao accepted the rice bran, his rough palms trembling slightly, his eyes reddening.

In these times, those willing to lend a helping hand were truly caring friends.

One should know that Uncle Gao's family and Uncle Dachun's family had always had a good relationship, but after the incident occurred, Uncle Dachun hadn't said a word.

In the following days, Chen Qing squeezed oil from every moment.

He rose before dawn to practice, studied techniques while on patrol, and sparred with other guards after duty.

Occasionally he would also exchange moves with the guards at the River Office, witnessing many boxing and kicking techniques, his practical combat experience improving rapidly.

Time flashed by, and three months passed.

The weather gradually became cooler.

Chen Qing had grown another three or four inches taller, his entire body filled with well-defined muscles, his whole demeanor undergoing earth-shaking changes.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]

[Through-arm Stance Work: Minor Achievement (705/1000)]

[Through-arm Boxing: Minor Achievement (601/1000)]

The progress of through-arm stance work was also much faster than the previous months.

All this was due not only to Chen Qing's diligent practice, but also large amounts of meat for nourishment.

As long as the food was good enough, plus blood qi powder supplements, one training session could increase progress by two points.

His martial arts improved rapidly, but expenses also flowed like water.

Song Tie's windfall had long been exhausted, and his River Office salary was barely enough to buy blood qi powder.

More troublesome was that as his qi and blood grew increasingly robust, ordinary meat food's nourishing effects had become negligible, while medicine supplements, though effective, were beyond his means.

This day, in Zhou's courtyard, Chen Qing was sparring with He Yan.

"Ha!"

He Yan struck first, a "Piercing Clouds and Splitting Stones" straight at the face, his fist wind whistling, actually producing a faint sound of breaking air.

Chen Qing remained unhurried, his body slightly tilting, his right hand flowing like water in a deflection, exactly the "Following Water to Push Boat" from through-arm boxing, skillfully dissolving the attack while his left leg whipped out like a whip, a "Fierce Tiger Descending Mountain" directly targeting the opponent's lower body.

Fists and feet clashed, producing continuous muffled sounds.

After several moves, Chen Qing suddenly changed techniques, a finger strike like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, hitting He Yan's shoulder well acupoint.

"Step, step, step!"

He Yan retreated several steps, smiling bitterly as he cupped his fists, "Junior Brother Chen, I admit defeat."

At the beginning of the year, he could still steadily suppress Chen Qing, but now he could barely defend himself.

Besides continuously deepening his obvious strength cultivation, the main reason was that his technique mastery was more thorough.

Chen Qing wiped the sweat from his forehead and cupped his fists, "You're too kind."

Just then, Zhou Liang's hearty laughter suddenly came from the back courtyard.

"What's happening!?"

The disciples all stopped what they were doing, unanimously looking toward the moon gate leading to the back courtyard.

They saw a disciple stumble out, his face flushed red as he shouted, "Senior Brother Qin, he... he broke through to hidden strength!"

What!?

This sentence was like thunder on flat ground, leaving all present disciples stunned.

Though obvious strength and hidden strength differed by only one character, their power levels were worlds apart.

So-called hidden strength meant 'connecting the governing and conception vessels,' training mental power and skin and hair, making the membranes of all muscles and bones throughout the body connected, with explosive force bursting forth.

Moreover, obvious strength and hidden strength held very different positions in Zhou's courtyard.

Everyone was somewhat dazed, not expecting that Qin Lie had broken through to hidden strength in less than a year since becoming a disciple.

Many disciples sighed inwardly, their expressions complex.

Though they were all disciples of Zhou's courtyard, the gaps between them were vast.

He Yan showed a bitter smile, "We people have struggled for so many years... yet Junior Brother Qin used less than a year..."

As one of the most senior disciples in the courtyard, not only had his qi and blood stagnated, it had even begun to decline.

Over these years, he had exhausted his family wealth, practiced day and night, yet could never touch the threshold of hidden strength.

At this moment, a wave of disheartment surged in his heart, and He Yan couldn't help asking, "Junior Brother Chen, is 'heaven rewards diligence' ultimately just a joke?"

Chen Qing pondered for a moment without speaking.

Just then, Zhou Liang emerged with Qin Lie, Sun Shun, Zhou Yu, Luo Qian, Zheng Ziqiao and other disciples.

The entire courtyard fell silent.

Zhou Liang's face glowed red, his hands stroking his beard trembling slightly, while Qin Lie's expression carried several parts elation.

After all, a year ago he was just weaving mats and selling shoes on the street with his sister, but now he was already a hidden strength expert.

Sun Shun and several other hidden strength disciples had rather complex expressions.

Zhou Yu smiled as she watched Qin Lie, her eyes full of relief.

Zhou Liang glanced at the disciples and stroked his beard with a smile, "Starting today, I've decided to accept Qin Lie as my closing disciple."

The master wants to accept a closing disciple!?

This sentence was like a huge stone thrown into a calm lake.

Chen Qing noticed that Sun Shun, standing in the front row, though wearing a smile, had trembling hands.

The other hidden strength senior brothers had various expressions, some envious, some jealous, but mostly indescribable complexity.

In Zhou's courtyard, disciple ranks were clearly divided.

Those who hadn't reached obvious strength were apprentices, basically just holding a title, unable to represent the school outside.

Those who reached obvious strength were considered registered disciples, could represent the school outside, and could remain in Zhou's courtyard to practice martial arts.

This type of disciple was most numerous in Zhou's courtyard.

Those like Sun Shun, Zheng Ziqiao, Luo Qian, Liu Xiaolou, Qi Wenhan and other hidden strength disciples sometimes received individual guidance from the master, counting as indoor disciples.

The final category was closing disciples, the objects of the old martial master's focused cultivation, who would not only inherit the lineage in the future, but also provide for the master and shield him from challenges.

It was no exaggeration to say that closing disciples had a closer relationship with their master than actual sons.

Qin Lie would not only receive all of Zhou Liang's lifetime learning, but could also inherit all network resources.

How could such an honor not make people envious?

Over the years Zhou Liang had been searching, the position of closing disciple had never been settled.

Now seeing Qin Lie, he finally made his decision.

"This disciple respectfully obeys the master's command!"

Qin Lie excitedly cupped his fists in salute.

At noon, Qin Lie's sister came.

His sister had dark skin and plain looks, appearing to be an honest and simple person. Hearing that Zhou Liang wanted to accept Qin Lie as an indoor disciple, she was moved to tears and nearly knelt before Zhou Liang.

Everyone present couldn't help but sigh that from now on, the Qin family had completely turned their fortunes around.

This real-life demonstration of 'when one person achieves the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven' made many poor children watch with heated eyes.

"When will I be able to succeed like this?"

He Yan watched this scene, his fists unconsciously clenching and loosening.

He thought of his bedridden father at home, of the ancestral farmland that had been sold, of countless dawns sweating like rain on the practice ground...

Subsequently, Zhou Liang took Qin Lie and his family to the apprenticeship banquet.

Though the other disciples returned to their positions to continue practicing, they were all distracted, whispering voices rising and falling.

Only Chen Qing remained as usual, burying his head in diligent practice with undivided attention.

The proficiency of his stance work steadily improved through his day-after-day persistence.

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