SNT Chapter 8: Temporary Positions

At this moment, a light appeared in his mind.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]

[Through-arm Stance Work: Beginner (228/500)]

[Through-arm Boxing: Beginner (1/500)]

This feeling was crystal clear, lifting his spirits.

Sun Shun's explanation continued, as he detailed the responses to each move.

When enemies attack, how to dodge, and which moves and techniques would be most effective for counterattack.

"Pay attention to this move 'Nimble Ape Flying and Leaping'," Sun Shun called out clearly, "If the opponent comes with a blade strike, don't meet it head-on, you must..."

His body moved nimbly, his footwork stepping diagonally, perfectly demonstrating how to avoid the sharp edge.

Chen Qing focused intently, burning every one of Sun Shun's pointers into his mind.

Seeing Chen Qing's diligence and eagerness to learn, Sun Shun's explanations became even more detailed, even personally demonstrating several killing moves.

Chen Qing practiced through-arm boxing once more, then walked to a corner of the training ground to sit and catch his breath, taking out his water pouch to drink.

"Senior Sister Zhou, thank you for your trouble."

"It's nothing, be more careful next time."

"Yes, junior brother understands."

...

A series of gentle and pleasant female voices attracted Chen Qing's attention.

He saw a young woman in plain white silk dress, holding a small celadon medicine jar in her hands, applying medicine to injured disciples.

Her fingertips were stained with brown medicinal paste, her movements gentle.

Those "wounded" disciples all had flushed faces and shifty eyes.

Sun Shun saw the confusion in Chen Qing's eyes and said in a low voice, "That's Junior Sister Zhou, master's daughter. You should call her Senior Sister. She returned yesterday from studying medicine at Azure Pouch Hall. Senior Sister is kind-hearted and often applies medicine and bandages for disciples injured during practice."

At this point, he scratched his head, showing a trace of helplessness, "Because of this, there have been particularly many junior brothers with 'sprained backs' lately."

Chen Qing naturally understood, in this courtyard full of rough men, suddenly adding a clear and beautiful white magnolia, no wonder this pack of hungry wolves would pretend to be lame and disabled.

After resting for a moment, Chen Qing took a deep breath and stood up again.

The fighting methods of through-arm boxing couldn't be mastered through blind hard practice alone, they needed to be honed through thousands of real combat experiences.

By the courtyard wall, Zhou Liang half-reclined in his grand chair with his eyes closed, occasionally speaking up with guidance.

Afternoon sunlight filtered through the old locust tree, casting dappled shadows on his face.

Time quietly passed in the splashing of sweat.

Suddenly, there was commotion at the courtyard gate.

"Master Escort Guo from Far-Sight Escort Agency is here!"

"And Manager Wang from Li's Weapon Forging Shop!"

...

The disciples all stopped their movements and looked on curiously.

More than ten people filed in, led by an elderly man in gray robes walking with the stride of a dragon and tiger, followed by several sturdy men, all with slightly bulging temples, clearly all martial practitioners.

"Third Senior Brother, what's this about?"

A curious disciple came over to ask.

His name was Guo Dachui, and he was also under Sun Shun's guidance.

Sun Shun explained, "They're here to recruit people. As long as you reach obvious strength, you can get a position at places like Far-Sight Escort Agency or Li's Weapon Forging Shop, working part-time as guards or convoy hands, earning a decent monthly wage."

He glanced at the many disciples around who had pricked up their ears to listen, and added, "Many senior brothers and sisters in the courtyard do this, otherwise, relying only on family support, how could they afford the daily expenses of eating white flour and meat?"

Temporary positions as guards!?

Guo Dachui's eyes immediately widened, his mouth slightly agape.

He came from Lower River Village, generations of poor farmers, even his apprenticeship fee was copper coins pooled together by fellow villagers. Hearing this news now, how could he not be excited?

Chen Qing also felt his heart stir.

If he could get a temporary position, he wouldn't have to worry about future tuition fees.

Sun Shun continued, "I remember the weapon forging shop offers those with obvious strength three thousand large coins per month plus thirty pounds of meat, while Far-Sight Escort Agency calculates compensation based on the length of escort missions. I'm not entirely clear on the specific calculations."

Hearing this, many disciples were eager to try.

Especially those disciples who had just entered and came from poor backgrounds, their faces showed longing.

They practiced martial arts desperately, wasn't it precisely to rise above their station and change their fate?

Three thousand large coins plus thirty pounds of meat, this was absolutely an eye-watering fortune.

You must know, Lady Han weaving nets day and night without rest, working hard for a whole month, could only earn around five hundred large coins.

Sun Shun crossed his arms and said, "Now the various powers in the county all need experts in temporary positions, so the conditions they offer are quite good. If they encounter young, potential talent with good bone structure and elite abilities..."

He paused, referring to those geniuses, "To win them over and show goodwill, they'll offer even more generous prices, some wealthy households will even consider... taking them as live-in sons-in-law."

At this time, Master Escort Guo from Far-Sight Escort Agency, Manager Wang from Li's Weapon Forging Shop, and several other wealthy merchants all sat down.

"Qin Lie, you're up!"

Zhou Liang looked around and said in a low voice, "Remember what I usually tell you."

"Yes, Master!"

Qin Lie slowly walked out and declared loudly, "Esteemed seniors and masters, I'll make a fool of myself!"

He stood steady in the center, took a deep breath, then began demonstrating his boxing techniques.

He was performing through-arm boxing, with each move making his tendons and bones crack explosively, generating fierce winds! Every punch thrown was accompanied by crisp "pop" sounds, as if the air was being torn apart.

This was precisely the realm of obvious strength.

Fierce winds howled, and Chen Qing watching from a distance felt his heart racing, especially Qin Lie's moves like 'Nimble Ape Flying and Leaping' and 'Passing Flowers on Horseback' appeared extremely refined.

Obvious strength was already completely different from ordinary people, truly stepping into the martial way.

The first breakthrough could train the entire body's strength, catalyzing obvious strength. One punch thrown would make the air explode with impressive might.

With obvious strength, one could basically walk sideways among ordinary people, possessing sufficient ability to participate in military examinations and strive for official titles.

The second breakthrough involved mental strength and skin, coordinating with the body's meridians to catalyze hidden strength, able to injure internal organs through heavy armor, mysteriously profound.

This realm already surpassed ninety-nine percent of martial practitioners, could serve as a backbone of local power, and only a few people in Zhou's courtyard had reached this level.

The third body tempering was transforming strength, where the five internal organs, flesh, tendons and bones were all suffused with hidden strength. With a shock of qi and blood, all flesh, tendons and bones would be mobilized, like thunder echoing, catalyzing the even more terrifyingly powerful transforming strength.

In all of Zhou's courtyard, only Zhou Liang was a great master of transforming strength.

After completing the boxing set, Qin Lie withdrew his stance and stood at ease, face neither red nor breathless, his breathing long and steady.

"Junior Brother Qin's speed of progress..."

Sun Shun seeing this also drew in a sharp breath, "Won't it take less than half a year before he can attempt to break through to hidden strength?"

Zhou Liang stroked his beard, his eyes showing undisguised satisfaction, "My inferior disciple is dull-witted, taking a month and a half of boxing practice to reach obvious strength, making everyone laugh."

Though his words were modest, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes couldn't hide his pride.

"Master Zhou is too modest!" Master Escort Guo was the first to step forward with a quick stride, his wild goose feather blade at his waist clanging, "For such fine jade and precious material, my Far-Sight Escort Agency is willing to invite him with thirty percent of the red goods profit!"

"Wait!" Manager Wang slammed the table and stood up, making the tea cups rattle chaotically, "My Li's Shop offers five thousand coins monthly, plus a set of refined iron weapons!"

The training ground immediately erupted.

Several servant girls brought by the wealthy merchants were so startled they covered their mouths. This price was enough to buy two strong slaves!

The senior and junior brothers in Zhou's courtyard also discussed among themselves, their eyes showing a trace of envy.

Qin Lie had been poor since childhood. Hearing such generous conditions, his breathing became somewhat rapid, and his eyes couldn't hide his excitement.

Taking advantage of straightening his sleeves, he seemingly casually swept his gaze over the faces of all his senior and junior brothers.

Those previously cold and distant looks had now turned into surprise and envy.

"Both gentlemen, please calm down, don't harm your harmony."

Seeing this, Zhou Liang stood up and smiled as he mediated, "This concerns my disciple's future, it's a weighty matter. How about we move to the inner hall later to discuss this in detail?"

Manager Wang and Master Escort Guo, hearing this, slowly sat back down.

Next, three more senior brothers who had reached obvious strength came forward to demonstrate.

Although their performances were solid, compared to Qin Lie they seemed ordinary. They ultimately also gained the favor of the wealthy merchants, but the monthly wages offered were only around two thousand coins, far less than Qin Lie's.

Everyone knew this was because they valued Qin Lie's potential.

Soon, the recruitment process ended.

Sun Shun looked at Chen Qing and the others with a complex expression, saying, "You few need to reach obvious strength as quickly as possible..."

Catalyzing force through qi and blood was the foundation of martial arts practice.

Obvious strength, hidden strength, and transforming strength were the essence of through-arm boxing.

To break through, one must have strong qi and blood as support, and qi and blood required day after day of cultivation, as well as supplementing with meat and medicinal tonics.

"Poor in literature, rich in martial arts", this saying wasn't just talk.

Except for disciples with exceptionally good bone structure, for ordinary people the difficulty of each breakthrough was extremely high.

If unsuccessful, all the silver, time, and energy invested in the early stages would be completely wasted.

Chen Qing cupped his fists and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

Guo Dachui hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Third Senior Brother, if we can't reach obvious strength..."

"Then don't continue suffering in the courtyard."

Sun Shun was silent for a moment, then said with a bitter voice, "Go work odd jobs at escort agencies and weapon forging shops, serve as guards for wealthy households... do some hard and tiring work, you can always have a bite to eat."

As his words fell, the hearts of several people around turned cold.

Guards? That sounded nice, but they were really just servants to be ordered around by the wealthy.

Which person who came to the courtyard to practice martial arts didn't dream of passing the military examinations with high honors and bringing glory to their ancestors!?

Chen Qing's eyes narrowed slightly.

He knew clearly that the urgent priority was to step into the realm of obvious strength as quickly as possible.

These words made Guo Dachui and the others' expressions turn grave. They then silently walked away, throwing themselves even more vigorously into their practice.

They all held back their frustration, determined to reach obvious strength.

Before anyone realized it, evening had arrived, and the disciples in the courtyard departed one after another.

Chen Qing practiced stance work once more until his whole body's muscles ached, then wearily walked to sit in a corner of the training ground to catch his breath.

"It's so late, haven't you gone home yet?"

A gentle voice sounded.

Chen Qing looked up to see Zhou Yu walking out from the inner courtyard, her plain white silk dress particularly striking in the dim light.

Chen Qing wiped the sweat from his forehead and respectfully replied, "Replying to Senior Sister, junior brother is dull by nature and can only make up for it through diligent study and hard practice."

"Martial arts practice should balance work and rest, you must not be too hasty."

Zhou Yu said with concern, "Pay attention to your body, otherwise it will be counterproductive."

Chen Qing cupped his fists and said, "Thank you for Senior Sister's concern, I was just preparing to rest."

Zhou Yu waved her hand, saying, "That's good then. If you're not practicing, go home early."

"Senior Sister, then junior brother takes his leave."

Chen Qing simply tidied up and left Zhou's courtyard.

Watching Chen Qing's retreating figure, Zhou Yu sighed softly.

This junior brother was humble and polite to others, and exceptionally hardworking in his practice, she naturally remembered him.

But in this courtyard, she had seen too many figures like him gritting their teeth in hard practice.

In the end, how many could endure through that qi and blood threshold to break through to obvious strength?

The path of martial arts, relying on diligence alone, ultimately couldn't bridge the gap in bone structure and aptitude, much less fill that bottomless pit of nourishing qi and blood.

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