Chapter 40

The Yang clan possessed more than one scroll containing the secrets of martial arts, and Yang Ji's first reaction was "impossible"!

In the "True Martial Hall," there was only one mysterious scroll left by the ancestors, which was the foundation of the Yang clan. All Yang clan members who wished to enter the realm of martial arts had to enter the "True Martial Hall" to comprehend it.

This was a fact known to everyone, and it had never changed in over a hundred years. Most of the Yang clan's martial arts experts had emerged from the "True Martial Hall."

However, Uncle Liang actually said that there might be other scrolls in the Yang clan, and his words seemed to have deep meaning, suggesting that it was not just idle talk.

"Uncle Liang, does our Yang clan have any other such places besides the True Martial Hall?"

Yang Ji asked.

"I don't know, young master. You know I don't know martial arts."

Uncle Liang looked at Yang Ji with a bitter smile, paused, and then said:

"However, when the old master was still alive, I once heard him mention that the Yang clan had another scroll besides the True Martial Hall."

"Ah!"

Yang Ji exclaimed in surprise. He never expected that this matter would involve his father. After the initial shock, Yang Ji grabbed Uncle Liang's sleeve and said excitedly:

"Uncle Liang, do you mean there is a second scroll?"

Yang Ji rarely heard about his father. When his father was an official, he rarely sent news home. Yang Ji never expected to hear news about his father in such a situation, and it was even related to the secrets of the martial arts realm.

"Um."

Uncle Liang nodded, his eyes filled with memories:

"That was over ten years ago, when you weren't even born. The old master was still young. I remember he was very happy, holding a scroll and laughing heartily. He said that everyone in the clan knew about the 'Fist Intent Unity' scroll in the True Martial Hall, which was left by the ancestors. But no one knew that there was actually another scroll besides that one."

"The 'Fist Intent Unity' scroll, yes, that's the name."

Yang Ji's mind buzzed. He remembered that Yang Meng had clearly mentioned this name to him.

"The old master also said that the second scroll was related to the ancestors, but it wasn't drawn by them. Instead, it was discovered by the ancestors by chance. The ancestors emulated the content of that scroll and drew the true copy in the True Martial Hall. They founded the clan and took root in Pingchuan County based on that 'Fist Intent Unity' scroll."

"I don't usually care much about martial affairs, but because this matter is related to the ancestors of the clan, I still remember it after so many years."

Uncle Liang was lost in his memories, his face softening as he recalled the past.

"Uncle Liang, do you mean that the scroll ended up in Father's hands by chance? But why have I never heard of it?"

Yang Ji's heart was in turmoil, the shock indescribable.

"Um."

Uncle Liang nodded:

"I also asked about this. The old master laughed and said that the Yang clan is the Yang clan, and the only thing that could be passed down was the scroll drawn by the ancestors. The second scroll was from an outsider, so it couldn't be hung in the True Martial Hall. One scroll was enough, and there was no need for two. Then the old master gave me the scroll."

"Ah! Uncle Liang, where is the second scroll?"

Yang Ji asked nervously.

Back then, almost everything in Yang Ji's home, except for clothes, was taken away. When he later rushed to the shed, he was almost penniless. Even if there was a scroll, it was probably...

Yang Ji couldn't help but feel anxious, filled with hope and fear of disappointment.

"Ha ha."

Uncle Liang looked at Yang Ji and smiled:

"When the old master had his incident, his things were also taken away. I thought they might come after me, so I kept the scroll hidden in my clothes. At the time, I just thought it was a gift from the old master, and it would be nice to keep it as a memento. Later, the madam indeed..."

Uncle Liang said. He didn't finish his sentence, but he saw Yang Ji's face turn red with excitement, his eyes filled with surprise.

"Uncle Liang, that's great!"

Yang Ji was overjoyed, unable to contain himself, and hugged Uncle Liang, lifting him up: "Great, great, great..."

Yang Ji said "great" three times, his excitement evident.

With only a few months left before the imperial examination, time was tight, and the madam controlled the "True Martial Hall." Yang Ji was in a difficult situation, but he never expected Uncle Liang to bring him such good news, which was a pleasant surprise.

After more than eight years, Yang Ji never expected to receive another blessing from his father!

Uncle Liang quickly found the scroll in his chest. The madam, when she attacked Yang Ji and his mother, never paid attention to Uncle Liang, a mere servant. This oversight, after many years, benefited Yang Ji.

The madam never imagined that after controlling the "True Martial Hall," Yang Ji would still find the second "Fist Intent Unity" scroll, and it was even the one the ancestors initially learned from!

"Is this really the 'Fist Intent Unity' scroll?"

Yang Ji looked at the mysterious scroll. The edges of the scroll were yellowed, clearly very old.

The "True Martial Hall" was so famous that it represented a holy place in the hearts of all Yang clan members. It wasn't because of the "true copy" by the ancestors, but because it represented the hall of martial arts.

Before this, Yang Ji had also imagined what the "Fist Intent Unity" scroll might look like. Would it be made of gold and silver threads? Would it depict a posture for practice like the "Divine Dragon Bone Strengthening Pile Method," with a mantra written beside it?

However, Yang Ji never expected it to be just a simple white paper scroll. In the center of the paper, there was a water-ink fist, rough and grand, with no words or mantras.

"Uncle Liang, is this really the scroll?"

Yang Ji asked doubtfully.

The scroll was too ordinary, ordinary to the point that, except for the paper being thicker than any other paper Yang Ji had seen and the fist having some artistic value, there was nothing special about it.

Even from an artistic perspective, the scroll was only of medium quality, not a masterpiece.

Yang Ji couldn't even confirm if the scroll had been passed down for over a hundred years.

"This..."

Uncle Liang's lips moved:

"Master, you know I don't know martial arts. I don't know if this is the scroll you're looking for. — But what I told you is exactly what the old master said to me when he was alive. And this scroll is indeed the one the old master gave me!"

At the end, Uncle Liang was very firm and certain.

"Um. Uncle Liang, I'm not doubting you. It's just that this scroll is too strange."

Yang Ji said.

As long as Uncle Liang confirmed that this was the scroll his father mentioned, it must be correct. Yang Ji believed that his father would not have spoken without reason. If he said it, it must be true.

"I hope to comprehend the secrets of this scroll before the martial examination."

Looking at the scroll, Yang Ji suddenly felt nervous.

The "Martial Arts Realm" was a narrow bridge, and only those with extraordinary talent and luck could reach the other side.

Over the years, countless people from the Yang clan had entered the "True Martial Hall," but not all of them successfully reached the Martial Arts Realm.

Many Yang clan members, who were once highly regarded by the family for their diligence and hard work, were stuck at the tenth stage of breathing, unable to advance.

To enter the "Martial Arts Realm," effort alone was not enough!

This was a decisive moment that would determine one's fate, and Yang Ji didn't know if he could succeed.

...

From that day on, Yang Ji closed the doors and windows and studied the old "Fist Intent Unity" scroll alone in his room.

During this time, the madam had become much more restrained. However, Yang Ji still had Xiao Ji patrol outside, and he would be alerted if anyone approached.

The "Fist Intent Unity" scroll was very large, about four feet square. Yang Ji examined it repeatedly, trying to uncover any hidden secrets.

"The paper is special, quite thick, but there's no significant difference. There are no words on the back, and no mantras can be found."

Yang Ji stared at the scroll, his eyes filled with thought:

"But Father said this is the same as the scroll in the True Martial Hall. Even the scroll in the True Martial Hall was copied from this one. This must be true. Could there be some other secret I don't know about?"

Yang Ji looked at the fist in the center of the scroll. The fist was very large, almost taking up two-fifths of the space.

When Yang Ji first saw it, he thought it was rough and bold, but now, he noticed a simplicity and efficiency hidden within the roughness, as if it was completed in one stroke, with no unnecessary lines.

"What secret does this scroll hide?"

Yang Ji muttered to himself, lost in thought. Only by comprehending the secrets of the scroll could he understand the secrets of martial arts and finally enter the true "Martial Arts Realm."

The light outside the window changed, from weak to strong, and then from strong to weak, finally fading completely. When his vision blurred, Yang Ji suddenly realized he had been sitting there all day.

He lit an oil lamp, sat back in front of the scroll, and continued to study it.

For several days, day and night, Yang Ji remained in his room, studying the secrets of the scroll.

After three days, Yang Ji looked haggard, but he had gained nothing.

"Is my talent really not enough to comprehend the secrets of the scroll and reach the Martial Arts Realm?"

Yang Ji raised his head, feeling a sense of despair.

Throughout history, countless people had entered the "True Martial Hall" but never left, unable to comprehend the secrets of the scroll. Many diligent and talented individuals had been stuck here, never advancing.

If he couldn't understand the secrets of martial arts, he couldn't deal with the madam, couldn't stand on his own, and couldn't investigate the truth of his father's death!

Since practicing martial arts, Yang Ji had never felt such fear.

"No, no... I have read many classics, and in terms of insight, I am not inferior to anyone. There must be some secret I haven't uncovered."

Yang Ji's confusion lasted only a short time, and his gaze soon became firm.

On this path of life, he had no retreat. No matter what, he would not back down.