Chapter 70. I'll Get Your Money Back (5)

Thanks to the medicine Wei Jiyan applied yesterday, my arm felt much better by morning. It seemed the ointment made by the Medicine King was indeed very effective.

'Well, it's only natural for a medicine used by the Pang family.'

In the training of prestigious schools and families, sparring is highly valued. With so many injuries, it's only natural to use good medicine like this.

'Should I ask Wei Jiyan for a few more?'

These medicines may seem insignificant, but they are crucial for survival in the martial world. Even I only used the best golden wound medicine, known as the Huang Family Golden Wound Medicine. After all, life is more precious than money. As I rubbed my arm to check if it was okay, thoughts of Beigong Lin came to mind.

'When I think about it, Master Beigong seems to be teaching in the right direction.'

Recalling how prestigious schools and families emphasize sparring, it was clear that Beigong Lin was teaching in the right direction. Although he isn't very good at explaining things convincingly.

'The silver tael is definitely worth it.'

With a much better mood, I headed to Fengyun Martial Hall. After changing into martial clothes, I went to the training ground as I did yesterday, where Beigong Lin was waiting for me.

When I arrived at the training ground, Beigong Lin said to me, "You're here?"

"Yes. Did you wait long?"

I asked because I saw him standing motionless in the center of the training ground before I changed into my martial clothes.

Beigong Lin shook his head and replied, "Not that long. About half an hour."

"..."

I should come an hour earlier from tomorrow on.

I decided to change the subject and asked what we would do today.

"What will we be doing today?"

"Today, we'll learn a few techniques."

"Techniques, that sounds good."

Nothing is as helpful in actual combat as techniques. After assuming a stance in the center of the training ground, I prepared to spar with Beigong Lin.

When I got into position, Beigong Lin said he would demonstrate first and pointed to the hilt of the sword he was holding.

"The sword hilt can also be a weapon."

"The sword hilt?"

"Yes. Let me show you."

I didn't understand how the hilt could be used as a weapon, but it became clear when I saw him do it.

Beigong Lin showed me how to use the hilt to strike the back of my hand. I rubbed my slightly numb hand and marveled.

"The hilt can be used like that?"

"Yes. When you close the distance, anything can be a weapon. Knees, elbows, everything can be a weapon."

"Hmm..."

The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was something to ponder.

Until now, I had only focused on how to wield the sword, but knowing these practical tips would have helped me win many more battles.

'If it weren't so tough, I might have quit long ago.'

That was my honest feeling.

As we practiced various techniques, Beigong Lin suddenly spoke up.

"Um, that... thing."

"Yes?"

I stopped and looked at her, and Beigong Lin seemed very embarrassed, trying to say something. After waiting for a while, she kept hesitating, so I asked, "What's wrong?"

Beigong Lin, as if gathering all her courage, cleared her throat a few times and said, "Um, how are you?"

"What?"

How are you? I'm receiving training from you right now.

Seeing my bewildered expression, Beigong Lin realized she had said something ridiculous and her face turned red.

"Um, no, that's not what I meant."

Stuttering, Beigong Lin looked up at the sky and said, "The weather is nice, isn't it?"

"..."

Why are you bringing up the weather out of nowhere?

I sighed and asked, "Master, what's going on?"

"Um, yes?"

"Can you tell me why you're acting like this?"

Beigong Lin, with a slightly red face, bowed her head a bit and said, "Um, the other masters advised me that if I only focus on teaching, the officials won't be able to handle it. They suggested I should sometimes chat a bit..."

"That's true."

That's a valid point.

In any service industry, it's important to listen to the customer more than talk about yourself. No matter how good a trainer is at helping you lose weight, if they only repeat 'ten more! ten more!' without any engaging conversation, members will likely quit.

'Still, your conversational skills are really lacking.'

Just asking how someone is doing out of the blue is awkward. You need to start with a smoother question to get the conversation going.

After some thought, I decided to give her some advice.

"If you want to chat during breaks, it's best to start by asking what they do for a living."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Ask what they do and how it's going."

The key to conversation is to get the other person to talk more than you.

In the service industry, it's more important to listen to the other person than to talk about yourself. Unless you're a social butterfly, you won't excitedly talk about yourself to someone you just met or still feel awkward around.

So, it's better to choose a topic that will make the other person talk more, like asking about their job.

'And the most appropriate topic is work.'

It's not for nothing that taxi drivers ask, "What do you do?" when a passenger gets in. Anyone can talk a lot about their job, making it easy to start a conversation.

'Of course, it doesn't work for the unemployed.'

That's the only drawback of this conversational technique.

For reference, this is my own secret (秘傳) I learned after reading dozens of books on conversation skills after a disastrous blind date.

"Do you understand?"

After explaining, Beigong Lin nodded vigorously, trying to remember everything.

"I see. Talking about work is a good start."

Her nodding looked so innocent, it was a bit cute. Seeing this, I shrugged and said, "Yes. It's a safe topic and one where the other person can talk the most."

It's also a topic that's unlikely to cause conflict. Beigong Lin, pondering my words, asked, "Mr. Cheng, you said you're a mid-level escort, right?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me a bit about the escort business?"

"Sure."

I was also a bit tired and wanted to rest.

Thinking it was a good opportunity, I started talking about the escort business.

***

During breaks in the training, I would share a story about the escort business. Some of the stories were quite interesting, and Beigong Lin would often ask questions with sparkling eyes.

"Ho, Iron Steel City. That's impressive."

"Yes. I sent it to Yungar, and thinking about it still gives me chills."

Beigong Lin nodded in fascination.

In fact, few jobs involve traveling around Central Plains as much as the escort business. In an era where most people live and die in the place they were born, hearing stories from other regions or places is indeed quite interesting.

We continued to chat occasionally during training, and when the topic of the Golden Bear Temple's commission came up, she asked curiously, "Do escort businesses also take on personal commissions?"

"Yes, but not very often."

Since escort businesses are more like private military companies focused on logistics, they do sometimes take on such commissions.

However, these commissions are often expensive, and the client usually has a high social status. Moreover, they consider the relationships in the martial world before taking on a job, so it's not common.

Only high-ranking officials or influential people in the martial world can usually afford it, not ordinary people.

"Thus, it's not easy for ordinary people to take on such commissions."

"Is that so?"

Beigong Lin's face fell a bit. Thinking the topic might be boring, I quickly wrapped it up.

"Yes. Usually, only high-ranking officials or famous figures in the martial world."

"Hmm... I see. Thank you."

Beigong Lin nodded quietly, her expression a bit gloomy.

'Is it the lighting?'

The training ground is in a secluded spot, so the sunlight often hits it strangely.

I noticed that popular masters usually teach in spacious, sunny training grounds.

I felt a bit sorry for Beigong Lin.

'The training is tough, but it's helpful.'

Thinking I had already taught her some conversation skills and hoping she would do well, I asked, "Master."

"Yes?"

"Wouldn't it be better to change your teaching method so more officials stay?"

From what I saw, the problem was that she was teaching like a special forces instructor. I decided to suggest it indirectly.

Beigong Lin looked uncomfortable and said, "I learned this way from my master, and I don't know any other method."

"Is that so?"

"..."

"Yes. My level isn't high enough to change my master's teachings. So, I teach exactly as I learned from my master."

"Ah, I see."

I nodded politely.

From what I heard before, Beigong Lin's level is upper mid-level.

Considering her age, it's a remarkable achievement, but if she hasn't reached the level of a disciple, it's right to teach as she learned.

'She seems to lack flexibility.'

The level of a disciple refers to how well one has mastered their master's teachings. It's like the Shu-Pa-Ri (守破離) in swordsmanship.

Shu (守): Following the master's teachings exactly.

Pa (破): Breaking the framework of the master's teachings.

Ri (離): Moving beyond the master's teachings to achieve a higher enlightenment.

These levels are separate from one's own level, such as being a first-class or high-level expert.

Some may be at the Ri level despite being only first-class, while others may still be at the Shu level despite being high-level.

This is more about personality than talent. Beigong Lin, who seems inflexible, is likely still at the Shu level.

"Let's get back to training. Stand up."

"Yes."

After a short break, I refocused on the training.

***

Ten days passed, which felt both long and short. It was a tough but very helpful time.

Personally, I hoped it would be as helpful for Beigong Lin, but things didn't go as I wished.

"There you go again! Are you trying to ruin the business? Just, I need to ruin Fengyun Martial Hall! I need to thoroughly destroy it! What are you thinking?"

"..."

I sighed as I watched Beigong Lin being scolded by Zhaosha Shi from a distance.

'Ah...'

Zhaosha Shi was scolding Beigong Lin, who was standing in the training ground, while gesturing wildly.

He seemed to be trying to do it where others couldn't see, but unfortunately, that place was my training ground, so only I could see it.

'Is he angry because of the person who left yesterday?'

Yesterday, for the first time since I arrived, one more person joined. Beigong Lin immediately sparred with him and, finding his stability and strength lacking, made him do Shangguan Gong (上罐攻).

Shangguan Gong involves lifting and lowering a pole connected to a bucket of water in a horse stance. After about half a day of lifting and lowering a 30kg bucket, he couldn't take it and quit.

Beigong Lin, who had brought a light black tea, looked dejected as she held the empty water bottle and said to me, 'He left without even asking what he does...'

'...'

Even if she had asked, it probably wouldn't have made much difference.

In any case, it seemed Zhaosha Shi was scolding Beigong Lin for this reason.

I thought about revealing myself and making him stop, but I decided against it, thinking it might make Beigong Lin feel more embarrassed. So, I spent some time out of sight.

'Today is my last day of training, and I'm worried about what will happen next.'

After today, Beigong Lin will be back to having zero officials.

'She's a good person.'

The problem is that she lacks common sense.

Not just in teaching, but in everyday situations. She just bows her head without even trying to defend herself when someone is angry at her.

'At least if she defended herself, it would be better.'

People might think that when a boss is angry, you shouldn't defend yourself, but it's actually better to defend yourself actively.

If you just stand there or keep saying "I'm sorry," the boss might think, "What's wrong with this guy?" and get even angrier.

After about ten minutes of hiding, I saw Zhaosha Shi storm off, still muttering.

I waited until he was out of sight and then entered the training ground, where I saw Beigong Lin's eyes were red.

"..."

"Ah, you're here?"

Beigong Lin wiped her eyes and greeted me. Her wet eyes were heartbreaking.

'Oh...'

I took out a cloth from my pocket. It was for emergency first aid, but it could pass as a handkerchief. I handed it to her and said, "It seems you got some dust in your eyes. Use this to wipe them."

Beigong Lin froze when I offered the handkerchief. After a moment, she spoke softly, "Thank you."

She took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes, then said, "I'll wash it and return it later."

"You don't have to..."

But Beigong Lin left without hearing my response.

'Oh dear.'

I had no choice but to spend about 30 minutes stretching in the training ground. As I was stretching, Beigong Lin returned.

When she came back, she was her usual self.

"Let's start today's training."

I nodded.

***

The final day of training ended, and evening came. Beigong Lin handed me the water bottle and asked, "Was the training helpful?"

"Yes. It was a productive ten days."

I drank the black tea from the bottle and answered. It wasn't just empty words; it was tough, but I definitely felt my skills improve.

Hearing this, Beigong Lin nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work during the training."

"No, it was a good time."

The half tael was definitely worth it. Just that made it worthwhile.

I finished the last of the black tea and handed back the empty bottle. However, Beigong Lin hesitated and didn't take it.

'Hmm?'

After holding the empty bottle for about 30 seconds, I felt awkward and spoke up.

"Um..."

"Yes?"

"Take the bottle."

I need to go home.

Beigong Lin hesitated for a while, then finally took the bottle.

"Then, I'll be going. Goodbye."

I said my final goodbye with a mix of relief and regret. Just as I was about to turn and leave, Beigong Lin called out to me.

"Um, wait."

"Yes?"

I stopped and turned to look at her. Beigong Lin seemed to be trying to say something, but then shook her head and said, "Never mind. Goodbye."

Beigong Lin bowed her head and said this. Seeing her like this, I asked, "Was there something you wanted to say?"

Beigong Lin looked down and hesitated, "It's... nothing."

"Or is there something you want to consult about?"

I had a feeling there was something. Beigong Lin hesitated and then said carefully, "Because of the Wibiao you mentioned before, I wanted to ask Mr. Cheng something."

"Wibiao?"

"Yes. But I don't want to trouble you."

Beigong Lin looked embarrassed. I remembered mentioning Wibiao before. It seemed she had something she wanted to commission. I nodded slightly.

"Listening doesn't cost anything, and it's no trouble. Go ahead and ask."

Hearing my straightforward response, Beigong Lin hesitated and then asked cautiously, "I understand."

"Yes. What is it?"

I leaned in to listen carefully. Beigong Lin spoke hesitantly.

"Could the Baiyun Escort Service accept a commission to recover this Fengyun Martial Hall?"

"Recover it?"

It was an unexpected and significant question.