Chapter 70: Test

"Silver coins?" The two brothers asked in unison, "Do we need to pay silver coins to learn martial arts?"

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Master Wen's face changed drastically. He slammed the writing brush on the table and said angrily, "Who would teach you without silver coins? Do you think you're fooling me by the looks of it?"

The Zhang brothers hastily said they dared not, and then Zhang Xiaohu explained the situation about the guards from the Ethereal Manor sending them over. The Fourth Master Wen's anger subsided slightly. He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of water, and then spoke, "It seems the guards made a mistake. This isn't your fault."

Zhang Xiaohu asked curiously, "Fourth Master, what exactly went wrong?"

The Fourth Master Wen, seeing Zhang Xiaohu's respectful demeanor, cleared his throat and said in a teacher-like manner, "Since you've come from afar, I'll give you a brief explanation."

"Learning martial arts usually takes place in a martial arts school, where you have to pay tuition. If you live and eat at the school, there are also accommodation fees. In Pingyang City, our Lotus Escort Agency is the largest, and we don't have a separate martial arts school. Our agency also serves as a martial arts school, and we regularly recruit people to learn martial arts. However, going to the Ethereal Manor to learn martial arts was a mistake. Martial arts schools accept people of all ages, based on their martial arts foundation and aptitude. The best age to start learning martial arts is around five or six years old. After that, it's much harder to become a great martial artist. Martial arts schools teach basic techniques, while the Ethereal Manor recruits disciples, usually only accepting children around five or six years old. You would definitely not be accepted there."

Hearing this, the Zhang brothers' faces changed dramatically. They had thought they could temporarily stay at the Lotus Escort Agency and then join the Ethereal Manor, but it seemed they had been too naive.

Zhang Xiaohua asked nervously, "Fourth Master, what did the guards mean by sending us here?"

The Fourth Master Wen smiled, stroked his beard, and said, "The Lotus Escort Agency, besides teaching martial arts, mainly focuses on the escort business. Recently, we've been short on personnel and need to recruit some guards and escorts. I think that's what they meant."

Zhang Xiaohu quickly asked, "Do we need to pay silver coins?"

The Fourth Master Wen replied, "The guards and escorts work for the agency, so you don't need to pay silver coins. You'll receive a monthly salary."

Zhang Xiaohua asked, "Can we learn martial arts?"

The Fourth Master Wen said, "Of course. You need martial arts to protect yourself while on escort missions. How could you do it without learning martial arts?"

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu's eyes immediately lit up. This job, where they could learn martial arts and earn silver coins, was too good to be true.

However, the Fourth Master Wen's next words plunged them into despair: "But the guards and escorts we recruit must have a martial arts foundation. Have you practiced martial arts before?"

Zhang Xiaohu pouted and said softly, "No, we haven't."

The Fourth Master Wen's face darkened immediately. "How could the guards from the Ethereal Manor be so careless? They sent you here without asking properly. They should have just sent you home."

Then, he suddenly brightened and asked, "Where are you from?"

Zhang Xiaohu replied, "Luzhen."

The Fourth Master Wen muttered, "Luzhen, Luzhen. I haven't heard of any disciples from there."

He then asked, "Luzhen is quite far from here. How did you know about the Ethereal Sect?"

Zhang Xiaohu only mentioned knowing Wen Wenhai and Lu Yueming, without going into further details.

The Fourth Master Wen's frown eased, and he understood the guards' intentions.

He said with a more amiable tone, "Since that's the case, you should go see the guards. Without a martial arts foundation, you won't be accepted as a guard. If there's a shortage of guards, there's still some hope. Come, I have nothing to do, so I'll take you to see Li Lao Liu."

With that, he got up and led the two brothers out, leaving them feeling honored.

The Fourth Master Wen brought the Zhang brothers to the fourth room next door, asked them to wait outside, and then entered. Inside, there was a lean man, about thirty years old, smoking a pipe. Seeing the Fourth Master Wen enter, he smiled and said, "What brings you here, Fourth Master Wen?"

The Fourth Master Wen, seeing the room full of smoke, walked to the window, opened it, and fanned the smoke away, saying, "Li Lao Liu, will you die if you smoke less? The room is full of smoke, who would want to come here?"

Then, he asked, "How's the recruitment going? Have you filled all the positions?"

Li Lao Liu, holding his pipe, tapped the bowl on the chair and said, "It's almost done. We're short one or two guards, but the guards are a bit of a problem. There are quite a few fewer than needed. After all, the pay is low, and it's a dangerous job. Those with a bit of foundation prefer to be guards. Even those with less foundation can work as guards for carriages and other places, which is better than risking their lives in the escort agency."

The Fourth Master Wen chuckled and said, "That's perfect."

He then turned and let the Zhang brothers in, introducing Zhang Xiaohu to Li Lao Liu, "This is Li Lao Liu, responsible for recruiting guards. Introduce yourselves."

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua quickly greeted him.

Li Lao Liu looked at Zhang Xiaohu and then at the Fourth Master Wen, puzzled, "What's going on? You want him to be a guard?"

The Fourth Master Wen nodded, and Li Lao Liu examined Zhang Xiaohu, asking, "You don't seem to have practiced martial arts, right?"

Zhang Xiaohu respectfully replied, "Yes, I haven't practiced."

Li Lao Liu looked at the Fourth Master Wen, confused, "If he hasn't practiced, what's the point? How can I accept him? Being a guard is dangerous. Have you explained this to him?"

The Fourth Master Wen smiled and said, "Being a guard isn't the same as being a bodyguard. Knowing martial arts isn't necessary. I understand this. He just wants to learn martial arts, and..."

Then, the Fourth Master Wen whispered something in Li Lao Liu's ear, and Li Lao Liu nodded repeatedly. However, he still said, "Although guards don't need to know martial arts, if their bodies aren't strong or they lack the aptitude for martial arts, I can't accept them. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, I won't be able to explain to the others."

The Fourth Master Wen smiled and said, "They are farmers by origin, so their bodies should be fine. Take him to the training ground for a test. If he can do it, great. If not, explain it to him. We can't risk his life just to learn martial arts."

He turned to Zhang Xiaohu and said, "Do you agree?"

Zhang Xiaohu nodded vigorously.

Li Lao Liu had no choice and said to Zhang Xiaohu, "Alright, follow me."

He led Zhang Xiaohu to the training ground outside, where some people were already practicing. Some were practicing punches and kicks, some were using weapons, and others were lifting stone locks to build strength. Li Lao Liu led Zhang Xiaohu to the stone locks. The people lifting stone locks put them down and greeted Li Lao Liu, standing aside. Li Lao Liu pointed to a stone lock and said to Zhang Xiaohu, "This is a 100-pound stone lock. Can you lift it?"

Zhang Xiaohu shook his head, "I don't know. I've never lifted one before."

Li Lao Liu said, "Try it."

Zhang Xiaohu nodded, walked forward, grabbed the stone lock, and tried to lift it. He took a deep breath and, mimicking what he had seen earlier, lifted the stone lock over his head with one hand and then put it down. He turned to look at Li Lao Liu, who nodded and said, "Not bad. That one is 150 pounds. Try it."

Zhang Xiaohu looked at the slightly larger stone lock and lifted it, but his forehead was already sweating. Li Lao Liu seemed somewhat satisfied, and the onlookers, who had been dismissive earlier, were now impressed. After all, for someone Zhang Xiaohu's age, who didn't look particularly strong, lifting 150 pounds without training was quite good. Li Lao Liu didn't stop there and pointed to another stone lock, "This is 200 pounds. Try it."

The onlookers were surprised. The 200-pound stone lock wasn't the heaviest in the training ground, but not everyone could lift it when they first arrived. Only a few muscular men could show off their strength from the start. The rest had to train and build strength before they could lift it. Li Lao Liu was either testing Zhang Xiaohu's potential or deliberately making it difficult.

Zhang Xiaohu, like a young bull, was undaunted. He first felt the weight, which was heavy, but thinking about his future in martial arts, he took a deep breath and, with one arm, tried to lift it. Unfortunately, just as he was about to lift it over his head, his arm weakened, and the stone lock fell to the ground. Zhang Xiaohu's face turned pale, but the onlookers cheered, and several people clapped. Li Lao Liu nodded and smiled, "Not bad, very good."

At this point, Zhang Xiaohu realized he had passed the strength test.

Then, Li Lao Liu asked Zhang Xiaohu, "You've never practiced martial arts, right?"

Zhang Xiaohu nodded in agreement.

At this moment, the onlookers, attracted by the applause, gathered around. Li Lao Liu pointed to a young man about Zhang Xiaohu's age and said, "Little Monkey, come over and perform the Six Harmony Fist."

Then, he turned to Zhang Xiaohu and said, "Watch carefully. After he finishes, repeat it."

The Six Harmony Fist was a simple introductory set of moves. In Little Monkey's hands, it was performed with skill and precision, showing that he had put in a lot of effort. Zhang Xiaohu watched intently, and when Little Monkey finished, the onlookers applauded.

Li Lao Liu looked at Zhang Xiaohu, who closed his eyes, seemingly recalling the moves. After a moment, he slowly began from the first move, performing it step by step. Although his performance lacked power, it was precise and well-structured. As he continued, Li Lao Liu became increasingly impressed, and the onlookers were stunned. When he had performed about two-thirds of the set, he stopped, scratched his head, and said apologetically, "I forgot the rest."

Li Lao Liu sternly asked, "Be honest, have you ever practiced martial arts before? Have you ever practiced this set of moves?"

翻页上AD开始

翻页上AD结束