Chapter 16: Martial Arts Prodigy (Please add to favorites and follow for updates)

For an ordinary person, wanting to give him a gift would be impossible; they wouldn't even find the door.

Besides, he wasn't lacking for a few coins.

"I have only practiced the 'Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Method,' and no other martial arts or combat techniques. It is just that I have practiced this health-cultivation method for a long time, without stopping day or night."

"If Master Shan does not believe me, I can demonstrate it for you."

Wei Tu remained silent for a moment before reciting the explanation he had long prepared.

As he spoke, Wei Tu took the manual for the "Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Method" from his robes and handed it to Shan Wuju with both hands.

Back at the Li residence, after his health-cultivation method had reached a state of minor success, he had gained the confidence to participate in the military examinations and earn a title.

That was not arrogance or baseless confidence on his part; it was because he had compared his own strength to that of the average martial artist in the county town.

Three hundred catties of force—most ordinary martial artists truly did not possess such strength.

They merely had more courage and physical power than the average person, along with proficiency in weapons.

That was all.

Ordinary martial artists practiced martial arts, and while they could increase their strength, it was the result of grueling day-and-night training; they lacked the subtle, warm current of a health-cultivation method that reshaped the human body.

If the military examinations were truly that easy to pass, most martial artists would not have ended up as hired guards for wealthy families.

Furthermore, once his health-cultivation method reached minor success, Wei Tu’s strength had already reached three hundred catties.

A few nights ago, his health-cultivation method had broken through to major success; his strength at this moment was definitely over three hundred catties.

By Wei Tu’s estimation, his strength should be around four hundred catties.

"Practicing day and night, demonstrating the health-cultivation method..." Upon hearing this, Shan Wuju’s expression softened slightly. As he took the manual, he uttered a single word: "Good."

Over these past days, he had observed Wei Tu and had indeed noticed signs of him practicing the health-cultivation method every night.

It was just that the light in the front courtyard was dim, so he hadn't seen it very clearly.

Having received Shan Wuju’s permission, Wei Tu did not hesitate. He stood in a *xixiong* (male-female) stance, adjusted his breathing for a moment, set his posture, and began to demonstrate the stake-standing exercises of the "Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Method."

Wei Tu had long since memorized the thirty-two stake-standing postures of the "Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Method" by heart. After practicing day and night, his muscle memory had become instinctive. Once he began, there was not the slightest sense of hesitation; his movements were extremely fluid.

"This stake-standing is..."

In the courtyard, Shan Wuju’s brows furrowed tightly. His gaze shifted with the movements of Wei Tu’s stake-standing, following the transitions between the solid and the void, without blinking once.

It was the same as his judgment just moments ago.

Every stake-standing posture Wei Tu held right now was no weaker than his own in his youth.

*Fists fear the young and strong!*

In his youth, he had been far more famous than he was now; he was a renowned martial artist in Qingmu County!

"Just a set of health-cultivation exercises, practiced day and night, can actually achieve such an effect..."

After Wei Tu finished his demonstration, Shan Wuju casually flipped through the manual in his hand, comparing it for a moment, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

At first, Shan Wuju had thought Wei Tu’s claim that he only knew health-cultivation exercises was a stalling tactic, a deliberate attempt to deceive him.

He must have had another master.

But now, having seen the stake-standing exercises Wei Tu performed, Shan Wuju overturned his previous thoughts.

Solid, authentic stake-standing could not be faked.

To perform health-cultivation exercises with such proficiency, it would be difficult to achieve without years of bitter practice.

"His background is also well-known; it was I who overthought it," Shan Wuju pondered for a moment, his doubts vanishing.

"Alright, I have seen enough. No need to demonstrate the health-cultivation method again," Shan Wuju said, stopping Wei Tu, who was about to start a second round.

"How many years have you been practicing this health-cultivation method?"

He asked out of curiosity.

"More than two years, about two and a half years," Wei Tu replied honestly.

"To have such attainments in just over two years—aside from your good natural constitution, it is inseparable from your persistence..."

Shan Wuju nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face as he offered praise.

Judging solely by this level of attainment in the health-cultivation method, Wei Tu’s talent and temperament were top-tier. In Qingmu County, he was a one-in-ten-thousand martial arts prodigy.

"After today, you are my disciple. You don't need to work as a long-term laborer in the front courtyard anymore."

"Leave the grain drying and horse feeding to Deng An."

Shan Wuju said in a deep voice.

After speaking, Shan Wuju glanced at Madam Shan, who had just emerged from the main hall, and said, "Go prepare the tea for the master-disciple ceremony, and fry a few dishes while you're at it. I am taking on a disciple today."

During the days Wei Tu had been at the Shan residence, he had seen and noted his submissiveness.

If one could be a good laborer without annoying the master, then even if one earned a title in the future—whether serving as an official or living in seclusion—one would not make any major mistakes.

Of course, his submissiveness was only a minor reason for taking him as a disciple; more importantly, Wei Tu had the aptitude for martial arts and the potential to pass the military examinations.

A disciple who passed the military examinations could both inherit his mantle and look after his descendants.

Why wouldn't he do it?

"Yes, Master," Madam Shan replied, calling a maid from the courtyard to accompany her to the kitchen.

A short while later.

The maid brought over the tea for the ceremony.

"By offering this bowl of tea, you become my disciple. I will teach you martial arts, and you must provide for my old age and see me to my grave..."

"Of course, I, Shan, have sons and daughters; I don't need you to worry about that, but... you must hold that intention!"

"Do you understand?"

Shan Wuju sat on a straight-backed chair, looking at Wei Tu, who was kneeling before him, his voice measured and deliberate.

"This disciple understands."

Wei Tu nodded in response.

Martial arts were a master's bread and butter, much like a craftsman's trade; once learned, it could support one for a lifetime.

But there was also a saying: "Teach the disciple, starve the master."

According to the ancient teachings and social morality of the time, a disciple who learned a trade from a master was obligated to provide for the master's old age and funeral.

No matter where one went, this was the rule.

Given Shan Wuju’s family assets, Wei Tu didn't think he would ever have the chance to provide a meal for him...

But as Shan Wuju said, regardless of the circumstances, one had to maintain that "filial heart."

"Good. With the offering of the tea, the master-disciple ceremony is complete." Upon hearing Wei Tu’s reply, Shan Wuju looked satisfied.

Hearing this, Wei Tu did not hesitate. He took the large porcelain bowl filled with tea from the maid, knelt on the ground, and respectfully presented the tea to Shan Wuju.

Shan Wuju drank the tea in one gulp.

Following this, Shan Wuju led Wei Tu into the third courtyard and arrived at his living quarters.

Against the wall of the living room stood an altar table, flanked by two straight-backed chairs.

On the altar table, two incense candles were burning, and a blackwood spirit tablet was enshrined, with the four gold-traced characters "Late Master Shi Ming" written upon it.

"When I was young, I studied under the 'Golden Blade Hero' Shi Ming."

"The Golden Blade Hero was my master, and he is your grandmaster..."

Shan Wuju lit a bundle of incense, inserted it into the burner, and then, with a look of nostalgia, began to speak of the lineage of his school.

"Golden Blade Hero?" Wei Tu secretly committed the name "Golden Blade Hero Shi Ming" to memory.

To be able to teach a disciple who could pass the military examinations, the Golden Blade Hero Shi Ming could never have been an ordinary man.