Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Strengthening the Body with Pile Skill, Entering the Path with Qi and Blood

’The first part of his pitch sounded pretty prestigious, but that final comparison...’

’Doesn’t that just mean it has no real status?’

Xie Yuan grumbled internally, but he certainly didn’t dare say it out loud.

After all, among the three martial arts schools in Panlong Town, the Iron Cloth Sect was ranked third.

Most who wanted to learn martial arts had restless hearts. Compared to the Iron Cloth Shirt—a skill for taking hits—Fist Skills and blade arts were definitely much more popular.

However, Xie Yuan also understood the disciple’s point. The Iron Cloth Sect had many disciples and a decent reputation, making it quite influential in Panlong Town.

Prajna Temple, on the other hand, was a major power in the entire Great Li Dynasty—a top-tier Sect.

He committed the name to memory. This was his first glimpse into the upper echelons of power in this world.

The welcoming disciple was still going on and on:

"...Master Liu has deep connections with Prajna Temple, which is how he learned this Iron Cloth Shirt with its hidden Buddhist rhythm. He made a name for himself, founded our school, and began recruiting disciples far and wide."

"Brother, learning the Iron Cloth Sect’s Iron Cloth Shirt is like learning a bit of Prajna Temple’s Golden Bell Shield! Joining the Iron Cloth Sect is practically the same as joining Prajna Temple!"

’Can you even make that kind of comparison?’

’And yet, it still gets your blood pumping to hear it!’

Xie Yuan felt this disciple’s silver tongue was truly impressive. Placing him at the gate to welcome guests was a sign of the Iron Cloth Sect’s good judgment in personnel.

’Deep connections? Buddhist rhythm? It’s probably all just talk. If that Sect Leader Liu was really a disciple of Prajna Temple, even just a lay disciple, he wouldn’t just be at the Second Training, opening a martial arts school in this backwater town. Getting into a top-tier Sect is a big deal.’

’But it doesn’t matter how much he boasts. The fact that he can open a school and take on students means his skill must have some substance. The Martial Dao begins with Skin Training, and the Iron Cloth Shirt might even be an easy way to start. Anyway, my mind is made up.’

Xie Yuan thought to himself.

He had asked enough questions and had already made his decision, so he cupped his fists toward the disciple.

"How does one go about joining your esteemed sect to learn martial arts?"

The gray-robed disciple’s eyes lit up when he heard this.

"Simple! Follow me!"

He led Xie Yuan into a large courtyard. Inside was a vast open space used as a training ground, where many disciples were currently practicing.

As Xie Yuan and the gray-robed disciple walked past the training ground and deeper into the courtyard, Xie Yuan was curiously sizing up the practicing disciples. The gray-robed disciple asked:

"Brother, my name is Cao Shan. What’s your name? Where are you from?"

"It’s good to meet you, Senior Brother Cao. I am Xie Yuan, from Xiaoshi Village."

"Xiaoshi Village, huh? That’s not too far."

Cao Shan led Xie Yuan into a study, had an accountant register his name in a ledger, and collected eleven taels of silver.

Xie Yuan felt a pang of heartache as he handed over the large silver ingot, but the thought of finally being able to touch the Martial Dao made him push the feeling aside.

He had been saving money precisely for this purpose—to learn martial arts and change his destiny.

"Alright, Junior Brother Xie, you are now a disciple of our Iron Cloth Sect. The process wasn’t too difficult, was it?"

Cao Shan patted Xie Yuan on the back and smiled.

"It... was indeed quite simple."

Xie Yuan said. He had expected some kind of formal apprenticeship ceremony, not just handing over money. It was so convenient that it made him feel uneasy, as if he’d been scammed.

Cao Shan, as if reading his mind, explained:

"Junior Brother Xie, our Iron Cloth Sect has three types of disciples: registered disciples, Core Disciples, and Direct Disciples."

"Those like you who pay eleven taels of silver to learn our skills are all registered disciples. As you can see, it’s essentially paying for lessons. There are no major obligations, so there aren’t many rules."

"Core Disciples also have to pay, but not as much. Their fees are mostly for daily meals, supporting the school’s expenses, and the cost of medicinal baths and supplements. They don’t have to spend a fortune to learn the skills."

"Core Disciples are selected by the masters. They are disciples with a certain amount of talent who are willing to commit to training at the Iron Cloth Sect. Once they join, they share in the school’s fortunes. I am a Core Disciple."

"Then there are the Direct Disciples. Needless to say, they are the Sect Leader’s personal apprentices. They call him Shifu, not Master. They are expected to inherit the Sect Leader’s mantle, care for him in his old age, and see to his funeral, making them like his own children. Their training, food, drink, supplements, and medicinal baths are all provided by their Shifu. And of course, the Sect Leader’s true skills are taught only to them."

"But to become a Direct Disciple, you need training talent and good character—neither can be lacking. And even that’s not all. Your personality also has to suit the Sect Leader’s tastes."

Cao Shan’s tone was filled with emotion, his envy self-evident.

Xie Yuan nodded. This organizational structure was very clear and logical.

’If I could become a Core Disciple, or even a Direct Disciple, I’d save a lot of money...’

But everything has a price. Although Core and Direct Disciples could learn for free, they also had to bear greater responsibilities.

He pushed the thought from his mind and asked Cao Shan:

"Senior Brother Cao, when can I start my training?"

"Come back the day after tomorrow. A new batch of registered disciples is starting then, so you can all begin together."

Cao Shan said.

Xie Yuan nodded and cupped his fist.

"Alright. In that case, Senior Brother Cao, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

"See you the day after tomorrow, Junior Brother Xie."

After seeing Xie Yuan to the gate, Cao Shan stood at the entrance, thinking to himself:

’This Junior Brother Xie is polite and quite distinguished-looking. He doesn’t seem like someone who grew up in a mountain village at all. He makes a good impression.’

’But with his background, his chances of changing his fate through martial arts are slim... Learning martial arts isn’t easy, but the school needs them for income, so there’s not much I can say... Seeing how he was scraping together loose change... sigh, I won’t recommend the medicinal soups from the private wing.’

’I just hope that when Junior Brother Xie leaves the school in three months, he won’t get stubborn and try to force his training, injuring himself. I’ll make sure to explain things clearly to him then.’

「Two days later.」

Xie Yuan arrived at the Iron Cloth Sect early in the morning and saw four other people in the training grounds, their faces filled with excitement.

The four were also dressed plainly, not much different from him. The best-dressed among them looked like they came from an average family at most.

Xie Yuan understood that these were the other new registered disciples.

’I wonder how many of them, after emptying their family’s savings, will actually achieve their goals?’

Besides the five of them, Cao Shan and another burly man were also standing on the training ground.

The burly man was dressed in a black martial arts uniform that wasn’t very thick; it even seemed a bit thin for the winter morning. But his complexion was ruddy, and he appeared completely unaffected by the cold.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Cao Shan announced loudly:

"To all new junior brothers, let me introduce you. This is our Iron Cloth Sect’s eldest disciple, Senior Brother Hodar. He is the Master’s Direct Disciple, has perfected Skin Training, and is a First Training Martial Artist. Going forward, the Master will guide you periodically, but most of the time, Senior Brother Huo will be your instructor."

A First Training Martial Artist!

This man before them, who didn’t look very old, was actually a Martial Artist.

The faces of the new recruits turned serious, and they all greeted him in unison:

"Greetings, Senior Brother Huo!"

Hodar seemed rather stoic. He nodded, and when he spoke, his voice boomed like a great bell:

"All of you junior brothers have just joined, so you probably don’t have a deep understanding of the way of martial arts."

"In the initial stages, a Martial Artist tempers their body, nurtures their vital energy, and then strengthens their skin, flesh, tendons, and bones. This process works from the outside in, which in turn strengthens their Qi and Blood. This cycle repeats, allowing one to continuously ascend."

"You may not understand much of this right now, and that’s fine. Martial arts are practiced, not just talked about, so we will practice first and talk later. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Senior Brother Cao or me at any time."

"Now, I will teach you the training method for our Iron Cloth Sect’s Iron Cloth Shirt. We will start with the Pile Skill, which consists of three static and three dynamic movements, for a total of six routines. I will demonstrate it once. Watch closely."

Hodar took his stance, twisting his waist and sinking into a horse stance, then moved through various postures.

Sometimes he was as solid as a statue, holding a rigid pose; other times he moved his hands and feet in continuous rotation.

Xie Yuan and the other disciples hurriedly tried to copy him, memorizing the movements with great focus. Cao Shan watched from the side, occasionally helping them lift a hand or adjust a leg to prevent incorrect postures and self-injury.

By the time Hodar finished the demonstration, the new disciples were already drenched in sweat, panting and groaning:

"This is so hard!"

"I can’t make my body do that pose!"

"My back! I think I pulled my back..."

Xie Yuan also found it incredibly awkward on his first try and felt much the same.

’This body has never been trained; it’s too stiff. Trying to master the basics in a short time is going to be difficult.’

’I thought training the Iron Cloth Shirt would involve hitting trees and getting beaten with sticks, but it starts with Pile Skill. You use Pile Skill to strengthen the body and Qi and Blood, and then, as he said, use Qi and Blood to reinforce the body—the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones? Is taking hits just the external aspect, while this latter method is the true path of a Martial Artist?’

He was lost in thought, a basic concept of the Martial Dao beginning to form in his mind.

Just then, text appeared before his eyes.

[You have had an epiphany: Strengthen the body with Qi and Blood to enter the Martial Dao.]

[Iron Cloth Shirt - Novice: (1/100)]

[An external Horizontal Training skill with a hidden Buddhist rhythm.]