Chapter 10: Unexpected Harvest

Chapter 10: Unexpected Harvest

Jiang Ning stood in the courtyard, assuming a stance, and instantly recalled the Five Beasts Fist that Master Wang had just demonstrated in his mind.

In that moment, the scene from earlier vividly replayed before his eyes, as if Master Wang were practicing the fist style in front of him once more.

"The effect of photographic memory is indeed a great help for my martial arts training!" Jiang Ning rejoiced in his heart.

He immediately began to practice the Five Beasts Fist according to the memory in his mind.

Each move and posture were imitated precisely as he remembered them, and he synchronized his breathing with the technique described in the manual.

Master Wang, standing beside him, watched Jiang Ning's practice and nodded slightly.

Although Jiang Ning's every move appeared extremely immature in Master Wang's eyes, it was like a child's attempt at drawing a tiger.

But even this was enough to satisfy him.

Because, from Jiang Ning's every move and the rhythm of his breathing, it was evident that Jiang Ning was on the right path.

Even if his current movements were clumsy, he was still on the correct path.

It took Jiang Ning an entire incense stick's worth of time to finish practicing the Five Beasts Fist.

At this moment, his chest heaved as if he were a bellows, and his entire body was drenched in sweat.

After practicing for half an hour, he had already reached his physical limit. If not for his determination, he would have stopped long ago.

However, he vaguely felt that even though he was weak at the moment, his body seemed to have grown stronger, and his arms felt more powerful.

[Five Beasts Fist Experience Points +1]



[Skill]: Five Beasts Fist (Beginner 1/10)



When Jiang Ning saw this familiar prompt, a smile appeared on his exhausted face.

"Excellent! Truly excellent!" Master Wang nodded repeatedly in praise.

Jiang Ning panted, "This is all thanks to your teachings, Master!"

Master Wang nodded slightly, "You have indeed memorized everything! It seems you weren't lying to me earlier; you truly possess the gift of photographic memory!"

Then, he sighed with emotion, "With your talent, you should participate in the Imperial Exams and strive for official rank! That's the path most suited for you to rise above the rest."

Jiang Ning spoke up, "Master, you know the current world conditions. Without any martial arts skills, one wouldn't even have the ability to protect themselves in times of trouble!"

Hearing this, Master Wang nodded in agreement, "That's true. In today's world, learning martial arts is essential! Your idea is not wrong."

He waved his hand, "Completing the fist style for the first time is quite exhausting for your body's essence. Go and rest well. Later, go to the kitchen and get a bowl of medicinal soup. Tomorrow, we'll have lunch at the martial academy. Remember, in practicing martial arts, moderation is key. Overdoing it is like indulging in nightly revelry, which can harm your body's essence."

"Thank you, Master, for your teachings! I understand, Master!" Jiang Ning bowed with a joyful expression.

Master Wang waved his hand, "No need for thanks! After collecting the tuition fee, I'll take care of your midday meals for the next six months, saving you the trouble of running back and forth. As for dinner, you can take care of it yourselves after drinking the medicinal soup. Now, you may take your leave! Don't disturb my sleep unless necessary."

"Yes, Master!" Jiang Ning bowed and withdrew.

After Jiang Ning left the rear yard, Master Wang turned to the woman beside him and asked, "Li Qing, what do you think of him?"

"He's not bad!" The woman nodded slightly, "There's some potential there!"

"Oh? Then, I'll have to keep an eye on him!" Master Wang laughed, reclining in his wicker chair.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

As Jiang Ning's figure appeared in the front yard, a man approached him. This man wore a green brocade robe, with his hair coiled in a crown. He exuded an aura of nobility, clearly from a wealthy or prestigious background.

"Are you the new disciple who joined the martial academy today?" The man in the green brocade robe raised his hand towards Jiang Ning.

"Yes!" Jiang Ning also bowed in response.

"I am Zhou Xing. You can call me Senior Brother Zhou," the man in the green brocade robe smiled slightly and introduced himself.

Jiang Ning instantly understood, "I am Jiang Ning. Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou!"

"So, you're Junior Brother Jiang!" Zhou Xing, in his green brocade robe, smiled, "May I ask, Junior Brother Jiang, which family or clan do you come from in the outer city?"

"I come from an ordinary family in the outer city!" Jiang Ning replied honestly.

"Oh, you're from the outer city!" Zhou Xing, upon hearing this, not only didn't show any sign of looking down on Jiang Ning but became even more enthusiastic, "Junior Brother Jiang, for an ordinary family to gather enough silver to join our Waveflow Martial Academy, and it's evident that you've endured many hardships. I admire your perseverance."

As he finished speaking, he reached for his waist and took out a brocade box from his chest.

"As your senior brother, I'm meeting you for the first time as you begin your martial arts journey. I'd like to offer you a ginseng root as a token of our brotherhood. From now on, we should get to know each other better."

Zhou Xing took out a long red brocade box from his bosom and presented it to Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning was taken aback by this gesture.

"Take it, Jiang Xiao Shidi!" Zhou Xing said with a friendly smile.

Jiang Ning nodded.

"Since it's like this, thank you, Senior Brother Zhou!" Jiang Ning replied.

Zhou Xing waved his hand dismissively, "We're like family as fellow disciples, no need to be so formal!"

He then added, "I won't disturb you further, Jiang Xiao Shidi. I'll go visit Master Wang first. Study the fist techniques well, and once you pass Master Wang's test, becoming a true disciple of the Martial Academy, I'll treat you to a drink, and we won't stop until we're drunk!"

"Alright!" Jiang Ning agreed.

"Senior Brother Zhou is so generous! He's giving away wild ginseng!"

"Indeed! Among all the senior brothers in the Martial Academy, Senior Brother Zhou is the most righteous."

"That's right, and he treats everyone with warmth. Even towards disciples from the outer city, he's never shown any disdain or contempt!"

After Zhou Xing left, Jiang Ning heard the whispers around him, and he began to understand.

"Zhou Xing seems to have the persona of a righteous and generous man, and in this world, he's quite a smart one!" Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

He then opened the red brocade box and saw a ten-centimeter-long wild ginseng lying inside.

"This is indeed generous. A wild ginseng like this would cost ten to twenty silver ingots!" Jiang Ning marveled inwardly, "I wonder where this Senior Brother Zhou comes from?"

Jiang Ning immediately plucked a few strands of the ginseng's whiskers, about one-tenth of the total, and put them in his mouth, slowly chewing.

He had just completed a full set of Five Beasts Fist with the breathing technique, and his body was already exhausted, drenched in sweat.

As he swallowed the chewed ginseng whiskers, he felt his body gradually regaining strength.

"It's indeed a treasure! No wonder they say scholarly poverty, martial riches!"

Jiang Ning carefully placed the brocade box containing the ginseng on his waist.

Feeling his body regaining strength, Jiang Ning went to the nearby well and drank the cool well water.

Roar!

Suddenly, a roar sounded in his ear, like a thunderclap.

Jiang Ning looked up and saw the King of Beasts, who had been sleeping in the iron cage, now awake, roaring ferociously at the crowd in the open space.

"Jiang Shidi, see that! This tiger was personally captured by Master Wang. Observing this tiger will help you understand the divine and form of the Tiger Form Fist. If you can comprehend the divine, you will achieve mastery in the fist technique. If you can achieve mastery within six months, it proves your insight is sufficient, and you'll be qualified to become a true disciple of the Martial Academy, gaining access to the core legacy!"

A woman's voice, with a hint of etherealness, spoke by his ear.

Without turning, Jiang Ning knew it was Senior Sister Li Qing, the woman in blue training attire who had spoken earlier.

He nodded, understanding her words.

"Senior Sister, does that mean most people in the Martial Academy specialize in Tiger Form Fist?"

"Indeed! Tiger Form Fist emphasizes explosive power. It's not only a good cultivation method but also a suitable fist technique for combat!" Li Qing affirmed Jiang Ning's statement and continued, "That's why I also suggest you focus on Tiger Form Fist. Since you were neither born rich nor noble, this can change your future destiny!"

As they spoke, Jiang Ning felt his strength gradually recovering, and in a short while, he had regained much of his energy.

"The medicinal effects of this wild ginseng are truly powerful!" Jiang Ning marveled at the changes within him.

"Did you eat the wild ginseng Senior Brother Zhou gave you?" Li Qing suddenly asked.

"Yes, Senior Sister, how did you know?" Jiang Ning inquired.

"Your face is flushed, your heartbeat is faster, and there's steam rising from your head. It's clear you've taken a powerful tonic!"

"Senior Sister, will this be a problem?"

"No problem. Senior Brother Zhou's family is in the herb business, and these are genuine wild ginseng. It's a bit nourishing for someone who hasn't practiced martial arts yet. You need to digest it through practicing the fist technique. With the ginseng's medicinal power, you can practice the fist technique freely without harming your body's essence." Li Qing explained.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning felt relieved.

"Senior Sister, then I'll go practice the fist technique!"

Li Qing stepped back, giving him space.

She added, "Jiang Shidi, it's best to focus solely on Tiger Form Fist. Only then will you have a chance to comprehend the divine and form of the tiger within six months, achieving the realm of Tiger Form Fist mastery."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end