Behind the East Market Shop, there is an open space, where yellow soil is compacted and leveled, paved with large bluestones.
Bai Qi busied himself, first moving the rocking chair from the counter over.
Then he helped the unsteady, limping Liang Laoshu to sit down steadily.
He also served hot tea, setting up cups and bowls to quench thirst.
In his previous life, he joined the trade through some backdoor means, and things went smoothly for him.
Apart from being good-looking and eloquent, he also had a remarkable talent for serving his master.
In just a few years, he mastered the real skills, much faster than the fellow apprentices who joined at the same time.
"You, kid, are so likable. Sanshui doesn't have this kind of cleverness, his brain isn't as nimble.
If he had half of your ambition, the East Market Shop might not be 'Yang' named."
Liang Laoshu took a sip of the scalding tea and remarked with feeling.
There's a balance to flattering people.
Too obvious, and it becomes obsequiousness.
Which instead easily draws scorn and irritation.
Only when it's just right does it feel comfortable, making people think you're worth getting close to.
Ah Qi really understands this.
No wonder among so many fishermen, Sanshui likes to talk with him, and Yangquan even considered recruiting him.
"Brother Shui is steady and warm-hearted.
Who at the East Market Pier doesn't give a thumbs up when they hear his name."
Bai Qi didn't rush to shout, "If you don't mind, I wish to acknowledge you as my godfather."
He saw clearly, the old man's dissatisfaction with Liang Sanshui was just on the surface, he still cared deep down.
If an outsider like him hurriedly tried to be the filial godson, it might seem he harbored other intentions.
"What a joke! Those who can establish a big family business in Black River County, who aren't ruthless and cunning?
These days, showing kindness and doing good deeds only get you marked as easy to bully.
Sanshui, he's just too soft, lacking in spirit."
Liang Laoshu hummed lightly, his words harsh but inwardly pleased.
His own son he could reprimand, but if others dared look down on him, it was like slapping his face.
"Speaking of serious matters, success in martial arts mainly depends on one's innate abilities.
What are these abilities? Broad shoulders, a thick waist, a robust frame, all signs of someone who could succeed.
In simpler terms, it's about being tall and strong, with sturdy limbs and bones.
A strong physique, great strength!
Such people eat well, drink well, and stay grounded in practice, easily sensing energy and controlling their Qi Blood!
When practicing martial arts, they get twice the results with half the effort, progressing swiftly!
Liang Laoshu held his teacup with both hands, speaking slowly:
"I just felt your bones, it's rare that they aren't crooked.
Big blocks of muscle show signs of training, and your Qi Blood is sufficient.
Generally speaking, fishermen going into the river every day.
Their bodies accumulate dampness heavily, they can only drink alcohol to ward off the cold, with age, they suffer back and leg pain.
Especially with poor meals, living under tiring conditions, full one meal and starved the next.
Leading to weak bodies, deficient Qi Blood.
This is called lacking talent, poor innate abilities!
Even after three to five years of hard work, they struggled to step through the door."
Bai Qi's thoughts fluttered, just like in his previous life about fitness exercises, large frames tend to show results easily.
Those naturally thin and with weak foundations.
It's not that they can't train, but they need to work multiple times harder with more sweat.
"Fortunately, with skill as support, daily training didn't consume too much energy.
Plus, fishing lately earned money, eating meat and rice, with sufficient nutrition, I nursed my body well."
After practicing the Eight Brocades, Bai Qi's arms and thigh muscles are full, his waist is sturdier by a circle, no longer a thin frame.
This made him a good candidate for martial arts as Liang Laoshu mentioned.
"But you only know how to nourish Qi Blood, haven't learned forms; so, you can't exert your strength.
It's like a big fool swinging a clumsy fist, perhaps intimidating to outsiders.
But meeting a real practitioner, you'd be knocked down in three moves."
Liang Laoshu half-squinted, again scrutinizing the young man before him.
Long legs, broad shoulders, bronze skin covering the muscles and bones.
The whole body is well-proportioned and strong, showing a neat strength.
"Pity, your height just falls short, if you were seven or eight feet tall, you'd be a perfect nine-heads figure.
But you're still young, your bones can stretch, there's no rush."
Liang Laoshu finished his criticism, coughed twice, and spat out phlegm.
Then he moistened his throat with tea and started to get to the main point:
"Martial arts training is about techniques, there are many essentials within.
Most martial arts halls in Black River County that can stand firm, mostly have unique skills.
Outsiders fumbling on their own are lucky to achieve nothing.
Not to mention those who didn't cripple themselves among them.
Ah Qi, do you know the Four Great Components?"
Bai Qi nodded:
"I've heard of them, training muscle, training bone, training skin, and training Qi — four levels!
Also known as, Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, Mercury Blood and Silver Marrow, Water and Fire Immortal Robe, and Circulation of Qi."
Liang Laoshu smiled:
"Later, it's the talk of the Daoist Officials and Immortal Masters in the Prefecture City, our martial practitioners aren't that scholarly.
Practicing muscles means training your whole body's large muscles to be solid and full, with sensitive reactions.
At the time of great success, one can open a bow of eighty or ninety pounds and fight tigers, leopards, and wolves barehanded.
To become a practitioner, first rely on 'Qi Blood'.
The body strong and robust, the face flushed, only then can you start practicing kung fu.
Through stance breathing, gradually sense, and then grasp it.
Then, with punches and kicks, refine the 'Refined Power'.
With power in your strikes, strength flows through the body, able to lift a thousand-catty cauldron, Monument-Breaking Stone-Splitting is no problem!"
These common knowledge pointers that one could only learn by joining a Martial Arts Hall, Bai Qi carefully remembered.
He sorted it out simply.
The First Training Major Barrier is divided into "Nourishing Qi and Blood," "Sensing and Grasping."
Lastly, it's "Refining Power."
He thinks he's unconsciously about to reach the third step relying on the eight-segment skill book.
"How to practice power? Naturally, with moves!
The Inner City has dozens of Martial Arts Halls, with fists, palms, legs, claws, Light Body Step Technique, all the way to grappling, covering everything.
No one can master everything, energy is limited.
Before twenty, being able to refine the 'Refined Power' of one school's kung fu.
Muscle Training Great Success, stepping into the barrier, can be considered 'outstanding.'"
Liang Laoshu fiddled with his teacup, looked up, and asked:
"Ah Qi, how old are you this year?"
"Next month, I'll be seventeen."
Liang Laoshu nodded:
"Hmm, although starting slightly late, the progress isn't slow.
With your foundation, within three years, refining the 'Refined Power' of a kung fu set should be achievable."
Bai Qi deliberately showed a hint of anticipation and excitement, knowing the real deal comes next.
Whether that Silver Sand Carp was worth it.
Now to see if Old Liang was generous enough.
"You boy, listening to me ramble about boring nonsense for so long finally showed some spirit."
Liang Laoshu teased a couple of sentences, then said solemnly:
"Fifty taels of silver isn't much for me, Sanshui.
But for your family's background, it's a considerable gesture.
I don't like taking advantage lightly.
You enter the Martial Arts Hall to apprentice, according to procedure, after the twenty taels of tea money, you get an average Lower Martial Arts.
Capable of nourishing Qi Blood, sensing and grasping, but refining power is wishful thinking.
At least three to five years without accomplishment."
Bai Qi agreed wholeheartedly, having already speculated similarly while chatting with Xiaotou.
A good skill for making a living doesn't come easy.
Working as a laborer at Fishery, Chai Market, or Fire Kiln, enduring for three years to become a qualified "Miscellaneous Task" worker.
Then serving five years to become an "apprentice," only then can you follow the master to learn the craft.
Endure for over ten years, become a "long-term worker," barely supporting a family.
"I worked at Fishery, due to having a decent foundation, made several achievements, gained recognition from the boss, taught a middle-level 'Eagle Flipping Eighteen Techniques.'
Studied hard and practiced diligently, succeeded in eight years, stepping into the First Training Major Barrier."
Liang Laoshu grinned, mentioning past events, his murky eyes burst with some ferocious spirit.
He flipped over the teacup, his three skinny fingers, like chicken claws, turned around the bottom of the cup, forcibly clasped a "finger ring" into a circle.
Bai Qi appropriately showed surprise on his face.
Martial Artists Monument-Breaking Stone-Splitting shows great power, but to exert force in fingers like carving with a knife, easily cutting off the bottom of a cup without damage.
This really shows the level of skill attained!
"Eagle Flipping Eighteen Techniques, also called 'Eagle Claw Flipping Fist.'
Hands and feet balanced, posture is large, aggressively advancing, striking long and far…"
Liang Laoshu, showing off a little, looked up like stuck with words, not speaking for a while.
Bai Qi understood, quickly took the teacup from the old man's hand, refilled it, respectfully offered it.
"If I had your awareness and insight back then when learning fist and foot techniques, I might have been a direct disciple, surpassing that Yang Meng."
Liang Laoshu said with satisfaction.
Yang Meng?
Yangquan's father?
Bai Qi silently noted the name.
"This Eagle Claw Flipping Fist is the full set Fishery bought from Celestial Eagle Martial Arts Hall.
Most are father-to-son, not for me to teach you."
Liang Laoshu, like a street storyteller, shook a burden back and forth.
Bai Qi's eye corner twitched listening, couldn't help clenching his fists.
This old man is too mischievous!
"But, I do have another piece of superior kung fu with me.
It's from when I saved an old physician, given by him.
Called 'Golden Core Great Strength Skill,' also known as 'Vigorous Qi Iron Cloth Shirt'!"