Free Web NovelChapter 17: Chapter 15: Shan Wuju’s Teachings
「A few days later.」
Wei Tu’s worries came true.
After seeing Wei Tu persistently practice his Health Cultivation Technique every night, and then win the masters’ appreciation for his diligence and competence, Deng An’s expression grew uglier by the day.
Their relationship was no longer what it once was.
So, banking on his long tenure with the Shan Family and his previous position as foreman, Deng An began bossing Wei Tu around during the day.
However, much to Deng An’s surprise, Wei Tu didn’t talk back or argue. He simply turned and completed every task he was given, neatly and efficiently.
Whether it was sweeping the courtyard, cleaning the latrines, feeding the horses, chopping hay, or reaping wheat, Wei Tu handled every task with meticulous ease.
Mrs. Gao of the Shan Family and Shan Wuju took notice, praising Wei Tu for his cleverness and capability while reprimanding Deng An for his laziness.
This completely broke Deng An’s spirit. On the third day of the wheat harvest, he went to town to buy a jug of wine and some seasonal cold dishes. That evening, while the long-term laborers and tenant farmers were cooling off under the elm tree in the stronghold, he apologized to Wei Tu.
"I was wrong. I shouldn’t have been jealous of you, Brother Wei..." Deng An said, a sincere look on his face.
After a few cups of wine, Deng An explained why he had been trying to push Wei Tu out.
"Brother Wei, you’re just too diligent, too energetic. If you stay with the Shan Family, they’ll probably fire me next year and just keep you."
"People like you are resented wherever you go. I thought you were trying to drive me out, but I didn’t expect you to actually be this hardworking..."
Deng An sighed.
After more than ten days of constant work, reaping wheat from one side of the river to the other, even a man of iron would collapse. But Wei Tu endured it. He was full of energy every day and still had the spare time and inclination to practice his techniques at night.
This made Deng An completely abandon his previous ideas and stop targeting Wei Tu.
In the end, he didn’t dare to do anything as drastic as murder or arson. Since the usual tricks of the long-term laborers couldn’t drive Wei Tu away, his only choice was to make peace.
"If the Shan Family fires me next year, I’ll just go find work with another family," Deng An added.
"Brother Deng, you’re joking," Wei Tu said, shaking his head and picking up a few bites of food with his chopsticks.
He still didn’t tell Deng An his real reason for coming to the Shan Family.
’If I pass Shan Wuju’s "test," it won’t be long before I can learn unarmed combat skills from him. By then, Deng An will naturally feel at ease.’
’Even if I don’t pass the "test," I’ll be leaving the Shan Family next February to go to the County Town for the Military Examination anyway...’
Wei Tu didn’t know if Shan Wuju was even testing him, or what the test might be, but he understood one thing: a calm, discreet person was most likely to win favor.
Besides, the reason he didn’t argue with Deng An during the day wasn’t because he was kindhearted, but because after achieving Great Success in his Health Cultivation Technique, his stamina was truly far beyond that of an ordinary person.
What Deng An considered exhausting, bitter labor was not that difficult for him to handle.
Finally, Deng An was just a foreman. There was little point in arguing with him.
Seeing that Wei Tu was still a man of few words, Deng An sighed silently and didn’t ask any more questions.
「Five days later.」
The wheat harvest at the Shan Family Stronghold was finally over.
As Wei Tu was spreading out the last sack of new grain from the estate to dry in the yard, Shan Wuju rode over on his Yellow Steed. A trace of admiration showed in his eyes as he said, "After I take my horse for a ride, I’ll teach you archery."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shan Wuju galloped off on his Yellow Steed, disappearing over the highlands in a cloud of dust.
It wasn’t until sunset that Shan Wuju returned, leading his horse by the reins.
"The Military Examination assessment has three parts related to archery: drawing a hard bow, Horseback Shooting, and Step Shooting."
"You could say that if you want to earn a title in the Military Examination, your archery must be excellent."
Shan Wuju clapped his hands.
Soon, a maidservant from the estate came over carrying a lacquered wooden tray.
On the tray were three bows of different styles: a shortbow for Horseback Shooting, a longbow for Step Shooting, and a hard bow for testing strength.
"This is a Five-Stone Hard Bow!" Shan Wuju announced, picking it up. He stared at a straw target in the corner of the courtyard, his entire presence suddenly turning sharp and intense.
THWANG! THWANG! THWANG!
With just three sharp sounds of the bowstring, the three feathered arrows Shan Wuju had nocked on the hard bow shot forth, piercing the air and landing squarely in the bullseye of the straw target.
"One stone is one hundred catties. This Five-Stone Hard Bow requires five hundred catties of strength."
"As long as you can draw this Five-Stone Hard Bow, you’re guaranteed at least a Grade A in the bow-drawing portion of the Military Examination."
Shan Wuju took a few deep breaths and placed the hard bow back on the lacquered tray.
Drawing the Five-Stone Hard Bow just now had taken a huge toll on his body.
At that moment, another waiting maidservant poured a cup of cool tea from a pot and offered it to Shan Wuju.
Shan Wuju drank the small cup first, but feeling it wasn’t enough, he lifted the entire pot and drank straight from the spout.
As tea trickled from the corners of his mouth, fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, cheeks, and neck.
"Drawing a bow requires the Bow Step Stance. I’ll demonstrate it for you a few times. Memorize it."
Shan Wuju didn’t rush to let Wei Tu try the bow. Instead, he staggered his feet and assumed the Bow Step Stance.
The moment he moved, his legs seemed to instantly take root in the green bricks of the courtyard. His body stood tall and straight like a pine tree, completely unmoving.
"The Bow Step Stance trains your foundation. Once it’s solid, your legs will be like they’re cast from bronze and iron. With a stable base, any attack against you will feel like a light breeze blowing over a mountain..."
Shan Wuju said slowly.
After speaking, Shan Wuju relaxed from the Pile Skill, took a towel from the maidservant, wiped his sweat, and gestured for Wei Tu to copy his movements and begin practicing.
Wei Tu nodded. Mimicking how Shan Wuju had just set his stance, he stabilized his body, staggered his feet, and settled into the Bow Step Stance.
Having practiced his Health Cultivation Technique for over two years, Wei Tu was no stranger to Pile Skill. The Bow Step Stance that Shan Wuju had just demonstrated was also among the thirty-two Pile Skill diagrams in the *Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique*.
There were just some minor differences in the specific details.
Quickly, Wei Tu adjusted his body, replicating Shan Wuju’s Bow Step Stance with about seventy to eighty percent accuracy.
’This Pile Skill...’
’It’s actually on par with mine when I was young?’
Shan Wuju, who had been about to point out Wei Tu’s mistakes, raised an eyebrow in astonishment after watching him complete the Bow Step Stance.
He still remembered that, over half a month ago, Wei Tu had said he had only ever practiced a Health Cultivation Technique.
’Right! The *Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique* also has Pile Skill in it, so it’s not surprising he knows the Bow Step Stance.’
Shan Wuju rationalized to himself.
But he quickly shook his head, overturning his own thought.
’The Pile Skill from a Health Cultivation Technique is usually extremely shallow. Martial Artists consider them little more than children’s drawings. You can practice them, but they’re not fit for any serious application.’
’You can’t develop such a formidable Pile Skill just by relying on a Health Cultivation Technique.’
"Wei Tu, have you ever practiced any other kind of unarmed martial arts before? Tell me the truth, or else..."
Shan Wuju’s gaze fell on Wei Tu, his expression suddenly turning cold.
’Secretly learning the Martial Arts of another school is a major taboo.’
’The light punishment is to have your skills crippled.’
’The severe one is death.’
’Besides.’
’How could a dignified Military Examination Master like myself be fooled by someone?’
’Wei Tu said he came here to be a long-term laborer, but by entering the Shan Family, he’s practically half a Disciple of mine.’
’Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made him promise to present annual gifts as a sign of respect after he achieves fame and success, right at the beginning of his training.’
...
