Chapter 25: Farewell, Disperse!
"Time to make some money!"
The excitement ended, and the crowd dispersed.
Yan Chuan looked at the wealth he had accumulated over the years, with only 44 taels left: "Only enough to buy five or six more doses of 'Dragon Tiger Powder.'
Not enough!
Yan Chuan entered the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall at the age of six, and for the first ten years, his master Cheng Fengxiao took care of him, providing for his food and drink. From the age of sixteen, Yan Chuan helped his master manage the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, earning a monthly salary of two taels of silver.
By the time he was twenty, Yan Chuan's martial arts were starting to take form, and he began to roam the Jianghu—
Escorting missions.
Guarding homes.
And capturing criminals with bounties from the court.
These odds and ends could earn him about a dozen taels a year, and combined with the martial arts hall salary, his annual income roughly approached forty taels.
Compared to someone like Liu Hengbo, a low-level martial master, it wasn't actually low.
Moreover, compared to Liu Hengbo, Yan Chuan's expenses were smaller—
Basic necessities.
Food, clothing, shelter, and transport.
All were covered by the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, with Cheng Fengxiao bearing the costs, allowing Yan Chuan to save almost all of his money.
However, over the years he often helped out fellow disciples in need and occasionally purchased a dose or two of 'Dragon Tiger Powder' from Wei Wude, so he hadn't saved much.
Forty-four taels!
This was Yan Chuan's entire fortune!
"Too poor!"
Yan Chuan sighed.
A hero can't accomplish much without money.
To make rapid progress in martial arts, 'Mutual Teaching and Learning' could only assist in the realm aspect, but to match up physically, he needed food and secret medicine.
All these required money!
A lot of money!
A few days ago, they accepted twenty-one new disciples with two fee structures—
The first option was the full fee, ten taels a year, graduated in two years, without covering food and lodging, only providing basic medicinal decoctions needed for martial arts practice.
The second option was the apprentice system, requiring only two taels of tuition, covering food and lodging at the martial arts hall without additional expenses, but they needed to obey the master and martial masters' instructions, helping with chores at the hall, and assist when external jobs requiring manpower were taken.
In short, lacking money, manpower comes to aid.
Among the twenty-one new disciples, ten were full-fee, and eleven were apprentices, bringing only 122 taels to the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall. After deducting costs, the annual profit was less than 80 taels.
However, speaking of which, Yan Chuan's salary was fixed, and the number of hall apprentices didn't really affect him.
"If I want to earn money, I still have to take jobs outside."
Escorting missions.
Guard duties.
Home guarding.
Bounties.
All these could bring money.
For instance, the 'Du Hanfeng' case had many bounties, but Yan Chuan didn't dare touch it for now: "Can't rush, wait a bit, once my boxing is stronger, I can take on some tricky escorts and handle some tough bounties."
With 44 taels left, Yan Chuan could remain patient.
Just because he could endure didn't mean Master Cheng Fengxiao could.
...
"I need to go on a long journey, the martial arts hall is in your hands."
The day after the gathering, Cheng Fengxiao came to Yan Chuan.
Yan Chuan was taken aback: "Where is Master going?"
"Huiyou Escort Agency received a big order to transport goods from Guangling to Peng State Qingyang County, crossing states and counties, which would take at least two months round trip. Song the Chief invited me along, offering a good price. I'm just idle, so I decided to accompany them for a trip," Cheng Fengxiao explained.
Only then did Yan Chuan understand.
Song the Chief of Huiyou Escort Agency and Cheng Fengxiao were old friends, the former known as 'Iron Arhat,' skilled in 'Three Emperors Cannon Fist,' and the latter as 'Tie Qiao Cheng,' skilled in 'Cheng Family Boxing,' both renowned as the 'Guangling Ten Tigers' of the old era, sharing a deep friendship.
This journey, Cheng Fengxiao was helping a friend while earning some extra money.
Since Yan Chuan made progress, Cheng Fengxiao no longer remained depressed; this escort was his way of making a comeback: "Your 'Cheng Family Boxing' has achieved a preliminary great success; there is nothing more I need to teach you. From now on, the martial arts hall is in your hands, feel free to manage as you wish. I have been stuck here for too many years, it's time to go and see the world! You shouldn't be confined by the martial arts hall either, close it when necessary, leave when needed, and follow your heart in the future."
Cheng Fengxiao rose during the end of the old school martial heroes era, witnessing the tides of new and old transformations, and found it hard to discern them all.
He was devoted to promoting 'Cheng Family Boxing' and revitalizing the 'Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall,' continuously striving for this goal.
But the harder he worked, the more distant it became—
Family separated!
Disciples betrayed him!
Life became a mess, with the martial arts hall uncontrollably declining; the impact on Cheng Fengxiao was unimaginable and was the primary reason he remained introverted and could not break through it for a long period.
Until now—
"You've become successful!"
"My student has succeeded, and 'Cheng Family Boxing' will have successors!"
"My life has not been in vain!"
...
Cheng Fengxiao reached enlightenment, acting decisively.
Perhaps the escort case from Huiyou Escort Agency was too urgent.
The next day.
July 23rd.
Cheng Fengxiao set out lightly, leaving with the escort team from Guangling City.
With his departure, Yan Chuan felt the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall becoming even more desolate—
All twenty-plus new disciples were unfamiliar.
After Master left, only Wei Quan, Jin Yutang, and Yu Jinpeng remained as the familiar faces in the vast martial arts hall, making it all the more desolate.
Fortunately, martial arts practice could expend his energy, keeping him from thinking too much.
The first day after Master left.
Missing him.
Yan Chuan adjusted his state of mind and took the first dose of 'Dragon Tiger Powder.'
...
"Dragon roar, tiger roar!"
"Dragon and tiger converge!"
With a dose of 'Dragon Tiger Powder' consumed, Yan Chuan felt a burning sensation all over his body. With experience, he immediately practiced boxing in the open ground.
Tiger Form Boxing!
Crane Form Boxing!
Gongzi Fuhu!
Ten Forms Boxing!
Plus two absolute skills of Cheng Family Boxing—
'Tiger Crane Double Forms' and 'Iron Wire Fist'!
Yan Chuan's boxing strength was solid, with his body's Qi-Blood churning, fully absorbing the powerful medicinal effect, transforming it into a vigorous Qi-Blood and deep strength, accompanied by 'dragon roar and tiger roar,' further tempering his muscles and bones.
Improve!
Improve!
Improve more!
Yan Chuan felt his own Qi power continuously soaring, his physical quality spiraling uncontrolled.
Strong!
Stronger!
A dose of secret medicine!
Two hours!
The cultivation effect exceeded the period of over twenty days of rapid improvement for Yan Chuan; even as his boxing skills continuously advanced, driving his physical quality to continuously increase, the effect still paled compared to this dose of 'Dragon Tiger Powder.'
Secret medicine!
Secret medicine!
"Terrifying indeed!"
No need for much, even using 'Dragon Tiger Powder' once a month provides an immense improvement to a martial arts practitioner's progress. Over the long term, consuming twelve doses a year could match or surpass the arduous practice of same-tier old school martial artists over three, five, or even ten years.
Multiple times the progress!
This is the secret medicine.
This is a key to the rapid rise of new martial artists.
Lu Qing.
Cui Lanxin.
They were both new martial artists, both students of Guangling Academy, and in comparison to the old school, both had superior physical qualities compared to their boxing skills, likely due to consuming considerable amounts of secret medicine on a regular basis.
"Old school martial artists, if not in an academy, will eventually fall behind."
"But I am different!"
Yan Chuan possessed 'Purple Mist Palace,' with 'Mutual Teaching and Learning' rapidly enhancing his boxing skills, simultaneously boosting his physical quality, advancing even faster than new martial artists.
Occasionally obtaining some secret medicine would only speed up the progress.
Yan Chuan's future prospects were limitless.
...