Chapter 43. Taking Up the Post
“This instructor calling us ‘elder sisters’ really makes us sound old.”
The other maidservant was clearly more outgoing. Upon hearing this, she shot him a playful glare, then gracefully perford a proper curtsy and said with a smile,
“My na is Li Hua. This younger sister is Ye Qing’er.”
Ye Qing’er quietly glanced at Xu Yuan, then returned the greeting politely.
‘Li Hua, is it? That na sounds like it cos with many stories.’
Xu Yuan joked inwardly and returned the salute with cupped fists.
“Brother Xu is truly young and accomplished. At barely sixteen, you have already beco a Second ridian martial instructor,” Li Hua said, unable to hide her surprise.
“I was rely fortunate to break through,” Xu Yuan replied with a slight smile.
“If even you call it fortune, what are those who failed supposed to feel?”
Li Hua cast him a bright glance, then continued with a smile,
“I was only recently promoted to a second-rank maidservant and assigned to this Outer Courtyard today. For the next few months, I hope Brother Xu will look after us.”
Since neither of them practiced martial arts, if they encountered unreasonable or domineering trainees, they would still need the stationed martial instructor to step in.
“It is no trouble. I will not be far. If anything happens, just co find .”
Xu Yuan nodded. This was hardly a burden.
Although the two of them had no cultivation, they had beco second-rank maidservants at such a young age. They were surely supported by influential figures behind the scenes. Maintaining a good relationship with them would bring no harm.
…
At the Si hour.
Xu Yuan first arrived at the rear courtyard. Looking at the thin and frail laborers before him, he could not help but think of his forr self.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan repeated the words Feng Xiao had once said to them.
“The Shangyang Residence has a deep foundation…”
“…otherwise, the family rules will deal with you severely!”
When he spoke the final sentence, his blood surged, and his voice rang out like a great bell, startling the laborers into pale-faced silence.
Then, following the proper process, he explained the basics of the human body before beginning to teach them the Stone Platform Stance.
After about the ti it took for an incense stick to burn, Xu Yuan turned and left, prompting so of the laborers to show dissatisfaction.
He paid it no mind, maintaining the sa mindset Feng Xiao once had.
Soon after, Xu Yuan arrived at the front courtyard. Judging that the ti was about right, he noticed that so martial trainees were still crowding around Ye Qing’er and Li Hua, trying to curry favor.
He imdiately stepped forward and shouted, “Assemble!”
“Look at yourselves—what kind of behavior is this? Get over here and line up properly!”
Hearing this, the trainees hurried to the training ground and stood in formation.
Looking at Xu Yuan on the platform, who was not much older than themselves, they felt both awe and envy, along with a deep sense of shock.
He was actually this young?!
Xu Yuan looked at the trainees below with equally complex emotions. Just three months ago, he had been of even lower status than them—a laborer serving in the rear courtyard.
And now, he had beco the instructor for over twenty of them. The change was truly astonishing.
Shaking his head, his expression turned solemn as he said, “As the ancients once said: Man is the essence of heaven and earth…”
Just like when teaching the laborers, Xu Yuan briefly introduced the background of martial arts. Then, he demonstrated the power of a martial artist, leaving a deep imprint on a thick wooden board, which caused the trainees to exclaim in admiration.
Next, Xu Yuan demonstrated the stance technique. After completing a full sequence, he looked at the group and asked,
“Has anyone morized it? Raise your hand and co up to demonstrate.”
However, the field fell silent.
The trainees simply stared at him, clearly unwilling to step forward and risk embarrassnt.
Xu Yuan shook his head and randomly selected a sturdier trainee to co up. After guiding him through it, he said again,
“Another one.”
Still, no one moved.
The trainees exchanged glances, all waiting until they were more familiar with the stance before stepping forward to leave a good impression on the instructor.
‘This batch of students is not very promising.’
Xu Yuan shrugged and selected another trainee. This one looked strong and burly, but his mory was poor—he forgot the previous move as soon as he learned the next.
Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, before Xu Yuan could say anything, the trainee had already turned red with embarrassnt. His movents beca increasingly flustered, and in the end, he stumbled and fell to the ground.
“Enough, enough.”
Xu Yuan waved his hand dismissively and told him to step down. He stopped calling individuals up for guidance and instead led everyone in practicing the stance together.
After about the ti it took for an incense stick to burn, Xu Yuan stopped on schedule and instructed everyone to continue practicing on their own.
Then, ignoring the stunned gazes of the crowd, he turned and walked away.
As the saying goes, a master can lead you to the door, but cultivation depends on the individual.
There were over twenty trainees in the front courtyard. If Xu Yuan were to carefully teach each one individually, how much ti would that waste?
With the Stone Platform Stance, breaking through to the First ridian was not particularly difficult. It required either talent or hard work—things that could not simply be taught.
After Xu Yuan left, a wave of discussion arose on the field.
“That is it? He just left? This instructor is so young—he does not seem very reliable.”
“He just completed the basic teaching and left. By the way, how well did that tall guy learn?”
“I, Dachun, am not a stingy person. How about this—give ten coins, and I will teach you.”
“…”
So of the trainees spoke with dissatisfaction.
The laborers were still fine—they knew that the opportunity to learn martial arts was an extra privilege and did not dare ask for more.
But the trainees believed they had paid tuition, so they naturally expected more thorough and detailed instruction.
What they did not consider was that the Shangyang Residence only charged one tael of silver per month per intake. What they wanted were talented martial artists, not profit like a typical martial school.
…
It was not only the trainees discussing Xu Yuan. In a corner of the training ground, the two maidservants were also talking about him.
Watching Xu Yuan’s departing figure, Ye Qing’er said to Li Hua, “Sister Hua, that Instructor Xu… he is quite handso.”
Li Hua looked her up and down and teased, “Oh? You little minx, have you taken a liking to him?”
“Not at all! Sister Hua, you are talking nonsense again.”
Ye Qing’er’s face flushed red as she explained, “I am just curious… curious how he beca a Second ridian martial artist at such a young age.”
“Please, as if I do not know you.”
Li Hua rolled her eyes, then added casually,
“If you really have such thoughts, it is not impossible.”
“The martial artists here are all under contract with the Shangyang Residence. Once they reach the Fourth ridian and are promoted to head servants, the family will arrange for a maidservant to marry them, strengthening the bond.”
“With Brother Xu’s talent, that day likely will not be far off.”
Though Ye Qing’er acted as if she did not want to listen, her ears had already perked up. Hearing this, she said in surprise,
“A Fourth ridian martial artist… that would make him an important figure anywhere, right?”
“Of course.”
Li Hua spoke as if reciting from mory, “At that level, even in the outer regions, one could serve as a street captain, commanding over a dozen subordinates. It is quite a respectable position.”
Ye Qing’er’s delicate eyes flickered with longing. “Can maidservants reach that level?”
“Unlikely. Unlike martial artists who rely purely on strength, a maidservant’s promotion depends heavily on catching the favor of influential figures. Insight and skill are both indispensable. In short, it largely depends on luck.”
Li Hua shook her head, a trace of lancholy appearing on her face.
“Um… hello, I… I would like to buy a portion of Vein-Nourishing Soup.”
At that mont, a trainee approached them, speaking shyly.
“That will be two qian of silver per portion.”
A hint of distance flashed in Ye Qing’er’s eyes as she displayed a practiced smile.
Yet even that was enough to make the trainee’s heart race. He responded nervously, “Yes, sister… I have it.”
…
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