Chapter 6: Hiding one's weaknesses is not showing one's stupidity "No wonder they say that the poor are good at literature and the rich are good at martial arts..." Wrapping himself tightly in his linen clothes, he pushed the door open and walked out. In the cold wind, Li Yuan sighed secretly. The difference between the middle courtyard and the front courtyard is not only in food, but also in free time. The work you have to do will not be reduced in the slightest just because you are sore. The saying "the poor are good at literature but the rich are good at martial arts" does make sense. After studying, one can still help with housework at home. As for those who practice martial arts, that means they really have no spare energy and are truly "full of employment". "If you don't leave the middle courtyard, you won't be able to practice even if the magic skills are in front of you!" On this day, the pain on the faces of several apprentices in the middle courtyard never faded, and a few of them made mistakes due to their clumsiness and were beaten up by Fatty Sun. However, the food portions have increased. Although there is no meat, there is some oil. "It's different, completely different!" Li Yuan was immersed in joy. He slept poorly yesterday, but he was still full of energy. He did not delay any of his work and even finished it faster than usual.
At the same time, he was still familiarizing himself with the changes after controlling the 'Training Hammer'. "I haven't changed completely, but..." As evening approached, the apprentices who had finished a day's work all went to rest early, including Niu Gui, while Li Yuan squatted in a corner, sensing the changes in himself. He didn't become stronger overnight, but he was able to mobilize his strength faster and better. "Does the force come from the ground?" Li Yuan stamped his feet lightly, and could even feel the flow of the "force", and understood how to make the "force" more dense and explode at one point more quickly. This is the mastery-level cloak hammer blessing, and it’s only a part of it. “This is martial arts!” Li Yuan was excited and had more expectations for learning the Cloak Hammer. The training hammer brings you the mastery level of cloak hammer technique. Although the standing practice is also mentioned, the real focus is on the hammer technique! At this moment, he felt as if he had practiced hammer techniques for decades and he couldn't wait to demonstrate it. Wow! Li Yuan took a basin of water and started washing. The weather was getting colder and there was no hot water. Now that he could still wash, he naturally had to wash more. He pays great attention to his own hygiene and health. But hot water is a luxury nowadays. Among the necessities of life, firewood comes first. Even if the forging shop has such conditions, an apprentice in the kitchen is not worthy of enjoying them... "Take it easy!" After drying himself, Li Yuan patted his face. The Military Control Scroll tore apart the haze that had existed in him since he came to this world. Although he was tired after a day's work, he was in a good mood.
After washing up, I thought about the inner courtyard. The Weapon Forge Shop is a time-honored brand with over 200 years of history. Its business spreads across many counties and it is no longer limited to being a simple blacksmith shop. Many years ago, it had already become a major force integrating mining, weapons manufacturing, transportation and sales. The apprentices recruited by the weapon forging shop naturally went to various places, including mines, guards, blacksmiths, accountants, etc. "The inner courtyard is the core of the weapon forging shop, and the warriors who have completed their work are the key to the expansion of the weapon forging shop's business..." During the month, Li Yuan naturally had some understanding of the Weapon Forge Shop, and he was very concerned about the Inner Court. The main reason is that the treatment is good, the monthly salary is high, and you can take a hot shower. If it was a day or two ago, he would definitely have no idea about the inner courtyard, but now... "Everyone wants to go to a place with good treatment, so there might be troubles... Well, you can try it out first, and get out of it quickly if there are any troubles..." Li Yuan made a preliminary plan in his mind. Whether it is for the 'entry-level weapons', the gold, silver and iron needed for the military talisman, or for seeking better treatment, joining the inner court can be said to be the best opportunity. Hiding one's shortcomings does not mean revealing one's stupidity. Appropriate display is better than blindly hiding. The wild Taoist who had been wandering around the world for several years in his previous life also has his own survival wisdom. If you can't "stand out", why should others give you a job first? As for how much to reveal and how much to hide, the Taoist who failed in the internal competition and had to return to the county town to open a small supermarket has some experience in his mind. …… As the sky gradually darkened, apprentices from various academies arrived at the martial arts arena one after another. When Qin Xiong's tall figure appeared, several apprentices in the middle courtyard stood up and walked quickly towards the martial arts field. "Today, I will teach you how to use the cloak hammer!" Qin Xiong's voice was loud and clear, and could be heard from far away, but he obviously had no intention of giving instructions personally today. He just gave a few casual instructions and turned away. Fatty Sun followed with a smile. "I'll teach you the Cloak Hammer!" The black-faced young man Lu Zhong rolled up his sleeves and came in front of the crowd, squatting like a white ape as usual: "Everyone, pick up a hammer. When you stand still today, you have to hold a hammer!" Standing still with a hammer in hand? Many apprentices looked bitter, but they didn't dare to refute. They gritted their teeth and went to choose hammers. Li Yuan mixed in and chose one. He glanced around and saw that no one seemed to notice that a hammer was missing? "call!" Standing casually on a white ape pole, Li Yuan looked down. The wooden handle and black iron hammer head were clearly just an ordinary hammer, but it gave him a feeling of blood connection. The feeling was so wonderful that Li Yuan was eager to try swinging the hammer and practice the hammer technique. Lu Zhong stood with the hammer in his hand for half an hour. When he relaxed his stance, no one in the audience could maintain the posture.
"Ha~" Lu Zhong's mouth twitched slightly, and he obviously had no intention of giving the man time to rest. He just danced with the hammer in his hand: "Now, I will teach you the Cloak Hammer Technique..." The faces of the apprentices on the field changed, and the calves in the front yard could not bear it any longer. Someone whispered "Brother Lu", but they had already practiced for a whole day. "Well, let's take a break first!" Lu Zhong waved his hand. A large number of apprentices on the field had already sat down. Many of them groaned because they were too tired. "Brother Lu, tell us about this White Ape Cloak Hammer!" During the break, an apprentice came up to Lu Zhong. "I haven't even learned it yet, what is there to talk about?" Lu Zhong was a little impatient, but he glanced at Niu Gui who also came over and said a few words: "The Zhuanggong should be practiced together with the Hammer Method, combining movement and stillness, so that you can get started faster..." "Brother Lu, I wonder how long it will take to get started?" Niu Gui asked. "Well, different people have different speeds. Normally, if you have an average aptitude and work hard, you should be able to get started in half a year." Lu Zhong replied casually, then immediately stopped talking, coughed a few times, picked up the hammer, and came forward. His expression relaxed and he said: "You don't need to know so much. If you can get started before the New Year, you will naturally be taught by Master Qin himself. There are eighteen styles of Cloak Hammer. Today I will teach you the first style... Niu Gui, come here, you'll be the first one." …… Lu Zhong instructed Niu Gui to stomp his feet, raise his arms, swing the hammer and smash down, and the others followed suit. "Is this little calf ready to enter the sect?" Li Yuan saw the trick and compared the progress with that of other apprentices. Soon he felt reassured and reached out to pick up the hammer at his feet. "The force starts from the ground, originates from the feet, is released from the legs, passes through the waist and shoulders, and finally reaches the wrists... Then it is swung out. If it misses, it will return with the momentum. If it hits, it will rebound with the force. What matters is the continuous force, like a strong wind..." Lu Zhong was instructing Niu Gui when he suddenly heard a buzzing sound and turned around: "Um?!" …… …… "Come on, Brother Qin, drink!" In the small courtyard outside the central courtyard, Fatty Sun was urging Qin Xiong to drink. Qin Xiong accepted all the offers and only stopped when he was a little tipsy. "No more drinking. I have to go check on those little brats..." Fatty Sun stood up to see him off and lowered his voice:
"Brother Qin, I heard that we are going to open a new shop in Zhelong Mansion after the New Year. Will the shopkeeper be stationed in the city permanently? By then..." "Who did you listen to?" The only hint of drunkenness Qin Xiong had felt disappeared, his eyes turned slightly cold, and then he smiled: "It's just a rumor. If Qiu Long is not dead, how dare Manager Cao leave Gaoliu City for a long time? That is a poisonous dragon that crossed the river from the 'Divine Weapon Valley'..." "Brother Qin is right, rumors, rumors..." Fatty Sun smiled: "I just want to say, if there are any changes in the shop, Brother Qin, don't forget me..." "Ha~" Qin Xiong waved his hand and walked out of the door. The smile on Fatty Sun's face disappeared instantly, and there was even a hint of coldness on his face. …… "Ok?" About twenty meters away from the central courtyard, Qin Xiong couldn't help but raise his eyes. His eyesight was naturally excellent. Under the moonlight, the sounds of thirty or forty apprentices wielding hammers blended into one, but he could tell the good from the bad and tell the quality at a glance. The best player... "That boy?" Qin Xiong narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the direction where the sound of breaking wind came from, a little surprised and a little amused: "Li Lin's brother?" (End of this chapter)