"Alright!"
Hearing Zhang Lingshan being so straightforward, Shi Lei was overjoyed. He called out that he would wait and excitedly ran towards the backyard.
After he left, Zhang Lingshan immediately focused his attention on the "+" on the panel.
Mentally click!
Whoosh!
The panel immediately changed.
Name: Zhang Lingshan
Martial Skill: Zhengyang Stance (Beginner)
Energy: 0.2
'It only takes 0.1 energy to upgrade? This Zhengyang Stance is too...'
Before Zhang Lingshan could continue complaining internally, an inexplicable warmth immediately came from his body, making every part of his limbs and bones comfortable.
Unfortunately, this warmth came and went quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye, leaving Zhang Lingshan no time to savor it.
'As expected, it's just the lowest level martial skill. Even reaching the beginner stage doesn't have much effect.'
Zhang Lingshan sighed inwardly.
But soon he discovered that he had underestimated this Zhengyang Stance.
Because his body no longer hurt as much as before, and his body seemed to have become a bit stronger.
Outsiders might not notice anything, but he could clearly feel that his whole body was not as tired as before, it didn't hurt with every movement, and he could even jump high.
Only when performing the more difficult movements in Zhengyang Stance, such as the Pillar Sun Style and Horizontal Sun Style, would there be a stinging pain. All other movements could be performed correctly.
Let's check his skin again.
Zhang Lingshan found that the red marks had faded somewhat.
'Good, practicing martial arts is indeed useful. As long as my body is strong enough and my qi and blood are sufficient, these strange red marks will disappear!'
Zhang Lingshan saw tangible changes and knew that he had chosen the right path. He was immediately encouraged, his heart was instantly invigorated, and he practiced with even more vigor.
As time passed, it soon reached noon.
Although the late autumn sun was not intensely hot, when it shone down, it was warm and pleasant.
At this time, Zhang Lingshan found that the red marks had become even lighter, and he could perform all the movements of Zhengyang Stance perfectly.
Although the red marks had not completely disappeared, they were not far from disappearing.
His heart was filled with joy.
However, although his spirits were high, his body couldn't quite handle it. Not only were his limbs tired, but his stomach was also rumbling.
Gotta get some meat to eat.
Because he used the twenty taels from Wang Datou and the other person to pay the tuition, the money saved at home hadn't been touched at all. Now that funds were ample, eating something good wasn't excessive.
Moreover, eating meat could increase the energy value on the panel.
So he not only had to eat meat, but he had to eat a lot of it.
Zhengyang Stance only had the effect of fading red marks upon breaking through to the beginner stage. Zhang Lingshan was very much looking forward to the benefits that would come after breaking through again.
'Didn't Shi Lei tell me to wait for him to sell me the medicinal soup? Why hasn't he come yet?'
In his confusion, Zhang Lingshan craned his neck to look towards the room in the main hall.
Someone nearby suddenly said, "Don't look. We haven't mastered the stance techniques yet. We're just apprentices who paid the fee. We have no official status and no right to enter inside. We can only practice in the front yard. Only when we master it will we be considered registered disciples and be able to pass through the main hall to enter the middle yard to learn real martial arts."
Zhang Lingshan turned his head and saw a young man with a proper appearance, who was also one of the people practicing stance techniques with everyone in the front yard.
This person was tall, almost two heads taller than him.
He saw Zhang Lingshan looking over, smiled slightly, and said, "My name is Tie Feng."
"My name is Zhang Lingshan."
Zhang Lingshan quickly introduced himself. Someone was talking to him, which was exactly what he wanted, so he immediately asked, "How long has Senior Brother Tie Feng been here? You should be mastering the stance techniques and entering the middle yard soon, right?"
"Yes, I've been here for over a month, and I'm almost there."
Tie Feng didn't hide anything and spoke truthfully, with a hint of pride on his face, "I plan to pass the assessment and enter the middle yard in a few days."
Zhang Lingshan said, "Then congratulations to Senior Brother Tie Feng in advance."
"Hmm, it's nothing. You can do it too. I see you're much smarter than the others here. Although this is your first time practicing today, you already look quite good. You can definitely master it within three months. I'll wait for you in the middle yard. By then, we'll be official Senior and Junior Brothers. If you need anything, you can find your Brother Tie."
He patted Zhang Lingshan's shoulder, looking like an older brother encouraging his younger sibling.
Zhang Lingshan nodded in full cooperation, agreeing with him.
In his eyes, these young people were just kids. He didn't care what they said; he only cared about what he could get from them.
So he continued to play the role of an honest younger brother, flattering while asking questions at the right time.
Tie Feng was very receptive and answered all his questions.
Only then did Zhang Lingshan learn that the Martial Hall provided two meals, one at noon and one in the afternoon, and the food wasn't bad, worthy of their apprenticeship fee.
And this was only the treatment for apprentices.
After mastering the stance techniques and becoming a registered disciple, the treatment would improve further. As one's strength grew, the treatment would get better and better, and eventually, the Martial Hall would even subsidize your training.
However, that was a story for later.
Tie Feng himself didn't know much about the details.
But one thing was certain: the stronger you were, the more you would gain.
Therefore, you must strive!
As long as you broke through a Realm, you must immediately take the assessment to improve your status and treatment, only then can you become stronger.
"Alright, alright, let's stop chatting. It's time to eat. Quickly get in line."
Tie Feng pushed Zhang Lingshan.
Zhang Lingshan then saw someone carrying two large basins from the main hall, one with white rice and one with stew.
All the apprentices immediately obediently ran to queue up, in an orderly manner, without causing trouble, cutting in line, or scrambling.
They were all hot-blooded young men, yet each one was more obedient than they were at home, which showed how strict the management of Hong's Martial Arts School was.
"Each person gets only one bowl. Scoop as much as you want, but you can't get a second helping and you can't leave any leftovers," Tie Feng explained to Zhang Lingshan.
So Zhang Lingshan scooped a full large bowl. After all, he had paid money, wouldn't he lose out if he didn't eat a bit more?
But he had somewhat overestimated his appetite.
The food here was not like the food at the Hongye Temple construction site. It had meat and oil, and who knows what else was added, but it was very filling. Towards the end, Zhang Lingshan's stomach was bloated like a frog's. He forced himself to jump twice to finally finish the last bit.
Just then, Shi Lei ran over with a bowl of medicinal soup and excitedly said, "I got the medicine for you. Drink it while it's hot."
"..."
Zhang Lingshan was speechless: "I'm stuffed to death right now. Will the medicinal effect decrease if I drink this medicine after it cools down?"
"That won't happen, it'll just become harder to swallow. But I don't care how you handle it in the end. I brought you the medicine, so you have to give me the three qian of silver we agreed upon."
"Okay."
Zhang Lingshan took out a few pieces of broken silver from his pocket, weighed them in his hand, and handed them over.
"Heh heh."
Shi Lei happily took it: "Junior Brother is so straightforward. If you feel this medicinal soup is effective, you can continue to find your Senior Brother me. But it has to be after three days."
After speaking, he happily went out, not knowing what he was going to do.
Seeing him leave, Tie Feng immediately moved closer to Zhang Lingshan, staring curiously at the bowl of medicinal soup, and then leaning in to smell it.
"It smells bitter."
He frowned, shook his head, and looked at Zhang Lingshan sympathetically.
In his heart, Zhang Lingshan was already equated with someone foolish with lots of money. He didn't know if the medicine was effective, but it definitely wasn't worth the amount Zhang Lingshan had just given Shi Lei.
This foolish, short, and stocky kid was clearly ripped off.
Zhang Lingshan didn't know Tie Feng's thoughts. He just sat honestly on the ground, guarding the medicinal soup placed on the stone stool.
Until he felt his stomach was no longer uncomfortably full, he gulped down the medicinal soup in one go.