Chapter 43 : Chapter 43
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 performed a proper curtsy and said with a smile,
“My name 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 name sounds like it comes 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 become a Second Meridian martial instructor,” Li Hua said, unable to hide her surprise.
“I was merely 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 come find me.”
Xu Yuan nodded. This was hardly a burden.
Although the two of them had no cultivation, they had become 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 former 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 time it took for an incense stick to burn, Xu Yuan turned and left, prompting some of the laborers to show dissatisfaction.
He paid it no mind, maintaining the same mindset Feng Xiao once had.
Soon after, Xu Yuan arrived at the front courtyard. Judging that the time was about right, he noticed that some martial trainees were still crowding around Ye Qing’er and Li Hua, trying to curry favor.
He immediately 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 become 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 memorized it? Raise your hand and come up to demonstrate.”
However, the field fell silent.
The trainees simply stared at him, clearly unwilling to step forward and risk embarrassment.
Xu Yuan shook his head and randomly selected a sturdier trainee to come 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 memory 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 embarrassment. His movements became 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 time 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 time would that waste?
With the Stone Platform Stance, breaking through to the First Meridian 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 me ten coins, and I will teach you.”
“…”
Some 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 handsome.”
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 became a Second Meridian 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 Meridian 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 Meridian martial artist… that would make him an important figure anywhere, right?”
“Of course.”
Li Hua spoke as if reciting from memory, “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 melancholy appearing on her face.
“Um… hello, I… I would like to buy a portion of Vein-Nourishing Soup.”
At that moment, 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.”
…