Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

The 26th year of Yuan Jia.

The New Year had just passed, and the festive atmosphere had not yet completely faded.

Chen Li summoned his two sons and asked, "Do you know of any martial arts halls nearby that specialize in the Staff Technique?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shouheng and Chen Shouye looked at each other in stunned silence.

"Father, you... want to join a martial arts hall to learn the Staff Technique?"

Chen Shouheng was even more direct, blurting out in utter confusion, "With your current Cultivation Realm, which martial arts hall would dare to teach you? And which one... would even be *able* to?"

Although he didn’t know Chen Li’s exact Realm, he was certain his father possessed Grandmaster Level strength.

In the Jianghu, he was a formidable senior master. Yet he wanted to go to a martial arts hall to practice horse stances and basic forms with a group of young boys.

He simply couldn’t picture it.

Chen Shouye, though not as blunt, explained tactfully, "Martial arts halls have their own rules for accepting students. They almost never accept those who already have Martial Arts skills, teaching only youths who have yet to step onto the Martial Dao. Anyone over twenty is considered to have their foundation set, making progress slow, so they are rarely accepted. Father, if you were to hide your Cultivation and go, I’m afraid that at nearly forty years old, you wouldn’t even be let in the door."

Chen Li was well aware of these rules, but his hands were tied.

In his youth, he had been eager for rapid advancement in his Realm and hadn’t spent enough time on the fundamentals of fist and weapon techniques.

Only now did he understand that a tower cannot be built on an unstable foundation.

It was a bitter pill he now had to swallow.

But given his current situation, the path of becoming a Scholar and joining the Court was already closed to him.

If he wanted to master a particular branch of Martial Arts and make further progress, his only option was to join a Sect.

However, Sects were rife with rules and regulations.

Once involved, it would be difficult to extricate himself.

And he still had this family to look after.

While he wouldn’t learn any profound Martial Arts at a hall, he would have much more freedom.

After all, his only goal was to first develop Staff Intent and set foot upon the path of True Intent.

Seeing his father’s resolve, Chen Shouye thought for a moment and said, "Father, if you are truly set on finding a famous staff master, I recall hearing something on my last trip to Ping County. There is a Liuhe Martial Arts Hall there whose master, a Master Yang, is quite famous for his Six Harmonies Staff Technique."

A glint appeared in Chen Li’s eyes. He nodded. "Ping County, the Six Harmonies Staff... That could work. In that case, I’ll go give it a try."

Chen Shouheng, being more meticulous, quickly tried to dissuade him. "Father, I’m afraid that’s not a good idea. How about... I make the trip first and try to invite the master to our home to teach you? That would save you the journey."

"No need to go to such trouble." Chen Li waved his hand. "Since I am the one seeking to learn, I should go in person."

He knew it wasn’t impossible for him to practice fist and foot techniques at home by himself.

But working in isolation, one’s knowledge remains superficial; sparring and exchanging pointers with others is necessary.

Chen Shouye gave a wry smile and, for once, said a bit more than usual. "Father, at your age... I’m afraid the martial arts hall simply won’t accept you. That’s just how the rules are..."

Chen Li rubbed the prickly stubble on his chin and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

’Am I really that old?’

’It’s been twenty-six years since I crossed over, and I’ve only just turned thirty-nine. I’m barely forty.’

But he also knew his son had a point.

After a moment’s thought, he finally compromised. "Fine, you have a point. I won’t force it. We’ll do it your way. Shouheng, you will go in my stead. See if you can persuade that martial arts hall’s master to come and teach at our home. As for the gift, don’t be stingy. As long as he’s willing to come, the price is negotiable."

"Yes, Father," Chen Shouheng agreed.

The next day, Chen Shouheng set off on horseback for the neighboring Ping County.

After some trouble, he finally found the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall on a rather noisy street in the western part of the city.

The martial arts hall’s facade was not large, but the entrance was swept clean. He could faintly hear shouts and the whoosh of staffs cutting through the air from the courtyard within.

Chen Shouheng straightened his robes and stepped inside.

After announcing his name and purpose, a disciple in a training uniform led him in.

The master’s surname was Yang. He was about fifty years old, with a lean, powerful build, large, coarse hands, and a sharp gaze. He was currently instructing several young boys on their basic stances.

Sensing the faint yet oppressive aura emanating from Chen Shouheng, Master Yang was quite courteous and invited him into a side hall for tea.

"Young Master Chen, what brings you here today?"

Master Yang asked, cupping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute. His tone was neither servile nor overbearing.

Chen Shouheng returned the salute. "Master Yang, I have come unannounced because I have a favor to ask. My father has long heard of your exquisite Six Harmonies Staff Technique and greatly admires it. He wishes to devote himself to studying it.

"However, my father is getting on in years and finds it inconvenient to come to the hall to practice alongside the young students. Therefore, he sent me to ask if you, Master Yang, would be willing to travel to our humble home to teach him the Staff Technique personally. As for the gift, we will not disappoint you. We are willing to offer... one thousand taels of silver per year."

He directly named a price high enough to make any ordinary martial arts hall master’s jaw drop.

However, after hearing the offer, the polite smile on Master Yang’s face froze instantly, replaced by a very strange expression.

He looked Chen Shouheng up and down as if staring at a madman spouting nonsense.

"Young Master Chen, are you making fun of me?"

Master Yang put down his teacup, his tone turning cold. "Young Master Chen, you practice Martial Arts yourself. Are you not aware of the common taboos in training? It’s not that I’m trying to refuse you. My Liuhe Martial Arts Hall prioritizes foundation and age when accepting disciples.

"Your father... is advanced in age. His blood and qi have waned, and his bones and muscles are set. Forget about practicing my vigorous and fierce Six Harmonies Staff—he would struggle to make an inch of progress on even the most basic stances. This has nothing to do with the gift... it’s absolutely impossible. Please leave!"

His words were resolute, even carrying a trace of anger as if he had been offended.

It was as if Chen Shouheng’s request was an insult to his martial arts hall’s reputation.

With that, he performed the gesture of seeing a guest out by lifting his teacup, giving Chen Shouheng no chance to explain further.

Chen Shouheng was soundly rebuffed. He smiled wryly to himself but knew he couldn’t force the issue, so he stood up and took his leave.

After leaving Ping County, he immediately rode to Qingshui County.

He had already found out that there was a Sha Wei Martial Arts Hall here that taught the Killing Staff Technique.

The Sha Wei Martial Arts Hall in Qingshui County was slightly larger, and its master was a middle-aged man with the surname Liu.

Chen Shouheng followed the same script, stating his purpose and once again promising a generous payment.

When Master Liu first heard Chen Shouheng introduce himself, he recognized him as the young man who had won first place in the County Examination a few years prior with his Spirit Realm Cultivation. At first, he was very polite.

But when he understood that he was being asked to teach a forty-year-old man Martial Arts, his expression immediately darkened.

He looked at Chen Shouheng as if he were an idiot and waved his hand dismissively. "Young Master Chen, don’t joke with me. Your father is nearly forty and only now thinks of learning Martial Arts?

"I have been teaching for twenty years and have never heard of anything so absurd. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit have long since begun to decline. Shouldn’t he be at home doting on his grandchildren instead of entertaining such childish fantasies?"

His words even drew stifled snickers from a few disciples eavesdropping outside the hall.

Chen Shouheng felt incredibly embarrassed but couldn’t refute him. He could only leave the Sha Wei Martial Arts Hall under the strange gazes of the crowd.

Having been rejected so mercilessly twice in a row, Chen Shouheng couldn’t help but feel a wave of frustration and helplessness.

It seemed the chances of accomplishing the task his father had given him were slim to none.

He mounted his horse and was gazing at the bustling crowd on the street, about to leave, when a slightly hesitant voice sounded from beside him.

"Are you... Chen Shouheng, Brother Chen?"

Chen Shouheng turned at the sound of the voice and saw a young man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, dressed in snug-fitting green clothes, walking toward him. His face held a look of surprised uncertainty.

Chen Shouheng was taken aback for a moment, finding the man somewhat familiar.

After a moment’s thought, he remembered. This was Zuo Hong from the Zhuifeng Martial Arts Hall, who had once invited him and his companions to form a team to break through the formation during the County Martial Examination.

He returned the salute and said, "So it’s Brother Zuo Hong? I never expected to run into you here. I am still young and unworthy of being called ’Brother’."

"The skilled take precedence. It is only right to call you Brother Chen."

Seeing that he hadn’t been mistaken, Zuo Hong broke into a hearty smile. "I thought it was you from a distance, but I didn’t dare to approach rashly. What brings Brother Chen to Qingshui County? And right here in front of the Sha Wei Martial Arts Hall?"

He looked at Chen Shouheng’s slightly dejected expression and couldn’t help but feel curious.

Chen Shouheng gave a bitter laugh and sighed. "To be honest, I came to Qingshui County... to find a master who can teach the Staff Technique."

"Brother Chen, you want to learn the Staff Technique?"

Zuo Hong was surprised. He remembered that Chen Shouheng used a Fist Technique, and his proficiency was quite impressive.

Chen Shouheng shook his head with a wry smile. After a brief pause, he simply explained that his father wanted to practice the Staff Technique.

After listening, Zuo Hong’s face involuntarily took on the same expression Chen Shouheng had already seen twice—a mixture of surprise and bewilderment.

"Your father... he... is truly old but vigorous, his ambition undiminished... AHEM..."

He cleared his throat, trying to make his tone sound less rude. "Such dedication to the Martial Dao is truly admirable. It’s just that, at his age... it’s true that ordinary martial arts halls probably won’t accept him."

Chen Shouheng nodded helplessly. "I understand. Brother Zuo, do you know of any other martial arts halls or masters in Liyang that teach the essentials of the Staff Technique?"

Zuo Hong frowned in thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Martial arts halls that teach the Staff Technique are rare to begin with. In all of Liyang County, there are only the Liuhe and Sha Wei halls. Any farther... and you’d probably have to ask around in the next county."

Hearing this, Chen Shouheng grew even more disappointed and prepared to head to the more distant Jiangzuo County to try his luck.

He cupped his hands. "Thank you for the information, Brother Zuo. In that case, I won’t trouble you any further. Farewell."

"Brother Chen, wait!"

Just as Chen Shouheng got on his horse, Zuo Hong suddenly called out to him. A hint of hesitation appeared on his face as he mused, "Actually, there is someone here in Qingshui who is very proficient in the way of the staff. It’s just..."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts. "It’s just that this person isn’t a master who runs a hall and takes students. I can’t say if he’d be willing to teach, and I don’t even know if he’d want outsiders to know about his skill..."

The spark of hope that had been extinguished in Chen Shouheng’s heart was instantly rekindled. He quickly said, "Brother Zuo, please tell me. No matter what, it’s still a chance. I ask that you make an introduction for me. Whether it succeeds or not, I, Shouheng, will be endlessly grateful."

"Alright then."

Zuo Hong nodded. "Since we’ve run into each other, I’ll take you to try. But whether we can persuade him will depend on whether someone else is willing to help."

With that, he turned and led the way.

Chen Shouheng led his horse and followed, soon arriving at the gate of a martial arts hall.

Zhuifeng Martial Arts Hall.

Chen Shouheng looked up at the plaque, puzzled, and asked, "Brother Zuo, why are we...?"