Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 11 Becoming an Apprentice? Becoming an Apprentice!
About half an hour later, Liu Sheng estimated the time and carried the two wild rabbits home.

Even before they reached the gate, they saw Zhou's sister-in-law supporting the old woman as they talked to a one-armed monk in the courtyard.

The ascetic was tall and imposing, resembling an iron tower. He wore black robes, had a white bone rosary around his neck, and a scar on his face, giving him a fierce appearance.

There is not a trace of the compassion of a monk.

Goodness, the Tong family reacted so quickly?
Moreover, they even sent such a ruthless person!

Liu Sheng's pupils contracted as he recognized the newcomer—it was none other than Master Wu!

The Tong family reacted so quickly!

Just then, Master Wu, who was talking to the old woman, suddenly turned around, his eyes filled with malice and a murderous aura…

It's like facing a ferocious tiger head-on!
The momentum is compelling!

Liu Sheng's breath hitched, his steps faltered, and he stopped at the doorway, a look of confusion on his face.

Just right.

"My dear grandson, this is a martial arts master from the Tong family..."

Grandma Liu spoke up at the right moment, waving to Liu Sheng and introducing him as follows:
"Butler Cheng was murdered on his way back... Master Wu wants to know what happened..."

"Butler Cheng has been murdered?"

Liu Sheng raised an eyebrow, gloating as he said:
"Which hero made this? I'll treat him to roasted rabbit."

"What nonsense are you spouting, child? Don't you know that death is a serious matter?"

"He's helped Tong Bapi exploit and harm his neighbors for years; he'll get his comeuppance sooner or later..."

Liu Sheng stiffened his neck and said something, then stepped forward and handed the rabbit to Sister-in-law Zhou.

Then, he casually looked at Master Wu:

"What else do you want to know? You don't suspect... that I killed him, do you?"

"You've practiced martial arts, and even mastered the basics?"

Master Wu glanced at Liu Sheng, his gaze shifting to the rabbit in Zhou's sister-in-law's hand:
"He has a pretty good throwing knife skill."

What a keen insight!
Liu Sheng felt a chill run down his spine, crossed his arms, neither admitting nor denying.

Master Wu grinned, his gaze shifting, and suddenly landed on Liu Sheng's hands. His eyes lit up instantly, and he reached out and grabbed them.

Roar!
In an instant, it seemed as if a powerful tiger roar exploded.

Liu Sheng felt his head sink, as if a black tiger was pouncing on him, and a foul stench assaulted his face.

By the time he came to his senses, Master Wu had already closed in and grabbed his arm with one hand.

hiss!
The gap between me and this person is actually this huge?!
Liu Sheng was shocked. The smugness he had felt earlier from attacking and killing Butler Cheng vanished without a trace.

At this moment, the martial arts master quickly massaged his palms, wrists, arms, shoulders, spine, and hips a few times before retreating.

pain!
"Long arms and wide palms, strong bones and muscles, a natural-born swordsman!"

Master Wu marveled:
"Your hands are naturally suited to holding a knife; they shouldn't be buried in the countryside."

As he spoke, a hint of reminiscence flickered in his eyes—

Back then, in the countryside of Yanggu County, my elder brother and I depended on each other for survival, suffering constant bullying, until we unexpectedly met our master…

Seeing that I was tall, he said the same thing to me after examining my bones…

Now, it has been almost sixty years since my master passed away.

The arising and ceasing of causes and conditions, the ceasing of causes and conditions giving rise to causes and conditions. Today, I find this young man pleasing to the eye, so I will pass on a method to him.

Do whatever comes to mind.

A fleeting look of reminiscence crossed his eyes, his expression turned somber, and his voice was filled with a sigh:
"Would you like to practice martial arts with me? I can teach you martial arts."

"what?"

Liu Sheng was stunned for a moment, forgetting the pain in his body.

What is this turning point?
His mind raced, and after a moment of silence, he tentatively asked:
“My family and Tong Bapi… don’t get along.”

"Tong Li is Tong Li, and I am me."

Master Wu softened his tone, seemingly trying to force a kind smile, but his scarred face only appeared more ferocious:

"An employment relationship; you get paid to do things, and you can leave at any time."

Tong Li, also known as Master Tong, was nicknamed "Skinner".

So, does this martial arts master not have a very close relationship with the Tong family?

Liu Sheng was immediately tempted.

He would go to the Tong family compound every morning to spy on Wu, but his time was limited.

Before the transformation was upgraded, it could only last for a quarter of an hour. Even after it was upgraded to Blade Tail Blue Sparrow, the transformation time was only extended to about half an hour.

Moreover, he practiced on his own without any feedback or correction.

It's alright now that we're just practicing static stances, but in the future we'll need to practice moving stances, fighting techniques, and moves...

You can't learn this all by yourself.

He had originally planned to save enough money over a period of time before going to the city to find a martial arts school to learn martial arts.

But now a master has been delivered to us...

Is it because of my "born swordsman" talent? Liu Sheng's eyes flickered a few times, he was silent for a moment, and then said in a deep voice:
"What do you want me to do?"

Master Wu chuckled, touched the scar on his face, and said in a sinister voice:
"Would you dare to kill one of my enemies in the future?"

"Just one person?"

"Just kill one person."

"it is good!"

Liu Sheng responded, then immediately knelt down and called out "Master".

This decisiveness surprised Master Wu, and his expression became much more serious.
"Aren't you going to ask me who I'm going to kill?"

Liu Sheng lowered his head, recalling a classic line he had seen in his past life, and blurted it out:

Where there are people, there is right and wrong; where there is right and wrong, there are grudges; where there are grudges, there is the world of martial arts.

My master taught me martial arts, and I kill for you; it's just to settle a grudge in the martial world.

In the world of martial arts, grudges are settled only by success or failure, not by right or wrong.

Master Wu's eyes gleamed with admiration, feeling that every word the young man spoke resonated deeply with him...

I'm finding it more and more pleasing to the eye!

"Good apprentice, the ground is cold, get up quickly!"

He stepped forward and helped Liu Sheng up, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of silver notes:
"My name is Wu Song, and I am from Yanggu County, Qingzhou."

I left in a hurry and have nothing else on me, so this hundred taels of silver... consider it a small gift for you."

Huh? This…

Can you really get paid to become an apprentice?
Liu Sheng, still somewhat dazed, accepted the silver note and chatted with him for a while, agreeing to meet at dawn the next day in the woods behind the village for martial arts instruction…

It wasn't until he saw Master Wu off and a gust of wind blew his head back to his senses that he came to his senses.

So you've already become a disciple?

Isn't it said that practicing martial arts is a very serious matter?
We didn't do any of the three kneelings and nine kowtows, or offer tea and gifts!

Isn't this a bit hasty?
but…

He glanced down at the stack of silver notes in his hand, and his lips curled up into a wide smile that almost reached his ears.

How can this be called hasty?

Our master is unconventional and disdainful of the world!

Those so-called "famous teachers" who exploit their disciples are not even worthy of carrying our master's shoes!
With this hundred taels of silver, plus the twenty taels obtained from Steward Cheng…

A full one hundred and twenty taels of silver—enough to choose an excellent incarnation!
He happily put away the silver notes, then turned around and saw the old woman standing in front of the door, holding a wood-chopping knife in her hand, her expression solemn.

Inside the house, Sister-in-law Zhou's face was deathly pale, and she was trembling.

"What...what's going on now? What just happened?"

Liu Sheng was completely bewildered and quickly stepped forward to persuade the old woman to put the knife down.

To his surprise, the old woman, who usually obeyed him without question, shook her head vigorously.

"My dear grandson, your master is clearly no ordinary person. He's now working for the Tong family!"
My family and the Tong family don't get along well to begin with, and what you just did...

If word gets out that you've become his apprentice, it won't be good for either of you.

So you're going to take a machete and chop up Sister-in-law Zhou, who knows about this?

You really are a fiercely protective parent...

"It's not that I necessarily want her dead..."

A cold glint flashed in Granny Liu's cloudy old eyes, and she said in a deep voice:
"As long as she's not an outsider, that's fine."

If they're not outsiders, then they're insiders...

Liu Sheng realized what was happening, and a strange look appeared on his face.

In this feudal society, starving to death was a small matter, but losing one's chastity was a big deal, so this was not a bad solution.

It's just...too domineering.

"You're the only heir left in the Liu family..."

Granny Liu gripped the wood-chopping knife tightly, her voice hoarse and dry, unusually resolute:

"I don't care whether I live or die, but you can't be hurt..."

Not even a little bit!

Fine, fine, I don't care, but I can't force others, otherwise what's the difference between me and those beasts?
Liu Sheng licked his lips and said earnestly:
"Grandma, this has to be based on mutual consent..."

How do you know she's unwilling?

Granny Liu asked in return, then walked up to Sister-in-law Zhou and brandished the wood-chopping knife in her hand:

“Yu’er, you’re also a pitiful person. You have no man to rely on and you still have to support Er’ya. Life is hard.”

You know my grandson's abilities. Today he has also taken a master as his teacher, so his future is bright.

Would you make him a small one?

(End of this chapter)