Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chen Jianghe stepped onto the deck and pushed open his creaking cabin door.

Lin was squatting in front of the stove blowing on the fire when she saw her son return. She quickly stood up and wiped her hands, asking, "Jiang He? Why are you back today?"

"Mother, pack up, we'll move today." Chen Jianghe said decisively, but with a smile on his face. "Master agreed to let you stay at the martial arts school. The woodshed in the backyard is simple, but it can be tidied up and is habitable, which is better than here."

Madam Lin paused, unconsciously rubbing her hands on her apron. "Really...really let him go? Is this appropriate? A woman like me, living in a martial arts school, won't people gossip?"

Chen Jianghe grasped his mother's rough hand, his tone steady: "Since Master has already agreed, it's the martial arts school's rule. If you go, you'll be helping with chores—washing clothes, cooking, cleaning the yard—all respectable work. Who would gossip?"

He paused, then continued, "The Sun Moon Cult members gathered and preached at the outer city street corner today. Mudskipper Bay will be under surveillance sooner or later. And the Black Tiger Gang will definitely continue to hunt down Li Gouzi's men. Mother, no matter how dilapidated the martial arts school is, it still has a sign."

Madam Lin nodded, then looked around the dilapidated cabin where she had lived for over a decade: "Alright, Mother will listen to you."

Chen Jianghe took his mother's arm and said, "Let's go, Mom. Uncle Liu said he's bringing some things over later, let's not let him come empty-handed."

As soon as the mother and son got ashore, they saw a familiar figure emerge from the alleyway.

Uncle Liu, carrying a bamboo basket, hurried over when he saw them come out: "I was just about to look for you!"

He stuffed the bamboo basket into Lin's hands: "Take this to eat on the road. Inside are a few steamed buns and some pickled vegetables."

Lin took the bamboo basket, her voice choked with emotion: "Uncle Liu, all these years, I'm so grateful for your care..."

"Why are you saying all this!" Uncle Liu waved his hand, looked at Chen Jianghe with a complicated expression, "Are you really leaving?"

Chen Jianghe nodded: "Master agreed and let my mother do some odd jobs at the martial arts school and stay in the woodshed temporarily."

Uncle Liu was silent for a moment, then patted him heavily on the shoulder: "Maybe Jiang He, you're right. Things are getting more and more dangerous outside. Yesterday, three more people died in the back street of Shen Mansion. They say it's because the Black Tiger Gang and the Iron Hand Gang are fighting over territory... Sigh, this world."

He pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket and shoved it into Chen Jianghe's hand without saying a word: "Take it."

Chen Jianghe recognized the money as soon as he squeezed it and quickly refused, saying, "Uncle Liu, I can't accept this! I haven't even received the money you gave me last time..."

Uncle Liu glared at him: "Just take it! Your mother works at the martial arts school, and although they provide food and lodging, she still needs money for daily expenses, right? Your martial arts training is a bottomless pit! I'm old, with no children, so these things are useless to me. You'd better train hard, and when you're successful in the future, buy me a good bottle of wine, and that will be enough to repay the debt."

Chen Jianghe's throat tightened slightly: "Uncle Liu..."

"Alright, alright, let's go!" Uncle Liu turned around, waved his hand, and said, "Be careful on the road."

Chen Jianghe bowed deeply to the slightly hunched back.

"Mother, let's go."

......

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Every day before dawn, Lin would get up to boil water, cook porridge, wash clothes, and clean the yard.

She was quick and efficient, but didn't talk much. Her fellow students at the martial arts school gradually got used to this taciturn woman. Occasionally, after finishing their practice, they would call out, "Aunt Lin, is there any water?"

Chen Jianghe then devoted himself entirely to martial arts training.

In the past three months, his body has grown stronger as if inflated. His shoulders and back have broadened, his arms are muscular, and his once thin face has become angular. His coarse cloth jacket now looks tight on his shoulders.

[Destiny: Diligence is rewarded by Heaven; success is inevitable]

[Current Skill: Three-Body Stance (Minor Success)]

Progress: 23%

Current skill: Five Elements Fist (Beginner)

Progress: 78%

[Effect: None]

Although life had entered a brief period of stability, Chen Jianghe dared not slacken his efforts in the slightest. A woodshed was, after all, a woodshed, cold in winter and hot in summer, not a place to live for long. His mother was getting older and could not live there forever.

Chen Jianghe was thinking that he had to rent a small house near the martial arts school, no matter how small, it would be a real home.

Moreover, martial arts training is a bottomless pit. After achieving some mastery of stance training, the demand for qi and blood is even greater than before.

The ten catties of meat the martial arts school provides each month, plus the portion "traded" with the third senior brother, are barely enough to sustain the training. If one wants to advance further and break through the barrier of Ming Jin, additional income is necessary.

.....

That afternoon, Chen Jianghe finished practicing the Five Elements Fist and walked to the corridor, wiping his sweat.

He Shouzhou was squatting beside the stone lock, polishing a wrist guard with coarse sandpaper. When he saw Chen Jianghe coming over, he looked up and said, "Your stance training has improved again?"

Chen Jianghe sat down beside him and said with a wry smile, "What's the use of being diligent? My pockets are still empty."

He Shouzhou paused in his work, glanced at him, and asked, "Are you short of money?"

After a moment of silence, Chen Jianghe spoke up: "Senior brother, I... want to ask you something."

"explain."

"In the martial arts school, besides practicing, do disciples like us have any other means of livelihood?" Chen Jianghe carefully chose his words. "My mother lives in the woodshed, which isn't a long-term solution. I'm thinking of saving some money to rent a small house nearby."

He Shouzhou nodded, walked to the corridor and sat down, patting the stone steps beside him. Chen Jianghe understood and sat down next to him.

"For those of us from poor families who want to make money through martial arts, there are only a few paths," He Shou-zhuo paused, "and the most common one is 'temporary official posting'."

"On temporary assignment?"

"Yes," He Shouzhou explained, "It means being registered under the name of a security escort agency, shop, or wealthy family. You don't have to be on duty every day; you only need to act when needed. You receive a fixed monthly salary, which, although not much, is a stable source of income."

Chen Jianghe's heart skipped a beat: "Senior brother, are there any rules or regulations regarding this temporary posting?"

"There are many intricacies involved," He Shou-zhuo sighed. "First, you need to have strength. At least a Ming Jin cultivation level, otherwise no one will be willing to support you for free. Second, you need someone to introduce you. In this world, what opportunity comes without effort?"

He paused, then continued, "Large organizations like Yuanwei Escort Agency and He Clan Forging Shop are extremely selective in their recruitment. They not only require cultivation level, but also consider aptitude, age, and background. Just like Senior Brother Zhao Mingyuan."

"Senior Brother, I have never seen him before."

A complex look flashed in He Shouzhou's eyes: "His talent is exceptionally high. He broke through to the Ming Jin level within a year of joining the martial arts school, and was immediately noticed by the Zhao family of the inner city, who recruited him directly. Back then, they promised a monthly salary of twenty taels of silver for those who reached the Ming Jin level, along with various medicinal baths and tonics. He was living a life of unparalleled prestige. Now he is the head instructor of the Zhao family's guards, but what about us..."

He shook his head and didn't continue.

Chen Jianghe was silent for a moment, then asked, "So if one hasn't reached the Ming Jin level, there's no way to proceed?"

"Yes, there are." He Shou-zhuo glanced at him. "Dock warehouses and street shops often hire martial arts practitioners on temporary assignments to guard the premises. It's just that the monthly salary is low, but the risks are considerable. They have to step in when gang fights or local thugs cause trouble."

He patted Chen Jianghe on the shoulder: "Jianghe, I know you're anxious. But in martial arts cultivation, the worst thing is to be distracted. You are at a crucial time in your breakthrough to Ming Jin. If you are busy with money now and delay your cultivation, it will be a loss."

Chen Jianghe nodded: "Senior brother is right."

He Shouzhou sighed, "Jiang He, let me tell you the truth. For those of us from poor families, it's difficult to turn our lives around through martial arts. Over the years, how many people have come and gone from our school? In the end, you can count the number of people who have made a name for themselves on one hand."

He paused, then continued, "Even I, who have been here for almost three years, have only reached the Mingjin level. The meager monthly stipend for this temporary post is barely enough to cover my own living expenses, let alone help my family."

After saying that, he picked up the stone lock, walked to the other end of the courtyard, and continued to practice his skills in silence.

Chen Jianghe stared at He Shouzhuo's figure, somewhat lost in thought.

This senior brother was usually quiet and reserved, but he was extremely diligent in his training. He spent three years in arduous practice, only reaching the Ming Jin level. The hardships he endured are unimaginable.