Becoming a saint begins with apprenticing under the last martial arts champion.

The sun has set, and the moon has risen.

Pig Cage Alley.

Lu Changqing had just entered the house.

A disheveled beggar, wearing tattered cloth shoes, carrying a block of iron, strode into the city gate.

Anyone who approached him frowned, covered their nose, and stepped aside, their eyes revealing undisguised disgust.

But Liu Bai ignored it and strode towards the left front side of the fortress, to the drafty shed made of bamboo, wood and rags.

After he went inside, he plopped down in a chair, looked at himself in the mirror by the dim light of the bulb, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Then he looked to the side at the guy whose pants weren't pulled up very high, revealing half his buttocks, and who was wearing a professional fake smile.

"I won't let you do the cutting today."

"Call your boss out."

The waiter, with his hair slicked back and holding scissors and a comb, asked, "Are you sure you want to call our boss?"

"A professional haircut will be more expensive, so I wanted to let you know in advance."

"Because our boss has received further training..."

Liu Bai was clearly too lazy to waste any more words with him and shouted loudly:

"Old Zeng, time for a haircut!"

Soon, a middle-aged man with high cheekbones, a thin build, droopy eyelids, and a listless appearance emerged from a small room partitioned off behind the curtains of the shed.

Upon seeing Liu Bai, the other person's surprised expression suddenly changed, and their small eyes widened.

"Who do we have here? It's you, you son of a bitch!"

He was cursing, but his face was full of smiles.

Liu Bai also wore a smile as if he were meeting an old friend again. "Didn't you hear me? A customer's here, time for a haircut!"

Old Zeng walked to the counter, bent down and took out a short blade, about the length of an adult's forearm, while cursing.

"You son of a bitch, yelling at me like that, can't you see I'm getting my weapon?"

After straightening up, he waved to the waiter, indicating that he should move aside.

Then they walked behind Liu Bai, one sitting and one standing, looking at each other in the mirror.

"So, you're finally going to pick up that fan?"

"A young man redeemed it and asked me for a favor. I wanted to help him, so I took it."

"Pfft...bullshit...what does he want with you?"

"Teach him martial arts."

At this point, Old Zeng paused, both his knife in his hand and his words trailing off. A deeper surprise flashed in his eyes. "You're planning to take on an apprentice?"

Liu Bai shook his head: "Wouldn't it be harmful for me to take on disciples like this? I'll just teach them some skills..."

Old Zeng struck again, and Liu Bai's beard fell to the ground piece by piece.

"What's that kid's talent and aptitude like?"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Bai gave a fair assessment: "Rotten."

Old Zeng asked, puzzled, "Then why are you still teaching?"

Liu Bai: "He's somewhat like me when I was young; a pretty strong young man."

Old Zeng raised an eyebrow: "Is he the son of that guy who learned some of Old Huang's leg techniques?"

Liu Bai was equally surprised: "You actually knew?"

Old Zeng snorted twice: "I may be holed up here, but I can't keep any news from Hong Kong from you."

"His father also made a bad choice in people; it's quite tragic."

Liu Bai remained silent.

Old Zeng smacked his lips twice more: "What do you want from me?"

Liu Bai looked at himself in the mirror, which resembled the image in his mind, paused, and then spoke.

Two things.

"Someone wants that kid dead. He's living in the fortress now. You think you're so capable? Keep an eye on him."

"Also, as for the leg, fist, and staff techniques, you should let them know in advance that you might need them to help you with some moves later."

Upon hearing this, Old Zeng laughed in anger, "I thought you had changed your mind and wanted to go back to fight."

"So you've come here to make me your babysitter?"

Liu Bai didn't deny it, but simply smiled and said, "Who said I don't want to go back and fight?"

His eyes held a hint of reminiscence, "Just want to leave something behind before I go..."

Old Zeng's hands didn't stop. "You, the martial arts champion, have more influence than me."

Why don't you go and tell them?

Liu Bai: "You have done them a favor. Tell me, the training you give them later will be even more heartfelt."

Old Zeng couldn't help but scoff and shake his head: "Why should I help you?"

"I've never even met that kid, but his father has paid homage to me."

Liu Bai: "I haven't asked for help much in my life, but this is one of the few times."

Old Zeng: "That works too."

"Then when you decide to go back and fight your way back, call me."

Liu Bai nodded: "Okay."

Old Zeng smiled and said, "I'll agree to your request."

...

...

The next day, the sky was bright.

The cramped, dimly lit washroom was filled with people washing up.

Whether or not one washes their face thoroughly is another matter, but many people brush their teeth diligently.

Because my teeth are rotten, it's expensive to see a doctor.

After washing up, Lu Changqing put the basin containing his toothbrush and toothpaste back home, got dressed, and buttoned up his Zhongshan suit from bottom to top, intending to wait at the city gate.

After all, Liu Bai only asked where he lived, not the specific address, and he was afraid the other party wouldn't be able to find him.

Stepping outside, I looked up at the fourth floor, but Wang Laizi wasn't there.

Looking down to the right side of the fortress, there were several people who were clearly martial artists, practicing in the morning.

He took a deep breath.

Today, he can practice martial arts too!

Unexpectedly, as soon as he went downstairs, he saw a refined middle-aged man with long hair, a clean face, and who looked to be in his thirties, smiling at him.

Lu Changqing was taken aback.

He didn't recognize the other person.

But his cloudy, yellowish eyes told him otherwise.

The person in front of me is Liu Bai.

"Young Master Liu?" Lu Changqing asked tentatively first.

Liu Bai simply raised his hand and said, "Come with me."

Lu Changqing followed.

Yesterday, he was disheveled and unrecognizable, but today, one can see some remnants of his former martial arts champion status.

Seeing that the other person held the heavy iron fan as if it were nothing, he felt a little regretful.

Such a master still succumbed to the opium addiction of foreigners.

After walking a few steps, Lu Changqing noticed something strange.

Instead of leading him out of the fortified village, Liu Bai headed towards the small alleyway gate on the left side of the village.

After passing through the small gate, they arrived at the only "rich area" in the walled city.

The shantytowns built behind the traditional tenement buildings in the town.

Although the building is equally old, with old walls and bricks.

Each room, however, is an independent courtyard.

I heard the monthly rent is thirty yuan.

According to the concept of money in Su Hui's teachings, it would cost about three thousand yuan a month, which is really expensive.

The result is.

Liu Bai led him into a small courtyard of about 100 square meters.

It wasn't big, but it had a main house, a side room, a toilet, and even a water tap, so it was quite complete.

"From now on, practice martial arts here."

"I'm selling my reputation, so I got you a discount on the rent."

"Fifteen silver dollars a month."

After listening, Lu Changqing considered it for a moment, then nodded and replied, "Okay!"

"Listen to Young Master Liu."

After the discount, the courtyard house is only five cents more expensive per month than the room, which is perfectly acceptable and offers excellent value for money.

Most importantly...

Lu Changqing was unsure whether he was cut out for martial arts.

Whether he can truly learn the kung fu that Liu Bai passed on to him remains to be seen.

But he was certain that this was his last chance to turn things around.

Practicing martial arts is like learning; it requires privacy and a space where you can calm your mind.

The stronghold was a melting pot of all sorts of people, and it was certainly not a good place to practice martial arts.

Therefore, regardless of whether he has talent or not, he will do his best and take it seriously!

This courtyard allows him to focus entirely on his cultivation without being influenced by others.

Liu Bai took out two books from his bosom.

"I originally wanted you to practice the Dragon Guardian Stance."

"But seeing that your steps are unsteady and your blood and qi are not flowing smoothly, you are not suitable for this. Instead, practice Tai Chi stance."

As he spoke, he handed one of the books to Lu Changqing.

Lu Changqing took it, his heart tightening.

"Young Master Liu, is the Tai Chi stance weaker than the Dragon Guarding Stance?"

Liu Bai shook his head: "Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and their directions are different, so there is no such thing as good or bad."

Lu Changqing finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

Immediately, he thought of the martial arts students practicing their morning exercises in the village when he left home.

"Compared to those people, how does our achievement compare?"

Liu Bai unfolded his iron fan, which produced a clanging sound like metal clashing, and spoke with the confidence befitting a martial arts champion.

"If I'm going to teach you, I'll naturally teach you well..."

Compared to them...

"We are in heaven, they are on earth."