Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

After introducing the courtyard, it was lunchtime, and Steward Li personally led Shen Chu to the dining hall.

Along the way, Shen Chu saw several familiar faces.

They came to the Li family to apply for jobs with Shen Chu, but they ended up becoming guards, while Shen Chu became a swordsmith.

Shen Chu was initially a little envious, but after seeing how they are now, she no longer felt that way.

They all looked listless and exhausted, and some even walked with a limp.

Those who didn't know better might think they had suffered some kind of inhuman abuse.

Following Shen Chu's gaze, Steward Li also saw these people and said with a smile:

"These new guards have to go through rigorous training. Those who can't endure it still have to leave. So, of these people, only two or three out of ten can eventually become guards."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chu couldn't help but feel fortunate.

I guess I've turned misfortune into blessing. I didn't get to be a guard, and I doubt it would have been as comfortable as being a swordsmith anyway.

Upon entering the dining hall, one finds it already packed with servants, maids, and guards; even the queue for food stretches for over ten meters.

If you go to the end of the line, you'll have to wait at least ten minutes.

Just as Shen Chu was about to obediently go and queue up, Manager Li pulled him directly to a small kitchen.

"I'm so happy today! Congratulations on becoming a formal swordsmith! This meal is on me, don't be shy!"

As he spoke, he looked at the cook serving the food: "This is the newly appointed knife smith in the manor, give him more meat dishes."

"Yes, Steward Li."

The young cook nodded respectfully. She glanced at Shen Chu subconsciously, and her face flushed slightly upon seeing him.

She immediately served Shen Chu a full bowl of braised pork and poured a spoonful of fragrant gravy over it!

Shen Chu couldn't help but swallow.

During those ten days, although he was able to eat his fill, his unremarkable appearance allowed him to barely manage to get the scraps of meat that the old woman's spoon left over.

But compared to this bowl of braised pork, it's worlds apart!

"No rush. After you finish eating, you can rest for an hour before going to work in the compound."

Manager Li gave Shen Chu a few more instructions, and seeing that Shen Chu had a good understanding of the matters concerning the knife forger, he prepared to leave.

At this moment, Shen Chu remembered his practice of increasing his stamina through martial arts:

"Excuse me, Steward Li, is someone like me qualified to practice the martial arts used by the guards?"

Shen Chu practiced martial arts not only to enhance his endurance, but also to confirm one thing.

Since forging swords allows him to become a swordsmith and awaken the "Thousand Hammers and Hundred Refinements" skill.

Could practicing martial arts allow him to become a martial artist and awaken martial artist-related abilities?

"You want to practice martial arts?"

Shen Chu's words greatly surprised Steward Li.

In his view, the fact that Shen Chu failed to become a guard meant that he was only of the lowest aptitude. Wouldn't it be a waste of time for someone of the lowest aptitude to practice martial arts?

Even if you train for a lifetime, you may not be able to become a true martial artist.

If this delays my good talent for weapon crafting, wouldn't it be a loss?

Having guessed what Manager Li was thinking, Shen Chu immediately explained, "I practice martial arts only to strengthen my body and improve my endurance. I just practice casually and won't spend too much time on martial arts."

"That's good." Manager Li breathed a sigh of relief. "Since it won't delay the weapon forging, I'll go and ask the head guard for it for you. You can wait here."

After saying that, Steward Li walked towards where the guards were, and soon he returned with a book with a blue cover.

"This is the Rock-Crushing Fist technique practiced by the guards. Take a look."

"Thank you, manager!"

Shen Chu never expected that a martial arts manual could be obtained so easily!

Although the Crushing Stone Fist doesn't seem like a particularly powerful martial art, it can still verify his conjecture.

After finishing a large bowl of braised pork, Shen Chu almost swallowed his tongue. Reluctantly, he put down the bowl, then took the Crushing Stone Fist and returned to his small courtyard, where he sat at the stone table and began to read.

This book, which records the Bengshiquan (Stone Collapse Fist), is mostly filled with simple illustrations, depicting figures in various fighting styles.

Punching, kicking, raising knees, snapping feet...

Shen Chu joined in the gestures.

Shen Chu thought that practicing a few moves might awaken his martial arts prowess, but he never did.

"Does one have to complete a full set of moves to awaken the martial artist class?"

Shen Chu quickly realized this possibility.

He began to practice the movements strictly according to the book.

But just then, the courtyard door opened, and a middle-aged man in a gray robe with a long beard walked in.

He witnessed the scene of him practicing the Crushing Stone Fist.

"Stone-Crushing Fist? What are you practicing?" The middle-aged man in the gray robe frowned slightly, looking at Shen Chu with displeasure.

Shen Chu looked at him with surprise, not understanding why he would make that face when she was just casually practicing her punches.

He remembered that he and the other person did not know each other.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man in the gray robe realized what was happening and explained arrogantly:

"It was Steward Li who said you had some talent for weapon crafting and asked me to take you as my disciple, and I agreed. From now on, you will listen to me, and you don't need to practice martial arts anymore. From now on, you can focus all your attention on weapon crafting."

"My name is Han Tieshan, and from now on you shall call me Master Han."

After saying that, Han Tieshan didn't give Shen Chu any chance to speak and walked straight to the south room.

Such an autocratic style immediately made Shen Chu think of his identity.

Master Sun once said that there are three people in this weapon-forging courtyard who can forge low-grade weapons, and perhaps Master Han is one of them.

If that's the case, then he wouldn't mind following in the footsteps of this Master Han and learning from him!

"Excuse me, is Master Han one of the three masters capable of forging high-grade weapons?"

Han Tieshan paused as he entered the room, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes:

"High-grade weapons are not so easy to forge; I am still some distance from that level."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chu was immediately disappointed.

We're all just ordinary swordsmiths. Since Han Tieshan isn't a master swordsmith, there's no need for me to follow him and learn from him.

After all, Master Sun could forge short swords with a quality of 98/100, which was not far from being a lower-grade weapon.

The Han Tieshan in front of him was at most a little closer to him, but in Shen Chu's eyes, they were no different.

In any case, each strike of his "thousand hammers and a hundred forgings" would increase his progress a little. What he lacked was not skill, but the strength and stamina to strike a hundred times. Besides, Master Sun had been quite considerate to him these days.

Logically and emotionally, he had no reason to learn a trade from Han Tieshan.

Thinking of this, Shen Chu politely declined:

"Master Han, I haven't been here long and don't know much about the place. Please give me some time to familiarize myself with it..."

Han Tieshan's thick eyebrows furrowed instantly. He looked at Shen Chu in disbelief: "What did you say?"

I said, "Please give it back to me..."

Shen Chu was about to repeat himself when Han Tieshan rudely interrupted him!