"Master."
"The times have changed!"
"In recent years, the court has heavily invested in building 'Martial Arts Academies.' In just ten years, there are already four hundred Martial Arts Academies across the Four Hundred and Eighty-Two Counties of the Fifteen States."
"In the past, Martial Arts Academies only recruited youths above sixteen years of age, either with exceptional aptitude and root bone or those already skilled seeking a master. Good seedlings were all taken by the academies, but our martial arts halls could still pick up some leftovers."
"However, starting from last year, major Martial Arts Academies began establishing 'Foundation Establishment Schools,' rounding up youths aged ten to sixteen, and those over sixteen who couldn't enter the Martial Arts Academy can still attend 'Foundation Establishment School.' As long as they perform prominently and achieve success, they can directly advance to the Martial Arts Academy."
"Foundation Establishment School."
"Martial Arts Academy."
"The court has blocked all future paths for us martial arts halls, including the former sects and gangs!"
"This is an unprecedented major shift."
"In Guangling, even a three-hundred-year-old sect like the Songhe Sect had to actively engage, sending disciples to the Guangling Academy to learn or serve as instructors and martial masters."
"What can we do, then?"
"In Guangling City, of the dozens of large and small martial arts halls, how many remain now?"
Yan Chuan attended to his master, narrating the changes of the era. In the face of the grand trend, both worldly martial arts halls and sects outside the world were like ants, unable to withstand the mighty momentum.
All rivers return to the sea!
The decline of the martial arts hall is inevitable.
...
"Senior Brother, how is my father?"
Seeing Yan Chuan come out, Cheng Wenlong hurriedly stepped forward.
Yan Chuan shook his head, "So angry he coughed up blood."
"Ah?"
"I'll go and check on him!"
Cheng Wenlong was startled.
Yan Chuan quickly stopped him, "Don't go in yet, let him calm down by himself; it's better if he comes to terms with it."
"Sigh!"
Cheng Wenlong said dejectedly, "I never imagined that entering the academy with Ah Bi would anger my father so much. If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have gone."
Compared to his still rebellious sister Cheng Ah Bi, the eighteen-year-old Cheng Wenlong was undoubtedly more filial and mature.
Yan Chuan believed his words.
But—
"You should have discussed it with me."
Yan Chuan sighed.
Though he was a disciple with no blood relations, he understood his master, their father, better than Cheng Ah Bi and Cheng Wenlong.
The master's name was Cheng Fengxiao, the current inheritor of 'Cheng Family Boxing.' From a young age, he followed his grandfather in practicing 'Iron Wire Fist.' As a teenager, he was tasked with the responsibility of inheriting the family 'Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall,' following his grandfather's last wishes to promote the martial arts hall and the Cheng's Boxing Skill.
The first decade was fine; the martial arts hall flourished, and Cheng Fengxiao's mastery of boxing continually improved, gaining some fame in Jianghu.
But in recent decades, the court's vigorous development of 'Martial Arts Academies' aimed to spread martial arts throughout the world, delivering a dimensional blow to worldly martial arts halls and Jianghu sects. The disciples of the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall dispersed beyond control, heading towards decline.
This wasn't targeted intentionally; it was purely the overwhelming force of the grand trend feeling down.
In the wild currents of this era, Cheng Fengxiao was absolutely powerless to resist, mentally and physically exhausted.
A tension held taut.
When both children 'betrayed' simultaneously, secretly participating in the Guangling Academy assessment and successfully entering, this 'bad news' reached his ears, and Cheng Fengxiao, in sparked anger, coughed up blood and aged a decade in an instant.
The blow was too severe!
Yan Chuan sighed that if Cheng Wenlong and Cheng Ah Bi had discussed with him before going and adopted a more gentle approach, the master might not have felt this bad.
But—
"If my father could be reasoned with, why would I have kept it a secret from Senior Brother?"
"When the Guangling Academy was initially established, it invited my father to be an instructor, which he declined. Senior Brother Yan, at sixteen, could have entered as part of the first batch but was also stopped."
"Ten years have passed, and most of the initial batch of disciples have achieved fame, but Senior Brother Yan—"
Cheng Wenlong felt it was unjust for Yan Chuan.
It was precisely because of witnessing his father's stubbornness in Yan Chuan and the mediocrity after staying at the martial arts hall that Cheng Wenlong was unwilling, Cheng Ah Bi was reluctant, and thus they both switched to Guangling Academy.
But to Yan Chuan—
"It wasn't the master who stopped me back then; I didn't want to go. It's a pity that this Senior Brother of mine hasn't made much of himself, with dull aptitude, not bringing any honor to the master."
Twenty years ago, he traveled to this life, becoming a sickly six-year-old child lying on the roadside. If not for the master's rescue, he would have died long ago.
The master treated him as his own, and Yan Chuan was aware of Cheng Fengxiao's feelings towards the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall. Anyone else could leave, but this eldest disciple mustn't.
Whether it's foolish filial piety or fealty.
Be it heavy emotions or bonds.
Yan Chuan didn't care, allowing the world to judge.
...
Cheng Wenlong kept watch outside for a while. As the sun climbed high, a difficult expression appeared on his face, "Senior Brother, I have to report to Guangling Academy."
On the first day of July.
Today marks the start of the Guangling Academy's new term.
"Go ahead."
"I will take care of things here with the master."
"Remember to come back on rest days, bring Ah Bi with you."
Yan Chuan waved his hand, allowing Cheng Wenlong to go to school with peace of mind.
The boy's heart was already in the Guangling Academy, and the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall couldn't hold him anymore. Better to let go than forcibly keep him. At the Guangling Academy, Cheng Wenlong might make something of himself.
After Cheng Wenlong left.
"Little Chuan, come in."
Came the voice of Cheng Fengxiao from inside the room.
Yan Chuan pushed open the door and entered, seeing Cheng Fengxiao already sitting up. However, his face was pale without a trace of blood, and he seemed dejected.
"Master, I asked the kitchen to prepare some porridge. Would you like some?" Yan Chuan was concerned about his master's health.
"I can't eat."
Cheng Fengxiao shook his head and looked at Yan Chuan, "In these ten years, have you ever blamed the master?"
"Of course not!"
Yan Chuan replied immediately.
This wasn't a lie.
The reason he didn't go to the Guangling Academy back then was certainly due to the master's strong resistance, yet as the Senior Brother, he couldn't be seen leading a betrayal. This was Yan Chuan's choice from an emotional perspective.
But after making the choice, analyzing from a rational and logical standpoint, Yan Chuan's aptitude was average. Even if he joined the Martial Arts Academy, given the large class teaching environment, he wouldn't have been noticed and would steadily fade into the crowd. But staying at the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall was different; being the Senior Brother of the hall and Grand Disciple of Cheng Fengxiao, in the gradually declining hall, Cheng Fengxiao would definitely teach him with more wholehearted devotion.
Cheng Fengxiao!
Former among the Guangling Ten Tigers!
An Old School Grandmaster Level Martial Master!
With Yan Chuan's mediocre aptitude for martial arts, having such a master passionately teaching him was better than blending in at a Martial Arts Academy, wasn't it?
Thus.
Whether on an emotional or rational level, Yan Chuan held no resentment toward the master.
Listening to this, Cheng Fengxiao couldn't help but bitterly smile, "Yet I, as the master, regret stopping you from entering Guangling Academy back then; it might have held up your future."
Cheng Fengxiao sighed, "It's been ten years. While I understand the general trend is unstoppable, I was unwilling. During my youth, I practiced martial arts in the hall with my grandfather. Before my grandfather passed, I vowed at his sickbed to carry forward the martial arts hall, to open a sect with the 'Iron Wire Boxing Manual,' aiming to become a long-lasting sect like the Songhe Sect."
"But now, even the Songhe Sect is nearly merging into the Guangling Academy."
Grandfather was Cheng Fengxiao's light.
Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall was Cheng Fengxiao's root.
The Songhe Sect once was Cheng Fengxiao's goal to chase and surpass.
The light was gone long ago.
The root had already decayed.
The once-targeted goal was also about to disperse.
Cheng Fengxiao was confused.
Yan Chuan looked at his once-spirited master, now with waned vigor and a hero growing old, feeling distressed. He, with limited abilities, couldn't do much else, only comforting, "As long as the master is here, the martial arts hall will remain. As long as I, the disciple, am here, the martial arts hall will remain!"
...
While Cheng Fengxiao recuperated at home, Yan Chuan came to the martial arts hall alone. The once-crowded Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall had dwindled to six or seven unattractive people now.
"Senior Brother, I won't be coming tomorrow," Cai Liang said, head down, not daring to look at Yan Chuan.
Beside him.
Wei Quan's face flushed in anger, "Cai Liang, Cai Liang! You picked the wrong name. Your conscience is gone! When you failed the Guangling Academy entrance and came to the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall to apprentice, the master and Senior Brother taught you martial arts with dedication. Now that you've achieved a modicum of success, you're switching to the Foundation Establishment School? Have some shame, won't you?!"
Pointed and scolded, Cai Liang was also furious, "I paid the fees, the martial arts hall received payment; it's business, what talk of conscience? Speaking of conscience, absolute skills are open for disciples to learn at the Guangling Academy, but here, the master guards 'Iron Wire Fist' like a treasure, unwilling to teach even Senior Brother! The court house report and the Academy Martial Magazine all say that the greatest flaw of the old era is the sectarian perspective and cherishing one's own dung and broom, it's too petty!"
"It's not that the master doesn't want to teach me 'Iron Wire Fist,' it's that my foundation is insufficient." Yan Chuan explained for Cheng Fengxiao. He and the master's situation is known only to them, and as for Cai Liang, his words held accuracy—
Payment received!
Skills taught!
Merely a business deal!
The shortcomings of martial arts halls and sects Cai Liang outlined were incisive, or rather, the propagation in the court house report and the Academy Martial Magazine wasn't incorrect.
Just as Yan Chuan comforted and persuaded the master earlier, Yan Chuan understood the reasoning and knew no less than Cai Liang.
If not for emotional ties, if his life didn't possess profound bonds with the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, equipped with progressive thought and conscious awakening from his previous life, Yan Chuan might well exceed Cai Liang and Cheng Wenlong as a more radical forerunner of the 'New Faction'!
Charge forth!
Undeterred by challenges!
But now—
He still had to stand firm in the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall for one last shift.
As for the future?
There's still a long way!
"Senior Brother is benevolent and filial, I respect you, but I truly feel it's not worth it for you!" Cai Liang stubbornly said, then attempted to leave only to be blocked by Wei Quan, "Traitor! Want to leave, get past me first!"
"Wei Quan!"
"The court has long issued a ban; no sect or martial arts hall can obstruct disciples from leaving. Violating the order will result in fines or termination!"
"Do you dare stop me?"
Cai Liang stood strong, ready to push through.
Hearing fines.
Hearing termination.
Wei Quan hesitated and retreated step by step.
"Let him go." Yan Chuan sighed, there's no point in trying to keep someone who had no heart in staying.
"Thank you, Senior Brother, for allowing this."
Cai Liang cupped his hands towards Yan Chuan, then walked far, departing as a stranger.
Following Cai Liang, Fu Zhen and Xue Ying quickly said, "Senior Brother, we are leaving too!"
Without daring to linger, they hurriedly ran off.
In an instant.
The martial arts hall grew desolate, leaving only Wei Quan, Yu Jinpeng, and Jin Yutang as disciples besides Yan Chuan.
"Bah!"
"What a bunch!"
"If not for worrying about causing trouble for the master, I'd cripple them!"
Wei Quan, eighteen, was prone to youthful rashness.
Yu Jinpeng, aged twenty-four, with maturity and caution, said, "Their departure from the martial arts hall, going to Guangling Academy's Foundation Establishment School, they have wild hearts; they can't be held back."
Jin Yutang, aged twenty-two, looked at Yan Chuan, with concern on his face, "In Guangling City, the good seedlings have already been thoroughly recruited by the Guangling Academy. Now with the addition of Foundation Establishment School, all youths from ten to sixteen are taken. If our martial arts hall aims to take in disciples now, they will either be unattractive or poor."
Unattractive ones find little achievement.
Impoverished ones bring low tuition income.
In the past, establishing a martial arts hall required two criteria for accepting disciples—
Either with good root bones.
Or with substantial wealth.
The former earned reputation for the hall, while the latter supported its operation.
But now, the Great Yan court's combination of two strategies stunned the halls and numerous Jianghu sects.
The road ahead was blocked.
Struggled to sustain.
"Do our best, and let destiny decide!"
Yan Chuan shook his head.
He knew that the overwhelming trend, the court's propagation of martial arts, did bring benefits lasting for millennia.
What he could do was limited to exert his utmost effort, determined to hold the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall faithfully. Yan Chuan had no grand ambition of 'restoring the old', unwilling to resist the tide of the times, focusing solely on the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall and Master Cheng Fengxiao, and nothing more.
Guarding his small plot of land, achieving this, sufficed!
Thinking so——
Suddenly.
At this time.
A brilliant light shone in his mind, suddenly awakening a 'Purple Mist Palace'——
...