Chapter 1
The Jiangwutang, which appeared by Xuanwu Lake three years ago, boasts a grand design and exudes a certain opulence. However, the buildings are too new, and the surrounding walls are excessively high—this is to prevent students from the Jiangwutang, who might sneak out at midnight to cause trouble, from easily escaping. A typical wall would likely be insufficient to deter such individuals. Moreover, for safety reasons, all the large trees along the wall have been cut down, leaving the area both inside and outside the wall almost devoid of vegetation, which further accentuates the imposing nature of the high wall.
This kind of lecture hall stands abruptly by the picturesque Xuanwu Lake, and when compared to the Guozijian, which is separated by the lake, shrouded in greenery, with white walls and black tiles, and winding paths leading to secluded spots, it inevitably brings to mind... the nouveau riche
A vulgar and unrefined nouveau riche, reeking of money.
The students of the Imperial Academy sat by the lake, gazing at the new cohort of students being escorted by the military from the Governor's Office of Yingtian into the gates of the Lecture Hall, exchanging glances and smiling at one another
There is another good show to watch
The new student stood there with a苦 face. How could he remember so quickly
Brother Meng Jianqing suddenly looked up towards the distance
A group of new students displayed an air of indifference on their faces. For military offspring like them, riding and archery began as soon as they could walk; was there really a need for specialized instruction? Moreover, this young Confucian instructor, adorned in splendid attire and possessing a handsome appearance, had a pair of enchanting peach blossom eyes that seemed to attract attention effortlessly. Wherever he went, a fragrant breeze wafted through, causing the students in the front row to hold their breath involuntarily.
Confucianism smiled and said: "No worries, no worries. Three years from now, those who are grateful to you will far exceed those who are grateful to me"
The next opponent of Guanxi is Meng Jianchen. After suffering a setback, Guanxi was extremely agitated and determined to win. Despite Meng Jianchen's strong physique, he seized the opportunity to dislocate Meng's left thumb joint. Nevertheless, Meng Jianchen gritted his teeth and endured until the very end
The more perceptive of the dozen or so new students could see clearly, exchanging smiles with one another, feeling as if they could expel the pent-up frustration within them, and developed a favorable impression of the instructor, who resembled a dandy. They reflected that they did not possess the strength or vision to shoot down the annoying telescope on the observatory, and thus their gazes towards the instructor were imbued with a greater sense of admiration—one should not judge a person by their appearance, nor should the sea be measured by a single bucket; the instructor was a clear testament to this.
The flag officer announced the rules in a loud voice. Each new student is limited to one incense stick in a match against a second-year student, but they are only allowed to defend and evade, not to retaliate. If they can endure for the duration of one incense stick without falling within the circle marked by the lime line, they will have passed this first hurdle, and in the next round, they can change opponents
They soon learned that Ma Jiaoxi's nickname was "Hornet"
Equally detestable as the sarcastic remarks from the bookish and the horse-riding instructors is the gloating and finger-pointing from those sour scholars at the observatory on the opposite bank.
He still cannot see clearly, it is truly disheartening
Meng Jianqing quickly retreated several steps. Although he avoided the hidden follow-up grab from Guanxi, he was suddenly met with a sweeping kick from Guanxi that took advantage of this opportunity. Meng Jianqing instinctively leaped to the side.
Isn't it just a wasp that loves to sting people
Meng Jianqing did not expect that the first lesson at the martial arts hall would be "getting hit"
However, what they now like and admire are the ostentatious and captivating Confucian practices that are akin to the display of peacocks.
Master Ma, from a position of authority, clearly observed the changes in the expressions of these newcomers. With a cold snort, he said to Master Kong: "Here we go again with the attempts to win people's hearts!"
One hundred and twenty new students from the third phase stood on the training ground, facing twenty selected students from the second phase chosen by the instructor.
Meng Jianqing leaned back, and the sturdy cowhide boot from the man from Guansi kicked past his chest and abdomen. Meng Jianqing had already slipped out from under his feet. With his left hand propped on the ground, he suddenly flipped over and stood up, right in the center of the lime circle. The man from Guansi kicked into the air, immediately spun around, lifted his left foot and raised his right foot, using the momentum of the spin to sweep towards him. Meng Jianqing performed a somersault to evade the kick, landing back in the same spot.
In the span of a single incense stick's burning time, Meng Jianqing endured over ten kicks and narrowly escaped being caught by Guanxi several times by the shoulder joint, but ultimately managed to hold on until the end and withdrew unscathed.
Ma Jiaoxi appears to be merely a thin, unremarkable middle-aged man, with a face full of wrinkles resembling the dried skin of an orange. Walking down the street, no one would spare him a second glance or take note of him.
That said, let us return to the first lesson of Meng Jianqing and his peers in the training ground
Until the conclusion of this course
The instructor Ma on the platform glanced at them and slowly said: "To learn how to fight, one must first learn how to take a hit. If you don't even understand this basic principle, how did you fools manage to enter the martial arts academy?"
Without waiting for Meng Jianqing and the others to speak, the two second-year students laughed again: "I fear this is the hornet preparing to give you a taste. The hornet thinks last year's victims were not enough and is eager to try its blade on you all again"
When it was time to retire for the night, everyone loosened their clothing, revealing their bruised bodies. They helped each other apply medicinal alcohol to their injuries. The physician had provided each person with a large bottle of trauma medicinal alcohol, a large box of wound ointment, and a bundle of clean bandages. However, today they only used the medicinal alcohol. Looking at the wound ointment and bandages, an ominous feeling arose in everyone's hearts. The physician wouldn't have prepared these items for no reason, would he? Looking at the wound ointment and bandages, an ominous feeling arose in everyone's hearts. The physician wouldn't have prepared these items for no reason, would he?
After stepping down, the physician was treating another freshman who had been kicked and could not get up. Meng Jianqing then assisted him by reattaching the joint
Gongsun Yi's eyesight was not as good as that of Meng Jianqing's brothers. From behind a wall that was at least three people high, he could only see a distant high platform obscured by an ancient tree, where shadows of people could be faintly seen moving.
Meng Jianqing faced a formidable opponent, a second-stage cultivator whose hands were as large as fans when spread wide. Later, he learned that this individual was named Guanxi
A student from the Imperial Academy, joyfully gazing through a telescope, suddenly exclaimed as the telescope was shattered, causing the hands gripping the tube to be injured and bleed profusely; the student cried out in shock, raising his hands in confusion.
A room housed six new students
Meng Jianqing and others would not realize the importance of the lessons taught by Master Ma until three years later, when they were dispatched to the military to serve and truly engage in battle. At the moment they found themselves surrounded and faced with the imminent threat of being killed by the enemy, the ability to withstand attacks from all directions, and instinctively contract or relax their muscles to adjust their bodies to minimize injury at the critical moment when blades and arrows pierced their flesh, would be a matter of life and death for them
As they took a brief rest in Kansai, Meng Jianqing slightly turned his head and whispered to Meng Jianchen: "I should be the one to thank you."
Gongsun Yi, who had been defeated and was in a sorry state, looked at the two brothers with confusion. When did they become so brotherly and respectful towards each other? It was truly remarkable
Meng Jianchen replied coldly: "No need to thank me. You being thrown out does not bring me any face either"
Although the new students did not dare to confront the instructor as soon as they entered the training hall, their faces already displayed signs of indignation, silently cursing while keeping their mouths shut
During the last class, the silhouettes on the observatory were more numerous than usual, clearly indicating that this lively scene would not be witnessed again until next year
Meng Jianqing and the other five finally learned that the nickname of the physician Lang was "Weasel". However, it is not surprising, as Lang's pointed chin and sparse yellow beard indeed bear a certain resemblance.
The two second-year students peered in during the rounds and chuckled, saying, "The weasel has been quite generous this year; last year, we only received a bottle of medicinal wine and a box of wound ointment for a whole room."
Although it is known that Instructor Ma has such a temperament—this is precisely why he cannot stay in the military, where he cannot get along with his superiors and colleagues, and can only be transferred to the Military Academy. The students who are pricked by his words dare to be angry but do not dare to speak out—yet every time Instructor Ma extends his barbs, it still provokes them to stomp their feet and curse in their hearts, each one greeting Instructor Ma's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Confucian teachings must have accustomed him to the expressions on their faces during their first meeting. With a slight smile revealing his teeth, he reached back to grasp the large iron-backed bow with a hard horn that a personal guard was carrying. In the moment of turning back, he had already drawn the bow and nocked an arrow, sinking his body and rotating his arm, shooting an arrow towards the distant Stargazing Platform on the opposite bank
The medicine boy curled his lip: "Isn't it just relying on the telescope borrowed from the Astronomical Bureau? Spending so much silver to build an observatory for the Imperial Academy, yet hardly any scholars are using it to observe the stars; instead, they climb up there to watch us practice every few days! Sooner or later, we will have to tear down his observatory!"
As predicted by Confucian teachings, almost everyone holds gratitude towards the teachings of Ma
The three freshmen who faced him in front were all thrown out of the lime circle with their joints dislocated by his grappling techniques. The attending physician, Lang, walked over, lifted one person's right hand, and said expressionlessly: "Remember, I will only reset your joints once; after that, you will have to rely on yourselves." With a series of light sounds, the technique was so swift that it was hard to see clearly, and in the blink of an eye, the joints were already reset.
However, there is an additional person on the training ground today
In the span of three months, Meng Jianqing sustained more injuries than he did in five years at Tiantai Temple
He dodged with remarkable agility, causing Guanxi to involuntarily exclaim "Oh" in surprise. He retracted his flying kick and closed the distance, his right palm open, directly aiming for Meng Jianqing's left shoulder. Meanwhile, his left arm subtly gathered energy and extended, ready to seize the opportunity as Meng Jianqing attempted to evade to the side
Upon hearing this nickname, everyone looked at each other, and with a burst of laughter, the room erupted in mirth
Indeed, having passed the test of martial arts for the twenty second-phase students, the next challenge will be weaponry
The imperial physician was passing by them, glanced up without saying anything, but the attendant beside him began to mutter angrily: "Those pretentious scholars from the National Academy are at it again, just watching the commotion!"
As Meng Jianqing had just stepped into the lime circle, the opponent from Kansai effortlessly scored three consecutive points and aimed a kick at him, seemingly disdainful of engaging in close combat, intending to kick him out while Meng Jianqing was still unsteady on his feet
As the flag officer spoke to this point, a commotion had already arisen below. If this is the case, does it not mean that each of them must be beaten in turn by these twenty second-year students? Seeing the way those twenty were sizing them up, each one of them displayed a sense of pride; it is likely that they had endured this last year in the same manner, and now, after holding it in for a year, they could finally vent their frustrations, which naturally brought them great joy
However, he shamelessly mocked these prodigies in such a sharp and disdainful manner during the first class
Gongsun Yi exclaimed in surprise, "From such a distance, that group of pretentious scholars can actually see clearly?"
In that moment of leap, his left foot had already stepped outside the circle. Just as he was about to land, he suddenly heard a cold snicker from the onlooker, Meng Jianchen. Meng Jianqing realized the danger and quickly retracted his left foot. In that brief delay, Guanxi delivered a solid kick to his left shoulder. Meng Jianqing did not brace himself to withstand the blow; instead, he fell forward, and although he landed in a disheveled manner, covered in dust, he managed to dissipate much of the force of the kick and escape the peril of close combat with Guanxi.
They lowered their voices and laughed as they closed the door
Master Ma introduced that this is their archery instructor, Kong Xuan