A Martial Saint Among Men: From Joining a Martial Arts School

The family of three were walking home, and none of them were in a good mood.

Although Chu Xuan had already left, he still heard what Old Master Chu said!

Resign yourself to fate?

Sorry, but he just won't accept his fate!

"Xuan'er, it's all my fault." Zeng Ke's face was full of self-blame.

"Mom, it's alright. If we lose the money, I'll think of another way!" Chu Xuan said with a smile, comforting his mother.

Actually, he wasn't completely without options; he had another alternative, though he didn't know if it would work!

The alternative is also very simple: installment payments!

The tuition fees at several martial arts schools in the inner city are all charged on a yearly basis. They definitely wouldn't agree to pay monthly.

But what if Chu Xuan adds interest?

For example, Chu Xuan promised a registration fee of 40 taels for a year's worth of fees, and then planned to pay those 40 taels in monthly installments. If the fees were paid on time, perhaps a martial arts school would agree.

Chu Xuan wasn't sure if it would work!

As for high-interest loans, Chu Xuan had considered them. Given time, he was confident he could repay the principal and interest.

However, these days, loan sharks are mostly gangsters like Xie Hui, who have absolutely no credibility. Borrowing money from them at exorbitant interest rates is like throwing yourself into the lion's den; you're handing your sister over to them and waiting to be ripped off.

If he couldn't think of any other way, he would have no choice but to swallow his pride and go door-to-door asking around.

As Chu Xuan approached his home, he saw Xie Hui and his group of five circling in the distance.

Chu He also saw Xie Hui, and her face immediately turned pale with fright, and she trembled slightly!

Chu Xuan shielded Chu He behind him and calmly watched the group.

Zeng Ke glared angrily at the group, adopting a stance that threatened to fight them to the death if they dared to come any closer.

Hehe~

Xie Hui chuckled strangely, but didn't approach. He led his followers away in the opposite direction.

When Chu He got home, she was still somewhat absent-minded, her previous playfulness gone. Chu Xuan noticed several footprints on his door, and the markings he had made on the wall had been destroyed, clearly indicating that someone had been inside.

Fortunately, his savings were not stolen!

"We can't wait any longer!"

Chu Xuan also made up his mind and planned to try his luck at various martial arts schools in the city tomorrow.

As long as you can become a disciple of the martial arts school, having this status will be enough to intimidate these scoundrels!

But before he could try it the next day, that evening, a couple, a rare occurrence, came to his house.

The woman appeared to be in her thirties and bore a resemblance to Chu Xuan's mother, Zeng Ke. The man, on the other hand, was a tall, burly man with a fierce appearance, carrying a piece of pork in his hand!

"Auntie, Uncle. What brings you here?"

Chu He, with her sharp eyes, spotted the two at a glance and affectionately embraced the woman who had entered.

The visitors were Chu Xuan's aunt and uncle. His aunt, Zeng Hong, was his mother's younger sister. Like his mother, she knew some needlework and often sold her needlework to wealthy women and young ladies in the city, where she was quite popular.

My aunt's husband is named Hu Dazhi. He is a butcher. He looks fierce, but he is actually an honest and kind man!

These days, although being a butcher doesn't have a good reputation, it's a really lucrative job. So, my aunt's family still lived a relatively comfortable life.

In the past two years, their family has been able to get by thanks to the occasional financial assistance from their aunt.

"Auntie, Uncle."

Chu Xuan warmly welcomed the two of them in.

"My nephew must have taken some kind of magic pill, he's getting more and more handsome! He's much better looking than all those young masters and noblemen in the inner city." Zeng Hong ruffled Chu Xuan's hair and teased him with a smile, "If you were a daughter, matchmakers from all around would be knocking down your door."

Chu Xuan gave an awkward laugh.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zeng Hong explained her purpose: "You know Baicaotang in the inner city, right? It's a business owned by the Bai family. I heard that the Bai family plans to sponsor a group of people to learn martial arts at a martial arts school. As long as they meet the Bai family's requirements, they can receive sponsorship to go to the martial arts school..."

The Bai family in the inner city is in the business of medicinal herbs, but recently they have been having some bad luck. Not only have they been suppressed by competitors, but several of their martial artists have also been poached and taken away, resulting in a serious lack of martial arts strength to protect their medicinal herbs.

The end result was that the medicinal herbs they tried to take out of the city were robbed several times, causing them considerable losses.

The Bai family wanted to hire a retainer to solve their immediate problem, but they couldn't find a suitable person for the time being.

Becoming a martial artist is inherently difficult, and martial arts school apprentices are already being watched. Once they break through to become martial artists, those with the strength are already recruited by various schools, so there's no need for them to wait for someone to find them.

As for hiring a security escort agency, that would be too uneconomical.

The Bai family then planned to sponsor a group of promising young men to learn martial arts at a martial arts school. Of course, the condition was that once they became martial artists, they had to become retainers of the Bai family.

"Auntie, where did you hear this news from?" Chu Xuan's eyes lit up as he quickly asked.

Zeng Hong smiled and said, "Speaking of which, I have to thank you, my dear nephew. The warm neckerchiefs you helped me design were very popular with the ladies and young women in the inner city. One of the concubines in the seventh branch of the Bai family is very favored and also likes my needlework. I heard all this from her, and it's absolutely reliable!"

"In addition, I also got you a spot in the assessment from that seventh young mistress."

"Nephew, go to Baicaotang first thing tomorrow morning. There will be an experienced master there to examine your bones. If your aptitude passes the test, you can receive sponsorship from the Bai family to study martial arts at a martial arts school."

"What?"

Upon hearing this news, Chu Xuan's family all showed expressions of surprise and delight.

My aunt actually managed to get a spot!

This is such a pleasant surprise!

Just a moment ago, his family was worrying about the registration fee for the martial arts school!

"Great! My brother can go learn martial arts!" Little Chu He jumped up happily.

It was Chu Xuan, who could hardly contain his excitement at this moment.

After waiting for so long, he finally saw a glimmer of hope!

As for the seemingly restrictive condition imposed by the Bai family, it meant nothing to him.

The Bai family was considered one of the wealthiest families in the inner city. Countless people would kill to get a job in the Bai family, let alone a position of worship.

Moreover, if the Bai family were short-sighted and neglected even the worshippers they cultivated, they probably wouldn't have been able to grow their business to such a large scale.

"Little sister," Zeng Ke said hesitantly after her initial excitement, "If you give this spot to Xuan'er, what about Hu Zi?"

Tiger is the nickname of Zeng Hong's son, whose real name is Hu Wenrui. He is a year younger than Chu He. Because he never lacked food growing up, he has always grown up with a chubby face.

"Big sister, Tiger is still young. It's not too late for him to learn martial arts in two or three years," said Hu Dazhi, the usually sullen uncle.

"That's right! Tiger, don't worry!" Zeng Hong nodded, smiling at Chu Xuan. "Besides! Even if the Bai family stops sponsoring us in the future, it's fine. When my nephew becomes a martial artist, helping his younger brother will be a piece of cake, right?"

"Thank you, Auntie! Thank you, Uncle!"

Chu Xuan didn't pat his chest or make any guarantees; instead, he solemnly bowed to the two of them.

"Oh dear, that won't do..."

Chu Xuan's uncle quickly helped him up.

"Alright, it's getting late, we should head back now. Nephew, remember to behave well tomorrow." After chatting with her mother for a few moments, the aunt and uncle left in a hurry.

Even after seeing the two off at the door, the family still felt a sense of unreality.

Everything that just happened feels like a dream.

"Brother, you can learn martial arts now! You'll definitely be selected tomorrow!" Chu He said, clenching her fist.

"Yes!" Chu Xuan nodded emphatically.

Zeng Ke, the mother, didn't say anything, but her eyes inexplicably became moist.

The next day, before dawn, Chu Xuan had already changed into his most presentable clothes. In addition, he also brought with him the more than twenty taels of silver he had saved over the past six months.

This was his way out.

He didn't know his own physical attributes. If the Bai family's requirements were too high, or if his physical attributes were too poor to be selected, then he would have to activate his backup plan and shamelessly try to negotiate installment payments with various martial arts schools.

"Mother, Xiaohe, I'm leaving. Wait for my good news at home!"

As dawn broke, Chu Xuan had already left home. He had no right to keep the Bai family waiting, and besides, if he went any later, he might run into Xie Hui and his group.

He's now rolling in money!

After entering the inner city, Chu Xuan quickly arrived at Baicaotang. After giving his name, he was led to the back courtyard by a shop assistant at Baicaotang.

There were already six or seven people standing in the courtyard, all of similar age and dress to Chu Xuan.

Then more people were led in one after another.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, more than a hundred people were standing in the courtyard. The once spacious courtyard suddenly felt somewhat crowded.

At first, the boys were a little hesitant, not daring to speak or look around. But as more people joined them, they gradually became bolder and started chatting with each other.

Chu Xuan didn't chat with anyone; instead, he was making plans in his mind.

Wow, so many people have come!

Although he didn't know how many people the Bai family would be sponsoring, he knew it certainly wouldn't be many! Ten people would probably be the limit for the Bai family!

This competition is incredibly fierce!