In the early morning, the Marshal’s mansion bustled with activity.
Lin Zhao followed the sword-carrying deputy marshal, Huang Tingyu, through the front courtyard and straight into the back. Upon arrival, he spotted a familiar figure.
Chen Yu, the eldest princess of the Great Chen Dynasty, also resided in the Marshal’s mansion.
"Lin Zhao!"
Chen Yu greeted him with a smile, like an elder sister. "You're here so early. Let me show you to your quarters first. They were cleaned up yesterday. It's not a large place, but it should be enough for you."
"Mm!"
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Sister Chen Yu!"
"Nonsense, boy, don't be so polite."
Chen Yu led the way, and soon they arrived at Lin Zhao's residence. It was located deep within the Marshal’s mansion, a quaint little courtyard. The yard wasn't large, but the furnishings were quite exquisite. Chen Yu smiled and said, "For these days, Marshal Chu will guide you in your boxing practice. Besides that... Elder Huang Tingyu will have people prepare medicinal baths for you, and there will also be a maid to attend to your daily needs. You can tell her anything you require. Although our Tianchi Ridge is short on resources, the Marshal's mansion itself is not."
"Mm!"
Lin Zhao nodded.
At this moment, a woman in a cyan long dress walked out from the courtyard. She curtsied and smiled, "You must be Young Master Lin Zhao?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu nodded. "Lin Zhao, this is Dongcang, a maid of the Marshal's mansion. She used to live on the back street, so you might know her. For the next ten days, she will be responsible for your meals and daily care."
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao glanced at her. She looked somewhat familiar, but perhaps because they lived far apart, he didn't know her well. As for this Miss Dongcang, it was clear she lacked the aptitude for becoming a martial artist or a spiritual cultivator. For women born in Tianchi Town, if they possessed neither of these, their only option was to do odd jobs like sewing, mending, serving tea, and pouring drinks, which was unavoidable.
However, Dongcang looked less than twenty years old, was fair-skinned, and her smile was as pleasant as a spring breeze. She said, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I will take good care of Young Master Lin Zhao for the next ten days."
"Mm!"
Chen Yu nodded.
Huang Tingyu, with his arms crossed, smiled lazily. "Little maid Dongcang, stop with the pleasantries. Go to the west wing to fetch the herbs according to the prescription I gave you. Marshal Chu will finish his breakfast soon, and it will be the perfect time for him to guide Lin Zhao in his practice. After the practice, Lin Zhao will likely be quite different from how he appears now. Also, help Lin Zhao get two decent sets of clothes."
"Yes, Elder Huang!"
Lin Zhao looked somewhat confused. "Elder Huang, why are we fetching medicine?"
Huang Tingyu couldn't help but chuckle. "You expect to come out unscathed after sparring with Marshal Chu? It would be a miracle if you weren't beaten black and blue. Marshal Chu dedicates his life to the pinnacle of boxing. He won't go easy on you in his training."
Chen Yu chuckled and patted Lin Zhao's shoulder. "In short, be mentally prepared for some broken bones and strained muscles. But rest assured, Marshal Chu will exercise restraint. You will recover the next day after each injury. The spirit medicines in our Marshal's mansion are not just for show."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao was very composed.
Just then, a cavalryman galloped up on horseback and cupped his fist in greeting. "Your Highness, Elder Huang, Marshal Chu requests Lin Zhao's presence in the training hall."
"Let's go!"
Chen Yu led the way.
...
In the training hall, Chu Huaixi shed his armor and donned a fitted uniform, exuding an imposing aura of a martial artist. His cultivation as a Treading Sea Realm martial artist was considered peak within the Tianchi Army. Chu Huaixi practiced his self-created "Rong Ma Fist" (Soldier's Fist). Years of battles and military campaigns, wielding this set of techniques, had allowed him to slay countless formidable enemies, making the northern demon, devil, and ghost races tremble at the mere mention of his name. Yet, the currently busy Chu Huaixi was taking time out to mentor an obscure young man like Lin Zhao. If this news were to spread, the entire town would likely be abuzz.
Huang Tingyu slowly closed the door from the outside, leaving only the two of them in the training hall.
Chu Huaixi's expression turned cold as he slowly assumed a boxing stance. Instantly, his entire being emanated a potent boxing intent. He said calmly, "Come on. My Rong Ma Fist has wreaked havoc in the northern frontier for many years, meeting few equals. You, Lin Zhao, are fortunate today to witness its power."
Lin Zhao frowned and respectfully cupped his fist, nodding. "Marshal Chu... are you going to teach me the Rong Ma Fist?"
"No need."
Chu Huaixi replied, "Your Farmer's Three Punches... may not be inferior to the Rong Ma Fist. It's just that you are young, and you haven't fully grasped the essence and principles of the technique. Lin Zhao, use your Farmer's Three Punches to face me. But you must remember, when I strike you, I will only retract the force of my punch, not its intent. Therefore, you will face the peak boxing intent of a Treading Sea Realm martial artist. You must endure this overwhelming sense of intent, technique, and principle. If you, Lin Zhao, can face a Treading Sea Realm's boxing intent head-on, you will naturally not be at a disadvantage in terms of aura when you encounter Yuan Chao, Peak, or Wandering Cloud Realm martial artists in the future. We martial artists cultivate pure true qi. If your aura falters, it is equivalent to losing."
"Understood!"
Lin Zhao suddenly assumed a boxing stance, and dense boxing intent flowed around him. His brow furrowed as he looked at Chu Huaixi. "Marshal Chu, come! I am ready!"
"Very good!"
As Chu Huaixi moved, his immense boxing intent erupted. When he delivered a punch, it was like a mountain descending, almost stopping Lin Zhao's heartbeat. He had no idea what level of confrontation this was and could only cross his fists in front of his chest, using the "Qi Chong Dou Niu" (Qi Rushing the Bull) stance to defend against Chu Huaixi's move.
"Bang!"
With a loud crash, Lin Zhao was sent flying, slamming heavily against the training hall wall behind him. Chu Huaixi's training hall had been personally built by a Mohist friend many years ago and was incredibly sturdy. Although Lin Zhao spat blood and looked wretched, the wall he hit remained undamaged.
"Get up, are you done already?"
Chu Huaixi strode forward and roared, "Do you, Lin Zhao, not even dare to look at my fist?"
"Never!"
Lin Zhao suppressed the deep-seated fear of a Treading Sea Realm martial artist within him and shakily got up. His eyes stared directly at Chu Huaixi's immense boxing intent. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Marshal Chu, please continue to bestow your punches!"
"Now that's more like it."
Chu Huaixi smiled faintly, then lunged forward, his iron fist descending from the sky, enveloped in a torrent of boxing intent.
Lin Zhao didn't hesitate. He had treated this trial as a life-and-death battle. Since death was inevitable, why shouldn't he fight back? To passively await death was never his style, Lin Zhao!
The young man assumed his boxing stance, and an fearless aura erupted from his body. The intent of the Farmer's Three Punches flowed rapidly. He met Chu Huaixi's punch with a "Han Di Ba Cong" (Springing Up from Dry Land) strike, swift and accurate!
But in the next second, his intent was crushed again. His shoulder bore the brunt of Chu Huaixi's punch, followed by a stifling sensation in his abdomen. After taking a kick from Chu Huaixi, he was sent flying horizontally, slamming against the wall and spitting blood once more.
"Is this already your limit?"
Chu Huaixi looked at the disheveled youth and raised an eyebrow. "Is this all the ability Lin Zhengxi's son has? If it ends here, you will greatly disappoint your uncle."
Lin Zhao lay on the ground, every bone in his body seeming to have been shattered by the opponent's fist force. Even though Chu Huaixi had suppressed his fist force to the level of a second-realm martial artist, Lin Zhao was still defeated every time they clashed. The reason was simple: he was completely suppressed in terms of boxing intent, principles, and aura. It was like two people of equal strength sparring, where the one with superior inner strength would inevitably win.
"I haven't..."
Lin Zhao staggered to his feet, his body almost covered in blood from the beating. The fabric of his shoulder was even torn by Chu Huaixi's punch. He raised his head, his clear eyes once again fixed on Chu Huaixi's immense boxing intent. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes; instead, there was an unwilling desire to win.
The young man slowly assumed the boxing stance for the Farmer's Three Punches, this time the "Zhen Ma Feng Qiang" (Galloping Horse Standing Firm) stance. Gritting his teeth, he actually initiated the attack for the first time.
"Swish!"
His qi-infused punch broke through the wind, and the young man's movement was agile. This "Zhen Ma Feng Qiang" strike was both swift and accurate, aiming directly at Chu Huaixi's left ear.
"Would it be that simple?!"
Chu Huaixi sneered, then suddenly spun his body, delivering a heavy punch to Lin Zhao's chest. He forcefully cut off the continuous boxing intent of the "Zhen Ma Feng Qiang" style. Then, his body sank, and he delivered a fierce kick to Lin Zhao's abdomen, sending the young man's body crashing straight into the training hall's roof. As Lin Zhao fell, Chu Huaixi, without mercy, delivered another punch filled with boxing intent, sending Lin Zhao flying outwards.
This time, Lin Zhao could no longer stand and fainted.
...
"Creak~~~"
Chu Huaixi opened the door and said, "Old Huang, carry him back. He's reached his limit. Use Tianchi Ridge's best medicinal herbs to bathe him, and bring him back tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir!"
Huang Tingyu scooped up the young man in his arms and headed straight for the small courtyard. In the courtyard, a large bathtub had already been prepared in the room, and Miss Dongcang had also placed all the medicinal herbs. So, Huang Tingyu stripped the young man and threw the clothes into the tub. He then glanced at Dongcang, who was covering her face with her hands, and chuckled, "What, shy?"
Dongcang's face turned crimson. "How could I be? Lin Zhao is still young, and so thin..."
"So, you don't like this type of young man, huh?" Huang Tingyu asked with a smile.
Dongcang's face reddened even further. "Elder Huang, what are you talking about? Young Master Lin Zhao is a distinguished guest of Marshal Chu, and I am merely a maid of the mansion. I would never dare to aspire to such a thing."
"Heh, good that you know your place."
Huang Tingyu grinned. "Lin Zhao's future achievements might be immense, and he's handsome too. He might indeed be beyond your reach, Miss Dongcang. But it's alright, Miss Dongcang, you have a pretty face and a well-rounded behind. You won't have trouble finding a husband in the future. If all else fails, I, Old Huang, can make do... Miss Dongcang, you have no idea how handsome I was in my youth. All the young ladies for miles around... oh no, all the girls for miles around wanted to marry me, Old Huang. How about you consider it?"
"Pah! Pah! Pah!"
Dongcang covered her face. "Elder Huang, you old rascal!"
Huang Tingyu let out a hearty laugh and turned to leave.