"No refunds. Scram before make you." The carpenter glared at Zhu Xi before he snapped out of his reverence and left with his wooden sword. The Immortal Sword's presence lingered only when he focused on it, but otherwise remained hidden. Whatever his cheat did, it didn't seem like the carpenter had perceived it.
The late evening return home was uneventful other than admiring his new wooden sword. Zhu Xi sat on the dried weeds as he inspected the sword. Careless in his inspection, the sword slipped out of Zhu Xi's hand. A current passed through Zhu Xi's body at lightning-fast speeds, he was plunged back into the river of time and the Immortal Sword's light vanished. A weight of immense magnitudes crushed Zhu Xi's being as the sword left his hands. The disastrous weight of time stopped when the wooden sword landed flatly on his lap and the Immortal Sword's light returned. Zhu Xi let out a breath of relief and exhaustion, reluctant he went to sleep hugging the sword in his arms.
Zhu Xi woke to the sounds of birds chirping and a wooden sword held tightly. The sun had yet to rise, but Zhu Xi had awoken. The cleaning job at the Martial Dojo was a golden opportunity that Zhu Xi didn't want to lose due to tardiness. Zhu Xi went to grab some cheap jerky and dried mushrooms he stored in the corner of his room, it was the most nutritious food that he could afford on his tight budget. Chewing on the tough jerky, Zhu Xi waved his new sword through the air. The more he played around with the new weapon, the more he liked it. Zhu Xi pulled the blade back and took a deep animated breath. Zhu Xi lifted the sword above him and whispered.
"I Am Atomic…" The world rumbled at the mightiness of Zhu Xi's power. At least that was what it felt like until he swung the blade whilst almost tripping over himself. Unbeknownst to Zhu Xi, for the first time since he arrived in this world, a genuine wide smile adorned his mouth. Zhu Xi stretched as began his morning routine. In preparation for his exercises, Zhu Xi tied the wooden training sword to his back with old clothes that were ripped.
The next hour consisted of him punching blocks of wood repeatedly in a wide stance, somewhat similar to karate. Initially practicing the unfamiliar movement of the Stone Fist by itself was hard enough on its own. If he had to carry the wooden sword, it would've become impossible. But the rope of cloth kept the sword securely attached to his back, even if it was uncomfortable. The block of wood he punched was stained in blood from practice by the end of it.
Zhu Xi sat down after he finished his final set of punches. He took a deep breath, ready for the numbness in his hands to dissipate and the oncoming barrage of pain that came afterward. Zhu Xi braced and waited. The usual bout of pain didn't come instead a warm soothing pulse ran through his hands. Zhu Xi's swollen and bloody knuckles slowly stopped aching with the swelling decreased slightly. Time passed quickly as Zhu Xi watched in amazement as his hands fully recovered. Usually after practicing the Martial Art, Zhu Xi's hands would ache the entire day till night.
Dawn had arrived and that was Zhu Xi's cue to head to the Rolling Boulder Dojo. Zhu Xi slid into a new set of brown hemp tunic and trousers before he tied them securely with a sash. With the wooden sword hidden and secured to his back, Zhu Xi slipped into the familiar alleys. Within minutes he arrived at the opened the aged wooden gates of the Rolling Boulder Dojo. The Rolling Boulder Dojo stood strong amongst the other three dojo's in this small city. Even three dojos in a city was uncommon from what he'd heard, whereas cities of similar size had many more dojos in comparison.
Upon entering the compound Zhu Xi laid his sights on a large courtyard. Disciples in the dozens trained tirelessly, sparring, or resting to train even more. Zhu Xi looked through the courtyard until he spotted a bald man with a shiny head who stood a head taller than most disciples.
"Greetings Senior Brother Cheng," Zhu Xi lightly bowed before getting a nod of acknowledgment from the stoic baldly. Zhu Xi was very grateful to his senior co-worker. Not only had he taught Zhu Xi the Stone Fist technique, but was also very patient during so. Zhu Xi's inactive modern lifestyle hadn't exactly translated into any sort of Martial talent, in fact, his talent was considered bottom of the barrel. Then add that Martial Arts techniques were extremely costly, with the cheapest costing at minimum a few cold coins. There were also Martial techniques floating around the market which were incomplete techniques or straight-up fakes! Zhu Xi promised himself that he would repay the gratitude shown by at least two-fold.
Focusing back on the courtyard, Zhu Xi watched as disciples of varying ages struck wooden blocks with their fists. Most of the older disciples struck boulders instead of wood blocks to condition their hands. Miraculously their hands came out unscathed despite what common sense would dictate.
Those who could train in Martial arts generally had either a decent background or strong enough talent. To cultivate Martial arts they needed many resources that could strengthen and repair their bodies. This was where dojos came in, for a steep price they took in disciples and taught them all while providing proper training resources. A suitable environment, training equipment, sparring partners, hearty food, Martial arts techniques, and guidance were the resources they provided. However, that wasn't enough though for more powerful families in the city. Instead, they sent their descendants here on the chance they could capture the favor of the Dojo Master and become his personal disciple. Becoming a personal disciple was but a distant dream for Zhu Xi. He could only lament the sight of his own talent before grabbing a broom.
[Name: Zhu Xi
Age: 16
Golden Finger: Sword Immortality(Active)
Martial Arts Techniques: Stone Fist - (Tier 0: 4.7%)]
Even though Zhu Xi had been working at the dojo for 6 months, he had only learned the Stone Fist technique three months ago. Despite practicing whenever he could, the technique itself was a strain on the body. This issue limited Zhu Xi's practice time and progress as a result. The morning practice had gotten him a pitiful 0.3 percent, but that was already a huge improvement compared to the usual 0.1 percent. Usually, Zhu Xi had to stop early because the technique was too damaging to his body. On the bright side, it seemed Zhu Xi could now practice for longer, thanks to his cheat ability activating. The mechanisms behind why were a mystery, but he had time to figure it out. Zhu Xi had long since gone into autopilot sweeping at the courtyard. A disciple approached an instructor who he learned was named Wu.
"Greetings Instructor Wu, I want to ask what it takes to break through to the Martial Novice Realm?"
"Hmm, it is simple. Once you reach a high enough proficiency your heart will begin producing Blood Qi. The breakthrough is easy to detect, so don't be disheartened if you lag behind a little. Comparing yourself to geniuses like Jung Go and Xiao Ai who are close to breaking through is unnecessary. Becoming a Martial Novice is only the first step to becoming a Martial Artist. So don't be disheartened." Instructor Wu smiled knowingly at the disciple's poorly hidden worries.
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"Thank you, Instructor, on the topic of geniuses. Who do you think will reach the Martial Novice realm first?"
"Hmm, it's a little too early to tell. If you only consider raw talent, Jung Go would beat Xiao Ai."
"What!? No way, Jung Go can compare to Xiao Ai, that brute can't be put anywhere near the same level as Xiao Ai!"
"If you have time to complain about such useless matters, then you have time to train." A wave of pressure caved onto the disciple as Instructor Wu grumbled in annoyance. The big-mouthed disciple tucked his tail and scampered back to training.
Zhu Xi speculated that when his technique's proficiency hits 100 percent then that is when advancement would occur. As for competing with the geniuses in progress, such was merely daydreaming. Zhu Xi returned to his tasks of cleaning and preparing for lunch. Zhu Xi entered the kitchen to grab the utensils and bowls. Inside the kitchen, a serious Senior Brother Cheng occasionally stirred the meaty nutritious blood bone soup.
The Blood bone soup was a soup that used many different herbs and the meat of a mature wild beast. Simply drinking one bowl of this soup could sustain a normal person an entire day. Martial Artists however aren't so simple, as the many medical properties within the soup are absorbed by Martial Artists strengthening them in the process. This though depletes the time it can sustain a Martial Artist and thus functions like a regular meal for Martial Artists in the Novice realm.
Once he had everything, Zhu Xi began setting up the serving station. Senior Brother Cheng soon followed him out of the kitchen moments later with the giant pot of Blood bone soup. The disciples queued up in line and Zhu Xi served each a scoop of soup. For the disciples, a single bowl of soup would suffice. While the instructors and Novice realm disciples got multiple scoops. It was not long before the ladle hit the bottom of the pot. The remaining soup had finished, so Zhu Xi went around collecting the bowls, and utensils as they had to be washed for tomorrow's lunch.
One thing that Zhu Xi liked about this job was that he could drink whatever was left over from lunch. If Zhu Xi was lucky he could get half a bowl's worth of soup. Zhu Xi wasn't being frugal, a bowl of Blood bone soup would've easily cost a dozen copper coins. But in the Dojo, it was their everyday meal and Zhu Xi had to grasp at the opportunity.
He poured what remained into his bowl, he had collected a quarter of a bowl. Zhu Xi downed the bowl without hesitation savoring the taste. A heat radiated from his stomach through his blood vessels, nourishing and strengthening his body. Revitalized, Zhu Xi got back to work cleaning the bowls, spoons, and cookware. Zhu Xi returned to sweeping the training courtyard after washing the dishes.
A blusterous blond-haired young man strolled into the courtyard with purpose. The other disciples in the yard stopped training upon his entrance and quietly gossiped amongst themselves. Through their gossiping, Zhu Xi pieced together that this haughty disciple was the local genius Jung Go. Jung Go's skin was tanned and had a certain coarseness which reminded him of stone. What stood out most though was his demeanor, his confidence bordered on arrogance. Zhu Xi admonished such displays even if it looked like he could back them up.
"Instructor Wu! Do you know what happened to my training partner?" Jung Go bolstered as he asked playfully.
"Disciple Jung Go… Your training partner has not shown up since your last session. How about asking one of your fellow disciples for a friendly spar?" Instructor Wu found this particular disciple quite a hassle to deal with, so he decided not to deal with him.
As soon as those words left Instructor Wu's mouth, a wave of grunts and groans bounced through the courtyard. Jung Go excited at the prospect immediately asked the closest disciples if they wanted to spar.
"Sorry Jung Go, I feel like I'm so close to a breakthrough right now. Maybe another time?" The first disciple declined.
"Ah, I hurt my back this morning. I should recover first." The second declined.
"I already have a sparring partner, apologies." The third declined.
"My pet fish died this morning, I'm barely able to train as of now." The fourth followed in their footsteps.
"Oh… I stubbed my toe?" The fifth, sixth, then seventh. Jung Go kept asking until there was no one left to ask. Jung Go stared absently at the ground when he realized no one was willing to spar with him. Until he heard a sharp bristle sweep at the stone floor of the courtyard.
"You!" Jung Go yelled with jubilation pointing at Zhu Xi.
"Me?" Zhu Xi answered pointing to himself.
"Yes, you! Spar with me!" Jung Go shouted with fervor, no more than an arm's length away. Zhu Xi stared blankly at Jung Go, from the back of his mind an old dusty memory cropped up. A Golden retriever's bark echoed in his ear, it had wanted to play. Whenever he had returned from school in his previous life, this dog would always greet him. It would pester him every day as it had no one else to play with at the time he returned home. The memory of the overly excited Golden retriever began to overlap with the energetic Jung Go. Jung Go's words took Zhu Xi out of his stupor.
"Are you willing?!" Jung Go didn't seem like he would take no for an answer.
"I'm not a disciple though?" Zhu Xi hoped this fact would stop Jung Go's pestering.
"Even better, you will be my new personal training partner! It is 10 copper per session. How about it?" Jung Go didn't relent, but someone put that to a stop. A tall-bodied mass stood a head taller over Jung Go as he was blinded for a moment. Senior Brother Cheng with his shiny bald head had intervened.
"You shall not force him. Do not fret Zhu Xi, I have your back" Senior Brother Cheng acted as the reliable guardian. However what he did not see was that behind him, Zhu Xi's eyes shone a dark light. 10 copper coins! Per session! He was going to be filthy rich!
"I accept!" Zhu Xi accidentally spoke with too much enthusiasm for someone who was going to be beaten up.
"Zhu Xi, I have not lied. I have your back." Senior Brother Cheng reassured.
"Ah…" Senior Brother Cheng did not know of his regeneration ability. Zhu Xi needed to come up with something fast.
"Senior Brother Cheng, trust me. I just need the money for food, the Wolf Claw gang was rather ruthless this month." Good save, Zhu Xi mentally patted himself on the back.
"I can loan you money." Zhu Xi was stunned. He was somehow both so very thankful and so very frustrated at the same time.
"Thank you Senior Brother Cheng, but I refuse. Someday, I must learn how to fight and I'd prefer to learn it now than later." A dark expression donned Senior Brother Cheng when he figured it all out. It was Zhu Xi's pride, as a man Zhu Xi was unwilling to take the loan. As Senior Brother Cheng would've done the same, he knew that in the end there was nothing he could do to change Zhu Xi's mind.
"So be it." Senior Brother Cheng muttered. All while Zhu Xi was so glad to have a friend like Senior Brother Cheng, the friend in question was dreading the next day. Senior Brother Cheng was unwilling to wash the dishes, he had to ensure Zhu Xi would be able to work the next day.
"Go easy on him." Senior Brother Cheng uttered with a stern expression. A pressure mounted onto Jung Go's shoulders stifling his celebration. Jung Go's body shook momentarily before returning to normal when the pressure dissipated.
"Here, put it on. You'll still get paid." Senior Brother Cheng chucked a set of padded leather armor to Zhu Xi. Zhu Xi put it on with haste, any protection was good even if it seemed a little unfair. Jung Go got over his body's quivering and asked.
"Phew, alright. Ready to spar?" Jung Go asked Zhu Xi while stretching out his arms. Zhu Xi noticed Jung Go didn't have any armor on, but Zhu Xi left it unmentioned.
"Ready as can be." Zhu Xi lifted his hands into a boxer's stance. Zhu Xi knew nothing of fighting, so he decided to wing it. Jung Go raised an eyebrow at the unusual stance but got into his own a moment later. Jung Go took a wide stance with arms to his side and approached.
Feeling out his opponent, Zhu Xi threw a quick punch to Jung Go's head. It missed, sliding past him. Outstretched and open, Jung Go struck Zhu Xi's abdomen. Breathless Zhu Xi huffed chaotically, but Jung Go didn't let go of his advantage. A multitude of blows came at Zhu Xi, from below, the side, to his chest, they all struck true. He was no more than a punching bag, but Zhu Xi refused to give up.
He swung wildly forgetting about form and any of that. All that mattered was he needed to fight back. Unknown to Zhu Xi stuck in his manic retaliation, and didn't pay attention to his opponent's attacks. Until a strike slipped past his weak guard crashing into his jaw. Zhu Xi dropped to the stone floor like a sack of rice. With his consciousness fleeting, Zhu Xi made out one sentence.
"That's why you defend your head." Jung Go exhaled.