Although Han suspected he might be a dual genius in both physique and comprehension, he still paid close attention to He Feng’s teachings.
As He Feng had told Li Wu earlier, even genius couldn’t be an excuse for slackness.
At that moment, Bai Ruoyue, along with another female disciple, approached and called Han over in a low voice.
“Han, come with me.”
Han immediately followed.
The other female disciple began teaching Wang Taotao the Crane Form.
Han and Bai Ruoyue’s departure caught the attention of most of the people in the training hall.
“Isn’t that the new apprentice? Why isn’t he learning fist techniques here? Where is Bai Ruoyue taking him?”
“That looks like it’s toward the back of the martial hall… Hiss! That’s a place only the headmaster’s disciples are allowed to go!”
“What qualifications does a new apprentice have to go there?”
The crowd murmured, various opinions being voiced.
Until then, Han had seemed like just an ordinary apprentice—handsome but unremarkable. No one had bothered to teach him any techniques, and many of the other apprentices hadn’t cared about him.
But now, as they watched him leave with Bai Ruoyue, they couldn’t help but reconsider. There was something special about him.
On the way, Bai Ruoyue didn’t speak to Han, and only when they reached the back courtyard of the martial hall did she finally break the silence.
“Han, you have excellent talent. You’re perfect for martial arts. It seems that your age won’t be an obstacle.”
“I was... too forward when we first met,” Bai Ruoyue admitted, her cheeks reddening with slight embarrassment.
Han was a little taken aback. He hadn’t expected this warrior, someone with such strength, to apologize like this.
She really is a kind person.
He smiled and responded, “I know your advice was for my own good, Bai Lao Shi.”
“But why didn’t you try to stop me when I registered?” Han asked, genuinely curious.
Bai Ruoyue explained, “At the time, I didn’t know your family background. I assumed you were the son of a wealthy family.”
If someone from a less fortunate background came to study martial arts, she might try to dissuade them, but if they were a rich young master, Bai Ruoyue wouldn’t say a word.
After all, the martial hall had to make a living too.
Han nodded inwardly. Bai Ruoyue was indeed thoughtful.
“You saw He Feng teaching the fist techniques earlier,” she continued. “Do you think the martial arts of Taibai Martial Hall meet your expectations?”
“Truly a world-class martial art,” Han said with all seriousness.
It was the only martial art I’ve seen, so calling it world-class sounds about right, doesn’t it?
Bai Ruoyue rolled her eyes in the back of her mind, though Han couldn’t see it.
I didn’t even know our martial arts were considered this powerful.
“The three forms taught in Taibai Martial Hall are top-tier martial arts in Black Cloud Town,” Bai Ruoyue explained. “You’re just beginning your martial journey, so if you have any confusion, don’t worry about it.”
Han hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest.
“Bai Lao Shi, I think I’ve already memorized the Bull Form.”
“Really?” The question didn’t come from Bai Ruoyue, but from a man who suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
The man was tall, wearing a black robe, with a strong and resolute face. His features bore some resemblance to Bai Ruoyue’s.
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It was Bai Tian, the headmaster of Taibai Martial Hall.
“Father.”
Bai Tian shot a glance at his daughter. “How many times have I told you? In public, refer to me by my title.”
“Got it, Father,” Bai Ruoyue responded obediently.
Bai Tian had no choice but to let it go and turned his attention to Han. “Did you really memorize the Bull Form?”
Han nodded confidently. “I really did.”
Bai Ruoyue was shocked.
Talent was talent, but when it came to learning, it was all about comprehension.
Bai Tian spoke again. “Good. Show me what you’ve got.”
Han found a spot and, recalling He Feng’s demonstration, took his stance.
Then, his feet shifted, arms extended, moving in all directions. His body followed the motions, and he looked like a mighty ancient bull.
Although Han’s performance lacked the intimidating presence that He Feng had shown, he executed the movements smoothly, without any mistakes.
Bai Ruoyue was already stunned, but Bai Tian appeared calm.
“Not bad.”
Bai Tian uttered the two words and then suddenly appeared next to Han. He placed a hand on Han’s body and squeezed, feeling his bones and muscles.
After inspecting Han’s foundation, Bai Tian seemed pleased—perhaps even more so than his daughter had described.
“Your martial arts talent is indeed excellent,” Bai Tian said, his tone becoming serious. “But talent alone is not enough. The path of martial arts is not something that can be mastered overnight. It requires diligence, perseverance, and hard work to truly achieve something.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Headmaster Bai,” Han responded. These words weren’t new to him. Having lived two lives, he understood the importance of hard work.
“Ruoyue, take Han to the lecture hall,” Bai Tian instructed.
Han was momentarily stunned. That was it?
He had been called here, his talent tested, but wasn’t this supposed to be the point where he was accepted as a disciple?
Isn’t this where the official apprenticeship should begin?
He couldn’t help but feel a little puzzled. Wasn’t he qualified?
The lecture hall was somewhat similar to the classrooms he’d seen in his previous life.
Bai Ruoyue found a few books and placed them in front of Han.
“Bai Lao Shi, are you going to teach me to read and write?” Han asked, surprised.
“I can read,” Han replied casually. “When my parents were still alive, they hired a tutor for me.”
No matter which world Han was in, he was far from being illiterate.
“That’s even better,” Bai Ruoyue said with a smile. “But you’ll still need to continue your studies.”
“Almost all martial arts involve philosophical principles and certain specialized terminology,” she continued.
“If you don’t study, then even if you’re given a martial arts manual later, and you can recognize every single character, you still won’t be able to understand them when they’re put together.”
“If you can’t even read the martial arts manual, how can you expect to practice martial arts?”
Han suddenly understood the deeper meaning of Bai Ruoyue’s words.
There might be top-tier martial artists who are illiterate, but there’s no such thing as an illiterate martial arts expert.
At the moment, the instructors in the martial hall were teaching him every move, guiding him step by step, and all he had to do was follow along. But that wouldn’t be a long-term solution.
To truly go far on the path of martial arts, one also needed to possess sufficient cultural knowledge.
Just picking up a random martial arts manual wouldn’t make someone a master. Unless the manual could somehow help you automatically grasp the relevant knowledge, it would just be a few sheets of useless paper.
Illiteracy didn’t suit the path of a true martial artist.
“Martial arts begins with understanding the human body,” Bai Ruoyue began.
She introduced him to the meridians, acupuncture points, and various specialized terms—terms that Han had never heard of before, and concepts he was only now beginning to understand. It was a whole new world for him.
His mind cleared of all distractions, and Han eagerly sought to learn from Bai Ruoyue.
These were the kinds of things that, on Earth, no one would ever teach you unless you had access to the right resources.
This was a world set in ancient times, and Han, having come from Earth, appreciated the importance of learning more than most.
It was a concept and mindset that had been ingrained in him since childhood, a stark contrast between the modern and ancient worlds.
As for becoming the headmaster’s disciple, Han wasn’t in a rush anymore.
His treatment now was clearly different from that of other apprentices, which suggested that the headmaster had some plans for him.
This was only the second day since his arrival, and there was plenty of time ahead.
Han’s attitude also made Bai Ruoyue secretly approve of him even more.
Excellent aptitude, remarkable comprehension, and a calm mind for study—he truly was a gem. She found herself increasingly fond of him.
And just to clarify, it wasn’t the romantic kind of affection, but rather admiration for a fellow disciple’s potential.
…
On the third floor of Taibai Martial Hall.
The martial hall was quite spacious, consisting of three floors and a large backyard. The third floor was reserved for the headmaster’s disciples.
At that moment, Bai Tian, the headmaster, was on the third floor, with one of his disciples standing beside him.
“Master, we’ve finished investigating the apprentice named Han,” the disciple reported.
“His parents died in an accident six years ago. He’s lived alone ever since, and during these six years, he hasn’t fallen into any bad habits.”
“Neighbors speak highly of him. He’s honest and straightforward, with no major issues.”
The disciple went on to share other details about Han’s background, including his connection to Huang Shiren. Bai Tian nodded thoughtfully.
Given Han’s remarkable talent, Bai Tian was naturally interested. However, he hadn’t immediately taken Han as an apprentice because Bai Tian had a rule when it came to accepting disciples.
The character of a disciple had to be impeccable.
It wasn’t just about talent; a disciple’s character had to meet a certain standard as well.
This was also the reason why the disciples at Taibai Martial Hall were responsible and the martial hall had such a great reputation.
The headmaster’s integrity set the standard for the entire hall.
However, this approach had led to the martial hall losing a few talented individuals over the years.
But Bai Tian’s disciples fully supported his approach. No one wanted to be part of a group with individuals of poor character.
Even bad people prefer to be friends with good people.