Although he didn't know the exact inside story that Wang San did, as Su Dahe's partner, how could Xie Yuzhu not know something about his movements? If it was just to pick something like Stone Ear Grass, why wouldn't he have taken Xie Yuzhu with him? Xie Yuzhu must have known something and was worried that Su Yan might seek revenge and lose his life, which is why he was being so evasive.
'Based on the timing, Niu Han and his gang must be about to collect the debt. I need to find a way to deal with them.'
If it were just the debt to save his mother, even if it was high-interest, Su Yan would have paid it off for the original owner. The dozen or so taels of silver, though valuable, wouldn't have caused trouble. But now, with both new and old grudges mixed in, forget the debt—he would seize any opportunity to deal with them one by one.
The next morning, as the sky was still hazy, Su Yan, carrying fifty taels of silver, headed straight for Yun Cang Town.
Yun Cang Town was located between the eight-hundred-mile Cloud Ridge Mountain and the six-hundred-mile White Reed Lake, making it much farther than the Mountain Market. Su Yan left his house and walked along the main road. After traveling for half the morning, he finally saw the converging stream of people. Carts and carriages were constantly moving, and merchants carrying baskets and luggage were lining up with their goods to enter Yun Cang Town.
The Mountain Market might be lively, but it was just a place for mountain people to trade. Yun Cang Town was the main hub for merchants, where money circulated and goods were exchanged.
After queuing to enter the city, the sound of the crowd was like a boiling cauldron.
"Meat buns! Freshly steamed meat buns! Five copper coins each!"
"Sesame cakes! Sesame cakes for three copper coins each!"
The hawkers' cries were endless. People jostled shoulder-to-shoulder on the street. There were ordinary people in rough hemp clothes, but also wealthy families in fine silks and satins. Vendors had set up stalls on both sides, with shops and signs hanging outside the doors of the houses.
'The difference between the countryside and the city is enormous. No wonder people try so desperately to come to the city.'
If not for the Ominous Bug Cauldron, Su Yan would probably have had to risk his life mountain-trekking, save up some money, and then move to the city to make a living by using knowledge of food from his previous life.
Shaking off his thoughts, Su Yan plunged into the crowd and asked a passerby for the location of the Golden Ape Martial Academy. He then headed straight for the southeast direction of Yun Cang Town.
After about ten minutes, he reached his destination. The flow of people here was much sparser than on the main street. However, the passersby were noticeably more robust, their steps fast and strong, clearly much fitter than ordinary people. Even if they weren't martial artists, they had been tempering their bodies for some time.
He arrived at the entrance of the Golden Ape Martial Academy—a tall gate leading to a large, three-section-deep courtyard. A dark, glossy plaque hung over the main gate, with two characters, "Jin Yuan", sketched in gold brushstrokes. The strokes were as sharp as knives, and the intent was monkey-like, as if an ape had transformed into the characters themselves.
The academy's gate was wide open, revealing a large courtyard inside. Under the eaves on the left side of the entrance, a wooden table was set up, with two young men in martial arts uniforms seated behind it.
Seeing the newcomers, the younger man looked up: "Are you here to sign up for martial arts training?"
Su Yan nodded: "Yes."
"Since you're here to learn martial arts, you should know the rules. Fifty taels is the tuition to become a registered disciple. The academy will teach you body tempering and basic fighting techniques. If you temper your body adequately, you can then learn Stance Skills and become an outer-door disciple." Ma Shengming spoke while looking Su Yan over, thinking: 'He's handsome, but his physique looks a bit weak.'
'So there's indeed a distinction between registered and outer-door disciples.'
He took out the fifty taels of silver and Song Qi's name card.
"This senior brother, I was recommended by Manager Song of the Hundred Herb Hall."
Ma Shengming looked surprised, his tone becoming warmer: "Oh, a friend of the Hundred Herb Hall. Then you probably don't need to temper your body like the ordinary disciples. Your physique should be fine."
Since he was recommended, that effort would naturally be waived.
"I hunt and trek in the mountains, so my body is quite strong."
Ma Shengming nodded and said, "Tell me your name and place of origin. I'll write it down and then lead you to the middle courtyard."
"Su Yan of Cloud-Front Village."
Ma Shengming recorded the information, handed the task to his junior brother, and led Su Yan through the gate.
"My surname is Ma, and my given name is Shengming. I am an inner-door disciple and am currently responsible for receiving new disciples. You can just call me Senior Brother Ma."
"Greetings, Senior Brother Ma."
The two walked and crossed the front courtyard. The front courtyard was enormous, with weapons, staves, and stone weights of different sizes laid out in open areas, all used for tempering strength.
About one or two hundred people were training their strength and bodies, practicing simple forms, and sparring with each other. Ma Shengming explained as they walked: "This is where the registered disciples practice. Their foundation is shallow, so they need to temper their bodies."
As they crossed the front courtyard, he paused slightly: "Also, to make a name for yourself in martial arts, you'll need more resources. You can't succeed without a solid financial base."
As he spoke, the two entered the middle courtyard. The middle courtyard was slightly smaller than the front, and the number of people practicing there was significantly lower—only twenty or thirty people, standing in a Stance that resembled an old ape.
"This is where the outer-door and inner-door disciples who have learned Stance Skills are."
"Senior Brother Ma, is there a difference between outer-door and inner-door?"
Ma Shengming said: "Master Bai conducts an assessment every month. If your progress is suitable and you receive his approval, you can become an inner-door disciple. Only inner-door disciples are considered true members of the Golden Ape Martial Academy and can learn an additional supplementary art and a martial technique."
"Junior Brother Ma, what do we have here?"
Before he could finish, a large, ruddy-faced man, wearing a sleeveless short shirt and bare-chested, strode toward them. He was tall and muscular like a bear.
"Senior Brother Gao." Ma Shengming greeted Gao Zheng and explained, "This junior brother was recommended by the Hundred Herb Hall to learn martial arts. Following our usual practice, he will start as an outer-door disciple. I've brought him to you."
"A friend of the Hundred Herb Hall?" Gao Zheng scrutinized Su Yan, thinking: 'His eyes are sharp. Although he's a bit thin, his steps are steady.'
"Whose name card is it?"
"Manager Song Qi's name card."
"Old Man Song? Didn't he go to manage the Mountain Market? The old man hasn't shown his face in the city for a long time." Gao Zheng was slightly surprised. Ma Shengming explained, "Junior Brother Su Yan is from Cloud-Front Village."
"Let me check Junior Brother Su's Root Bone (innate aptitude) so I can make arrangements." He looked at Su Yan: "Junior Brother Su, don't move."
He grabbed Su Yan's spine with his large hand, running it up and down as if checking his bone structure. His expression turned surprised: "Thin on the outside, strong on the bone. These muscles are incredibly robust. Superior Root Bone. No wonder the Hundred Herb Hall recommended you. Junior Brother Su, you truly cannot be judged by your appearance."
After checking his bones, Gao Zheng's attitude toward Su Yan became much warmer. His Root Bone wasn't bad, and he was backed by the Hundred Herb Hall, meaning his resources wouldn't be poor. If he put in the hard work, breaking through to the Body Forging Realm and achieving Skin Refining might be possible.
"Senior Brother, is martial arts talent really that easy to measure?"
"Ha, you're wrong about that. Root Bone is just a threshold. True talent requires Visualization and Comprehension. If you can't succeed in Visualization, your Beast Spirit won't manifest, and you can forget about achieving True Intent for life." Gao Zheng unconsciously revealed a hint of contempt, but remembering that Su Yan was not a martial artist, he quickly restrained himself.
"Those with good Root Bone make progress in Body Forging. If it's too poor, let alone forging the body, even simple tempering can kill you. Those people certainly can't learn martial arts."
"I am enlightened." Su Yan felt a little clearer. This was much more reasonable. It would be strange if talent could be known simply by feeling the bones or some simple test.
"Senior Brother Gao, I need to look after the front courtyard. I'll head back now. Junior Brother Su still needs to be informed about the meal, lodging, and medicinal soup arrangements. Please inform him of everything. I'll buy you a drink later." Ma Shengming saw that Su Yan's Root Bone was fine and his entry as an outer-door disciple was settled. He didn't linger, bowed out, and strode out of the middle courtyard.
"You follow me."