Chapter 23 Inner Court Treatment "I have already mastered the outer three combinations, but I have not yet found the way to the inner three combinations. Perhaps, one day when I don't need to deliberately maintain the breathing method, this martial art will be considered fully accomplished, right?" In a small room vacated by Fatty Sun, Li Yuan was still standing in a stance. He was becoming more and more proficient in the Ape Six Breathing Method, and he could even be slightly distracted while standing in a stance. Li Yuan was thinking in his mind. His current martial arts are divided into three parts. The White Ape Cloak Hammer lacks a fighting method, the Soldiers' Fighting Hammer only has a fighting and killing move, and the Sword and Scythe Technique lacks a breathing method. All in all, the most complete and familiar one is still the White Ape Cloak Hammer. "It's not easy to learn martial arts!" Li Yuan slowly stopped. Nowadays, having a skill is the foundation of one's life. People from all walks of life are accustomed to hiding their skills, and martial arts are no exception. A martial art is often divided into multiple parts. It is easy for outsiders to obtain part of it, but it is extremely difficult to obtain all of it. "Li Yuan, come out to eat. This is your first time going to the inner courtyard. Don't be late!"
From the outer room, Fatty Sun's voice came. Li Yuan opened the door. On the small table, there were steamed buns, pickled vegetables, and three salted eggs: "Thank you, chef!" "It's the beginning of the new year, so there's not much food. Let's make do with it for now. When the market opens, I'll show you my cooking skills!" Fatty Sun greeted with a smile. Fatty Sun was much more polite today than in the past few days. Not only did he take the initiative to invite Li Yuan to dinner, he also asked if Li Yuan needed any money. Of course Li Yuan accepted all the money and piled up the debt to as much as twenty taels. "Inner courtyard." Fatty Sun peeled an egg and ate it, feeling a little envious: "In fact, your bones are pretty good. There are only a few people among a hundred who are better than you. At least my bones are not as good as yours." "Don't comfort me, chef." Li Yuan ate his meal quickly. He was somewhat impressed by Fatty Sun's quick change of attitude. If he had been so clever in his previous life, he wouldn't have ended up having to open a convenience store at home. 'Take this as a warning.' Li Yuan pondered in his mind, wiped his mouth, took another steamed bun and went out of the yard. At this time, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and there were already apprentices chopping wood and carrying water in the middle courtyard. Seeing Li Yuan, the apprentices all had complicated expressions, envy, awe... The inner courtyard and the outer courtyard were actually separated by just a wall and a door, but the attitudes of the apprentices Li Yuan saw along the way made him think that he was on the rise. "What a sharp and strong contrast..." Li Yuan chewed the steamed bun and sighed in his heart.
Unlike the previous life, in this world, at least the levels of Gaoliu County are very clear. After all, this is a place that is truly divided into inner and outer cities, separating prosperity from poverty. Behind the forging room, separated by a door, is the inner courtyard. The first impression is that it is huge. If the central courtyard is a small courtyard with one entrance, then the inner courtyard is a courtyard with four entrances. It is much larger. When you enter the door, the first thing you see is a martial arts field. The area was compacted with yellow mud, about thirty to forty meters square, and was dotted with stone pillars and wooden piles. Before daybreak, some people were already working on building up their strength, standing in stances and wielding hammers, or even sparring with each other, shouting and yelling. These people include both men and women, the youngest is about seventeen or eighteen years old, and the oldest is in early twenties. Each of them is strong and energetic, and appears capable and strong. "It's a bit like the gym in my previous life..." Li Yuan muttered to himself, feeling a different atmosphere. The outer courtyard, even the front courtyard, requires work every day, not to mention the middle courtyard, but the inner courtyard does not require it. To make an analogy, it is the difference between amateur warriors and professional warriors. "Li Yuan?" A tall young man walked out of the courtyard. Hearing the sound, more than 20 men and women on the field looked over at the same time, feeling very oppressive. Li Yuan was fine, because in his previous life, when he performed rituals in the countryside, he was always watched by a group of people. Niu Gui, who was following far behind him, was not so good. He was so scared that he trembled and almost fell to the ground. "He, he is Li Yuan!" Niu Gui pointed forward. Li Yuan nodded: "This senior brother wants to see me for something?" The young man had a slender figure and a resolute appearance. As soon as he came out on the field, he was greeted with greetings of "Senior Brother Yue". "My name is Yue Yunjin, and I am considered your senior brother. Master has told me that when you come, I will take you to see him." The young man looked at Li Yuan: "follow me." He is over meters tall. Can practicing the White Ape Cloak Hammer have the effect of increasing height? Li Yuan was secretly complaining in his heart, but he remembered who this person was. The apprentice in the front yard is also very concerned about the news in the inner yard. The person he has heard the most about in the past few months is the current eldest senior brother of the inner yard, Yue Yunjin. It is said that he has an excellent physique. Now seeing him, he is indeed a man with arms and legs as big as a bee, tall and handsome, standing out among the other inner courtyard apprentices. "Hello, Senior Brother Yue." Li Yuan greeted him and quickly followed Yue Yunjin. "Second Shopkeeper..." Niu Gui was full of envy, but he could only watch. After a while, someone on the field waved: "Boy, come here, let the brothers see your martial arts progress..." ……
"The inner courtyard has four entrances. The first two are where the apprentices live. The back is where the kitchen and pharmacy are located. The back is where the master lives. You are not allowed to enter these two courtyards without permission!" Yue Yunjin led the way without looking back and reminded people of the things to pay attention to. Li Yuan listened carefully and wrote down everything. "Inner Court disciples receive one ounce of silver per month, and a bowl of 'health-promoting soup' every day. It is distributed after lunch every day. Remember to come and get it. If it's not enough, you can get 30 coins per bowl. There are other medicinal soups as well. If you have enough silver, you can have as many as you want..." Is this the treatment for inner courtyard apprentices? "Is this nourishing soup a tonic for the inner courtyard apprentices?" Li Yuan did not miss the opportunity to ask questions. The information in the Intermediate Court was too isolated, and there was no place to inquire about many things he wanted to know. "Medicine and martial arts are inseparable. Medicinal diet, medicinal supplements, and medicinal baths are all extremely important aids in martial arts training..." Yue Yunjin paused, stopped at the door, bowed and said: "Master, Li Yuan is here." "Ok!" A voice was heard from inside the house, and Li Yuan went in. In the bright big house, Tang Tong was sitting upright, holding a teacup, with a fair face and no beard, and half black hair. "Disciple takes leave." Outside the house, Yue Yunjin bowed and took his leave. "Go." Tang Tong raised his hand and placed it on Li Yuan's shoulder. The latter felt a flash before his eyes, and then his shoulders and arms felt sore, and he felt that all the bones in his body were shaking as if they had been electrocuted. Internal strength?! Li Yuan thought about this word, and Tang Tong also let go of his hand with a smile on his face: "Your physique is a little weak... but this shows that you are talented enough!" "Ah? Aren't physique and talent the same thing?" Li Yuan rubbed his shoulders, feeling surprised. He didn't react at all at that moment, and when the hand was placed on his shoulder, all the bones in his body began to tremble. This hand really shocked him. "Root bones are root bones, and talent is talent. Of course, they are not the same thing." Looking at Li Yuan, Tang Tong took out a booklet from his pocket: "This is the method of using the White Ape Cloak Hammer. You can figure it out on your own. In seven days, I will personally test and teach you." "Thank you, shopkeeper!" Li Yuan took it with both hands. "If you have any questions or needs, you can go to your Senior Brother Yue. Also, once you enter the inner courtyard, you will be my disciple, and you can call me Master from now on." "Yes, master." Seeing Tang Tong holding up the teacup, Li Yuan bowed and stepped back. When he reached the door, he looked up and said:
"Master, Mr. Zhang invited me to the forging room yesterday. I wonder..." "Those who learn martial arts should have a sense of propriety. Is it worth asking for help on such a small matter?" Tang Tong looked at Li Yuan deeply and waved his hand: "Go." "Thank you, master!" Li Yuan clasped his fists and left. There is no control or supervision in the inner courtyard, so it is freer than imagined. Li Yuan left the inner courtyard, glanced at the new apprentices such as Niu Gui who were standing with bitter faces in the martial arts field, and walked quickly to the forging room. Compared with the fighting style of the White Ape Cloak Hammer, what is more urgent in his mind now is the promotion to the Military Commander and the hammer that Old Zhang will give him. …… On the second day after the Chinese New Year, no one was working in the forging room, and only two of the more than 30 furnaces were open. When Li Yuan arrived, he saw several apprentices struggling to pull the bellows, serving two burly men who were working as blacksmiths with their upper bodies bare. Sparks flew and the sound of hammers continued. “Is this iron smelting?” Li Yuan watched from afar. In the fire started by the bellows was a red-hot iron ingot. Two big men took turns hammering it. Their movements were very sophisticated. Once the hammer fell, they would exert force and rotate their feet, using their bodies to drive the hammer down heavily. It was none other than the White Ape Cloak Hammer. However, not every hammer is superimposed. Instead, the force will be dissipated after every eleven hammers, and then the first hammer will be struck again. Obviously, it is still a little far from achieving minor success. "Guo Pu and Pan Bo, you entered the forging room in the sixth year of Yongping, and it has been twelve or thirteen years now, but you still haven't mastered the outer three combinations, and you can only hit eleven of the eighteen styles of cloak hammers..." Li Yuan turned around and saw Zhang Ben walking in with his hands behind his back. He looked at the two muscular men and felt a bit disappointed: "You are really as stupid as a pig!" Glancing at the two muscular men whose movements were deformed, Li Yuan hurriedly raised his voice: "The blood and energy of these two brothers are much more abundant than mine, which shows that they have very good bones..." "What's the use of having a good bone structure?" Zhang Ben snorted twice and pointed at the burning fire: "Boy, do you want to try the hammer?" "This one……" Noticing the resentful looks of the two strong men, Li Yuan hurriedly shook his head: "Sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood. It won't be too late to pick a good hammer first. What do you think?" (End of this chapter)
