The morning mist had yet to fully dissipate, carrying the unique chilly moisture of Qingjian City.
A considerable crowd had already gathered in front of the antique vermilion doors of the Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall.
They were mostly n and won of all ages in sportswear or casual attire, their faces filled with curiosity, inquiry, and a hint of barely detectable skepticism.
"Hey, do you guys think this Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall is really as magical as the advertisents claim? Sothing about ’ancient technique inheritance, strengthening body and bones, unleashing potential’? Sounds quite mysterious!"
A middle-aged man in a plaid shirt and glasses pushed up his fras, his tone full of doubt.
"Who knows! Now martial arts halls are everywhere, and nine and a half out of ten are all flashy pretenses, just scamming for money," a brawny man beside him with bulging muscles from his tank top scoffed, clearly a bit of a fitness enthusiast, "Look at those two stone lions by the door, quite impressive, but who knows if the stuff they teach inside is as solid as these lions."
"Exactly, exactly," an aunt holding a shopping basket leaned in, lowering her voice, "I heard their new master is a young girl? Master Zheng? Wasn’t the old Master Zheng quite famous? Why the change? Don’t tell they have no worthy successors?"
"What’s wrong with a female master?" A lively-looking young girl with a ponytail retorted, unconvinced, "Haven’t you heard of ’won are no less than n’? I’m here for the ’systematic foundational training’ ntioned in the advertisent! Strengthening the body is never wrong, right?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, a blend of skepticism and anticipation.
Just then, a slightly surprised voice ca from the edge of the crowd:
"Bro, bringing such a tiny sister to practice martial arts? Aren’t you rushing it? Can this kid even hold a stance?"
The speaker was a young man who looked just past twenty, his gaze resting on a figure that had just reached the martial arts hall entrance.
It was a tall and upright young man.
Dressed simply in a black tracksuit, his expression was serene, his eyes carrying a depth beyond his years.
And holding his hand was a little girl who looked about seven or eight, wearing a matching small tracksuit, her hair styled in two small pigtails, her delicate face resembling a porcelain doll, her clear big eyes curiously taking in the noisy crowd.
They were Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei.
Fang Qingyu was slightly taken aback by the young man’s comnt, then a faint smile curved his lips, and he shook his head, "I’m not here to let her practice martial arts."
Just as he finished speaking, the heavy vermilion doors of the martial arts hall creaked open from the inside.
A young woman in crisp and neat white training clothes, with a well-proportioned build and a heroic look between her brows, stepped out.
Her gaze swept over the gathered crowd, a fitting smile on her face, her voice clear and strong:
"Good morning, everyone! Welco to the Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall for a visit! I’m the master Zheng Lin. At Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall, we uphold the principle of ’building a strong foundation, fostering integrity and resilience.’ Whether you’re here to improve your health or have a keen interest in traditional martial arts, you’re all welco to step inside and have a look! Seeing is believing, hearing is misleading, you can experience our hall’s atmosphere and training thods firsthand!"
The entrance of the young woman with her bright greeting montarily subdued the discussions outside the door.
The crowd began to move, following Zheng Lin into the martial arts hall.
Fang Qingyu, holding Jiang Wei’s hand, also followed the flow of people, stepping over the threshold that was familiar yet slightly unfamiliar.
Upon entering, part of the clamor seed to be blocked out.
Their view opened up to an extrely spacious training hall.
Sunlight stread through the high carved wooden windows, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor.
The air was filled with a faint scent of sweat, the bitter sll of herbs, and the distinctive scent of wood floors being trodden upon.
"Heh!" "Ha!" "Hey!"
The raucous shouts filled the entire space, brimming with vitality and a sense of power.
Dozens of students in identical white training clothes, ranging in age from teens to thirties or forties, were divided into several areas undergoing basic training.
So, under the guidance of instructors, ticulously practiced martial arts fundantals.
Standing in horse stance, their postures steady as mountains, their eyes focused.
Others paired up, practicing simple yet practical grasp and release techniques, their movents crisp and sharp.
So practiced fist techniques on specially designed wooden dummies, their fists and feet landing with dull thuds.
Others were in the corner space, practicing basic saber techniques, the wooden sabers cutting through the air with a whooshing sound.
Everyone’s gaze was full of concentration.
Though the movents still appeared immature, the focus and burst of power during their shouts were indeed significantly improved compared to Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall six months ago.
Jiang Wei, held by Fang Qingyu, was not very noticeable due to her small stature amidst the crowd.
Her clear big eyes scanned the bustling training scenes around her, watching the students’ diligent and earnest faces, listening to their synchronized shouts.
For the first ti, her little face showed a very distinct, almost peculiar expression.
She slightly rose on her tiptoes and tugged at Fang Qingyu’s clothes, her voice kept extrely low, carrying an indescribable confusion and a touch of... sarcasm:
"Qingzi..."
"Is this... the place where you first practiced martial arts?"
The little girl looked up with her small face, her clear pupils reflecting Fang Qingyu’s profile, then scanned around at the sweat-drenched, hardworking students, finally muttering in a greatly perplexed tone:
"How did they... manage to teach a monster like you???"
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