Chapter Twelve: The Art of Shaping the Body
Qingshan County had long enjoyed peace and stability.
The massacre of the Wang family was a huge incident with a terrible impact.
For months, the matter was the talk of every street and alley.
It was under such circumstances that Chen Mu became known to the public.
People learned of his exquisite painting skills—his portraits were indistinguishable from real life. This skill was exploited by criminals who sought to create mysterious illusions, disguising their mischief as evil spirits.
As a result, his business inexplicably flourished.
Just as planned.
Every few days, someone would come knocking, requesting a portrait.
Yes, a posthumous portrait...
Chen Mu felt both pain and joy.
He had initially hoped to paint beautiful young ladies.
But now, it was old men and old women!
And they insisted that he paint them looking more attractive.
So he had to fudge the truth, making them look younger—a kind of ancient Photoshop.
Business kept booming, but the beautiful young ladies were drifting further and further away.
Counting the more than a hundred taels of silver in his pottery jar, Chen Mu felt both satisfied and regretful.
Though not pleasing to the eye, these old men and women were truly wealthy!
They were generous, never paying less than ten taels of silver.
No wonder Old Yan wanted to suppress him.
High-end portrait painting was genuinely profitable!
“It’s time to find a place to learn martial arts,” Chen Mu thought.
He had never forgotten how Captain Lu could take five or six steps in one stride.
Nor had he forgotten the Wang family massacre.
Whether out of personal interest or for self-protection, learning martial arts was imperative.
...
He spent three days wandering through martial arts schools in the eastern and western markets.
His conclusions were mixed.
The schools did teach martial arts. After two or three years, a group of three to five people could keep an opponent at bay.
But that kind of skill was certainly no match for Captain Lu.
To put it simply, what these schools taught was like gym muscle training combined with sanda (Chinese kickboxing).
What Captain Lu practiced was more like the internal cultivation found in martial arts novels—skills that could raise and lower one’s energy at will.
“Looks like I’ll have to ask Captain Lu himself,” Chen Mu pondered.
As a portrait artist, his highest-status client was probably the county magistrate’s father.
He had also promised to paint a portrait soon for the county commandant’s elder.
Though these connections were minor, they might be enough to get Captain Lu to speak frankly.
He had no intention of learning Captain Lu’s secret family martial arts.
He only wished for him to point out a clear path.
To help him pick a reliable teacher from among the county’s many martial arts schools so he could learn real kung fu.
...
“Young Master Chen wants to learn martial arts?” Captain Lu looked at Chen Mu in surprise.
He knew how popular Chen Mu’s paintings were among the elderly.
With such a lucrative livelihood, why would he want to endure hardship to learn martial arts?
“Mainly for self-defense,” Chen Mu replied honestly.
Captain Lu understood immediately. He recalled the first time he invited Chen Mu to the county office.
If it hadn’t been for his intervention, Chen Mu would have been extorted and robbed by those two thugs.
“There are martial arts schools in both the eastern and western markets. Find a reputable one and train for a year or half a year. That’s enough for self-defense,” Captain Lu suggested.
Chen Mu chuckled softly. “I want to learn something real.”
Captain Lu nodded. “Seems like you want to learn ‘Form Training.’”
Form Training? What was that? Whatever it was, nodding was the right move!
Captain Lu hesitated for a moment and said, “Schoolmasters all know Form Training, but it’s never taught to outsiders. If you want to learn it, going to a martial arts school would be a waste of time.”
Chen Mu nodded firmly.
That’s why he thought to come to Captain Lu, hoping to find a way to learn real kung fu immediately.
“I do have a lead, but it’ll cost some money,” Captain Lu said after some thought.
“As long as it’s real, I’m not afraid to pay,” Chen Mu said eagerly.
“Then follow me,” Captain Lu nodded knowingly and led Chen Mu out of the county office.
Westward, to Shengye Lane.
Chen Mu followed Captain Lu through winding alleys to a modest residence.
“This man’s surname is Sheng, given name Hong. He used to be a fast-response constable but retired due to old age.”
“He has no children and doesn’t mind teaching his skills as long as the price is right.”
“Even the city’s prominent families have paid him to train their bodyguards.”
Chen Mu felt reassured.
...
“So you want to learn martial arts?” Sheng Hong scrutinized Chen Mu.
“Let me be clear—I only teach. Whether you can learn it or not is not my concern.”
Chen Mu was stunned.
Could this man be trying to scam him?
“This is my rule,” Sheng Hong said expressionlessly.
Chen Mu glanced at Captain Lu, who nodded.
Chen Mu felt somewhat helpless.
“Still want to learn?” Sheng Hong asked indifferently.
Chen Mu thought for a long moment, then gritted his teeth: “Yes!”
“Bring one hundred taels tomorrow. I only teach for seven days,” Sheng Hong said, waving them off.
Chen Mu’s expression darkened.
One hundred taels for seven days, teaching only with no guarantee of success—his resolve wavered.
...
“My martial art is called Red Hawk Form Training. It emphasizes incredible speed. Once mastered, you can outrun a galloping horse,” Sheng Hong calmly introduced his martial art, clearly not a first-time pitch.
“Red Hawk Form Training consists of three main techniques: diving, dashing, and leaping, supplemented by breathing methods and secret elixirs.”
“I’ll teach you everything in seven days. If you learn it or not depends on your own fate.”
Chen Mu could only obediently nod.
By the time he left Sheng Hong’s house that afternoon, his mind was filled with countless footwork techniques and complex breathing methods that made him feel like he was losing his hair.
...
And that was just the leaping technique of Red Hawk Form Training. There were still the dashing and diving techniques.
Learning all that within seven days? Chen Mu felt frustrated just thinking about it.
Was he being scammed?
For six consecutive days, Chen Mu rose early and returned late, immersing himself in the vast depths of Red Hawk Form Training, diligently practicing with Sheng Hong.
Today was the seventh and final day.
“I’ve taught you everything about Red Hawk Form Training. Today is the last day—ask anything you don’t understand. If you can’t remember or make mistakes, don’t blame me,” Sheng Hong said calmly, sipping tea under the shade of a tree.
Don’t understand? He understood nothing!
For a martial arts novice to learn a complete and intricate system in six days was a pipe dream!
But there was no choice—he had already paid, so what else could he do?
He started from the beginning, asking questions bit by bit while Sheng Hong demonstrated personally.
He did not expect to master it, only to remember as much as possible and try to practice the moves he recalled.
At dusk, Chen Mu left Sheng Hong’s house with a face full of frustration.
One hundred taels was too big a loss!
Seven days of hard study, and he’d only watched the show—he hadn’t mastered a single move!
...
At Sheng Hong’s house, Sheng Hong casually tossed a small cloth bag to Captain Lu.
“Keep your fifty taels.”
Captain Lu slipped it naturally into his inner sleeve pocket. “Are you sure he’ll come back?”
“I’ve told him everything about Red Hawk Form Training without holding back. Which martial arts school in Qingshan County would teach like this?”
“If he really wants to learn, he will definitely return,” Sheng Hong said confidently.
“This scholar is skilled with brush and ink and can make money. You must manage his progress carefully and not let this money tree run away,” Captain Lu instructed.
“Form Training isn’t easy to learn. He won’t escape my control,” Sheng Hong said calmly.
He had taught many times before and knew exactly how to guide apprentices.
By revealing just a little secret each time and letting them see some progress, they would become addicted to practice, pouring all their wealth into his pocket.
He had done this many times before.
He glanced at Captain Lu and said, “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten your share.”
Captain Lu nodded with satisfaction.
Seeing Chen Mu earn silver so easily had long made him envious.
He had originally planned to get him addicted to gambling but never expected him to want to learn Form Training.
This fit perfectly into their trap.
And it wasn’t really a trap.
Paying money to learn martial arts—both parties willing—no one could find fault.
They could openly and honestly hand over the money!