nucmednet Chapter 32 Introduction to Bone Reading
Chapter 32 Introduction to Bone Reading
Bai Family Martial Arts School, one of the two major martial arts schools in the outer city, is located in Shuangliufang in the East District. The school's master, Bai Wangyun, is a martial artist at the Blood Exchange Realm. It is said that he was a retired captain from the battlefield and then came to Qingfeng County to retire.
Although a martial artist at the Blood Exchange Realm is nothing special in the entire Qingzhou, he can certainly stand on his own in this small Qingfeng County. In addition, he has some connections in the army, so he has secured a place in Qingfeng County.
At this moment, Ding Yi stood in front of the Bai family martial arts school, looking at the newly opened gate, took a deep breath, and then stepped into the courtyard under the surprised gaze of the servant who opened the gate.
"Ha, I've seen early, but never this early!"
One of the servants who opened the door winked at the other and whispered something behind his back.
"I guess he's another guy who wants to get rich quick."
The other servant also revealed a hint of mockery. They had seen many young men like Ding Yi before.
Having spent all their savings to scrape together the registration fee to enter the Bai Family Martial Arts School, they thought they could rise to the top in one step and no longer be those stinking scoundrels from the outer city. Little did they know that this was just the beginning of an even more painful ordeal for them.
Of those who enter the Bai Family Martial Arts School, only about one in ten can endure the hardships of martial arts training and stay. Of those, only one in ten can achieve success.
It can be said that there is only a one percent chance of establishing oneself in the Bai family martial arts school, and a one-in-a-thousand chance of making a name for oneself and becoming known throughout the outer city. This is enough to make one a dragon among men.
Since these two young servants entered the Bai family martial arts school, they have never seen anyone of Ding Yi's age who can stand out. After all, martial arts training emphasizes early childhood skills, which really require training from a young age. As one gets older, one's qi and blood become more mixed, and one's achievements become more limited.
When Ding Yi stepped into the courtyard, the old man in charge of registration was still slowly moving things onto the table. He was taken aback when he noticed someone coming in, and then looked at Ding Yi.
"Sir, let me help you."
Upon seeing this, Ding Yi quickly stepped forward, took the heavy roster and inkstone from the old man, and walked towards the table.
"Wow, that's quite rare."
The old man watched Ding Yi's retreating figure and muttered something in surprise.
However, since someone had signed up, the old man couldn't linger any longer. He quickly followed Ding Yi to the table and sat down. He then skillfully opened the registration book and began grinding ink.
"Young man, which neighborhood are you from?"
"Sangufang."
"Hmm, it's not far. Name?"
"Ding Hai".
"age?"
"23."
"23 is a bit late, but if you work hard, getting a good skin smoothing job shouldn't be a problem. Just don't have any unrealistic ambitions."
The old man stopped what he was doing when he heard Ding Yi's age, and then slowly said to Ding Yi.
As the accountant of the Bai family martial arts school, he had seen countless applicants in his life. If it weren't for the fact that Ding Yi was quite sensible, he wouldn't have bothered to mention him at all.
"I know, I know."
Ding Yi did not refute, but quickly replied.
"Thirty taels for the registration fee, and ten taels for this month's food, you understand?"
"Clearly, clearly."
Ding Yi quickly took out a package containing silver from his pocket and handed it over.
The old man weighed the money bag in his hand, then checked off a few items on the roster. Finally, he took out a sign, wrote Ding Hai's name on it, handed it to Ding Yi, and said to Ding Yi:
"Alright, take the sign and go in."
Ding Yi accepted the wooden plaque, then looked towards the main hall behind him. After thanking the old man, he hurriedly walked towards it.
Ding Yi waved the wooden sign at the burly men on either side of the entrance hall and entered smoothly. He then heard a commotion coming from the back of the entrance hall.
"drink!"
"drink!!"
"what!!"
"This is?"
Ding Yi was startled when he heard the voice, and then quickly walked around the screen toward the back door, only to find that about seven or eight people were already practicing in the courtyard behind the main hall.
Ding Yi's appearance naturally attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard.
"Huh? Another one. What's going on this month? Yesterday a chubby kid came, and today another outsider. When did martial arts schools become so easy to get into?"
A muscular man, shirtless, spoke in a deep, booming voice.
"Forty taels of silver, wow, wow."
The people next to him also shook their heads.
"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Have you mastered your kung fu yet?!"
Amidst the murmurs, a loud voice interrupted their conversation. Ding Yi looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man who was no more than twenty years old.
To Ding Yi's surprise, as soon as this person spoke, the others immediately withdrew their gazes from Ding Yi and continued their rigorous training. This made Ding Yi take a few more glances at the young man.
"newcomer?"
Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in gray linen clothes walked towards Ding Yi. After looking Ding Yi up and down, he asked.
"Indeed, my name is Ding Hai, and this senior brother is..."
Ding Yi quickly clasped his hands in greeting to the man and asked.
"Don't call me senior brother anymore. I only started learning a few years earlier than you, and I haven't even mastered skin smoothing yet. I can't be considered a senior brother. Just call me Wang Hong from now on."
Wang Hong said with a smile.
"So it's Senior Brother Wang!"
Ding Yi quickly replied.
"Yes, come with me, I'll take you to see Master Bai."
As Wang Hong spoke, he turned and walked towards the other side of the corridor. Ding Yi, seeing this, quickly followed behind him.
The two walked through the connecting corridor in the backyard and continued into the yard. Before long, they arrived at the back of the yard.
Behind this courtyard was another small courtyard, with many side rooms on both sides, and in the center was a slightly larger hall. At this moment, Wang Hong led Ding Yi toward that hall.
Upon entering the hall, Wang Hong went to the side room next door, gently knocked on the door, and then said softly:
"Master Bai, a new person has arrived."
As soon as Wang Hong finished speaking, the door to the side room creaked open, and an old man with slightly gray hair and a serious face walked out.
The old man wore a large, blue robe with many patches, but it still looked neat and tidy, and even carried a faint scent of sandalwood.
Upon seeing this, Ding Yi quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply to the old man.
"Disciple pays respects to Master Bai."
Seeing this, the old man simply lifted Ding Yi up with one hand, saying at the same time:
"Your judgment is good, but your joining my martial arts school does not mean you have become my disciple. I cannot accept this bow."
Ding Yi was taken aback when he heard this, but then he realized that the old man was quite picky and didn't think much of him!
"Don't be discouraged. If you can successfully resurface your skin within a year, I will take you as my seventh disciple. Before that, you will only be an apprentice at the martial arts school."
The old man's hand, which was supporting Ding Yi's arm, quickly touched Ding Yi's arm, then slid down to the back of Ding Yi's neck. He then took a step and was behind Ding Yi, running his hand from the back of Ding Yi's neck down his spine to his tailbone. He then chuckled:
"Work hard, and you might achieve great things in the future. Wang Hong, I'm entrusting this kid to you."
Wang Hong stood motionless beside the old man, only bowing sharply in response when he heard this. After saying all this, the old man waved his hand, indicating that the two could leave.
Seeing this, Wang Hong quickly pulled Ding Yi away to say goodbye, and led Ding Yi back to the backyard along the corridor.
"Senior Brother Wang, what just happened?"
Seeing that they were far from the hall, Ding Yi hurriedly asked.
"Master Bai is examining your bones!"
Wang Hong said with a smile.
"So, have you figured out anything?"
Ding Yi asked again.
"What's the trick? There are billions of mortals in the world, but only a few hundred are born with martial bones. Those with good bone structure are extremely rare. If you had good bone structure, you wouldn't be my turn to bring you out now; you would be Master Bai's seventh disciple!"
Wang Hong patted Ding Yi on the shoulder and said.