Starting as a dockworker

Chapter 31 Keeping Pace with the Times, Showing Off a New Move!

"I'll treat you to a meal at Fengxianlou Restaurant to celebrate Brother Xiao's newfound talent. What do you say?"

Huo Jiu was very good at handling things, and immediately suggested going to a restaurant for dinner, which would also be a good opportunity to get closer to his partner.

"Brother Huo, how can I, Xiao, accept a disciple and let you host the meal?"

Xiao Zhenshan glanced at Huo Jiu, then said.

"Um... I don't like crowds, so maybe we should just skip it."

Li Xiao waved his hand, declining the offer.

If it weren't for the fortune teller, Xiao Zhenshan would never have been so enthusiastic.

He understood that he was there to learn martial arts, not to freeload off the fortune teller's name.

"It's alright, haha, it's alright..."

Xiao Zhenshan said with a smile, "Tomorrow, I will personally guide you in your martial arts training."

"Um..." Li Xiao thought for a moment and said, "For certain reasons, I cannot call you Master, please understand..."

To be precise, his master was not a fortune teller, but the Goddess of Fragrant Mountain.

If you call Xiao Zhenshan "Master," then you're putting him on equal footing with your own master.

Li Xiao feared that Xiao Zhenshan wouldn't be able to bear the burden and would shorten his lifespan.

"It's alright, haha, it's alright..." Xiao Zhenshan understood the reason and said, "How about this, from now on I'll call you disciple, and you call me Old Xiao, what do you think?"

Li Xiao thought for a moment, "Okay, Lao Xiao."

The other apprentices standing nearby were completely stunned when they heard this.

Good heavens, that's really good heavens!

As the saying goes, "A teacher for a day is a father for life."

All three of the master's last disciples treated him with utmost respect, as if they were serving their fathers.

And this Li Xiao, he immediately called Master Lao Xiao? ???

What the hell is this guy's background?!

"Disciple, go into the martial arts school and tell..."

Xiao Zhenshan warmly invited Li Xiao into the martial arts school and, accompanied by Huo Jiu, introduced the school's facilities.

Guiyuan Martial Arts School has a history of fifteen years and is one of the best in the city.

Unlike other martial arts schools, Xiao Zhenshan doesn't accept disciples indiscriminately; he considers their potential before accepting them.

The martial arts school is divided into an outer gate, an inner gate, and a closed gate.

There are currently fifty outer disciples, who are taught by inner disciples.

Those who achieved academic success either joined gangs, took jobs in the government, or entered the army.

There are twelve inner disciples, who are taught by the closed-door disciples.

These twelve individuals are highly sought after by various factions seeking to win them over.

As long as they are willing to leave, all factions are willing to reserve good positions for them. For example, if they want to join the army, they can easily become platoon leaders.

The three disciples who closed their doors were the core of the martial arts school, and were personally taught by Xiao Zhenshan.

They are in charge of the entire martial arts school's operation and affairs, and are the strongest in terms of strength.

If a disciple who has closed the gate wants to go out, he will at least start as a squad leader in the army.

This Guiyuan Martial Arts School not only teaches martial arts, but also keeps up with the times by hiring foreigners to teach them military skills.

The program cultivates individuals with outstanding military skills and a certain level of military capability.

That's why Guiyuan Martial Arts School holds a superior position in Wuling City. All forces want disciples who come from there, and people in Wuling City and even the surrounding areas are eager to get in.

"Old Xiao, your martial arts school also teaches military strategy...?"

When Li Xiao arrived at a large classroom in the martial arts school, he saw a military sand table inside, various firearms on display, and the model, range, and ammunition of each weapon written on the blackboard...

My brain is completely blank...

Is this still a martial arts school?

It's completely different from what I imagined!

Xiao Zhenshan smiled and said, "We have to keep up with the times, don't we? Foreigners used guns and cannons to open the doors of our Great Xia. Our Great Xia martial arts are powerful, capable of taking on a hundred men."

But anyone can use these foreign guns and cannons... I have to learn them. I need to make sure that all my students can find jobs after leaving the martial arts school, instead of just being martial artists..."

He said proudly, "That's not all. We've also recruited foreign teachers from various countries to teach our students foreign languages. At the very least, they can serve as bodyguards and translators for those important figures."

"That's too ahead of its time..."

Li Xiao nodded slightly. It was definitely the right decision for the fortune teller to send him to the Guiyuan Martial Arts School.

Talent is always the most important thing, no matter the era.

Having such a talent training base will be very useful to me in the future.

Xiao Zhenshan's governance philosophy is so advanced!

What kind of martial arts school is this?

It's practically training military personnel.

The key is that these military talents still possess certain martial arts skills and cannot be easily assassinated.

Li Xiao secretly glanced at Xiao Zhenshan's braid.

Their ideas are very progressive... but they haven't cut their braids yet...

However, he didn't ask any further questions, since it was their freedom.

"Li Xiao, my disciple, there are three more disciples ahead of you in your final days. From now on, you will be ranked fourth..."

Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Zhenshan led Li Xiao to a quiet training room. Even his seventh senior brother, Huo Yingjun, who was following behind him, was not allowed to enter. Only Huo Jiu accompanied him.

"This is where the disciples will practice martial arts. You will practice here from now on."

"Hmm...Where are the eldest, second, and third senior brothers?"

Li Xiao asked curiously, as he had seen his third senior brother Zhao Liqun before, but had not actually seen him.

"All three of them were injured and went back to recuperate..."

Xiao Zhenshan explained with a smile.

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Xiao Zhenshan pointed to the side and introduced, "Disciple, this is Huo Jiu, the leader of the Dingyang Gang, and also your eighth junior brother's father..."

Huo Jiu smiled and nodded at Li Xiao.

"Chief Huo, I've heard so much about you!"

Li Xiao responded politely.

As he spoke, Xiao Zhenshan said, "You are a highly accomplished disciple of the Fortune Teller. We have long admired her. Since there are no outsiders here today, could you demonstrate your skills so that we can broaden our horizons? Of course, it's fine if you don't wish to..."

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Of course, we're not outsiders."

If you keep calling yourself Lao Xiao, how can you truly convince people if you don't demonstrate your skills?

"However, my skills are still shallow, and I'm afraid I'll have to make you two laugh at me..."

Li Xiao gave a heads-up, saying that he was just a beginner.

As he spoke, he put two fingers together and pointed them at the air.

A bolt of lightning the size of a washbasin appeared out of nowhere, roared out, and flew directly towards the wooden dummy in the distance.

Having consumed the "Jade Heart Fruit," he gained ten years of cultivation, and the power of the Thunderous Fiend also increased considerably.

With a loud bang, the wooden dummy was blasted into pieces, the broken parts charred and smoking...

hiss!

Xiao Zhenshan and Huo Jiu had practiced martial arts for decades and were highly skilled and knowledgeable.

This was the first time he had ever seen such a miraculous technique, and he was so shocked that his mouth gaped open, as if he were a clay sculpture or a wooden statue.

It took them a long time to come to their senses...

"My skills are shallow, please excuse my poor performance..."

Li Xiao said modestly.

"My disciple, you truly amaze me, Old Xiao..."

Xiao Zhenshan murmured, his mind filled with the scene from just now.

As for Huo Jiu, his eyes were wide open, and he couldn't say a word.

The two then became even more enthusiastic.

Xiao Zhenshan showed concern and sent over five sets of brand-new martial arts school uniforms.

When asked if he had a place to stay, Huo Jiu immediately took over, saying he had a vacant house near the martial arts school and insisted that Li Xiao stay there...

Huo Jiu was the first to come out of the martial arts room, preparing to settle the house.

Huo Yingjun asked curiously, "Dad, what's going on? Why was there a thunderous sound inside just now?"

Huo Jiu said, "Don't ask so many questions! You brat, from now on you'd better suck up to your fourth senior brother like the plague, understand? Our family is counting on you!"

Huo Yingjun's focus was strange: "If he becomes the fourth senior brother, then won't I become the eighth?"

Huo Jiu said irritably, "I don't care what rank you've become... Just remember to bring your fourth senior brother to your house later, he'll live there from now on."

Huo Yingjun said, "Father, isn't that my house?"

Huo Jiu said, "That's not the case now. I'm going to have someone throw your things out right now. Remember, you must say it's an empty house, empty for a long time, understand?"

Huo Yingjun: "And what about me?"

Huo Jiu said, "I don't care where you live, figure it out yourself."

Huo Yingjun: "..."