Chapter 2: Apprenticeship under Zhou Tong

Not far outside the west gate of Taiyuan, Zhou Tong walked at a leisurely pace, wearing a Fanyang bamboo hat, carrying a bundle on his back, with a wine gourd hanging at his waist and holding a simple broadsword in his hand.

Suddenly, his ears twitched as he heard strong footsteps behind him, steadily approaching.

He was puzzled. His reputation in the martial world was quite prominent; these footsteps heading straight for him—could it be that someone bore him a grudge?

Pressing his broadsword with one hand, Zhou Tong turned to see what was going on.

As he looked back, a cloud of dust billowed along the dirt road. A burly man charged toward him and, five or six paces away, bent his knees and bowed deeply with thundering knocks on the ground.

He shouted, “Master above! Accept your disciple’s bow!”

“Who are you? Do you know who I am? Why do you bow to me like this?”

Zhou Tong was taken aback but quickly realized this man was there to apprentice himself.

But wait—everyone in the martial world knew Zhou Tong rarely accepted disciples. How could someone just come up and become his apprentice so plainly?

“Master above, your iron-armed hero, Zhou Da Xia, is known far and wide in the martial world. I have admired your chivalrous name since childhood. Hearing that you recently came to watch me wrestle, I thought you intended to take me as your disciple. I was so excited that I nearly choked while eating.”

“Fortunately, Heaven showed mercy. The King of Hell said that I had yet to recognize my teacher and that my fate was not yet sealed, so I regained consciousness. Just in time, you were leaving the city, allowing me to renew our master-disciple bond. This is destiny ordained by Heaven, so I must bow to you as my master! I beg you to accept me!”

Ren Yuan certainly knew Zhou Tong might not have planned on accepting disciples before, but he had prepared his excuse on the way here.

I nearly died choking because I heard you were coming to watch my match. As a great hero, it’s only fair you compensate me.

Besides, I almost died once, so when I say King of Hell sent me to be your disciple and that this is fate, you just need to tell me whether you agree or not!

“Oh, so you’re that young wrestler,” Zhou Tong said after hearing him out, recognizing who Ren Yuan was.

Indeed, he was the young man Zhou Tong had been somewhat interested in before, the one who nearly choked on a steamed bun. He hadn’t expected such an explanation.

After all, in the Song Dynasty, beliefs in ghosts and spirits were still widely accepted. Coupled with the fact that Ren Yuan had nearly choked for real, seeing his sincere demeanor made Zhou Tong believe him seventy to eighty percent.

“Yes, Master, it’s me. Now that I’ve awakened again, you should accept me as your disciple!”

Ren Yuan was all in—he couldn’t wait for Wang Jin. This relationship with Zhou Tong had to be seized tightly.

“Hmm…”

Zhou Tong said nothing, stroking his beard as he sized Ren Yuan up from head to toe.

Ren Yuan knew the crucial moment had arrived. Whether Zhou Tong took a liking to him depended on this moment.

Whether it was an illusion or not, when Zhou Tong stared at him, Ren Yuan felt as if a fierce beast had fixed its gaze on him, as if his entire being was laid bare and a heavy burden pressed down on him.

But he did not waver one bit. Gritting his teeth and straightening his back, he knelt before Zhou Tong.

His expression was solemn, his physique strong, and his resolve firm—only his age was somewhat advanced. Wait, hold on…

Just as Zhou Tong was about to say something, he suddenly noticed that after Ren Yuan knelt and kowtowed, several indentations appeared in the ground.

Though the road was dirt, it was well-trodden by people and horses, making the soil compact. To make such dents from kowtowing, this man must possess formidable strength.

“Good, then I will accept you.”

With that thought, Zhou Tong agreed outright.

“Master, you must—ah?”

Ren Yuan, about to say more, was stunned.

Huh? That was so easy? No tests or further words needed?

“What, I accepted you, and you’re reluctant?”

Zhou Tong looked at his new disciple with a playful glint. Kid, you think you can play tricks on your master?

You’re still too green!

“Willing! Willing!” Ren Yuan immediately knelt again. “From today, I, Ren Yuan, am Zhou’s disciple. One day as master, lifelong as father. Master, please accept your disciple’s bow!”

Then “thud, thud, thud”—three resounding kowtows.

“All right, get up and go pack your things.”

Zhou Tong found his new disciple amusing.

“Huh? Master, you just accepted me and want to send me off already?”

Ren Yuan grinned, feeling a little provoked.

“What are you thinking? Look at yourself—where’s your bundle? You have no traveling expenses or clothes. How can you follow me? Hurry and pack; your master will wait here.”

Zhou Tong smiled and sat cross-legged under a large tree by the roadside. He had taken disciples before, but never one like this. It was rather interesting.

“All right! Master, you must wait for me! I’ll be back soon!”

“Master, you must wait for me!”

Hearing this, Ren Yuan scrambled up and ran back quickly, afraid Zhou Tong might change his mind.

“Go, go, you little rascal! I’m right here!”

Zhou Tong chuckled and leaned against the tree, feigning sleep. This disciple was indeed intriguing.

Ren Yuan rushed back to the rented small courtyard and began to pack.

He had little to pack—discarding heavy tools, taking only a few clothes, packing the cash in the house, grabbing a pair of shoes and a whistle baton, then rushing back without even closing the courtyard door.

“See, he’s got problems since choking—doesn’t even close the courtyard door when leaving.”

“Exactly, a fine young man, suddenly gone mad.”

...

After Ren Yuan left, the neighbors peeked out again, watching his departing figure and whispering.

But none of this mattered to Ren Yuan anymore.

His life had turned a new page.

Along the country lane, the master and disciple walked one after the other, their voices carried by the breeze.

“Master, how many disciples do I have now?”

“Hmm... you’re the third, I suppose. Or maybe the second.”

“Huh? Why’s that?”

“I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

“Oh, Master, what do you intend to teach me?”

“Whatever you want to learn.”

“I’ll learn whatever you teach me, hehe.”

“Sly one.”

Zhou Tong looked at the cheeky Ren Yuan following behind and didn’t dislike him.

Perhaps his previous disciples were always especially respectful and polite, but this thick-skinned one was a first.

“Ren Yuan.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Under my tutelage, you must study diligently and endure hardship. Eating wind and sleeping in the open will be commonplace. Can you do that?”

Zhou Tong’s tone was serious.

“Yes! I’m not afraid of hardship!” Ren Yuan immediately patted his chest.

With such a strong body as foundation and terrifying aptitude as a golden key, if he couldn’t master Zhou Tong’s skills, he might as well jump into a lake.

“Good. My disciples train for three years. After three years, if you have achieved proficiency, you may roam the martial world.”

“But remember, when roaming the world, do not commit evil deeds, oppress the innocent, or betray your country for personal gain. Otherwise, I will cleanse my school!”

“I will remember!”

The warm spring sunlight stretched their shadows long as the master and disciple walked side by side, slowly disappearing at the end of the lane...