Chapter 8: Martial Apprentice Realm.

Lu Xuan went to the escort agency and stood guard at the gate, watching the escort warriors in the courtyard practice their blade techniques.

The light of the blades flashed, and shouts rose and fell.

Lu Xuan watched very carefully.

Deer Form was about agility and alertness. Tiger Form was about ferocity and killing intent.

But what about weapons?

He hadn't learned to use a single weapon yet.

In his eyes, the blade techniques of these escort warriors were full of flaws.

The speed was too slow, the power was too scattered, and the footwork was too messy.

But he didn't say anything. He just watched and committed it all to memory.

With his System's help... seeing it once was enough.

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By evening, the escort warriors had already dispersed. In the empty courtyard, only a few wooden training stakes remained.

Lu Xuan walked over and stood before one as he took a deep breath and threw a punch.

Tiger Form.

Bang!

The stake shook violently... but it didn't break.

Lu Xuan looked at his fist.

Body Tempering Level Nine, still not enough.

He needed to sleep one more night to reach the Martial Apprentice Realm.

Just then, Fang Tieshan walked over from the inner courtyard and saw him standing in front of the stake, lost in thought.

"Lu Xuan, don't worry about it. It's fine if you don't know martial arts. As long as my Iron Mountain Escort Agency exists, you'll have a place here."

"Thank you, Uncle Fang."

"Why thank me? We're family. If you're done for the day, head on home. Just make sure the gate is open for the boys early tomorrow morning."

Lu Xuan nodded.

He turned and walked out, closed the gate, and arrived home after turning the corner.

As soon as he stepped through the door, the aroma of food wafted toward him, making his hungry stomach growl even more.

Then Shen Yuyan came out to greet him, her veil already removed for the night. The moonlight caught her face, and for a moment, Lu Xuan felt his food was no longer so appetizing. Instead, he wanted to eat something else... or someone.

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"Husband, you're back!"

She was smiling like a radiant moon.

Lu Xuan looked at the clean and tidy courtyard, smelled the fragrant food, and then glanced at Shen Yuyan's expectant eyes.

In both his lifetimes, no one had ever waited for him like this. It was a novel experience.

"Let's eat."

Lu Xuan sat down, picked up his bowl, and began eating, after all cultivation not only requires sleep but also energy.

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Early morning.

Lu Xuan woke up with Shen Yuyan still curled against him, her breathing soft and steady.

He carefully untangled himself from her without waking her... though her fingers briefly tightened on his sleeve before letting go.

A bowl of porridge was already warming on the stove, with half a flatbread placed beside it, despite being tired she must have gotten up earlier to prepare it and come back to bed.

He finished the porridge and pushed open the door, the morning light surged in, shining on the tree in the courtyard. The leaves were lush and green, hanging with dew.

Lu Xuan took a deep breath and look at his progress.

[Ding! Sleep cultivation complete.]

[Five Animals Transformation Art progress: 40%.]

[Forms Mastered: Deer Form (Perfection), Tiger Form (70%).]

[Current Realm: Martial Apprentice Realm: Level One.]

Martial Apprentice Realm.

Lu Xuan clenched his fists, in his Dantian, a wisp of True Energy flowed slowly... warm and gentle, like a small stream.

It was completely different from Body Tempering stage

Body Tempering was about hardening the flesh and bones. The Martial Apprentice Realm was about condensing True Energy.

True Energy could be released externally... to strike from a distance.

He walked into the courtyard, aimed at the tree, and pushed out with one palm.

Hum...

True Energy surged from his palm, the tree leaves rustled violently, and a few drifted down.

Lu Xuan looked at his own hand, Martial Apprentice Realm, Level One.

In the Lu Family, this was the level of an inner disciple. One full realm higher than an apprentice... and two realms higher than a servant.

It still wasn't enough, but at least... he now had the confidence to protect himself.

He turned and walked out of the courtyard, arrived at the entrance of the escort agency, and opened the gate, the escort warriors arrived one after another.

"Morning."

A young escort warrior yawned and walked past him without even glancing at him, Lu Xuan didn't speak.

He sat in the gatehouse, watching the courtyard, the escort warriors began to practice their sabers, saber light flashed, and shouts rose one after another.

Lu Xuan watched very carefully.

The saber techniques of these men were too rough... full of flaws in his eyes.

Their footwork was sloppy, their power scattered, their timing inconsistent.

But it was just that his current realm hadn't fully caught up yet. Given a few more days to grow more proficient with the Five Animals Transformation Art, he was confident he could disarm every one of these martial artists with his bare hands.

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At the same on the other side of the city.

Shen Yuyan carried a bundle on her back, ready to leave the courtyard to go to the market.

She wanted to sell some of her embroidery to supplement their income, although they now had a place to live and Lu Xuan had found a job, two silver pieces a month could barely cover the essentials.

She felt she still needed to contribute, Shen Yuyan put on her veil and walked with her head down toward the east side of the city.

The market was a fair distance from the escort agency, after walking for quite a while, she arrived, found an empty spot, laid out a cloth, and displayed her embroidery pieces one by one.

Two cranes standing by the water... songbirds perched on blossoming branches... wildflowers in full bloom.

The stitches were fine and dense, the flowers and birds so lifelike they seemed ready to take flight.

Passersby stopped to look.

"This is embroidered really well."

"How much?"

"Fifty copper coins."

Shen Yuyan's voice was very soft.

"Too expensive. Thirty."

Shen Yuyan hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

The person left.

She lowered her head and quietly rearranged the embroidery.