Chapter Sixteen: The Quiz and the Encouragement

These past few days, Chen Fan had confirmed that there were no cranes in the area surrounding Qinghe County, nor had he ever heard of any within the county itself. However, further away, beyond another county, the distant Bixiao County was renowned for its white cranes. But that place was a thousand miles away. In the Great Qian Dynasty, maps were highly classified strategic resources—privately making or selling them was strictly forbidden. Of course, the major clans and government offices had their own detailed or simplified maps, but these were never shown lightly. Without a map, traveling a thousand miles was an extremely dangerous endeavor, especially in a world where martial artists existed.

Thus, Chen Fan decisively gave up on the idea of traveling to Bixiao County to see the white cranes. With nothing else to do, he would spend his days gazing up at the sky, watching the drifting clouds, searching for a moment of enlightenment. After all, the longest he would have to wait was six months, which was still within an acceptable timeframe for him.

Two days later, it had been half a month since the disciples had started their training. Their instructor, Master Feng Cong, initiated the first assessment of their progress in the "White Cloud Pine Crane Palm." This time, every student was required to publicly demonstrate what they had learned in front of Feng Cong.

Feng Cong, usually mild-mannered, was more serious than ever. His newfound sternness inevitably created a tense atmosphere among the students. As the demonstrations began, Feng Cong’s critiques were harsh enough to make anyone despair.

“No, half a month and you still haven’t memorized the movements—give up! Next!”

“Far from acceptable. Next!”

One after another, four students were directly advised by Feng Cong to abandon the "White Cloud Pine Crane Palm." Only with the fifth student, Lin Mo, a scion of a noble family, did Feng Cong’s expression finally show some improvement. This was not flattery; noble children generally had better martial talent and family support, making their training more efficient. Some had even practiced other advanced strengthening techniques before, so with that experience, they naturally outperformed others when learning the "White Cloud Pine Crane Palm." Such students also had a clearer understanding of their future on the martial path.

“Hmm... You’ve grasped the basics of the first form. At this rate, you could master the ‘White Cloud Pine Crane Palm’ within five years...”

Lin Mo’s eyes sparkled. He cupped his fists in thanks and stepped back on his own. The "White Cloud Pine Crane Palm" was harder to master but held far greater potential than other strengthening techniques; even if it took two or three extra years, it was worth it.

Five years would take Lin Mo right up to his eighteenth year. Feng Cong nodded. “Next!” One by one the students demonstrated their skills; nine out of ten were told to give up and try another martial art. The "White Cloud Pine Crane Palm" was simply too difficult. In truth, many of these students would struggle with even a third-tier technique, and those who could master a second-tier technique before the age of eighteen would be considered geniuses.

Soon, it was Chen Fan’s turn. Feng Cong squinted, his expression inscrutable. He remembered Chen Fan well and had already expected him to perform poorly, preparing himself to give this lackadaisical student a stern lecture.

“Begin.”

Chen Fan took a deep breath, stepped into the open, and performed the palm technique before the assembled students. When he finished, Feng Cong’s expression turned a little odd. Chen Fan’s execution was not particularly good, but compared with his usual performance, it was much better than expected—better, in fact, than Feng Cong had imagined.

Feng Cong found himself at a loss for words, for he had prepared a whole speech to chastise this student. Little did he know that if Chen Fan hadn’t been relying on his “auto-training,” making daily progress, his skill would indeed have been far worse than Feng Cong imagined. Without this, at Chen Fan’s natural pace, he wouldn’t master the technique in even ten years.

After a moment’s thought, Feng Cong cleared his throat and said, “Hmm, you’re better than most, but still not as good as Lin Mo.” At these words, all eyes turned to Lin Mo, who couldn’t help but look a little pleased. He was, after all, the only one among the ten who had not been advised to give up the “White Cloud Pine Crane Palm.”

Chen Fan was not discouraged. He could see his own progress—it was still under ten percent, barely an entry into the first form. Feng Cong continued, “At your current rate, it’ll take you six or seven years to master this... Chen Fan, your progress is much slower than I anticipated. When you first started, you were on par with Lin Mo... Judging by your attire, you’re not from a wealthy family. If you want to change your circumstances, don’t waste your talent for martial arts!”

The level of Chen Fan’s skill was, indeed, much lower than Lin Mo’s.

During their first practice, both Chen Fan and Lin Mo had performed well, but that said little about their long-term training efficiency. This was why Feng Cong spoke as he did: compared to Lin Mo, Chen Fan’s daily performance was much poorer. In Feng Cong’s eyes, Chen Fan might have even greater potential than he had imagined, perhaps even surpassing Lin Mo’s—if only he would apply himself. Feng Cong was deliberately putting pressure on him.

Chen Fan’s heart tightened. He cupped his fists and said, “Yes, Master!”

Feng Cong nodded and added, “With your current progress, you could succeed, but it would take far too long. Time wasted is opportunity lost... The next evaluation will be in two and a half months. If your progress is still this slow, I’ll have to advise you to abandon the ‘White Cloud Pine Crane Palm.’”

Chen Fan understood. If it really would take six or seven years just to grasp inner breath, then no matter how special the "White Cloud Pine Crane Palm" was, it would still be a waste of his talent. He was already nearly fourteen. To spend another six or seven years—better to choose a simpler technique and master inner breath within two or three years.

In a short time, all twenty-some students had demonstrated their forms. As before, He Hongshan performed best, earning high praise from Feng Cong, who even said she could master the "White Cloud Pine Crane Palm" within two years. Though that was much longer than the five months Chen Fan had hoped for himself, it was still an extraordinary achievement and marked her as exceptionally gifted.

This surprised Chen Fan. “If such a genius can be found in a small place like Feiling County, how many martial prodigies must there be in Yandu City, or even in Qinghe County?”

Though Chen Fan himself was exceptionally talented, he dared not feel any pride. Aside from He Hongshan, the best prospects were Lin Mo, Su Qingyang, Wang Mian, and Chen Fan himself; the rest were all advised to abandon the palm technique. Lin Mo and Su Qingyang, though not as advanced as He Hongshan, still had a shot at mastering the technique within five years, just before they turned eighteen. Chen Fan and Wang Mian were further behind—at their current pace, they would need seven or eight years, but with extra effort, there was hope for improvement.

Of the four, aside from Su Qingyang, who was from a merchant family, the rest were all scions of noble clans. This left Chen Fan reflecting that the odds of rising from humble origins were indeed low.