A person who is both literate and martial is the right way

With nothing else to do, Jia Yun adopted a rather easygoing attitude. It was only when he got closer that he could see her face more clearly.

The girl's skin was the kind of fair white that never sees the sun, but it was as delicate as the finest mutton fat jade.

With her arched eyebrows, upturned nose, and naturally red lips, she was indeed a beauty in the making.

What's even more striking is her figure; she's taller than the average woman.

Even though she is wearing loose shorts now, you can still see that her limbs are long and well-proportioned, with smooth lines and a sense of strength. She is not as weak as an ordinary young lady, but rather has a kind of vibrant wildness.

As she approached, a faint, peculiar fragrance wafted into Jia Yun's nose.

It's not like the scent of flowers, nor like the usual fragrance of cosmetics; rather, it's more like the refreshing and pleasant smell of some kind of grass and trees mixed with sunlight.

The girl pushed open the creaking, dilapidated wooden door and led Jia Yun inside.

The interior of the Taoist temple looked better than the exterior. Although the front hall was mostly collapsed and overgrown with weeds, after passing through a moon gate, there was a rather tidy courtyard behind it. Several side rooms were clearly occupied and maintained, and a few clothes were hanging under the eaves with clean windows and tables.

"Look, this is my home." The girl pointed with considerable pride. "My father is a very capable man! He can practice medicine, tell fortunes, and even fight tigers! If you want your fortune told, get medical treatment, or... learn some self-defense skills like I do, you can come to my father!"

As the girl was boasting, another woman emerged from a side room next door.

The girl was about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in an elegant moon-white long dress, with a slender figure and a calm demeanor.

Her face bore a six or seven-point resemblance to the young girl, yet she appeared more gentle and dignified; this must be the elder sister. Her beautiful features and graceful demeanor contrasted sharply with her younger sister's lively and mischievous nature.

"Yingluo, are you being naughty again?" The eldest daughter's voice was gentle, with a hint of reproach in her words, but her eyes were full of doting affection. She turned to Jia Yun and gave him a graceful bow, "Young master, my younger sister is mischievous. If she has offended you in any way, please forgive her. My name is Zhou Wanyan, and this is my younger sister, Zhou Yingluo."

Jia Yun quickly returned the greeting: "I dare not. It was I who disturbed you. My name is Jia Yun, and I am currently staying at the Iron Threshold Temple."

"So it's Young Master Jia." Zhou Wanyan smiled slightly, as gentle as a breeze caressing the moon. Then she turned to her younger sister and said, "Father is taking a nap; don't bring outsiders to disturb him."

This clearly indicates they don't want Jia Yun to disturb them. Could it be that they have a grudge against the Iron Threshold Temple?

At this moment, Jia Yun's mind was racing.

A few days ago, he first met the chivalrous young master Feng Ziying, and now he has encountered this Zhou family girl with superb skills. In particular, Yingluo's amazing lightness skill has made his mind, which was originally only thinking about the imperial examination, start to stir.

Rebels and Jurchens are imminent.

In this perilous world, wouldn't it be more reassuring to learn some martial arts to protect yourself?

Thinking of this, Jia Yun finally mustered his courage and said to Zhou Wanyan, "Miss Zhou, I just heard your sister mention that your father is skilled in many arts. I... I am indeed eager to learn from him. I wonder if you could introduce me to a few?"

Zhou Wanyan glanced at him, seemingly somewhat surprised. After pondering for a moment, she did not refuse, but simply nodded slightly: "Since you are so inclined, young master, please come with me."

The two sisters led Jia Yun to a house in the backyard that smelled of herbs.

Inside the room, a man who looked to be in his fifties, with half-white hair and wearing a faded Taoist robe, was yawning in front of a medicine grinder.

His face was thin and frail, but his eyes were somewhat drowsy and lazy, a far cry from the image of a sage or a mighty and fierce warrior that one might have imagined.

"Father, this young master Jia wants to learn martial arts from you," Zhou Yingluo said eagerly.

Old Man Zhou raised his eyelids, lazily sized up Jia Yun, and yawned: "Learn martial arts? I'm very expensive."

Jia Yun's heart tightened, and he respectfully asked, "May I ask... how much is the tuition, sir?"

Old Man Zhou held up five fingers and waved them in front of Jia Yun.

"Five...five taels of silver?" Jia Yun's face turned pale; this was an astronomical figure for him.

Old Man Zhou scoffed, "What are you thinking? Five hundred coins! A month's supply!"

Jia Yun was stunned, almost thinking she had misheard.

Five hundred coins?

Although it's not easy for him right now, it's much cheaper than he expected! Besides, his second grandmother had given him two taels of silver for the medicine, so he now has some savings.

Fearing the other party might change their mind, Jia Yun immediately knelt down and kowtowed, replying, "This junior is willing! Master, please accept this disciple's bow."

Seeing how readily he agreed, even kowtowing first, Old Man Zhou was taken aback. He scratched his somewhat messy hair and muttered softly, "Uh... so quick... did I ask for too little? What a rip-off..."

Zhou Yingluo couldn't help but burst out laughing, and even the usually calm Zhou Wanyan turned her head away with her shoulders trembling slightly.

Old Zhou coughed awkwardly twice, then forced himself to save face: "Ahem, alright, I like you, kid, so this price is fine! Tell me, what do you want to learn?"

Jia Yun pondered for a moment, recalling that resolute figure in the snowy night, and then said, "This disciple wishes to learn spear techniques."

"A gun?" Old Zhou raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised. But after looking him over a few more times, he said, "You've chosen something practical. Alright, come here at noon tomorrow."

Seeing Jia Yun bowing again, Old Man Zhou waved his hand and resumed his lazy demeanor: "If there's nothing else, you can go now. I want to take a nap a little longer."

Jia Yun quickly bowed and took his leave. Zhou Yingluo smiled and saw him off, while Zhou Wanyan nodded slightly to him as well.

Although the Zhou family father and his two daughters were poor, they were not wary of him, a stranger. Instead, they showed a kind of simple and warm hospitality that Jia Yun had not seen outsiders for a long time, which warmed Jia Yun's heart.

The next day at noon, Jia Yun did some light study with the abbot at the temple, and then went to the backyard of the Zhou family as agreed. Before he even entered the gate, he could hear faint sounds of fists being thrown inside.

But Zhou Yingluo was already practicing her martial arts in the courtyard. The December sun was shining brightly, but it had lost the scorching heat of summer and shone warmly on her.

Today she was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt that had been washed until it was almost white, which made her waist look even more slender and delicate, and her movements were like those of a supple willow branch.

The girl's fair, jade-like cheeks glowed with a healthy rosy hue, and a few strands of her jet-black hair were damp with sweat, clinging to her smooth forehead and temples, making her unadorned face appear even more exquisitely beautiful.

"So you actually came." When Zhou Yingluo saw him come in, she stopped her posture, tilted her head, and looked him up and down. A playful smile appeared on her lips. "Judging from your bookish posture, I'm afraid you can't even stand up straight in a horse stance."

Jia Yun felt a flush rise to his face when she teased him like that. He possessed the pride of a scholar and the stubbornness of a young man, and now that she was looking down on him, his competitive spirit flared up.

"Miss Yingluo underestimates me." Jia Yun straightened his clothes and straightened his still somewhat slender back. "Although I have not practiced martial arts, I do not consider myself weak. I wonder if you would be willing to teach me a thing or two?"

Upon hearing this, Yingluo's bright eyes lit up immediately, and she clapped her hands and laughed, "Great! I was just worried about having no one to spar with!"

With that, she twisted her slender waist and gracefully leaped into the center of the arena. Her robes fluttered, making her figure even more agile. She assumed a starting stance: "Go ahead and make your move. I'll give you three moves."

Jia Yun said no more, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and threw a punch.

He felt that he had used seven-tenths of his strength in this punch, and that it was fast. But Yingluo only slightly turned her body, and her slender waist showed amazing flexibility. His fist grazed the hem of her clothes without even touching a piece of fabric.

"One move." Yingluo counted with a smile, her figure swaying like willow catkins in the wind.

Jia Yun's heart tightened, and he changed his fist into a palm, slashing horizontally. This time, Yingluo did not retreat but advanced, twisting her slender waist and sticking to him like a swimming fish.

Jia Yun felt a faint fragrance, like orchids but not quite, waft towards him. Before he could see clearly, his wrist was gently grasped by a cool, sweaty hand. The fingers were slender yet strong, and with a slight pull, he involuntarily staggered forward two steps.