Chapter 4: Cripple Ma

Cripple Ma’s residence was even more dilapidated than Third Uncle’s home. It consisted of a single tiled shack, looking as if it could collapse with the next gust of wind. Nearby, a neighbor operated a furnace, which emitted thick black smoke as Chen Luo and his uncle approached.

Cripple Ma sat alone at the entrance, repairing an iron pot with a file in hand. Each stroke against the pot’s bottom scattered large flakes of black iron onto the ground, revealing the damaged area.

“Hey, Cripple, I’ve come to visit you.”

From a distance, Third Uncle Chen loudly hailed Cripple Ma, who was engrossed in his work.

Hearing the call, Cripple Ma didn’t budge, continuing to file away at the iron pot. The nearby furnace had nearly reached its temperature; he promptly used tongs to retrieve the heated patch and placed it over the pot’s hole. With a series of metallic clanks, he began hammering it into place.

Only after fully repairing the pot and setting it aside did Cripple Ma lift his head to acknowledge the uncle and nephew duo. His gaze primarily focused on Chen Luo, recognizing him as an unfamiliar face.

Perhaps it was just psychological, but as Cripple Ma’s gaze swept over them, Chen Luo felt inexplicably tense. His body hair stood on end, akin to being watched by a predator in the woods.

“My nephew, Chen Luo! The sole descendant of the third generation in our Chen lineage.”

Third Uncle broke the tension with his words and promptly placed their gift on the nearby table.

“Speak.”

Cripple Ma finally diverted his gaze, his voice deep and expressionless, like a wooden statue devoid of emotion.

“My nephew wishes to learn martial arts.”

After sitting down, Third Uncle wasted no time on pleasantries and directly stated their purpose.

Upon hearing this, Cripple Ma paused momentarily in his work. Then, as if he hadn’t heard anything, he continued busying himself. Unperturbed, Third Uncle patiently waited. Only after Cripple Ma finished repairing all the pots and sickles did Third Uncle speak again.

“Why do you want to learn martial arts?”

This question was directed at Chen Luo, while Third Uncle remained silent nearby, aware of Cripple Ma’s temperament.

“I wish to become stronger,” Chen Luo stated his aspiration.

Since arriving in this world, he had always felt insecure. The knowledge that ‘martial arts’ existed here intensified this feeling. Urgently, he sought to master strength to protect himself and those around him.

“Learning martial arts doesn’t guarantee becoming strong. In this world…” Cripple Ma began as if recalling something but then fell silent. He continued tidying up, placing used pliers neatly against the corner and putting the file back into the toolbox.

“Come tomorrow. I’ll teach you for two hours each day; how much you learn depends on yourself.”

Just when Third Uncle thought their attempt might fail, Cripple Ma picked up his toolbox, rose, and headed indoors. As he closed the door, his voice echoed one last time from within.

Success!

Third Uncle let out a relieved sigh.

Chen Luo, too, was filled with excitement!

Regardless of Cripple Ma’s temper, for Chen Luo at this stage, it was his only opportunity. He firmly believed that once he stepped onto the martial path, he could carve out a road reaching the heavens. Learning martial arts with his impaired mind was a last resort; as a beginner, it posed too great a risk. Any oversight in technique could prove fatal.

By the time they finished their errands, it was already dusk.

As the uncle and nephew returned, they noticed the nearest street remained blocked off. Officials were searching diligently, seemingly looking for someone.

Ever cautious by nature, Third Uncle immediately took Chen Luo on a detour to get home.

“Old Man Liu! Two bowls of noodles, extra minced meat and light on the spice.”

Neither the uncle nor the nephew knew much about cooking. Upon reaching the alley entrance, Third Uncle led Chen Luo to Old Man Liu’s noodle stall, tapped the table, and called out loudly.

Being long-time regulars, Old Man Liu recognized their voices instantly.

Moments later, he brought over steaming bowls of noodles, generously adding a piece of braised pork just for them.

“We’ll settle up together after eating,” replied Third Uncle before pulling out chopsticks from a bamboo tube, stirring briefly, and digging in hungrily. Chen Luo followed suit, quickly finishing his meal.

Old Man Liu had been running his noodle stall for over twenty years, renowned for generous portions.

And with the added braised pork, it made for an even more satisfying feast.

After enjoying their meal, Third Uncle leaned back at the table, feeling content.

After replying, Third Uncle extracted chopsticks from his bamboo tube, stirred briefly, and began digging in enthusiastically. Chen Luo followed suit, quickly finishing his meal.

Old Man Liu had been running his noodle stall for over twenty years, renowned for his hearty portions. And with the added bonus of braised pork, it was even more satisfying.

With their hunger satisfied, Third Uncle tossed two large coins onto the table before leading Chen Luo back home.

This was how Third Uncle lived year after year - spending freely without ever depriving himself. Chen Luo also emulated this approach; regardless of what he did, he never neglected his own well-being, even if it meant remaining single all his life. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t experienced solitude before!

Upon returning, Third Uncle reached for his key to unlock the door when he noticed a black bamboo stick lodged beneath the copper lock.

Hm?

The sight of the bamboo stick instantly changed Third Uncle’s expression.

“Third Uncle, should I come along to help?”

Chen Luo recognized this type of bamboo stick; it was the mark indicating business for a grave digger. Whenever Third Uncle received work, Chen Luo observed from the sidelines, familiarizing himself with such signs. However, this was the first time he’d seen a black bamboo stick, piquing his curiosity.

“You good-for-nothing brat! Focus on your martial training; don’t waste my efforts.” Grumbling, Third Uncle tucked the bamboo stick into his jacket and opened the door to return inside.

Seeing this, Chen Luo retreated to his room.

The profession of grave digging had many taboos. If Third Uncle wasn’t willing to discuss them, there was no way Chen Luo could pry further without risking a beating—an experience he’d learned from past encounters.

Best wait until I gain more strength before looking into these matters. Right now, I can barely protect myself.

As he lay in bed, thoughts of the street closure earlier that day involuntarily resurfaced in Chen Luo’s mind.

I hope it’s nothing serious.

Gradually drifting off to sleep, Chen Luo enjoyed a dreamless and peaceful night.

Uneventfully, morning arrived.

Early the next day, Chen Luo woke up. Strangely, his third uncle had already left, with the gate in the yard still open, leaving him unsure of where Third Uncle had gone.

“Aunt Wang, have you seen my third uncle?”

After washing up, Chen Luo headed to Old Liu’s noodle stall at the alley entrance and inquired from the woman cooking noodles. Aunt Wang, Old Man Liu’s wife, managed their business while her husband handled evening sales. Rumor had it that with their exceptional noodle-making skills, this elderly couple had even bought a house for their son in the provincial capital.

“Your third uncle? He left before dawn and took two steamed buns from here.” Seeing it was Chen Luo, Aunt Wang smiled and shared more details amidst her busy morning rush.

With just these brief words exchanged, Aunt Wang quickly returned to her work.

Chen Luo didn’t press further. After having two buns and a bowl of soy milk, he set off towards Cripple Ma’s place.

He had visited there yesterday with his third uncle, so he knew the way.

Passing through the alley, Chen Luo reached the same intersection as the day before. He noticed that the street remained sealed off, not only without any signs of reopening but also expanding its restricted area, now encompassing several nearby households. Guards stationed at the entrances glared at him as he curiously peered around.

“Hurry up and get lost! This area is closed; find another route!” one guard barked at Chen Luo.

Shrinking back under the reprimand, Chen Luo hastily retraced his steps from the previous day.

Could it be some kind of epidemic? A plague in this era would lead to utter chaos.

Upon further thought, Chen Luo deemed it unlikely.

If it were truly a plague, the level of lockdown would have been much stricter.

Judging by the constable’s dismissive attitude earlier, many people must have attempted to bypass the area throughout the morning, making his rebukes almost routine.

After passing the sealed-off zone, Chen Luo soon arrived at Cripple Ma’s home.

Just like yesterday, Cripple Ma was busy repairing household items for his neighbors, ranging from kitchen utensils to farming tools. He even offered to nail horseshoes.

Without hesitation, Chen Luo joined in and started helping immediately.

As the sun climbed high in the sky, Cripple Ma finally took a break from his work.

“Come inside with me.”

Perhaps impressed by Chen Luo’s diligence all morning, Cripple Ma’s demeanor towards him had noticeably softened.

Pushing open the wooden gate, Chen Luo discovered that Cripple Ma’s courtyard was surprisingly larger than Third Uncle’s. Despite its shabby appearance outside, the interior felt spacious and bright.

Beyond the entrance lay a separate small courtyard. Along one side stood a weapons rack and a sandbag, both showing signs of weathering, indicating they hadn’t been used in quite some time.

“Begin training with stance practice. Watch my movements closely; learn as much as you can.”

Without waiting for Chen Luo’s attention, Cripple Ma began practicing his boxing routine. His movements flowed smoothly like drifting clouds and flowing water, ending with a steady stance.

Despite his limp, he exuded a sense of unwavering balance.

Observing this, Chen Luo immediately attempted to mimic the sequence.

His first attempt could not be described as similar; it was virtually unrecognizable. He missed every critical point, and his breathing was chaotic, causing Cripple Ma to frown deeply.

“Practice it again,” Cripple Ma said sternly, suppressing his rising frustration.

He knew Chen Luo had poor aptitude, but he didn’t expect it to be this dire. After one round, Chen Luo seemed to have remembered nothing at all—a true epitome of ineptitude!

Hearing this, Chen Luo promptly raised his hands and tried once more, recalling the previous movements.

This time, Cripple Ma pointed out several errors in his technique. Whenever Chen Luo assumed an incorrect position, Cripple Ma would strike him with a bamboo rod. Through repetition, enduring until nightfall, Chen Luo finally managed to barely memorize the set of movements.

“That’s enough for today. For the next month, perfect your stance practice before coming back to me.”

Cripple Ma tossed aside the bamboo rod and left without looking back, fearing that any further observation might trigger his heart condition from sheer anger.

“Many thanks, Master.”

With utmost respect, Chen Luo bowed to Cripple Ma before preparing to leave.

Hissss

During the practice, he hadn’t noticed, but now every movement sent pain throughout his body. Cripple Ma held nothing back with each strike; otherwise, Chen Luo wouldn’t have been able to memorize the movements accurately.

In the foundational stages of martial training, even a single mistake could be fatal.