Early the next morning.
Li Chuan was sitting in Zhao Qingyao's car, once again arriving at the previous filming location of the production team.
It was the old street in the northern part of the city.
Filming here had ended, so the production team had also retreated.
"I'm going to have breakfast around here; you head to the boxing hall yourself." Zhao Qingyao wasn't particularly interested in the boxing hall, but the Seven Bowls Tea House on the old street was a well-known culinary spot in Jiangzhou City, especially the Thousand Mountain Jade Leaves tea, which even attracted prominent figures from the Capital City to visit it.
"Alright, I'll go check out the Ma Family Boxing Hall." Li Chuan nodded.
The Ma Family Boxing Hall was Miao Cuilian's Xingyi Boxing Hall.
He currently had True Qi and was physically strong, but he was completely inexperienced in combat. Although he had practiced the Five Animals Qigong with his grandfather to strengthen his body, that kind of thing couldn't be used for close combat.
To better utilize his True Qi and maximize his combat prowess, he had to learn some fighting techniques. Otherwise, not to mention avenging his parents in the Capital City, he could even be drained by the Three-blade Hall.
Soon, Li Chuan followed the address on the business card and arrived at the Ma Family Boxing Hall.
Being in the old district with old streets, the architecture here was quite historical.
Early in the morning, the sounds of vigorous training echoed inside.
This Xingyi Fist focused on a strong and fierce style, which really suited Li Chuan's taste; he liked things intense.
Upon reaching the entrance, he had a look.
The boxing hall's courtyard was quite large, with the ground covered in old bluestone. About ten children in matching training uniforms were practicing horse stance and punching, while some older youths were sparring in the courtyard.
Miao Cuilian was nowhere to be seen.
Under a nearby eave, there was a reclining chair, where a young girl in a black satin Chinese outfit was lying.
The girl had long crow-black hair, simply tied into a ponytail at the back of her head. Her phoenix-like eyes were accented with dark makeup, her nose resembled a jade carving, and her lips were like a dab of cinnabar, giving her an exquisite appearance that made people want to savor it with a glance.
However, at this moment, the girl held a rattan stick in her hand, and her beautiful eyes occasionally scanned the practicing children and youths nearby. From the looks of it, anyone who dared slack off or had incorrect form wouldn't escape her rattan stick's punishment.
As Li Chuan was observing the girl, she clearly noticed him too.
"Hey, the guy over there, who are you?"
Seeing Li Chuan standing at the entrance, Ma Yuanzhi turned her head and scolded him, her voice pleasant but her tone very cold.
"Oh, hello, I'm a freshman at Jiangzhou College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I heard about the Ma Family Boxing Hall's reputation, so I came to visit specially today." Li Chuan watched the girl stand up, exuding an imposing presence, and felt a bit uneasy.
The girl in front of him was full of vigor, and her aura was extraordinary. Having not been in Jiangzhou for long and not meeting many people, encountering such a girl who seemed like a young lady made him somewhat apprehensive.
"Hm? A freshman?" Ma Yuanzhi showed a disdainful sneer, "Jiangzhou College of Traditional Chinese Medicine rarely enrolls many students throughout the year. Honestly, even if you study there, you won't learn much real skill. Considering your age, it's too late for you to learn Chinese medicine now."
Li Chuan explained: "I actually have a foundation. I learned Chinese medicine from my grandfather since I was a child."
"Ha? Bragging, aren't you? Can people nowadays learn Chinese medicine from a young age?" Ma Yuanzhi thought Li Chuan was causing trouble.
Li Chuan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said: "I can tell at a glance that you have a problem; you suffer from menstrual cramps and can't get out of bed during your period!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Yuanzhi instantly became angry, grabbed the rattan stick and charged forward: "Kid! Are you here to cause trouble!"
Several nearby disciples who were sparring also gathered around, standing behind Ma Yuanzhi, looking at Li Chuan with malicious intent.
"No, I was just saying you have a condition, nothing else." Li Chuan had only intended to prove his medical skills, but didn't expect to be misunderstood, feeling quite helpless.
"You piece of crap! You're the one with a condition! How dare you say our junior sister has an illness, are you looking for a beating!" A nearby senior brother was infuriated.
Ma Yuanzhi: "..."
Actually, Li Chuan guessed right; she did have menstrual cramps, but such matters are very private, known only to her. Hearing his accent, it was obvious he wasn't local, and would not have known her condition beforehand.
So his ability to spot her ailment showed he had some real skill.
However, even so, what difference did it make?
Ma Yuanzhi coldly said: "Just because you can see it doesn't mean anything. This isn't considered a major issue. Besides, many women have this condition nowadays, and it's often impossible to cure; we just endure it."
Li Chuan smiled: "Not necessarily. I can treat this ailment easily."
Upon hearing this, Ma Yuanzhi was initially stunned, then laughed: "Hahaha, you must be a swindler trying to sell your miracle drugs, right?"
Li Chuan hurriedly shook his head: "I'm not. To treat this condition, no medicine is needed, just acupuncture on specific points can cure it!"
Ma Yuanzhi's face darkened: "Acupuncture? Massage? You're trying to take advantage of me, aren't you?"
"You scoundrel, didn't expect you to be so filthy! Get out quickly, or don't blame us for being impolite!" Nearby junior brothers were incensed at the thought of Li Chuan offering to massage their junior sister.
"Lazy toad wants to eat swan meat; do you think you can touch our junior sister?"
"Exactly, I think this guy's bones are itching, he wants a beating!"
Even the usually easygoing Li Chuan, upon hearing these words, got angry: "Not only have I been learning Chinese medicine since childhood, but I've also studied medical ethics. If you don't believe me, fine, but why insult me?"
"Moreover, Miao Cuilian belongs here, right? I cured her illness yesterday, which should be enough to prove my words!"
"What? You cured the master's wife's illness?"
"I did hear the master's wife say her condition was cured by a young man using acupuncture, could it be him?"
"But the master's wife and the grandmaster's wife went out today, so no one can verify anything?"
A group of young disciples chatted away.
Ma Yuanzhi seemed somewhat impatient at this point. She shook her head and said: "Fine, whether my mom was cured by you or not, don't think you can take advantage of me; I don't need anyone to acupuncture me!"
Li Chuan hadn't come here to see patients, and seeing the conversation veering further away, he awkwardly stated: "Actually, I came today to apprentice."
"What? You want to apprentice?" Hearing this, Ma Yuanzhi displayed a mocking expression, "At your age, you want to practice martial arts? You should know, as someone studying Chinese medicine, that it's already too late to produce any significant results at your age. Practicing martial arts isn't a joke! Let's go; our boxing hall only accepts those under twelve."
Then, Ma Yuanzhi suddenly added: "Wait, if you really want to apprentice, it's not impossible, but there's a condition."
Li Chuan was taken aback upon hearing this; he sensed this woman might have some ulterior motive.