Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 45: Gao’s Training

Gao's gaze never once fell upon the women in the group, as if they were invisible to him. It was a puzzling disregard that stirred questions among the female disciples. CiXin, who had been a diligent student under Fengwen, radiated palpable displeasure. Beside Wuyi, one of the young men shifted his weight. In an instant, Gao was before him.

"Restless, are we? Impatient with the wisdom of an elder?"

"Just a cramp in my leg, Master," the young man replied, unwisely.

With a swift backhand, Gao struck him, jolting his head to the side. "Silence. Stand still or leave. Your lack of stamina already reveals your unsuitability for the path of cultivation. Yet, our lord deems you worthy to be here, so I shall endeavor to instruct you."

An internal sigh was released by Wuyi as he witnessed the interaction. When Gao admonished the young man, his eyes were locked onto Wuyi, as if blaming him for the other's restlessness. A wave of aversion towards Gao surged within him. Wuyi had endured physical reprimands from Huo during his martial training and even from Chao during lessons on pressure points and disabling techniques.

Boluo had smacked him plenty of times. But never had he seen a man strike a student with such evident satisfaction. He forced himself to maintain a neutral expression, knowing that looking away would be interpreted as inattentiveness.

Seemingly content, Gao resumed his discourse. "To cultivate, you must first master yourselves. Physical asceticism is the key. Tomorrow, arrive before dawn. No shoes, no socks. Your heads must be bare, and your bodies immaculately clean."

Gao urged them to emulate his dietary habits. "Avoid meat, sugary fruits, and spiced dishes. No dairy. Stick to simple foods—grains and boiled root vegetables. Drink only clear water." His voice was stern as he warned against "worldly" desires, which he defined as cravings for food, sleep, or warmth.

"A separate dining area will be arranged for you, free from idle chatter or intrusive questions," he added, his tone tinged with menace.

After telling them his ascetic rules that they needed to follow from tomorrow, he led them through a series of Qi exercises. "Close your eyes. Visualize the Qi energy circulating around you. Try to see it, feel its movement. Now, stand on one leg, eyes still closed. Find your balance, both physical and spiritual.

Expel all unworthy thoughts. Achieve this, and you could maintain this posture indefinitely."

As they stood in meditative postures, eyes closed, Gao moved among them. The rustle of his whip was the only sound that betrayed his movements. "Focus!" he would snap, or "At least make an effort!" Wuyi felt the touch of his whip on his skin four times that day. It was a light touch, but unsettling nonetheless.

The last time, the whip's edge grazed his shoulder and coiled around his neck, its tip catching his chin. He winced but maintained his balance on one leg, eyes still closed. As Gao walked away, Wuyi felt a drop of warm blood form on his chin.

Gao kept them until the sun was a mere sliver on the horizon, and the evening winds began to stir. They had not been excused for food or water the entire day. As they filed past him, his face wore a grim smile. Only when the door closed behind them did they feel free to stagger down the staircase.

Wuyi's stomach growled with hunger, his hands suffering first from the cold in the morning and then heat from the afternoon. Wuyi would have cursed this desert weather, but his mouth was parched. The others seemed equally drained. Xianmei, who usually assisted Mistress Jizao with weaving, looked particularly pale.

As they descended, CiXin whispered, "If only he had acknowledged us, it wouldn't have been so unbearable." Both glanced back nervously, as if fearing Gao might have heard them.

Dinner was a subdued event. They were served a simple rice congee, steamed buns, water, and boiled radishes. Gao, abstaining from food, observed them as they ate. There was no conversation; they barely looked at each other. Wuyi left the table feeling almost as hungry as when he had arrived.

The next day, Wuyi arrived to find others already in place, their faces illuminated by the flickering torchlight. As he stepped onto the tower, Gao, carrying the whip, lashed his back. The sting was sharper than he'd expected, and he couldn't help but cry out. "Stand like a man and master yourself," Gao admonished, striking him again with the whip.

The others looked as weary and shocked as Wuyi felt. He still didn't know why, but he took his place silently, facing Gao.

"Arrive late, and you shall bear the consequences," Gao warned them. The words seemed harsh, but kids considered it as part of the ancient wisdom that guided the path of cultivation. To avoid the sting of Gao's whip the next day, one had to arrive early enough to witness its descent upon a fellow disciple.

Another day of hardship and seemingly arbitrary discipline followed. Yet, Gao constantly emphasized the importance of proving their worth, of becoming resilient and powerful. In the mornings, he turned the biting cold and the numbing sensation in their feet against the frozen earth into a badge of honor.

Similarly, in the afternoon, he expected them not to feel anything, the burning hot sensation in their feet against the hot floor below their feet. "Defy my expectations," he would say repeatedly. "Show me that you are deserving of my teachings, so I may present to the Lord at least one disciple worthy of this sacred path." And so, they strived.

It was peculiar to reflect on how quickly Gao managed to separate them from their former selves, immersing them in a realm where conventional norms and etiquette no longer applied.

They stood in the courtyard, eyes shut, dressed in minimal attire, as he walked among them. With each step, he dispensed both physical and verbal reprimands, occasionally pushing or shoving—a sensation amplified by hot and cold weather, this made them very vulnerable.