Chapter Twelve: Becoming an Apprentice

  Mùtóu walked over, looking at these four people who had fought with him a while ago.

  After sizing him up and down, Mu asked a question.

  "Apprentice?"

  "Yes, we have come in good faith to ask Uncle to teach us his skills."

  "Go away, my old man won't accept you all. Look at how thin and weak you are. Practicing martial arts requires a lot of hardship. Can you endure it?"

  "Alright, alright, we've made up our minds and are determined to learn some real skills. In the future, we'll be able to defend our homes and country."

  Yuankui and the others deeply knew that this was their only chance and they must seize it. Otherwise, they would definitely regret it later.

  "Yes, yes. Don't look at our current physical condition, but we are very sincere. Please also consider it, grandfather. We have been through thick and thin with each other, that's what they call 'not fighting is not acquaintance'."

  Speaking of the four people, the one who is most worried is Er Gou. He was very anxious and quickly explained on the side.

  The wooden man looked at several people with disdain.

  "Leave now and from this day on, do not mention to anyone that our family knows martial arts. Otherwise, it will bring you unimaginable consequences." He said as he chased them out.

  This guy doesn't know if he's just being stubborn or really holding a grudge against them. He didn't give them any face and didn't even let them speak again.

  "Hey, Wooden Brother, we've all met before anyway. Right? Besides, guests are always welcome, you can't chase us away. Today, the four of us aren't leaving yet."

  When it comes to being reckless and unscrupulous, no one dares to compare with Yuan Hua.

  Yuán Hào looked at Da Gou and Er Gou, exchanged a glance with Big Fool, then sat down on the stone steps by the door.

  In rural areas, these are very particular, and generally speaking, it is impolite to sit at someone else's door without a reason. Either they come to collect debts or to stir up trouble. In short, nothing good comes out of it.

  Yuankui did all this on purpose. Knowing that they would be considered a big family anyway, face was very important, and it would be difficult for them to get off the tiger's back, so it wouldn't be good to drive them away again.

  "You guys, hurry up and get up. What's going on here? Let the neighbors see it, they'll think we've done something to you." Mu Tou was anxious, facing Yuan Hua and the four bad boys, he had no good solution.

  It's even more impossible to throw them out one by one. After all, this is not the Amun's home, but just on the stone steps.

  "Come on, big dog, second dog, big fool, let's eat sugar." Yuan Huan had plenty of patience and wooden grinding.

  The wood is almost furious, these people's faces are so thick, they said they wouldn't accept them, but still linger and won't leave.

  "If you don't leave now, don't blame me for being rude!" Mu Tou said as he stepped forward, lifting Yuan Huan up with one hand.

  Yuan Hao knew it, his purpose had been achieved, he successfully enraged Mu Tou.

  He put on an air of nonchalance, meaning: Go ahead and throw me far away, I'll cry to deceive you. Let's see how you wrap things up later.

  "What's wrong with you? Are you afraid now? I'm just sitting at the door, doing nothing, is this also bothering you?"

  Yuankui constantly picked on Mutou with his words, causing his emotions to erupt completely.

  At this time, Mu Tie seemed to be holding a hot yam, and he couldn't bear to throw it away or put it down. So they just stood there in a stalemate.

  "What's wrong? Can't move? Unbelievable, you were so fierce that day. Didn't eat something bad today, did you?"

  Mu Tie thoroughly enraged Yuan Hua. The veins on his hand bulged, he let out a loud roar and threw Yuan Hua out. I was shocked, he threw Yuan Hua out for five or six meters.

  Yuan Hua fell to the ground with a thud like a broken sack, stirring up a cloud of dust.

  "Hao Ge, are you okay?" Da Sha and the others hurriedly ran over and helped Yuan Hao up.

  Yuán Huǎng woke up, spat out a mouthful of blood, and took a deep breath.

  "I'm fine, but they won't take us in if we don't pay them now! Haha!"

  Dai Sha saw Yuan Hao spit out a mouthful of blood and immediately got angry.

  In three strides he reached the wooden figure's side, pointing at her and saying: "You, how dare you injure Brother Hua! Today I'll duel with you!"

  Talking big, Da Shuai made a gesture and prepared to have a fierce battle with Mu Tou.

  "Big fool, you're no match for him, we'll help you." Big Dog and Second Dog also came to the scene, standing alongside Big Fool, ready to take on Wooden Head.

  Yuán Hào had originally used the tactics of Jiāng Fǎ and Kǔ Ròu Jì, now that they've made a move, it's all evened out, wanting to learn from him will be even more difficult.

  "You three come back, since they don't want to take us in, let's leave."

  The big dog and the second dog were both very stupid, and they hesitated for a long time, not wanting to go back. However, they also knew that if things really went wrong, there would be no hope at all.

  Three people slowly walked towards Yuan Hao.

  The four of them packed up their things and were just about to leave.

  Suddenly, Old Man Mu asked, "You few stinky kids, wait a minute!"

  The old man stood by, saying nothing, observing these four children, and weighing things in his mind.

  This little guy in the lead, with a full and plump face, firm eyes, extraordinary temperament, although wearing very ordinary clothes, can't hide the domineering aura on his body, if cultivated well, he may become a great figure in the future.

  One of the two brothers following behind, with a sharp gaze and an unusual skeleton, was obviously suitable for practicing external family kung fu.

  That last big guy, although tall and thin like a bamboo pole, but his whole body exudes a kind of primitive explosive power, and my family's wooden head has a match ah, as long as he is willing to work hard, I believe that after a long time, he will also have some achievements.

  Mu Tie saw that these guys didn't leave, and it wasn't good to hurry them away either. Since they were guests, and being a martial artist himself, he had a broad mind, so he moved out several stools from the house for them to sit on.

  Old Man Mu said, "Do you guys really want to learn this skill?" After finishing speaking, he didn't even lift his head and continued weaving the bamboo basket in his hands.

  "Yes, yes, Grandpa Mu, we are very sincere. We didn't know what you like to eat, so we just bought a few bottles of white wine and some peanuts. This morning, we went to the river and caught a few big fish to pay our respects to you." Yuan Huan was a clever child and knew that his father had been secretly observing them earlier, so he said this in a flattering tone and gave the big dog a signal. The big dog understood and quickly brought out the prepared things, placing them together in front of Grandpa Mu.

  All of this naturally didn't escape Old Man Mu's eyes. He thought to himself, these children are going to be the death of me, they're so young but so cunning, they'll definitely make something of themselves in the future.

  "Learning martial arts is also possible, but you guys have to agree with me on three conditions. After I finish saying them, you consider it, if you agree, then starting from tomorrow, you come over, if not, pack up your things and get out of here."

  "You said you said, don't mention three conditions, even thirty or three hundred we will agree."

  "Alright, listen up. Firstly, you must not mention your martial arts training to anyone, including your parents. Secondly, start by doing chores such as fetching water, chopping firewood, feeding the pigs, and sweeping the courtyard. Only after three years can you begin learning real martial arts. However, it may not take that long, depending on your performance. Lastly, I am not your master, neither now nor in the future, and you are not my disciples. Can you abide by these three rules?"

  "These... Four little kids, you look at me, I look at you, don't quite understand, what kind of conditions are these? Especially the first and third ones, they're simply not conditions at all. Where's a master who doesn't acknowledge his own disciples? Where's a master who doesn't hope to pass on what he's learned? What a weird person."

  "Grandfather Wood, we can agree to your condition, but can we know why?" Yuan Huan asked.

  "Agree then agree, what's the point of talking to me? Don't want to learn then get out, scram!"

  Yu Hao and the others listened, and it seemed they understood why Mu Tong was afraid of his father. It turned out that this temper was inherited from his grandfather. He changed his mind as soon as he spoke, and his face changed faster than a book page turn.

  "Alright, we promise you, from now on we'll call you Grandpa, is that okay?"

  "Whatever you guys like."

  "Grandpa Wood." The four children shouted in unison.

  "Uh-huh."

  "Starting from tomorrow, you few will follow Mu Tong to fetch water, cook, chop firewood and sweep the yard. Don't sneak around asking Mu Tong to teach you martial arts, got it?"

  "Uh-huh, noted."

  "Right, Master Mu, since you're teaching us martial arts, we should pay tuition too. It's not much, just a few hundred yuan that we've saved from our pocket money. Consider it a token of respect for you." Yuan Huan handed over a package wrapped in a red handkerchief to Old Man Mu.

  "You few little rascals think I'm after your money, huh? Put the money away and give it to me again. You few get out of here!"

  "This..." Yuan Hao also didn't know what to do, and his hand hadn't withdrawn yet.

  "What's all this, hurry up and put it away, don't you know that wealth shouldn't be shown off? You few little devils, carrying hundreds of dollars around, aren't you afraid someone will take a liking to you? Remember, this is the first lesson I've taught you: don't show off your wealth, always be on guard against others, and never harbor malicious intentions. Got it? All five of you?"

  "Ah, we've got it." The five children replied in unison.

  At this time, a sturdy man in his 40s, about 180cm tall, with a robust build and a square face, wearing a short jacket, blue pants, and cloth shoes, walked in from outside the door. His muscles were all over his body, and the veins on his arms bulged out one by one, clearly a seasoned hunter. He had a hunting spear slung over his shoulder, with several game birds hanging behind him.

  Who's that? That's Wooden Dad, also known as the dad in Wooden's mouth who makes him carry firewood and water, and occasionally gives him a taste of 'domestic violence'.

  "Dad, you're back! How was your harvest today?"

  "Dad, who are these kids and what are they doing here?" Wooden Dad didn't answer Wooden, but instead asked Old Wooden a question.

  "These few kids are friends of the wooden ones, from now on they will do some household chores for me. You keep a close eye on them, don't think they're small but each one is cunning. Wait, you bring that thing to my room and I have something to say to you."

  "Ah, I'll be right back." Mu Lao Ye understood what was going on.

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