As Dai Yuan walked the street of the Brightmoon mountain city, he found his nose constantly twitching in response to the tantalizing aroma of food assailing his nose, causing his stomach to rumble and churn in hunger.
The aroma of sizzling meat and stew had been too much to resist. Following his nose, Dai Yuan had found himself standing in front of "The moon kitchen," a bustling inn near the lower market area. The building was built with black-pine wood looking sturdy and beautiful, steeping inside the aroma of sainted foods become more concentrated, his stomach now crying from eating unbearable roasted meats for over a month. Inside of the inn feels sturdy and warm, its stone floor fells comforting against the mountain chill, and its interior filled with the convivial clatter of plates and the murmur of conversation. He ordered a generous plate of roasted mountain goat, before finding a place to sit by the inn's window.
He ate slowly, listening to the ambient noise of the inn. Most of the chatter was about trade, local gossip, or the weather, but a snippet of conversation from a nearby table caught his ear. Two youths,who look barely older than seventeen years of age, were animatedly discussing something, their voices hushed but excited.
"Did you hear? Master Borin's taking on students for the new cycle at the Arena," one whispered, a short boy with hopeful eyes, and brown hairs.
"They say he can teach you to break boulders with a single strike!"
"Boulders are nothing, I want to learn the 'Iron Skin' technique!" the other boy said while flexing his muscular arm, he looked more muscular than the brown haired youth and retorted, puffing out his chest.
"Imagine using your body to, shrug and deflect a blade attack!"
"But the arena itself!" the first boy countered, ignoring the boast.
"They've got those new training dummies, the ones with the enchanted cores that can absorb impacts without breaking. And the expert guidance, of course."
Dai Yuan's fork paused halfway to his mouth. His mind churned in thoughts, the city's martial art arena for practicing martial arts with the help of an expert. His newly acquired technique felt like a burning weight in his pack.
This was exactly what he needed at the moment.
Dai yaun quickly finished his meal with renewed purpose, paid his tab, and then, as the two youths were gathering their belongings to leave, he approached their table.
"Excuse me," Dai Yuan began, his voice calm. The two boys startled, their youthful bravado momentarily faltering away under the gaze of a man clearly older and more experienced.
"ughmm sorry, I couldn't help but listen on your conversation. You mentioned a martial arts arena, with expert guidance?"
The brown haired boy, still a little flustered, nodded quickly. "Yes, sir! The Brightmoon Combat Arena. It's up near the mid area, when you walk past the main square. They have open training sessions, and masters often supervise."
Dai Yuan nodded, a genuine smile touching his lips. "It sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. Would you mind leading the way"
"I'm new to Brightmoon and would appreciate the guidance."
The two boys, flattered by his request, puffed up with pride. "Of course, sir!" the first boy exclaimed, eager to show off his knowledge of the city.
"We're heading there ourselves for some practice. We can take you."
And so, Dai Yuan found himself following the enthusiastic youths through the winding, uphill streets of Brightmoon. They chatted animatedly, asking him about his travels and marveling at the formidable Iron-Scaled Boar materials he'd brought to market. Dai Yuan, in turn, offered vague but interesting anecdotes, careful not to mention his recent 'Tiger Roar' humiliation.
The Brightmoon Combat Arena was an impressive complex. Situated on a broad, flat plateau carved into the mountainside, it was surrounded by high stone walls. A massive, arched gateway, simpler in design than the city's main entrance but equally sturdy, marked its entrance. Inside, a vast courtyard unfolded, dominated by several open-air training grounds.
One area was filled with rows of practice dummies, some simple straw figures, others more elaborate, carved from hardened wood and armored with metal plates. Another section was dedicated to weapon training, marked by targets and weapon racks.
But what caught Dai Yuan's eye was a cordoned-off section, where several figures were engaged in intense, focused training. These were the enchanted cores the boys had mentioned.
And overseeing this section was a man of imposing figure. The man has a broad-shoulder and powerful built, his age evident in the lines around his eyes and the slight grizzle in his beard, but his movements were still fluid and strong. He wore simple, practical training clothes, and his hands, like the vendor's at the market, looked like tools of destruction. This had to be Master Borin.
"That's him!" the muscular youth whispered, pointing. "Master Borin!"
Dai Yuan observed the master for a moment. Master Borin wasn't just demonstrating techniques; he was correcting stances, guiding the students through breathing exercises, and occasionally delivering powerful, resonating strikes to the enchanted pillars that echoed through the arena. The sound of his fists against the pillars echoed occasionally through the arena.
A flicker of excitement coursed through Dai Yuan. This was it.
The two youths veered off towards a less crowded section, eager to begin their own practice. Dai Yuan, however, walked directly towards the group training with Master Borin.
As he approached, one of the students, a burly man who looked like a seasoned woodsman, delivered a heavy punch to a pillar. It shuddered, but the man grunted, dissatisfied.
"No, no, Kaelen," Master Borin's voice, deep and resonant, sounded out.
"Your core strength is there, but your hip rotation is lacking. You're trying to muscle it through, not flow through the strike. Remember the principle: The earth lends you strength, the core delivers it, and the fist is but the vessel. Again!"
Dai Yuan waited patiently for a break in the instruction. When Master Borin finished his critique, he turned and noticed Dai Yuan standing there, observing with keen interest. His aged eyes, sharp and intelligent, narrowed slightly.
"Can I help you, stranger?" Master Borin asked, his voice direct.
"Master Borin?" Dai Yuan responded, offering a respectful bow.
"My name is Dai Yuan. I've recently arrived in Brightmoon and acquired a new martial art technique I wish to train. I overheard talk of your expertise and this facility. I would be grateful for the opportunity to learn under your guidance, even if just for a short while."
Master Borin's gaze lingered on Dai Yuan's hands, then his posture, assessing him with practiced eyes. "A new technique, you say? What sort?"
Dai Yuan reached into his pack and retrieved the rolled scroll, presenting it. "It's called the 'Titan Sonic Smash.' A physical striking art, focused on brute force and body mechanics, rather than spiritual Qi."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Master Borin's lips as he took the scroll, unrolling it just enough to glance at the title and a few diagrams. His eyes seemed to gleam with a knowing amusement.
"Ah, the Titan Sonic Punch. That's a classic."
He rolled the scroll back up, handing it back to Dai Yuan. "It's a good choice, young man. Straightforward, powerful, and requires honest effort."
He then looked around at his current students. "Alright, everyone, take a five-minute breather. Then we'll resume with the Iron Mountain Stance."
As the students dispersed, Master Borin turned his full attention back to Dai Yuan. "So, you wish to begin training it here, under my eye?"
"If you would be so kind, Master," Dai Yuan said, hope rising in his chest. "I'm eager to master it, and I understand the importance of proper instruction."
Borin stroked his grizzled beard. "Very well. Brightmoon Arena welcomes all who seek to improve themselves. For a daily fee of two silver pieces, you have access to the facilities and my general oversight during these sessions. If you wish for more personal, in-depth instruction, that would be a separate arrangement."
Two silver pieces a day. It was affordable, especially with his recent earnings. "That sounds more than fair, Master Borin. I'll take it."
"Good,"Master Borin said with a nod. He pointed to an empty section near an enchanted pillar. "We'll start with the foundational stances. The Titan Sonic Smash relies on a rock-solid base. Show me your most stable stance. We'll see what we have to work with."
Dai yaun felt elated as he got into stance, from the little time spent sparring with the zhou clan youth, dai though haven't learn much have a good grasp on his stance, as someone who had always been on the receiving side, acting as a punching bag to others, he had relaid on his stance to survived those had days in the zhou clan.
As dai yaun practiced under the gaze of the martial art instruct the distance sound of people discussing echoed, the evening sun ready to set it sail back home.