Chapter 128 - 113: Earth Qi
This was just how people thought back then.
The concept of matching social status in marriage was deeply ingrained.
However, Fang Yue had no intention of correcting them or challenging traditional ideas.
Anyway, with Ms. Chen on this path, he could delay things for a while longer.
Ms. Chen didn’t know anyone in Xiahe County Town. It wouldn’t be easy for her to find him a suitable match of equal social standing there.
’At least I’ll have some peace and quiet for a while.’
While Ms. Chen was busy cooking, Fang Yue drove the carriage into the backyard and moved the Silver Melons into the cellar.
It was too much silver; it wasn’t wise to let his parents know.
After all, there were complications involved. If word got out, it would needlessly attract trouble.
Neither the Wei Family in town nor the unknown force behind that pedantic Scholar were people to be trifled with.
After safely stowing away the Silver Melons, Fang Yue went to the main house in the central courtyard.
As soon as he entered, he saw his father playing with his older brother’s son, Little Tie Dan.
Little Tie Dan had sharp eyes, however. He spotted Fang Yue first and immediately struggled to get down from his grandfather’s arms.
"Shu Su... hold..."
"Zhi’Er, I look after Little Tie Dan every day, slaving away for him, yet he seems closer to you than to me," Father Fang said, his tone a little sour.
He had painstakingly raised this grandson since he was a baby.
But in his grandson’s eyes, he was somehow less dear than the young uncle who only held him occasionally.
Fang Yue laughed heartily. He didn’t argue, simply reaching out and taking Little Tie Dan into his arms.
"Hey, Little Tie Dan, good boy. Come see what this is."
As he spoke, as if by magic, he produced a malt sugar figurine, tore open its paper wrapping, and handed it to Little Tie Dan.
He had bought it in Xiahe County Town. Since he had to bring it back, he had even specially bought paper to wrap the candy.
In fact, the paper wrapping cost far more than the candy itself.
"Candy, candy, candy~"
Little Tie Dan was still too young and couldn’t speak very well.
In truth, he was already doing much better than other children his age in the village.
Many village children his age still couldn’t speak at all.
Poor nutrition inevitably led to poor development.
It was just like when he and his older brother Fang Cheng were young; they hadn’t started talking properly until they were two or three years old.
This was why, in his memories of ancient times from his past life, many wealthy and land-owning families had so many child prodigies. It was the same principle.
It was the same in this world.
Take Martial Dao aptitude and Talent, for example. If a person came from a good family, received enough nutrition, and didn’t excessively drain their potential, they would have the Talent to practice martial arts.
It was hard to say if he could reach the level of Martial Scholar, but at this rate, passing the exam to become a Martial Scholar was still a possibility.
Soon, Ms. Chen had lunch ready.
Today, in addition to the usual dishes, Ms. Chen had also prepared Assistant Minister Tofu, which was a famous dish.
The tofu skin was removed from both sides, and each block was cut into eight small pieces and air-dried. It was then seared in hot lard with a sprinkle of salt... paired with large dried shrimp... and brought to a boil with autumn soy sauce to create a delicious dish.
"Mother, this is so authentic. It’s even better than what the master chefs in the county town make," Fang Yue praised.
Few chefs in the county town knew how to make this dish; after all, it was a dish from Fang Yue’s memories.
"Nonsense. I know my own skill level. Zhi’Er, don’t flatter me. As long as you don’t find my cooking terrible, that’s good enough."
A smile hung on Ms. Chen’s face. Watching her Zhi’Er eat always put her in a much better mood.
Not long after, lunch was over.
Fang Yue returned to his own courtyard on the west side.
He circulated his Qi and blood slightly, and the feeling of a full stomach quickly dissipated.
A Martial Artist’s digestive ability was extremely strong. Driven by Qi and blood, the energy required to break down food was ten, or even dozens of times, that of an ordinary person.
Even though Fang Yue deliberately controlled himself, most of the dishes at every meal still ended up in his stomach.
Of course, Ms. Chen always cooked large amounts of food, so there was no need to worry about waste.
’I’ll try again this time. Maybe I’ll succeed.’
Entering his room, Fang Yue took out the Earth Elemental Stones he had acquired.
Although they were smaller than the previous one, three of them should be worth at least two of the old one.
After finishing his preparations, Fang Yue began to circulate the Qi and blood in his body.
His Qi and blood roared, beginning to surge through his body.
As it surged, his bones, scoured by the Qi and blood,
let out a series of CRACKING sounds, as if someone was hammering them.
As time passed, the circulation of his Qi and blood grew faster and faster.
At the same time, under the influence of his surging Qi and blood, faint wisps of a strange power from the Earth Elemental Stone in his hand were slowly absorbed into Fang Yue’s body.
A quarter of an hour later, Fang Yue sensed that the Earth Elemental Stone in his hand was no longer emitting any power. He took a proper look, and sure enough, the Elemental Stone was now depleted.
Sensing his body’s condition, Fang Yue immediately took out another Earth Elemental Stone and began the same process.
「Half an hour later.」
Fang Yue slowly opened his eyes. Even though his mind had relaxed, the Qi and blood in his body were still circulating slowly.
’Hm? Something seems to have changed.’
After completing his practice this time, Fang Yue sensed that a certain change had occurred within his body. Besides his Qi Blood Power, there seemed to be a new kind of power.
This power was not compatible with his Qi and blood and traveled along different pathways. Although it was just a subtle wisp, almost impossible to sense and capture,
it definitely existed.
The path this Qi flowed through was also the same as the one described in the Earth Element True Skill manual.
’Could this be the Earth Qi? And is Qi Sensing the act of sensing this Qi?’
Fang Yue carefully sensed this Qi in his body. He felt that as it circulated, his body’s vitality seemed to increase.
This increase in vitality gave Fang Yue the feeling that he could live for a few more days.
However, because this strand of Qi was too weak, he didn’t know if his perception was accurate.
’Perhaps it’s just an illusion.’
’According to the True Skill manual, once you have the first wisp of Qi, cultivation can proceed step-by-step: Refining Essence and Qi, generating both Qi and blood, Taking Pills, and transforming the body into an Earth Body.’
Fang Yue considered it briefly. The cultivation process wasn’t difficult; in fact, it was somewhat similar to the current cultivation methods of the Four Martial Arts Gates.
The only thing was, this Secret Manual didn’t include the formulas for the required Secret Medicine.
And with his status as a Martial Scholar, he couldn’t buy Secret Medicine at the Qi Sensing level right now.
Secret Medicine of this level could only be exchanged for or purchased in a Prefecture City, and it also required one to hold an official government position.
’Indeed, with such methods, the Great Wei Dynasty has managed to gather almost all high-level combatants under the imperial court’s system!’
Fang Yue sighed softly.
The Great Wei Dynasty’s methods of rule were crude, frequently raising taxes and conscripting labor.
He had heard of many refugees fleeing their homes, but he had rarely heard of anyone daring to rebel.
It was likely because of this. Without high-level combatants, any Rebel Army could be easily crushed.
That was why even after several hundred years, the Great Wei Dynasty was still at its peak.
But none of that was Fang Yue’s business. He just needed to get stronger, live a better life, and protect his family along the way.
~~~~~~
「Three days later, at night.」
Fang Yue gazed at the Bright Moon in the sky and took a light sip of tea.
’Right now, I wonder if that pedantic Scholar and the Wei Family have started fighting yet?’
Fang Yue had taken the silver, so naturally, he had to eliminate any future trouble.
However, he wasn’t prepared to get his own hands dirty. Instead, he had arranged for someone to tell Wei He that the pedantic Scholar had disguised himself as Shopkeeper Qi.
’Knowing Wei He’s temperament, he would definitely investigate the matter thoroughly.’
~~~~~~
In the fourth residence of the old alley by the Jade River.
A tall, thin man in black clothes carefully looked around. Only after confirming that no one was there did he leap into the courtyard.
"You say you don’t know? How could you possibly not know? Where did all that silver go?"
Soon, the sounds of angry curses and the CRACK of a whip striking a body echoed from the room.
「Half an hour later.」
The tall, thin man in black walked out of the room, his gaze gloomy. ’Taken by an unemployed youth? Who is he? How was he faster than me?’
’Could it be the same person who plotted against me? Could it be someone else from the organization?’
The pedantic Scholar mulled it over, and a murderous aura gradually filled his eyes.
The only ones who could have known his identity and betrayed him were the other members of his organization.