Chapter Seventy-Nine: Schemes and Discoveries

“This is perfectly normal. Your stance training has only just reached a minor level of proficiency, and you haven’t been practicing for long, so your reserves of inner strength may even be less than other apprentices’. Naturally, you can’t complete a full cycle of the Medicine King’s Locking Force technique. There’s no need to rush—these things can’t be hurried. Go on now. Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to practice the blade. From now on, you can come here every morning to train. If you grow tired, rest in the room next door—I’ll have someone prepare it for you.”

Manager Su waved him off, speaking with an air of casual indifference. Internally, however, he breathed a sigh of relief.

At least he isn’t too much of a monster. Accumulating inner strength takes time. At best, Chen Yushu has only been training for half a month—even with extraordinary talent, how much could he have amassed? Unlike those wealthy young men, who take medicinal tonics thrice daily and build up an unshakable foundation.

“Huh? What about my chores downstairs?” Chen Yushu was taken aback.

“Chores? You don’t need to do chores anymore. Remember, you are now my disciple. From now on, your only responsibility is to focus on your martial training. The other apprentices can handle the rest.” Su Ming snorted, his face full of pride.

“Yes! Thank you, Master!” Chen Yushu responded with delight, answering loudly.

Indeed, stance training must be continued. Even at a minor level, it allows me to gather inner strength, but the force is still too weak and thin—I can’t even complete a single cycle of the Medicine King’s Locking Force technique.

Chen Yushu recognized his shortcoming—he lacked sufficient inner strength. That is the key to external martial arts; muscles, flesh, skin, and bone all require constant tempering by force to become truly powerful. Training in the Medicine King’s Stance is like building the foundation—strengthening the inner force. The more solid the foundation, the more force can be gathered at once, and the better the body forging will be.

The Locking Force technique can’t be practiced yet, but the Eight Steps Pursuing the Cicada footwork has no such limitation. This movement technique consists of eight steps, each with its own unique breathing rhythm. When combined with the flow of vital energy, force bursts forth—

Chen Yushu quickly recalled the contents of the manual he had just read. The instructions were clear in his mind. He controlled his breathing and movements, urging his blood and qi, and took a step forward.

Like a bird taking flight, he leaped five feet in an instant.

“One step, five feet. Eight steps in total: that’s forty feet, or four zhang. No wonder it’s named Eight Steps Pursuing the Cicada. An ordinary leap covers only three zhang—this technique can quickly close the distance.”

Chen Yushu’s eyes brightened. Although this technique also consumed inner strength, it was far less demanding than the Locking Force technique. He continued to practice, taking the second step, the third—

Before long, he completed all eight steps. His feet moved swiftly across the open ground, agile as a leopard, flashing past in an instant.

He had mastered the basics of Eight Steps Pursuing the Cicada!

Soon after, Chen Yushu saw the words “Eight Steps Pursuing the Cicada—Entry Level” appear on his attribute panel.

“As expected, I’ve mastered the basics. And so quickly, too—less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.”

A faint smile appeared on Chen Yushu’s face.

Of course, he understood that the real reason he could learn this martial art so quickly was because his scholarly attainment had reached the state of “clarity of mind.”

Clarity of mind—enlightenment with a single thought. It doesn’t mean becoming a sage or a Buddha; rather, it means that whatever he sets his mind to, he learns quickly and achieves it with ease.

“Since ancient times, it’s said that reading brings wisdom and insight. I once thought it a legend, but now I see there’s truth in it.” Chen Yushu sighed inwardly, more than ever appreciating the benefits of reading.

Unfortunately, in the medicine shop, he had run out of new books to read. To further his scholarly attainment, he could only peruse those “old books,” which would bring only slow progress.

“So, I must find a new place where I can read in abundance. Not just for martial arts, but also to continue the Yin Practitioner’s legacy.”

As he pondered this, an idea struck him and his eyes lit up.

Afterward, Chen Yushu devoted himself to practicing Eight Steps Pursuing the Cicada. Although he had reached the entry level, mastery of any martial art requires persistent practice and deeper understanding before it can be truly used in combat. At the entry level, he would have little advantage over other martial artists of the same rank.

That afternoon, for the first time, Chen Yushu finished work early and bought a tea cake at a teahouse. Soon, he arrived at a small courtyard by the river and knocked on the door.

“Excuse me, is Mr. Chen at home?”

“Who is it?” A middle-aged scholar soon appeared.

“Oh, it’s you. How are you settling in?” This man was Chen Yushu’s landlord, Chen Shi. He seemed surprised to see Yushu, but quickly opened the gate and invited him in.

“It’s been fine,” Chen Yushu replied with understatement. If not for the corpse-raiser next door, it would have been perfect. He handed over the tea cake and continued, “I came for two reasons. First, to thank you for renting me the house at such a reasonable price. Second, I have a favor to ask.”

“Oh? What is it? Is it about the rent?” Chen Shi asked hurriedly, hesitant to accept the tea cake.

“I must thank you again, Mr. Chen. When I rented your house, there were quite a few books left behind. I’ve always been fond of reading, and seeing those books every day makes me feel my own learning is lacking. So, I hoped you might introduce me to someone at Ningjing Academy, so I could read and broaden my knowledge there.”

That was the inspiration he’d just had—a new place to read in abundance.

Ningjing Academy was the only academy in Jianghuan Town. Its headmaster was a successful candidate in the imperial exams, and among the teachers were many scholars. Merchants often donated books, so the library was well-stocked. If he could read freely there, his scholarly attainment would advance quickly.

“Ah, I’d promised to move those books out, but got busy and forgot. Didn’t expect you’d take an interest—what a happy accident,” Chen Shi said, then paused thoughtfully. “But you want to study at the academy? That might be challenging. Admission requires both a recommendation and at least the status of a student. I can recommend you, but…”

“You misunderstand, Mr. Chen. I’m not asking to enroll as a student. I still work at the Liu family’s medicine shop—attending classes isn’t convenient.”

“I just hope you might help me find a way to access the library, so I can borrow and read books freely,” Chen Yushu explained quickly.

It was only possible because he’d become Su’s disciple and no longer had to work all day—otherwise, he wouldn’t even consider it.

“If it’s just for reading…” Chen Shi pondered as he accepted the tea cake. “I do know a teacher at Ningjing Academy; we passed the provincial exams together. I can ask him on your behalf, but it’ll likely cost some silver—there’s no precedent for this, and the academy’s library isn’t open to just anyone.”

“You can rest assured, Uncle Chen. I understand these things. As long as I can read and learn, I’m willing to pay the price,” Chen Yushu promised earnestly.

“If it weren’t for your sincere desire to study and your ambition as a young man… I’ll speak to my friend, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“I understand, Uncle Chen. I won’t make things difficult for you,” Chen Yushu replied, subtly passing a piece of silver from his sleeve.

Chen Shi felt the weight—ten taels at least. His smile widened, and he muttered that he really ought to handle this matter well.

After bidding Chen Shi farewell, Chen Yushu felt a surge of anticipation.

The importance of scholarly attainment was beyond question. His rapid progress in both Yin practices and martial arts was all thanks to the advancement of his scholarly state. Each level represented a transformation—it was, in a way, his unique form of talent. He was more than willing to invest some silver for it.

“What’s this? Why does it seem like there are so many strangers in town lately?” As Chen Yushu walked down the street, he noticed several armed men with swords at their waists and frowned.

They were unfamiliar faces. It wasn’t that he knew everyone in town, but their clothes and bearing were completely out of place.

He discreetly activated his Spirit Eye technique. At a glance, he saw that most of these people had robust, vigorous auras—several were on par with Steward Zhou.

Steward Zhou’s strength was considerable, at the level of inner refinement, second only to the manager at the medicine shop. Yet here, there were several of that caliber.

Wait—those few are practitioners of the trade! Two have the power of a single incense stick, and two more are at the level of two sticks.

Chen Yushu’s heart jolted. Having paid close attention to these matters, he knew that in Jianghuan Town, true practitioners were few and far between—usually only one per two or three villages, and most were barely competent, with few reaching the level of a single incense stick. Even Uncle Zhong from Beijiao Village was rated poorly by Wu Hong.

According to Wu Hong, there were barely a dozen true practitioners in all of Jianghuan Town, most holding posts at the Yin Office. Of course, he knew that wasn’t entirely accurate—after all, there was a corpse-raiser hiding next door.

But now, seeing four practitioners before him—two of them at least as strong as Wu Hong—he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Could it be that something major is about to happen in Jianghuan Town?