Chapter 59: Three Months |
Chen Qing got up, pushed open the door and walked to the well in the courtyard, drawing up a bucket of cool water to wash up.
Amid the splashing water sounds, Lady Han came walking in from outside the courtyard carrying a vegetable basket, "Ah Qing, two groups of people came this morning, both saying they were delivering things for you."
As she spoke, she took out a heavy package and a small white porcelain bottle from the basket, "Here, this package was delivered by the Cheng family's steward, and this small porcelain bottle, well, the person who delivered it said he was Jiang Yang's junior brother."
"Oh?"
Chen Qing was slightly surprised, took the items, and turned back into the house.
Unwrapping the package, inside was a thick stack of silver notes totaling three hundred taels, with twenty plump and full blood qi pills neatly arranged beside them.
Chen Qing understood immediately, this was the Cheng family's generous thanks for his life-risking efforts yesterday.
After all, while the Cheng family's kindness to him was real, such favors would eventually be exhausted one day.
From now on, the Cheng family would certainly value him even more.
"This Jiang Yang is indeed a clever man."
Looking at the porcelain bottle in his hand, Chen Qing immediately understood Jiang Yang's intentions.
He carefully stored away the silver notes, while the blood qi pills needed to be examined before they could be safely consumed.
After organizing everything, Chen Qing left the house and went to Zhou's courtyard.
"Good morning, Senior Brother Chen!"
"Senior Brother Chen!"
Along the way, the disciples he encountered all greeted him warmly, their tones carrying more sincere closeness than usual.
Chen Qing nodded in acknowledgment and walked toward his position.
"Senior Brother Chen!"
Song Yufeng quickly approached, lowering his voice, his face full of admiration, "Your boxing match at Goddess Temple Dock yesterday has spread throughout the entire courtyard! That Tian Yaozong was known as a tough character, but you actually knocked him down..."
He looked Chen Qing up and down with concern, "You didn't injure your bones, did you?"
Chen Qing replied in a calm tone, "It's nothing, just minor injuries."
No wonder the brothers in the courtyard were so enthusiastic toward him.
All of this was because Chen Qing had stepped forward to help the Cheng family yesterday.
Who wouldn't hope to have someone who would stand shoulder to shoulder without hesitation and sacrifice everything for them in life-or-death moments?
"That's good, that's good."
Song Yufeng breathed a sigh of relief, then looked around and lowered his voice even more, "However, Senior Brother, something big also happened in the courtyard yesterday! People from the Zhu family... came to visit Master, and it caused quite a commotion."
"The Zhu family!?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing's heart stirred as he asked, "What did the Zhu family people want with Master?"
The Zhu family was the foremost of Gaolin County's five major wealthy clans, with deep foundations. It was rumored that even the county magistrate had intricate connections with them.
Recently, they had been widely recruiting retainers, enjoying unparalleled prominence.
Song Yufeng shook his head, looking confused, "I'm not sure about the details. I was practicing boxing at the time and only heard a 'bang' sound of table-slapping from Master's room, quite loud. Later, the Zhu family people left, and Master's expression... didn't look good."
Chen Qing frowned slightly.
This pool of water that was Gaolin County had originally maintained a delicate balance under the Colonel's Office.
Now that the Colonel was severely injured, the scales had already tipped.
The recent purge of the Colonel's faction was an act of partisan elimination. The Zhu family's visit, could it be that they wanted to recruit Master into their fold, and the conflict arose from Master's unwillingness?
Forget it, thinking about it wouldn't lead to understanding.
After pondering for a moment, he temporarily set aside his doubts and asked instead, "How about you? How's your training going?"
Song Yufeng took a deep breath, fighting spirit igniting in his eyes, "My qi and blood are sufficient! In just these few days, I'll attempt my first breakthrough!"
Chen Qing patted his shoulder, "Good! Stay calm and give it your all."
"Thank you, Senior Brother! I won't disappoint your expectations!" Song Yufeng clenched his fist tightly.
…
Days flowed by like water.
Chen Qing practiced Through-arm Stance Work at Zhou's courtyard during the day and arduously trained Toad Fishing Force at home in the evenings.
Before he knew it, three months had passed, and time had reached early winter.
With the New Year approaching, Zhou's courtyard situation improved slightly, some new disciples joined while many old disciples also left.
Even Qi Wenhan, an old disciple, packed his belongings and departed, reportedly recruited by Liu Xiaolou to join the Li family together.
The courtyard became increasingly desolate.
However, Chen Qing's progress never stagnated, especially with the "Toad Fishing Force," which after arduous cultivation, finally reached the second level.
[Fate Pattern: Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]
[Through-arm Stance Work: Great Achievement (1615/2000)]
[Through-arm Boxing: Great Achievement (1501/2000)]
[Swift Wind Blade Technique: Great Achievement (214/1000)]
[Toad Fishing Force: Great Achievement (171/500)]
For Chen Qing, everything was just a matter of following the proper sequence. Cultivating to transforming strength was merely a question of time.
The Toad Fishing Force had three levels total, with perfection being the third level.
The cold wind was bitter, and disciples in the courtyard added layers of clothing against the cold.
Chen Qing stood steady as a rock upon the wooden post, white mist forming like silk ribbons with each breath.
"Big news! Enormous news!"
A disciple rushed into the courtyard like a whirlwind, shouting breathlessly, "Pine Breeze Martial Hall! Gao Sheng! He... he's attempting to break through to transforming strength!"
Whoosh!
The entire Zhou's courtyard erupted like boiling water! All disciples' faces instantly filled with shock and disbelief!
Transforming strength!
That was the martial arts peak they could only look up to but never reach. Once successful, it would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, instantly becoming an honored guest courted by all major factions, with lifelong wealth and glory within easy reach.
"That Gao Sheng from Pine Breeze Martial Hall? He... he actually has such talent? How long has it been since the martial examination!"
"My heavens! If he succeeds, wouldn't Pine Breeze Martial Hall have three transforming strength masters?"
"Can he succeed? I heard the transforming strength barrier is extremely dangerous. Many geniuses have fallen attempting it, and there are plenty who only succeed after three or four attempts..."
Whispered discussions spread like a tide, with disciples exchanging glances, their worried expressions impossible to hide.
Pine Breeze Martial Hall harbored deep grudges with Zhou's courtyard, Qin Lie had fallen at Gao Sheng's hands.
If this person truly broke through to transforming strength, for Zhou's courtyard disciples, it would be like having a sharp sword hanging over their heads.
Sun Shun silently continued his post training, but his movements were somewhat heavier than usual.
Zhou Yu frowned tightly, her expression grave.
Zheng Ziqiao forced a few laughs with his followers, but the envy and jealousy in his eyes were hard to conceal. Soon he lost interest in conversation, appearing somewhat distracted.
Luo Qian quickly called the messenger disciple over, quietly instructing him to gather more information.
"Transforming strength..."
Upon the wooden post, Chen Qing slowly exhaled a long stream of white breath.
He was also not far from that threshold.
The entire afternoon, Zhou's courtyard was shrouded in a suppressive and anxious atmosphere.
Not until the sun moved west did the intelligence-gathering disciple return panting, his face bearing a strange expression of relief, "There's news! Gao Sheng... his attempt to breakthrough to transforming strength failed!"
Whoosh!
As if an invisible boulder had been removed, sounds of suppressed sighs of relief rang out throughout the courtyard.
Gao Sheng's failure was undoubtedly temporary good news for Zhou's courtyard disciples.
However, this brief relief was fleeting, and deeper worries crept into everyone's hearts.
The first breakthrough attempt had little hope to begin with. With this experience accumulated, what about the next time, or the time after that?
Perhaps one of those attempts would let him succeed?
Sun Shun's expression was somewhat melancholic, "Transforming strength isn't so easy to achieve."
He had previously attempted his third breakthrough but ultimately failed, and injured his qi and blood, resulting in two months of being unable to practice martial arts.
Not just Sun Shun, the other hidden strength disciples also wore complex expressions.
Their greater worry was about their own futures.
When even Gao Sheng, whose talent surpassed Qin Lie's, had failed to break through, did they still have a chance?
