Ping’an Square, Chen Mu’s home.
“A couple of paupers,” Chen Mu said disappointedly, fiddling with a few silver pieces.
The gifts in return from those two were far worse than Master Yan’s!
Fortunately, his portrait painting business was thriving recently, and he was not short of this bit of money.
The two riff-raffs had broken legs and would not think of troubling him for at least half a year.
Packing away the silver pieces, Chen Mu headed to the west side of the courtyard.
Under the thatched canopy, there was a small pile of broken stones.
He had collected them specifically for practicing the Flying Locust Stone.
Whoosh… Bang!
Whoosh… Bang!
A series of low whistles and explosions rose in the courtyard.
An hour later, Chen Mu, rubbing his sore arms, stopped practicing.
“I can’t practice at home anymore,” Chen Mu frowned and stared at the pitted mud wall. He was afraid of smashing the wall to pieces.
With a thought, he summoned the grey wall.
Writing: 1132/10000/Second Rank;
Drawing: 569/10000/Second Rank;
Throwing: 1331/10000/Second Rank;
He had trained the Flying Locust Stone to Second Rank, and its power was gradually emerging.
Within ten meters, it had a hundred percent accuracy rate, and the impact force was also incredibly strong, even comparable to small-caliber firearms from his previous life.
It was precisely by the power of the Flying Locust Stone that he had managed to break the legs of the two hooligans in a few blows.
“And this is only Second Rank…” Chen Mu remarked with anticipation.
After resting for a while, Chen Mu continued to ponder the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique.
According to Sheng Hong’s introduction, the Shape Cultivation Technique was a secret technique that could rejuvenate one’s body.
As one practiced deeper, they could gradually break the limits of the human body, obtaining strength, speed, reaction, and other abilities beyond the reach of ordinary people.
It was also the reason why Head Constable Lu could travel five or six meters in one step.
The Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique focused on increasing speed.
The difficulty lay in the Breathing Method. It had a whole set of requirements for breathing.
Sixty breaths were considered one cycle, each breath with specific requirements for depth and pace.
Moreover, the beginning and end of each breath should connect, forming a cycle.
Chen Mu needed to change his breathing habits, keeping himself always within this cycle.
Then he had to correctly coordinate the various postures of the Shape Cultivation Technique; only then would he truly have entered the door.
These days, he had been working hard to change his breathing habits. Now he had largely ensured his breathing did not become disordered.
Today was the perfect time to test the coordination with the Soaring Leap Technique.
Chen Mu was completely focused, running and maneuvering around the yard strictly according to the steps taught by Sheng Hong.
At one moment, his breathing and overall motion suddenly produced a certain connection.
His entire being was like releasing the clutch of a vehicle, power and movement had hooked up.
The force throughout his body instantly became fluid.
Once the movement stopped, Chen Mu immediately summoned the grey wall.
Writing: 1132/10000/Second Rank;
Drawing: 569/10000/Second Rank;
Throwing: 1372/10000/Second Rank;
Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique: 3/10000/First Rank;
“Finally made it onto the list.”
…
West Market, Bao’an Hall.
A small pharmacy tucked away in a little alley.
Usually, the people who come here for medical treatment and medicines are ordinary civilians.
Chen Mu, wearing a grey-white long gown and stepping on the green brick path, passed through the narrow alley akin to a thin line of sky and entered this unassuming pharmacy.
A quarter of an hour later, he left quickly with a package of medicinal materials.
Then he went to several other small pharmacies and bought some different medicinal materials before hurrying back home.
Having entered the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation, he needed to take the corresponding secret medicine.
Buying the medicines separately was also to avoid the pharmacies from sensing something amiss.
After weighing the ingredients according to the prescription, he dumped them all into a clay pot to start decocting.
“There must be a knack to this, but for now, this is the only way,” Chen Mu sighed.
Eating meat and taking medicine to train, as long as he was at home, Chen Mu kept doing these few things.
It might seem monotonous and boring to most people, but he actually enjoyed it a bit.
It’s just that every few days, he had to go out to paint portraits for people.
This was currently the only source of income, which must not be cut off.
Of course, occasionally he would also go to the County Government Office to help draw wanted posters.
This was a previous promise to Officer Du of the county.
Although he wasn’t paid for this work, it wasn’t without its benefits.
At least there was no trouble from the hooligans on the streets anymore.
…
Time slowly passed, and half a month later.
Chen Mu walked out of his home, ready to go to the East Market to buy meat.
Chen Mu’s rigorous training consumed a lot of energy. He needed two pounds of meat per meal, otherwise, he would be left feeling hungry.
To supplement his nutrition, Chen Mu planned to buy a few hens and raise some sheep, ensuring to include sheep’s milk and eggs in his diet.
He was deeply afraid that his hair might fall out from all the training.
As soon as he arrived at the East Market, he saw a crowd gathered at the crossroads.
The butcher Zheng Tu was leaning against the street corner, enjoying the bustle.
“Why are so many people gathered?” Chen Mu approached Zheng Tu and asked.
“Remember the Wang family’s annihilation? They caught the culprit. Today they will behead him,” said Zheng Tu, his jowls quivering with excitement.
Hearing this, Chen Mu stood on tiptoe to look.
In the center of the crossroads was a circular stone platform, about three to four meters in diameter.
A prisoner dressed in convict garb was kneeling on the platform, his feet shackled with iron chains, his hands bound behind his back, and his head covered with a black cloth bag.
The area around the stone platform was crowded with government officials and catchpoles.
To the north of the intersection stood a gray cloth tent, underneath which three officials dressed in official attire sat nonchalantly.
The man in the middle was a forty-something-year-old with a square face and slightly dark skin; he wore an impassive expression—it was the Magistrate of Qingshan County.
Officer Du, entrusted with the safety and peace of the region, was seated on his left-hand side.
On the other side was an elderly man in his fifties or sixties, with graying whiskers — Chen Mu guessed he was likely the County Magistrate’s Assistant.
Zheng Tu whispered, “That gangster was also formidable; capturing him left Captain Lu heavily injured.”
To have injured Captain Lu?
It seemed he, too, must have been a strong man who practiced the Shape Cultivation Technique!
Suddenly, there was a commotion among the crowd, and Chen Mu turned his head to look, just in time to see the hood being removed from the thief’s head.
Staring at that face, Chen Mu’s heart skipped a beat.
The man looked exactly like the drawing on the wanted poster.
But he was clear that the wanted poster was drawn by Master Yan, and it was still four or five points removed from the thief’s real appearance.
“This fellow isn’t the real perpetrator of the household slaughter!”
“Was it a case of mistaken identity? Or did the County Government Office find a scapegoat?”
No time to think anymore, must hurry on!
“Cut ten pounds of meat for me, half loin, half streaky pork. I’ll go buy some white wheat first and will come back later to pick it up,” Chen Mu told Zheng Tu, leaving before he could reply.
He had barely walked a few steps when a clamor rose behind him. Chen Mu paused for a moment, then strode away quickly.
…
In the Anle Square within the East Market, the Ruyi Residence’s private room was filled with seven or eight people drinking and chatting.
A round-faced, small-eyed, plump middle-aged man sat at the head of the table.
“Recently, a highly-skilled young painter appeared in our city. They say his portraits are as lifelike as the real people. Master Yan, have you heard about him?” the middle-aged man asked with a cheerful smile to the painter beside him.
Master Yan’s heart jumped, but he maintained composure, “I’ve heard about it. Is the boss interested in his painting skills?”
The plump middle-aged man nodded, “Indeed. Bringing him into our prestigious drawing workshop could enhance our workshop’s influence.”
Master Yan appeared hesitant. “But I heard he’s got ties with the County Office; he won’t be easy to deal with,” he said.
“You’re thinking about this the wrong way, Master Yan. We can’t be heavy-handed with such talent,” the plump middle-aged man shook his head.
“Our workshop has connections; he has the skills. Working together, he gets more clients, and we enhance our influence. It’s a win-win.”
“Then I’ll give it a try,” Master Yan agreed with a nod.
“Much appreciated, Master Yan,” the plump middle-aged man said, satisfied.
Which led to another round of toasting and cheers.
After the meal, Master Yan, all smiles, parted ways with everyone.
He left Ruyi Residence with two muscular followers in tow.
Not far outside, his smile gradually turned ice-cold.
“I didn’t expect that kid to make a name for himself!” Master Yan cursed inwardly.
“Zhang Qing and Li Fan, two useless louts! If they had dealt with him earlier, none of this would have happened!” Master Yan felt threatened.
“Once that kid enters the prestigious drawing workshop, my position will be in jeopardy,” Master Yan frowned, lost in thought.
“No, I must get rid of that kid!” Master Yan glanced back at his two sturdy followers.
“They have connections with the prestigious drawing workshop, so they can’t be used,” Master Yan thought to himself.
“It seems I have no choice but to take a trip to the Ghost Market. Another expense. Damn that kid!” Master Yan’s face turned iron blue as he hastened away.