Ping’an Square
Chen Mu vaulted over the wall and jumped into the westernmost courtyard.
He changed out of his black clothes and mask.
Sitting at the square table, he slowly sipped a bowl of cool boiled water, calming his thumping heart.
“Luckily, luckily…” he almost killed someone tonight!
“It’s all because of this malicious world,” Chen Mu thought bitterly.
He, who had been a socially anxious shut-in in his previous life, now dared to poison and attempt murder?!
“I just want to live an honest life and practice Martial Arts in peace and stability,” Chen Mu felt somewhat wronged.
“I still need to act low-key. Keeping a steady hand in everything is always right.”
Just a Second Rank painting skill attracted so much malice in succession.
If he exposed his ability to learn Shape Cultivation Technique so quickly, it might bring even more trouble.
“I mustn’t let anyone detect my Martial Arts Practice,” Chen Mu became even more cautious.
…
Half a month later
Chen Family at Ping’an Square.
A serving of cold mixed vegetables, a serving of crystal pork knuckles, and a serving of brown rice.
This was Chen Mu’s lunch.
Picking up a piece of crystal pork knuckle and chewing it slowly, Chen Mu showed a satisfied smile.
“An unexpected delight.”
Just recently, Chen Mu discovered a new skill on the gray wall—cooking.
He felt a tangible change not long after it was listed.
Previously, when eating meat, he would just boil it in plain water.
It was edible, but in terms of flavor, he could only say it tasted salty.
Now, he truly understood what deliciousness meant.
With this skill in hand, Chen Mu, of course, would not shortchange himself.
Taking out recipes he had heard of or seen in his past life, he began experimentally cooking.
The crystal pork knuckle was one of his trials.
“Looks like I’ll be enjoying good food from now on.”
…
After the meal, having cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks, Chen Mu sat at the square table, drinking sour plum soup to help with digestion.
He had been a painter at the Wonderful Painting Workshop for half a month.
The most obvious change was that his brush money had increased. It doubled, with each portrait earning at least twenty Silver Coins.
But the number of portraits had decreased accordingly.
Previously, in half a month, he would have to paint three or four portraits. But now, he had only completed two in total.
Yet, the pursuit of his artwork by clients had risen instead.
“Ancient version of hunger marketing?”
The Wonderful Painting Workshop certainly had the capacity, no wonder it occupied half of Qingshan County’s painting and calligraphy industry.
“Apart from mandatory labor for the County Government Office, I can earn from eighty to a hundred Silver Coins a month.”
This was enough to support his current expenses.
Well-fed and content, Chen Mu changed into a gray and white long robe.
This was the standard attire for impoverished scholars at the moment, attracting no attention on the street.
For this, he had specially taken the time to observe the dressing habits of the general population in Qingshan County.
“I want to dress more stylishly too. But alas…”
If he dared to flaunt his wealth, thieves and robbers would visit him that very night!
Having tidied up his appearance in the reflection of the basin, Chen Mu prepared to leave the house.
Today, he was going to the County Government Office to help a Government Official and scribe draw warrants.
Chen Mu had not stopped volunteering simply because he joined the Wonderful Painting Workshop.
Helping the County Government Office draw warrants did not earn him any rewards, but it brought him intangible benefits.
At the very least, common ruffians on the street dared not cause him trouble openly.
With increased income and no disturbances, Chen Mu had been living comfortably for half a month.
If there was anything he was not satisfied with, it was probably the two burly men at the door.
Chen Mu pushed the door open, and two tall and robust men stood in front of his house like door-guarding deities.
These were the bodyguards arranged for him by the Wonderful Painting Workshop.
Chen Mu could not easily refuse. It indeed increased his safety.
But having two people following him all the time made many things inconvenient.
Like practicing the Shape Cultivation Technique or purchasing secret medicines.
“Luckily, I stockpiled a batch of herbs beforehand.”
Previously engrossed in his practice, he had bought a lot of herbs in one go. There was just enough still to make do.
“The day of running out will eventually come.”
“I need to find a way to purchase herbs without the two of them noticing,” Chen Mu pondered secretly.
…
Half a month later, Chen Mu was sprinting around the courtyard at a speed comparable to a hundred-meter dash, with almost no sound from his footsteps.
A quarter of an hour later, Chen Mu stopped running and took a deep breath to steady his slightly rapid breathing.
Writing: 1342/10000/Second Rank;
Drawing: 1079/10000/Second Rank;
Throwing: 2598/10000/Second Rank;
Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique: 7231/10000/First Rank;
Cooking: 1326/10000/First Rank;
A month had passed, and the proficiency of Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique had increased by more than two thousand.
Compared to last month, it was eight or nine hundred less.
“This is the downside of joining the Miao Hua Workshop,” Chen Mu said helplessly as he looked toward the door.
Outside the door stood two burly men, and every time he practiced, he had to be extremely careful.
For this reason, he had even specially modified the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique to reduce the noise generated by his sprinting.
Now that he could run in complete silence, it was an unexpected bonus.
But because he didn’t dare to fully engage in the practice, it definitely affected the process of improving proficiency.
“I’m out of secret medicine too. The subsequent results will be even worse.”
To prevent discovery, Chen Mu didn’t mind slowing down the rate of improving proficiency.
But if there were no secret medicines, the effects would immediately halve, and that was something he couldn’t accept.
“I must find a way to purchase the medicinal ingredients.”
Suddenly, there were voices outside the door.
Chen Mu walked over to open it.
“Young Master Chen, where should I put the stuff?” A man in his forties with dark features stood at the door, inquiring.
He wore patched clothing and had calloused hands, indicating he was a laborer accustomed to hard work.
At the moment, he turned slightly, revealing a large bamboo basket on his back filled with more than ten pounds of fresh meat.
“Old Li, please help me carry it into the room,” Chen Mu said with a smile.
This man was a porter from the Xue Family’s East Market cargo depot.
After placing the fresh meat properly, Chen Mu handed Old Li ten copper coins.
“Thank you, Young Master,” Old Li said with a smile as he accepted them.
“I heard last time that your cargo depot’s runners are also ranked?” Chen Mu asked.
“Right, I’m just a straw sandal. Above me are bronze shoes and iron shoes, and even gold boots and silver boots. Young Master Chen is…” Old Li looked at Chen Mu, puzzled.
“I want to hire a silver boot, go back and tell your boss. Have him arrange for someone to come and negotiate with me tonight,” Chen Mu whispered.
He had already found out that the Xue Family’s cargo station specialized in armed escort and courier services.
The highest rank was the gold boots, with the best secrecy. They even participated in escorting the County Government Office’s tax silver.
But the gold boots operated as a team, deploying more than ten people at a time.
The silver boots were next, also offering a high level of security and confidentiality. And they could be hired individually or in groups.
He planned to have the Xue Family’s cargo station help him purchase the Shape Cultivation secret medicine.
“Alright! Rest assured!” Old Li was immediately overjoyed.
Just by passing on this message to his boss, if a contract were signed, he would also receive a lucrative commission.
“Have someone come at night; I don’t want too many people to know about this matter,” Chen Mu instructed.
“Sure thing, you can count on me,” Old Li hastily assured in a low voice.
After sending off Old Li, Chen Mu closed the door and processed the fresh meat.
“Having the cargo station buy the medicinal ingredients isn’t completely confidential, but at least it’s not me personally, it should shield me from the obvious attention,” Chen Mu couldn’t help but glance at the front door.
He didn’t want the Miao Hua Workshop to know that he could practice martial arts.
“And there’s that Captain Lu.”
The man had influence in the area, and if Chen Mu tried to buy the medicine himself, he might be discovered.
If Captain Lu found out, then so would Teacher Sheng Hong.
The latter was accustomed to earning silver coins by baiting people with the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique.
Having practiced the Shape Cultivation Technique after only one visit, the other party might not be content.
Being discontented, he might create obstacles for him.
Chen Mu was willing to spend money to avoid potential trouble.
“No one knows I practice martial arts; it’s perfect as a trump card,” Chen Mu thought gleefully.
“I can also shift my practice time to the evening.”
At night, the two bodyguards at the door would leave, and he could practice to his heart’s content.
“Then no one will know that I practice Shape Cultivation!” Chen Mu thought with glee.
He washed the fresh pork belly, cut it into cubes, then rubbed and marinated it with salt and spices.
Afterward, he cooked the meat until it was seventy percent done using a spice blend he had just mastered, then deep-fried it in vegetable oil.
This series of actions greatly extended the fresh meat’s preservation time and enhanced its flavor.
After all the work was done, the sky was already darkening.
He took two cubes of the cooked meat to the two guards at the door and, amidst their grateful thanks, sent them away ahead of time.
Chen Mu then made a cold vegetable salad and boiled a basin of white wheat porridge, sat down at the square table, and began eating the freshly cooked pork cubes, waiting for the Xue Family’s cargo depot to send someone.