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2.04% I am grinding experience in another world / Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Making Friends

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Making Friends

Ping'an Square, Chen Residence.

Chen Mu stood in the middle of the courtyard.

The next moment, his figure began to sway, darting towards the door, now to the left, now to the right.

Suddenly, he stumbled, and with a thud, he fell to the ground.

Chen Mu picked himself up, rubbing his knees, grimacing in pain.

He was attempting to practice the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique.

This Leap move was best at quick changes and dodging, incorporating not just movement technique changes but also a matching set of fist techniques.

He didn't dare to hope to master the fist techniques yet; he simply wanted to get the movement technique down first.

Staggering back to the center of the courtyard, he took a moment to adjust his breathing and posture before practicing again.

He had only run out two or three steps when he suddenly gasped for air, his whole body spasmed, and he fell to the ground stiff as a board, taking a long time to get back up.

"What a waste of a hundred silver pieces, without having learned a single move!" Chen Mu's face was the picture of dejection.

A hundred silver pieces could buy only seven days of learning.

How many sets of seven days, how many sets of a hundred silver pieces would it take to learn it?

It was a money pit!

And then there was the Body Training Secret Medicine.

Sheng Hong indeed provided the prescription, but he didn't explain how to process the herbs for the best effect; for all Chen Mu knew, he might have to buy them from Sheng Hong too.

Chen Mu had realized that this was all a setup: if he wanted to learn the Shape Cultivation Technique, he would have to fall for it!

That Government Official Liu wasn't any better either.

Did he not know how difficult it was to learn the Shape Cultivation Technique, or how Sheng Hong's rules were designed to trap people?

Yet he had still recommended that Chen Mu learn martial arts.

Chen Mu began to suspect that those two were in cahoots.

No, they were definitely in cahoots!

If he wanted to learn the Shape Cultivation Technique, he would have to go to them.

The little money he had managed to save up was being siphoned off by the two of them!

Even the money he would make in the future would have to be handed over to them.

The more Chen Mu thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated he got, huffing back to his room.

As he reached a wall, he glared fiercely at a painting on the wall, examining it closely.

On a life-sized piece of paper, there were rows of little figures drawn.

The figures, wearing shorts, were depicted so vividly they almost looked like photographs, with every muscle clearly visible. There was also densely packed text beside them.

It was indeed the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique!

"How embarrassing, Sheng Hong Master's teachings were just too detailed, and the demonstration of the movements too standard. I simply couldn't help but feel compelled to draw it out," Chen Mu thought silently, "I'm sure Master Sheng Hong would understand."

"I'll just charge more when I sell the manual." Chen Mu mused, "I wonder if I can get a hundred silver pieces for it."

"Or should I sell a few more copies? That should definitely bring in more than a hundred silver pieces." Thinking this, the frustration in Chen Mu's heart finally eased a bit.

Master Sheng himself earned money by selling martial arts; by learning from him and selling manuals, I would be honoring my teacher. Even if he found out, he would surely be filled with pride and satisfaction.

Right, first gain experience, master it, then sell it!

Chen Mu, satisfied, focused his attention on the drawings.

...

Qingshan County Government Office jail.

A Government Official stood outside one of the cells.

"Today is your lucky day."

"The mastermind behind the Wang family massacre has been caught, and you can be released from prison!"

A group of ruffians in the cell immediately burst into cheers.

Once the noise died down, the Government Official came forward to open the door and led the group of prisoners out in a noisy crowd.

Zhang Qing and Li Fan were also squeezed in the crowd, laughing as they made their way out.

If Chen Mu were here, he would recognize them as the two thugs who had cornered him in the alleyway.

Once out of the County Government Office, the two slipped into a narrow alley.

The shorter Zhang Qing's smile instantly vanished from his face, replaced by a look of fury as he said, "Those damn Government Officials are beasts!"

"They took every last coin I had on me."

"I don't have any left either," said the burly Li Fan, with a grim expression on his face.

"Let it go; being able to get out is lucky enough," sighed Zhang Qing.

When the Wang family massacre happened, more than a hundred people were arrested; why were only the people from their cell released?

Because they had paid money!

The poor devils without money had to keep rotting in there.

"Boss, where do we go next? Shall we find that scholar to settle the score?" Li Fan asked.

"Of course we're going to take revenge," Zhang Qing said angrily, rubbing his sore hand.

It was because of that scholar that he had been beaten by Government Official Liu, remembered by Government Official Liu, and then thrown into jail to be tortured and punished.

"First go find old man Yan. We can't afford to lose our rice bowls."

...

Anle Square back street

Zhang Qing and Li Fan were shoved out of a large residence by two brawny men.

The two brawny men glanced at them contemptuously, casually tossing a few silver pieces their way. With a cold snort, they turned and slammed the door shut.

Zhang Qing, who had been all smiles just moments ago, suddenly turned ashen.

"Big brother, we need to find an opportunity to cripple that old dog!" Li Fan said furiously, his face twitching with anger, his eyes reddening.

"We've been running errands for him like his grandsons, and now that we've fallen out of favor, he thinks he can send us away with a few pieces of silver?"

"I can't swallow this insult!"

"Of course we're going to cripple him!" Zhang Qing's eyes were filled with ruthlessness. "Have done all his dirty work for two years, getting rid of him will be easy!"

"It's just a pity that the Hungry Tiger Gang is gone. We need to quickly find a new gang to rely on, otherwise we'll have to endure the humiliation we did today." Zhang Qing forcefully suppressed his anger.

"This time, we can't end up with another short-lived ghost gang like the Hungry Tiger Gang." Li Fan said helplessly.

The small gangs in Qingshan County changed so quickly.

Today they rise, tomorrow they vanish; they had been mixing it up on the streets since they were little scoundrels, and the Hungry Tiger Gang was already the third gang they had been a part of.

"No rush, let's make some money first. Without money, we can't even join a big gang." Zhang Qing had come to see Master Yan this time hoping for a payout to pave the way for joining a new gang.

Who would have thought that the old man would be so stingy? He dismissed them with just a few silver coins: "This account will be settled slowly, in the future."

"Let's go see that scholar to collect a debt. That scholar's portrait drawing is incredible, even old Yan Dog couldn't help but want to cripple him. That means his paintings are valuable; we have been locked up for so long, he must have made a good sum of money."

"I know where his house is." Li Fan's eyes lit up.

Touching the scars on his body, Zhang Qing's face was dark with menace: "Let's go!"

A frail scholar had almost crippled his hand—an intolerable humiliation!

"This time, let's see who can save him."

"Don't worry, big brother, I'll break his limbs for you." Li Fan laughed heartily, as if he could see the shiny silver calling out to him.

Woo...

A low, howling sound suddenly rose.

Thwack!

Blood spattered.

The brawny Li Fan turned pale and fell to the ground with a thud.

His left calf had been struck by something, blood gushing profusely.

He tried to reach out to cover the wound.

Woo...

The howling resumed.

The spot that had been hit was struck again with force.

Crack!

Bits of white bone, along with mottled blood, splattered into the air.

AAH...

Li Fan screamed miserably.

His left calf bone was inexplicably broken, the bloody white bone protruding through his skin.

Zhang Qing's face changed dramatically: "Hero spare... Aaah!"

Woo...

Crack!

Zhang Qing's right calf bone abruptly fractured, exposing jagged white bone.

Bang, bang!

Two clumps of soil almost simultaneously hit the necks of the two men.

Amidst their screams, like ducks being strangled, they fell unconscious.

Chen Mu emerged from a shadowy corner of the street, his face a complex mix of emotions as he looked at the two ruffians.

"People's hearts have turned evil."

Out of respect for Master Yan, Chen Mu made a point to make a round near Master Yan's house every day.

No ulterior motive; he just wanted to find an opportunity to talk to him alone and bring a significant gift or something of the sort.

After a pleasant private conversation last time, Chen Mu wanted to talk to him again.

He didn't expect to encounter these two.

In the spirit of 'no fight, no friendship,' Chen Mu initially wanted to have a chat with the brothers.

After all, he still had to mix in Qingshan County. If they got along, perhaps they could turn enemies into friends and explore more business opportunities.

Of course, it wasn't good to come empty-handed for a first meeting.

Fortunately, there were a few well-shaped rocks on the ground, which would be great to collect, so he picked them up and silently followed...

"It's a shame that people are so sinister." Chen Mu sighed, feeling regretful.

"I intended to make friends with you, yet you plotted against me in secret. It's truly said, 'I turned to the bright moon, but alas...'" Sighing, Chen Mu silently reached into the other's sleeve pocket.


Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Introduction

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.


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