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1.85% I am grinding experience in another world / Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Shape Cultivation Technique

Bab 12: Chapter 12 Shape Cultivation Technique

Qingshan County had been at peace for many years.

The annihilation of the Wang family was a major incident, casting a malign shadow.

For months, the topic had been the talk of every street corner and alley.

It was under these circumstances that Chen Mu became known to all.

They knew he possessed exquisite painting skills, able to create portraits indistinguishable from the real person. His talent was exploited by thieves who attempted to create illusions and wreak havoc with disguises.

Then his business mysteriously began to thrive.

It was as if it had all been arranged.

Every few days, someone would come to his door asking him to paint a portrait.

Well, to paint a memorial portrait…

Chen Mu suffered yet reveled in this.

Initially, he had set out to paint for pretty young ladies.

But now, instead, it was either old men or old women!

And they demanded that he make them look more attractive.

He could only go against his conscience and paint them younger, akin to ancient "Photoshopping".

His business flourished more and more, yet the beautiful young ladies seemed farther and farther away.

Counting the more than one hundred taels of silver in his pottery jar, Chen Mu felt both satisfaction and regret.

They might not be easy on the eyes, but these old men and women were indeed wealthy!

Generous with their money, not a single one spent less than ten taels of silver.

No wonder Old Mr. Yan wanted to suppress him.

High-end portrait painting was truly profitable!

"It's time to find a place to learn Martial Arts," Chen Mu thought to himself.

He had never forgotten the image of Head Constable Lu covering five or six meters in a single step.

He had also not neglected the Wang family massacre.

Whether it was out of personal interest or for self-protection, learning Martial Arts was imperative.

...

He first spent three days wandering the martial arts schools in the eastern and western markets.

The conclusion he reached was mixed with both joy and concern.

The schools indeed taught Martial Arts. After two or three years of training, he could keep three to five people at bay.

But such skills would definitely not be enough to contend with Head Constable Lu.

To put it specifically, what those schools offered was like going to a modern gym to build muscles and learn boxing.

What Head Constable Lu practiced was like the Inner Strength from martial arts novels, capable of astonishing feats.

"Seems like I'll have to ask Head Constable Lu," Chen Mu pondered.

The highest-ranking person for whom he had painted was indeed the father of the Prefect of Qingshan County.

He had also promised to paint a portrait for the relatives of the Commandant's family in a couple of days.

This connection, albeit slight, had a good chance of compelling Head Constable Lu to tell him the truth.

He didn't intend to learn the Lu family's signature Martial Arts.

He just wanted some guidance.

From among the many martial arts schools in Qingshan County, he hoped to find a reputable teacher who could teach him real Martial Arts.

...

"Young Master Chen wants to learn Martial Arts?" Head Constable Lu looked at Chen Mu with surprise.

He was aware of how Chen Mu's paintings were all the rage amongst the elder crowd.

With such a prosperous endeavor, why would he consider undergoing the hardships of learning Martial Arts?

"Mainly for self-protection," Chen Mu said truthfully.

Head Constable Lu understood, remembering the scene when he had first invited Chen Mu to the County Government Office.

Had he not intervened, Chen Mu would have surely been extorted and robbed by those two ruffians.

"There are martial arts schools in both the eastern and western markets. Young Master Chen can find one with a good reputation to study for a year or so, which should suffice for self-protection," Head Constable Lu suggested.

Chen Mu chuckled, "I want to learn something genuine."

Head Constable Lu realized, "It seems Young Master Chen is interested in learning the Shape Cultivation Technique."

The Shape Cultivation Technique? What is that? Whatever it is, nodding seems right!

After a moment's hesitation, Head Constable Lu said, "School masters are indeed practitioners of Shape Cultivation Techniques, but they do not impart such knowledge to those who are not direct disciples. If Young Master Chen wishes to learn Shape Cultivation Techniques, seeking training at a martial arts school would be a waste of time."

Chen Mu nodded vehemently.

That's why he had thought to seek out Head Constable Lu, to see if there was a way to learn genuine Martial Arts immediately.

"I do have a connection, but it will cost a bit of money," Head Constable Lu said after thinking.

"As long as it's the real deal, I'm not afraid to spend," Chen Mu replied eagerly.

"Then come with me," Head Constable Lu nodded and led Chen Mu away from the County Government Office.

Sheng Ye Square, west of the city

Following Head Constable Lu through a series of twists and turns, Chen Mu arrived outside a residential house.

"This man's surname is Sheng, with the given name Hong, originally a government official from the speedy brigade at the County Government Office; he retired due to old age later on."

"He has neither sons nor daughters and doesn't care about his martial arts being passed on to others. As long as you can afford to pay, he will teach."

"The big clans in the city also paid him to help train their Protectors."

Chen Mu instantly felt relieved.

...

"Is it him who wants to learn martial arts?" Sheng Hong looked at Chen Mu critically, "Let's make it clear, I'm only responsible for teaching. Whether you can learn it or not, I don't care."

Chen Mu was stunned.

This person couldn't be trying to swindle money, could he?

"That's the rule here." Sheng Hong said expressionlessly.

Chen Mu turned his head to look at Captain Lu. Seeing the latter nod, Chen Mu suddenly felt somewhat at a loss.

"Still learning?" Sheng Hong asked indifferently.

Chen Mu thought for a long while and then clenched his teeth, "Learn!"

"Come with a hundred taels of silver tomorrow. I'll only teach for seven days." Sheng Hong finished speaking and gestured to send the guest away.

Chen Mu's face instantly turned ugly.

A hundred taels of silver to teach for seven days, taking responsibility only for teaching and not for learning—the determination he had just made was unavoidably starting to waver.

...

"The martial arts I teach is called the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique, which is incredibly fast. Once mastered, one could run faster than a sprinting horse." Sheng Hong introduced his own martial arts calmly, obviously not the first time he had done this.

"The Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique mainly includes three methods: Dive, Sprint, and Soaring Leap, along with a Breathing Method and Secret Medicine."

"I will teach you all of it within seven days. Whether or not you learn it, depends on your own fate."

Chen Mu could only obediently nod his head.

In the afternoon, when he left Sheng Hong's house, his mind was full of various steps and moves, along with a complex Breathing Method that was making his head spin.

All these things were just the Soaring Leap Method of the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation. There were still the Sprint and Dive Methods to come.

To master it in seven days? Chen Mu felt frustrated just thinking about it.

Could he have been swindled?!

For six consecutive days, Chen Mu left early and returned late, fully immersing himself in the pit of Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique, diligently learning and practicing with Sheng Hong.

Today was the seventh day, also the last day.

"I've told you everything about the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique. On this last day, ask if there's anything you don't understand. If you can't remember or practice incorrectly, don't blame me." Sheng Hong sat in the shade of the trees, leisurely drinking tea.

Anything I don't understand?

I don't understand any of it, okay?!

To have a martial arts newcomer like him learn an entire system of magical martial arts in six days was a dream, right?!

But there was no other way, the money had been paid, what else could he do?

He could only start from the beginning, consulting bit by bit, asking Sheng Hong to demonstrate personally.

He didn't hold out hope of learning it all; he just wanted to remember a bit more, to go back and practice the moves he could recall until he mastered them.

At dusk, Chen Mu left Sheng Hong's house with a face full of annoyance.

This hundred taels of silver was a huge loss!

After studying hard for seven days, he watched the show, but didn't gain the entry to even one technique!

...

At Sheng Hong's house, Sheng Hong casually threw a small cloth bag to Captain Lu.

"Here's your fifty taels, take it."

Captain Lu naturally stuffed it into the inner pocket of his sleeve, "Are you sure he will come again?"

"I told him every part of the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique without any omission. Which martial arts school in Qingshan County could teach like this?"

"If he truly wishes to learn, he will definitely come again." Sheng Hong was full of confidence.

"This scholar is adept at painting and is capable of earning money. You need to manage the pace well, don't let this money tree slip away," Captain Lu instructed.

"Shape Cultivation is not so easy to master. He can't escape from the palm of my hand." Sheng Hong said lightly. He was not a first-time teacher and knew very well how to guide his students.

As long as he gave them a glimpse of the key points each time, letting them see a bit of progress, they would become unable to stop and more addicted to the practice.

In the end, they would pour their entire wealth into his pocket.

This was not his first time doing this.

He glanced at Captain Lu and said, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten your share."

Captain Lu was immediately satisfied and nodded.

Seeing Chen Mu earning a hefty amount of silver without any effort had long made him envious.

He had originally intended to find a way to lure the other party into a gambling addiction.

But unexpectedly, the other party wanted to learn the Shape Cultivation Technique.

This fitted perfectly into their trap.

And it could hardly be called a trap.

Paying money to learn martial arts, it was a deal where both parties were willing, and no one could find fault with it.

Just honestly handing over the money!


Bab 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.


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