You're Suited to Studying

Chu Qing hummed a little tune as he went to the general store and bought some malt sugar on credit.

At first, the owner refused to extend him credit.

Only after Chu Qing invoked his status as a member of the Mantis Martial Arts Hall's Assault Class did the deal go through.

Outside the city:

A pile of malt sugar bought him three to four hundred toads.

After arranging a time with the children for tomorrow, he returned to the Martial Hall with light steps. In exchange for twenty toads, he had the servants process the rest.

While the servants handled the toads, Chu Qing took a stroll around the training grounds.

To his surprise:

Shi Tiezhu was practicing his fists with great vigor.

He darted and shifted, his fists whistling through the air as his moves flowed smoothly.

"He's Initiated."

With his Perfection Level Mantis Fist, Chu Qing's insight was far keener than before.

"Under normal circumstances, he should only have Initiated tomorrow, or even the day after."

"Why did he suddenly Initiate now?"

At that moment, Shi Tiezhu spotted Chu Qing, and his expression changed slightly.

Remembering what Chu Qing had said at noon, panic rose in his heart.

Shi Tiezhu rushed before Chu Qing in several strides and growled:

"I won't help you cook toads anymore."

Chu Qing feigned ignorance. "Why not?"

Because you urged me to slaughter nobles and Fortified Village Disciples, to commit a heinous act of defying Heaven and reason.

But Shi Tiezhu did not dare say those words.

"I... I've Initiated."

"In the future, I'll definitely enter the Martial Academy. I'm no longer someone on your level."

"From now on... don't come looking for me."

Chu Qing laughed inwardly.

A youth was still a youth. His face was full of alarm, without the slightest trace of pride.

Are you afraid I'll bewitch you into killing your masters?

He put on an act and said mournfully, "Since that's the case... I'll be going."

After taking two steps, he turned back and said:

"Shi Tiezhu... I actually know how to make spicy boiled toads now too."

"I only wanted you to eat more meat, so you could speed up your cultivation, that's all."

"From now on... take care."

With that, he turned and left.

Watching Chu Qing's retreating back, Shi Tiezhu felt that the Linen-clad Youth was utterly downcast.

His heart softened. He caught up and said in a low voice:

"Martial Academy slots are limited... Don't waste your time practicing martial arts. Learning to read and write is your way out."

Chu Qing... walked away into the distance.

Shi Tiezhu sighed to himself. "The slots have already been decided. If you aren't a dog, you can't enter the Martial Academy."

"But I... really don't want to be a dog."

Croak!

Croak!

Shi Tiezhu felt that tonight's toads were even more clamorous.

After parting from Chu Qing at noon, he had pondered it for a long time and somehow came to feel that Chu Qing's words made sense.

Then, he signed an agreement with Zhao Hongxiu.

After Zhao Hongxiu gave him a secret medicine to swallow, he easily Initiated.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shi Tiezhu practiced in one breath until deep into the night, his right arm numb and burning hot.

"Within three to five days, I'll definitely cultivate a major tendon."

"However, Senior Sister said that only by practicing Mantis Fist to the Proficient level could I make better use of the secret medicine."

He darted and shifted, his fists whistling through the air.

"One dose of secret medicine has such tremendous effects."

"If I get a few more doses... I'll become even stronger."

"When a dog grows strong... can it bite its master to death?"

"Chu Qing... he's inhuman. I'm about to cultivate my first Iron Sinew, while he still can't even Initiate."

"From now on... there is no from now on."

Croak!

Croak!

In a corner, Chu Qing crouched on all fours. At times, he spat out black phlegm; at others, he went to the latrine.

The Toad Skill not only did not drain stamina, but instead restored it and strengthened one's foundation.

"No matter the cost, I must raise this Toad Skill to Perfection."

Jin Family Manor:

Fatty Jin wore a helpless expression.

Madam Jin stood with her small hands on her hips, her chest rising and falling with anger as she said:

"Chu Qing isn't your godson. He's my godson."

"If you won't care for him, I will."

Fatty Jin said helplessly, "Who takes in such an old godson?"

"A godson like that can't be raised into loyalty."

Madam Jin did not believe him and sneered. "If I treat him well, he'll surely be grateful."

She told him about the letter asking for money, the cloth clothes, and the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Fatty Jin hesitated. "Since that's the case... I'll lend him some silver tomorrow."

Madam Jin was finally satisfied.

"Tell him to come by more often."

Fatty Jin nodded.

"Give him some more silver."

Fatty Jin nodded.

"Sleep in my room."

Fatty Jin... shook his head rapidly and said weakly, "Those concubines may have a chance of becoming pregnant."

"I..."

Madam Jin did not care. With a wave of her hand, she said, "Then go!"

Fatty Jin breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Madam."

Chief Subordinate Liu Jun was in a bad mood.

Because while he was drinking wine and listening to music, a Younger Brother came to report something.

"Liu Xiaogou is dead?"

"How did he die?"

Liu Xiaogou was from the same village as him.

After becoming Chief Subordinate, Liu Jun had brought many young men from his village into the Blood River Gang.

Liu Hai, a fellow villager, had died without rhyme or reason.

Liu Xiaogou, another fellow villager, had also died without rhyme or reason.

How was he supposed to explain this when he returned to the village at year's end?

"He was struck across the face with a saber. Even his facial bones were split open."

Liu Jun thought of how Liu Hai's face had been hacked apart by a flurry of blades.

"Have the brothers investigate. Find out who saw him last and where he went before he died."

"Yes."

A new day began:

Chu Qing impatiently waited outside the office where Fatty Jin worked.

When he saw Fatty Jin approaching, he hurriedly cupped his fist.

Before he could speak, Fatty Jin quickly said:

"Call me Hall Master."

Chu Qing readily complied.

"Come, sign it."

"This is fifty taels."

Chu Qing blinked. "I'd like to borrow fifty-five taels."

Fatty Jin... stiffened his face and frowned.

Chu Qing quickly said, "I want to buy something for Godmother."

Fatty Jin rewrote the promissory note. "Sixty taels."

Chu Qing...

He spent three taels of silver on rouge, four taels on a gold hairpin, and half a tael repaying the general store's debt and ordering more malt sugar.

When he brought the gifts to Madam Jin, the lady's eyes curved into crescents with delight.

"Qing'er finally has some silver, yet instead of changing clothes or buying shoes, you bought these things for me. Isn't that a little wasteful?"

Chu Qing smiled. "It isn't wasteful."

"Consider it my filial respect for Godmother."

Madam Jin smiled. "Just call me Godmother."

"Come, I'll teach you to write."

"Yes, godmother."

Near noon, Fatty Jin suddenly returned.

Seeing Madam Jin and Chu Qing bent over the same table writing, he felt somewhat displeased.

But when he saw the rouge and gold hairpin beside them, he became happy again.

Chu Qing knew how to conduct himself.

"Chu Qing... hurry up and practice. Passing into the Martial Academy is the proper path."

"Hall Master, I've already Initiated Mantis Fist."

"Now all that remains is slowly tempering my major tendons. Besides, Senior Disciple Brother said that reading and writing can help with martial practice."

Fatty Jin said, "Reading and writing consume even more energy than practicing martial arts."

"How many characters have you learned?"

Madam Jin said sweetly from the side, "He's learned five hundred characters."

Fatty Jin did not believe it.

"Chu Qing was linen-clad and barefoot. A few days ago, he didn't recognize a single character."

"How could he have learned so many in just one or two days?"

Madam Jin was astonished.

Seeing how quickly Chu Qing learned characters, she had thought he had some foundation before.

She had never expected that he had been illiterate before.

Chu Qing explained, "Senior Disciple Brother said that my talent for reading and writing is even better than my talent for martial arts."

Madam Jin sighed with feeling. "I began learning characters when I was young, and it took me a whole year to learn a thousand. You're far more capable than I was."

"Come more often whenever you have time, and learn all the characters as quickly as possible."

"Then read more books."

"Studying is the only way out. Martial artists... are crude!"

Fatty Jin's eyes shifted as he pondered inwardly:

"Chu Qing has extraordinary talent for studying and has also Initiated Mantis Fist. Even if he fails to enter the Martial Academy in the future, he'll still be capable in both letters and martial arts."

"When the time comes, having him serve as my dog would make him a good dog."