Eating Chicken Claws, Practicing Eagle Claw

Technique: Eagle Claw Technique not Initiated—practice ten times daily, Initiated in Ten Suns.

Promotion Condition: 1: Eat ten chicken claws

Eagle Claw Technique seemed to be about the same level as Mantis Fist.

He had seen an Eagle Claw Technique manual in the Black Market; the vendor had asked for fifty taels.

But there was no guarantee it was genuine.

"Chief Constable Shi is quite the miser too."

"I dug through haunted houses and ruined temples and gave him several hundred taels of silver altogether."

"In the end, he only gave me a fifty-tael Eagle Claw Technique."

"This man... isn't someone I can befriend deeply."

"But he's still useful for now."

"Once I'm admitted to the Martial Academy... whatever he swallowed from me, he'll have to spit it back out double."

As he pondered, he headed straight for Jin Family Manor.

Inside the prison:

Zhao Wuji, Zhao Hongxiu, and the others were released.

Although they had been detained for several days, because of their status, they had lived fairly well in prison.

But they had remained on tenterhooks.

Zhao Hongxiu, Senior Disciple Brother, and the other youths looked dispirited.

Constable Li soothed them for a while and explained Chief Constable Shi's punishment.

Zhao Wuji and the other hall masters let out a breath.

Each family had to build a residence. It would hurt them to the bone, but everyone was safe.

That was fortunate enough.

They repeatedly thanked Constable Li.

Constable Li had accepted a great deal of silver from Chu Qing, so it was not appropriate for him to claim the credit; besides, other constables were present. Thus, he did not conceal Chu Qing's role.

"You should thank Chu Qing. If not for him, even if you didn't die, you would have been stripped of a layer of skin."

Chu Qing?

Everyone was bewildered.

Only Zhao Hongxiu said thoughtfully, "Chu Qing from our Assault Class?"

Constable Li nodded.

"Chu Qing, the barefoot common-clothed fellow from a street ruffian background?"

Constable Li nodded.

Zhao Wuji and the others looked utterly aghast.

How could a barefoot man in plain clothes, born a street ruffian, decide their fate?

It was unbelievable.

Iron Hand, Iron Thread Fist, and the hall master of Red Snake Martial Arts Hall exchanged glances, then each cupped a fist toward Zhao Wuji.

"Brother Zhao, Immortal Fate Tower tonight, our treat. Please ask Brother Chu to honor us with his presence. He must attend."

Zhao Wuji... was still dumbfounded.

When Chu Qing arrived at Jin Family Manor, Xiao Taohong was chattering away beside Madam Jin's ear.

"His home had four walls and nothing else. Even the door planks were plastered with yellow mud."

"When I went inside, there was only one bed and a broken water vat."

"There wasn't even an extra piece of coarse clothing in the house."

Madam Jin said thoughtfully, "Qing'er is poor, but every time he comes here, he is neat and clean, and his clothes don't smell."

"He loves studying and is clever. In the future... even if he cannot soar into the heavens in a single bound, he'll still have better prospects than that pack of martial men."

"Later, I must take him to buy a set of brocade clothes."

As they spoke, Chu Qing arrived.

"Godmother!"

"Qing'er!"

Xiao Taohong...

After some brief pleasantries, Madam Jin smiled. "Come, I'll take you to buy a set of brocade clothes."

"After lunch, I'll take you to see Madam Shi."

Chu Qing refused again. "Godmother, I was born poor. If I wear brocade clothes now, petty people will grow jealous."

"I also want to pass the Martial Academy Preliminary Exam. If petty people become jealous, I fear unforeseen ripples may arise."

Madam Jin frowned and sneered. "Who would dare be jealous of you?"

"Besides, even if you can't get in through the exam, you can enter through Madam Shi's connections."

Chu Qing secretly shook his head.

Going through Madam Shi meant signing a Servant Contract.

In these times, once one had a Servant Contract, life and death were no longer in one's own hands, and many matters could not be decided for oneself.

He absolutely did not want to sign one.

He spent a great deal of effort persuading her, saying that he wanted to try on his own first.

Madam Jin was delighted. "My Qing'er has ambition."

The Martial Academy Preliminary Exam was as difficult as climbing to Heaven. Over the past two days, she had heard that many families were scrambling to become servants of the Shi family.

Among them were quite a few talented young people.

Those people came from backgrounds a thousand times, ten thousand times better than Chu Qing's, yet they did not have his ambition.

"To have Qing'er is truly my good fortune."

Madam Jin was happy. She had Xiao Taohong instruct the servants to prepare food, then asked Chu Qing what he liked to eat.

Chu Qing's heart stirred, and he made up a story. "I remember that when I was young, I wanted to gnaw on chicken claws. Unfortunately, my mother died early..."

Madam Jin's heart ached for him. She wished she could pull him into her arms and comfort him properly. "It's a pity Qing'er has grown up."

"Xiao Taohong... have the kitchen make chicken claws. Make plenty."

"Yes."

If you can't find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!

A few minutes later:

Chu Qing wrote while Madam Jin ground the ink.

Whenever Chu Qing's strokes went awry, the lady would even hold his hand and guide each stroke.

During breaks, Chu Qing massaged Madam Jin's shoulders.

Xiao Taohong, who had come from the kitchen, gritted her teeth and stared fixedly, terrified that they might overstep the bounds.

At noon, the kitchen delivered a great deal of delicious food:

Chicken, duck, fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, and steaming rice with every grain glistening like crystal.

Chu Qing gnawed on chicken claws.

You swallowed a chicken claw and completed part of a condition.

The Profession Slot flickered.

One...

Five...

Ten...

Technique: Eagle Claw Technique Initiated—practice thirty times daily, attain mastery in one hundred days

Promotion Condition—1: Eat one hundred chicken claws, 2: Imitate eagle claws one thousand times.

Seeing this, Chu Qing ate even faster.

Madam Jin's heart ached for him. She hurriedly placed more chicken claws in his bowl, then instructed Xiao Taohong:

"Go, have the kitchen make another huge basin."

"Yes!"

Xiao Taohong went out.

Madam Jin found herself too far from Chu Qing for conveniently serving him food, so she sat beside him.

The lady wore a broad smile, filled with delight.

"If I'd known Qing'er loved chicken claws, why would I have needed to use brocade clothes to please him?"

"Mm... from now on, I'll get him chicken claws every day."

"Let him feel... a mother's love."

"In the future, even if those concubines truly bear children, I... will have Qing'er to support me. I won't fear them rising to power."

When Xiao Taohong returned from the kitchen, she saw Madam Jin pressed close beside Chu Qing, sleeves rolled up, personally peeling boneless chicken claws and feeding them to him.

She did not dare enter. She could only keep watch outside, groaning miserably.

"Madam... please use your head a little."

Xiao Taohong trembled with fear.

Chu Qing ate happily, faster and faster.

When the chicken claws were finished, the Profession Slot refreshed.

You completed the first condition.

Madam Jin asked with smiling eyes, "Would you like more?"

Chu Qing shook his head. "No more."

"Thank you, Godmother, for letting me fulfill my childhood wish."

Madam Jin smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.

When she came back to herself, she saw Chu Qing take out a handkerchief and wipe her greasy little hand.

"Ah... this... I can do it myself."

Chu Qing smiled. "You peeled chicken claws for me. It is only right and proper for me to wipe away your stains."

Madam Jin... was lost in a daze for a moment.

Afternoon:

Clang!

Clang!

Madam Jin rode in a sedan chair, while Chu Qing and Xiao Taohong followed on either side as they went to find Madam Shi.

However, they did not go to Madam Shi's home, but to an opera house.

Madam Shi loved listening to opera, and she loved singing it even more.

Unfortunately, because of her status, she could not take the stage to sing. That was her greatest regret.

Madam Jin had a set of opera costumes at home, which Madam Shi had left in her care.

Very soon, Chu Qing and Madam Jin met Madam Shi.

Madam Shi was not very old either, having just turned thirty.

She wore silk and satin, jade ornaments chiming around her. She had an oval face and fine features, though her bearing was aloof.

When she saw Madam Jin, she gave an indifferent nod.

Then she saw Chu Qing. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said coolly, "Qingyu... your adopted son does not value his appearance. I do not like that."

Madam Jin gave a soft laugh, leaned close to Madam Shi's ear, and quietly explained why Chu Qing wore plain clothes and went barefoot.

"My Qing'er excels in both literary and martial arts."

"If you look after him a little, he will surely become someone great."

Madam Shi understood. When she looked at Chu Qing again, a faint trace of appreciation appeared in her eyes.

"Chu Qing, I still have an opening for a groom. If you fail the exam, you may become my groom, lead my horse and hold my stirrup, and still enter the Martial Academy."

"Watch the opera!"

Madam Shi was domineering. Without waiting for Chu Qing's reply, she continued watching the performance.

On the opera stage:

The performers sang in lilting tones, exceedingly pleasant to hear!

When the performance reached its finest moments, everyone offered rewards. Madam Shi even tossed out two or three silver beans.

Chu Qing secretly formed his hands into claws, opening and closing them without pause as he raised his Eagle Claw Technique proficiency.

The private room was quiet. He faintly heard Madam Shi's voice.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Madam Shi's red lips moving. She was actually singing along under her breath.

Madam Shi likes singing opera?

Interesting!