Preparing the Two-handed Greatsword

On the stage:

Madam Shi was at a loss.

She looked down at the broken silver, then at Chu Qing.

"I'm better than you!"

Madam Shi held her neck high, proud as a white swan.

Chu Qing smiled. "Madam, would you have dared take the stage without my encouragement?"

Madam Shi... was speechless.

Was that encouragement? That was mockery.

Beneath her long sleeves, her little hands clenched tight. She wished she could slap Chu Qing.

But in the end, she did not strike.

Beside them, Madam Jin held back her laughter.

Chu Qing said, "Madam Shi, I fulfilled your wish and even tipped you. You should repay me with Universal Secret Medicine or Eagle Claw Secret Medicine."

Madam Shi glared at him, gave a disdainful sneer, rose, and left.

Creak.

The doors opened.

Chu Qing called loudly, "Madam Shi, if you want me to listen to your opera next time, you must bring secret medicine."

"Otherwise, I won't listen."

Madam Shi paused, then quickened her pace as she left.

The four maids, Wind Flower Snow Moon, stared at Chu Qing in shock, even forgetting to escort their mistress.

Only after a while did they catch up with Madam Shi, gritting their teeth as they said:

"That... Chu Qing, has he gone mad?"

"How dare he provoke our mistress into taking the stage?"

"Our mistress sings opera. Countless people want to hear her, yet can never hear her in their entire lives. And he actually demanded secret medicine as payment?"

"Mistress, he even humiliated you with broken silver? Where did he get such nerve? Who gave him the courage?" "Mistress, give the order, and we'll immediately slice him into a thousand pieces."

Madam Shi kept a cold face as she climbed into the eight-bearer sedan chair.

Once the curtain fell, Madam Shi smiled.

She covered her mouth. As she laughed and laughed, she actually began to cry.

"Father, you never imagined that, encouraged by that Chu Qing, I would break your prohibition and take the stage to sing opera."

"One day, sooner or later, I will escape your cage and pursue my freedom."

"Taking the stage to sing opera... and even receiving a tip... I'm so happy!"

The scene from just now kept replaying in Madam Shi's mind.

"Chu Qing knew full well that my status was noble, yet he still dared listen to me sing."

"His courage is big enough to blot out Heaven!"

"And he even asked me for secret medicine...?"

"Next time... I'll make you pay."

Jin Family Manor:

Madam Jin said in astonishment, "Qing'er, your courage is far too great."

"Madam Shi... is actually the Heaven of Stone Rock County."

"You actually tipped her with broken silver? Be careful, or she might hold a grudge against you!"

Chu Qing smiled. "She took the stage and sang well, so naturally I had to tip her."

"If I hadn't tipped her, that would have been when she held a grudge against me."

Madam Jin fell into thought.

"But... you still shouldn't have asked her for secret medicine."

"You even said that if there was no secret medicine next time she sang, you wouldn't listen."

"I feel that she definitely won't sing again."

Chu Qing smiled. "She will definitely sing again, and she will certainly invite me."

"Once the door of taboo has been opened—it cannot be shut."

"She... can only gain spiritual satisfaction in front of me."

Madam Jin's little face was filled with confusion.

Chu Qing did not explain.

People like Madam Shi had hobbies that belonged solely to themselves.

Unfortunately, her hobby of singing opera had been suppressed for far too long.

Now, after being provoked by Chu Qing, she had finally broken free of that suppression.

She would come to enjoy the delight of breaking free and pursuing her hobby to her heart's content. By then, no one would be able to stop her.

"Unfortunately, I didn't get any secret medicine this time."

"Moreover, Madam Shi won't take the stage to sing again anytime soon."

"For the time being, the path of obtaining secret medicine to improve my techniques is blocked."

He flipped through the Profession Slot and examined the many techniques.

At last, his gaze settled on the Dual Mantis Sword.

"I can obtain Mantis Secret Medicine."

"All I lack is a Greatsword."

Finally, gazing at the wind and rain outside the window, he murmured:

"It's time for me to forge a Two-handed Greatsword."

Shi Residence:

Madam Shi hummed a little tune under her breath as she lounged lazily on a soft couch.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Mistress, Chief Constable Shi wishes to see you."

It was the voice of the four maids, Wind Flower Snow Moon.

If outsiders heard this, they would certainly be shocked.

Because:

Though they were dowry maids, they did not address him as Master, but by his official position.

Madam Shi frowned, and her good mood vanished at once.

Chief Constable Shi had pursued her back when they were at the Armored Soldier Sect.

Unfortunately, she loved another man.

Later, certain things happened, and she had no choice but to enter a fake marriage with Chief Constable Shi.

Over the years, Chief Constable Shi had worked hard to please her, yet she still refused to accept him.

"Let him in."

Very soon, Chief Constable Shi, who looked imposing and domineering in the eyes of outsiders, entered with his head lowered and his back bent:

"Senior Sister..."

Madam Shi said indifferently, "Junior Brother, what is it?"

Chief Constable Shi quickly said, "Senior Sister, Senior Brother Zhang from the inner sect said his brother-in-law was slaughtered, and they still haven't found the culprit. He hopes I can go help investigate."

Madam Shi looked at the wind and rain beyond the room and said with a frown, "These years have been unsettled. Have less contact with Little Zhang; his thoughts run too deep."

Chief Constable Shi lowered his head.

Seeing this annoyed Madam Shi, and she waved her hand. "Get out!"

"If you want to leave, then leave. I won't stop you."

Thud!

Chief Constable Shi dropped to his knees, pulled open his shirt, and prostrated himself on the floor. "Please punish me, Senior Sister."

Madam Shi opened a box, took out a whip, and lashed his body fiercely.

The wind and rain had weakened somewhat, and Chu Qing bid Madam Jin farewell early.

Since he had decided to forge a weapon, he did not want to delay.

His chosen destination was a place called Maple Leaf County.

Maple Leaf County was over four hundred kilometers north of Stone Rock County, with mountains in between. The roads were already difficult to travel in ordinary times.

Now that there was wind and rain, they were even harder to traverse.

Therefore:

He had to set out early.

He bought a straw raincape, dried rations, wound medicine, and other supplies, wrapped them in oil paper, and placed them in a bamboo basket.

Finally, Chu Qing took out a spare pair of steel gloves, put them on, and headed straight for Maple Leaf County.

He used Dragonfly Touching Water.

Water Touch +1

Water Touch +1

...

After rushing dozens of li in one breath, the road became increasingly muddy, and many places had accumulated water.

The crops in the fields on both sides had also been soaked by the standing water.

"This storm may cause flooding."

He quickened his pace, hoping to reach Maple Leaf County before dark.

Dragonfly Touching Water was fast, but the road became harder and harder to navigate.

After entering the mountains, huge collapsed boulders blocked the way.

Fortunately, Dragonfly Touching Water was wondrous. Chu Qing sprang like a dragonfly and easily leaped over them.

At this moment:

The gale howled and the rain poured down in sheets. Even with the support of the Toad Skill's traits, his vision became increasingly blurred.

"I need to find somewhere to shelter from the rain."

After walking a little farther, a group of figures appeared ahead.

They wore straw raincaped and carried long sabers. They were—saber fighters.

Chu Qing passed them.

The saber fighters watched his back and all frowned.

Several leaders whispered among themselves, urging everyone to speed up.

Unfortunately, Chu Qing's figure soon vanished from sight.

After another hour of rushing onward, the wind and rain grew even fiercer.

At last, a Mountain God Temple appeared beside the road.

The temple doors stood open, flapping wildly in the wind.

Chu Qing slipped inside, shut the doors, and slid the bolt into place.

The temple was not large. The left and right side rooms had collapsed, leaving only the main hall intact.

Chu Qing pushed open the door:

Inside the main hall, debris was piled everywhere, and the idol had collapsed.

There was a pile of dry grass on the ground, where a scholar lay curled up.

The scholar's breathing was weak.

Chu Qing stepped forward to inspect him. The scholar was handsome, a beautiful man.

Unfortunately, his face was flushed red, his lips were cracked, and he was feverish and babbling nonsense.

In these times, even a fever or cold could kill someone.

Chu Qing was kind-hearted and could not bear to watch someone die, so he helped treat him.

He lit a fire, stripped off the scholar's wet clothes, fed him water, and massaged him to make him sweat.

Before long, the scholar began sweating and woke up.

He looked at Chu Qing, cautiously felt his own buttocks, then sighed in relief and said:

"Thank you, brother, for saving my life!"