Chu Qing's Secret

Early in the morning:

Chu Qing found a Blacksmith Shop, paid a deposit, and left behind the blueprints for his improved Greatsword.

The blacksmith said honestly:

"Customer, I can finish the simple one by tonight."

"The complicated one will take three days!"

Chu Qing was silent for a moment before saying:

"Make the complicated one."

"Use the best materials!"

"I have money, and I can earn more. I'm not afraid to spend it!"

The blacksmith said excitedly, "Alright!"

A short while later:

Holding the Blacksmith Shop's receipt, Chu Qing braved the wind and rain and headed toward Stone Rock County.

At the inn:

Tang Wuming said to the innkeeper, "Well, my friend went out. Could the room fee wait until he comes back?"

The innkeeper sneered. "Your friend said you would pay the room fee."

Tang Wuming... fell silent.

After a long while, he said weakly, "How about... I wash dishes for you?"

The innkeeper was silent for a moment before saying, "We don't need anyone to wash dishes here."

"You look so fair and tender. How about... you scrub the guests' backs in the bath?"

Tang Wuming...

Chu Qing hurried along and saw that the fertile fields on both sides had all been soaked by rainwater.

As he walked along the country paths, he saw some houses that had collapsed.

The farmers looked at their ruined homes, utterly at a loss.

"This season's crops are finished."

"Who knows whether this wind and rain cover a wide area or only a small one."

If it only stretched three or five hundred kilometers, things would still be manageable.

But if it covered a vast area, it would inevitably bring disasters such as floods and plagues.

Before long, he entered the mountains again.

Even more of the mountain roads had collapsed.

Chu Qing crossed mountains and ridges. As he passed a bend in the road, he spotted a welcoming pine.

Beneath the pine lay heaps of collapsed rocks and mud.

Among the rocks grew a purple flower, swaying in the wind.

Chu Qing dug it up together with the soil and placed it in his bamboo basket.

"I wonder whether Madam Jin will like it!"

One hour...

Three hours...

Near noon, he entered Stone Rock County.

The moment he entered the County Town, he sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat different.

Many gang members were roaming the streets and alleys, searching house by house for something.

"I haven't killed any enemies these past two days!"

As he pondered, he reached his doorstep and saw several umbrella-bearing youths.

When they saw Chu Qing, they hurriedly said:

"Brother Qing, quick, come to the Martial Hall with us."

Chu Qing smiled. "What is it?"

One of the youths quickly said, "An old man came this morning. He said he wanted to see you."

An old man? Looking for me?

For the Stone Bamboo Pearl?

Or... the Secret Transmission Toad Skill?

For an instant, Chu Qing wanted to run.

"Don't panic!"

"I haven't gotten the Stone Bamboo Pearl yet."

"The Secret Transmission Toad Skill? I'll deny it to the death. There's nothing they can do."

"If they try to force a confession through torture... then I'll slaughter them all."

"Perhaps the old man is here for something else."

"Stay calm. Madam Shi is behind me."

As he thought, he followed the youths into the Mantis Martial Arts Hall.

The youths reported his arrival, and before long, they led him into the main hall.

Chu Qing left his rain cape and bamboo basket at the doorway. Wearing only coarse linen clothes and barefoot, he entered the main hall.

There were only three people in the main hall:

Zhao Wuji, Zhao Hongxiu, and a Hunchbacked Old Man.

Zhao Wuji laughed heartily.

"Senior, this is Chu Qing, the one who eats toad meat."

"His family is poor. He can't afford meat, so he eats toads to supplement his nutrition."

"He's quite clever."

Chu Qing's heart stirred, and he instantly understood what Zhao Wuji meant.

"For the Toad Skill?"

He Cup Fist. "Sir!"

The old man stared at him with clouded eyes and rasped:

"Do you still catch toads to eat?"

"Not anymore."

The old man's gaze turned cold as he rasped, "Why not?"

Chu Qing casually said, "I acknowledged Madam Jin as my godmother, and I also borrowed some money from the gang, so I no longer lack food."

"Later, the hall master began preparing chicken feet, braised pork, and other things for me every day. I'm even less short on meat now."

The old man fell silent.

Zhao Hongxiu was secretly worried. Her little hands clenched tight, her palms slick with sweat.

This old man was terrifying. One finger pressed against her shoulder had made her kneel.

But her father was formidable. He had endured three fingers—before kneeling!

When facing an expert like this, one had to be cautious upon cautious, careful upon careful.

She feared that Chu Qing would say one wrong thing, be beaten to death by the old man, and then have the Martial Hall implicated by his wrath.

One minute...

Two minutes...

Zhao Hongxiu felt as though she could barely breathe.

Sweat broke out across Zhao Wuji's back.

Chu Qing wore a bewildered, nervous expression.

The old man suddenly spoke. "Where did you go last night?"

"Why have you only returned now?"

Zhao Wuji and Zhao Hongxiu's heads buzzed. Neither of them knew that Chu Qing had not returned all night.

Why would a grand expert pay attention to a barefoot youth in coarse linen?

Zhao Wuji's thoughts were in chaos.

Chu Qing Cup Fist. "Sir, my godmother likes flowers, but the flowers in her garden were all battered into scattered fragments by the wind and rain. I promised my godmother that I would find her a beautiful flower."

"Yesterday, I left the city to look for flowers. Without realizing it, I walked too far and then met a scholar in the mountains..."

Chu Qing recounted Tang Wuming's affair.

He merely concealed the matters of forging the Greatsword and the Stone Bamboo Pearl.

The old man looked toward the bamboo basket, his nose wrinkling slightly as he said indifferently:

"Meeting me counts as good fortune for you."

"Don't eat toads anymore in the future, lest someone kill you for no clear reason."

With that, the old man left.

When he stepped outside, the wind swept rainwater around him, yet not a drop landed on him.

Wherever his feet touched down, the pooled water burst apart like blooming lotuses.

Zhao Wuji let out a long breath.

Zhao Hongxiu simply collapsed onto the ground.

Chu Qing also let out a long breath.

That had been... dangerous.

Fortunately, his mental fortitude was strong enough, and he had managed to weather it.

The room fell silent.

After a long while, Zhao Hongxiu climbed to her feet and went outside to inspect the bamboo basket.

A vivid purple flower appeared before her eyes.

Seeing the purple flower, the young woman looked at Chu Qing with complicated feelings.

"He actually braved the rain to pick fresh flowers for his godmother. Truly... his filial devotion is worthy of praise!"

"I only wonder whether anyone will treat me this way in the future."

Chu Qing Cup Fist toward Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji nodded.

Neither spoke, but everything was understood without words.

Chu Qing braved the wind and rain as he left to deliver the flower to Madam Jin.

Zhao Hongxiu went to bathe, covered as she was in foul sweat.

Zhao Wuji stared blankly outside the door.

He had a feeling:

Chu Qing had concealed something; perhaps the old man had come looking for him.

Otherwise:

In all of Stone Rock County, many people caught toads to eat. Why had he not sought out someone else?

Was it worth it for a grand expert to sit here dryly for several hours just for him?

"What is that old man looking for?"

"What thing is connected to toads?"

"Chu Qing... just what secrets does he have?"

Chu Qing had too many secrets.

The news of the Stone Bamboo Pearl.

The secret of a body full of Iron Sinews.

Killing Hall Master Liu, Liu Jun, and the rest.

Killing enemies in the Black Market.

Weapon techniques.

And, more importantly, the secret of the Secret Transmission—Toad Skill.

Although he had passed through this ordeal, Chu Qing was in a foul mood.

"I'm still too weak."

"If I were strong enough, and that old thing dared speak to me like that, I would kill him outright."

"Just wait; once I enter the Martial Academy, I'll find advanced techniques and train 365 Iron Sinews. I might even upgrade them into Golden Sinews."

"Then I'll openly declare that I possess the Secret Transmission Toad Skill. Would that old thing dare come hold me accountable?"

Killing intent churned in his heart.

Only after reaching Jin Family Manor did it completely subside.

"Xiao Taohong, where is the hall master?"

"The hall master went out."

"Where is Qingyu?"

Xiao Taohong... fell silent.

After a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "You should address Madam as Godmother, my lord!"