Terms

The door to the private room was gently pushed open. A waiter in a clean long gown bowed as he entered, holding a thick menu. "Young masters, would you like to order now?"

Liu Maolin beckoned for the menu, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and said briskly, "We'll have the Braised Tiger Tendon, Sauce-Exploded Bear Paw, Clear Stewed Venison, a plate of Roasted Wild Wolf Ribs, Stewed Bear Heart, and-oh, right-the Roasted Wild Boar Belly. For soup, bring us a pot of Three-Essence Medicinal Soup. Junior brother, see if there's anything else you'd like."

"That's plenty, that's plenty." Yang Jing waved his hands repeatedly.

Listening to Liu Maolin order, he could not help marveling inwardly.

All six dishes were made from fierce beasts of the mountains and forests, far more nourishing than domesticated livestock. Ordinary households in the Outer City or countryside rarely even saw such meat, let alone ate it. The Braised Tiger Tendon alone probably cost as much as half a year's living expenses for an Outer City resident.

The Three-Essence Medicinal Soup was slow-cooked with various nourishing medicinal herbs. Its name alone made it clear how potent a tonic it was, and it certainly would not come cheap.

"Senior brother, isn't this a little too extravagant?" Yang Jing felt somewhat guilty.

"Oh, don't talk as though we're strangers." Liu Maolin waved a hand. "Your breakthrough to hidden strength is a tremendous occasion. Of course we have to celebrate properly and build you up! Besides, our Medical Hall is counting on an expert like you to uphold its reputation. What's this little bit of money?"

The waiter acknowledged the order and withdrew. Before long, the dishes arrived one after another.

Each came steaming hot, its mouthwatering aroma whetting their appetites.

Looking at the table laden with meat dishes, Yang Jing felt rather embarrassed, but he could not resist those enticing aromas.

Without saying much more, the two picked up their chopsticks and began feasting.

At home, Yang Jing usually boiled fierce beast meat in plain water and seasoned it with a little salt, choosing speed and convenience.

But the dishes before him had been carefully prepared by a master chef, whether braised or stir-fried in sauce. Their flavors unfolded in layers, far beyond anything he could cook himself.

Tiger tendon, bear paw, venison... Every bite seemed to awaken his taste buds completely and open every pore in his body.

He ate extremely quickly, but not crudely, refilling his rice bowl again and again and swallowing the various beast meats together with the rice.

Warm energy slid down his throat and spread through his limbs and bones. It was far more nourishing than the bear meat he ate at home. Even the hidden strength within him seemed to grow more active, leaving him pleasantly warm.

Liu Maolin was enjoying the meal too. Every so often, he picked up another morsel, smiling as he watched Yang Jing wolf down his food.

He knew Yang Jing usually scrimped and saved, and rarely had an opportunity to eat so freely. He simply left him undisturbed and joined him in polishing off the meal.

For a while, only the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks and the sounds of contented chewing filled the private room as the two steadily cleared the table of delicacies.

Time ticked by. After swallowing the last spoonful of medicinal soup, Yang Jing set down his bowl and gave a satisfied belch. His entire body felt warm, with strength coursing even through his fingertips.

Nearly every plate on the table was empty. The six dishes and soup had been swept clean, with most of them ending up in Yang Jing's stomach.

Liu Maolin put down his chopsticks, his expression complicated and his voice betraying his astonishment. "Junior brother, that appetite of yours... It really is something. Are you all right after eating so much?"

Although he had eaten alongside Yang Jing, he had deliberately exercised restraint, sampling only a few bites of each dish. Altogether, he had eaten less than a fifth.

But Yang Jing? He had practically finished the Braised Tiger Tendon single-handedly, and had gnawed every bone on the plate of Roasted Wild Wolf Ribs clean. He must have eaten over two jin of fierce beast meat.

"This isn't ordinary meat," Liu Maolin said, clicking his tongue. "Even an entering strength martial artist has to circulate his energy to digest half a jin in one sitting. For a hidden strength martial artist, one jin is about the absolute limit. You've eaten over two jin. Aren't you afraid the internal heat will assault your heart?"

The energy contained in such beast meat was incredibly potent. Even a small piece would leave an ordinary person burning hot all over. Without care, it could cause nosebleeds or even damage their internal organs.

This was the first time Liu Maolin had seen anyone devour it like this and emerge looking completely unaffected.

Yang Jing rubbed his stomach and smiled. "I've always eaten quite a lot. I'm used to it."

He knew his enormous appetite probably had something to do with the System Panel. However much he ate, he could digest it without harming himself.

Ever since breaking through to bright strength, he had eaten at least a jin of meat with every meal. Later, a jin of fierce beast meat per meal had become normal.

After his breakthrough to hidden strength, his body's demand for energy had soared even further. Potent though the energy in beast meat was, its effects were now weaker for him. This time, he had eaten over two jin in one go, yet his body could absorb and convert that amount perfectly. Rather than feeling overheated, he felt thoroughly refreshed and comfortable.

Only after seeing that Yang Jing's expression was normal, with no sign of surging blood and qi in his face, did Liu Maolin relax. He waved a hand. "As long as you're all right."

He asked no further questions. Everyone had their own secrets. Since Yang Jing did not wish to elaborate, there was no need to press him.

Liu Maolin set down his teacup, his expression turning serious. "Junior brother, there's something I'd like to discuss properly with you."

Yang Jing looked up at him. He knew Liu Maolin was about to discuss the compensation for his honorary appointment at the Liu Family Medical Hall. After all, he had now broken through to hidden strength. An expert at that level carried considerable weight in any faction, and his compensation naturally had to rise accordingly.

"I've discussed it with my father. We'd like to appoint you as a Senior Guest Retainer at our Liu Family Medical Hall," Liu Maolin said sincerely. "The terms we offered for your honorary appointment before were fairly good, but that was because of our bond as fellow disciples. Things are different now. You're a hidden strength expert. Even setting our friendship aside, the Medical Hall has to take you very seriously. Both your position and your compensation have to reflect that."

Then he held up three fingers. "There are three specific terms. Hear me out."

"First, a monthly stipend of thirty taels of silver." After naming the amount, Liu Maolin added, "That isn't much for a hidden strength expert, but it's only the base."

Yang Jing nodded. Thirty taels a month could cover an ordinary household's expenses for several years, so he hardly considered it little. Still, from what he knew of the compensation other hidden strength martial artists received for honorary appointments, thirty taels was not much.

Liu Maolin continued, "Second, you'll receive five spirit fish every month."

"Spirit fish?" Yang Jing paused. The name alone sounded extraordinary.

"Don't underestimate these spirit fish," Liu Maolin explained. "Their flesh and blood contain tremendous energy, which is immensely beneficial for nourishing a martial artist's internal energy. On the market, each costs at least twenty-five taels-considerably more than this entire table of dishes."

Yang Jing's heart jolted.

He estimated that this meal had cost over ten taels, perhaps close to twenty. Yet a single spirit fish was worth twenty-five? Five would amount to a hundred and twenty-five taels. That was an astonishingly generous offer.

"Our Medical Hall has a dedicated supply channel for spirit fish, so we can bring the cost down a little, but they're still expensive." Liu Maolin smiled. "Make soup with them, and the effects will be far better than eating fierce beast meat."

Before Yang Jing could finish taking in the value of the spirit fish, Liu Maolin stated the third term. "Third, each month, you can visit the Medical Hall's Medicinal Herb Storehouse and collect up to fifty taels' worth of medicinal herbs. Whether they replenish qi, strengthen your bones, or harmonize your internal breath, you can choose whatever you like, as long as we have it."

Seeing Yang Jing's surprised expression, he added, "The nourishing power of medicinal herbs is much purer than that of beast meat. If you combine fierce beast meat with medicinal supplements and spirit fish, your cultivation speed in the hidden strength realm is certain to improve significantly."

Yang Jing's hands tightened slightly on his knees.

The stipend, spirit fish, medicinal herbs... Every one of those three terms precisely met his needs. At his current stage of cultivation, they were practically necessities.

Just as Yang Jing was about to speak, Liu Maolin suddenly waved a hand. "Wait, junior brother. There's something I need to make clear first."

He looked at Yang Jing and spoke sincerely. "I know you're a hidden strength expert now, and that status carries a different weight. Once word of your breakthrough spreads, plenty of factions will undoubtedly try to recruit you. Even the Six Great Families of Yuhe County might approach you."

"Those great families have vast holdings, enormous wealth, and considerable influence. They may offer better terms than our Liu Family." Liu Maolin paused, as though making up his mind. "So there's no need to answer me immediately. You can wait, compare a few offers, and then decide."

Although he spoke out of consideration for Yang Jing, Liu Maolin quietly curled his fingers tight.

In truth, he wanted Yang Jing to accept more than anyone. He simply could not bring himself to pressure him into staying, and feared even more that Yang Jing might regret it later, leaving a thorn between the two fellow disciples.

Yang Jing nodded after hearing him, then suddenly smiled. "All right."

Liu Maolin's heart lurched. His smile froze instantly, and he forced a smile as he nodded. "Then... then we can discuss it again in a few days."

It seemed his junior brother still wanted to see what other factions offered. The Liu Family's sincerity might not be enough to keep him after all.

Just as disappointment settled over him, Yang Jing asked with a smile, "Senior Brother Liu, what do you mean? Are the terms you just offered no longer valid?"

Liu Maolin froze, then abruptly looked up at Yang Jing. Only upon seeing the teasing gleam in his eyes did he finally realize he had been had!

"Y-you mean..." Liu Maolin's voice trembled a little, the stiffness in his face instantly replaced by wild delight. "Junior brother, you accept?"

Yang Jing smiled and nodded. "Of course."

His smile faded as he said seriously, "The Liu Family Medical Hall has treated me well. From the start, no one looked down on me because of my poor root bone. Instead, you looked after me in every way. I feel at ease here."

"Besides," Yang Jing said, looking at Liu Maolin, "the terms you've offered are already more than good enough. Spirit fish, medicinal herbs, silver-they're all what I need most right now. As for the other factions..."

He shook his head. "They might offer more, but they might not let me cultivate in peace."

Many hidden strength martial artists believed they had no hope of breaking through to transforming strength. Upon reaching this stage, they would shift their attention elsewhere, whether to struggles between factions, family businesses, or other matters.

But Yang Jing was different. He could still advance along his martial path, and did not want other matters distracting him.

Staying at the Liu Family Medical Hall meant, first, that they already knew one another and needed no period of adjustment. Second, with Liu Maolin there, Yang Jing felt reassured.

Liu Maolin's eyes lit up as he listened. He slammed a hand onto the table, nearly knocking over a teacup. "My good brother! I knew you weren't the sort to forget loyalty at the sight of profit!"

He rose excitedly, paced a couple of steps around the private room, then sat back down and clasped Yang Jing's hand tightly. "Rest assured. As long as I'm here, the Liu Family Medical Hall will never shortchange you!"

He could not conceal the excitement on his face, and even his voice rose several notches. His earlier disappointment had already vanished like smoke and clouds.

Seeing how happy he was, Yang Jing smiled too.

To him, that trust and stability mattered more than the extra silver and benefits other factions might offer.

With the arrangement settled, the two rose and left the private room, chatting and laughing.

After paying the bill, they left Fu Man Lou and boarded the carriage waiting outside.

The carriage slowly departed the Inner City, its wheels rattling somewhat unevenly over the stone-paved streets of the Outer City.

A small oil lamp burned inside the carriage, its dim yellow light illuminating their faces.

Liu Maolin leaned back against the seat, then suddenly remembered something. Turning to Yang Jing, he said, "By the way, junior brother, the county will be holding the parade ground trial in just over twenty days."

Yang Jing nodded.

Although he usually devoted all his attention to training and cared little about most other matters, he still paid attention to an event as important as the parade ground trial.

"The parade ground trial is the first hurdle in the martial arts examination," Liu Maolin said. "Only a few people pass each year. But now that you're a hidden strength martial artist, you should have no problem giving it a try. Even if you're outmatched, you won't be in much danger."

He looked at Yang Jing, considered briefly, then continued, "I think you should have a go this year. Even if you don't pass, you'll gain some experience. You're still young, with plenty of opportunities ahead. You'll pass eventually."

"Once you pass the parade ground trial, you'll have something like half an official status," Liu Maolin said with a trace of envy. "Then you'll be both a hidden strength expert and someone with that standing. You'll truly be a prominent figure in Yuhe County. Even those great families will have to treat you courteously."

Yang Jing's fingertips twitched slightly as ripples stirred in his heart.

Although he had little enthusiasm for officialdom, he understood the weight those words-"official status"-carried.

In these troubled times, having official status would make many things easier. Even half a measure of it would be enough to establish him firmly in Yuhe County. It would also give him greater confidence and ease his travels if he went to Caozhou or elsewhere in search of his father and eldest uncle.

Moreover, the reason he had spent so much to join the Martial Arts Hall and train in the first place was that his grandfather, grandmother, father, and mother had all hoped he might one day make his name in the martial arts examination. To country folk, the martial arts examination meant the parade ground trial. They knew nothing of the successive rounds of examinations and selection that followed.

Passing the parade ground trial would exempt him from land rent, and he could also charge others fees to place their land under his name. There were quite a few benefits, but the present Yang Jing no longer cared for such small sums.

What truly interested him in the martial arts examination was, first, official status; second, his family's hopes; and third, the chance to test himself. Finally, passing the parade ground trial would prove his worth and make his master take him more seriously. Yang Jing understood clearly that only by demonstrating sufficient value could he attract more resources.

At that thought, Yang Jing could not help feeling a measure of longing and anticipation.