I want to practice evil arts!

"Goodbye, Mr. Su!"

After a dozen or so five- or six-year-old children bowed to bid Su Que farewell, they slung their book bags over their shoulders and skipped out of the schoolhouse.

Su Que nodded and smiled in response. Once all the children had left, the smile gradually faded from his face, and he let out a sigh.

Name: Su Que (17 years old)
Lifespan: 15 years
Talent Value: 1

He was not originally from this world.

Three days ago, he had just transmigrated into this body.

The owner of this body, also named Su Que, was an honest and simple schoolteacher.

The original owner had passed the Xiucai examination at the age of 15 and was preparing for the Provincial Civil Service Examination thereafter.

However, the original owner's family was poor, so he had to teach at the schoolhouse during the day and study by lamplight at night.

Because the original owner was only a Xiucai and was young, he could only teach basic literacy to young children at the schoolhouse.

His wages were far inferior to those of experienced scholars.

The original owner was extremely diligent, sleeping very little every day, and unfortunately died suddenly three days ago.

Su Que happened to transmigrate at that moment, taking over the original owner's shell.

When he transmigrated, his golden finger awakened along with him.

At that time, some information about the golden finger appeared in his mind.

Through this golden finger, he could see his remaining Lifespan and Talent Value.

Talent Value was linked to his remaining Lifespan.

If his remaining Lifespan increased, his Talent Value would also increase.

Talent Value represented his natural aptitude, potential, and comprehension.

The higher the Talent Value, the faster he could learn and practice.

With this golden finger, I can learn various Martial Arts that can prolong life, extend my Lifespan, and increase my Talent Value!

Su Que thought to himself as he reached into his clothes and felt his money pouch.

The schoolhouse had paid this month's wages today.

With the wages the original owner had saved up, plus the three-tenths of this month's wages, he would be able to learn the Five Animal Frolics at Hui Chun Tang.

This was the only Martial Arts he could think of that could prolong life after inheriting the original owner's memories.

It was said that the doctor at Hui Chun Tang, Hua Chunji, was already a centenarian, and it was precisely because he practiced the Five Animal Frolics that he remained vigorous and could eat three bowls of rice at a meal.

Su Que wanted to see if practicing the Five Animal Frolics could increase his Lifespan.

While thinking this, he packed up his scrolls and left the schoolhouse.

The schoolhouse where he taught was in the south of the city.

Hui Chun Tang was in the east of the city.

When Su Que walked to the east of the city, he saw various martial arts halls and medical clinics.

In the original owner's memories, this was a world where Martial Arts flourished.

All kinds of martial arts emerged one after another.

If I have time in the future, I must practice Martial Arts too.

For self-preservation.

Su Que thought.

The current Liang Kingdom was harassed by neighboring countries externally and plagued by rebel armies and bandits internally.

If conditions permitted, even a scholar who spent his days playing with ink and paper had to practice Martial Arts for self-defense.

Even in the small Jade Water City where he lived, there were six local gangs.

And sometimes, gang conflicts often implicated innocent civilians.

If one possessed no Martial Arts, one might lose their life for nothing.

He planned to practice Martial Arts until he was capable of self-preservation, then find a city more prosperous than Jade Water City to practice some longevity-prolonging health exercises, living a stable and happy life in this world.

Su Que planned his future while walking to Hui Chun Tang.

After stating his purpose to a shop assistant, the assistant led Su Que to one of Hua Chunji's disciples.

The disciple accepted Su Que's silver, registered him, and told Su Que to wait in the large courtyard behind Hui Chun Tang.

The disciple said that every day at 5:45 PM, his senior brother would teach the Five Animal Frolics there.

Su Que followed the instructions and went to the large courtyard, where he saw more than fifty other people, ranging from their twenties to their fifties.

About a stick of incense later, a sturdy and spirited middle-aged man arrived at the location.

This man first introduced himself, stating that he was the third disciple of Hua Chunji, named Ji Hai.

After elaborating on the principles of the Five Animal Frolics, he began to demonstrate them.

Su Que, along with the others, hurriedly focused his attention to watch.

After watching Ji Hai perform the routine three times, Su Que and the others began to practice under Ji Hai's guidance.

It was not until over an hour later that today's lesson finally concluded.

Su Que's heart stirred, and several lines of pitch-black text appeared before him.

Name: Su Que (17 years old)

Lifespan: 15 years

Talent Value: 1

Martial Arts: Five Animal Frolics (Entry 10%)

Seeing the Five Animal Frolics appear on the panel, Su Que felt a surge of joy.

As long as he practiced the Five Animal Frolics diligently in the future, his Lifespan would increase, which in turn would increase his Talent Value and accelerate his cultivation speed.

Once his cultivation speed increased, his progress in the Five Animal Frolics would also increase, further boosting his Lifespan and Talent Value...

It was just like a snowball effect!

If he found a few more health-preserving techniques to practice, he would live longer and longer, perhaps even achieving immortality!

With a burning heart, Su Que walked toward his home while lost in thought.

His parents had passed away one after another before the original owner turned thirteen.

Since then, the original owner had relied on his sister, Su Jing, who was three years his senior, to survive.

During the days before the original owner passed the imperial examination to become a scholar, it was his sister Su Jing who worked several jobs alone to barely keep the household afloat.

Upon returning home, he saw his sister Su Jing collecting laundry.

Although his sister was not a great beauty, she had a delicate face and a fine figure.

There were actually quite a few men who wanted to propose marriage.

Several matchmakers had also come, but his sister had declined them one by one because she wanted to take care of him.

In addition to the original owner teaching at the school, his sister had also been doing needlework for others at home.

The original owner was precocious, and both his parents and his sister Su Jing hoped that he would one day achieve success in the imperial examinations.

Especially after the original owner's parents died, he had passed the scholar examination at the age of fifteen.

His sister Su Jing's expectations for him grew even greater.

Su Que also planned to go to the prefectural city next year to participate in the Provincial Civil Service Examination.

After all, the original owner had worked so hard and had been preparing for the Provincial Civil Service Examination for a long time.

Now, his mind was filled with memories related to the content of the imperial examinations.

He did not want to waste these memories, so he decided to simply participate in the Provincial Civil Service Examination; if he were lucky enough to pass, he might be able to land a decent job in the future.

Moreover, if he passed the examination, even if he did not become an official, his status at the school would rise, and his wages would naturally be incomparable to what they were now.

"Xiao Que, you're back!"

Seeing Su Que enter the courtyard, Su Jing hurriedly put away the clothes and served him a meal.

Ten days later, Hui Chun Tang.

"Alright, Mr. Su, you have mastered the Five Animal Frolics."

Ji Hai watched Su Que perform the routine once, and seeing that there were no errors in his movements, he spoke to Su Que.

Su Que nodded; from now on, he could practice at home and would not need to run to Hui Chun Tang every day.

After dinner, Su Que walked to the overgrown small courtyard of his home and began to practice the Five Animal Frolics.

Name: Su Que

Lifespan: 15 years

Talent Value: 1

Martial Arts: Five Animal Frolics (Entry 99%)

His Five Animal Frolics would soon cross the threshold of the "Entry" stage.

The Five Animal Frolics consisted of the Tiger Play, Deer Play, Bear Play, Ape Play, and Bird Play.

The Tiger Play focused on the liver, the Deer Play on the kidneys, the Bear Play on the spleen, the Ape Play on the heart, and the Bird Play on the lungs.

By practicing the five plays, all five internal organs would be nourished.

Su Que moved about the courtyard, performing the stances of the tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird, his body beginning to sweat slightly.

After practicing for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he suddenly felt a surge of power about to erupt from his internal organs.

Even without looking at the panel, he knew the Five Animal Frolics was about to break through to a new realm.

I wonder how much Lifespan I will gain after reaching the entry level?

Su Que thought, filled with anticipation.

Suddenly.

This long-brewing power erupted from within his body, but then, like tiny blades, it began stabbing into his internal organs.

An unbearable, agonizing pain instantly flared inside him!

"Pfft!"

A metallic taste surged up his throat, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out!

A mist of blood rose into the air, and droplets scattered, forming spots of blood on the ground.

"What is going on?"

Su Que's face turned pale as he summoned the panel.

Name: Su Que (17 years old)
Lifespan: 13 years
Talent Value: 1
Martial Arts: Five Animal Frolics (Initial Glimpse 1%)

"I practiced the Five Animal Frolics, and it actually reduced my Lifespan by two years?!"

Su Que glanced back at Su Jing, who was still in the kitchen. Seeing she hadn't noticed, he felt a bit relieved and quickly used his foot to kick dirt over the bloodstains on the ground.

Afterward, he began to ponder.

After spitting out that mouthful of blood, his internal organs felt as if they were being scorched by flames.

On his first day of practicing the Five Animal Frolics, he had heard the master at the medical hall say that practicing the Five Animal Frolics could strengthen the internal organs and prolong one's Lifespan.

However, after he practiced the Five Animal Frolics, his internal organs were damaged, and his Lifespan decreased.

It was the complete opposite!

Therefore, a somewhat inconceivable thought sprouted in his mind.

Could it be that the effects of the Martial Arts I practice on my body are completely reversed?

Su Que narrowed his eyes slightly.

He pondered a bit more and gradually felt that after experiencing a transmigration and awakening a golden finger, such a thing happening to him was not impossible!

"Anyway, practicing the Five Animal Frolics can no longer save me!"

"I might as well find an evil Martial Art that damages the body and give it a try!"