Getting Started

Ping'an Ward, Chen Mu's home.

"Two poor ghosts." Chen Mu fiddled with several bits of broken silver in disappointment.

Their return gifts were a far cry from Master Yan's!

Fortunately, his portrait business had been thriving lately, so he was not short on this little bit of money.

The two Ruffians had broken legs. For at least half a year, they could forget about coming to trouble him.

Putting away the broken silver, Chen Mu went to the west side of the courtyard.

Under the thatched shed was a small pile of gravel.

He had specially collected it to practice Flying Locust Stone.

Whoosh... Bang!

Whoosh... Bang!

A succession of sharp whistles and explosions rose from the courtyard.

An hour later, Chen Mu stopped practicing, rubbing his aching arms.

"I can't practice at home anymore." Chen Mu frowned at the pockmarked earthen wall. He was afraid he would smash it to pieces.

With a thought, he brought up the Gray Wall.

Writing: 1132/10000/Second Tier;

Drawing: 569/10000/Second Tier;

Throwing: 1331/10000/Second Tier;

He had trained Flying Locust Stone to the Second Tier, and its power was gradually beginning to show.

Within ten meters, he never missed a shot, and its impact was immensely powerful—comparable even to the small-caliber firearms of his previous life.

It was precisely by relying on Flying Locust Stone's power that he had shattered the two Ruffians' legs in just a few blows.

"And this is only the Second Tier..." Chen Mu murmured expectantly.

After resting for a moment, Chen Mu continued studying the Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique.

According to Sheng Hong, Body Tempering Techniques were secret arts capable of remaking a person from the marrow out.

As one practiced more deeply, one could gradually break through the limits of the human body and gain strength, speed, reflexes, and other abilities beyond the reach of ordinary people.

That was also why Constable Lu could cover five or six meters in a single stride.

The Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique focused on improving speed.

Its difficulty lay in the Breathing Method. It had an entire set of requirements for breathing.

Every sixty breaths formed a segment, with specific requirements for the depth, pace, and rhythm of every breath.

Each breath also linked with the ones before and after it, forming a cycle.

Chen Mu needed to change his breathing habits and keep himself within that cycle at all times.

Only then could he properly coordinate it with the various stances of the Body Tempering Technique and truly be considered a beginner.

For the past few days, he had been working hard to change his breathing habits. By now, he could more or less ensure that his breathing did not fall into disorder.

Today was precisely the time to test it in conjunction with the Leaping Style.

With complete concentration, Chen Mu ran and shifted around the courtyard, strictly following the footwork Sheng Hong had taught him.

At a certain moment, his breathing and his overall movements suddenly formed some kind of connection.

His whole body was like a car whose clutch had been released—power and movement meshed together.

The force flowing through his entire body immediately became smooth and unobstructed.

The moment he stopped, Chen Mu brought up the Gray Wall.

Writing: 1132/10000/Second Tier;

Drawing: 569/10000/Second Tier;

Throwing: 1372/10000/Second Tier;

Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique: 3/10000/Tier 1;

"It finally made the list."

West Market, Bao'an Hall.

A small Medicine Shop tucked away in a narrow alley.

The people who usually came here for treatment and medicine were common folk.

Wearing a Gray-White Long Gown, Chen Mu walked along the blue-brick path, passed through a narrow little alley like One-Line Sky, and entered the inconspicuous Medicine Shop.

A quarter of an hour later, he left quickly with a packet of medicinal herbs.

Afterward, he went to several other small Medicine Shops and bought herbs from each of them before finally hurrying home.

Now that the Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique had reached the beginner stage, he needed to take its accompanying Secret Medicine.

Buying the herbs separately was also to keep the Medicine Shops from noticing anything suspicious.

He measured the herbs according to the prescription, dumped them all into an earthen pot, and began brewing them.

"There must be some trick to this, but for now, this is all I can do." Chen Mu sighed.

Taking medicine, eating meat, and practicing martial arts—so long as he stayed home, Chen Mu did nothing but these things.

Ordinary people would find it dull and tedious, but he was rather enjoying it.

It was only that every few days, he had to go out and paint portraits for others.

That was currently his only source of income, and he could not let it dry up.

Of course, he would occasionally go to the County Office to help draw wanted portraits.

That was something he had promised County Lieutenant Du before.

Though it was unpaid work, it was not without benefits.

At the very least, no street thugs had come looking for trouble with him again.

Time slowly passed. Half a month later.

Chen Mu stepped out of his home, preparing to go to East Market to buy meat.

Chen Mu was immersed in training, and the consumption was enormous. He needed to put away two jin of meat every meal, or it simply would not keep hunger at bay.

To supplement his nutrition, Chen Mu planned to buy a few hens and raise several sheep, adding sheep's milk and eggs to his diet.

He was terrified of training himself bald.

The moment he arrived at East Market, he saw that the crossroads were packed with people.

Butcher Zheng, who sold meat, was leaning against a street corner watching the commotion.

"Why are so many people gathered here?" Chen Mu approached Butcher Zheng and asked.

"Remember the Wang Family Massacre Case? They caught the criminal. They're cutting off his head today." The fat on Butcher Zheng's cheeks jiggled as he spoke, his face full of eager curiosity.

Hearing that, Chen Mu stood on tiptoe to look.

In the center of the crossroads stood a round stone platform three or four meters in diameter.

A prisoner in convict's clothes knelt on the platform. Iron chains shackled his feet, his hands were bound behind his back, and a black sack covered his face.

Yamen Runners and constables stood all around the stone platform.

To the north of the intersection stood a gray-cloth canopy, beneath which three men in official robes sat with calm, composed expressions.

At the center sat a Middle-aged Man in his forties.

He had a Square Face, slightly dark skin, and an expressionless countenance. He was the Qingshan County Magistrate.

County Lieutenant Du, the man responsible for safeguarding the realm and keeping the people safe, sat to his left.

On the other side was an old man in his fifties or sixties, with grizzled white facial hair. Chen Mu guessed that he was the Qingshan County Assistant Magistrate.

Butcher Zheng whispered, "That vicious bandit was formidable too. They say Constable Lu was seriously injured just catching him."

He could injure Constable Lu?

It seemed he was also a formidable man who had practiced a Body Tempering Technique!

Suddenly, a wave of uproar swept through the crowd. Chen Mu could not help turning his head, just in time to see the criminal's hood being removed.

The instant he stared at that face, Chen Mu's heart gave a violent thud.

This man looked strikingly similar to the portrait on the wanted notice.

But Chen Mu knew clearly that Master Yan had drawn that wanted notice, and it was still forty or fifty percent removed from the criminal's true appearance.

"This guy isn't the real vicious bandit who wiped out the family!"

"Did they catch the wrong man by accident? Or did the County Office find a Scapegoat?"

He could not think any further. He needed to leave, fast!

"Cut me ten jin of meat, half tenderloin and half pork belly. I'll go buy some White Wheat first and come back to collect it later." Chen Mu spoke to Butcher Zheng, then hurried away without waiting for an answer.

After only a few steps, a shout rose behind him. Chen Mu paused, then immediately strode away.

Inside a private room at Ruyi Abode in Anle Ward, East Market, seven or eight people were drinking and chatting.

A plump Middle-aged Man with a round face, small eyes, and an air of wealth sat in the seat of honor.

"Recently, a young painter with exceptional skill has appeared in the city. They say his portraits are as lifelike as real people. Has Elder Yan heard of him?" The Middle-aged Man asked Master Yan beside him with a smile.

Master Yan's heart skipped a beat, but he remained composed. "I've heard of him. Does the owner have his eye on his painting skills?"

The wealthy Middle-aged Man nodded. "That's right. Bringing him into Wonderful Painting Workshop would raise Wonderful Painting Workshop's influence."

"But I heard he has ties to the yamen. He may not be easy to move against." Master Yan wore a troubled expression.

"Elder Yan is thinking too narrowly. We cannot use force against this kind of talent." The wealthy Middle-aged Man shook his head.

"Wonderful Painting Workshop has connections, while he has painting skills. If he works with us, he will gain more clients, and we will increase our influence. It is a win-win arrangement."

"Then I'll give it a try." Master Yan nodded.

"I'll have to trouble Elder Yan." The wealthy Middle-aged Man nodded in satisfaction.

After that came another round of raised cups and exchanged toasts.

After the meal, Master Yan parted from the others with a smile piled high on his face.

He left Ruyi Abode with two burly attendants.

Before he had gone far, the smile on his face gradually turned cold.

"I never expected that brat to really make something of himself!" Master Yan seethed inwardly.

"Zhang Qing and Li Fan really are two useless pieces of trash. If they had crippled him earlier, how would this have happened today?" Master Yan felt threatened.

"Once that brat enters Wonderful Painting Workshop, my position will no longer be secure." Master Yan frowned in deep thought.

"No. I must get rid of that brat!" Master Yan glanced at the two Burly Men behind him.

"These two came through Wonderful Painting Workshop's connections. I can't use them." Master Yan pondered in secret.

"I may have to make a trip to the Ghost Market. Another expense. Damn brat!" With a livid face, Master Yan strode away.