Showing Off Attracts Attention

Chapter 4: Targeted for His Wealth

Lin Le was practicing his punches when Hou Guang arrived, carrying two wooden poles, one long and one short. Both poles were wrapped with white cloth at either end.

Crack!

Hou Guang, a Martial Master at the peak of the Blood Essence realm, possessed keen senses and naturally heard the bone-cracking sounds coming from Lin Le.

'So fast?' Hou Guang's eyes revealed a hint of surprise. Good comprehension was one thing, but comprehension that far surpassed the norm was another.

For a normal person to achieve one crack, signifying entry into White Ape Shoulder-Hunching Fist, it took anywhere from ten to twenty days, or even one to two months.

But Lin Le had achieved it in less than a day. This level of comprehension could only be called genius.

Ordinary good comprehension was useless. It would take twenty to thirty years to fully grasp White Ape Shoulder-Hunching Fist and then alter one's bone structure. By then, it would be too late.

However, five to six years was different. Lin Le would only be twenty then, with ten years remaining. With the superior bone structure altered by White Ape Shoulder-Hunching Fist, he'd have a fifty percent chance of reaching the Unbroken realm and becoming a Cultivator.

Looking at it this way, Lin Le's chances of becoming a Cultivator were even higher than his own.

Hou Guang narrowed his eyes. This was indeed valuable.

Lin Le also sensed someone observing him. He stopped his movements and looked towards the observer, realizing it was Hou Guang.

However, Hou Guang's gaze made him uncomfortable. He wasn't looking at him like a person, but rather like a commodity.

Lin Le cupped his fists and said, "Good morning, Senior Brother Hou."

"Good morning," Hou Guang replied with a smile, tossing the shorter pole to Lin Le. "Catch. Today, we'll learn White Ape Spear."

"Alright," Lin Le caught the short pole and nodded.

"This is the starting stance, 'White Ape Offers Fruit.' Hou Guang held the pole with both hands, crouched slightly, with the spear tip pointing upward, resembling an ape offering a peach. Then, he began to dance with the spear.

"This is 'White Ape Climbs Branch,' used to parry an enemy's weapon or attack their upper body."

"This is 'White Ape Turns Over,' the spear moves with the body."

After demonstrating the entire set, Hou Guang wasn't even out of breath. He turned to Lin Le and asked, "Junior Brother Lin, how much did you remember?"

"I remembered it all," Lin Le replied.

Hou Guang stood to the side. "Show me."

Lin Le performed the White Ape Spear movements from memory. Although he moved slowly, he executed the entire set perfectly.

Truly photographic memory and astonishing comprehension!

Hou Guang clicked his tongue. "A month for the staff, a year for the saber, a lifetime for the spear." He recalled taking over half a month to fully master the movements of White Ape Spear when he first learned it. He never expected Lin Le to learn it after just one viewing.

After practicing with Lin Le for half an hour, Hou Guang said, "Alright, Junior Brother Lin, you've learned all the moves of White Ape Spear. You just need to practice diligently from now on."

"Your White Ape Shoulder-Hunching Fist has entered the introductory stage, right?" Hou Guang suddenly changed the subject.

"Yes," Lin Le nodded.

Hou Guang patted Lin Le's shoulder. "Brother gives you a piece of advice: practice White Ape Shoulder-Hunching Fist to completion as quickly as possible. It will greatly benefit you."

"Oh," Lin Le nodded, appearing naive.

Seeing Lin Le's bewildered expression, Hou Guang patiently explained, "Any martial art, when practiced to completion, has the effect of altering one's bone structure. Our White Ape Shoulder-Hunching Fist is particularly outstanding in this regard."

"The bone structure it alters is 'Ape Arms and Bee Waist,' which is quite good among superior bone structures."

"I've also felt your bone structure, Junior Brother. It's merely average to below-average. Without substantial resources, you'll be lucky to reach the first limit as a Martial Master. To become a Cultivator, one absolutely needs superior bone structure."

Hou Guang patted Lin Le's shoulder again. "So, take your senior brother's advice. Practice White Ape Spear less and White Ape Shoulder-Hunching Fist more. Altering your bone structure is what you should focus on. Don't waste your comprehension."

"Yes, thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother." Lin Le cupped his fists.

"If you have any problems, find me. I'm going to teach others," Hou Guang said.

"I will, Senior Brother Hou," Lin Le nodded.

Lin Le narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Hou Guang's retreating back. A middleman?

He had heard that there were several brokers within the martial arts schools. They would collect information on the apprentices and then pass it on to wealthy families. These families would give them 'tea money' to act as their spokesmen, persuading outstanding apprentices to become their servants.

Lin Le estimated that his talent was good, which was why Hou Guang saw him as a commodity being polished, expecting him to fetch a good price. Hou Guang himself would also receive a substantial amount of tea money.

In this era, such transactions were considered a win-win-win: the wealthy families gained a capable fighter, the brokers earned money, and the apprentices secured a well-paying job.

'It's a pity I have no intention of becoming anyone's dog.'

Lin Le stopped watching Hou Guang and focused on practicing White Ape Spear.

The White Ape Martial Arts School provided meals at noon. Although it was plain rice with cabbage, tofu, and a little minced meat, it was unlimited.

Lin Le ate his fill. The formation of Blood Essence fluid relied on dispersed vital energy, and unabsorbed food was also part of that dispersed vital energy.

Lin Le found a corner, leaned against the wall, and fell asleep counting his breaths.

After the midday rest, Lin Le did not continue practicing martial arts. Instead, he left the martial arts school.

He needed to find a place to live.

The three hundred wen per night at the inn was too expensive for him now. He'd rather buy Wild Ginseng with that money.

Even ordinary Wild Ginseng cost only one tael of silver per jin, and one tael of silver was equivalent to one thousand wen.

Lin Le didn't go to the real estate agent first, but headed to the county office to get his travel permit.

If he had become a cultivator, he could have traveled anywhere he pleased, but alas, he wasn't one yet, so he had to obediently get the permit.

At the White Mountain County Office, in the household registry room, a minor clerk sitting behind a desk looked at Lin Le and said, "One tael of silver."

Lin Le expressionlessly handed the tael of silver to the clerk.

The clerk quickly processed it and tossed a wooden plaque to Lin Le, saying, "This only allows passage within Anzhu Prefecture, don't wander off."

"Alright," Lin Le took the wooden plaque and left.

The clerk watched Lin Le depart, rubbed the small mustache on his lips, and then looked at the backup copy of the travel permit he had just written. He took out a bamboo slip and threw it outside.

Crack! The bamboo slip knocked down a lantern.

On a building nearby, a man saw the lantern fall, turned his head, and said, "Hey, the goods have arrived!"

As soon as he said this, several malicious gazes turned towards a short figure walking out of the doorway.

They knew a fat sheep had arrived.

Lin Le's footsteps faltered for a moment, but only for a moment. He quickly resumed his normal pace, though the whites of his eyes were now slightly tinged with red.

Upon arriving at the real estate agent's, Lin Le, with the agent's introduction, browsed and chose a small courtyard for two taels a month.

After spending a bit more money to get furniture, Lin Le checked out of the inn. Then, before the pharmacy closed, he spent fifteen taels to buy a five-year-old Blood Ginseng.

The firewood blazed, bringing the meat soup to a boil. Lin Le directly tossed the entire Blood Ginseng into the pot, covered it, and waited for the firewood to burn out.

The Dongpo pork was ready. Lin Le not only ate the meat but also consumed the Blood Ginseng bit by bit, drinking all the soup.

Blood Ginseng was more beneficial for Blood Essence than ordinary ginseng. A five-year-old Blood Ginseng, especially an entire plant, would likely cause even a Martial Master to get a nosebleed.

However, Lin Le's complexion only became slightly ruddy, with no other unusual signs. This was because his Lotus Incarnation had already absorbed all the medicinal power that Lin Le couldn't digest.

Within his Inner Vision Divine Ability, he saw a lotus leaf generating a small drop of red dew.

Without hesitation, Lin Le directly used the dew and began practicing his martial arts in the courtyard.

The sounds of his fists and feet striking the air echoed incessantly within the courtyard.