Qin Hu's Advice

"Gulp~"

Ignoring the still-dazed Li Zhiwu, Gu Yang took out a Military Rations Pill and swallowed it, then quietly began to feel for its effects.

He had been curious about the effects of the Military Rations Pill for a long time.

If he had not needed to accompany his family out for dinner last night, he would have taken it the very moment he got it yesterday.

"No effect?" Gu Yang frowned. After swallowing the pill, he had not felt anything unusual.

But after thinking it over, he chuckled softly.

This was not some immortal elixir that could make him ascend to heaven on the spot. How could it possibly have an immediate effect the instant he swallowed it? He was being too impatient.

To test the effects of the Military Rations Pill, he would still need to train for a while.

With that thought in mind, Gu Yang began practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art.

When it came to consuming stamina and nutrients, stance training was undoubtedly the foremost choice.

Posture, movements, footwork, Breathing Method...

As the stance training unfolded, every component moved in coordination and unity. Before long, Gu Yang had immersed himself in the practice, even forgetting that he was supposed to test the Military Rations Pill's effects.

Only after completing a set of stance training did Gu Yang let out a long breath. Then he suddenly felt as though a warm little flame had appeared in his stomach, burning ceaselessly and filling his entire abdomen with warmth.

"This thing... even if it had no effect of replenishing nutrients, it would definitely sell well in my previous life..."

As Gu Yang let his thoughts wander, he quietly sensed the changes taking place within his body.

Fine streams of warmth flowed from his stomach, seeping bit by bit into his body and rapidly replenishing the nutrients consumed by his recent stance training.

At the same time, that warm current continuously nourished his body, seemingly making up for the deficits left behind when he had forced himself to exercise and train despite insufficient nutrition.

But the sensation was too faint, and Gu Yang could not be certain.

Still, no matter what, the Military Rations Pill was a rare and precious thing.

"One Military Rations Pill can cover the consumption of three days of training. Ten pills make thirty days, and by then it will be time for the next Minor Competition. With my current strength, getting into the top hundred of the Minor Competition will be effortless. That means I can keep taking Military Rations Pills without needing to worry about the costs of training anymore."

"This is the benefit that strength brings!" Gu Yang's eyes shone with excitement as he clenched his fists. "Keep training!"

With the Military Rations Pills, there was naturally no need to eat the ten-odd jin of Black Tiger Meat left at home.

When the noon bell rang, Gu Yang quietly approached Qin Hu and explained his thoughts.

Two words: return the meat.

Though he did not know how much the Black Tiger Meat cost per jin, it certainly was not cheap.

Even if he no longer needed it, he could not simply dispose of it as he pleased. He still had to ask Qin Hu what he thought.

But after hearing Gu Yang's thoughts, Qin Hu frowned slightly and refused outright. "I'm not short of that little bit of meat. There's no need for you to rush to return it. If you don't need it anymore, sell it and use the money to buy a better pair of shoes. For a martial artist, a good pair of shoes is very important."

"Ah..." Gu Yang unconsciously drew his feet back.

He wore cloth shoes sewn by Gu Mother. They had cloth uppers and straw soles. They barely fit, but they were not particularly comfortable.

Their quality was especially poor. Whenever he exerted force in a match, he feared that one hard push would tear the soles apart.

Gu Yang had not expected Qin Hu to look rough and bold on the surface yet possess such careful thoughts. He had even noticed Gu Yang's shoes.

Seeing that Gu Yang remained silent, Qin Hu thought he was resisting the arrangement. His face immediately darkened as he rebuked him, "Don't show off that useless pride of yours here. At the beginning of the Martial Path, what you need to do is exhaust every resource and connection at your disposal to grow faster."

"For such a tiny favor, if you achieve something on the Martial Path, are you afraid you won't be able to repay it? But if your achievements on the Martial Path remain meager, what use is it even if you protect that pitiful pride of yours? If you appear before me again in the future, I won't even spare you a proper glance!"

"Ah!" Gu Yang froze for a moment, then hurriedly explained, "Master Qin, you misunderstood. I had no intention of refusing your kindness."

As a mature adult who had seen the coldness and warmth of human nature, he knew Qin Hu was right.

Of course, he had indeed never intended to reject Qin Hu's arrangement. Having resources but refusing to use them out of lofty self-regard—that was true foolishness.

"Hmph. What could a child barely in his teens possibly have such sensitive thoughts for?" Qin Hu snorted coldly, taking Gu Yang's words for stubborn bravado. After considering it, he made the arrangements directly.

"Take the remaining Black Tiger Meat to the Chai Family Tailor Shop in Three Origins Ward. Give the meat to the shopkeeper and say that you are my, Qin Hu's, disciple and wish to buy a pair of hard-soled cowhide boots. The Black Tiger Meat will serve as payment. She will naturally understand what to do."

"Thank you, thank you, Master Qin." Gu Yang lowered his head and eyes, thanking him from the bottom of his heart.

Having him find a shop and buy shoes really would not have been an easy task.

This place had no branded stores or specialty shops like in his previous life.

In this world, ordinary families made their own shoes. No one spent money to buy them, so there were no shops on the streets dedicated to selling footwear.

"Mhm. Go eat." Qin Hu waved a hand, then turned and left with calm indifference.

Gu Yang watched Qin Hu leave the Training Ground, but did not depart himself.

He had already taken a Military Rations Pill, so naturally he no longer needed to eat ordinary grains.

Sweeping his gaze across the already empty Training Ground, Gu Yang immediately went to a corner and began practicing stance training again.

Skill: Blood Nourishing Stance Mastery (94/200); Azure Dragon Dance Mastery (65/1000)

Talent: Vitality Surge, Power Surge.

As the sun sank behind the western hills and the evening bell rang, Gu Yang finally ended his day of training.

After an entire day of training, the proficiency of his Blood Nourishing Stance Art had increased by a full nine points!

This was the powerful effect of the Military Rations Pill. As long as his stamina was not exhausted, he could continue practicing stance training without end.

As long as he maintained the pace of taking one Military Rations Pill every three days, his strength would surely undergo another round of soaring growth in the coming days.

Following the crowd out of the Martial Academy at a brisk pace, Gu Yang met up with Gu Dashan and hurried home without lingering on the road.

Afterward, he explained a few things to his family, picked up the cloth bag containing the Black Tiger Meat, and left the courtyard.

He had kept the matter Qin Hu had instructed him to handle at noon firmly in mind.

Once Gu Yang left Nine Bends Ward, he headed straight east.

Unlike Nine Bends Ward, which lay in the northwestern corner and was dilapidated, filled with shanties, Three Origins Ward was located directly east of Wan City and was one of the city's three most prosperous wards.

When Gu Yang had previously searched the city for business opportunities, he had also visited the market streets of Three Origins Ward.

It had to be said that the goods sold there were far more exquisite and luxurious than those in Nine Bends Ward.

Of course, when goods were good, their prices naturally rose with the tide.

If not for Qin Hu's instructions, even if Gu Yang wanted to buy shoes, he would never have chosen Three Origins Ward.

Thanks to the standard Martial Academy uniform he wore, Gu Yang was not questioned by the guards outside the ward and entered Three Origins Ward without issue.

However, he encountered a small problem while looking for the Chai Family shop.

The shop did not seem well known. Gu Yang asked several passersby in succession, but none could offer useful information.

In the end, he was forced to offer five copper coins as a reward before someone stepped forward and led him to the tailor shop.

The Chai Family Tailor Shop was not very large, and from the outside, its decorations were quite ordinary.

But once he entered, Gu Yang saw many precious fabrics, as well as a beautiful middle-aged woman reclining in a rocking chair with her eyes closed in rest.

Presumably, she was the shopkeeper.

The middle-aged beauty appeared to be around Qin Hu's age, yet her face was smooth and flawless, without the slightest wrinkle.

A pale blue robe clung without tightening, accentuating her lush figure. That touch of pale blue made her skin appear snow-white and immaculate.

Thinking of how casually and naturally Qin Hu had made the arrangement, Gu Yang could not help giving the female shopkeeper another look.

Of course, he was not coveting her body. He was merely wondering whether this might be the mistress of his school, whom he had never met.

"Little fellow, you've looked several times already. Haven't you seen enough?"

Suddenly, a charming voice rang out.

Gu Yang focused his eyes and discovered that the female shopkeeper had opened her eyes at some point and was looking at him with an amused expression...