Bitter Cultivation

"Hello, shopkeeper. I am Master Qin's disciple from the Martial Academy. Master Qin sent me to buy a pair of hard-soled cowhide boots."

Seeing the female shopkeeper wake up, Gu Yang immediately withdrew his gaze and explained why he had come.

He then added, "I was staring at you just now because I wanted to ask whether you were the shopkeeper of this store. But seeing that you were dozing, I did not dare disturb you rashly."

As he spoke, he lifted the cloth sack in his hand and placed it on the shop counter.

"This is ten jin of Black Tiger Meat. Master Qin said I could use it to offset the cost of the boots."

"Qin Hu? Wasn't he training newcomers? How did he end up with a disciple as old as you?"

The female shopkeeper rose and sashayed over to Gu Yang. She opened the cloth sack, took out the Black Tiger Meat frozen hard as a plank, and examined it carefully for a few moments. Then she raised her head, pointed at a chair against the wall, and said, "Sit over there and take off your shoes."

"I am a villager from near Mang Mountain. Last month..." As Gu Yang briefly explained his situation, he nimbly sat down on the chair and removed his shoes.

"Oh, what an interesting little fellow." As she spoke, the female shopkeeper returned to the inner room and brought out a soft measuring tape.

Though Gu Yang did not know whether this female shopkeeper truly was his "master's wife," he was certain that she was an expert shoemaker.

It took only a short while for the female shopkeeper to measure both of Gu Yang's feet.

"Come pick up the boots in three days." After giving Gu Yang this instruction, the female shopkeeper carried the sack of Black Tiger Meat into the back of the shop.

Gu Yang nodded and committed it to memory, then immediately rose to take his leave.

But before he could walk out the door, the female shopkeeper called him back. "Here, this is your change."

Looking at the two taels of silver she had tossed onto the counter, Gu Yang was puzzled. "My change?"

"Yes. Ten jin of Black Tiger Meat is worth five taels of silver, while a pair of hard-soled cowhide boots costs three taels. Isn't it normal for me to give you back the difference of two taels?" the female shopkeeper said blandly.

"Oh, that is normal. Thank you, shopkeeper..."

Gu Yang grabbed the silver from the counter and clenched it tightly in his hand, his emotions tangled and complicated.

Ten jin of tiger meat was worth five taels of silver, so twenty jin would be worth ten taels.

When he had received this sack of Black Tiger Meat from Qin Hu, it had only been his second day at the Martial Academy.

I owe him a huge favor. Muttering this inwardly, Gu Yang greeted the female shopkeeper once more before turning to leave.

The sun had just risen, and morning mist filled the air.

At the Martial Academy's Training Ground, the disciples had all assumed their stances and sparred in pairs. Only Gu Yang in the corner was intently practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art, and no one dared disturb him.

Ever since Gu Yang had defeated Xiahou Ji with seven punches the day before yesterday, no one in the entire formation had dared challenge him to spar again.

There was no other reason. They simply did not want to ask for a beating.

"Exhale, inhale..."

Adjusting his breathing rhythm to match his fists, kicks, and bodily movements, Gu Yang's stamina rapidly drained away as he unfolded the stance art.

Bang!

His right toes exerted force and stomped heavily against the ground. The dark cyan cowhide ankle boots on his feet did not deform or twist in the slightest.

Movement after movement flowed into the next. After half an hour, Gu Yang finished practicing the complete set of stance art movements. Only then did he draw in his stance, inhale, and stand tall.

Skill 'Blood Nourishing Stance' Proficiency +1

It had now been seven days since he had gone to Three Origins Ward to buy the leather boots.

Four days ago, after receiving the boots, he had put them on immediately.

It had to be said that the three taels of silver had been money well spent.

Compared to his former cloth shoes, not only were they far more comfortable beneath his soles, but the quality of these leather boots also completely exceeded his expectations.

This dark cyan cowhide had definitely not come from an ordinary farm ox or beef cattle. More likely, it had been taken from some kind of Ferocious Beast. Only then could it withstand the explosive force of a martial artist's feet.

Ferocious Beasts specifically referred to wild beasts whose combat strength could rival that of martial artists.

In the stories passed down by word of mouth in Houshan Village, Ferocious Beasts existed deep within Mang Mountain. However, those Ferocious Beasts all lived in the depths of the mountains, far from Human Race settlements. Ordinary people would never see one in their entire lives.

"Exhale..."

He breathed out softly, and it turned into white mist in the air. Gu Yang closed his eyes and looked toward the starlight before him.

Skills: Blood Nourishing Stance · Minor Accomplishment (181/200); Azure Dragon Dance · Minor Accomplishment (95/1000)

Talents: Vitality Surge, Power Surge.

Over these seven days, Li Zhiwu had not come looking for him to spar again, so Gu Yang had spent most of his time cultivating the Blood Nourishing Stance Art.

Driven by his thirst for strength, Gu Yang cultivated with extreme diligence.

Based on past experience, one Military Rations Pill could fully support the nutritional expenditure of three days of cultivation for a Strength Training martial artist.

Yet Gu Yang had forcibly digested an entire Military Rations Pill in just over two and a half days.

From that alone, one could see just how bitterly he had trained during this period.

It could be said that throughout an entire day, aside from occasionally practicing the movements and stances of Azure Dragon Dance to relax his mind, he spent every other moment cultivating the Blood Nourishing Stance Art.

Day or night, whether at the Martial Academy or at home, one could always see him practicing stance training.

It was precisely in this frenzied state that Gu Yang had managed to advance the proficiency of the Blood Nourishing Stance Art to its current level in only seven days.

His proficiency had already reached ninety percent. In less than two days, the stance art could break through once more!

"Gu Yang, spar with me again!"

Li Zhiwu's voice suddenly rang out. Gu Yang abruptly opened his eyes and looked beside him.

"I just challenged Xiahou Ji. I also defeated him in only seven punches. Now, I am no weaker than you!"

At that moment, Li Zhiwu's eyes were filled with fighting spirit and confidence.

Clearly, during those seven days in which he had "disappeared," he had absolutely not been idle. He must have spent them in bitter cultivation.

"Fine." Seeing Li Zhiwu so confident, Gu Yang did not refuse.

However...

"The money cannot be short!" Gu Yang added with a smile.

"Fine, no problem." Li Zhiwu gritted his teeth and nodded. "Come on."

The two men pulled apart again and stood facing each other.

This time, Li Zhiwu did not even offer a greeting. With one kick against the ground, he charged straight at Gu Yang.

"Interesting." Gu Yang narrowed his eyes, stepped forward, and took the initiative to meet him.

Bang, bang, bang!

In the blink of an eye, the two had collided four or five times.

"Li Zhiwu's fist technique and footwork must both have broken through." After only a brief exchange, Gu Yang noticed that his opponent's improvement was tremendous.

His strength had increased by a large margin, and both his fist technique and footwork were far more refined than during their previous exchange.

But it was still not enough!

Bang!

With one punch, Li Zhiwu staggered backward before finally landing on his backside atop the Bluestone Floor.

Gu Yang merely stood where he was and watched him retreat step by step without pursuing him.

Li Zhiwu suddenly raised his head to stare at Gu Yang and asked in disbelief, "How is this possible? How could you be this strong? Didn't you also need seven punches to defeat Xiahou Ji?"