Adding Skill Points

As soon as Qi Yu returned to the manor, he wanted to take out the recipe for "Essence Replenishing Soup" and give it to A Bi, asking her to instruct the servants to prepare it.

Martial arts training was still in its infancy. If he directly took it to Madam Liu or Third Master Qi to ask for it, he would inevitably have to resort to his usual "childish tantrum for candy" act, which would be too undignified.

He thought to himself, once he truly achieved something, his mother and father would naturally support him.

However, when he returned to his courtyard, A Bi was nowhere to be found. Upon inquiring, he learned that she had been summoned by the First Madam.

Recalling the strangeness of the previous night, Qi Yu's heart tightened, and he hurried to Madam Liu's residence.

From a distance, he could faintly hear Madam Liu's stern scolding from inside.

Granny Zhao, the gatekeeper at Madam Liu's courtyard, also saw him.

Granny Zhao shouted with a loud voice, "Young Master is here!"

After this shout, the scolding inside the house ceased.

Qi Yu strode into the courtyard and entered the room.

Everyone in the room was smiling.

A Bi was also smiling, but her smile was so strained it was about to fall apart, and her eyes were faintly red.

"Mother, your son has returned."

Qi Yu bowed respectfully, then feigned surprise and said, "A Bi, why are you here?"

A Bi lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes, not daring to speak.

Madam Liu smiled, "I watched A Bi grow up and have always considered her half a daughter. Now I want to transfer her to my side to serve. Yu'er... you're not reluctant, are you?"

Qi Yu said, "A Bi has been helping me prepare the medicinal baths and hot compresses these past few days. If it were someone else, I'm afraid it wouldn't be as convenient and would delay my martial arts progress. If Mother likes her, perhaps we can discuss it in a while?"

Madam Liu paused, then beckoned, "Yu'er, come closer."

Qi Yu took a few steps forward.

Madam Liu carefully examined the young man before her. She saw that his eyes now held a lot more spirit, no longer as dull and lifeless as before. She thought to herself, Is he really practicing martial arts diligently? Recalling his words from just now, she nodded in agreement.

He clearly came looking for A Bi, yet asked why she was here.

He clearly didn't want A Bi to leave, but knew that saying so directly would put A Bi in a bad position. Therefore, he resorted to delaying tactics, and then... he hoped to prove himself through martial arts, thereby gaining greater bargaining power after the delaying tactics ran out.

A flash of admiration crossed Madam Liu's eyes. She smiled, "How about this, Yu'er, I heard you're practicing the Spirit Serpent Posture?"

"Yes."

"I heard from Green Bamboo that if you can feel the posture within seven days, even with mediocre talent, you've barely entered the threshold of martial arts."

"Yes."

"Then how about my son and I make a bet? Yesterday and today don't count. Starting from tomorrow... if you can feel the posture within seven days, A Bi will stay in your courtyard. If you can't..."

She glanced meaningfully at the restless girl, "A Bi is also of an age to be married."

Saying this, she closed her eyes slightly, tapping her fingers on the table, waiting for her son to act spoiled and throw a tantrum as usual.

If that were the case, she would conveniently transfer A Bi to her side, and after a year or so, when her son forgot about it, she would make other plans.

"Mother, it's a deal." Qi Yu said.

Madam Liu opened her eyes in slight surprise, "Good, it's a deal."

With that, she smiled gently and glanced at the extremely flustered girl, "A Bi, go back to the young master's courtyard."

"The young master has really grown up; even his words are well-structured now."

Qing Dai chuckled, her eyes full of joy, but then her brow furrowed. "It's just... A Bi has been with the young master since childhood. That vixen is so clever. If the future in-laws notice anything, won't it ruin the marriage?"

Madam Liu naturally knew that A Bi and her son had feelings for each other. Since her son was a prodigal, a good marriage was necessary to maintain their status. This was not only for her son but also for herself.

The Qi family had three branches, and her Third Master's manor was just one of them. It could fall into decline quickly. For longevity, marriage was indispensable.

The arranged marriage at the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall was actually not bad, but she felt the chances were slim.

Therefore, before the marriage began, she had to eliminate any unfavorable factors that could affect it as much as possible.

A Bi, being a childhood sweetheart and her son's first woman, naturally had to be driven away to prevent that slut from causing trouble.

"Yu'er has grown up, and I can't suppress him and break his heart."

"Let the young master try. But... can the young master succeed?"

Qing Dai rested her chin on her hand, looking deeply contemplative and curious, clearly adorable.

Madam Liu said, "As a mother, of course, I have confidence in my son. Therefore... I don't think Yu'er will succeed. But he agreed to the bet himself. If he loses, even if he cries and begs, I will marry A Bi off. It can also be considered... a lesson from me, his mother."

Qi Yu took A Bi back to the courtyard.

The two had lived together in this courtyard for ten years.

There are many memories.

Qi Yu transmigrated, or rather, it was more like awakening to a past life.

"A Bi, if you wish to marry, I will ask Mother to find you a good family."

The young girl suddenly knelt down and said, "A Bi... doesn't want a formal title, she wants nothing. A Bi only wishes to stay by Young Master's side, to serve Young Master, and to serve Young Madam. A Bi will definitely not make Young Master and Young Madam unhappy."

"Get up."

Qi Yu was silent for a moment, then took out the prescription for Essence Replenishing Soup and handed it over, saying, "Make a pot of Essence Replenishing Soup every day..."

Because he had already grasped the essentials of the Serpent Stance Cultivation Method, all that was left was perseverance. To begin...

The next day, Qi Yu did not go to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall again, only cultivating diligently in the courtyard.

A Bi quietly stood by, her gaze gentle.

Occasionally, the corners of her lips would curl up, as if she had made a certain decision...

If Young Master failed, she would never let him feel guilty or sad.

She would smile and say, "A Bi actually... wants to get married."

Qi Yu simply didn't want the people around him to be transferred away for some inexplicable reason; nothing else mattered much.

Tedious, difficult to endure, distracting thoughts...

He persevered.

After practicing, he drank the Essence Replenishing Soup, and A Bi gave him hot compresses.

On the second day, A Bi, having heard about "stretching" from who knows where, diligently massaged and pressed him while giving him hot compresses.

The little girl pressed with all her might, disregarding the pain in her fingers.

Time passed, and it was the fourth day.

On the fourth day, Qi Yu's status panel finally showed a change.

[Skill Point: 1]

[Cultivation Method: Spirit Serpent Posture (1/2)]

The panel appeared, clear at a glance.

The "(1/2)" after Spirit Serpent Posture indicated that this was one of the easiest cultivation methods to practice. At this moment, a faint shadow of a "+" sign appeared after "Spirit Serpent Posture (1/2)".

But...

Four days...

And counting the two days before.

It took him a full six days to reach half the progress of the Spirit Serpent Posture.

Strictly speaking, his innate talent was not even average or below average.

However, this was normal. By eighteen years old, a person's bones are almost set. Even if his innate talent was decent when he was young, after years of indulging in worldly pleasures, it had long since been worn away.

This was also why Madam Liu dared to bet with him.

Without hesitation, and without choice, Qi Yu's mind moved, and he clicked on the "+" sign after "Spirit Serpent Posture (1/2)".

The next moment, a sense of fulfillment, born from diligent practice and sweat, washed over him as if it were natural.

Spirit Serpent Posture, Cultivation Method, Complete!