Trouble Arises

Dumplings when you leave home, noodles when you return. Wan Qing had made the hand-pulled noodles especially for them.

The noodles smelled heavenly, and they were springy and smooth on the tongue, bursting with a rich aroma of carbs.

From kneading the dough to controlling the heat, every step had been brought to perfection. The young woman's cooking was every bit as astonishing as her medical skills!

Xiao Cha ate straight from a basin, slurping it all down in one go. Patting her belly, she exclaimed:

"Ah, that hit the spot~ Wan Qing, I wish I could eat at your house every day~"

Wan Qing smiled. "You eat like an ox. I couldn't afford to keep you."

Lu Li was amazed by Xiao Cha's appetite, too!

And even after finishing a whole basin, her waist was still so slender. He couldn't imagine where all that food went.

At this rate, Xiao Cha's monthly salary of ten Silver Dollars was just enough to cover her meals. She gave all her "extra earnings" to the beggar children, so no wonder she was always scraping by.

Xiao Cha helped Wan Qing finish the noodle soup.

After the three of them finished dinner, it was time to burn incense, as usual.

Lu Li opened the drawer and saw that there were still three sticks of incense. "You haven't used them since I left?"

Wan Qing replied softly, "The two of us don't need such extravagance."

The two young women were just like that. Lu Li smiled and said no more, lighting the Calming Incense.

The fragrant smoke slowly curled through the air. Xiao Cha twitched her delicate nose and said with a hint of excitement:

"This incense is good for Martial Arts, too. After smelling it, my 'qi' flows especially smoothly. I'm confident I can reach Organ Refining within two months!"

Wan Qing said delightedly, "Once you reach Organ Refining in Martial Arts, you'll have the status of a provincial graduate. Your father would be so pleased if he knew!"

"Fortunately, the old man's death anniversary is coming up soon. I'll burn him plenty of money to spend down below~"

The two young women chatted animatedly while Lu Li listened quietly.

Organ Refining was the third realm of Martial Arts. They'd said before that "killing someone wasn't illegal," and now it turned out there were even academic honors involved.

It sounded incredibly impressive. If he ran into an enemy like that, would a gun even work?

By now, the Calming Incense was taking effect. The three of them fell silent and focused on absorbing the precious incense.

Lu Li and Xiao Cha both closed their eyes. Only Wan Qing kept hers open, her gaze unusually bright, her irises like a collapsing universe.

The next day, Lu Li still got up early.

Training in Martial Arts and Spirit Refinement kept his body in peak condition, and he felt full of energy every day.

The feeling was truly uplifting.

But his cultivation had hit a bottleneck, which put him in a foul mood.

After visualizing the Pine Stillness Diagram, he entered the Spirit Concentration State to test himself. The rate at which his mental strength increased had dropped sharply, so he suspected he was nearing the realm's limit.

Breaking through in Spirit Refinement depended on an enlightenment so mysterious it could scarcely be explained.

Even though this was only the second realm, the equivalent of moving up to second grade in elementary school, if he couldn't see through the barrier, then he simply couldn't see through it.

Lu Li set the matter aside for the time being and began practicing the White Dragon Whip Technique he had just learned.

His movements were extremely precise, but whenever he reached a crucial moment, his broken leg made him falter, preventing his strength from flowing in a smooth circle and keeping him from getting the best results from his training.

Lu Li didn't dwell on it. He simply threw himself into practice, again and again.

The benefit of physical training was that hard work could make up for a lack of talent.

Just as the young man's clothes were soaked through with sweat, the two young women came out of their room.

Beneath the bright spring sunlight, they looked noticeably fairer and more delicate, and a faint fragrance seemed to follow them as they walked.

Wan Qing smiled sweetly. "The Western Soap you brought works wonderfully, Young Master. After washing, my skin feels fragrant and smooth."

Xiao Cha handed him a towel. "It must have cost a lot, right? It even came in a crystal bottle."

Lu Li wiped away his sweat and smiled. "It wasn't worth much. Just use it."

The two women didn't believe him, thinking he was only being modest.

Just then, Xiao Cha remembered something and took out the five pocket watches, suggesting:

"It'd be too conspicuous to go back to the National Martial Arts Association to exchange them. How about we split up and pawn them at a few different shops?"

Lu Li had no objections. "Sounds good. That should save us some trouble."

"Then you take two and I'll take three. Let's go now. I can make my rounds while we're at it."

With the plan settled, the three of them set out at once.

Xiao Cha changed into her imposing patrol uniform, collected offerings all along the way, then left the goods with the little beggar children.

Tong Shao was still the one handing them out. The little girl even made a face at Lu Li.

Xiao Cha smiled. "I've been busy lately helping Tong Shao register for household residency. Once she's registered, she won't be a displaced person anymore. Then we can find a good family to adopt her."

Wan Qing readily agreed. "She's a very sensible girl. I've even thought about keeping her by my side."

The three of them chatted as they walked, and soon came to a crossroads.

"You two keep going straight. I'll head west, and we'll meet back here."

"Okay."

Since Lu Li didn't know the way, Wan Qing took him by the sleeve.

As they strolled along the bustling old street, the marketplace in Breathing Soil was alive with the warmth of everyday life.

Smelling the delicate fragrance on the young woman, Lu Li's restless heart gradually settled.

Though Wan Qing couldn't see, she understood everything. Her voice softened as she said:

"Young Master, there's no need to rush. You're brimming with talent. These little setbacks are just part of the scenery."

Her voice was tender and lilting, sending a delicious tingle through his bones every time he heard it.

Lu Li suddenly felt that these hardships really were nothing to worry about.

At that moment, the lovely young woman held his sleeve, and Lu Li longed to take her soft hand... but he could only imagine it. That would be far too forward.

"Young Master, we should be there."

"Ah... yes, we are."

Lu Li came back to himself and realized they had arrived at a pawnshop.

Inside, the place was rather amusing. The counter was so high that anyone who wanted to speak with the appraiser had to crane their neck.

A pawnshop appraiser might lack many things, but he was sure to have a keen eye for people.

With just one glance, he saw that Lu Li had the "air" of someone who wasn't short on money, and hurried out from behind the counter to greet him.

"Good day, Young Master. A pleasure to meet you. My surname is Zhang. What brings you here?"

Lu Li handed him the watch and said calmly, "Three hundred Ocean Dollars. An outright sale. I'm in a hurry, so don't dawdle."

Appraiser Zhang took it and gave it a quick look. It was worth that much.

Then he glanced up at Lu Li's imposing bearing and knew the young master wasn't one to waste time. If they couldn't agree, he'd really walk away.

There was no need to let a deal slip through his fingers. Appraiser Zhang cupped his hands. "As you wish. I'll fetch your payment."

The broad, well-fed appraiser went back behind the counter, then returned with a silver ingot.

Lu Li took it and saw words carved into the back: Dajin Bank, Taikang Ingot.

Those were the dynasty and era name. Without showing anything, Lu Li handed it to Wan Qing.

Wan Qing ran her hand over it and said softly, "A 150-tael ingot. Exactly 300 Ocean Dollars. The deal is settled."

The ingot was much easier to carry than 300 Silver Dollars. Lu Li nodded to the appraiser, then left the pawnshop with Wan Qing.

The two of them strolled back to the meeting point like a couple out for a leisurely walk.

Xiao Cha had long legs and ran fast, so she was already waiting. Once they reunited, she was about to head to the National Martial Arts Association.

But as they passed the street corner where Tong Shao was, all three of them turned pale!

Countless burly men were binding the little beggars together, their hands tied behind their backs.

Tong Shao was among them, her little face full of fear.

Nearby, several officials dressed like patrol officers watched coldly!

Xiao Cha immediately charged forward!