Chen Mo had heard of the Ningjin Pill. It was one of the most precious pills for those in the Ming Jin stage.
A single pill was worth two taels of silver.
He accepted the bottle without hesitation or awkwardness, bowed, and thanked him.
"Thank you, Master!"
Yin Tianqing waved his hand. "There's no need to be so polite between master and disciple. Compared to what I gave you, I gave Zhang Chong and Yue Lun several times as much. It's just a pity..."
As he spoke, a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes, but quickly vanished.
"As for next month's Martial Examination, you... just do your best. If you truly can't break through to Dark Jin, then it's simply fate. You needn't put too much pressure on yourself."
Chen Mo nodded. "Master, rest assured. This disciple understands."
"Good. You may go."
The sun rose and the moon set. Several days passed in a flash.
Chen Mo shut himself inside the Wu Family's Blacksmith Room, never stepping outside. Only Chen Lan and the maids bringing his meals came by from time to time. He would give them a few perfunctory replies, then immerse himself in tending the fire and hammering metal.
Every day, he took one Ningjin Pill and several Zengjin Pills. He felt the strength within him flowing endlessly, like a river.
After watching several Dark Jin warriors fight and having an exhilarating battle with Luo Hou, Chen Mo had gained new insights into martial arts.
Aside from tending the fire and hammering metal each day, he honed his boxing techniques and tempered his stake technique, turning every insight he gained into the essence of his moves.
He vaguely felt that he was only one step away from the peak of Ming Jin.
In between tending the fire, he "looked" at the block of gleaming golden text in his mind:
[Thousand Hammer Refinement, Mountain and Water Cultivation] [Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique: Basic stake technique; trains the legs below and fist strength above] [Comprehension: 88/100 (Minor Achievement)] [Fuhu Fist: The fist holds a tiger's roar and contains an imposing force] [Comprehension: 95/100 (Minor Achievement)] [Luo Smoke Steps: Steps raise smoke, their traces leaving no dust] [Comprehension: 40/50 (Minor Achievement)]
"All these martial arts are only four or five days away from reaching minor achievement."
"Once my Dragon-Subduing Stake Technique reaches minor achievement, can I step straight into Dark Jin?"
He murmured to himself.
But then he shook his head.
"It can't be that simple. Otherwise, so many Ming Jin fighters wouldn't spend their entire lives unable to touch Dark Jin."
The martial world had always valued talent.
Not everyone possessed something that could break the shackles of their natural gifts.
That night, the moon shone bright and the stars were sparse.
The furnace fire flickered in the Blacksmith Room.
Chen Mo sat cross-legged before the furnace, eyes closed in contemplation. The flames seemed to send wisps of radiant characters drifting into his mind.
Every half hour, he would rise to practice his stances and throw punches. After another half hour, he would sit down and meditate again.
He repeated this cycle until deep into the night, when the stars hung low in the blue heavens.
When the last flame in the furnace went out, he was so exhausted that he fell asleep.
At daybreak.
Fragrant flowers beneath the eaves outside his window sent wisps of scent swirling around the lattice before slowly seeping into the room and reaching Chen Mo's nose.
He woke to the fragrance and stretched.
Then he suddenly felt a mighty force within him, making him a third stronger than he had been the day before.
"Have I reached the peak of Ming Jin?"
"Whoosh—"
He exhaled a long breath of stale air, his eyes shining brightly.
"Creak—"
Just then, the door to the Blacksmith Room opened. Chen Mo saw Wu Zhiai standing in the doorway in a blue dress, looking in at him.
"You didn't go back to rest last night?"
She asked in surprise.
Chen Mo scratched his head. "I got so caught up in practicing that I fell asleep here. Fortunately, I reached the peak of Ming Jin."
Wu Zhiai looked him over with interest. Compared to before he had gone into seclusion, he had indeed grown a lot sturdier. His arms, in particular, had become much thicker.
He was no longer that skinny young man.
Wu Zhiai teased him, "All that meat I've been feeding you every day wasn't wasted. If you were still as scrawny as before, it would mean I'd misjudged you."
Chen Mo smiled in agreement. "I've eaten more meat these past few days than I had in my whole life. I've also eaten most of the Ningjin Pills and Zengjin Pills."
"If that's not enough, just come to me anytime."
Wu Zhiai patted her chest. "From now on, I'll take care of your nourishing meals and medicinal supplements!"
"Will the Wu Family's eldest and second eldest young masters try to trip me up behind the scenes?" Chen Mo asked doubtfully.
Wu Zhiai shook her head. "Your performance at the Competition Tournament has been the talk of Black River Town these past few days. Everyone in the Wu Family is discussing you. Even if the eldest and second eldest aren't truly convinced, they won't dare deliberately target you."
"Your performance has benefited the Wu Family, too. Several Ming Jin warriors who had been undecided have already come here because of your reputation."
That was certainly true.
When you were strong, those who had once stood in your way would vanish like smoke.
When you were strong, those who had once ignored you would look upon you with favor.
Wu Zhiai said, "I've changed your position from guard to Wu Family retainer. Your monthly salary has been raised to five taels. You won't need to escort merchant caravans anymore."
"Then I thank you, Sister Ai," Chen Mo replied calmly.
By all rights, with his current strength at the peak of Ming Jin, he was more than qualified to be a Wu Family retainer.
Just then, Wu Zhiai suddenly remembered something. She pulled a letter from her robe and handed it to Chen Mo. "Here. A letter from the Zhao Family."
"The Zhao Family?"
Chen Mo took the letter. The envelope was intact and hadn't been opened.
He frowned. Since he had nothing to hide, he opened it in front of Wu Zhiai, took out the paper, and read it through with her.
The letter said, in essence, that the Zhao Family valued talent. They had heard of Chen Mo, a young hero, and wanted to recruit him as a retainer, offering a monthly stipend of ten taels, along with ample Zengjin Pills and Yiqi Powder.
Chen Mo read the contents of the letter aloud.
Wu Zhiai furrowed her brow slightly, though she had already guessed what the letter contained and wasn't too surprised.
Whether in the size of the family or the amount of the stipend, the Zhao Family far surpassed the Wu Family.
For a Ming Jin warrior, there was no reason to hesitate over such an offer.
Wu Zhiai waited for him to decide.
She had first informed Chen Mo that he would become a retainer, then brought out the letter, hoping to gain some advantage ahead of time.
However.
Chen Mo made no move to choose. Instead...
He tore the letter to shreds, then flicked the scraps into the furnace. When the fire was lit again, they would surely turn to a pinch of ash.
"You're not going to the Zhao Family?" Wu Zhiai asked.
Chen Mo saw the situation clearly. If he accepted the Zhao Family's offer and became their retainer, he would become a fish on the chopping board, at their mercy, while the Zhao Family gained a reputation for boundless magnanimity.
Even if he hesitated before refusing, it would drive a wedge between him and the Wu Family.
Whatever Chen Mo did, he would fall into their trap.
This letter was a poisonous scheme, killing without leaving a trace!
The only thing Chen Mo could do was tear it up without hesitation in front of Wu Zhiai.
He candidly told her exactly what he was thinking.
Hearing this, Wu Zhiai smiled with delight. "You're not only gifted in martial arts, but clever, too. I'm starting to truly admire you."
With that, she turned gracefully. Her skirt swept through an elegant arc, like a blue canopy unfurling, while beneath it lay an alluring, graceful figure.
She turned and left.
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