Understanding Qi Sense

In a bedroom at a country estate.

Shi Mu sat in a chair, staring at the small bottle on the table before him, lost in thought.

Suddenly, several knocks sounded from outside.

"Come in."

Shi Mu didn't even look up as he said it flatly.

The door swung open, and a pretty figure entered carrying a wooden tray. With practiced ease, she set a steaming bowl of meat porridge on the table.

"Miss Zhong, you're here again. Didn't I tell you there's no need for you to do this kind of menial work?" Only then did Shi Mu look up. He shook his head as he spoke to the young woman before him.

It was Zhong Xiu.

Ever since she'd come to the estate, she'd been grateful to Shi Mu for taking her in. In the days since, she'd often visited his quarters of her own accord to serve him tea and meals.

"Big Brother Shi, you haven't eaten anything for a whole day. You should have something. I simmered this porridge myself over a low flame," Zhong Xiu said softly. Though the livid mark on her forehead was impossible to miss, she still had a gentle, captivating air about her.

"I haven't eaten for a whole day?" Shi Mu was taken aback, then gave a wry smile. "Well, in that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

He picked up the bowl of meat porridge and polished it off in three quick gulps, letting out a contented sigh.

"Miss Zhong, this porridge is delicious. I never knew you were such a good cook. Whoever marries you will be in for a feast every day."

"Big Brother Shi, you're teasing me. With my plain looks, who would ever find me appealing? But if you really like my cooking, Xiu'er can cook for you often from now on." Hearing Shi Mu's words, Zhong Xiu's fair cheeks flushed. She answered with a hint of delight.

"If that's the case, then I..."

Shi Mu smiled at the girl, about to say more, when footsteps sounded outside. Zhang Suo rushed in and said hurriedly:

"Young Master Shi, Steward Cheng from the Jin Family is here. He wants to see you right away."

"Old Cheng? All right, I'll go see him." Shi Mu's eyes narrowed slightly, but he answered without hesitation. He put away the little bottle on the table and strode out.

Zhang Suo naturally hurried after him.

Zhong Xiu hesitated for a moment, then followed.

A short while later, outside the estate's main gate, Shi Mu looked at the banknotes Jin Cheng had handed him, his expression darkening.

"So my Spirit Qi Pill is gone, and I've been given thirty thousand taels of silver instead. Very good. The market price of a Spirit Qi Pill is only ten thousand taels of silver. So I've made a killing after all."

"Ahem. Young Master Shi, the Madam did everything she could. She even went to the Jin Family's main residence herself and made a scene. But the Patriarch gave the order in person, so the Madam could do nothing about it. She even paid these thirty thousand taels out of her own pocket. Also, the Madam asked me to tell Young Master Shi that although she can no longer provide you with Spirit Qi Pills, the other condition she promised you still stands." The old man in blue coughed lightly, then explained.

As it happened, the Jin Family steward had always thought well of Shi Mu. When he heard that Shi Mu had awakened the waste veins, he'd felt a pang of regret.

"So it was the Jin Family Patriarch who gave the order. Aunt Zhen must have had a hard time," Shi Mu said, somewhat surprised. Only then did he slowly take the banknotes.

"I'm glad Young Master Shi understands the Madam's intentions. Also, the Madam said that some people in the Jin Family might take this opportunity to make things difficult for you. It would be best if you stayed out of the city for a while," Jin Cheng added after a moment's thought.

"All right, I understand. Please thank Aunt Zhen for me," Shi Mu said with a slight nod.

"Then this old servant will take his leave. Oh, if Young Master Shi truly hasn't given up on the martial path, I do know of a good place." Seeing that Shi Mu had remained calm after hearing all this, the old man smiled. He took a slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Shi Mu, then departed with a flourish.

Shi Mu stood at the gate, watching until the old man disappeared from sight. He still held the three banknotes and the slip of paper motionless in his hand.

Zhong Xiu and Zhang Suo had listened to everything from the side.

The girl had gleaned some of what was going on. Worry crept into her gaze as she looked at Shi Mu, while Zhang Suo wore a baffled expression, as if he hadn't understood the meaning of the exchange between Shi Mu and Jin Cheng.

That night, Shi Mu sat cross-legged on his bed, toying with the little bottle he'd taken out at noon. His gaze was cold as ice.

Stone Monkey Waste Veins?

Heh. I refuse to believe I'm a good-for-nothing!

Mother, don't worry. Now that I've set my heart on becoming one of the strongest people in the world, I'll never give up halfway and bring shame on you. What does a mere case of waste veins matter? It's not as if every meridian in my body has been severed!

After muttering these words, Shi Mu suddenly pulled off the bottle's cap, tipped out a milky-white pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

It was the Spirit Qi Pill given to him by the mysterious young woman who called herself the Heavenly Yin Enchantress.

The pill had been as hard as iron, but the instant it entered Shi Mu's mouth, it softened like cotton and turned sweet. In just a few breaths, it melted into a mouthful of liquid that slid straight down his throat, then became a rush of searing energy that spread through his stomach.

Boom!

Shi Mu's head roared. In an instant, his five senses became several times sharper, while every part of his body began to itch unbearably.

He immediately sat cross-legged with his eyelids lowered, his expression grave.

At the same time.

In a quiet room in the Jin Mansion.

A middle-aged man was standing before a youth with a face much like his own, cursing him furiously.

"Good-for-nothing! You call that kid Shi Mu a good-for-nothing, but you're not even as good as someone with waste veins! You're the real good-for-nothing. This is already your second time taking a Spirit Qi Pill. Didn't you say you were absolutely certain you'd grasp the Qi sense this time? So what happened? How did I end up with a useless son like you? If I'd known this would happen, why would I have gone to such trouble to take the Spirit Qi Pill from Seventh Sister? I might as well have left it for that kid Shi Mu and saved myself a few taels of silver."

The middle-aged man grew angrier as he went on. He suddenly raised his hand and slapped the youth across the face, then flung open the door and stormed out.

"Shi Mu..."

Jin Tian touched his swollen, reddened cheek and ground out someone's name through clenched teeth.

Half a day later, Shi Mu pressed one hand against his abdomen, sensing a wisp of warmth flickering faintly beneath his palm. He was thrilled and astonished in equal measure.

This was Qi sense!

Without the help of the Spirit Qi Pill, he truly would have been unable to sense its existence.

Now, as long as he found a Houtian cultivation method, he would be able to cultivate the true qi that only Houtian Martial Artists possessed.

In a sense, it was only now that he could be considered a true martial artist.

Only after a long while did Shi Mu withdraw his mind from his body. He took the slip of paper Jin Cheng had given him from his sleeve, unfolded it, and read it carefully.

"The Three Frontier Provinces! The Military Martial Hall!"

After a long pause, the youth murmured aloud.

(At last, the story is truly getting underway! And while I'm at it, please vote for the story!)