Photographic Memory

The saying "the greater the strength, the more luck one gained" had been proven true, and its value was rising as well.

"Just a bit too slow." Hong Ming was slightly disappointed.

If the efficiency had been higher, perhaps he could have broken through the Fate Grid requirements through cultivation alone.

Unfortunately, he did not truly possess the Fate Grid of a Child of Luck. He was more like a counterfeit.

Still, the growth of his luck gave him more choices when it came to solidifying Traits.

This greatly encouraged him. He quickly adjusted his mindset and was about to practice his stance when he suddenly spotted his little cousin at the door.

His cousin Hong Yi stood there like a wooden post, his bright, watery eyes fixed straight on him.

Noticing Hong Ming's gaze, Hong Yi blinked and asked curiously, "Brother Ming, are you practicing martial arts?"

"Yep!" Hong Ming replied with a smile. His relationship with his cousin had not been affected in the slightest by the older generation.

After receiving Hong Ming's confirmation, Hong Yi smiled. "Then have you mastered it?"

"Uh... not yet." Hong Ming was stumped by the question.

But Hong Yi did not mind. He pressed on excitedly, "Then when will you master it?"

"What is it? Do you want to learn martial arts?" Hong Ming felt that Hong Yi seemed even more eager than he was for him to succeed.

Yet Hong Yi's answer caught him completely off guard. "No. My mother said that once you master it, our family will be able to live a good life. Then I'll get to eat cured meat, white-flour steamed buns, braised pork, Osmanthus Cake, Candied Hawthorn... every day."

Like reciting treasures from his own home, he rattled off a long list of delicacies in one breath. He had eaten only a few of them; most he had merely heard of but never tasted.

As he spoke, he slurped several times and swallowed the saliva gathering in his mouth.

Yet the longing for good food in his eyes only grew more feverish, more tangible.

Listening to Hong Yi's simple, unadorned words, Hong Ming's feelings became inexplicably complicated.

Hong Yi gazed at Hong Ming expectantly and asked with innocent sincerity, "Brother Ming, when will you master it?"

Every word he said made one thing clear: he truly wanted to taste those delicious foods.

Hong Ming fell silent for a long while. Then he gently stroked Hong Yi's head, half comfort, half promise. "Soon. Soon. Don't worry. Braised pork, Candied Hawthorn—once Brother Ming masters it, we'll have it all. When that time comes, I'll let you eat to your heart's content!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Yi's saliva disgracefully spilled from his mouth, as though he could already see countless delicious foods waving at him.

This time, he recovered quickly and said with urgency and seriousness, "Then let's make a pinky promise."

He held out his hand, wanting to firmly seal their promise. Hong Ming did the same.

Once the pinky promise was made, Hong Yi obediently left the room and even closed the door behind him, afraid someone might disturb Hong Ming's martial arts practice.

Listening to Hong Yi's light footsteps outside and his excited voice bragging to his aunt, ripples stirred in Hong Ming's heart.

But another matter soon diverted his attention. He recalled the changes that had appeared on the panel when he had touched Hong Yi just now:

[Trait: Photographic Memory (Level 2 · Gold)]

[Status: Cannot be solidified (please level up)]

[Required Luck: 18 points]

[Solidification Effect: See it five times and never forget it.]

"A new Trait, and it even has levels?"

Hong Ming stared at the panel thoughtfully. So not only objects had Traits—people did too.

Moreover, Traits were divided into levels. The solidification of Traits at different levels was related to his own level.

This was the first Level 2 Trait he had encountered. Unfortunately, neither his level nor his luck was sufficient.

After sighing in regret for a moment, other thoughts quickly arose in Hong Ming's mind. Since his cousin Hong Yi had one, what about Grandfather and the others?

The moment he thought of this, Hong Ming lost all desire to cultivate and went to test them one by one instead.

The result was disappointing. The old master and the others had no Traits.

This was similar to the pattern he had previously concluded: not everyone possessed a Trait!

Returning to his room, Hong Ming calmed his emotions and immersed himself in stance practice, pouring his limited time into boundless cultivation.

The next day, after hastily eating breakfast and informing his grandfather that his injuries had improved, Hong Ming headed straight for the Water Army Garrison.

Clear River City commanded the eight-thousand-li Jianghuai main waterway. Its waters crisscrossed like a net, its routes extended in all directions, connecting inland grain transport above and river docks below. Merchant ships and grain boats flowed endlessly back and forth.

Countless related trades and factions had arisen from this, and the Water Army was the most formidable presence across all the waters of Qing Province.

Half an hour later, Hong Ming arrived at the Military Town. From afar, he saw the vast, misty Huai River coiled across his field of vision like a giant dragon, painting water and sky the same color.

Beyond the bustling market streets, where pedestrians streamed like weaving threads and vendors fell like rain, lay the true station and training grounds of the Water Army.

Hong Ming followed his memories toward the riverbank with practiced ease. Along the way, he happened to see a well-trained group chatting and laughing as they entered another camp.

They wore blue-black uniforms, the fabric crisp and the workmanship exquisite. Only official Water Army soldiers were qualified to wear such clothing.

Compared to Hong Ming's short outfit, washed pale and patched in several places, theirs looked incomparably more prestigious.

What those official Water Army uniforms represented was the double superiority of status and position.

At present, Hong Ming could at most be considered a reserve Water Army soldier. Not only was he unqualified to wear an official Water Army uniform, he did not even have the right to enter their camp.

Retracting his gaze, Hong Ming quickly reached the training ground. Before he could enter, a sturdy man called out to him, "Hong Ming, are your injuries healed?"

The speaker was Qin Hao, his roommate. The Water Army had dormitory quarters, and Hong Ming spent most of his days living there.

Qin Hao had enlisted more than a month after him, but he was smooth and polished in dealing with people, skilled at cultivating connections, and possessed an extensive network.

The job Hong Ming had obtained before had been introduced through him. Now that something had happened to Hong Ming, the employer would certainly have informed Qin Hao of the situation.

Hong Ming replied, "I've mostly recovered. Thank you for your concern, Brother Hao."

"As long as you're fine." Qin Hao waved his hand and sighed softly. "As for the money, you can earn it back slowly."

He had clearly learned from the employer about Hong Ming's massive debt.

"Right, do you want a job rowing a boat?" Qin Hao did not dwell on the matter for long and revealed the purpose of his visit.

In the Training Camp, the Coiling Dragon Stake was essential stance training. Whether soldiers had inherited martial arts teachings or not, they all had to practice it.

And the best way to practice the Coiling Dragon Stake was to root oneself upon the vast waters and hold the stance aboard a boat.

This method could not only stabilize one's lower body quickly, but also increase cultivation efficiency.

Some sons of wealthy merchants, eager to master it as soon as possible, specifically spent money to hire others to row their boats.

Qin Hao acted as a middleman, building bridges and making connections. He contacted poor people like Hong Ming to take on such work and profited from it.

In the past, Hong Ming might have agreed without a second thought. But after obtaining the job Su Qiang had introduced yesterday, he preferred to spend his time practicing martial arts.

However, Qin Hao's offer swayed him. "One morning, one qian of silver!"

"One qian of silver?!"

Hong Ming was startled. That was practically equal to his entire fortune!

It was hard for him not to be tempted, but he did not agree immediately. Just as he was about to ask why, an impatient voice came from not far away:

"Qin Hao, are you done? If you are, hurry over and row the boat for my young master!"