Thugs

Jiang Che immediately began reading the skill description for [Omen].

"Danger omen... it can only give me a few seconds' warning in advance?"

"But it's better than nothing. At least it gives me another way to save my life!"

Thinking of all the dangers lurking in this world, he felt somewhat reassured.

Over the next few days, Jiang Che worked hard to break through to the Blood-Qi Realm.

Unfortunately, his sense of Qi-Blood came and went, and he could never grasp it precisely.

"It seems I still need actual combat..."

But after looking around, he could no longer find a suitable opponent in the Martial Arts Hall.

Over the past few days, apprentices had been leaving the Martial Arts Hall one after another.

Most of them walked with their heads hanging low, bundles on their backs and dim eyes.

The one-year deadline had arrived. Those who failed to sense Qi-Blood were fated to have no connection with the martial path.

There were fewer and fewer people in the courtyard.

That day, Zhao Xisheng came to say goodbye as well.

With a gray cloth bundle on his back, he stood at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall, his expression complicated.

"Jiang Che, I'm leaving."

Zhao Xisheng gave a bitter laugh.

"After spending so much silver, I still don't have the talent for this."

Jiang Che fell silent for a moment, then patted his shoulder. "At least you tried."

Zhao Xisheng shook his head, took out a piece of dried fish from his pocket, and stuffed it into Jiang Che's hand.

"My father caught a Blood-Veined Perch before. It isn't purebred, but it should still help Qi-Blood somewhat."

Jiang Che froze. Blood-Veined Perch was said to be an immensely nourishing delicacy, worth ten taels of silver per fish on the market!

Even a non-purebred one could sell for five taels of silver.

This piece alone had to be worth at least two taels!

Jiang Che hurriedly tried to refuse. "This is too valuable. You should keep it for yourself!"

"Consider it a small token from me. Don't stand on ceremony. Besides, I can't use it now..."

His tone was somewhat despondent.

"My father said I should go back and fish with him. From now on... I'm afraid I'll never have another chance to practice martial arts."

With that, he forcibly stuffed the dried fish into Jiang Che's hand.

"Your fists are so good, and you work so hard. You have to keep going. Don't give up!"

He patted Jiang Che's shoulder encouragingly.

Then he turned and left, his back looking somewhat lonely.

Jiang Che held the dried fish tightly, his heart sinking slightly.

The martial path was cruel. Talent determined everything.

If he did not have the Proficiency Panel, he probably would not be doing much better than Zhao Xisheng right now!

After returning home, Jiang Che steamed the piece of dried fish.

When it was done, Jiang Che lifted the lid from the pot, and a rich fish fragrance immediately drifted out.

Though it was no longer fresh and tender when he ate it, it had a firm, springy texture and was utterly delicious.

Jiang Ling swallowed, but she knew Jiang Che needed it to nourish his body. So when Jiang Che asked whether she wanted some, she hurriedly refused.

Jiang Che did not force her. For the moment, he truly needed it more.

Jiang Che quickly finished all the fish.

Before long, he felt a reaction in his abdomen.

His dantian felt warm, as if a ball of fire had ignited inside it.

He immediately circulated his cultivation, attempting a breakthrough.

Half an hour later, however, he had no choice but to stop.

He could feel his Qi-Blood surging; he had already reached the edge of a breakthrough.

Yet at every crucial moment,

the Qi-Blood he had just condensed became like drifting sand,

and abruptly scattered.

In the days that followed, Jiang Che practiced while continuing his business of writing letters for others.

On the notice board at the street corner, more and more missing-person notices appeared.

When he occasionally stopped to read them closely, he found that most of those who had recently vanished were young, able-bodied men.

"Strange..."

He muttered with a frown.

Worse still, business was getting poorer and poorer.

He used to earn twenty or thirty copper coins a day.

Now, he often sat there all day without a single customer.

While resting at a tea stall, he heard several merchants talking in low voices.

"Have you heard? The bandits of Black Wind Mountain outside the city robbed another merchant caravan. They didn't leave a single survivor!"

"Those beasts! They say their leader, Tuoba Lie, is an expert from the Western Regions. His strength is no weaker than Li Hanchuan, the Seven Star Gang's leader!"

"And he has eight sworn sons under him, every one of them an expert. Who would dare provoke them? Merchant caravans don't even dare leave the city now, and letters can't be delivered either!"

Jiang Che's heart sank.

No wonder business was so bleak.

He squeezed his shriveled money pouch and sighed.

That day, Jiang Che entered Wonderful Heart Studio, intending to buy some new brushes, ink, and writing paper.

Business was poor, but for now, this was the only way he could make a living.

Several rows of sandalwood shelves stood neatly arranged inside, stocked with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

A few paintings and calligraphy works hung sparsely on the walls.

The shopkeeper was a fair-faced middle-aged man, studying a piece of calligraphy with a worried frown.

"This doesn't look right either..."

He muttered under his breath.

Jiang Che chose several cheap items and tested them by writing a few characters on the spot.

Just as he set down the brush, the shopkeeper suddenly came over and stared fixedly at the characters he had written.

"Young man, your handwriting is quite good." The shopkeeper lowered his voice, glanced around, then asked mysteriously, "I have a job here. Can you take it?"

"What kind of job?" Jiang Che raised a brow.

The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together. "Forging calligraphy and paintings."

"Forging?" Jiang Che was taken aback. "Isn't that improper?"

"Rest assured, we aren't deceiving people by selling them as authentic works. We specifically sell them to those who need calligraphy and paintings to decorate their homes, but don't want to spend a fortune on genuine pieces," the shopkeeper explained.

"Oh? How is the payment calculated?" Jiang Che asked.

The shopkeeper said quietly, "Five taels of silver for average quality. Ten taels for good quality, or even more!"

Jiang Che's heart skipped a beat.

Five taels of silver?

To him, that was practically an enormous fortune!

Though forgery was not exactly an honorable occupation...

many famous scholars of ancient times had forged calligraphy and paintings when they had fallen on hard times.

And since they were not being sold as genuine works, it was not really cheating anyone.

Jiang Che quickly convinced himself.

He put on a calm front. "How is the quality judged?"

The shopkeeper smiled. "By the effect of what you write. The closer it is to the original, the higher the price."

Jiang Che considered it briefly. "Then I'll give it a try."

The shopkeeper was overjoyed and hurriedly led him into the back room.

A genuine work lay spread across the table, its brushwork vigorous and powerful, its artistic conception profound and far-reaching.

Jiang Che stared at it for a moment, and suddenly felt his heart jolt.

[Skill: Writing Perfection Realm → Calligraphy Initiation]

[Calligraphy Initiation (1/100)]

"Writing actually advanced into Calligraphy!"

Jiang Che was secretly astonished. He had not expected skills to advance in this way.

"Perfect. I can test the effects of this Calligraphy..."

He entered the Flow State, dipped his brush in ink, and began to write.

His wrist was steady, and the brush tip flowed like drifting clouds and running water.

A moment later, the shopkeeper's eyes widened. He picked up the imitation in disbelief and compared it with the original again and again.

"This... this can practically pass for the real thing! It's far better than the ones I bought before!"

The shopkeeper suppressed his excitement and deliberately acted reluctant. "It's all right. Let's call it five taels."

Though Jiang Che did not know the market rates, five taels was already far beyond his expectations, so he nodded in agreement.

After paying him, the shopkeeper immediately ordered ten more pieces, requiring Jiang Che to finish them within a month.

After leaving Wonderful Heart Studio, Jiang Che held the five taels of silver he had just received, feeling their satisfying weight. His mood soared.

The sky had not yet fully darkened, so he headed straight for the market and bought a roast chicken, intending to give himself and his sister an extra meal.

"Little Linger, that greedy girl, will probably jump for joy when she sees the roast chicken."

Thinking of how eagerly his sister would look at the roast chicken amused him.

However, on his way home, his footsteps suddenly halted.

At the entrance to an alley, a burly man lounged against the wall with a club in hand, staring at him with cold eyes.

It was the thug Zhao Hu.

Jiang Che's heart sank. He wanted to take another route, only to find two more people blocking the way behind him.

"Well, well, if it isn't the kid who writes letters for people?" Zhao Hu grinned, exposing yellowed teeth. "Made quite a bit of money, have you?"

Jiang Che remained calm. "What business do you gentlemen have with me?"