Tiger Python Force

Half a day later.

Steward Fang and Xiao Shan finished organizing all the travelogues.

"Young Master, are you truly sure you don't want them?"

"Truly, I don't. Truly, I don't."

Having confirmed this seven or eight times, the little maid didn't believe him, and neither did Steward Fang, which left Chu Ming quite speechless.

"Young Master, this old servant knows I am being a bit long-winded, but I must say it one more time: the price these travelogues will fetch compared to what they were bought for will be vastly different. Are you really..."

"Alright, alright. Would you prefer I go myself?" Chu Ming frowned as he spoke.

In the original owner's memories, this old steward was quite steady; why was he being so long-winded now?

"Xiao Shan, help the Young Master into the room to rest. This old servant will go sell them now."

Help?

He was perfectly capable of walking.

He was defeated.

Near dusk, Steward Fang finally returned.

"Young Master, the twenty-six travelogues were exchanged for three volumes of poetry and history, plus two taels of silver."

"Only three volumes?"

Chu Ming was slightly taken aback. Although he knew second-hand travelogues weren't worth much, the original owner had purchased them at high prices back then. Old things truly depreciated everywhere...

"General Theory of the Book of Songs, Collection of Classics and Histories, Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration..."

Three volumes would have to do.

Taking the books and classics, he returned directly to his room to read by the lamp.

The General Theory of the Book of Songs was filled with poetry and odes; in his past life, it would have been the perfect cure for insomnia.

It was slightly better now, but Chu Ming persisted until the Hour of the Bo—around eleven o'clock—before he simply couldn't hold on any longer.

Although [Reading] allowed him to scan ten lines at a glance and possess a photographic memory, his body was weak and his mental energy insufficient. Grinding for several hours straight was already his limit.

Fortunately, the progress for [Reading] had increased, reaching 31 by the end of the night.

After resting for the night, Chu Ming practiced [Wind-Slapping Palm] in the morning and began reading the three volumes of classics in the afternoon.

"Steward Fang, please go persuade the Young Master. Ever since he finished his morning porridge yesterday, he's been slapping at the air in the courtyard. He didn't even rest after finishing, and went straight back to reading those books..."

"The Young Master is even more obsessed than he was with those travelogues..."

Xiao Shan held the morning porridge, her face full of worry as she spoke.

"Sigh... I will speak with him once the Young Master comes out." Steward Fang sighed inwardly.

If he let the Young Master continue training like this, he would truly be failing the Mistress.

Not long after.

"Young Master, this old servant has something to discuss with you..."

"Speak later." Chu Ming waved his hand, and without waiting for the steward to finish, he walked to the center of the courtyard and began practicing his palm technique.

[Wind-Slapping Palm (Entry)]

[Progress: 92/100]

93... 94... 95... 96... 99...

[Wind-Slapping Palm (Minor Achievement)]

[Progress: 1/100]

"Hah... finally advanced."

A flash of joy crossed his eyes.

"I just wonder how the power is."

Scanning the courtyard, he spotted a wooden stake in the corner.

"What is the Young Master doing?" Xiao Shan watched in confusion. "Splitting..."

Bang!

Before Xiao Shan could finish her sentence, she saw her Young Master strike the wooden stake with his palm.

"Young Master!" In an instant, she turned pale with fright.

Striking a wooden stake with bare hands—his hand would break.

However, just as she ran over, the wooden stake split into two halves.

Xiao Shan stood frozen in place, at a complete loss.

"Yo... Young Master... split the wooden stake with a single palm strike?"

Not only was Xiao Shan stunned, but Steward Fang, who had been contemplating how to persuade him, also wore an expression of utter astonishment.

That wooden stake was meant for chopping firewood; it wasn't particularly hard and was already riddled with cracks, but for an ordinary person, splitting it was by no means an easy task.

Yet, he had seen with his own eyes that the Young Master, whose foundation was damaged and who usually needed support just to walk, had split it with one strike!

Furthermore, that strike... it was sharp and swift; no matter how one looked at it, it resembled a martial palm technique.

Had the Young Master actually comprehended a palm technique from aimlessly swatting at the air these past few days?

Impossible!

The difficulty of the martial path is such that without a strong physique and proper guidance, attempting to conjure a martial skill out of thin air is nothing more than a pipe dream.

Unless... he was a genius!

The Young Master? A genius?

How had he never noticed before?

Or was it that the Young Master's previous obsessions were simply misdirected, and now he had finally had an epiphany?

A late bloomer...?

No, sixteen years old... that didn't seem too late.

"Steward Fang, was there something you wanted to tell me earlier?"

Having reached the minor mastery stage, the Wind-Slapping Palm now possessed initial power; while it might not kill someone with a single blow, it could certainly inflict injury—it was no longer just for show.

Chu Ming was fairly satisfied with this. He had used most of his strength to split the stake, and if he struck with his full force, the power would be even greater; at last, he had a bit of self-preservation capability.

It was just too physically draining. After that one strike, he would likely have to spend the rest of the day grinding his [Reading] skill.

Steward Fang snapped back to reality, his eyes landing on the youth in the center of the courtyard like a hawk.

"This old servant has found his legs becoming increasingly troublesome these past few days. Yesterday, I happened to recall a method for strengthening the body, and I was wondering if the Young Master might allow this old servant to practice it for a while each day."

"Ah, Grandpa Fang, are your legs really that troublesome?" Xiao Shan asked with concern. "From now on, let Xiao Shan handle the grocery shopping."

"..." The wrinkles on Steward Fang's face twitched slightly.

This little girl...

Upon hearing this, Chu Ming's eyes lit up. "Of course you may, practice whatever you like."

The old steward had finally relented.

It sounded as if Steward Fang wanted to exercise his own legs, but in reality, he was likely looking to demonstrate something to him.

"Thank you, Young Master."

Steward Fang walked to the center of the courtyard.

"Grandpa Fang, should Xiao Shan help you?"

"..." Steward Fang's face darkened, and as he walked, he seemed to actually limp a bit.

It was all psychological.

A smile tugged at the corners of Chu Ming's mouth; the old steward was finally experiencing the mental damage that came from being "helped."

But the next moment, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a solemn expression.

"What this old servant practices is called the Tiger Python Force. It is nothing particularly extraordinary, but it can circulate the blood and improve the body."

Steward Fang began to demonstrate as he spoke.

"The Tiger Python Force consists of twelve forms, each divided into ten movements..."

Is he afraid I won't remember?

Chu Ming stood to the side, watching Steward Fang's movements, which were slow to the point of extremity—much like the elderly men practicing Tai Chi in his past life...

However, it was clear that the Tiger Python Force was not a path of overcoming hardness with softness.

After Steward Fang finished the set, his speed gradually increased, and the force of his movements became increasingly fierce, especially the final two forms, which carried the momentum of a tiger roaring in the mountains.

"Would the Young Master like to try?"

The timing was ripe, and Steward Fang no longer hid his intentions.

Since the Young Master could comprehend a powerful palm technique on his own and his physical condition hadn't deteriorated further, it meant he was capable of practicing the Tiger Python Force.

If the Young Master truly was a genius, perhaps within half a year—before his vitality was completely exhausted—he could master the Tiger Python Force, proceed to practice body-tempering methods, and use the martial path to repair his foundation...

"Steward Fang, the Young Master has only just recovered from his illness and has already spent the whole morning swatting... practicing his palm technique. How can he practice this Tiger Python Force..." Xiao Shan blinked frantically.

It was as if she were saying: Grandpa Fang, I wanted you to tell the Young Master to stop, not to lead him into practicing more!

"Alright, I'll give it a try." Chu Ming rested for a moment, his stamina recovering slightly.

"Young Master, the Tiger Python Force has many movements; let me demonstrate it once more..."

"No need, I remember it."

His photographic memory wasn't just for books; Chu Ming had committed every one of these movements to memory after seeing them just once.

Steward Fang retreated to the side, a smile lingering on his face.

The movements of the Tiger Python Force were not only numerous but also complex and difficult to execute; could he really memorize them after watching only twice?

He did not point it out, choosing instead to watch quietly, pondering to himself that he would demonstrate them again once the young master had forgotten.

Chu Ming walked to the center of the courtyard, took his stance, planted his feet, clenched his fists, and swung his arms...

[Tiger Python Force (Entry Level)]

[Progress: 1/100]

"It's here."

New text had indeed appeared on the panel.

[Progress: 2/100]

[Progress: 3/100]