Nourishment

Time slipped quietly by.

At high noon, the blazing sun hung overhead.

"Young master, lunch is ready."

A knock sounded at the door, and a maid arrived carrying food.

There was not much food, but it gave off a distinct medicinal fragrance.

Clearly, medicinal herbs had been added to the dishes, making them deeply nourishing.

"Phew!"

Faint wisps of heat rose from Jiang Chen as he drew back his fists and straightened.

The burning sensation throughout his limbs and bones subsided with the movement.

That meant he had failed to awaken his primordial energy.

He was not surprised.

Though he had a talent for martial arts, he possessed only ordinary bone aptitude. Even with his stance sense constantly active, he could not awaken his primordial energy so quickly.

"Bring me two more portions."

After loosening up a little, Jiang Chen wolfed down the food to replenish his energy.

Martial cultivation depended three parts on training and seven parts on eating.

Without enough energy to keep up, training would not only prove ineffective—it would also break down the body.

"Yes, young master."

Seeing Jiang Chen devour his meal, the maid hurried away.

Before long, familiar footsteps approached.

"Chen'er, your blood and vitality are a little weak. You mustn't overeat..."

Sure enough, Lin Shuyun had arrived.

But when she saw Jiang Chen's rosy complexion, she froze in place.

That morning, Jiang Chen had still been pale and sickly.

How had he become so full of life by noon?

"Mother, I'm already better."

Although his earlier stance sense had not fully awakened his primordial energy, it had greatly nourished his body.

That was why martial artists possessed physiques far superior to those of ordinary people.

"Chen'er, have you condensed your martial blood qi?"

Coming to her senses, Lin Shuyun asked with hope brimming in her voice.

Such a dramatic change could only have something to do with martial blood qi.

"Not yet, but I feel I'm close."

Jiang Chen smiled.

His stance sense remained constantly active, while medicinal food nourished him from within.

Awakening his primordial energy and condensing his martial blood qi were only a matter of time.

"Xiaoju, hurry and bring the young master more food, and get some hot water ready."

Unable to hide her delight, Lin Shuyun quickly sent the maid to prepare everything.

As long as Jiang Chen became a martial artist, even one at the entry-level three qi and blood gates, he would hold considerable standing within the clan.

Heaven had finally opened its eyes!

Soon, a sumptuous meal was brought in.

Only after eating three times his usual amount did Jiang Chen fill his stomach.

Afterward, the maid brought hot water, and he enjoyed a comfortable bath.

Early afternoon arrived.

Having changed into clean training clothes, Jiang Chen did not slack off. He went into the small courtyard outside his room and assumed the White Ape Stance.

Now that he had perfected the White Ape Stance, his posture was entirely natural, without the slightest flaw.

Within just a few breaths...

The familiar burning sensation returned throughout his limbs and bones, growing more pronounced the longer he held his stance.

As he continued the monotonous stance training, the blazing sun gradually sank westward.

Before he knew it, Jiang Chen had held his stance for the entire afternoon.

The burning sensation within him had grown quite intense. Wisps of pure energy even seeped out, nourishing and strengthening his physique.

During that time, Lin Shuyun appeared outside the courtyard now and then.

Seeing Jiang Chen steadily holding his stance, she felt increasingly gratified.

It seemed that after this brush with death, Jiang Chen had finally grown sensible.

"Husband, you're finally back!"

Toward evening, Jiang Sihai returned, looking exhausted.

"What happened? Why are you so happy?"

Jiang Sihai asked curiously as Lin Shuyun hurried toward him, her face beaming.

"Husband, today Chen'er..."

Lin Shuyun joyfully described the changes in Jiang Chen.

"You mean Chen'er held his stance all afternoon? Without resting once?"

Jiang Sihai seized on the crucial point.

Though he was not a martial artist, he was far from ignorant about martial cultivation.

There was only one way someone could hold a stance for several hours straight:

They had to perfect their Standing Post Technique and be able to enter a state of stance sense!

Only by comprehending stance sense could someone hold a stance without burdening their body.

Otherwise, no matter how strong their will, their body would not withstand it.

But was that possible?

As far as he knew, Jiang Chen had hardly put any effort into training over the past six months.

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Lin Shuyun nodded repeatedly.

"Come on. Let's have a look."

Jiang Sihai immediately hurried toward the small courtyard.

Although he had long since become utterly disappointed in Jiang Chen, a flicker of hope still rose in his heart. What if Jiang Chen truly had found his way back from the wrong path?

Soon, they arrived outside the courtyard.

"This..."

When he saw Jiang Chen quietly holding his stance without a single bead of sweat on his face, Jiang Sihai's eyes lit up. Even his breathing quickened.

There was no mistake!

With that calm, effortless bearing, Jiang Chen had definitely comprehended stance sense.

That little rascal—he had thought the boy would never become a martial artist in this lifetime.

Who would have thought the winding mountain path would lead to a new vista?

"Ever since he woke up, Chen'er has been practicing his stance. He hasn't even talked about going to the martial academy to see that little girl from the Wang Clan. I feel he's truly come to his senses."

Lin Shuyun smiled broadly as she watched Jiang Chen hold his stance without moving a muscle.

In the past, Jiang Chen would feel restless all over if he went a single day without visiting the martial academy to fawn over her.

Today, however, he had not even mentioned the martial academy. He had simply focused on his stance training.

"Starting tomorrow, brew a serving of Tiger Bone Soup for Chen'er every morning."

Hearing her words, Jiang Sihai's hope grew a little stronger.

Tiger Bone Soup was made entirely from nourishing medicinal ingredients and greatly benefited a martial artist's body.

Jiang Chen had comprehended stance sense. With Tiger Bone Soup to help him, he would awaken his primordial energy much faster.

Once Jiang Chen became a martial artist, their household would carry far more weight within the clan.

"Husband, have you changed your mind?"

Seeing that Jiang Sihai intended to let Jiang Chen continue practicing martial arts, Lin Shuyun grew even happier.

"What I think isn't important. What matters is whether Chen'er can keep at it himself."

No one could practice martial arts on another person's behalf. At most, they could provide resources.

Whether someone could condense blood qi, set foot on the martial path, and how far they could travel along it depended entirely on their own will.

In short...

If Jiang Chen had no heart for martial arts, he could come back and take over the family business. But if he wanted to train, Jiang Sihai would naturally do everything he could to support him.

"Then what about the money for the clan?"

If they devoted everything to Jiang Chen's martial training, they would have no money left to hand over to the clan.

Jiang Chen had yet to condense blood qi, but he already consumed fifty taels of silver each month.

Once he entered the three qi and blood gates, his consumption of resources would multiply several times over.

If he managed to reach the true martial realm, he would need even more resources.

"Until the situation becomes clear, we still have to pay the clan every month."

Jiang Sihai shook his head slightly.

It was good that the prodigal son had turned back, but unfortunately, it had come too late.

The future fate of their Jiang Clan still depended on Jiang Xuan.

Only if Jiang Xuan placed highly in this year's Martial Exam could they continue living in Prefecture City.

So they could not spare those five hundred taels each month.

Unless Jiang Chen could steel himself, strive to improve, and catch up with Jiang Xuan...

But that was almost impossible!

Even setting aside the six months Jiang Chen had wasted, the difference in their bone aptitude alone would be difficult to overcome.

"Let's go."

After watching for a long while, the two quietly left.

"Young master, dinner is ready."

Only when dusk fell and the maid came to call him did Jiang Chen draw back his fists and straighten.

Dinner was much more lavish than lunch. Not only was the medicinal fragrance stronger, but there was also a clear balance of meat and vegetables, making the meal highly nutritious.

At the table, Jiang Sihai merely asked Jiang Chen how he was feeling.

He did not press him about comprehending stance sense or practicing martial arts all day.

Young people were rebellious. Lead them by a rope, and they refused to move; strike them, and they backed away. Better to let go and allow Jiang Chen to do things his own way.

Whether this was a brief burst of enthusiasm or a genuine awakening would become clear in a few days.

"Keep going!"

After dinner, Jiang Chen did not relax. He resumed his stance training.

Without stance sense, he would naturally have needed to balance exertion with rest. Now that he had comprehended it, he had far fewer concerns.

All he needed to do now was patiently hone himself until he awakened his primordial energy.

He continued until the Zi Hour, when dark clouds veiled the moon, before ending his stance training.

Although the burning sensation throughout his limbs and bones had persisted, he still had not awakened his primordial energy.

"Time to sleep."

After awakening the wisdom of his previous life, Jiang Chen had become highly patient and felt no agitation.

He could feel the burning sensation inside him growing ever stronger. Fully awakening his primordial energy was only a matter of time.