Inconceivable

Night fell, and the snow came down ever harder, great flakes like goose feathers blanketing the sky and earth.

Chen Cheng stood beneath the eaves outside, quietly listening to the falling snow as he summoned his panel.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Skin-Tempering Realm (Minor Accomplishment)

Skills: Iron Garment Art (Minor Accomplishment 82/1000), Chasing Wind Saber Technique (Beginner 60/100)

]

In just a few days, his progress in both the Iron Garment Art and the Chasing Wind Saber Technique had noticeably improved.

Especially the Chasing Wind Saber Technique. Although he spent far less time practicing it each day than the Iron Garment Art, ever since his saber exchange with He Zhiling and his glimpse of the Major Accomplishment-level Six Harmonies Saber Technique, his progress had advanced at breakneck speed.

As my understanding of martial arts deepens, my progress in cultivating external arts has clearly improved. It seems that if I had a master, I would probably advance even faster.

But where am I supposed to find a master? According to Liu Yunfeng, some important figure has taken a liking to me. I wonder if they might invest a little more—give me some silver so I can join a martial hall. It would be good just to watch the martial instructors there practice their sabers regularly.

Forget it. I can't entertain that thought. Liu Yunfeng said before that the great families of the inner city are far too dangerous. It's safer to lie low and cultivate slowly on my own.

Qian Bin from Luo's Shop mentioned before that I could enter Zheng Martial Hall in the inner city. Old Master Zheng is one of Linji City's top experts, so that would be quite good. But I would have to cultivate a mid-grade martial skill to Major Accomplishment first. If I work hard enough, I should be able to manage it.

"Brother Cheng, the hot water is ready," Mu Xiaowan called from inside.

Chen Cheng answered and walked into the room. Mu Xiaowan stepped forward to shut the door, keeping her back to him. Only after Chen Cheng had taken off his clothes and climbed into the wooden tub did she turn around.

"Brother Cheng, it looks like all the bruises on your body are gone."

Seeing Chen Cheng's shoulders growing ever more sturdy and powerful, and his skin becoming tougher and tighter, Mu Xiaowan spoke in delighted surprise.

Chen Cheng smiled. "I improve every day through martial cultivation. Fifty pounds is no longer much of a burden to me."

"That's wonderful." Mu Xiaowan smiled sweetly, scooping up hot water and carefully washing him.

After bathing, Chen Cheng said gently, "Xiaowan, you don't need to boil so much hot water every day from now on. A quick wipe-down is enough for me. You should spare yourself some hardship too."

"Mm." Clearly, Brother Cheng was being considerate and did not want her to work herself so hard, yet Mu Xiaowan felt an inexplicable pang of loss.

Mu Xiaowan also took a hot bath, then climbed beneath the blankets early.

Chen Cheng, meanwhile, sat at the table with the Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art in his hands, studying it intently.

The cultivation manual was recorded in considerable detail, and even contained quite a few annotations, as though someone had deliberately added them.

The handwriting in those notes was clear and graceful, seemingly written by a woman.

All at once, Chen Cheng felt a stir in his heart, and an icy, frost-cold figure surfaced in his mind.

Could the important figure Liu Yunfeng mentioned be Chief Constable Shen Qingshuang?

I'm only a lowly probationary constable. It's impossible for me to have caught the eye of any important figure, much less become acquainted with one.

Among the important figures I have encountered, I have only seen the head official of the South District City Guard headquarters from afar a few times. He probably does not even know I exist, so it cannot be him. Other than him, the greatest figure would be Shen Qingshuang.

But Shen Qingshuang seems unlikely as well. That woman targets Liu Yunfeng at every turn, and I was recommended by Liu Yunfeng. Why would she give me a cultivation manual through him?

Enough. I shouldn't let an ordinary man's worries tie themselves into knots. Cultivating martial arts and increasing my strength is what truly matters.

After sorting through his thoughts, Chen Cheng continued reading the manual.

Skin-Tempering Realm body-tempering methods were largely alike. They continuously tempered the skin through external force, then used medicinal baths to treat the skin's injuries while stimulating the qi and blood throughout the body.

Ordinary body-tempering methods, such as the Iron Sand Body-Tempering Method, inflicted greater harm upon the body and were somewhat less effective in cultivation.

The Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art, however, imitated a demon beast known as the brown bear to temper the body. It caused very little damage to the skin while producing extremely potent cultivation results.

The Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art was quite simple to practice. When beginning, one merely had to find an earthen pit filled with sand and stones, crawl inside, and follow the brown bear's movements to continually temper the skin.

Afterward, one soaked the entire body in the specific medicinal bath described in the art to recover from the injuries. By repeating this cycle, the skin would gradually become tough and formidable. The medicinal effects in the bath would also enter the body through the skin, nourishing it and strengthening one's qi and blood.

As one's qi and blood grew stronger, one's strength and speed would rise as well.

The medicinal bath was the most important part. Without it, this art could not be practiced.

I need to find an opportunity to visit Luo's Shop and see whether I can buy some of the medicinal ingredients for the bath.

Chen Cheng closed the manual and murmured inwardly.

The annotations mentioned that Skin-Tempering Realm body-tempering methods did not conflict with one another. As long as one's skin could withstand it, a person could cultivate several skin-tempering arts at the same time, and the effects of the various arts could stack.

In the martial world, there were no shortage of martial artists who, after cultivating one skin-tempering art to completion, went on to cultivate others.

Over the next several days, Chen Cheng continued as usual, answering roll call punctually each day and going off duty on time.

Ever since giving Chen Cheng the manual, Liu Yunfeng had returned to how he was before, acting as though nothing had happened and never mentioning the manual again.

As a result, although Chen Cheng had wanted several times to ask him about martial cultivation, he ultimately never did.

As for Shen Qingshuang, Chen Cheng encountered her a few times as well. Yet that woman always wore the same icy expression. Especially when she saw Chen Cheng, frost seemed to fill her almond-shaped eyes, as though she had met a sworn enemy, with a faint anger lurking beneath.

Naturally, Chen Cheng avoided her whenever he could. At the same time, he became certain of one thing: the important figure who had given him the Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art manual was not this chief constable.

Time passed quickly, and more than ten days vanished in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Chen Cheng had the day off. After practicing his saber technique at home all morning and eating lunch, he headed to Luo's Shop in Ruyi Ward.

These days, with fish and meat on the table every day, his expenses had been enormous. Adding the several dozen pounds of refined iron he had bought to increase his weights, his fifty taels of silver had dwindled to a little over twenty taels.

This little money likely would not buy much in the way of medicinal ingredients. He had come mainly to ask about the prices and, while he was at it, inquire with Qian Bin about martial cultivation.

"Constable, what do you need?"

It was still the same shop attendant who had received him last time. Seeing Chen Cheng in a constable's uniform with a long saber at his waist, the man became even more courteous.

"I'm looking for Steward Qian Bin. Is he here?" Chen Cheng asked.

"He is. Please come this way, Constable." The attendant smiled obligingly and prepared to lead the way.

"I can go in myself."

Chen Cheng waved him off and headed straight into the main hall, making his way to the counter deeper inside where cultivation manuals were sold.

There was not a soul before the counter, and business was slow. Yet Qian Bin seemed to be in a good mood. Standing behind the counter, he hummed a little tune with his eyes closed, resting peacefully.

Hearing footsteps, Qian Bin quickly rose to greet him.

"Constable... Chen... Brother Chen."

Seeing Chen Cheng in his constable's uniform, Qian Bin was visibly taken aback.

Chen Cheng smiled faintly. "Brother Qian."

"Brother Chen, you're a rare visitor indeed! Come, come, let's talk in the inner room."

Qian Bin slowly emerged from behind the counter as he beckoned.

This fellow's legs were spread wide as well, with a round ball tucked into the pocket inside his trouser leg.

"Brother Qian, you cultivate the Crimson Sun Great Root Art too?" Chen Cheng stared in astonishment.

Having been seen through at a glance, Qian Bin's old face reddened. He gave an embarrassed laugh. "I sell cultivation manuals, so naturally I had to test it out first."

Chen Cheng did not expose him further.

Once they entered the inner room, Qian Bin personally brewed hot tea and invited Chen Cheng to sit.

Chen Cheng explained why he had come and took out the list of medicinal ingredients required for the Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art's medicinal bath formula.

After reading it, Qian Bin clicked his tongue repeatedly.

"Brother Chen, these ingredients aren't cheap. Especially this main ingredient, brown bear blood—each portion costs at least fifty taels of silver."

"Fifty taels of silver?" Chen Cheng thought he had misheard and asked again, "Brother Qian, surely you're joking?

After all, the quantity of ingredients on this list was only enough for one session of cultivating the Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art. For the main ingredient alone to be so expensive was truly inconceivable.