Poor Scholars, Rich Warriors; Stomach Unlock Reaches 20%

Half a month later.

Zhao Ya stood in the courtyard wearing only a thin shirt, moving his body as he practiced the Eight-Part Vajra Art.

At times he swung his arms; at others, he bent his knees and lowered his body. Though his movements were slow, they carried a mysterious rhythm of their own.

At last.

After completing all eight movements, Zhao Ya straightened up, held his hands level before him, and slowly concluded the exercise.

His roiling blood and qi returned to their proper places. Zhao Ya felt a warm current rise within him; his whole body heated up, and his spirits were greatly refreshed.

[Eight-Part Vajra Art proficiency +2]

[Stomach unlock progress +1%]

The familiar notifications sounded again, and Zhao Ya hurriedly opened the Attribute Panel.

Sure enough.

Zhao Ya's attributes had changed once more.

Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 16. Remaining lifespan: 21 years (+5 days.)

Skills: Eight-Part Vajra Art (Beginner's Insight 7/200) Five Tigers Fist (Elementary Practice 97/100).

At the same time, the human-body outline page had changed as well. The stomach unlock progress had reached 20%, and the glow around the stomach region had visibly grown much richer.

Zhao Ya was delighted.

Over the past half month, Zhao Ya had studied and trained diligently without the slightest slackness, and the gains had been plain to see.

First, the Eight-Part Vajra Art had broken through its first level two days ago. Second, even his Five Tigers Fist had improved considerably.

But the most important thing was the stomach unlock progress.

After it reached ten percent, Zhao Ya could clearly feel that his digestive ability had strengthened.

Chunks of cured meat barely needed chewing. Once they entered his stomach, Zhao Ya's stomach would forcibly grind them to pieces and absorb their essence.

The benefit this ability brought was that Zhao Ya's appetite had greatly increased, while the power of his blood and qi steadily climbed higher with it.

After all, only those who could eat had strength. That was an unshakable truth anywhere.

The drawback was equally obvious: he could eat far too much.

Zhao Ya swallowed the last piece of cured meat, then looked at the rice jar, now completely empty, with some worry.

In just half a month, he had eaten through all the food he had prepared.

At this rate, his meager savings probably would not last until next month's pay.

It seemed he had still underestimated just how expensive cultivation was.

No wonder the ancients said poor scholars, rich warriors. It truly was so.

After sighing over it for a while, Zhao Ya began seriously considering the predicament before him.

How was he supposed to make money?

Borrow from his colleagues at the Escort Agency?

The moment the thought surfaced, Zhao Ya dismissed it.

Leaving aside the fact that he had only worked at the Escort Agency for a little over a month and was nowhere near close enough to them.

Even if they were on good terms, Zhao Ya did not want to do that.

After all, everyone knew his circumstances. He was all alone, and unlike Tan Dong, he had no habit of going to the pleasure quarters to listen to music. His monthly wage of over one tael was enough for him to live on.

If he suddenly began borrowing money everywhere, it would inevitably arouse others' suspicions.

Though the possibility was slight, Zhao Ya still did not intend to take that risk, just to be safe.

Then how else could he make money?

Zhao Ya racked his brains. He even considered secretly doing manual labor after work, but quickly rejected that idea too.

In these times, everyone lived with great difficulty. Any work that could support a family had basically already been seized and controlled by someone else.

For someone like him, with neither connections nor backing, to rashly intrude into another line of work would only bring more trouble.

Zhao Ya thought at home for half the day without coming up with a good solution, and could not help but sigh.

It seemed that no matter the world, making money was not easy.

Zhao Ya picked up his rice sack, intending to buy some cheap rice before the rice market closed at dusk.

Since increasing income was impossible for now, he would have to cut expenses.

By the time he left the rice market, darkness was already falling. Zhao Ya carried a full sack of grain and supplies on his back, and his heart settled somewhat.

As the saying went, with grain in hand, the heart knew no panic. Although Zhao Ya's already pitiful savings had now run dry, after some haggling, he had at least bought enough for the remaining half month.

If he saved a little more in daily life, it should be enough to last until next month's pay.

With the matter of food settled, Zhao Ya carried the grain sack home.

It was already dinnertime, and the shops along the street had all lit their hanging signs.

Servants from the grand restaurants stood at their doors, vigorously soliciting passing guests. From time to time, finely dressed people strode in with their heads held high. At a glance, it truly looked like a scene of peace and prosperity.

Yet Zhao Ya noticed that in the corners untouched by lamplight, many indescribable people sat blankly.

They were often barely clothed, gaunt as sticks, their eyes dull as they sat there like dead wood.

Some sat and sat, then let their heads loll to one side, never to rise again.

Zhao Ya sighed inwardly. He knew these times were becoming ever harsher. Though the streets had been full of beggars a month ago, there had not been so many people simply waiting to die.

He quickened his pace toward home. Just then, the crack of a horsewhip suddenly sounded behind him, followed by someone shouting.

"The Song Family is passing through! All idlers, clear the way!"

Zhao Ya swiftly moved beneath the eaves of a shop by the roadside and glanced over.

Several men in black rode tall horses at the front, clearing the way. Behind them came an ornate carriage.

Zhao Ya's heart trembled.

The eyes of those black-clad riders gleamed sharply, and their blood and qi surged with vigor. They were clearly martial artists who had completed bone tempering.

Men like them would have been able to become Escort Masters capable of standing on their own at the Prosperity Escort Agency, yet here they were at someone's command, serving as pathfinders. This showed just how powerful the family they belonged to was.

In fact, Zhao Ya knew of the Song Family as well. It was one of the great families of the Inner City. He had not expected to see them here.

By then, the carriage had drawn near. Zhao Ya lowered his head to hide his gaze, then slipped sideways into a nearby alley and quietly departed.

Whether they were strong or weak had nothing to do with the current Zhao Ya.

That grand procession, surrounded before and behind, was certainly lively. But seeing too much of such liveliness might bring disaster upon oneself, so Zhao Ya chose to keep far away.

Early the next morning, after arriving at the Escort Agency, Zhao Ya began sorting the escort wagon assigned to him.

The goods transported on escort runs were quite varied. Every kind needed to be arranged properly by category, with measures taken to protect them from falls and rain.

This was the most important daily work for laborers like Zhao Ya.

After he had been busy for a while, Tan Dong finally staggered in on unsteady feet.

There was no need to ask. One look at Tan Dong, who could not even straighten his back, and Zhao Ya knew the fellow must have gone to the pleasure quarters again last night.

Sure enough.

Tan Dong gave Zhao Ya a weak grin.

"Brother Zhao, my dear brother, help me cover the work for a bit. I'm going to catch a nap beside the wall first. I can't even keep my eyes open."

Zhao Ya raised an eyebrow slightly.

Tan Dong immediately said, "I'll treat you at noon. Meat pies from Bridgehead Two-Meat Shop."

"Can I eat my fill?"

"Of course. If I'm treating, how could I not let you eat your fill?" Tan Dong declared with towering boldness.

Zhao Ya smiled faintly. "All right."

Tan Dong looked as though he had received a pardon, and hurried to the corner to catch up on sleep.

As Zhao Ya's blood and qi grew, his physical strength and bodily coordination had both improved to varying degrees.

Thus, cargo that looked quite heavy to others was nothing much in Zhao Ya's hands.

Before long, he had finished organizing his own escort wagon, then began helping Tan Dong sort his.

As he was busy, a laborer strode over to Zhao Ya.

"Zhao Ya, where's Tan Dong?"

"He said his stomach hurt and went to the latrine," Zhao Ya replied perfectly naturally.

"Oh. Then let him know: the Chief Escort Master has spoken. Five days from now will be the martial demonstration for all Escort Agency laborers. He will personally observe it. The good will be rewarded, and the poor punished."

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