North of the City, a Celebrated Scholar, Seeking Brother Chen's Aid

That night, Chen Xu entered Embers Kitchen three times in total.

Each entry cost 100 Firework Value. He could remain in Embers Kitchen for a full twelve hours, while only a quarter of an hour passed in reality.

By the end, he had spent his Firework Value down to just 82 points.

His left hand had also been scalded black and red, covered in densely packed blisters.

Whenever he felt weary and miserable during the process, unable to hold on any longer, he added a point to his Threefold Attributes.

Adding Essence directly restored his stamina. Adding Divine Soul refreshed his mind. Adding Vital Blood could repair bodily injuries to a certain extent.

Though such restoration was minuscule, without the increase in Vital Blood, Chen Xu's left hand would not have ended with merely a cluster of blisters.

In the end, he was left with only one Free Attribute Point again.

His Threefold Attributes, however, continued to rise.

[Essence: 24]

[Vital Blood: 24]

[Divine Soul: 24]

[Fire Control Level One: (56/100)]

[Wood Chopping Level One: (99/100)]

Yes, Chen Xu had not merely practiced Fire Control. At the same time, he had not neglected his practice of the Wood Chopping Saber Technique.

That was also a major reason he had kept his right hand away from the flames. He had to leave himself at least one hand capable of gripping a blade.

Yet for some reason, once the Wood Chopping Saber Technique's experience reached 99 points, the final point refused to increase no matter what he did.

He practiced again and again, attempting to stir his Vital Blood and comprehend the finest subtleties.

Within Embers Kitchen, he also split the round logs, which seemed to regenerate without end, into a small mountain of firewood.

Yet that final point of experience remained impossible to break through.

Chen Xu could only set the matter aside for the time being and focus on breaking through in Fire Control.

When he entered Embers Kitchen for the third time, he stared at the gently burning flames inside the stove and suddenly gained a subtle understanding of the word fire.

Wood gave birth to fire. Visible fire usually relied upon firewood to arise.

Following that line of contemplation, the invisible fire within the human body should also have firewood and fuel.

Essence, Vital Blood, Divine Soul—these three treasures were his fuel!

With a shift of his mind, Chen Xu immediately mobilized the surging current of qi flowing through his body. He suddenly drew in his abdomen, puffed out his chest, and opened his mouth to spray.

Boom—

A burst of blazing flame spewed from his mouth. In an instant, his Fire Control experience leaped directly from 42 points to 56.

When the heart was joyful, so it should be!

At dawn, the chickens in the eastern neighbor's home crowed three times.

In an instant, the familiar sounds of husbands and wives bickering, children crying and fussing, rose once more.

At the same time, the various cries of vendors on distant South Market Street also came back to life.

Chen Xu entered the kitchen with his scalded left hand, yet his state of mind was completely different from yesterday's.

Although injuries suffered by his physical body in reality would be reflected in Embers Kitchen, and injuries suffered by his Divine Soul in Embers Kitchen would likewise be carried back into reality—

Those were merely minor matters.

"Hm?"

In the kitchen, Chen Xu discovered that another item had suddenly appeared atop the stove.

It was a tiny fruit, like a pine nut. Had it not displayed a food description, Chen Xu might not even have noticed the little thing.

[Shedding Calyx Fruit, a three-year exotic fruit. Consuming it can slightly repair external injuries to living beings.]

Without question, this had to be the Rat Demon's "contribution toward the household"!

Though delighted, Chen Xu could not help feeling somewhat moved. His classmate and friend Lin Qi had schemed tirelessly to harm him, while the Rat Demon, whom he had only known for a day or two, instead displayed humanity and loyalty at every turn.

This world truly was upside down and wondrous.

Chen Xu picked up the Shedding Calyx Fruit, washed it in water, then ate it like a bean.

With a crunch, it even carried a faint nutty fragrance.

As the Shedding Calyx Fruit entered his stomach, a vaguely cool sensation seemed to arise.

That should not have been an illusion, because Chen Xu could clearly feel that the pain from the burn on his left hand had eased slightly.

The pain in his right leg likewise lessened a little.

For breakfast, Chen Xu planned to cook a pot of black rice and red bean porridge. With his left hand injured, porridge was ideal mainly because it was simple to prepare.

Then he made a soft scallion-oil meat pancake. It was also made simply, without any need to knead dough—just add some lard, chopped scallions, and minced meat.

The ingredients had been prepared the night before. Using only his right hand, Chen Xu swiftly finished making both breakfast dishes.

When the fragrance of the scallion-oil meat pancake came billowing out of the pan, the gate to Chen Xu's courtyard was once again struck with loud knocks.

This time, the visitor was another of his classmates, Xu Wenyuan.

Chen Xu was actually somewhat surprised when he opened the courtyard gate, because he and Xu Wenyuan were not particularly close.

Strangely enough, Xu Wenyuan happened to be close friends with Lin Qi.

Stranger still, Xu Wenyuan's family circumstances were much the same as Chen Xu's. He too was the son of a farming family.

Both students from poor families were close to Lin Qi, yet the two of them did not get along with each other.

Wasn't that interesting, when one gave it a closer taste?

Chen Xu had never examined it closely before, but after discovering Lin Qi's true face, he immediately came away with a different interpretation of these matters.

Xu Wenyuan's face was beaded with sweat, and the hair at his temples was slightly disheveled.

The moment he saw Chen Xu, he blurted out, "Brother Chen, Lin Qi—Brother Lin—Brother Muxian has fallen ill! A sudden illness has left him unconscious, at death's door and beyond treatment!"

Chen Xu was startled.

After the shock came a subtle joy. He suppressed the delight in his heart and asked without revealing anything, "What did you say?"

Xu Wenyuan was sweating all over, his expression as though he were about to cry. "Brother Muxian came down with a sudden illness last night. No one knows what strange affliction it is. The Lin Family searched for every famous physician in the city, yet not one could treat him.

Everyone says Brother Muxian may not make it! Brother Chen, Brother Chen, what are we to do?"

What were they to do?

Heh, this was wonderful!

Naturally, Chen Xu had to reveal shock and sorrow at the proper moment. He frowned and gave a bitter smile. "Brother Xu, Chen is not a physician either. If all those famous doctors say it cannot be treated, what can a mere man like me do?"

Xu Wenyuan raised a hand and wiped the sweat from his face haphazardly. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Brother Chen, a celebrated scholar from the northern lands came to our Jichuan County a few days ago. It is said that this scholar studied under the Great Confucian Li Yanqing and possesses unfathomable abilities.

The Lin Family also went north of the city for help last night, but that celebrated scholar had already established a rule two days ago.

He has a Star Array. Whoever wishes to meet him must pass through the Star Array!

From before dawn until now, several outstanding disciples of the Lin Family have gone to attempt the formation, yet not a single one has passed.

Brother Chen, it is said that the Star Array is truly part of the mathematical arts.

Among all of us at the county school, only Brother Chen has exceptional mastery in the mathematical arts. You and I are both friends of Brother Lin. Wenyuan, this little brother... this little brother is ashamed, but I can only come and beg Brother Chen for help."

Chen Xu: ...

Chen Xu was dumbstruck.

After Xu Wenyuan finished that long, sweeping speech, the beads of sweat on his face fell even faster, and his face had flushed so red it looked as though an egg could be fried on it.

That was because Xu Wenyuan had always been extremely proud and competitive, and he had never gotten along with Chen Xu.

For him to speak such pleading words to Chen Xu truly could be called making things difficult for him.

Chen Xu remained silent, putting on an air of pondering deeply.

No one knew just how indescribably complicated his feelings were at that very moment.