Returning with a Full Haul

As the sunset's last rays spilled over the Zhao Residence's side courtyard, the day's sparring finally drew to a close.

"Whew... whew..."

Zhao Xing plopped down on a stone stool and took a towel from a servant, wiping his face haphazardly. Though his depleted spiritual power had left him somewhat pale, his eyes shone with unprecedented excitement.

"That felt great! Today's practice was worth more than three days of training against a wooden dummy on my own!"

Beside him, Wu Shang raised his teacup and took a sip. His gaze passed over Chu Bai and Gu Qinghe, who were still panting slightly, and a rare hint of a smile appeared on his face. "Not bad. You two performed reasonably well today. Your coordination in the last few rounds, in particular, helped the young master make considerable progress in accuracy and anticipation."

"Thank you for the praise, instructor." Chu Bai cupped his hands, forcing down the ache in his arms.

"Reward them!" In excellent spirits, Zhao Xing swept a hand through the air. "Someone settle these two gentlemen's pay."

Soon, a middle-aged man who looked like a steward approached with a tray.

Six strings of copper coins lay neatly arranged on it, each holding a hundred wen threaded on red cord, giving off the alluring stink of money.

"Here's your pay for today. Three hundred wen each. Count it."

"Thank you, Young Master Zhao!"

Gu Qinghe accepted the heavy copper coins with both hands, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement. Chu Bai was more composed, but the moment he received his money, he too let out a long sigh of relief inwardly.

This was the first pot of gold he had earned in this world, and the first step toward changing his fate.

"All right, head home. Come again next week if you have time." Zhao Xing waved them off, clearly a little tired.

The two bowed once more, then left the Zhao Residence's side courtyard.

Only after they stepped through the vermilion gates and left the high walls and sprawling residence behind did that invisible sense of oppression finally dissipate.

Gu Qinghe clutched the money pouch against his chest as though afraid someone would snatch it away, a goofy grin spreading across his face. "Brother Chu, three hundred wen... it really is three hundred wen! I've already decided how to spend it. First, I'll get medicine for my mother, then... then I'll buy two jin of good meat!"

"You should treat yourself." Chu Bai smiled and patted his shoulder. "Thanks for your hard work today. Head home early."

"Right! See you next week!"

After parting ways with Gu Qinghe, Chu Bai did not hurry out of town. Instead, he turned into Anping County's busiest market.

Though dusk was approaching, the market still roared with voices, vendors' cries ringing out without end.

With a fortune tucked against his chest, Chu Bai walked through the crowd with far more confidence than usual.

He quietly did the sums in his head. For ordinary people, three hundred wen was hard-earned money that took a strong laborer ten days of working from dawn until dark to earn.

As for prices here, old rice cost two wen per jin, fresh rice three, and white flour four.

Meat was more expensive: ordinary pork cost over twenty wen per jin, while pork belly so fatty it dripped oil went for thirty wen or more.

I'll buy grain first.

Chu Bai stopped at a grain shop. Rather than inspect the pile of old rice as he usually did, he pointed to the gleaming fresh rice beside it. "Shopkeeper, five jin of fresh rice and five jin of white flour."

"Coming right up!" The shopkeeper deftly weighed and bagged it. "Thirty-five wen altogether."

After paying, Chu Bai picked up the heavy grain bags and headed straight for the butcher's.

"Boss, cut me two jin of pork belly, with alternating layers of fat and lean!"

"You got it! How does this piece look?" The butcher raised his knife and brought it down, slicing off a large piece of beautifully layered pork belly.

"That'll do!"

Another sixty wen spent.

With his staples and meat bought, Chu Bai was about to leave when the rich, sweet fragrance drifting from a pastry shop brought him to a halt.

He thought of Xiao Man back home. The little girl had probably only eaten proper pastries a handful of times in her life.

"Boss, a packet of osmanthus cakes."

"Coming right up. Fifteen wen."

By the time his shopping was done, Chu Bai had spent a hundred and ten of his three hundred wen, leaving him with a hundred and ninety.

In the past, a hundred wen would have kept the whole family going for half a month if they tightened their belts.

Today, however, it was merely the fruit of four hours' work.

"So this is the gap between cultivators and mortals..."

Chu Bai sighed, carefully tucked the remaining money close to his body, and set off for home laden with bags.

The sun had not fully set when he arrived home.

In the courtyard, Xiao Man was crouching on the ground counting ants. At the sound of the door opening, she immediately looked up. Her big eyes went round the moment she spotted the things in Chu Bai's hands.

"Brother! What did you buy? There's so much!"

Like a kitten catching the scent of fish, the little girl darted over and circled around Chu Bai.

"Something tasty."

Chu Bai smiled and ruffled her hair, then handed her the packet of osmanthus cakes. "Here. These are for you."

Xiao Man carefully accepted the oil-paper packet and gently lifted one corner. Translucent cakes appeared before her eyes, giving off a rich osmanthus fragrance.

"Wow..."

She could not help swallowing, but rather than eat right away, she carried them into the house. "Dad! Mom! Brother bought something tasty!"

Inside, Chu Xianglin, who was weaving straw sandals, and Li Qing, who was cooking, both looked up at the commotion.

The couple froze at the sight of the rice, flour, and large piece of pork belly in Chu Bai's hands.

"This... how much must all this have cost?" Li Qing winced at the expense, but she could not hide the delight in her eyes.

"Mom, I earned money today. It's time our family ate a little better." Chu Bai set everything down and smiled. "Let's cook this meat tonight. We could all use some nourishment."

"Yes, yes, of course. I'll get cooking right away!"

Watching his mother bustle about so cheerfully, and seeing the smile his father could not wipe off his face, Chu Bai felt that the shield strike he had taken today had been well worth it.

After dinner, Chu Bai returned to his cramped room.

Though his body still ached a little, he did not rest immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.

The day's experience had not just earned him money; it had also been a rare opportunity to further his cultivation.

The sight of Zhao Xing performing the Fireball Technique replayed again and again in his mind.

How spiritual qi gathered in the palm, how power built within the meridians, and finally how it erupted from the fingertips... these details dovetailed with the breathing method of the Lesser Qi-Gathering Art he practiced, giving him the feeling that everything had suddenly become clear.

"So qi doesn't always have to flow by the book. A brief pause or a little acceleration at certain points can make such a difference..."

Inspired by this insight, Chu Bai began circulating his cultivation art.

Inhale—exhale—

This time, the spiritual qi within him seemed to circulate more smoothly than before, with much less of that stubborn resistance. If it had previously felt like pushing a cart down a muddy path, now it was like traveling along a gravel road. Though still not as level as an official highway, it was already considerably faster.

He completed one full circulation cycle.

Chu Bai opened his eyes and summoned the panel.

[Skills:]

[Minor Qi Gathering Technique: Proficient (7/200)]

Though his proficiency had risen by only one point, he could clearly sense that this increase was bringing subtle changes to how efficiently he retained spiritual qi.

"This is the snowball effect."

"The more I practice, the more proficient I become, and the more proficient I become, the faster I can practice."

Chu Bai clenched his fists, confidence shining in his eyes.

"If this keeps up, never mind one wisp a day—even two wisps a day won't be beyond my reach!"