Progress

At dinner that evening, the mood around the Chu Household's slightly wobbly square table was lively, though tinged with a curious restraint.

A large bowl of braised pork sat in the center. Glossy sauce coated the alternating layers of fat and lean meat, giving off a tempting aroma. Beneath the dim oil lamp, it looked like the finest delicacy in the world.

Yet apart from the pieces his mother had piled into Chu Bai's bowl, everyone's chopsticks seemed to share an unspoken agreement: they skirted the pork and reached only for the stir-fried greens beside it.

Even Xiao Man, usually the greediest of them all, merely swallowed as she stared at the meat, then obediently ate the plain rice in her bowl.

Chu Bai saw it all and understood at once.

His parents had clearly warned the others beforehand. Meat was precious and had to be saved to nourish the family's pillar. No one else was to waste it.

Smack.

Chu Bai set his chopsticks down sharply on the table. The sound was not loud, but Li Qing's hand trembled as she reached for the greens.

"Dalang, what's wrong? Is the meat not to your taste?" Li Qing asked nervously.

"The meat is delicious." Chu Bai looked at his parents and younger siblings, his expression serious. "But if I'm the only one eating it, it has no flavor."

"I can earn money now. Our family won't go without meat again. If none of you touch your chopsticks, I won't eat either."

With that, Chu Bai pushed his bowl aside and folded his arms, looking every bit ready to follow through.

Chu Xianglin and Li Qing exchanged a glance, their eyes reddening.

"All right, all right. We'll eat—everyone will!" Chu Xianglin drew a deep breath and put a piece of meat in Xiao Man's bowl. "Listen to your big brother. Eat!"

"Thank you, Big Brother! Thank you, Dad!" Xiao Man cheered and finally bit into the meat she had been dreaming of.

Only when his family began eating did Chu Bai pick up his bowl again and take a hearty mouthful.

As the rich slices of pork belly went down, the long-missed aroma of fat burst across his tongue.

At the same time, the [Food Injury Leaks Elegance] fate within him seemed to awaken and began turning furiously.

Streams of warmth spread from his stomach through every limb and bone. His meridians, left somewhat parched by cultivation, greedily soaked up the energy like drought-stricken earth welcoming rain.

So energy really is the foundation of cultivation.

Chu Bai sighed inwardly. This was only ordinary pork. If he could get his hands on the fabled spirit meals and spirit rice, who knew how many times faster he might cultivate?

After dinner, Chu Bai took out his remaining two hundred copper coins and tried to give them to his mother.

"Mother, take this. Buy something the household needs, or pay back some of the interest we owe Second Uncle."

But Li Qing firmly pushed the coins back. "Dalang, I can't take this. We may be poor, but as long as your father and I work hard, we won't go hungry. As for the debt, we can pay it off after we sell the autumn harvest."

"You risked your life for this chance at immortality. The money needs to be spent where it counts. Whether it's medicinal herbs to strengthen your body or expenses at the academy later, how can you manage without money on hand?"

Chu Xianglin agreed from beside her. "That's right, Dalang. You focus on cultivating. We'll hold up the household."

Seeing how resolute his parents were, Chu Bai did not make a show of refusing. He quietly put the money away.

The only way to repay such weighty love was to cultivate faster and make something of himself as soon as possible.

Time passed like a white colt flashing past a gap in the wall. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had gone by.

At the Zhao Residence Annex in the south of the city.

"Hah!"

With a low shout, a crimson fireball tore through the air, a scorching wave of heat bearing down on Chu Bai's face.

Compared with a month ago, the fireball was clearly faster, and its angle was trickier. It all but sealed off Chu Bai's escape to either side.

Yet faced with this forceful strike, Chu Bai did not panic as he once had.

He spread his feet slightly and lowered his center of gravity. Just as the fireball was about to reach him, he did not brace his round shield for a rigid block. Instead, he tilted it slightly and thrust it forward to meet the attack!

Boom!

The fireball burst, but most of its force slid along the angled shield and spent itself in empty air.

Chu Bai's upper body swayed only slightly. Without retreating even half a step, he took the blow cleanly.

"Good!"

Watching from afar, Zhao Xing could not help shouting his approval. He was a little disappointed the blow had not landed squarely, but the better his sparring partner became, the more satisfying the practice was.

Zhao Xing's progress over the past month had been plain to see.

The interval between his casts of the Fireball Technique had fallen from fifteen breaths to thirteen, and his accuracy had improved by leaps and bounds.

What surprised him, though, was that the sparring partner named Chu Bai seemed to have improved even more.

At first, Chu Bai had needed to roll all over the ground to dodge. Now he could respond with such composure, and his technique for turning blows aside with his shield had been honed to perfection.

"Huff..."

Chu Bai breathed out. Sweat beaded his brow, but his breathing remained steady and deep.

A month of intense "training by taking hits," coupled with an ample supply of meat, had strengthened his body considerably. His once-slight frame now showed the faint outlines of firm muscle.

Watching from the side, Gu Qinghe felt a flash of admiration. He could have taken that blow too, but never with Chu Bai's effortless ease.

"That's enough for today."

Wu Shang, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, clapped to signal the end of practice.

His gaze passed over Chu Bai, a trace of approval barely visible in his eyes.

At first, he had assumed the two were merely connections Daoist Zhang had foisted on him, perhaps even freeloaders there to eat and drink.

But over the past month, neither had ever arrived late or left early. Even when they suffered bruises and scrapes, they never uttered a complaint, and they returned the next time as lively as dragons and tigers.

Chu Bai in particular had a calmness in the face of danger and an astonishing ability to learn in combat. Even a seasoned cultivator like Wu Shang could not help seeing him in a new light.

What caught his attention even more was that Daoist Zhang had specially sent a message during that time to ask after the two of them. If Daoist Zhang, a man from the Dao Academy, cared so much, then these two—especially Chu Bai—were unlikely to remain fish in a pond.

After a short rest, Zhao Xing paid their wages as readily as usual.

Chu Bai and Gu Qinghe gathered their things and were about to thank him and leave.

"Chu Bai, stay a moment."

Wu Shang suddenly called out to Chu Bai, who had already reached the doorway.

Chu Bai stopped and turned back, puzzled. "Instructor Wu, what can I do for you?"

Gu Qinghe looked equally baffled, but Wu Shang did not seem stern. He gave Chu Bai a look to indicate that he would wait outside.

Once the others had left, Wu Shang walked up to Chu Bai, his tone much gentler than usual:

"Daoist Zhang sent me a message today. He wants you to go straight to Stillheart Hall at the academy and see him after you leave the Zhao Residence. It seems to be something important."

"Master Zhang wants to see me?"

Chu Bai's heart stirred.

Today was not a day for Inner-Door Instruction. Why had Master Zhang suddenly summoned him in private?

"Thank you for passing on the message, Instructor Wu. I'll go now."

Chu Bai asked no further questions. After bowing respectfully, he turned and hurried out of the Zhao Residence.