Carrying Water

The next morning.

At the first light of dawn, Li Feng ate an early breakfast, put on his White Runner uniform, and headed to the City Guard Office for duty.

Since the newly appointed Constable Jiang had dismissed several White Runners who had slipped in through connections yesterday, the atmosphere in the City Guard Office's front courtyard was noticeably more oppressive than usual.

Even the veteran runners who usually liked to gather and joke around had lined up early according to the rules today. Every one of them stood ramrod straight, afraid of doing something wrong and getting on the new constable's bad side.

Li Feng quietly walked over to his place and stood still.

He had barely settled into position when Zhang San leaned over, nudged him lightly with an elbow, and whispered, "Brother Feng, have you heard? Yesterday afternoon, another fool with a death wish got thrown into our South City Prison."

Something stirred in Li Feng's heart, and he casually asked, "Oh? What happened?"

"I heard he had a few ounces of rice wine and forgot his own name. Lust went straight to his brain, and he started harassing a woman in the street, in full view of everyone."

"And then?" Li Feng asked.

Before Zhang San could answer, Chen Song chimed in from beside them, a hint of gloating in his voice:

"And then? Guess what-the woman that brat was harassing wasn't some ordinary civilian at all. He actually went after our newly appointed Constable Jiang. I heard she beat him half to death on the spot and had him sent to prison. He's enjoying himself in there now."

"..." Li Feng had no words.

The day soon passed amid jokes and banter with Zhang San and Chen Song. Nothing much happened during their patrol.

Before it was even time for the next shift to relieve them, Li Feng's stomach began growling in uncontrollable protest. He was so hungry his belly felt plastered against his spine.

Ever since he had entered the qi-blood first stage, his appetite had grown considerably.

The City Guard Office provided lunch, so he had eaten his fill there at noon. Yet only a few hours later, he was already ravenous.

Clearly, after taking his first steps in the Martial Dao and entering the qi-blood first stage, his qi and blood surged more vigorously than before, consuming far more energy.

This was only the beginning of the qi-blood first stage. Once I reach the qi-blood second level or the qi-blood third stage, won't I be starving long before mealtime?

Li Feng thought to himself.

Of course!

Although he ate plenty of rice now, most of his meals consisted of ordinary rice and vegetables with little fat. They clearly couldn't sustain him. To properly nourish his qi and blood, he needed plenty of fish and meat.

After finally enduring until the end of his shift, Li Feng wasted no time and headed straight to the market in the south of the city. At a butcher's stall, he picked out two jin of thick-cut beef and a piece of well-marbled pork belly. Before leaving, he also remembered to buy several large, freshly baked flatbreads.

Once home, all Li Feng could think about was cooking and filling his stomach. Even if the heavens came crashing down, nothing mattered more than eating his fill.

He carried the meat into the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves to wash the vegetables. But as soon as he dipped the ladle into the water jar, a sharp clang rang out.

The ladle had struck the bottom of the jar. The water was almost gone.

"Forget it. I'll eat first."

Li Feng was simply too hungry, so he decided to put off fetching water for a while.

He deftly lit the fire and heated the wok, set the washed green peppers and garlic shoots aside, then sliced the pork and cut the beef into thin strips.

Sizzle!

The instant the marbled pork hit the hot wok, a rich, fatty aroma burst forth. Once the slices had released their fat and curled slightly, he tossed in the garlic shoots, stir-fried them briskly, and sprinkled in coarse salt. A plate of fragrant, lightly charred pork with garlic shoots was the first dish out of the wok.

Next, he didn't even bother washing the wok. He simply added a little more oil and tipped in the beef and shredded green peppers, stir-frying them over high heat. After adding a few simple seasonings, he brought a plate of fragrant, mildly spicy beef with green peppers to the table.

Ignoring the heat, Li Feng bit into a large flatbread, crisp outside and soft within, then picked up a fragrant slice of meat and began feasting.

After devouring two generous plates of meat and several large flatbreads, he felt warmth spreading through his whole body and waves of satisfaction rising from his stomach. The day's fatigue and hunger were swept away.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Feng rested briefly, then took a carrying pole and two empty wooden buckets outside to fetch water. He could treat it as a walk to help digest his meal.

He arrived at the communal well near the alley, where everyone usually fetched water for cooking. A small stream flowed nearby, and women from the alley often came there to wash clothes. Sometimes children played beside it as well.

By now, the night had deepened and no one was around, leaving the place pleasantly quiet.

With practiced ease, Li Feng lowered the rope-bound bucket into the well. With a clear splash, the wooden bucket filled with water.

As usual, he exerted both arms and hauled the bucket up in one pull.

"Hm?"

The moment he lifted it past the mouth of the well, Li Feng paused.

The bucket was a good deal more than half full, weighing at least several dozen jin, yet it lacked its usual heaviness. In his hands, it actually felt rather light.

He poured the water into one of the wooden buckets he had brought, then drew another bucketful the same way.

The second lift felt just as light and effortless.

An idea stirred in Li Feng's mind. He filled both wooden buckets to the brim, hoisted them with the carrying pole, and strode toward home. His steps were unusually light the whole way.

In the past, carrying two buckets this full would have left him swaying with every step because he lacked the strength, spilling water as he went. That was why he could only fill them a little over halfway each time, and even then, he would reach home panting.

Today, however, his feet flew along with steady, powerful strides. The water stayed level in the buckets without a single drop spilling over, and he carried them with ease.

Getting started in the Martial Dao has benefits like this, too. From now on, I can cut my water-fetching time in half. Li Feng's heart brimmed with joy.

Before, filling that entire water jar had required at least seven or eight trips, each one leaving him half dead with exhaustion.

Now, since he could fill the wooden buckets to the brim and walk so quickly, he filled the jar in just four or five trips without feeling tired at all.

After carrying the water, Li Feng sensed the abundant energy still coursing through his body. A gleam flashed in his eyes, and he took a deep breath before drawing the duty saber at his waist.

He would take advantage of the vigor from warming up to continue practicing the Water-Cutting Saber Art.

After a session of practice, the sun had only recently set, and it was not yet completely dark. Li Feng sheathed his saber, exhaled, and opened the Heavenly Dao Advance Panel:

[Heavenly Dao Advance Panel]

[Advance received 1: Archery Mastery (100% repaid)]

[Advance received 2: "Water-Cutting Saber Art" perfected (debt repayment progress: 20%)]

[Currently available advances: 0]

[Current realm: qi-blood first stage]

Whoosh!

Looking at the panel information that appeared before him, Li Feng felt his spirits soar.

After several days of hard practice, his progress had finally reached one-fifth. As long as he kept practicing at this pace, he would repay the debt for the Water-Cutting Saber Art in less than a month.

If I find another Martial Dao cultivation art then, what kind of change will it bring? Perfection of the qi-blood first stage, or a direct breakthrough into the qi-blood second level?

Bang, bang, bang!

Suddenly, a series of knocks rang out from beyond the courtyard!