Chapter 18: Resolving Doubts
“In response to Shopkeeper Li, Chen Mou offends Tai Sui this year…”
Chen Shun’an again brought out the set of rhetoric about delivering blessed water, his voice orderly and his logic clear.
Chen Shun’an had long anticipated that this matter would be discovered by the well supervisor.
He had not even instructed Scholar Ma, Little Confucius, and others to keep it secret.
After all, this matter could not be concealed.
Chen Shun’an would sooner or later expand the ‘scale’ and harvest more wishes or even incense.
Better to unblock than block; naturally, he should lay the groundwork early.
Shopkeeper Li nodded in realization upon hearing this, but the look in his eyes did not change.
Clearly, he had long known the ins and outs and just wanted to hear what Chen Shun’an had to say.
“This is no big deal, just a small matter. But Old Chen, you are also an old hand at the well, so you naturally know… you must not delay the landlord’s important affairs!”
What big affairs could the landlord have?
Nothing more than the water fee not being short.
Chen Shun’an nodded: “Chen Mou understands this. Thank you, Shopkeeper Li, for the reminder.”
Seeing Shopkeeper Li sit back down at the elmwood table under the shed, Chen Shun’an’s gaze flickered, and he suddenly stepped forward.
“Shopkeeper Li, I wish to rely on my age to act pitiably and boldly request the water delivery errand for a major client household.”
“Oh? Which client household?”
“Under the Sky Bridge, Golden Snake Li Family!”
As soon as the words were spoken, the alley suddenly fell quiet.
Only the leather rope on the well edge, where the shop assistant was vigorously pumping water, continued to groan intermittently.
But soon, as the well water poured into the water vat, churning and splashing, all sounds disappeared.
Many people looked toward Sun Xiao.
Sun Xiao’s face also darkened.
This Golden Snake Li Family’s ancestors were the transport chief of Stone Chamber Nunnery, one of the Caobang’s ‘Four Nunneries and Six Divisions’.
They practiced snake fist and snake steps, bearing the title ‘Golden Snake Gentleman’.
At their peak, they managed canal transport for three prefectures, with over a thousand boatmen under them, and both black and white paths showed them respect.
Even the Wuqing County magistrate had to politely address him as ‘Chief Li’ upon meeting.
Unfortunately, this Golden Snake Gentleman failed to preserve his reputation in old age, getting involved in ‘His Majesty the Emperor’s battle of establishing the Nine Complete Martial Arts to pacify the Shu Mountain evil swords’, suspected of colluding with outsiders and aiding the evil swords.
He was torn apart by five horses, his family property confiscated by ninety percent, and nearly implicated his nine clans.
Now, the Li Family was no longer as glorious as before.
Guarding a three-courtyard compound, they opened a street-facing grocery store and occasionally sold ancestral property.
There were also about twenty people up and down in the residence.
Struggling bitterly to get by.
And the reason Sun Xiao’s face darkened.
Nothing else; this Golden Snake Li Family was originally his client!
Chen Shun’an continued,
“Of course, Chen Mou dares not steal another’s love and is willing to give the Ma dried fruit shop on Silver Ingot Street, Golden Glory Building Chen Family, and Ma Family—these few households—to Brother Sun Xiao.”
Chen Shun’an clasped his fists toward Sun Xiao and said,
“The abbot of Tanzhe Temple instructed Chen Mou that this year’s blessed water must be delivered to many places, and it cannot be given indiscriminately; it must go to households with good fortune…
The Li Family is after all a century-old lineage with lingering blessings and protection. I hope Brother Sun Xiao will give some face.”
Upon hearing this, Sun Xiao’s expression immediately improved.
The Ma dried fruit shop, Golden Glory Building Chen Family, and Ma Family were also good clients, with large water usage, generous in their ways, and not far from Weihang Street.
If calculated, he would even make a small profit.
Chen Shun’an’s words gave Sun Xiao both substance and face.
Although Sun Xiao was somewhat puzzled—why was even delivering blessed water so particular, requiring picking and choosing?
But the Sacred Dynasty’s common people were generally superstitious, so Sun Xiao asked no more.
Moreover, with Chen Shun’an’s extraordinary movement technique and Instructor Lin’s high regard…
Sun Xiao nodded: “Since that’s the case, then as Brother Chen says.”
Chen Shun’an was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.
Since even the parties involved, Sun Xiao and Chen Shun’an, agreed, Shopkeeper Li had no reason to ruin the harmony over such a small matter.
He waved his hand grandly, swapped their water delivery errands, and recorded it in the book.
“Brother Chen, I delivered water to the Li Family yesterday already. I’ll pass by later to inform them. Their household uses water every three to four days; you can go at earliest tomorrow.”
Sun Xiao added.
Chen Shun’an said solemnly: “Then I’ll trouble Brother Sun Xiao to make an extra trip.”
Only until the water carriers dispersed one after another and Chen Shun’an also pushed his water cart to deliver water door to door.
Did Chen Shun’an finally relax in his heart.
The Golden Snake Li Family was a welfare target he had long coveted: upright family style, considerable population, and due to their family fortunes declining, their days were increasingly hand-to-mouth.
They likely would not refuse his request to deliver blessed water.
If he could get the Li Family, Chen Shun’an’s daily wishes would surge greatly!
Worth Chen Shun’an setting aside his face to seize the opportunity while it was hot.
Even if it meant owing a favor.
But favors are favors; the more you owe, the closer you get.
To build relations, proactively owing a favor was one way.
……
Black clouds roil like ink without covering the mountains; only the sun is a speck of white.
By noon, suddenly black clouds gathered densely, gale winds howled, as if a heavy rain was about to fall.
Chen Shun’an went as usual to the Second Meat Shop in Hawthorn Alley for lunch.
The air was stiflingly hot, not cool in the least.
Passing through the passageway filled with firewood cooking smoke, Chen Shun’an sat at his usual spot.
He did not see Fu Sheng’s figure.
Many water carriers looked at Chen Shun’an with suspicion and surprise, stealing glances.
Chen Shun’an pretended not to notice, chatting naturally with the water carriers at his table.
Not long after, Instructor Lin, Sun Xiao, and others also entered the Second Meat Shop.
The crowd of water carriers still greeted them with familiar enthusiasm.
Instructor Lin still had his familiar expressionless face.
Until he reached Chen Shun’an’s table, Instructor Lin paused.
“Old Chen, come eat inside the room today. I’ll explain to you… the passages of second-rate cultivation!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the group of water carriers showed complex expressions.
Their eyes held both envy and a bit of unwillingness.
Yesterday everyone was still crammed in the hot and cramped outer hall for meals; how come today Old Chen gets the private room?
Any boasting or chatting was fake, superficial.
But personal guidance from Instructor Lin was real, tangible benefit!
Chen Shun’an was delighted inside.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
With one-on-one guidance from Instructor Lin, wasn’t it better than spending money at a martial arts school?
Chen Shun’an exchanged pleasantries with the few at the table, then quickly got up and entered the private room.
A cool breeze blew in from the half-open window lattice, bringing a refreshing coolness utterly opposite to the hall.
An old pear Eight-Immortal Table was placed in the center, with polished round wooden stools; the surrounding walls were pasted with faded blue-gray wallpaper.
Though simple, it was clean and tidy.
At the Eight-Immortal Table, including Instructor Lin, only five people were seated.
Chen Shun’an sat at the position closest to the door.
Sun Xiao sat right beside him, nodding and smiling at Chen Shun’an at this moment.
The Second Meat Shop’s shopkeeper lifted the hanging curtain, saw Chen Shun’an extra in the room, and showed surprise in his eyes.
“Same as usual, just larger portions, for six people!”
After Sun Xiao ordered, the shopkeeper wisely stepped out quickly.
During the wait for the food.
Instructor Lin picked up the celadon bowl and drank some herbal tea.
“Old Chen, for your 《Ròufēi Xiān》, how many techniques are recorded in the second-rate stage?”
Chen Shun’an did not conceal: “Thirty-six.”
Sun Xiao and the others showed astonishment upon hearing this.
Worthy of superior martial arts.
For mid-grade martial arts, eighteen techniques were already good.
Everyone in the private room, except Instructor Lin and Chen Shun’an, cultivated mid-grade martial arts.
Instructor Lin nodded: “Worthy of the Zhang family heirloom; my 《Great Accomplishment Fist》 has only forty-two techniques.”
Seeing Instructor Lin’s nonchalant demeanor, Chen Shun’an, Sun Xiao, and the others twitched their mouths.
If we could beat you…
Noticing the crowd’s expressions, Instructor Lin’s face darkened.
“Not convinced?”
“Convinced, convinced!!”
Sun Xiao and the others repeatedly yielded.
Instructor Lin snorted coldly, drained the herbal tea in his cup, and continued to Chen Shun’an,
“From your daytime foot strength, I estimate you’ve nurtured enough qi and blood, with bone quenching imminent. According to your 《Ròufēi Xiān》 records, with thirty-six techniques: first twelve for second-rate mid stage; middle twelve for second-rate late stage; all thirty-six for second-rate perfection?”
“Instructor Lin’s insight is truly sharp; Chen Mou is deeply impressed…”
Chen Shun’an quickly laid on a flattery.
Though Instructor Lin’s face did not change, a hint of amusement rippled in his eyes.
After all, flattery works on everyone, no exceptions.
Instructor Lin: “But this is only surface! Practice and techniques are not separate; the second-rate stage divides into three steps: ‘Dragon Returns to the Sea’, ‘Pearl Gathering and Origin Retrieval’, ‘Jade Network Connected Robe’!”
At this point, Instructor Lin’s body also moved.
His arm meridians wandered like dragons, and amid friction and squeezing, they actually emitted faint dragon-roar-like sounds.
The next moment, all these movements vanished.
That dragon-like strength seemed thoroughly integrated into the bone marrow; Instructor Lin’s whole person became like rotten wood, devoid of vitality, with even breathing and heartbeat nearly gone.
“Third-rate gathers muscle strength, fiercely powerful, the fruit of constant torment and tempering. But the human body is inherently flesh and blood, further injured by five grains and desires; persisting thus leads to five labors and seven injuries—how can it last?
Thus, upon entering the second-rate realm, the first step is ‘hide’! Bone Thunder Sound shocks the bone marrow, awakening the baleful qi and muscle strength latent throughout the body!
Then hide it into the bone marrow, not only warming the frame but also distributing external force to the limbs and bones, letting the bones bear it, sparing the flesh!”
Chen Shun’an’s eyes lit up!
So that’s it; he had only known to hide blood before, but not why to hide blood.
Chen Shun’an focused intently, leaning forward slightly.
Sun Xiao and the others, though all second-rate warriors, still showed solemn respect.
Clearly seizing the chance to fill gaps.
Then they saw Instructor Lin, after speaking, shake his spine like rotten wood meeting spring.
In an instant, his whole body’s flesh and blood churned, bursting with unimaginable vitality and qi and blood; his entire person swelled tall, nearly like a raging giant ape.
In a daze, Chen Shun’an even saw Instructor Lin’s golden jade skeleton frame, like surging emerald waves, flying out with the long-hidden qi and blood seed from within.
The qi seed chased through the major acupoints, bone joints, and meridians of the body; passing each place diffused strands of warm flow, nourishing and healing the frame.
In the end, these qi and blood seeds distributed and spiraled outside Instructor Lin’s skeleton, densely like stars, forming some network, interconnecting, deriving light mist, transforming into a bright and shining robe!
“The hidden qi and blood, like dragon pearls: when mobilized, not only bursts with earth-shattering power; it also consolidates the foundation, removes hidden injuries.
Finally forming a Jade Network Connected Robe, impervious to sabers and spears, water and fire, locking qi and blood loss, extending life by one hundred twenty years!”
Enveloped by Instructor Lin’s terrifying aura, everyone present paled, briefly losing control of their bodies, becoming fish on the chopping board.
Only Chen Shun’an, with the grass talisman in his mind emitting faint ghostly light, easily broke Instructor Lin’s momentum.
But Chen Shun’an quietly controlled his facial qi and blood to show some pallor.
A few breaths later,
Instructor Lin dispersed his power, reverting to his old farmer appearance; Chen Shun’an, Sun Xiao, and the others jolted awake, gasping heavily…
“These three steps are the realm, the practice method. Generally, one technique corresponds to one qi and blood seed, to one joint of the Jade Network Connected Robe.
The superior the cultivation method, the more techniques, the stronger the qi and blood, physique, and the tighter, leak-proof the Jade Network Connected Robe!”
At this, Instructor Lin grinned and looked at Chen Shun’an,
“I hope one day, your thirty-six techniques can break my Jade Network Connected Robe.”
At these words, Sun Xiao and the others laughed too.
Taking it as Instructor Lin’s jest.
For Old Chen to breakthrough to second-rate was already heaven’s luck.
Defeat Instructor Lin?
Far too fanciful.
