Chapter 11 - 10: Intoxicating Aroma of Wine

Chapter 11: Chapter 10: Intoxicating Aroma of WineStance practice in Pingling County often involves visualizing fierce beasts and birds of prey. But how many martial artists can have close encounters with hungry tigers, red monkeys, eagles, and white cranes? Without experiencing it firsthand, imagination can only ever be just that—imagination. Not only will the essence be missed, but the progress will also be very slow. From this perspective, for martial artists without exceptional talent, learning the stances of Pingling County might truly be inferior to the Mysterious Star Horse Stance. The Mysterious Star Horse Stance is known as a universally versatile stance that anyone can learn. Throughout the Xia Country, the Mysterious Star Horse Stance is certainly not the only stance practice available. Various hidden martial families, military elites, and even the imperial court definitely possess better stance practices than the Mysterious Star Horse Stance. But when it comes to cost-effectiveness and universality, the Mysterious Star Horse Stance is undoubtedly one of the top contenders. Jiang Shu crouched like a tiger, breathing like a tiger. On the panel, the skill levels of his Hungry Tiger Crouching Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Technique were increasing. He had just eaten an unknown quantity of meat at a self-service barbecue restaurant. The meat was rapidly being digested in his stomach and intestines, and Qi Blood energy was transported to his limbs and along his spine. Unfortunately, the fierce tigers in Ji City Zoo had been captive too long and had lost their innate ferocity. Jiang Shu could feel the tiger’s crouch and match the tiger’s breathing. But he couldn’t feel the Hungry Tiger Crouching in its Lair, nor the Hungry Tiger’s Breath. The latter contained an endurance, an explosion of power, and a supreme ferocity that the former never possessed. However, fortunately, he had his panel. Once acquired, permanently retained. Once one enters the gate of martial arts, as long as one is willing to persevere, perfection is inevitable. For the next two days, Jiang Shu didn’t return to Pingling County. In the mornings, he observed the tigers at the zoo, pondering their crouching and breathing. In the afternoons, he practiced the Mysterious Star Horse Stance at home, improving his proficiency. In the evenings, he stopped his martial arts training to have a good meal and chat with his parents. Practicing martial arts is like drawing a bow; tension and relaxation must alternate. Appropriate rest is also a form of training in its own right. Jiang Shu— Da Jing Dynasty Language/Script: Entry-level (998/1000) Mysterious Star Horse Stance: Small Success (596/1000) Hungry Tiger Crouching Stance: Entry-level (128/1000) Hungry Tiger Breathing Technique: Entry-level (128/1000) Tiger Form Three Techniques: Entry-level (80/1000) Two Realms Shuttle Countdown: 00:00 With the foundation laid by the Mysterious Star Horse Stance and the addition of the tiger crouching and breathing techniques, there are indeed remarkable effects. Nearly fifty proficiency points a day! If only the zoo weren’t relocating, going there every day could surely yield more improvement. I’ve been neglecting the Mysterious Star Horse Stance these past few days. I should focus on quickly advancing it to Great Success in the coming period, as quickly as possible. The language and script of the Da Jing Dynasty should be pushed to at least Small Success, and it would be best to strive for Great Success. Even a county town has Martial Artists of the Refining Internal Realm stationed there. What about the prefectural city, and the provincial city? I haven’t yet been exposed to true martial arts; all the breathing techniques and stance practices I’ve learned were just conveyed by word of mouth and demonstration, with no written material. If I don’t establish a strong foundation in the language now, when I encounter the true path of martial arts cultivation later, it might be too late to learn. Opportunities never wait for anyone. The entry-level language and script are probably akin to our Xia Country’s nine-year compulsory education. It’s sufficient for simple living but incapable of interpreting classics. Martial arts are concise and direct, aiming straight for the Great Dao. They cannot be fully expounded by entry-level language and script. It’s just a pity that Master Qin is leaving the outer city. To advance further, it seems I’ll have to go to the inner city. Jiang Shu looked at his panel, calculating in his heart. In a foreign world, knowledge is always most important. He had mixed in with the refugees and sneaked into the outskirts of Pingling County, eavesdropping on Master Qin’s elementary-level classes to learn the basic script. Then, he had prepared gifts and sought apprenticeship, spending more than two months to reach nearly Small Success. There are better masters in the inner city, but without exception, they all teach in schools. To enter, one must have a Pingling County household registration. No rush. Focus on training martial arts first. Once I’m a true Martial Artist, procuring a small matter like household registration is something I can always resolve by speaking with the county office. With a thought, in an instant— 「Pingling County.」 「Qu She Alley.」 Jiang Shu put on a wig, changed clothes, concealed lime powder, and walked out the door. He first inquired about Old Man Li’s recent situation, learning that he had been sweeping floors and emptying chamber pots at the Green Snake Gang for two consecutive days. Without saying much more, Jiang Shu went straight to the inner city. When Jiang Shu arrived at the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School, it was nearly noon. He drank the secret medicinal broth and practiced the Hungry Tiger Crouching Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Technique. "Brother Jiang, why haven’t you been here for two days? Without the secret medicinal broth, doesn’t that slow down your martial arts practice?" Just as Jiang Shu settled into his stance, Zhou Yang approached, his chubby face close. "Did you run into any troubles? If you’re short on silver, just tell me. I can still manage to provide a few taels." Halting his breathing exercise while maintaining his stance, Jiang Shu replied, "Just a trivial matter, it’s already been resolved. I’ll be coming every day from now on." The secret medicinal soup at the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School was, after all, only a diluted version of the medicine. It was effective only for those poor youths who couldn’t afford to eat meat. These youths had often saved up their family’s money for half a lifetime to practice martial arts, hoping to change their fate. The replenishment of Qi and blood from the secret medicinal soup was also just enough to sustain about four hours of practice with the Hungry Tiger Crouching Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Technique. Jiang Shu had carefully calculated this on the first day. However, the chubby boy’s words did give him a wake-up call. It’s better to come regularly in the future; otherwise, coming sporadically every few days might draw too much attention. "But, Brother Jiang, have you felt it? It seems like one serving of the secret medicinal soup isn’t quite enough. I’m actually okay since my talent isn’t up to par and I’m afraid of getting too tired; I can barely manage two to four hours of practice before I can’t take it anymore. But Brother Han is really fierce; he can do at least eight to ten hours of the Hungry Tiger Crouching Stance a day. These past couple of days at the restaurant, he’s eaten six jin of meat!" The chubby boy’s voice was soft as he held up six fingers, his expression greatly exaggerated. "Brother Han says that within a month, he’ll be able to perform Qi Blood Transport! It’s such a pity. If only you had gone at that time, Brother Jiang, you could’ve received the same treatment as Brother Han. Now our restaurant is also running low on meat, and Brother Han will need even more in the future... But if you go, Brother Jiang, I, Zhou Yang, will take it upon myself to give up my own resources and provide you with three jin of meat every day!" "Six jin of meat in two days. He hasn’t already sold himself to your restaurant, has he?" Jiang Shu said it in jest, but his gaze involuntarily shifted to the apprentice surnamed Han. In Pingling County, where resources are monopolized, even the cheapest jin of pork costs one qian of silver! Three qian a day. Considering the cost of fine rice and such, the monthly expense on food alone would exceed ten taels of silver—more than a month’s training fee at the martial arts school. Without selling his life to them, did they really think the Zhou Family was running a charity? Thinking about a novel he had read in his previous life, also with a protagonist surnamed Han, he couldn’t help but wonder why the disparity was even greater than that between a human and a dog. As Jiang Shu’s words fell, Zhou Yang’s face instantly stiffened. Having grown up in the business world, how could he not detect the mockery in that jest? His face turned red, then pale. After a while, he forced a smile and said, "Brother Jiang, what are you talking about? We’re all brothers here; how can you talk about selling? I truly hope from the bottom of my heart and support Brother Han to become a Martial Artist as soon as possible. "I won’t disturb you any longer, Brother Jiang. Please continue with your stance training." Watching the chubby Zhou Yang turn away, Jiang Shu withdrew his gaze, hiding the icy coldness in his eyes. Ever since he killed Zhao Tai, his thoughts had become clear, as if some switch inside him had been flipped. If this chubby boy continued to be nosy, trying to probe his secrets and cause him trouble, blocking his path in Martial Arts, he truly wouldn’t mind having one more life on his hands. Holding his stance, breathing. From time to time, he also watched a few apprentices who had already mastered Qi Blood Transport practicing their punches and grappling, displaying the Tiger Form Three Techniques. Jiang Shu was an eclectic learner, drawing wisdom from many sources. Although these apprentices in the martial arts school were not yet Martial Artists and mostly just learning Qi Blood Transport, without exception, they had far more experience than he did at the moment. 「Time flew by.」 Jiang Shu glanced at the sun and, without waiting for it to set, picked up his clothes and left the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School. At a well-known tavern in the inner city, he ordered a pot of good wine and some snacks to go with it, then headed towards the outer city. It was about five in the afternoon by then, and Old Man Li had also finished his day’s work. He had emptied the chamber pots for the entire Poison Tooth Hall and cleaned their grounds, now carrying a broom over his shoulder, his body hunched. Just as he was preparing to head home, a familiar voice suddenly called out, "Old Man Li." He looked up to see Jiang Shu standing not far away in the slanting sun, a wine pot in hand. The cork of the wine pot seemed to have been pulled out, the crisp aroma of wine wafting towards him on the cold breeze. "Young Master Jiang... what brings you here..." Old Man Li hastily patted the dust off himself, a twisted smile appearing on his weathered face. "Old Man Li, I remember last time you mentioned you once drank some really fine wine, ’a heavenly delight,’ wasn’t that what you said?" Jiang Shu looked at the grounds of the Poison Tooth Hall with mixed feelings. He knew that Old Man Li’s reason for coming to the Poison Tooth Hall to empty chamber pots and sweep was largely because of him. After all, Old Man Li worked at the escort agency; just by humbling himself and asking someone there to put in a good word, the ordinary members of the Poison Tooth Hall would probably grant him that much face. But... "You bet! And I’m not just bragging. That one time, I was only about ten years old, still herding cattle for Old Master Dong in the town. When his daughter got married, they hosted a lavish feast. After everyone had finished eating, I sneaked under the table unnoticed, reached up, and managed to snatch a small wine cup with a mouthful of wine still in it!" "Don’t underestimate that one mouthful; it was all thanks to my quick hands. None of the other cowherds got a taste! You wouldn’t believe it, but later, all those leftovers from the feast were cleared away and given to the dogs. Such a waste, such a waste." Old Man Li spoke with pride, his eyes almost shining. "That must have been truly fine wine," Jiang Shu said. "It sure was! You’ve treated this old man to wine from the outer city before, haven’t you? It wasn’t as sweet, nor as fragrant as that one mouthful." "Well then, today you must try this wine I’ve brought from the inner city. Whether it’s good or not, next time I’ll bring you an even better one, Old Man Li." Jiang Shu stepped forward, raising the wine pot, its scent intoxicating.