5: Missing relatives, brushing skills

The next day, Chen Cuo woke up early. Gu Pang was already practicing his fist technique in his courtyard. Gu Pang’s talent wasn't as high as Ma Zi’s, so he had to work harder.

“Gu Pang, what day is it today?” Chen Cuo asked.

“Boss, it’s only ten days until the Winter Solstice.”

Is the Winter Solstice approaching? The original body’s mother had died of illness the month before the Winter Solstice last year. After the original body buried his mother, he died of grief and anger, following his mother.

Having been busy all year, he had forgotten. Chen Cuo felt a pang of sadness recalling it now.

“Gu Pang, prepare some things for me. Buy some books on various skills—whether it’s cooking, painting and calligraphy, brewing, or medicinal herb identification. Buy a copy of everything you can get your hands on. Also, buy me a copy of every medicinal herb from the pharmacy; for the expensive ones, just one or two grams will do.

Then, isn’t there a perfume shop on our street? Go find me two workers who make perfume from there. I have something to tell them.”

“Boss, what are you planning to do?” Gu Pang asked, puzzled.

“Why are you asking so many questions? Just do as I say.”

Gu Pang scratched his head awkwardly, still a bit confused, but he figured his boss must have his reasons for doing this, so he scurried off.

Chen Cuo strapped his wedge-shaped broadsword to his waist and quickly went to Ding Xiang’s courtyard. Ding Xiang was also up early, diligently practicing. The Basic Fist Technique’s stances and footwork were a Cultivation Technique for men to temper their bodies, and she always looked a bit out of place practicing it.

“Follow me.” Ding Xiang followed Chen Cuo’s steps without a word, not asking where they were going, just following.

Ding Xiang watched as Chen Cuo bought incense, candles, and paper money at an incense and candle shop, then left the city gate and headed towards the barren mountain to the east.

Following the barren mountain, the two soon came to a small path. Chen Cuo led Ding Xiang to a secluded and quiet mountain stream.

At the higher part of the mountain stream, there was a thin brook, constantly making a gurgling sound. Not far from the brook, there was a solitary grave, surrounded by a fence of hand-stacked stone bricks, though it was clearly newly built.

The surroundings were already overgrown with weeds. Chen Cuo drew his precious blade and cut down the overgrown weeds and bushes along the way, then, with heavy steps, walked to the grave.

In front of the grave was a very new tombstone. Chen Cuo reached out to wipe away the dust on it and knelt down.

The tombstone read: “Tomb of the late mother, Cui Xiaoling, erected by her unfilial son, Chen Cuo.”

Seeing Chen Cuo kneel to pay respects to his mother, Ding Xiang also knelt down.

Chen Cuo lit the incense, candles, and paper money one by one, then arranged the offerings, saying in his heart: “Although my Soul is not your biological son, you are still my mother. Don’t worry, I will take good care of myself.”

Chen Cuo stood up and kowtowed three times respectfully.

Then he spoke, “Don’t worry, I will live very well.” He was not only speaking to Cui Xiaoling but also to himself.

After clearing the remaining weeds around the grave, his face was filled with tears, but he quickly wiped them away, restoring all his emotions to normal, and turned to leave.

Along the way, Ding Xiang seemed to have many things she wanted to say, but she didn’t open her mouth, only her steps became more resolute.

With one matter settled, Chen Cuo returned to Jingshui Street. Gu Pang had already sent his subordinates to deliver the items he requested, and several thick volumes were laid out one by one.

“Complete Culinary Arts,” “Complete Painting Records,” “Liu's Brewing Recipe,” “Calligraphy Notes,” and “Complete Basic Medicinal Herb Identification.”

There were also two large bags, all filled with various medicinal herbs, some of which were fresh, newly picked.

He picked up the items and immediately returned to his room, hanging a “Closed for Cultivation” sign, ready to grind experience.

Time passed bit by bit, from morning till night, Chen Cuo remained shut in his room. It wasn't until evening that he came out, pulled the two perfume workshop workers who had been waiting outside all day, and then turned and went back into the room.

It was well past midnight when the two were finally released.

Gu Pang and Ding Xiang had been waiting there all day. Seeing the two come out, they eagerly asked, “How was it? What did the boss want you for?”

“Well, Boss Chen wanted us to teach him the process of making perfume.” The two hesitated for a moment but still told the truth.

“Teach the boss how to make perfume?” Gu Pang looked shocked and confused. He truly didn't understand what Chen Cuo’s series of actions meant. “The boss isn’t thinking of making money with these things, is he?”

“You two can go collect your reward! Don’t tell anyone about today’s events.” Ding Xiang said to the two workers, who then meekly agreed.

Gu Pang and Ding Xiang waited a while longer, but Chen Cuo still showed no sign of coming out. The two had no choice but to return to their rooms to rest.

The next day, around noon, Ding Xiang and the other two were gathered, pondering Chen Cuo’s actions, finding them somewhat strange.

Strange as it was, they didn't go in to ask. After their daily routine of delivering meals, another two days passed.

On the fourth day, Chen Cuo emerged from his room with an excited expression, because he had finally grinded enough experience from the basic skill manuals.

[Chen Cuo]

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Age: 21 / ∞

Cultivation: Skin Refining Stage

Skills: “Basic Knife Technique” (Blade Affinity), “Basic Fist Technique” (Fist and Foot Mastery), “Complete Culinary Arts” (153/300), “Complete Painting Records” (Painting Mastery), “Liu's Brewing Recipe” (123/500), “Calligraphy Notes” (Calligraphy Mastery), “Complete Basic Medicinal Herb Identification” (Basic Medicinal Herb Comprehension), “Perfume Making Skill” (20/100)

Cultivation Technique: “Unnamed Cultivation Method” (True Spirit Undying), “Iron Sand Palm” (Invincible Iron Palm)

Fate Points: 25 → 22

[Painting Mastery: Masters basic painting techniques. Learning other painting skills increases speed by 100%.]

[Calligraphy Mastery: Masters basic calligraphy techniques. Learning other calligraphy skills increases speed by 100%.]

[Basic Medicinal Herb Comprehension: Comprehends all basic medicinal herbs, possessing an instinctive understanding of their properties and effects, and can effectively grasp their medicinal characteristics.]

Countless fragments of information were deeply imprinted in his mind. All the skills became like instinct; this was the effect of talent.

Having gone through so much trouble, Chen Cuo certainly wasn't doing it for fun. Calligraphy, painting, and medicinal herb identification could all be practiced hands-on, so he directly leveled them to max. However, cooking and brewing, relying solely on reading books, stopped increasing in proficiency after reaching their current levels. As for perfume making, due to the inferior skills of the two workers, even the proficiency cap wasn't high.

These were skills he specifically learned for the shops in Jingshui Street. Next, he planned to create corresponding products to increase the shops' income.

Ever since he awakened the “True Spirit Undying” talent, his Soul Power had also begun to gradually strengthen and transform. Now, his brain was comparable to having a super memory, capable of recalling many forgotten pieces of knowledge from before, and he could even understand and apply them.

His previous life as a corporate drone had made him a seasoned internet encyclopedist, knowing a little about everything. Now, this knowledge could finally be put to good use.

“Boss, you’re finally out of seclusion! You’ve been cooped up in your room for the past two days, occasionally letting out terrifying laughter. We were all scared.” Gu Pang immediately went up to Chen Cuo and asked with concern.

“The boss isn’t going crazy with worry about the bet with the Big Boss, is he?!” Hong Feng, also known as Ma Zi, uncharacteristically joked.

Ding Xiang said, “Don’t worry, Boss. We’re here. Even if we have to rob, we’ll get you two thousand taels.”

Chen Cuo: “…”

“What nonsense are you talking about? I’m definitely going to win this bet with the Old Man.”

“Let’s go, we’re going shopping.”

Jingshui Street was in the west of the city, but Wei City itself wasn’t very large. The group quickly reached the East Gate, where the market would be open from early morning until noon. Most of the residents in Wei City would only come to the East Gate to buy their vegetables. Not only could you buy vegetables there, but also wild game hunted by hunters, leather sold by merchants, and freshly picked medicinal herbs from herb gatherers—all kinds of rich and colorful goods.

These were exactly the things Chen Cuo needed, and he went on a frantic shopping spree.

Carrying large and small bags of items, Chen Cuo led Ding Xiang and the others back to Jingshui Street. Chen Cuo then began his insane path of grinding experience again.

As a result, Ding Xiang and a few others, along with over twenty brothers under their command, all suffered. For a time, wails of misery and endless complaints filled the air.

They became Chen Cuo’s taste testers, sampling the “delicacies” Chen Cuo made himself.

Those bizarre dishes wildly stimulated their taste buds, and compelled by their boss’s prestige, they could only force themselves to eat them. Strangely, in just two short days, the dishes Chen Cuo made were no longer so unpalatable, but gradually became a little tasty, even delicious.

Moreover, Chen Cuo was also preparing to start researching medicinal cuisine.

Just when Ding Xiang and the others thought they were about to have a few good days, Chen Cuo turned around and abandoned cooking, choosing instead to move some glass bottles and straight bamboo tubes into his room, not letting any of them follow.

Afterward, Chen Cuo went into seclusion again.