10: You are suitable for reading

Chu Qing hummed a tune and went to the general store to buy some malt candy on credit.

Initially, the owner refused to extend credit.

Only after he mentioned his identity as a member of the Mantis Martial Hall's assault class did he successfully get credit.

Outside the city:

A pile of malt candy was exchanged for three to four hundred toads.

After agreeing on a time with the children for tomorrow, he returned to the Martial Hall with light steps and offered twenty toads as payment for the servants to process them.

While the servants were processing the toads, Chu Qing went to the training ground for a stroll.

To his surprise:

Shi Tiezhu was practicing his Fist with great vigor.

He moved nimbly, his Fist wind whistled, and his Moves were fluid.

"He has achievedgetting Started."

The Perfection-level Mantis Fist gave Chu Qing a profound insight.

"Normally, he would only achieve getting Started tomorrow, or even the day after tomorrow."

"Why did he suddenly achieve getting Started now?"

At this moment, Shi Tiezhu saw Chu Qing, and his expression changed slightly.

Remembering what was said at noon, he felt panicked.

Whoosh!

Shi Tiezhu took a few quick steps towards Chu Qing and growled, "I won't cook toads for you anymore."

Chu Qing feigned ignorance: "Why?"

Because you persuaded me to slaughter the Powerful and the Wubao Disciples, which is a great act of rebellion.

However, Shi Tiezhu dared not say this.

"I... have achieved getting Started."

"In the future, I will definitely enter the Martial Academy, and I will not be on the same level as you."

"From now on... don't look for me anymore."

Chu Qing secretly chuckled.

A youth is a youth after all; you look panicked, not at all proud.

Are you afraid that I will bewitch you into killing your master?

He pretended to be sad and said, "Since that's the case... I'll leave first."

He walked two steps, then turned back and said,

"Shi Tiezhu... I actually know how to make spicy boiled toads too."

"I just wanted you to eat more meat to speed up your Cultivation progress."

"From now on... take care."

After speaking, he turned and left.

Shi Tiezhu looked at Chu Qing's retreating figure and felt that the linen-clad youth looked down and out.

He softened, caught up to him, and whispered,

"The Martial Academy has limited spots... don't waste time practicing Martial Arts; learning to read and write is your way out."

Chu Qing... walked away.

Shi Tiezhu sighed to himself, "The spots are already decided; if you don't act like a dog, you can't enter the Martial Academy."

"But I... really don't want to be a dog."

Croak!

Croak!

Shi Tiezhu felt that the toads were even noisier tonight.

After parting with Chu Qing at noon, he pondered for a long time and actually felt that what Chu Qing said made sense.

Then, he signed and stamped with Zhao Hongxiu.

After Zhao Hongxiu gave him a Secret medicine to consume, he easily achieved getting Started.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shi Tiezhu practiced until late at night, only feeling a tingling heat in his right arm.

"Within three to five days, I will definitely be able to Cultivate a large tendon."

"However, Senior Sister said that if I can Cultivate Mantis Fist to a proficient level, I can make better use of the Secret medicine."

He moved nimbly, his Fist wind whistled.

"One Secret medicine has such a great effect."

"A few more... I will be stronger."

"Can a strong dog... bite its owner to death?"

"Chu Qing... is not human... I am about to Cultivate my first Iron Tendons; he still cannot achieve getting Started."

"From now on... there is no 'from now on'."

Croak!

Croak!

In a corner, Chu Qing was on all fours, sometimes spitting out black phlegm, and sometimes going to the latrine.

Toad Skill not only did not consume physical strength but instead restored it and increased his foundation.

"This Toad Skill, at all costs, must be promoted to Perfection."

... Jin Family Mansion:

Jin Pangzi looked helpless.

Madam Jin, with her hands on her hips, her chest heaving with anger, said,

"Chu Qing is not your Godson; he is my Godson."

"If you don't care, I will."

Jin Pangzi helplessly said, "Who adopts a Godson that old?"

"Such a Godson cannot be raised to be loyal."

Madam Jin didn't believe him and sneered, "If I treat him well, he will definitely be grateful."

She recounted the matter of writing letters to ask for money, clothes, and stationery.

Jin Pangzi hesitated, "Since that's the case... I'll lend him some silver tomorrow."

Madam Jin was finally satisfied.

"You tell him to visit more often."

Jin Pangzi nodded.

"You give him more silver."

Jin Pangzi nodded.

"You sleep in my room."

Jin Pangzi... quickly shook his head and weakly said, "Those few concubines might have a chance of getting pregnant."

"I..."

Madam Jin didn't mind and waved her hand, "Then go!"

Jin Pangzi breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Madam."

... Big Boss Liu Jun was in a bad mood.

Because he was drinking and listening to music when he received a report from his subordinate.

"Liu Xiaogou is dead?"

"How did he die?"

Liu Xiaogou was from the same village as him.

After he became Big Boss, he brought many young people from his village into the Blood River Gang.

Liu Hai, a fellow villager, died inexplicably.

Liu Xiaogou, a fellow villager, died inexplicably.

How should I explain this when I return to the village at the end of the year?

"He was split in the face with a knife, and his facial bones were cracked."

Liu Jun thought of Liu Hai being hacked in the face with multiple knives.

"Tell the brothers to investigate, see who saw him last; and where he went before he died."

"Yes."

... A new day began:

Chu Qing eagerly waited at the entrance of Jin Pangzi's office.

When Jin Pangzi arrived, he quickly clasped his hands in greeting.

Before he could speak, Jin Pangzi quickly said,

"Call me Hall Master."

Chu Qing, readily complied.

"Come, sign."

"This is fifty taels."

Chu Qing blinked and said, "I want to borrow fifty-five taels."

Jin Pangzi... stiffened his face and frowned.

Chu Qing quickly said, "I want to buy something for Godmother."

Jin Pangzi rewrote the IOU and said, "Sixty taels."

Chu Qing... bought rouge for three taels of silver, a golden hair ornament for four taels of silver, paid off the general store's debt with half a tael of silver, and ordered some malt candy.

When he presented the gifts to Madam Jin, the Madam's eyes curved with delight.

"Qing'er finally has some silver, and instead of buying clothes or shoes, he buys these for me. Isn't that a bit wasteful?"

Chu Qing smiled and said, "Not wasteful."

"Just consider it my filial piety to Godmother."

Madam Jin smiled and said, "Just call me Godmother."

"Come, I'll teach you to write."

"Okay, Godmother."

... Nearing noon, Jin Pangzi suddenly returned.

He saw Madam Jin and Chu Qing leaning over a table writing, and felt a little uneasy.

However, seeing the rouge, powder, and golden hair ornament nearby, he was happy again.

Chu Qing, knows how to behave.

"Chu Qing... hurry up and practice your Cultivation; entering the Martial Academy is the Righteous Path."

"Hall Master, my Mantis Fist has already achieved getting Started."

"Now, all that's left is the slow process of refining my tendons; moreover, the Senior Brother of the Martial Hall said that learning to read and write helps with Cultivation."

Jin Pangzi said, "Learning to read and write consumes more energy than practicing Martial Arts."

"How many characters have you learned?"

Madam Jin, beside him, said sweetly, "He has learned five hundred characters."

Jin Pangzi didn't believe it:

"Chu Qing, in his linen clothes and bare feet, didn't know a single character a few days ago."

"How can he learn so many characters in one or two days?"

Madam Jin was surprised.

She saw Chu Qing learning characters quickly and thought he had some prior foundation.

But she didn't expect that he didn't know any characters before.

Chu Qing explained, "Senior Brother said that my talent for learning to read and write is even better than my Martial Dao talent."

Madam Jin sighed, "When I was young, I learned a thousand characters in a year; you are much more impressive than me."

"Come more often when you're free, and learn all the characters as quickly as possible."

"Then read more books."

"Reading is the only way out; Martial Artists... are uncouth!"

Jin Pangzi's eyes darted around as he secretly pondered:

"Chu Qing's talent for reading is extraordinary, and he has already achieved getting Started in Mantis Fist. Even if he doesn't enter the Martial Academy in the future, he will be skilled in both literary and martial arts."

"At that time, if I make him my dog, he will be a good dog."