25: Prohibited Weapon Techniques

Cultivation Technique: Double-Handed Mantis Sword, Not Initiated — One hundred refinements daily, initiation in three hundred days.

Promotion Conditions: 1: Wield Double-Handed Mantis Sword for three days, 2: Ten portions of Mantis Secret medicine.

...Cultivation Technique: Iron Hand, Not Initiated — Ten refinements daily, initiation in ten days.

Promotion Conditions: 1: Iron Hand for one hour.

...Cultivation Technique: Iron Fist, Not Initiated — Ten refinements daily, initiation in ten days.

Promotion Conditions: 1: Iron Hand for one hour.

In one night, I gained three Cultivation Techniques, one of which was even a forbidden Cultivation Technique.

"I didn't get it from Chief Constable Shi, but I unexpectedly got it from Zhao Wuji."

"This is... interesting."

Chu Qing was delighted.

However, he couldn't Cultivate any of these three Cultivation Techniques for now.

"Whether it's Iron Hand or a two-handed greatsword, I need to visit a blacksmith shop."

"But the blacksmith shop is closed now."

Unable to quickly promote his Cultivation Techniques, Chu Qing decided to improve the conditions for his Eagle Claw Skill.

At Xian Yuan Restaurant, he ate many chicken feet; the first condition for Eagle Claw Skill was almost met.

He still had a long way to go for the second condition.

Work hard, Cultivate.

His ten fingers extended: sometimes stretching, sometimes forming claws.

You have completed part of the second condition!

The profession panel flickered, and the count slowly increased.

Ten minutes... an hour...

Two hours... You have completed the second condition for Eagle Claw Skill.

Late at night, Chu Qing collapsed and slept.

Early the next morning, he went to the martial arts school for a meal.

The cafeteria worker called out to him:

"Master Qing, the master instructed you to eat in the back kitchen."

The members of the assault class, who were eating with him, were very surprised.

"Why is the master giving this lunatic special treatment?"

"I heard that yesterday, the official Disciples of the martial arts school were looking for him all over the streets."

"I heard that it was because of him that the master was able to return."

Chu Qing ignored the assault class students and went straight to the back kitchen.

A large basin of chicken feet and a large amount of green vegetables were piled on the table.

"Zhao Wuji... is not simple."

He took the words from the drinking table seriously.

Considering that the other party gave him a weapon Cultivation Technique, he knew that Zhao Wuji must have something else he wanted.

"But if he doesn't say it, I'll just pretend not to know."

Chu Qing was not polite, he grabbed the chicken feet and ate them wildly.

One... ten... a hundred... an hour later, his belly was round, and he couldn't eat anymore.

"Forget it, I'll go for a walk to help with digestion."

A short while later, he went to the training ground for a stroll.

Shi Tiezhu was diligently training with the members of the assault class.

Chu Qing watched for a while and found that several of them had already been initiated.

Among them, Shi Tiezhu's Moves were the smoothest.

"In ten days to half a month, his Mantis Fist might reach Major Achievement."

"This guy is really working hard; his progress is good."

At this moment, Shi Tiezhu saw him strolling and was secretly pleased:

"Chu Qing is just relying on Chief Constable Shi's prestige."

"That kind of prestige is like a castle in the air, it will collapse with a touch; while I, I take one step at a time."

"Now I have Secret medicine support, and meat support, in at most ten days, my Mantis Fist will be proficient."

"And he, by that time, will have only just been initiated."

"He... is not as good as I am."

After a few laps, Chu Qing went to look for a blacksmith shop.

There were many people in Shiji County who opened mountains and chiseled stones, so there were also many blacksmith shops.

He randomly found one and told the blacksmith his requirements.

The blacksmith said:

"Customer, I suggest you forge a pair of steel gloves."

Chu Qing's heart stirred, and he said, "You can forge them?"

The blacksmith smiled and said, "Yes; some people in the martial arts academy like to wear steel gloves."

"I've forged many."

Chu Qing asked curiously, "Why do people from the martial arts academy want steel gloves?"

The blacksmith scratched his head and chuckled, "During martial arts academy competitions, some people have weapon Cultivation Techniques, and some don't; those who don't use steel gloves as weapons."

Chu Qing understood.

"Okay, then forge a pair for me."

About ten minutes later:

The blacksmith measured his hands and then had him press his handprints into a soft clay.

Finally, he said:

"Customer, you pay a deposit of five taels; you can pick it up in the evening."

Chu Qing paid the deposit.

He originally wanted the blacksmith to forge Double-Handed Mantis Sword.

But, after thinking about it, he decided to wait.

"As a ruffian, no one will care if I carry a machete."

"But carrying a two-handed greatsword will definitely arouse suspicion."

"These Double-Handed Mantis Sword must not be forged in Shiji County."

Half an hour later:

He arrived at the Jin Family Mansion.

Madam Jin, for some reason, got some calligraphy copybooks and asked him to copy them.

"Now you only lack good handwriting."

"For a scholar, handwriting is their face; if your handwriting is good, everyone will think highly of you."

"I'll grind the ink, and you copy."

Chu Qing smiled and said, "No problem."

He started with horizontal, flat, vertical, and straight strokes, then moved on to individual strokes.

Chu Qing practiced martial arts and had just learned Eagle Claw Skill, so his hands were steady.

When he copied the copybooks, he did it quite well.

Madam Jin said happily, "Qing'er's Aptitude for studying is really good!"

"Why don't you give up the martial arts academy, study diligently, and in the future, pass the imperial examination to become a high-ranking official."

"By then, you'll bring glory to your ancestors."

Chu Qing smiled and said nothing.

Being an official — high in position and power, but when encountering danger, one can only rely on external objects.

Moreover, one's official position might be stripped away; losing the official position, one becomes useless.

Martial Dao — great power belongs to oneself, life and death are determined by me, not by heaven, not relying on outsiders.

Seeing him not speak, Madam Jin told him the benefits of being an official.

Chu Qing said unexpectedly:

"Godmother, how do you know so much?"

Madam Jin's eyes flustered, and she remained silent.

Chu Qing stopped asking and focused on copying the characters.

At noon, Madam Jin prepared a sumptuous lunch again, which included many chicken feet.

Madam Jin's slender hands deboned the chicken feet, giving him boneless chicken feet.

As Eagle Claw Skill was about to be upgraded, Chu Qing ate faster and faster.

Later, Madam Jin directly fed him.

But after only two bites, she realized it was inappropriate and said in a panic, "You eat first, I'll go check the kitchen."

After speaking, she left in a hurry.

Chu Qing... felt drowsy in spring and tired in autumn:

After lunch, Madam Jin lay on a rocking chair, basking in the sun, secretly massaging her belly with her small hands to speed up digestion.

She had eaten a bit too much just now.

Xiao Tao Hong went into the house for a short nap.

Chu Qing was full of energy and not sleepy at all.

He sometimes rocked the reclining chair and sometimes massaged Madam Jin's shoulders.

Before long, Madam Jin quietly stretched and mumbled, "I'll take a short nap!"

After speaking, she fell into a daze and slept.

Fortunately, Xiao Tao Hong had already prepared a fox fur blanket to cover her, so she wasn't afraid of the cold.

Chu Qing massaged her shoulders while pondering some things.

Because, after eating the boneless chicken feet peeled by Madam Jin, his Eagle Claw Skill was promoted.

Cultivation Technique: Eagle Claw Skill, Proficient — One hundred refinements daily, Major Achievement in one thousand days.

Promotion Conditions — 1: Rotate a stone ball the size of a bowl ten thousand times with both hands, 2: One portion of Eagle Claw Secret medicine.

"Stone balls are easy to find, Shiji County is full of stonemasons, finding two stone balls is very easy."

"However, Eagle Claw Secret medicine... is hard to get."

"None of the thirty-six martial arts schools teach Eagle Claw Skill."

"This Secret medicine is only available to Chief Constable Shi."

"It seems I should pay Chief Constable Shi a visit."

However, it was noon now, so it wasn't a good time to go.

"Then I'll go find him at dusk!"