36: Trina's Secret

Early in the morning:

Chu Qing found a blacksmith's shop, paid a deposit, and left his improved broadsword design.

The blacksmith, in his honest way, said:

"Guest, the simple one can be finished tonight."

"The more complex one will take three days!"

Chu Qing was silent for a moment, then said:

"Forge the complex one."

"Use the best materials!"

"I have money, and I can earn it, so I'm not afraid to spend!"

The blacksmith excitedly said: "Alright!"

A little later:

Chu Qing, holding the blacksmith's receipt, braved the wind and rain, heading towards Shiji County.

At the inn:

Tang Wuming said to the innkeeper: "Um, my friend went out. Can the room fee wait until he returns to pay?"

The innkeeper sneered: "Your friend said you would pay the room fee."

Tang Wuming... was silent.

After a long while, he weakly said: "How about... I wash dishes for you?"

The innkeeper was silent for a moment, then said: "We don't need anyone to wash dishes here."

"I see you have delicate skin. How about... you scrub the guests' backs?"

Tang Wuming... Chu Qing traveled, and he saw that the good farmlands on both sides were submerged by rainwater.

As he walked along the country roads, he saw some collapsed houses.

The farmers looked at their collapsed homes, at a loss.

"This season's crops are ruined."

"I wonder if this storm is widespread or localized."

If it's only three to five hundred kilometers, everything is fine.

If it's widespread, it will inevitably lead to disasters like floods and plagues.

Not long after, he entered the mountains again.

More of the mountain roads had collapsed.

Chu Qing traversed mountains and ridges, and as he passed a corner, he saw a welcoming pine tree.

Under this welcoming pine, collapsed rocks and mud from the mountain had accumulated.

Among the rocks, a purple flower swayed in the wind.

Chu Qing picked the purple flower along with the mud and placed it in his bamboo basket.

"I wonder if Madam Jin will like it!"

One hour... three hours... Nearing noon, he entered Shiji County.

As soon as he entered the county town, he felt the atmosphere was a little different.

Many gang members were walking through the streets and alleys, searching door-to-door for something.

"I haven't killed any enemies these two days!"

As he pondered, he arrived at his doorstep and saw several teenagers holding umbrellas.

Seeing Chu Qing, they quickly said:

"Qing Ge, hurry, come to the Martial Hall with us."

Chu Qing smiled and said: "What's the matter?"

A teenager quickly said: "An old man came this morning, saying he wanted to see you."

An old man? Looking for me?

For the shizhu pearl?

Or... the Secret Toad Skill?

In an instant, Chu Qing wanted to run away.

"Don't panic!"

"I haven't gotten the shizhu pearl yet."

"Secret Toad Skill? I'll deny it to my death, and they can't do anything."

"If they try to torture a confession out of me... then I'll just kill them all."

"Perhaps the old man is here for something else."

"Stay calm, I still have Madam Shi backing me."

As he pondered, he followed the teenagers into the Mantis Martial Hall.

The teenagers reported, and soon, he was led into the main hall.

Chu Qing left his coir raincoat, bamboo basket, etc., at the door, and entered the main hall barefoot in his linen clothes.

There were only three people in the main hall:

Zhao Wuji, Zhao Hongxiu, and a Hunchbacked Old Man.

Zhao Wuji laughed heartily:

"Senior, this is Chu Qing, who eats toad meat."

"He comes from a poor family and can't afford meat, so he eats toads to supplement his nutrition."

"He's a very clever person."

Chu Qing's heart stirred, and he instantly understood Zhao Wuji's meaning.

"For the Toad Skill?"

He cupped his fists and said: "Sir!"

The old man stared at him with cloudy eyes, and said hoarsely:

"Do you still catch toads to eat now?"

"Not anymore."

The old man's eyes were cold, and he said hoarsely: "Why not?"

Chu Qing casually said: "I have acknowledged Madam Jin as my Godmother, and borrowed some money from the gang, so I no longer lack food."

"Later, the Hall Master prepared chicken feet, braised pork, and other dishes for me every day, so I have even more meat."

The old man was silent.

Zhao Hongxiu was secretly worried, her small hands clenched tight, her palms sweating.

This old man was terrifying; just one finger touching her shoulder made her kneel.

However, her father was formidable, enduring three fingers—before kneeling!

Facing such a master, one must be extremely cautious and careful.

She was afraid that Chu Qing would say one wrong word and be killed by the old man, and then—the Martial Hall would incur his wrath.

One minute... two minutes... Zhao Hongxiu felt like she couldn't breathe.

Zhao Wuji was sweating profusely down his back.

Chu Qing had a bewildered and nervous expression.

The old man suddenly spoke: "Where did you go last night?"

"Why are you only returning now?"

Zhao Wuji and Zhao Hongxiu's heads buzzed; they hadn't known Chu Qing hadn't returned all night.

Why would a great master pay attention to a barefoot teenager in linen clothes?

Zhao Wuji's mind was in turmoil.

Chu Qing cupped his fists and said: "Sir, my Godmother loves flowers, but unfortunately, the flowers in the garden were scattered by the wind and rain; I promised my Godmother I would find a beautiful flower."

"Yesterday, I went out of the city to look for flowers, and unknowingly went far, then I met a scholar in the mountains..."

Chu Qing recounted Tang Wuming's story.

He only concealed the matters of forging the broadsword and the shizhu pearl.

The old man looked at the bamboo basket, his nose slightly wrinkled, and said indifferently:

"Meeting me, you're lucky."

"Don't eat toads anymore, lest you be inexplicably killed by someone."

After speaking, the old man left.

As he stepped out, the wind swirled the rainwater, yet it could not land on him.

Where his feet landed, the accumulated water exploded, like blooming lotus flowers.

Phew!

Zhao Wuji let out a long breath.

Zhao Hongxiu, even more so, plopped down onto the ground.

Chu Qing also let out a long breath.

Just now... it was so dangerous.

Fortunately, his psychological resilience was excellent, and he managed to get through it.

Silence filled the room.

After a long while, Zhao Hongxiu got up and rushed outside to check the bamboo basket.

A vibrant purple flower appeared before her eyes.

Seeing the purple flower, the woman looked at Chu Qing with complex emotions.

"He braved the rain to pick fresh flowers for his Godmother; truly... commendable filial piety!"

"I just wonder if anyone will treat me like this in the future."

Chu Qing cupped his fists to Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji nodded.

The two said nothing, but everything was understood without words.

Chu Qing left, braving the wind and rain, to deliver the flower to Madam Jin.

Zhao Hongxiu took a bath because she was covered in sweat.

Zhao Wuji stared blankly outside the door.

He had a feeling:

Chu Qing had hidden some things; the old man might have been looking for him.

Otherwise:

In the vast Shiji County, many people caught toads to eat meat, so why not look for others?

Was it worth it for him, a great master, to sit here for several hours?

"What was that old man looking for?"

"What is related to toads?"

"Chu Qing... what exactly is his secret?"

...Chu Qing had too many secrets.

The news of the shizhu pearl.

The secret of his Iron Tendons.

Killing Hall Master Liu, Liu Jun, and others.

Killing enemies in the black market.

Weapons and Cultivation Technique.

And the secret of the Secret Toad Skill.

Although he had overcome this difficulty, Chu Qing was not pleased.

"Still too weak."

"If I were strong enough, if that old geezer dared to speak to me like that, I would have killed him directly."

"Just wait; once I enter the Martial Academy, I'll find Advanced Cultivation Techniques, practice 365 Iron Tendons; even upgrade them to Golden Tendons."

"By then, if I openly declare that I have the Secret Toad Skill, would that old geezer dare to hold me accountable?"

Killing intent surged in his heart.

It only completely subsided after he arrived at the Jin Family Mansion.

"Xiao Tao Hong, where is the Hall Master?"

"The Hall Master went out."

"And Qing Yu?"

Xiao Tao Hong... was silent.

A moment later, she gritted her teeth and said: "You should address Madam as Godmother!"