15: What I saw and heard in the city! It's all about survival!

Leaving the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall gates, Li Qing entered the sea of people.

The area of the Outer City near the Inner City had wide streets paved with bluestone, a world of difference from the Slum's mud, dirty water, narrowness, and gloom.

The sounds of peddling, horse-drawn carriages, and the aroma of various foods rushed toward him.

The long-lost atmosphere of the mundane world.

This is what living like a human is like.

Li Qing sighed in his heart, but his stomach was completely empty.

That little bit of protest had already turned into a drumbeat.

The urgent priority was to fill his stomach.

The rations from the martial arts hall were enough for ordinary attendants.

For his body, which had been strengthened by the Spirit Turtle Clone, it was a total joke.

He needed a large amount of food to replenish himself.

Following the aroma, Li Qing walked to a bustling intersection of an eatery street.

It lacked the magnificence of grand restaurants, mostly consisting of street vendors and small shops with affordable prices.

He found the noodle stall with the most people; the owner was a thick-set man.

Boiling noodles, scooping them out, and pouring on the sauce—his movements were lightning fast.

"Boss, three bowls of minced meat noodles, extra meat."

Li Qing fished out a few copper coins.

"Coming right up!"

Before long, three large bowls of steaming noodles were served.

Li Qing didn't stand on ceremony and devoured them like a whirlwind.

That speed left the diners at the neighboring table and the stall owner somewhat dazed.

After finishing three bowls, he felt like he had only just lined his stomach.

He then walked to the bun shop next door.

"Boss, twenty meat buns to go."

"Twenty?"

The bun shop's proprietress widened her eyes, sizing up Li Qing's short and small frame.

Her estimation wasn't wrong; the youth before her was only about 1.5 meters tall.

About the same height as her ten-year-old son.

She was already shocked that he ate three bowls of noodles.

These twenty buns?

Can he finish them?

"Little brother, my buns aren't small. Can you finish them?"

"I can." Li Qing paid the money.

Carrying the warm buns wrapped in oil paper, he ate as he walked.

He quickly polished off ten more, only then feeling eighty percent full.

With food in his stomach, his heart was at ease.

But touching the deflated money bag in his pocket, Li Qing calculated silently.

This single meal cost nearly a hundred copper coins.

The thirteen taels of silver and change he brought seemed like a lot, but at this rate of consumption, it wouldn't last long.

Increasing income and cutting expenses was imperative.

Stealing food at the martial arts hall was unrealistic; the risk was too high.

Relying on the Clone to hunt in the Great River and feed back into the main body was the long-term solution.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Li Qing began to wander the streets with a purpose.

He wasn't there to watch the excitement, but to gather information.

The first thing that caught his attention was a pharmacy named "Hundred Herbs Hall".

The storefront was grand, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted from within.

Li Qing walked in.

Seeing his ordinary clothes and attendant's attire, the clerk wasn't very enthusiastic, only saying, "Getting medicine or seeing a doctor?"

"Just looking around."

Li Qing's gaze swept across the counter and the medicine shelves.

Various medicinal materials were a feast for the eyes, sorted into categories.

He saw some herbs labeled as "containing Spiritual Qi".

They were placed in exquisite jade boxes or porcelain bottles.

The prices were staggeringly high.

A dried-up thing called "Qi Gathering Grass" was priced at eight taels of silver.

There was also some dull-colored "Low Grade Vicious Beast Bone Powder", which cost five taels for a small bottle.

Li Qing's gaze lingered on an aquatic plant that was entirely emerald green, placed in a water basin.

[Clear Water Grass (Low-rank Spiritual Plant)]

[Contains weak water-attribute Spiritual Qi; can slightly increase evolution value.]

The System provided an appraisal.

The appearance and Spiritual Qi contained in this grass were clearly inferior to the ink spirit grass he had scavenged by the Great River last time.

But the price tag was—one hundred taels of silver!

Li Qing clicked his tongue.

This is robbery.

The ink spirit grass gave 50 evolution value points; this Clear Water Grass would give twenty or thirty at most.

Fifty taels of silver.

Enough for a commoner family of three to cover ten years of expenses.

He quietly backed out.

It seemed that the path of relying on buying resources was basically a dead end.

The Great River was better; although it was life-threatening, it didn't cost money, and the items were better.

Wealth and honor indeed had to be sought amidst danger.

Leaving the pharmacy, he visited a weapons shop, a general store, and even a clothing store.

Understanding prices and observing pedestrians, he got a feel for the atmosphere of Jinling City.

Passing by a fish market, the air was filled with a heavy fishy smell.

Many fishmongers were hawking live fish just caught from the river, as well as river shrimp, loaches, soft-shelled turtles, and the like.

Li Qing's footsteps paused.

He shared the Clone's perception, and his gaze swept over those aquatic products.

Most were ordinary fish and shrimp, containing no Spiritual Qi.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on an old man's fish basket.

Inside were a pile of dark river snails, small in size and covered in mud and sand.

In the Clone's perception, among this pile of river snails, there were three to five.

Emitting an extremely weak fluctuation of Spiritual Qi, slightly stronger than ordinary fish and shrimp.

Although it was so weak it could be ignored and didn't even touch the threshold of a Low-rank Spiritual Plant, it indeed existed.

"Old man, how much are these river snails?"

Li Qing squatted down.

The old man looked up: "Ten copper coins per catty. How much do you want, young man?"

"I'll take them all," Li Qing said.

The old man was delighted: "Alright! These were all just gathered from the banks of the Great River this morning, very fresh!"

"It's a total of over five catties. I'll charge you fifty copper coins!"

Li Qing paid the money and packed the river snails in an old cloth bag.

Even the smallest mosquito leg is still meat.

These things were cheap; he'd find a chance to boil and eat them himself later.

Anything that could add to the Clone's evolution value was more or less useful.

He wouldn't be able to return to the Slum for a while.

He'd just have to eat them himself to increase the nutrients his body needed.

Fifty copper coins, not a bad deal.

He then walked to a book stall that sold old books and maps.

Li Qing searched for a while and spent twenty copper coins to buy a yellowed booklet titled "Jinling Waterways Gazetteer" and a "Common Vicious Beast Illustrated Guide".

The gazetteer roughly depicted the rivers and lakes around Jinling City, including some sections of the Great River.

It marked some water depths, currents, and dangerous areas.

The illustrated guide introduced the appearance, habits, and weaknesses of some common first to Third Tier Fierce Beasts.

The Iron-Toothed Crocodile and Sharp-toothed Fish were prominently listed.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Next time he went to the Great River, with this information, he could be more targeted and avoid unnecessary risks.

Laying low.

One must be cultured even when laying low.

Carrying the meat buns, river snails, and two booklets, Li Qing looked at the time.

His one-hour outing time was almost up.

He prepared to head back.

Just as he turned a street corner, several people came toward him.

Leading them was Lu Yunfei, dressed in snow-white clothes and holding a folding fan.

Beside him were two males and one female, all Disciples of the martial arts hall, along with several attendants.

The group was chatting and laughing; Lu Yunfei was elegant and poised, making the female Disciple giggle from time to time.

A narrow road for enemies?

Li Qing didn't want trouble, so he stepped aside and lowered his head to pass.

However, an attendant beside Lu Yunfei sharp-eyedly spotted Li Qing.

It was the burly attendant who had tried to cause trouble in the dining hall this morning and was tripped by Li Qing.

"Oh, isn't this the newcomer?"

"What, the food at the martial arts hall isn't to your taste, so you ran out to get a private meal?"

The burly attendant shouted sarcastically, intentionally blocking Li Qing's path.

Having lost Face this morning, seeing his master and Senior Brother Lu present, his courage swelled, and he wanted to get even.

Li Qing stopped and looked up.

Lu Yunfei and the others also stopped, their gazes falling on Li Qing.

Lu Yunfei's eyes were playful.

Sweeping over Li Qing's simple clothes and the oil paper package and cloth bag in his hands, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly; he didn't stop the attendant, looking like he was watching a play.

The female Disciple beside him showed a hint of disgust.

"I'm sorry, brother. I was impulsive this morning; I apologize here," Li Qing lowered his head and cupped his hands.

A true man knows when to yield!

He would settle the score sooner or later!

"Hmph!!"

The burly attendant felt satisfied.

"You newcomer handyman, are you scared now? Believe it or not, I'll..."

"A-Fu."

Lu Yunfei suddenly spoke; his voice was gentle, but it made the burly attendant named A-Fu freeze.

"Senior Brother Lu."

A-Fu's master, another Inner Sect Disciple, quickly pulled him back and smiled apologetically at Lu Yunfei.

Lu Yunfei shook his folding fan, looked at Li Qing, and smiled.

"Little brother, whose Junior Brother or Junior Sister's attendant are you?"

"You look unfamiliar. A-Fu was just a bit anxious. We're all in the same martial arts hall; we'll see each other often. It's fine."

"A-Fu won't hold a grudge this time, but don't be so reckless next time."

These words sounded like he was helping Li Qing, but the slight and condescension in his tone were unconcealed.

Li Qing looked at him.

Chen Shui was right; this person looked like a gentleman but had an unpleasant vibe in his bones.

"Reporting to Senior Brother, I am Senior Sister Chen Meng's attendant," Li Qing replied.

"Oh? So you're Junior Sister Chen's attendant."

A flash appeared in Lu Yunfei's eyes, and his smile broadened.

"Junior Sister Chen is innocent and romantic, and has just joined the martial arts hall."

"As an attendant, you should take good care of her. Don't cause trouble outside and lose her Face."

Did he think of himself as Chen Meng's elder or something?

Li Qing found it amusing.

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother Lu."

"It's getting late; you should head back. Attendants only have one hour of outing time."

These seemingly helpful words were actually just him elevating his own status again!

"Yes."

Li Qing cupped his hands, bypassed A-Fu, and left.

A-Fu wanted to say more but was glared at by his master and had to give up, glaring hatefully at Li Qing's back.

Lu Yunfei watched Li Qing's departing figure, tapping his palm with his folding fan.

"Junior Sister Chen's attendant... he doesn't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth," he chuckled and continued forward with the group.

Li Qing quickly returned to the martial arts hall and checked in within the allotted time.

Returning to the entourage's quarters，No one was inside.。

He finished the remaining meat buns and hid the two booklets.

As for the bag of river snails, he'd have to find a chance to deal with them.

Consciousness switch.

On the dim riverbed, the Spirit Turtle Clone slowly opened its eyes.

[evolution value: 216.3/500]

While the main body was active during the day, the Clone was also autonomously devouring small fish and shrimp, and its evolution value had grown slightly.

As expected, the tributaries now only had "mosquito leg" meat.

Li Qing shook his head, and his consciousness returned to his main body.

Another stable day.

After having dinner in the evening, Li Qing lay on his bed.

Although this trip out of the city cost quite a bit and he ran into Lu Yunfei's group, there were still gains.

He had figured out the prices of Spiritual Plants and Medicinal Pills, ending any thoughts of spending money on them.

At least for now, there was no need.

He bought the map and the illustrated guide, preparing for his next exploration of the Great River.

Most importantly, he filled his stomach.

Thinking about the "Jinling Waterways Gazetteer", he was already planning the route for his next night exploration of the Great River.

A-Fu, Lu Yun?!

You already have a path to your own deaths!