Chapter 15: Earning Money for the Young Master’s Martial Arts Training

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Earning Money for the Young Master’s Martial Arts Training

This was his strongest move, an unsolvable strike.

The only way to counter it was to meet it head-on, using powerful True Gang to forcefully shatter all the Saber Qi. However, Mu Lingyan could not use True Essence. Her reaction speed was drastically reduced, and the indoor space was limited. Facing this strike...

BANG!

Primordial Gang erupted from Mu Lingyan’s body, shattering all the Saber Qi. Her expression was grim and somewhat unsightly.

PANT! PANT!

Lu Yuan stopped, standing there and gasping heavily for air. Yet, a smile hung on his face.

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, or an ant trying to shake a mighty tree?" he said.

"But even a common man’s wrath can spill blood within five paces!

"For the convictions in my heart, I am willing to risk everything!"

Mu Lingyan stared at Lu Yuan, slightly dazed. He had seemed completely ordinary at first. But from the moment his unyielding will erupted, she had been astounded. To think a person could unleash such tremendous potential! Lu Yuan’s words left her feeling a mix of complex emotions. She even felt a twinge of envy toward Lin Siyao, simply because there was a man who cared for and loved her this much...

"You win. I will keep my promise," Mu Lingyan said.

"However, let me offer you a piece of advice. Siyao won’t be able to stay hidden for much longer. Eventually, she will reveal herself and astound the world.

"When that time comes, your true trial will begin."

"Thank you for the warning," Lu Yuan replied with a smile. "But perhaps you’ll soon discover that things aren’t quite what you imagine them to be."

He picked up his scabbard and walked out of the room, step by step.

"Huh?" Mu Lingyan murmured, confused. What did he mean? Was the engagement between the Lu Family and the Lin Family a fake?

"Miss Lingyan, you’re just going to let him go like that?" her maid, Cuihe, asked indignantly.

"I, Mu Lingyan, am a woman of my word. What, do you want me to be known as someone who breaks her promises?" Mu Lingyan rolled her eyes.

"But..." Cuihe disagreed. Miss Lingyan had failed to accomplish what she set out to do. This was something she couldn’t accept.

"Enough, I said that’s the end of it," Mu Lingyan said calmly. "We’ll wait and see."

***

[Congratulations on completing the mission. 1,000 experience points have been deposited.]

"Add them to the Cyan Gang Fist," Lu Yuan commanded inwardly.

Instantly, a flood of insights appeared, elevating his fist technique. His understanding deepened, the power increased, and the body-tempering effects grew stronger.

[Martial Arts: Cyan Gang Fist (Major Mastery 4059/5000), Wind-Breaking Nine Slashes (Major Mastery 4834/10000)]

He was less than 1,000 experience points away from achieving perfection. It would be quick—two days at most. With the experience added to his innate talent, Lu Yuan’s combat prowess had improved significantly today.

However, having just used his unyielding will, his energy consumption had severely exceeded his limits. Lu Yuan felt exhausted. His legs turned to jelly as he walked down the stairs, and his muscles and bones ached as if he might collapse at any moment. He had to sit on the steps for a while to rest before he could finally make his way down and leave Lingjiang Pavilion.

Passing by Hundred Treasures Studio, he bought two Qi Nourishing Pills. He swallowed one, digesting it quickly to nourish his body. By the time he returned home, Lu Yuan had fully recovered.

The Undying Martial Body was truly powerful; it left no lingering side effects.

Lu Yuan saw Yaoyao sitting among a pile of wooden scraps, holding a discarded piece of wood as she did some woodworking and carving. This little girl had gotten up early in the morning to wash sweet potatoes, pick and clean vegetables, and stoke the stove. After eating, she washed her own clothes and then went to the garden to plant vegetables. Following that, she tidied up the entire courtyard. It was as if she had to take care of everything, not resting for a single moment.

"Yaoyao, take a break. Don’t keep working non-stop," Lu Yuan urged. He had bought her to do chores, sure, but he couldn’t exploit her like this.

"Yaoyao isn’t tired. Yaoyao needs to earn money so Mr. Lu can practice martial arts," she replied meekly, glancing up at him.

"I need you to earn money for my martial arts?" Lu Yuan rolled his eyes, his expression turning slightly cold. "Rest for thirty minutes. Mr. Lu’s orders."

"Yes, Mr. Lu." Yaoyao quickly put down her chisel and the block of wood, sitting there obediently. However, her little hands rubbed together, seemingly unsure of where to place themselves.

"Just amuse yourself," Lu Yuan said helplessly.

He went into the house and brought out his bamboo tools, then hauled out a large jar of clear wine and poured it into the pot, covering it with a lid. He was going to distill strong liquor. The technique was quite simple. This world had strong liquor too, but the method was controlled by a select few. Previously, he had bought a small two-pound jar for five taels of silver, which had made Lu Yuan’s heart bleed. Now, using wine that cost twenty copper coins a pound, he could distill over two pounds of strong liquor from ten pounds of the cheap stuff.

The price difference was twenty to thirty times...

"Ayuan, are you distilling wine again?" Wei Huiling walked out of the house, catching the scent of the alcohol. She had been inside doing knitting and needlework.

"Yeah," Lu Yuan nodded. "I needed some, so I’m making a bit."

"Since you know this method, can’t we make more and sell it?" Wei Huiling’s eyes sparkled. The Lu Family wasn’t particularly wealthy. She knew the prices of the two types of wine and the profit margin between them. Even selling just two bottles a day would bring in a massive income.

"No, it’s too dangerous. Our family isn’t strong enough," Lu Yuan shook his head. "If we were in a small town, it might be fine to sell some secretly. But here in the Jade Capital, there are too many powerful households and experts. Once the profits become substantial, being targeted would be incredibly perilous. We’ll just make enough for our own consumption; we can’t sell it."

"Alright then," Wei Huiling nodded in resignation. "Then save some for your grandfather; he loves it."

"I know, of course," Lu Yuan smiled.

Half a pound for Old Lu, half a pound for Siyao’s father, half a pound for his grandfather, half a pound for Wu the Cripple... That should be about enough. Lu Yuan portioned out the liquor, then took one of the bottles to the wall and knocked on it.

A moment later.

"Lu Yuan!" A head popped over the wall.

"Step aside!" Then came another, much prettier head. "Brother Yuan~"

"This is the liquor I distilled for your father," Lu Yuan said, handing over a small half-pound porcelain bottle.

"Father loves the liquor you give him the most," Lin Siyao said, taking it happily.

"Does he really love it, or is he just pretending?" Lu Yuan asked.

"He really loves it, of course," Lin Siyao replied, giving Lu Yuan an odd look.

Lin Siheng’s eyes flickered slightly.

"Go back to your studies. I need to practice my martial arts now," Lu Yuan said, waving them off.

"Okay." The siblings quickly ducked back down and left.

The Lin Family had a strict curriculum taught to them by Song Yumeng. Their days were packed full. Lin Siyao was proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, along with a few other unique arts. Lin Siheng, on the other hand, had excellent innate physical talent, but was quite the blockhead. He used to get scolded constantly, though the scoldings had gradually lessened over time. They had probably given up on him, letting him just muddle along.

Lu Yuan returned to the courtyard to practice his martial arts, tempering and honing his body. Yaoyao looked up from time to time, staring without blinking, before quickly lowering her head to continue her woodworking.

Evening soon arrived.

"Ayuan, come here! Let me test your martial arts!" Lu Ming said with a stern expression the moment he arrived home.

"What’s wrong?" Lu Yuan asked, confused.

"I was a bit impulsive today and spread the word about your epiphany and the upgrade to your Cultivation Technique. You might face some trouble later on," Lu Ming said apologetically.

"Come what may, what kind of trouble could it be? All challenges are just trials to sharpen oneself," Lu Yuan shook his head. He had the Undying Martial Body and the system. He wasn’t afraid of getting hurt, much less afraid of a challenge.

"Good! Truly worthy of being Lu Ming’s son!" Lu Ming was deeply moved, not expecting his son to possess such a broad-minded perspective. Still, they couldn’t afford to be careless. "Let me test your martial arts again so I have a clear idea of where you stand."

"Alright, bring it on," Lu Yuan nodded.

It was a common occurrence for the father and son to spar.