.........
In the blink of an eye.
With the new year approaching, the weather was getting colder.
A heavy snow had wrapped Mu City in a blanket of silver.
There were only a few people rushing through the streets, and Sister Zhen's Noodle House was closed today.
Just a mile from Sister Zhen's Noodle House.
[Great Dao is Simple: Level 1]
[Lin Chang'sheng: 16/55]
[Cultivation: Unranked (99/100)]
[Cultivation Technique: None]
[Skills: Archery (Great Perfection)]
[Spend a certain amount of silver taels to simplify cultivation techniques, martial arts, etc.]
[Status: Yin Qi Invasion]
Lin Chang'sheng stood in the yard, glanced at his system panel, gripped his bow with all his strength, and shot an arrow. With a swoosh, a wooden arrow he carved himself buried itself over an inch deep into a locust tree twenty zhang away, the fletching still trembling!
"Not bad. With my archery now, I could shoot an arrow right through a hundred paces!"
Lin Chang'sheng walked forward and pulled out the arrow, feeling quite satisfied.
With his archery at Great Perfection, Lin Chang'sheng felt his strength had improved a lot. Though the Yin Qi Invasion hadn't gone away yet, he wasn't that frail sickly figure any more—his complexion had gotten much better.
"If I want to learn a cultivation technique to boost my vitality, I'll have to join a martial arts hall!"
Lin Chang'sheng made up his mind.
He planned to spend 10 taels of silver as the entry fee to Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall. As long as he mastered a martial art and became an official disciple, he could simplify it!
Right now he still had 6 taels of silver. He intended to find time to pawn the pair of Jade Rings and a Jade Bracelet at a pawnshop to raise the rest of the entry fee.
Just then, the sound of crunching snow echoed from nearby.
"Chang'sheng, I made some soup at home. I brought you some—make sure to eat it while it's hot."
Sister Zhen, bundled in a thick cotton coat, carried a food box in her left hand and a coat in her right, handing it to Lin Chang'sheng. "After you eat, put this coat on too," she added.
"Sister Zhen, you......"
Lin Chang'sheng was shaken, a warm current rising in his heart.
He hadn't expected Sister Zhen to bring him food and warm clothes at a time like this.
"Don't say anything—just take it. It's freezing out and you're not strong, wearing such thin clothes. I'm heading back."
Sister Zhen put the items down and hurried off.
She'd brought chicken soup—it was still steaming hot.
Lin Chang'sheng ate it while it was hot; the coat was old, but very clean.
......
There were still 15 days until New Year's Eve.
Sister Zhen's Noodle House.
"Chang'sheng, why don't you come eat New Year's dinner at my place this year!"
Lin Chang'sheng was about to head home after work, planning to go to Urgent Pawnshop in East City to sell the Jade Bracelet, when Sister Zhen's voice called out.
"Thanks, sis. Shopkeeper Yang said I could go eat at his place too, so let's talk about it then."
Lin Chang'sheng replied quickly.
Sister Zhen's mother-in-law was awfully harsh, always making pointed remarks. If he went for New Year's dinner, wouldn't it just cause trouble?
And Shopkeeper Yang?
That was just an excuse, but honestly, Shopkeeper Yang was a good guy too.
Even though Lin Chang'sheng was frail, Shopkeeper Yang still wanted him to marry his daughter Yang Xiaoqian and become a live-in son-in-law.
From Shopkeeper Yang's point of view, Lin Chang'sheng was skinny but had good features. If he ate better, he could be a handsome man.
"Well... alright, then!"
Sister Zhen nodded.
After work, Lin Chang'sheng used the same method to go to West City, but this time he didn't visit Timely Rain Pawnshop.
Instead, at Urgent Pawnshop, he pawned off the last Jade Bracelet and a pair of Jade Rings, getting 8 taels and 6 qian of silver. Winding his way through alleys, he made sure no one was around, then went home.
.......
Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall.
One of Mu City's three major martial arts halls.
The owner, He Tieshou, trained in Iron Sand Palm; rumor had it he could smash stone tablets and split rocks, ranking among Mu City's top three masters!
Unlike Jinzhong Martial Arts Hall and Liuyun Martial Arts Hall, Iron Hand valued quality over quantity when it came to disciples.
At Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall, you just needed to pay 10 taels of silver to become a disciple and be taught Iron Sand Palm. That's why Iron Hand's disciples outnumbered those of Liuyun and Jinzhong combined!
With plenty of ways to make money, Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall occupied a huge area, two massive stone lions—half a zhang tall—standing guard at the entrance, looking fierce and mighty.
"Young man, pay 10 taels of silver, I'll register you and give you a Disciple Identity Token. Then you'll be an Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall disciple."
At the gate, recruiter He Jin sized up Lin Chang'sheng enthusiastically.
Another customer bringing money. Past the ideal age for training—in three months, if you can't master Iron Sand Palm, those 10 taels are down the drain. Want to keep training at the hall? You'll have to pay again.