Chapter 4: Five Animal Frolics Third Layer

Qin Jiang put the remaining copper coins inside, then gently closed the stone slab, clearing away the traces of the gap afterward.

After slowly backing out, he pushed the wooden box back, knocked the dirt off the sickle, placed it under his pillow, and then stood up to blow out the candle.

He opened the window; the sky had turned completely dark, and the moonlight wasn't very bright.

By now, he had saved nearly eighteen taels; a few more trips to Daheishan would be enough.

It was just that the valuable herbs on the outskirts of Daheishan had basically all been gathered by him. To wait for the next batch, it would be at least after the New Year.

This was a bit troublesome unless he gathered more ordinary herbs, but the efficiency of that was too low.

But if he didn't do that, he would have to venture deeper into Daheishan.

Today, the original owner had ventured deep into Daheishan for the first time and ended up dead.

Unless necessary, he still didn't want to go deep.

Those black shadows, especially that black-haired monkey, really made things difficult for him.

He was lucky this time, but next time might not be the same.

He sat on the bed, feeling somewhat depressed; the damp sheets made his mood even more irritable.

No! He still had to go! Regardless, he had to learn Iron Arm Fist! It wasn't just about having some self-protection in this chaotic world; there was actually another reason.

That was the rumor that this old boxing master who taught Iron Arm Fist had some connection to the Red Tiger Gang, having once sat in the position of Hall Master, second only to a few elders and the gang leader.

If Iron Arm Fist was practiced well, there was a possibility of being recommended to work in the Red Tiger Gang, starting as a small leader.

Although this might be a rumor spread by the old boxing master to get more people to apprentice under him.

But even without this point, as long as he could master Iron Arm Fist, he could join the Red Tiger Gang through his sister's connections.

It would just be starting as an ordinary gang member.

The chirping of insects at night was accompanied by rustling sounds, and the sound of flapping wings rose outside the house.

Qin Jiang opened the door. In the courtyard, a figure was crouching beside the pigeon cage, his hand reaching into the cage and grabbing a pigeon.

This was Liu Dahang from the neighboring alley. He was idle all day, couldn't get into a gang, and could only hang out with some thugs.

He usually ran rampant in the neighborhood, often bullying the original owner and other neighbors, frequently resorting to kicks and punches.

Before, he had once kicked and broken the original owner's ribs, only restraining himself after being taught a lesson by Qin Jiang's sister.

Seeing Qin Jiang, Liu Dahang spat. "What a damn nuisance."

He slowly stood up, his black cloth clothes highlighting his tall frame, and he hid the pigeon behind his back.

"Little Jiang, back from gathering herbs? Is your sister here?"

As long as Qin Hong wasn't back, Qin Jiang was nothing in his eyes. Forget taking one; even if he took them all, the other party wouldn't dare say anything! "Not here. She came back a few days ago; she probably won't be back for half a month," Qin Jiang said.

Liu Dahang raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Is that so? I heard you've been making quite a bit selling herbs lately?"

As he spoke, he squeezed the pigeon's wing, directly breaking the bone, and the pigeon let out a painful cry.

"I see this pigeon seems sick, so I'll take it back to help you look at it. No objections, right?"

He looked at Qin Jiang, his gaze contemptuous.

"None, it's just that if others see it, it might not be good."

Qin Jiang shook his head slightly, his eyes blocked by the shadow of the doorframe, carrying a trace of coldness.

Want my herb money? His hand in his sleeve loosened slightly, and a dozen copper coins fell to the ground, making a clinking sound.

Here you go!

The copper coins reflected a dim metallic luster in the moonlight. Liu Dahang's eyes lit up, revealing greed.

He casually threw the pigeon into the cage and walked toward Qin Jiang.

"No one will see. Li Yuanwai in City South is holding a dharma assembly to open the granary and distribute food, so everyone has run off to get a free meal."

He grinned. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been willing to come back late at night.

It was just to see if anyone had anything valuable in their house.

He looked at the copper coins on the ground. This kid really had some ability.

He didn't even dare to go to Daheishan, yet this kid dared to go inside to gather herbs.

Looking at it like this, he must have made quite a bit! Qin Jiang bent down to pick up the copper coins one by one. "This is the dowry prepared for my sister. I've only saved less than two taels of silver, and I'm still far off."

Hearing "two taels of silver," Liu Dahang could no longer hide the greed in his eyes.

If he had been wary of Qin Jiang's sister just now, now, with two taels of silver right in front of him, he really couldn't hold back! At worst, he'd just go to City East for a month or so!

"I say, Little Jiang, it's late at night, aren't you going to invite your brother in for a bowl of water?" He walked to the door, his tall frame blocking the moonlight, looking down at Qin Jiang from above, his shadow enveloping the other party.

"There's no hot water at home," Qin Jiang stood up.

"Pfft! Why be so polite with your brother? I can drink cold water too!"

After saying that, Liu Dahang pushed Qin Jiang aside and walked into the house, immediately seeing the wooden box under the bed.

"Yo, this box is quite nice! Little Jiang, brother happens to be missing a box! Why don't you give it to me!"

He didn't even look back, raised his hand to pat Qin Jiang, and then walked toward the box.

He walked to the bed, lay directly on the ground, crawled under the bed with his upper body, and pulled the box out.

Qin Jiang closed the door unhurriedly and sat down on the bed.

Potential.

He muttered in his heart and summoned the Potential Panel.

【Current Martial Arts】

Five Animal Frolics (First Layer) (18/60)

【Potential Points: 1.6】

Liu Dahang's strength couldn't be underestimated; not only was he tall, but he had also practiced some scattered martial arts.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to run rampant for so long without anyone daring to manage him.

He looked at the experience value behind the Five Animal Frolics. If it also required doubling the experience value to reach the third layer, these 1.6 potential points obviously wouldn't be enough.

But he twisted his wrist and clenched his fist.

The second layer should be about the same.

Potential, add points.

As his mind moved, the potential points decreased, and a prompt appeared on the panel.

【Five Animal Frolics (First Layer) (18/60), Experience +50】

【Five Animal Frolics (First Layer) advanced to Five Animal Frolics (Second Layer)】

【Five Animal Frolics (Second Layer) (8/90)】

【Potential Points: 1.1】

His strength was growing, the roughness on his skin was gradually disappearing, and his arms were becoming thicker while also showing some definition.

A breath of turbid air was exhaled from his chest. Qin Jiang looked at the prompt with surprise. It could be upgraded one more layer? It seemed this experience value didn't grow by doubling.

He glanced at Liu Dahang. At this moment, the other party had already pulled the box out. After opening it, a pile of copper coins came into view, unrecognizable in the night, only known to be many, causing him to lose his focus for a moment.

Withdrawing his gaze, Qin Jiang invested potential points into the Five Animal Frolics again.

【Five Animal Frolics (Second Layer) (8/90), Experience +90】

【Five Animal Frolics (Second Layer) advanced to Five Animal Frolics (Third Layer)】

【Five Animal Frolics (Third Layer) (8/120)】

【Potential Points: 0.2】

A familiar sense of power surged in his body; his skin became smooth and tight, presenting a jade-like pale yellow.

He clenched his fist slightly, and muscle lines appeared. It didn't look bulky; just from his physique, it didn't look much different from when he crawled out of the mound.

But the muscle lines on his arms looked extremely explosive; just a slight exertion revealed thread-like muscle movements.

Not only that, but he also felt a kind of airflow-like power born in his body, flowing along the meridians, and wherever it passed, he could clearly feel his Qi and blood strengthening.

This should be the so-called internal Qi. Truly strange!

He placed his right hand on the sickle handle under his pillow, controlled the internal Qi to flow to his right arm, and at the same time, reached out with his left hand to pat Liu Dahang on the shoulder.

Liu Dahang came back to his senses and reached out to stuff the copper coins from the box into his bosom. "Little Jiang! This counts as me borrowing it from you!"

*Pat, pat. *

The palm on his shoulder patted again. He raised his head impatiently. "Don't pat me, damn it! Didn't I say! It counts as brother borrowing—"

"Pfft~"

Before he could finish, the night brightened slightly, and the slightly rusted blade pierced through his chin and into his brain.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 5 =====