Chapter 17: Great Accomplishment

Experience Value increased by 3 points.

Looking at the panel information, Jiang Cheng felt a bit disappointed.

He had thought he could gain five or six points, after all it's a twelve‑move combination.

But on second thought, many of the actions are repetitive, and most importantly, his speed isn't fast.

Nevertheless, without doubt, this set, whether used to raise proficiency or applied in real combat, yields impressive results.

After a brief rest, Jiang Cheng resumed practice.

The Old Man beside him watched with his eyes and worried in his heart.

After about ten minutes of training, fatigue surged.

Jiang Cheng set down the short staff and rested for a while.

He checked the Experience Value; it had risen by over 30 points.

"It seems reaching the next proficiency will be much faster than expected."

Jiang Cheng felt a bit gratified.

The Poor District wasn't peaceful, and those two people might still seek revenge; he couldn't be careless and had to raise the short staff proficiency quickly.

Then he noticed the Old Man beside him, saw the worry in his eyes, and hurriedly smiled, "Grandma, don't worry, I'm doing this to strengthen my body, not to fight anyone."

He truly meant it.

If the surroundings were peaceful, and the gangs and thugs didn't trouble or exploit him, he truly wouldn't want to pick up a weapon and fight them.

But that isn't realistic.

"Grandma knows," the Old Man sighed, "I'm just worried you might act impulsively when you meet those guys."

"No way. They're so many; even if I'm the best, I'm still just one person. How could I be their match? Fighting them would just be asking for trouble," Jiang Cheng laughed.

Hearing that, the Old Man's expression softened, and he nodded, "Good that you understand. It's getting late; go to sleep early."

"Hmm, I'll practice a bit more; I'm not sleepy yet."

Feeling his stamina recover a bit, Jiang Cheng began practicing footwork again.

Although the twelve‑staff combination can raise proficiency and, after reaching mastery, his grasp of footwork will also improve.

But it's uncertain whether a battle will break out in the next day or two; familiarizing footwork is worthwhile, and in combat its importance may even surpass striking.

Inch step, padding step, flash step, broken step.

Jiang Cheng kept moving back and forth, suddenly left, then suddenly right.

Within minutes he was panting heavily, exhausted.

He glanced at the Experience Value; it had risen by less than ten points.

"Maybe this footwork isn't meant for the short staff as a weapon?"

Jiang Cheng thought that while sipping water.

After another hour or so, Jiang Cheng was completely spent; even if he wanted to continue, his stamina could no longer support it.

In this state, forcing practice would only deform his movements and waste effort.

【Short Staff: Proficiency (102/800)】

Glancing at the panel, Jiang Cheng honestly went to bathe, then slept.

The next day, Jiang Cheng woke early, finished breakfast, and practiced the short staff for over an hour; the Experience Value rose to eighty‑ninety points.

At this time, the Old Man also washed the roasted sweet potato.

After repeated urging from the Old Man, he pushed the three‑wheel cart onto the street.

Just in case, he also brought a lunchbox; he could place it on the oil drum later, heat the food like a roasted sweet potato, so Grandma wouldn't have to run back and risk being watched.

At the stall, Jiang Cheng waited quietly.

He didn't take out the staff to practice staff flourishes as yesterday.

First, yesterday's situation was urgent; he had to raise short staff proficiency quickly.

Second, now that his short staff reached proficiency, practicing staff flourishes no longer yields much Experience Value; such practice is for beginners who haven't entered or just entered.

Staff method techniques certainly can't be practiced here; the killing aura is too heavy and frightening.

Practicing footwork also looks odd; strangers might think he's seriously ill, and it could attract the Dragon Martial Arts Hall crew from yesterday.

So he simply decided to lie low and honestly sell roasted sweet potatoes.

"Maybe next time I can bring a book."

Jiang Cheng thought.

Anyway, idle is idle.

In the blink of an eye it was noon; he heated the lunchbox, and looking at the roasted sweet potato, he gritted his teeth—he'd earned so much money yesterday, could he really refuse even a single roasted sweet potato? He decisively peeled one for himself, took a bite, and his mouth was filled with fragrance and sweetness.

Perhaps moved by his way of eating, a passing pedestrian couldn't resist and bought two to satisfy hunger.

Soon after the meal, Lu Zicheng pushed a small cart and came over.

Jiang Cheng smiled and greeted him.

Lu Zicheng was startled, nodded, then glanced at Jiang Cheng's hands—no short staff from yesterday—and felt a slight relief.

However, the atmosphere was noticeably stiff.

Jiang Cheng also said nothing; he understood the other's stance, and if he were in their shoes, he'd also feel uneasy about actions that might have attracted the martial arts hall disciples yesterday.

The two's stalls were adjacent; a strained relationship would look bad.

But that's all there is to it.

The whole afternoon passed peacefully like this.

Even that night on the way back, he encountered no trouble.

In the blink of an eye, another two days passed.

A piece of good news: the proficiency of Roasted Sweet Potato has risen to Great Completion.

And after Great Completion there is another proficiency level.

The required Experience Value is 2000 points.

The Experience Value of the Short Staff has also reached over 600 points; at most one more day, it will achieve Mastery level.

Correspondingly, Jiang Cheng now finishes a twelve‑staff combo in just over 5 seconds; in good condition, he can get under 5 seconds.

This morning, Jiang Cheng took the money from the cabinet, pushed a tricycle, and went out onto the street.

He first went to the provisions shop and bought several dozen jin of sweet potatoes.

He didn't buy too many, fearing suspicion, because after he returns he must repay the debt to Chen Sao.

He also bought two jin of eggs, two jin of meat, spending just over a hundred.

Half of it he ate himself; in the past few days, apart from the day he crossed over, he had one meat meal, and the following days he had no meat at all, only occasional one or two eggs.

The other half he gave as a thank‑you gift to thank Chen Sao for her care.

Those two mothers aren't easy either; from Lin Yue's performance that day, she also doesn't eat much meat.

Counting the 300 yuan he has to repay later, and the money he robbed from those two thugs, only fifty or sixty yuan remain.

If you also count the thirty‑to‑forty jin of sweet potatoes he bought, he'll need to use the money he earned from selling sweet potatoes a few days ago.

He still needs to buy several dozen jin of charcoal.

The house is out of charcoal.

"This money is really hard to spend."

Jiang Cheng is troubled.

When will I finally have days of abundant fish and meat?

Pushing a tricycle loaded with goods, Jiang Cheng walks through the alley; because it's broad daylight and he has a Short Staff in hand, he isn't too worried about encountering robbers.

Moreover, in the past few days those two haven't appeared, probably too scared to cause him trouble again.

Maybe they're still lying in bed recuperating.

What he didn't expect was that, as he turned a corner, three people blocked his way.

(End of Chapter)