Chapter 19: Stabilized!

Qin Shuo spent the whole afternoon immersed in walking the plum blossom stakes.

When he finally got off the stakes, he felt his whole body's bones and muscles as if they were falling apart, sore and weak.

Even just taking normal steps felt like stepping on soft cotton, stumbling and swaying, his steps extremely unsteady.

"The White Jade Ginseng King is really a great thing!" Qin Shuo thought admiringly.

Thinking back, when the White Jade Ginseng King hadn't been fully refined yet, he could jump around holding a stone for an entire afternoon without feeling tired.

Now, after just walking the plum blossom stakes for over two hours, his whole body felt like he'd been fished out of water, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

"Junior Brother Qin, remember to practice martial arts in moderation; otherwise you won't be able to master it and may even injure yourself."

Lin Feng walked over, seeing Qin Shuo's exhausted appearance, and couldn't help but remind him.

"I got carried away with the practice and didn't keep the intensity in check."

Qin Shuo felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head.

Immersing his mind in the Taotie Cauldron greatly reduced his perception of physical exhaustion.

By the time he felt sore, he had already overdrawn his stamina.

"Hmm, martial arts require perseverance; they cannot be achieved in a day."

"You've expended too much today; remember to ask the dining hall for an extra piece of exotic beast meat, lest your qi and blood be depleted, damaging your foundation and hindering future breakthroughs to internal strength."

Lin Feng gave a serious reminder.

"Senior Brother, you previously said that completing stance training would allow one to cultivate internal strength; what does this breakthrough refer to…"

"The several dozen disciples in the Outer Court are all taught by Lin Feng, so the time actually allotted to each disciple is not much."

Qin Shuo didn't want to miss any chance to ask for advice, and immediately voiced his question.

"Completing stance training is merely the first step in cultivating White Ape Strength."

Lin Feng explained: "Strength arises from the blood; to cultivate internal strength and become an internal-strength martial artist, the most important thing is to have robust qi and blood."

"Whether we walk stakes or practice fists, it's all to temper the tendons and bones and strengthen qi and blood."

"But the human body is like a rag; if the rag itself is barren with little moisture, no matter how you temper it, you cannot develop strength, and may instead injure yourself and leave a lingering ailment."

"Thus there is the saying that martial arts rely seven parts on nurturing and three parts on training."

"And breakthrough refers to, after completing stance training, consuming large amounts of medicinal decoctions and soaking in medicinal baths to let the body's qi and blood accumulate to a certain extent, then using the stance-training forging method to refine internal strength from that qi and blood."

"Our Martial Hall's breakthrough method consists of three minor baths and one major bath."

"A minor bath occurs every ten days, and the major bath must be conducted within one month after the three minor baths finish, in order to maximize the medicinal potency."

"After completing stance training, each person may undergo three breakthroughs."

"If the first breakthrough fails, one must wait a year before attempting the second."

"If all three breakthroughs fail, there is no further chance to cultivate internal strength."

"Through medicinal baths, the body's qi and blood are greatly increased in a short time, then the White Ape Stance refines them into internal strength."

After hearing Lin Feng's explanation, Qin Shuo roughly understood the principle of the breakthrough.

"Senior Brother, what is the success rate of this breakthrough?"

Qin Shuo asked the question he cared about most.

"It depends on individual aptitude and comprehension, as well as one's financial background. For ordinary disciples, the first breakthrough succeeds about thirty percent of the time, and the second breakthrough succeeds less than ten percent."

Having said that, Lin Feng paused, then earnestly warned: "Thus the first breakthrough is especially important."

"Before a breakthrough, one can consume more blood- and qi-boosting substances, such as Qi-Boosting Powder and exotic beast meat, which can greatly increase the success rate."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother." Qin Shuo expressed his thanks again sincerely.

"Alright, go eat! Remember to have the dining hall add an extra piece of exotic beast meat; this expense cannot be spared."

Lin Feng waved his hand, indicating Qin Shuo should go eat.

Arriving at the dining hall, Qin Shuo followed Lin Feng's instruction and asked the server for an extra piece of exotic beast meat.

"One tael of silver."

The server, expressionless, brought out a palm-sized piece of meat from the inner kitchen.

The meat, marbled with fat and lean, as soon as it was served gave off a fragrant aroma that spread the scent of precious medicine.

The meat's preparation is simple—just steamed and drizzled with sauce—but it whets the appetite of anyone who sees it.

"So expensive!"

Qin Shuo clicked his tongue inwardly, but still obediently paid the silver.

His tuition covered meals, but not exotic beast meat or special medicinal decoctions.

If he wanted to nourish himself, he could only pay extra.

But earlier Zhang Xiong had told him that the dining hall's medicinal decoctions and exotic beast meat were merely provided for the convenience of Martial Hall disciples, not for profit.

If conditions allow, one can purchase them with confidence in the dining hall.

Finding a random table to sit at, Qin Shuo began to eat heartily.

After walking the plum blossom stakes all afternoon, he was truly famished.

Huh?

After he ate a bite of the exotic beast meat, a familiar warm current began to spread from his stomach to his limbs.

"It's similar to the medicinal potency of the White Jade Ginseng King, yet different and very feeble."

Qin Shuo carefully sensed the warm current of medicinal potency brought by the exotic beast meat, discovering how it differed from that of the White Jade Ginseng King.

"First, this exotic beast meat has no fatigue-relieving effect; it can only quickly replenish stamina."

"Second, its medicinal potency is thin and impure, far lacking the refined richness of the White Jade Ginseng King."

"Another day of longing for the White Jade Ginseng King."

Qin Shuo sighed, once again marveling at the preciousness and might of the White Jade Ginseng King.

However, he also knew that the White Jade Ginseng King, this kind of heavenly treasure, could be encountered but not sought.

Finding even one stalk was already a stroke of immense luck; he couldn't hope for more.

After finishing dinner.

Just as he walked out of the dining hall, Qin Shuo saw Qin Lan and a tall woman walking toward the hall, chatting and laughing, their relationship quite good.

"Brother!"

Qin Lan recognized Qin Shuo at a glance and ran over.

"That is..."

Qin Shuo's gaze fell on the woman walking toward him.

She stood nearly 1.8 meters tall, dressed in martial arts training attire that outlined her graceful curves.

Her face wasn't strikingly beautiful, but her bearing was outstanding—clear and cold with a heroic spirit, like a proud white crane.

"This is my instructor, Song Yan, Senior Sister Song."

"Senior Sister Song, this is my brother..."

Qin Lan enthusiastically introduced the two.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Song." Qin Shuo bowed his fists.

"Mm."

Song Yan gave a slight nod, acknowledging the greeting.

"Brother, have you eaten? Want to join us?"

The little girl's eyes darted between Qin Shuo and Song Yan, her face full of anticipation.

"I've already eaten; you and Senior Sister go ahead."

Qin Shuo couldn't miss the little girl's thoughts; he guessed she had taken a liking to Senior Sister Song and wanted to play matchmaker for him.

"Lan, I'll go in first."

Song Yan also sensed the little girl's thoughts; though her expression didn't change, she felt a bit embarrassed and went into the dining hall first.

"Brother, you won't find a wife like that."

Watching Senior Sister Song's retreating back, Qin Lan sighed and shook her head in a pretended mature manner.

Senior Sister Song, not far ahead, stumbled and almost fell.

Qin Shuo found it amusing, but still kept a straight face: "Don't waste the day on nonsense."

"By the way, how did today's training go? Did Senior Sister say you should get an extra meal?"

"Training went well! Senior Sister praised me for being smart and quick to learn." Qin Lan said, a little proud.

"Alright, I'm done talking; I'm going to eat with Senior Sister."

Having said that, she didn't wait for Qin Shuo's reaction and bounced into the dining hall.

Seeing Qin Lan so at ease, Qin Shuo's worried heart finally settled.

He had previously worried that the little girl couldn't endure hardship and that the senior sister in the side courtyard would be too strict.

Now it seems his worries were unnecessary.

But thinking about it, it makes sense.

Qin Lan appeared obedient on the surface, but inside she was clever and mischievous, yet very polite and knew how to win people's favor.

Senior Sister Song clearly had a cool disposition; their personalities complemented each other, allowing them to get along harmoniously.

Leaving the dining hall.

Qin Shuo returned to the outer courtyard, about to rest a moment before continuing his stance training.

But he saw Zhang Xiong striding over excitedly, greeting him as he came:

"A-Shuo, I found a house not far from here; want to go take a look?"

"Thanks, Brother Xiong!"

Qin Shuo's face lit up, and he quickly bowed his fists.

When they set out at noon, Zhang Xiong had asked someone to help Qin Shuo and his sister find a residence in the inner city.

He hadn't expected that only half a day later, a suitable house would be found.

"Hey! We're fellow disciples, no need to be so polite." Zhang Xiong waved his hand.

The courtyard is not far from the martial hall, reachable in a ten-minute walk.

The courtyard isn't large, but it has two main rooms, a kitchen, and a side room—more than enough for the siblings to stay temporarily.

A date tree grows in the courtyard, with a stone table beneath it and two large water vats.

"How much?" Qin Shuo asked.

"Three taels of silver per month, with a three-month minimum lease, plus the agency fee, making ten taels in total." Zhang Xiong replied.

He added, "Recently, strange illnesses have been spreading in the outer city, causing many to move into the inner city, so rents have risen considerably. This courtyard is one of the few with a still reasonable price."

"Alright, we'll take this one."

Qin Shuo toured the house and found the furnishings and bedding complete, so he could move in with just his luggage.

He handed the silver to Zhang Xiong, asking him to help with the paperwork.

Meanwhile, he began tidying the place, preparing to move in that night.

"Phew! Finally things have stabilized."

After a casual cleanup, Qin Shuo sat beneath the date tree in the courtyard to rest.

He took out the remaining seven or eight taels of silver and began calculating his upcoming life in the inner city.

Now he had both food and lodging settled.

If he wasn't in a rush to break through his internal strength, those seven or eight taels of silver would be enough to support the siblings for a while.

According to senior brother Lin Feng, breaking through the pass requires three minor baths and one major bath.

A minor bath costs thirty taels of silver each, a major bath one hundred taels each.

In other words, each attempt at breaking through the pass requires at least two hundred taels of silver.

This does not even count the large amounts of medicinal broth and meat needed to replenish before breaking through the pass.

"The poor study, the rich practice martial arts — the ancients truly did not deceive me!" Qin Shuo lamented.

He had originally obtained fifty taels of silver, thinking it would ease things for a while.

Now it seems this is merely the beginning of poverty.

"Forget it, let's take it one step at a time!"

Qin Shuo also does not waste energy on inner conflict; he plans to wait until his stance training is complete before considering breaking through the pass.

"First go pick up A Lan and bring her home."

He rose, left the door, and headed toward the martial hall.