Chapter 65: Practicing Until the Body Resembles an Ape (Eight Updates, Begging for Monthly Tickets)

On the second day of the great market, the families that had left the city gradually trickled back one after another; only the Weapon-Forging Shop, the Changyuan Escort Bureau, and a few others were still searching outside the city.

Fatty Sun did come back, but he had bought some pills and left in a great rush that very afternoon.

Li Yuan saw that he was full of vigor, so he didn't stop him.

In fact, he suspected this matter was over and done with.

A little over a month ago, funeral music would still play from time to time in the city, with people sending off the dead, but for the past month or so, there hadn't even been any wounded.

Going out in grand fashion, only to slink back in disgrace?

Early on the third day, Li Yuan asked for another half-day off.

These past few days of the great market, he would come out for a stroll every day, having visited all sixteen city districts' ***.

During that time, he did see quite a few graded weapons, even second-grade ones.

Unfortunately, most already had owners.

A graded weapon, at the very least, had to be a sharp weapon.

This kind of weapon, even if broken, generally wouldn't be discarded but would be sent for repair; wanting to pick up a bargain was truly not easy.

Li Yuan wandered around for three days and didn't find a second graded weapon, but he did buy quite a few miscellaneous books and some aged medicinal herbs, which could be considered some gains.

"Only a partial throwing technique, and you want one tael of silver?"

At a certain stall in the Firewood Fisherman's Quarter, Li Yuan held a thin booklet and haggled with the stall owner.

"You can't put it that way. Once you've learned this technique, you can still sell the book, right? Maybe you can sell it for two taels!"

The stall owner wouldn't budge an inch.

"Six qian."

"One tael!"

"Seven qian!"

"One tael, take it or leave it!"

Li Yuan conceded several steps, but seeing the stall owner wouldn't budge, he couldn't be bothered to keep talking, dropped the booklet, and walked away.

This time, the stall owner did feel some regret: "Hold on, seven qian it is! Taking a loss, consider it today's opening sale!"

"Forget it, I don't like taking advantage of people."

Li Yuan didn't look back at all.

There were many and varied things at the market, but graded weapons were extremely few, and martial arts manuals were simply nonexistent; this one hidden weapon throwing technique barely touched the edge of it.

"Graded weapons are probably only in the hands of those big families and big factions."

Li Yuan felt some regret, but didn't take it too much to heart; he had come to try his luck in the first place.

Seeing it was noon, Li Yuan found a roadside stall and had a meal, then headed back to the Weapon-Forging Shop. Before reaching the entrance, he spotted Yue Yue Yunjin.

"Senior Brother Yue?"

Li Yuan greeted him.

"Junior Brother Li."

Yue Yue Yunjin nodded: "Miss Lu has a small gathering, I have to hurry over."

"Then I won't hold Senior Brother up."

Li Yuan cupped his hands in a salute.

Over the past two-plus months, that Miss Lu from the inner city had held quite a few small gatherings, but fewer and fewer people were participating. As far as he knew, Wu Ming, Wang Gong, and Zhao Zhao Xiaoming had all been screened out.

He estimated that among the outer city families, there were at most two or three people, including Yue Yue Yunjin.

However, those who had been screened out were still constantly trying to get in, as for the reason...

"Someone from the Divine Weapon Valley is at the Lu residence right now!"

Regarding this faction known as the 'Hidden Dragon of the Prefecture,' Li Yuan was naturally very interested, but he wouldn't rush to ingratiate himself, because it would most likely be useless.

When returning to the forging room, Li Yuan caught a glimpse of Wu Ming, who had tidied himself up quite neatly, chasing after Yue Yue Yunjin.

……

"Senior Brother Yue!"

Wu Ming hurried to the outside of the Yizi Restaurant and only just caught up with Yue Yue Yunjin, his face somewhat sheepish:

"Could you put in another word for me, Junior Brother? I, I still want to give it one more try."

"Why must Junior Brother Wu make things difficult for me?"

Yue Yue Yunjin sighed, shaking his head inwardly.

Last time Junior Brother Li was screened out, you didn't say you'd fight for him either...

"Senior Brother Yue, please help me out!"

Wu Ming grabbed Yue Yue Yunjin's sleeve and refused to let go.

"Let go!"

Yue Yue Yunjin tugged a few times, getting somewhat annoyed, and with one forceful pull tore the sleeve, then walked into the Yizi Restaurant without looking back.

Wu Ming stared blankly at the torn sleeve in his hand, his face turning blue then white.

He seemed to hear mocking laughter, but stubbornly didn't leave, standing outside the door with his eyes closed, waiting.

"Sigh..."

In a private room on the sixth floor, listening to the laughter and chatter of a group of young ladies and young masters, Yue Yue Yunjin felt uneasy, and could only sit sulkily in a corner.

……

Separated by a wall, Lu Lu Bailing ordered a pot of honey tea, poured a cup for her own young aunt, and also felt somewhat sulky:

"Young Aunt, are you really giving the inner sect examination spot to Yue Yue Yunjin? My qi and blood are even stronger than his! My bone structure is a bit worse, is that really so important?"

The Divine Weapon Valley had thrown open its mountain gates, widely recruiting disciples, with quotas for every county, but that quota was for the outer sect examination. Precious as it was, how could it compare to being an inner sect disciple?

Inner disciples are qualified to learn superior Wu Gong.

"Natural bone structure is, of course, extremely important."

Facing her own niece, Fang Fang Yunxiu spoke a bit more: "Only when one has both exceptional bone structure and talent can one be called a true prodigy. That Yue Yue Yunjin's talent is somewhat lacking; he may not pass the inner sect examination."

"Why…"

Lu Lu Bailing, sulking, clung to her young aunt's hand and acted coquettishly: "My bone structure is above average too! Just a little bit short, Auntie, please, I'm begging you!"

"Even a little short, and it won't do."

Fang Fang Yunxiu had no choice but to explain:

"Lu Bailing, after Qi and blood reach Great Completion, one must circulate the Qi and blood throughout the body to nurture a wisp of 'strength.' Because the strength resides within, it is called inner strength…"

"Auntie, I know all this already, stop testing me!"

Lu Lu Bailing, still acting coy:

"Swallowing pills and taking medicines to nurture strength throughout the body is Body Tempering; after that comes Inner Fortification. Daddy already taught me all this…"

"Then, what comes after Inner Fortification?"

Fang Fang Yunxiu picked up her tea cup and took a sip:

"Externally train the sinews and bones, internally fortify the viscera, until reaching Great Completion and perfection—this is 'Body Transformation'! Those whose bone structure is not top-tier and whose talent is not absolute will never reach this realm in their lifetime!"

"Ah!"

Lu Lu Bailing's face went pale.

"Now do you understand? After all your filtering and selecting, aside from Yue Yue Yunjin, they're all mediocre talents—and that includes you!"

Fang Fang Yunxiu struck her young niece without the slightest mercy:

"Without me, you couldn't even enter the outer sect!"

"Auntie!"

Lu Lu Bailing's face turned white, and at last she burst into tears and ran out.

……

……

At dusk, Li Yuan had just finished his shift; before he even stepped out of the Weapon Forging Shop, he caught a whiff of fishy smell.

Liang Liang Ashui stood outside the door carrying a fish basket.

"One horned pomfret, four catties and two taels. This one's for you first; once the weapon is forged, I'll give you the second one."

Liang Liang Ashui got straight to the point.

"Such trust in me?"

Li Yuan took the fish basket: "What kind of weapon are you planning to forge?"

"I drew it out, take a look."

Liang Liang Ashui pulled a piece of white paper from his bosom and unfolded it.

On it was drawn a strange weapon that looked like both a spear and a saber. Perhaps it was the poor draftsmanship, but no matter how Li Yuan looked at it, it seemed like a fish fork…

"This is…?"

Li Yuan studied it for a few moments, could not help frowning, and asked tentatively: "A fish fork?"

"Exactly, a three-pronged fish fork!"

Liang Liang Ashui forced out a smile: "I knew I hadn't misjudged you. You're the first person to recognize it at a glance—truly worthy of being the Weapon Forging Shop's rising star!"

Even that old man who drew the picture hadn't recognized it.

"……"

Glancing at the fish basket, Li Yuan felt this job was likely going to be quite difficult.

Liang Liang Ashui handed the 'drawing' to

Li Yuan: "In a few days, I'll bring the iron materials. Just forge it according to the drawing—exactly the same will do."

"Are you sure you want me to forge it according to the drawing?"

Li Yuan looked at it a few more times: "How about you redraw it?"

Seeing his reaction, Liang Liang Ashui also grew hesitant. Gathering materials hadn't been easy for him. After thinking it over, he said: "When the time comes, I'll describe it to you again."

"Done!"

Li Yuan naturally had no objections. He tucked the drawing away and headed home with the fish basket.

Fatty Sun wasn't around, so Li Yuan went straight to his second brother's house. Such a fine spirit fish—he naturally wouldn't keep it to himself, after all, there was still another one coming.

"A fish that costs four taels of silver?!"

In the small courtyard, Li Lin's face was full of shock. The hand scraping the fish scales trembled, afraid of scraping off even a sliver of flesh: "You actually bought a spirit fish?"

"Stew it into a soup and see how it tastes. But I hear this stuff is greatly nourishing, so you and your sister-in-law should drink a little less…"

Li Yuan carefully collected the fish scales one by one, planning to take them back and see if the little field mouse would eat them.

"This… this is way too expensive…"

Li Lin still couldn't quite accept it.

Li Yuan couldn't be bothered to explain. He snatched the fish and cleaned it himself—he'd helped out in the kitchen before, so stewing a fish was naturally no problem at all.

"Such a fine fish, eat it plain, don't add any spices!"

Li Lin followed the whole way, exclaiming at every step.

"If we're eating it plain, we might as well eat it raw as sashimi!"

Li Yuan ignored him and added the spices as usual, just nothing pungent or spicy. Soon, the aroma of fish drifted out.

Wang Juan, who had been lying in the house not wanting to move, smelled the fragrance and couldn't help running to the kitchen.

"Why does it smell so good?"

"Spirit Fish! Your sister-in-law's love wasn't wasted on you! Your second brother, that ungrateful wretch, never once thought to buy me some tonics!"

"I…"

Seeing his brother and sister-in-law about to start arguing, Li Yuan quickly began directing things: "One pot of fish soup isn't enough to drink. Second brother, hurry up and slaughter the chickens and ducks. Sister-in-law, bring out the meat!"

……

"Smells amazing!"

The fish soup entered his mouth, and Li Yuan felt only that the freshness was overwhelming; once it reached his belly it was warm, like taking a pill, yet far gentler than a Zeng Xue Dan.

Moreover, a single mouthful like this was nearly worth two Zeng Xue Dan!

"Liang Ashui's conscience-priced goods!"

With a mouthful like that, Li Yuan instantly no longer felt that one catty of fish meat for one tael of silver was expensive; he drank several mouthfuls in a row, with great relish.

But Li Lin and Wang Juan, each having drunk a small bowl, were already red in the face and sweating; though they craved more, they didn't dare drink any extra.

They could only watch Li Yuan pour all four catties of fish meat plus soup into his belly in one go.

"Third brother, how is your appetite…"

The husband and wife exchanged a glance, both somewhat dumbfounded.

"Hoo!"

After finishing the last mouthful of fish soup, Li Yuan was drenched in sweat; he wiped himself off, was just about to say something, when his expression suddenly changed.

The warm current in his belly was very gentle, but the qi and blood throughout his body had become dry-hot, even scorching.

"This fish is far more nourishing than the Leopard-Fetus Sinew-Changing Pills!"

Li Yuan couldn't sit still any longer; he rose, took his leave of his brother and sister-in-law, and the moment he stepped out the distant gate, darted out like the wind, forcing himself to endure until he reached the small courtyard he rented.

He couldn't help but let out a low roar, then leapt into the large vat full of iron sand, churning the iron sand to rub against his entire body, in order to relieve the unbearable scorching heat and aching itch.

"This fish is this nourishing?"

Li Yuan almost thought he himself had caught fire.

This time's reaction was greater than any previous one!

But he quickly realized, it wasn't that this fish was nourishing, but rather…

"The remodeling of the root bone is about to be completed!"

Over two months of self-torturous bitter endurance, and now, at last, it was about to succeed?

Vigorously churning the vat of iron sand, Li Yuan felt as though fire was burning into his flesh, burning into his bones; the aching numbness and searing pain nearly made him faint.

Boom!

He didn't know how long had passed before the

pain, burning, and aching numbness receded like the tide.

This large vat also let out a *crack* and split open, and the iron sand washed Li Yuan out like water.

"Li!"

In a daze, Li Yuan heard the ape's cry once more, and once more saw that white ape wielding a hammer and roaring in fury.

The difference was, this time he seemed to *understand* what this Bai Yuan was expressing.

"When the art reaches great perfection, the root bone transforms of its own accord!"

……

Eight updates, twenty-five thousand words, begging for monthly tickets!