Chapter 149: Chapter 118: Horse Tramples Flying Swallow
SIGH.
In the Butcher Court, Shang Yunfang looked at Chen Ku, delighted yet surprised at his disciple’s rapid progress. "Having heard from Elder Yang that you’ve reached Great Perfection of Inner Qi, I presume he also passed on to you the Cultivation Dharma Method for the Mystic Barrier First Realm."
With respect, Chen Ku replied, "Yes, Master Fu reminded me of many things."
"Although Elder Yang has given you pointers, as your teacher, I must still nag you not to rush into challenging the Mystic Barrier..." Shang Yunfang then rambled on for a bit more.
In the end, he knew he was being somewhat long-winded, but what could he do when he was dealing with such a treasure?
The Mystic Barrier First Realm, also known as the ’Retaining Person Realm,’ was a perilous stage in the Martial Path. It was the realm where the most Martial Practitioners met their end, whether by being possessed by the Devil, suffering catastrophic mental collapse, entering a state of Feigned Death, or succumbing to other cultivation-related fatalities.
Chen Ku didn’t find his master’s long-winded speech annoying; these words were all life-saving experiences.
"Let’s not talk about your Cultivation progress. Recently, you can also set aside the matter of Alchemy," said Shang Yunfang. Since discovering Nong Baosen’s ulterior motives, he thought it best to give Chen Ku more breathing space. Although Chen Ku was talented in everything he did, he was constrained by limited time.
Originally, Chen Ku was already dividing his attention by practicing both bladesmanship and stick technique. If he were also pulled to the Hundred Herbs Courtyard to learn Nong Baosen’s Alchemy and his "Medicine King’s Pursuit Fist," it would split his focus into three. His fear was that although Chen Ku had excellent Talent, limited time would lead to outcomes akin to a monkey discarding corn to pick peaches, then abandoning peaches to grab watermelons, ending up with nothing and consequently limited future accomplishments.
After all, reaching the Perfection Realm in any of the All Martial Arts required time to hone. Especially the Six Ultimate Skills of Medicine King Hall; mastering any one of them, even for an individual of exceptional natural talent, would require at least sixty years to reach great achievement, let alone the Perfection Realm.
Therefore, Shang Yunfang began to scrutinize Chen Ku’s Black Tiger Butcher Knife technique. What he never expected was that as Chen Ku wielded the knife, demonstrating the technique in the courtyard, the progress of his bladesmanship couldn’t be discerned just yet.
WHOOSH!
But with a single leap, Chen Ku’s figure vanished from the spot. He shot out like a cannonball and instantly breached the air, reaching fifteen zhangs away!
"Fifteen zhangs with a single pounce!" Shang Yunfang exclaimed with a cry. "Disciple, have you achieved entry-level mastery of the Piercing Sound Step?"
Chen Ku sheathed his knife, turned around, and revealed a shy smile, saying, "Yes."
His entry into the Piercing Sound Step was not surprising. He had already internalized Ling’s "Great Achievement Butterfly Step," and Zhao Chuanzu’s "Great Achievement Mud-Stepping Technique" also provided profound insights. The comprehensive experience from both these Great Achievement level footwork Martial Arts had practically become ingrained in him. He understood by analogy, applying insights from one to the others. They were all footwork techniques. Naturally, this allowed him to rapidly grasp the "Piercing Sound Step." After more than a month, he finally achieved entry-level mastery.
"Entry-level mastery in just over a month..." Shang Yunfang sighed. He himself had taken two years just to reach the beginning stages of this footwork technique. Now, after sixty long years, he had only reached the Great Achievement Level, barely able to pounce seventy zhangs.
Such Talent. In this life, I will likely never reach the Perfection Realm of a One Pounce Hundred Zhang.
But seeing Chen Ku’s rapid Cultivation speed in the Piercing Sound Step, he believed he would indeed have the chance to see his Disciple cultivate the "Piercing Sound Step" to the Perfection Realm.
When Chen Ku finished his training at the Butcher Court that day, Shang Yunfang approached him. "There are only two days left until the New Year. These are the ’New Year’s Gifts’ and the ’Yearly Salary’ issued by the Hall this year. As your master, I know you have a shop and don’t lack for this, but you still cannot refuse your wages and benefits." As Chen Ku was about to leave, Shang Yunfang presented him with a box.
Inside were Two Hundred Taels of Silver, the standard allowance for a Disciple, representing Chen Ku’s wages for performing Alchemy and slaughtering tasks for the Hall.
Chen Ku gazed at the Two Hundred Taels, somewhat dazed. Six months ago, this sum could have fundamentally changed his fate. Now, despite owning One Hundred Eighty Thousand Taels, he still felt this money was hard-earned. The reason was simple: it was his salary from Medicine King Hall.
Not easy at all, he thought. From being a mere helper to an Apprentice, he had worked for free. Now, as a Disciple, he finally received a monthly stipend of One Hundred Taels.
He then looked at the New Year’s Gift box. Inside, remarkably, was a large ginseng, a Top-grade Treasure Herb, five Qi Replenishing Pills, and a bolt of silk. For Medicine King Hall, this New Year’s gift, worth six or seven hundred taels, could be considered quite generous.
After thanking his master, Chen Ku carried the gift box home and handed the silk to his mother, allowing her to use it to make clothes or trousers at will—essentially providing some peace of mind and giving the elderly woman something to do.
Before sleeping, he practiced a round of the Nameless Stance routine.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly opened his eyes.
The Flower Fox Mink is back, he sensed in his consciousness.
Chen Ku looked towards the window. He gently opened it and saw the Flower Fox Mink leap inside like a white shadow, carrying a Treasure Herb in its mouth. Under the moonlight, the Treasure Herb actually exuded a faint, sharp aura, its entire form resembling an upright sword blade.
"This... this seems to be a ’Sword Soldier Flower,’ a Top-grade Treasure Herb!" Chen Ku exclaimed in surprise, looking at the herb. Ever since he had failed to recognize the Seven Colors Pearl, he had deliberately made up for his lack of knowledge by diligently studying the varieties of Treasure Herbs found within a thousand-li radius of Baojiao County at the Hundred Herbs Hall. This time, he instantly recognized this Treasure Herb.