Chapter 7

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xu Bai was about to pay when he suddenly heard the shop owner’s question. He looked at the shop owner strangely.

“Yes, I want this book. Is there a problem?”

That was strange. Did he have to confirm in advance before buying a book?

This wasn’t that kind of book. What was there to be sure of?

Although he did not read the title of the book, when he casually flipped through it, he was certain that there were no illustrations on it.

It was quite normal!

“Sigh, Sir, you have to take care of your health. You’re so young, so you have to know how to control yourself. Back then, when I was young…” The owner of the bookstore sighed as he spoke.

Xu Bai was stunned. He subconsciously looked at the book on the table. Then, the corners of his mouth twitched.

There were four words written on the cover of the book — Essentials of Kidney Strengthening1.

No wonder, no wonder the storekeeper had looked at him like that…

Xu Bai took a deep breath and asked again, “How much?”

No need to argue. Some things shouldn’t be argued about. The more he argued about it, the more he couldn’t explain himself.

Moreover, no one knew him. So what if his kidneys were weak?

“Thirty copper coins,” the bookstore owner said.

“That expensive?” Xu Bai was taken aback.

He finally understood why no one bought books in the bookstore.

This amount of money was enough to eat and drink a few meals.

Buy books? Who would be stupid enough to buy books?

“It’s all at this price. Otherwise, how come there aren’t any people buying books in my bookstore,” the shop owner said worriedly.

Xu Bai didn’t want to say anything more. He handed over the money, picked up the book, and was about to leave.

Before he could take two steps, he suddenly stopped and turned around. “Boss, how often do you stock new books here?”

“I…” The owner of the bookstore thought for a moment and said, “Once a month. The imperial court values studying. Other than the first purchase, I can exchange it for free every month.”

The Great Chu Country valued martial arts and literature.

The Emperor especially valued education at the lower level, so even a small county had a bookstore.

“Boss, next time, change all the books in your shop. I’ll come back next month. If there’s anything I like, money won’t be a problem.” Xu Bai walked over and stuffed a piece of silver into his hands.

Since he could find something here that could stimulate his comprehension, Xu Bai naturally wouldn’t let it go.

Once a month, there would be new books. It could even be exchanged. In that case, they should all be exchanged for new books.

The owner of the bookstore was stunned. Then, he kept the money silently and nodded with a smile.

The two of them agreed on a time. When Xu Bai left, the store owner was still standing at the door and waving.

This was the first time someone had given him money this year. The owner of the bookstore was in a good mood.

After Xu Bai received the , he no longer had the mood to wander around. He put the book into his bag and headed home.

Along the way, he was also thinking.

The other books did not trigger the comprehension progress bar, but the did. Did this mean that the other books did not have any value?

Xu Bai thought about it and could only come up with this conclusion.

“In short, I have to comprehend this book first.”

He stopped thinking about it and quickly walked home.

…

After passing through many streets, Xu Bai finally stopped in front of a house on the west side of the county.

The house looked old, but it was an inheritance left to him by his uncle.

Xu Bai took out a key from his waist and opened the door.

“Squeak—”

Xu Bai pushed the wooden door open. The opening of the door was accompanied with an ear-piercing sound. There was no expected moldy smell.

The room was clean and tidy. The original host was also a person who loved cleanliness and often cleaned the house.

Xu Bai closed the door in a familiar motion. He found a chair and sat down. He couldn’t wait to take out the .

Although the name was a little derogatory, it was good enough to trigger his comprehension skills.

His kidneys were very good. It was fine as long as he himself knew this.

Besides, there was nothing wrong with learning how to nourish the kidney.

There was a saying that men had no choice but to soak wolfberries in the thermos when they were middle-aged.

Although Xu Bai was still young, he still had to protect his kidneys.

His eyes were fixed on the , and the progress bar was increasing at a very slow speed.

Compared to when he was in the prison cell, the progress was much slower.

As he was staring at it, Xu Bai felt bored.

“Why don’t we… take a look?”

He swore that he was definitely not reading it because he had a kidney problem.

It was really too boring. Anyway, the progress bar would increase if he stared at it. If he read it carefully, it would also increase. He might as well read it to kill time.

Thinking of this, Xu Bai flipped through the pages.

After reading it, he couldn’t peel his eyes away.

He turned the pages very slowly and read the book very seriously.

“I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Hmm? This action can strengthen the kidney.”

“If I sleep in this position before I go to bed, can it treat my kidneys and Yin deficiency?”

As Xu Bai watched, he couldn’t help but nod and sigh from time to time.

He was really just curious.

The description was vivid and reasonable, unlike other books.

When he was reading this book, Xu Bai had a thought. It turned out that his kidney really needed to be protected well, and he had to do less craftsmanship.

Reading books took a lot of time, especially when one was reading seriously.

Xu Bai even forgot about the progress bar. Only when a line of words appeared in front of him did he realize that the progress bar was already full.

[You’ve studied the Essentials of Kidney Strengthening and comprehended the Kidney Massage Technique.]

Xu Bai was stunned. What was the Kidney Massage Technique?

Before he could react, a series of information appeared in his mind. Then, the blue panel in front of Xu Bai changed.

[Name: Xu Bai.]

[Realm: Grade Nine Martial Artist.]

[Bone Breaking Saber Technique (Rank 1): Maximum level.]

[Bone Breaking Mental Cultivation Technique (Rank 1): Maximum level.]

[Kidney Massage Technique (Rank 1): Maximum level.]

[Comprehension: Maximum level.]

“They are of the same rank, but it took longer to comprehend the Kidney Punching Technique. It seems that there are some differences even if they are in the same rank.” Xu Bai touched his chin and came to a conclusion.

He felt very excited.

It was as if he had met a peerless beauty who was removing her makeup.

With every layer removed, his excitement points increased.

There was only one word to describe exploring the golden finger.

—Exciting.

When the excitement gradually disappeared, Xu Bai began to pay attention to his new ability.

Kidney Massage Technique was a terrible name. At least, that was what Xu Bai thought.

But sometimes the reality is worse.

There was no other reason. The kidney massage method was really about massaging the kidney.

Xu Bai stretched out his hand, and the Genuine Qi in his body circulated. Then, he massaged his left kidney in a way that ordinary people couldn’t understand.

The Genuine Qi in his body grew stronger, and it kept bumping to left and to right.

Xu Bai retracted his hand and thought to himself, “Being able to temporarily increase the amount of Genuine Qi is equivalent to a burst of power.”

After waiting for an incense stick of time1, the Genuine Qi in his body gradually disappeared.

This was only the case after massaging one side of the kidney. If both sides were massaged together, the effect would be even stronger.

Although the name was quite annoying, the effect could completely make up for the name.

“Oh right, I remember that it also has a negative effect that will weaken you for an hour.”

Xu Bai was too excited just now and tried it without thinking. Only now did he remember that this skill had a negative effect.

Xu Bai stood up, his footsteps unsteady.

He walked to the table and picked up the bronze mirror on the table. After looking at the pale face in the bronze mirror, Xu Bai silently put it down.

“In short, don’t use it too much.”

It was one thing to be weak for an hour. Most importantly, he did not want others to think that his kidneys were weak.