Chapter 6

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

However, he sighed regretfully. “It’s a pity that you don’t practice martial arts. Most of the medicinal effects will be wasted.”

Lin Yan’s heart skipped a beat. “Elder Li, may I ask what’s so good about martial arts?”

Li Muqing glanced at him with a faint smile. He took a sip of water but did not say anything.

Lin Yan was already mentally prepared. Martial arts were not easily taught. If martial arts knowledge was so easy to obtain, he wouldn’t have been unable to find out anything after more than three months.

He took out the Collection of Pastures that he had brought with him this morning.

Seeing him take out a book, Li Muqing’s wrist trembled slightly and his eyes immediately widened.

Lin Yan respectfully handed it to Elder Li. “Elder Li, this is the essay collection I bought at the market today. Please take a look.”

Li Muqing grabbed it and flipped through it on the spot.

His expression did not change much, but the pupils of his eyes were expanding and shrinking.

He read page by page and actually forgot about Lin Yan.

Fortunately, Lin Yan was already prepared. He took out the pancakes and steamed buns that he had prepared and let Xiaozhi eat them first to prevent her from starving.

Suddenly, Elder Li slowly read out each word.

“Casually crown-tasseled the knight, his magic sword Hook is snow white.

“Silver saddle matched the white steed, it runs at a shooting-star speed.

“Within ten steps he slays a man, thousand-mile-long passes can’t him ban.

“Once done, he would turn on his heel. And both feats and fame he would seal.”

His old face flushed red, and his beard and hair fluttered even though there was no wind. His loose white coat was suddenly full, as if under the white coat was not a shriveled old man, but a muscular man, making Lin Yan feel extremely oppressed.

“Well said! Within ten steps he slays a man, thousand-mile-long passes can’t him ban! Once done, he would turn on his heel. And both feats and fame he would seal! Good, good, good! Hahahaha!”

Elder Li could not suppress his excitement. His body moved according to his thoughts as he waved his arm and gently smashed the stone table beside him.

Bang!

There was an ear-shattering bang.

Lin Yan gasped. The hard stone table that weighed 200 to 300 kilograms in the courtyard was shattered into seven or eight pieces by this seemingly light smash!

Rock fragments flew everywhere.

Was this what a martial artist was like?

Even though he was old, he still had such powerful strength!

“I was too arrogant. I lost my composure.”

Elder Li retracted his hand as if nothing had happened. His bulging muscles also slowly calmed down, as if nothing had happened.

“Xiao Lin, where did you buy this book from?”

Lin Yan said cautiously, “Elder Li, just like ‘Collection of Knocking Lamps’, I bought it from a group of foot traffickers at the Chundu District market.”

“Another traveling merchant…”

Elder Li looked at Lin Yan meaningfully, making Lin Yan’s scalp tingle. Then, he slowly said, “Xiao Lin, this book is to my liking. Tell me, what do you want?”

Lin Yan knew that Elder Li didn’t like to be indecisive. He bowed and said, “Elder Li, I do have a request.”

“Fire away.”

“I want to practice martial arts and become a martial artist like you. Please recommend a place for me.”

Lin Yan’s original goal was to ask Elder Li about the channels to practice martial arts.

However, Elder Li’s reaction to Collection of Pastures had exceeded his expectations, so he was bold enough to ask for Elder Li’s recommendation instead.

“Practice martial arts?” Elder Li shook his head and laughed. “Don’t tell me you think that after eating a Red Cloud Fruit and obtaining some blood energy, you’re qualified to practice martial arts?”

Lin Yan’s expression was solemn and he did not refute.

Elder Li also became serious. “Are you serious? Do you know what the most important thing is to practice martial arts?”

Without waiting for Lin Yan to answer, Elder Li answered himself, “It’s money! Only with money can one have the time and energy to focus on martial arts. Only with money can one eat fish and meat every day to replenish their blood energy!

“When I practiced martial arts when I was young, I ate two catties of mutton and two catties of chicken every day. Coupled with all kinds of precious medicine and nourishing precious materials, I cultivated for more than ten years before I became quite strong.

“If one’s blood energy is insufficient to cultivate martial arts, in less than three months, one’s muscles and bones will definitely be broken and one’s blood energy will wither and die!”

“How much money do you earn a month? How much meat can you afford? Even so, do you still plan to practice martial arts?”

Lin Yan was silent. The price of goods soared. One catty of mutton was worth 100 copper coins.

In other words, his monthly salary was only enough to buy two catties of mutton, not including eggs.

However, he had the special effect of Devour – Poison Transformation!

Digesting poison could replenish blood energy.

Poisons were controlled, but there were many poisonous mushrooms. They were everywhere in the mountains and could be cultivated by himself. Four poisonous mushrooms were equivalent to two taels of silver worth of Red Cloud Fruit, which was 20 catties of mutton.

According to this method, it was more than enough to replenish his martial arts blood energy.

Elder Li shook his head. He could see Lin Yan’s determination. “Forget it, forget it. It’s hard to persuade a dead person with good words…”

He reached into his pocket and took out an engraved wooden piece that was as long as his palm and two fingers wide. The words “Li Muqing” were engraved on it.

“Take this piece of wood and go to the Bright Jade Building in Chengguang District. Find a person named Kui Shan. Tell him my name and your request. He will give you two months.”

Two months was already very good!

Lin Yan suppressed his surprise and carefully took it. “Thank you, Elder Li! I’m deeply grateful for your kindness!”

“Remember, two months is already the limit of your body. If it’s longer, your life will definitely be in danger. Two months, but only two months.”

“Thank you!”

After carefully putting away the wooden piece, Lin Yan finished cleaning and left respectfully with Lin Xiaozhi.

Li Muqing sat in the courtyard and shook his head as he watched Lin Yan leave.

When Lin Yan sent him the “Collection of Knocking Lamps”, he was shocked with just one look.

However, his expression remained the same. After asking Lin Yan about the origins of this collection, he was worried that Lin Yan had other requests. Only then did he say calmly, “Not bad.”

In fact, after he returned home, he ordered his servants to go to the Chundu District District to inquire about the whereabouts of the traveling merchant.

He originally thought that he could buy more shocking articles, but he did not expect that after asking around for a few days, they still did not find anything.

Until today, Lin Yan had actually sent over another copy of “The Collection of Pastures”.

The style of the poems was completely different from “The Collection of Knocking Lamps”. However, every single one of them was a world-shaking work!

This time, no matter how stupid Li Muqing was, he could guess the origins of these two collections. They were definitely not from merchants.

He flipped through the pages carefully and recognized the handwriting that seemed to be new…

How could he not guess that this essay collection was clearly written by that brat surnamed Lin himself!

“How many days has it been since he wrote so many poems? Every single one of them is a world-shocking work. He’s a natural scholar and a natural star!”

However, he immediately shook his head and sighed. “What’s the use of being born with literary talent…”

He was rather passionate about literature and cherished Lin Yan’s talent.

However, in Dafeng, martial arts was the right path. The literary path was just a small path that could be used to temper one’s emotions.

It was also for this reason that he did not stop Lin Yan from learning martial arts.

As a young man, his heart was higher than the sky and filled with hope. He would never turn back unless he hit the wall.

Wasn’t he the same back then? Wasn’t he arrogant and conceited? Wasn’t he bent on pursuing a higher realm and ultimately harming himself?

“Two months later, if he can’t learn martial arts, I’ll appear and nurse him back to health. I’ll just invite him to the clan to write articles…”

With this thought in mind, he got up and left. He had to go back early and study this new collection.