bookandnovel Chapter 6: Python Pattern Completion, Mid-Stage Skin Tempering
Chapter 6: Python Pattern Completion, Mid-Stage Skin Tempering
"You flatter me, Master Li."
When Wu He was stared at like that, it felt like his own secrets could be dug up and examined.
"I'll remember this favor, even though that guy is nothing but an ant."
Li Bo remained expressionless, uttered a single sentence, and then limped away.
Favor.
Wu He stared thoughtfully at his retreating figure. It turned out that he had just intercepted the person who was about to attack him, which Wu He considered a small favor.
However, judging from his decisive palm strike that sent the rolling dragon flying, his strength was obviously much greater than the latter. The person who wanted to launch a sneak attack was probably under Li Bo's watchful eye all along, so it wouldn't matter even without Wu He.
Wu He's actions were merely icing on the cake, and in Li Bo's eyes, they could barely be considered a favor.
Then, a weight settled on his shoulder as Wang Er leaned in with a cheeky grin.
"Tiegen, you're in luck! Master Li's favor is incredibly valuable!"
"If you ask me, you should go and talk to Master Li right now and ask the manager to waive that ten taels of silver for you!"
Wu He pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Master Li is probably just saying it; we're not going to go looking for trouble."
That being said, he was thinking something else entirely.
Martial arts practitioners value loyalty and righteousness. If Master Li truly cherishes this sentiment, it would undoubtedly be a good opportunity for him.
Use it to pay back the money?
That would be a complete waste of talent and a huge underutilization of resources.
In the future, it might come in handy at an even more crucial time.
"You little rascal, I didn't realize you had some skills."
A faint scent of rouge wafted over, and Xu Niang was already standing in front of him.
Over forty years old, she had gained weight, though one could call her plump. Looking at Wu He, who was a head taller than her, she had a look of surprise and an unreadable expression in her eyes.
"Five taels of silver, I'll keep my word."
Xu Niang opened his palm and placed some loose silver coins inside.
They actually gave it to me.
Wu He was somewhat surprised, thinking that this old hag would keep the silver to pay off her debts.
"Thank you, shopkeeper."
With these five coins, I've gotten seven coins in one go. Although I'm still far from paying off my debts, at least I have some savings now.
They then cleaned the hall, and before they knew it, it was afternoon, the peak of the day for the Yuxianlou restaurant.
The Desire Immortal Pavilion, a high-class brothel, has more than thirty female and male prostitutes of all ages. Not one of them is ugly; they are all decent-looking.
Therefore, those who come to greet and see off are mostly people who are not short of money.
Gentry, government officials, military camps, and numerous dashing young men from wealthy and noble families.
Drinking, reciting poetry, playing pitch-pot, and having fun—then a major event unfolds in the upstairs greenhouse.
It was incredibly lively.
As a servant and pimp, Wu He was constantly busy in front of and behind the hall, upstairs and downstairs, until late at night when he had some free time to practice martial arts.
Three days passed in a flash.
It was night, and light snow was falling.
Wu He stood bowing in the snow, a wisp of white steam rising from his body. Even in the biting cold, fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
The python-like stance was slowly withdrawn.
At the same time, he opened his mouth and exhaled a long breath.
"Hiss~~"
Under the special breathing technique of Python Pattern Kung Fu, the exhalation at this time is accompanied by a low hissing sound like a python, and the white vapor stretches for several meters before dissipating.
[Progress completed: 100/100]
[The progress of Python Pattern Kung Fu (Beginner) has been completed, and I have been granted an advance payment opportunity.]
[Should I prepay for: Python Pattern Kung Fu (Minor Success)?]
The platinum shines brightly, and characters appear on the Book of Credits.
"Finally, it's complete!"
Wu He was overjoyed and immediately chose to receive the advance payment without hesitation.
[Advance payment already made for: Python Pattern Kung Fu (Minor Success)]
[Progress completed: 0/200]
In an instant, a surge of heat gushed out from my body, scalding hot, and my head was buzzing.
The skin of the torso seemed to be forcibly contracted and torn, burning hot, and the flesh and bones creaked as they stretched.
It paused after ten seconds.
Feeling his body becoming lighter and lighter, Wu He couldn't wait to walk to the stone mill and try to lift the 500-pound millstone.
With a little effort, he actually managed to lift the large, cold stone without any difficulty.
The strength has increased significantly.
【Wu He】
[Realm: Mid-stage Skin Tempering]
[Martial Arts Skill Already Advance: Python Pattern Skill at Minor Mastery (Progress Completed 0/200)]
[Number of uses of Python Pattern Kung Fu available for advance payment: 0]
[Next Stage Advance Payment: "Python Pattern Kung Fu" (Mastery)]
[A body as large as a dragon or python, with the strength to penetrate a thousand pounds.]
"Having mastered the Python Pattern Technique, one has reached the mid-stage of the Skin Tempering Realm."
"In other words, torso strengthening."
After testing his strength, he immediately opened his chest, and through the hazy night, he could see some faint lines on his skin.
In the mid-stage of skin tempering, in addition to a significant increase in strength, the most important aspect is the strengthening of the skin on the torso.
First the limbs, then the torso, and finally the head—these represent the early, middle, and late stages of the skin-tempering phase, during which the difficulty of cultivation doubles.
This difficulty was nonexistent for Wu He, demonstrating that the more advanced the cultivation process, the greater the effect of the Heavenly Book.
"Two hundred progress points, keep practicing!"
Their strength has increased significantly, which is very encouraging.
However, before I could even set up my stance, my stomach started rumbling in protest, and hunger was ever-present.
I just finished eating, but I'm hungry again.
"Strength doesn't come from nowhere; the stronger you are, the bigger your appetite will be."
Wu He rubbed his stomach and had no choice but to go into the kitchen to scavenge for any leftovers that were still edible.
Fortunately, it was cold outside, so the outside was a natural refrigerator. The pimps collected a lot of leftover food to eat as a midnight snack.
After Wu He heated the food in the stove, he scooped it all out and squatted at the doorway to feast on it.
"Master..."
"Could you... give me some...?"
As they ate, a faint pleading voice came from inside.
Looking in the direction of the sound, there was a dilapidated little mud house not far away, and through a hole in the wall that let in drafts, a pair of eyes were watching.
Wu He wiped his mouth, got up and went back to the kitchen. A moment later, he took out an earthenware bowl, filled it to the brim, and put it into the hole.
The steaming, spice-filled stew instantly drew some swallowing sounds, and then a withered hand reached out and snatched it in.
Then came the sound of large gulps of swallowing.
Wu He stood quietly, his heart filled with sighs.
Poor thing.
Of the four girls that Xu Niang bought last time, two of them couldn't bear the cold and hunger and chose to become prostitutes a few days ago.
There are two left.
The other one is Wen Qiaoniang.
He walked to the latter's door and, through the crack in the door, saw her curled up in a pile of weeds and tattered clothes, fast asleep.
These past few days, Wu He has been getting her massages every day, learning health exercises like Baduanjin to maintain his health, and also bringing her a lot of food.
Xu Niang didn't just stand by and watch her starve to death; she would give her two steamed buns every day.
After all, it was bought with real money. It's okay to go hungry, but it can't starve to death.
Even so, she has clearly lost a lot of weight, and her face has become sunken. It's hard to know how much longer she can hold on.
Then he went back to the kitchen, took two steamed buns, and threw them in.
Wu He couldn't bear to see suffering, but he himself didn't have the ability to help the world, so he could only do what he could.
……
Two more days passed.
At dawn, the first rays of sunlight appeared.
After being shrouded in gloom for so long, Xiongzhou City finally showed signs of clearing up.
At the back gate, Old Zheng, the kitchen helper, yawned and sleepily went to the outhouse to relieve himself.
After finishing, he pulled up his pants and went to the small wooden cart, sweeping away the snow on it with a broom.
"Brother Zheng."
Suddenly, a voice called out, and Wu He came over.
"Tiegen, you're up so early."
"Brother Zheng, do me a favor and bring back five live chickens and two pig legs. Consider the extra money as a delivery fee from your younger brother."
Wu He handed him a string of five hundred copper coins.
Holding the jingling copper coins, Old Zheng was completely stunned, staring at him in disbelief.
"What do you mean?"