Chapter 42: Chapter 40: Return
“It seems your talent is indeed impressive, it’s not just an exaggeration,” Chen Mu smiled.
Chen Yue shook her head, blinked her big eyes, and looked at Chen Mu, “Brother is truly amazing, to be able to develop Blade Momentum on his own. I didn’t realize before how difficult that is…”
She didn’t finish her sentence. Only after listening to the martial masters and sisters at the institute did she understand that Chen Mu was of extremely high comprehension. Unfortunately, he started learning the Body Tempering Method later in life, making it quite difficult for him to enter the Tendon Changing Realm in the future.
If Chen Mu had started training at the age of fifteen or sixteen like her, he would not only have achieved Blade Momentum by now, but he would’ve at least reached a Major Achievement in Body Refinement. Certainly, by the age of twenty-five, he would have reached Body Refinement Perfection, giving him a great chance to step into the Tendon Changing Realm.
Regrettably.
At that time, Chen Mu and she were impoverished settlers, curled up together under a quilt for warmth, without the financial means or opportunity to learn Body Tempering. Only now has he somewhat made a name with his Blade Technique, but he had already lost the prime time.
Her training at the martial arts institute here is probably the most diligent of all the women’s division, not only because she knows how hard it is to get a chance to train at the Yu Family Martial Arts Institute, but also because she is aware of the effort Chen Mu put into sending her there.
Chen Mu had missed many years, yet her timing was just right.
Perhaps Chen Mu felt some regret too, she thought, so she wasn’t just training for herself, but also carrying Chen Mu’s regrets and expectations in her cultivation, certainly making every moment count.
Of course, these thoughts could not be voiced to Chen Mu.
“Didn’t you say in your letter that you have a good comprehension and even the masters in the institute praised you? Don’t you have confidence in developing Sword Momentum?” Chen Mu asked, smiling.
Not knowing Chen Yue’s internal thoughts, Chen Mu would likely just laugh it off if he knew. It was good to give her an extra push, as he watched Chen Yue confidently say.
Chen Yue straightened her modest chest and responded, “Of course I’m confident! Don’t underestimate me, brother, in a few years I might even surpass you!”
“Alright, I’ll wait for that,” Chen Mu smiled slightly, then took a small pouch containing Gold leaves out of his chest pocket and handed it to Chen Yue.
Chen Yue knew what it was as soon as she took it, hesitantly saying, “I… actually don’t need much Silver here. The Martial Arts Institute provides resources for training, you should keep it…”
As she tried to give it back to Chen Mu,
Chen Mu simply shook his head slightly and said, “I’m not very familiar with the affairs of the institute, but even if they provide resources for training, it’s surely in a fixed schedule and amount. They won’t hand out extra supplements. This amount of money isn’t much for me now, just use it first. If it’s not enough, just write to me again.”
His reserves of Silver were sufficient for the moment, and compared to the assistance of a systematic panel for cultivation, it was more important for Chen Yue to establish a solid foundation. At the age of fifteen or sixteen, even an extra nourishing recipe for Qi-Blood at each meal could make a difference.
“Really?”
Chen Yue fiddled with the small pouch, sounding somewhat hesitant.
She knew Chen Mu was now a Head Constable and had changed compared to before, but she could tell by squeezing the pouch that it contained Gold leaves, worth at least two hundred taels of Silver. Although she often saw others casually using Gold leaves in the institute, she had only come out of poverty a few months ago.
“Why would I lie to you?”
Chen Mu chuckled, patted Chen Yue’s small head twice, and said, “Alright, go now. I’ll come to visit you when I’m free, or if you become highly skilled, you can come to find me yourself.”
Generally, achieving Major Achievement in Skin Toughening and skills were considered a decent level in the Outer City; many Head Constables in the City Defense Division probably possessed similar skills. However, Chen Yue’s situation was more challenging as a girl in this world. She had to achieve Skin Toughening Perfection or higher to have some power to protect herself. He wasn’t worried about the Martial Arts Institute on that part; Chen Yue also well understood prioritizing safety and wouldn’t roam around carelessly.
“Okay then…”
Chen Yue hesitated for a moment but finally put away the small pouch and reluctantly said goodbye to Chen Mu.
Chen Mu watched Chen Yue return to the Martial Arts Institute until the door shut behind her. Then, he turned around and quickly disappeared into the streets.
Meanwhile.
In the Martial Arts Institute.
Just as Chen Yue entered, a girl about her age but with fair and delicate skin, clearly from a wealthy family, was peering through the door crack and whispered to Chen Yue, “Yue Yue, was that your brother?”
“Yes, it was.”
Chen Yue pulled Yu Ru back inside.
Yu Ru let herself be pulled by Chen Yue and, tilting her head, said, “Did he really cultivate his Blade Momentum on his own? Here in our institute, and even in the one next door, lots of people are forced by the master to train for years and still can’t achieve it. No wonder Hongyu sister values him so much.”
Unfortunately, Chen Mu wasn’t an early trainee in this institute; otherwise, he would certainly be in the Inner City now. In the future, he might become a figure like Xu Hongyu, capable of handling things on his own. And even though she only sneaked a peek just now, Chen Yue did indeed bear some resemblance to him, and his demeanor also seemed to carry a hint of heroic spirit.
“Come on, it’s time to train, or we’ll get a scolding from the master soon.”
Chen Yue led Yu Ru deeper into the courtyard.
…
Chen Mu had given Chen Yue some silver coins and, seeing that she was doing well in the Yu Family Martial Arts Institute in the Inner City, finally felt completely at ease. He didn’t linger any longer in the Inner City and quickly returned to the Outer City.
However, Yu City was truly vast, and by the time he made his back and forth trips, it had already grown dark.
But Chen Mu nowadays was not afraid of much. Let alone the darkening skies, even the night in the Outer City; he had wandered it more than once in his night attire. After all, there were very few people in the Outer City District now who could truly threaten him.
At the level of Body Refinement, he almost feared no one.
Only those like Xu Hongyu, who had entered the Tendon Changing Realm, could pose a threat to him.
But how many such individuals were there?
Xu Hongyu!
The towering figure of the City Guard General of the South City District!
In the whole South City District, she was essentially the only one.
As for those mixed gangs below, and various forces, their leaders being at Body Refinement Perfection and were skilled in martial arts, were almost the best you could find. Those who reached the Tendon Changing Realm were virtually nonexistent.
The reason was simple. With the Tendon Changing Realm and skills achieved to maturity, one could stand on their own anywhere, and would not deign to be just a gang leader. Such individuals could openly join forces with those in the Inner City. Even if they couldn’t be the Chief Constable, they could still land a position like Deputy Head Officer or other roles.
Walking through the dim alleys, Chen Mu strode with confidence, his demeanor indifferent.
At this time, the streets were nearly devoid of pedestrians. The occasional ones were members of thieves’ and gangsters’ gangs that lurked at night. Seeing Chen Mu, dressed in a clean robe and with a blade at his waist, swaggering confidently through the alleys, all showed a wary expression and made way for him.
Although it’s challenging to determine strength and weakness at a glance, the presence exuded by a person did indeed exist. With his current strength and confidence, Chen Mu naturally emanated an aura that was enough to inspire fear in others.
And these mixed ganged members, who mostly survived on their keen sight, could instantly tell that Chen Mu was not someone to be trifled with. They harbored no superfluous thoughts and cleared the way on their own accord.
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