Shaolin Qi-absorbing Pills, stored in a thick porcelain bottle with a slender neck, containing seven elixirs, help the circulation of Inner Qi during seated meditation.
With Anfeng's current level of Internal Force Cultivation, it originally took an hour to dissolve one Qi-absorbing Pill, but now that his Internal Strength had been scattered, the pill only had the effect of stimulating and replenishing Internal Strength. The speed of dissolving the elixir had become nearly three times faster than before.
After exhausting his Inner Strength punching and smashing trees, he would swallow an elixir, and he continued to train for several hours.
After swallowing the last elixir, Anfeng forcibly supported his exhausted body and shouted, his right fist rotating from his ribs and smashing out. The thick old tree boomed and finally toppled to the ground.
The Inner Qi in his palm scattered in all directions upon impact, with all but a very fine trace of his Internal Strength seeping into his muscles, causing a sore and swollen feeling that made him involuntarily grimace and gasp in a cold breath as he quickly shook his wrist.
When the soreness had subsided somewhat, he looked up at the sky, then with a grunt of effort, he hoisted the old tree onto his shoulders. Without the support of Internal Strength, he let out a muffled groan, and his body stooped lower, swaying slightly, but ultimately he did not fall. Carrying the great tree, he walked slowly downhill.
By now it was past noon, and the wives in each household had already prepared the meals. The village was sparsely populated with pedestrians, yet there was a man dressed in a short blue garment sitting in the cool shade with a gloomy face.
He had been waiting here for quite a while, but the youngster who could carry trees had still not appeared.
The order was simply too large, and the customer who placed the order was very generous. The foreman had to take the order, but where could one find enough high-quality timber? After much thought, he spent money to treat several fellow apprentices to a good meal of meat and wine, only then did he learn of a possible turn of fortune here.
But the apprentice also said that the young man had not appeared for a long time, and because of this, they told him the news. He knew the hope was slim, but he still wanted to take a gamble.
What if he succeeded...
"It seems there's no chance..."
The man sighed, patted his backside, and stood up, turning around to say, "Shopkeeper, how much?"
The young man with a white cloth draped over his shoulder said warmly:
"Three Copper Coins for a sincere deal."
The man frowned, reluctantly digging out money, and cursing under his breath:
"To charge such a price for a bit of refreshment... Heartless devil, not afraid of falling into the oil pot in hell..."
Clatter... Clatter...
At that moment, the sound of chains rattling grew louder and more prominent. The man frowned and asked:
"What's going on here? So noisy?"
The teahouse's servant watched the man's right hand struggle to pull out three copper coins while making a thinly veiled sarcastic remark:
"Chains, eh... It spread early in the morning that a little guy from around here wrapped himself up in a lot of chains and went up the mountain to cut wood..."
The man was taken aback, abruptly turning his head only to see a young man wrapped in chains, carrying a large piece of timber on his shoulders. With each step, the clanking of the chains sounded like music on a battlefield, making his heart skip a beat. But then he was overjoyed, hastily taking out a Silver Coin, tossing it to the servant without a second look.
A dozen Copper Coins clinked and spun on the counter, and he was already lunging towards Anfeng like a ravenous wolf, shouting:
"Young man, I'll buy that timber!"
"I'll pay top dollar!"
After hardly any haggling, the old tree on Anfeng's shoulder was sold, and the man laughed joyfully as he touched the tree. Meanwhile, the tea-selling Zhao was extremely enthusiastic towards him. After refusing his invitation to have a cup of tea, Anfeng quickly headed to his own room, feeling a swell of aching and puffiness throughout his body, almost reaching the limit of exhaustion.
As he passed the old locust tree, an astonished voice rang in his ears.
"Brother Wang... What is this..."
He paused briefly and looked aside to find the somewhat scholarly man looking at him in surprise, then raised his hand in greeting and said with a smile:
"Mr. Jiang, what a coincidence to see you today."
Jiang Shouyi couldn't help but laugh, "This is my home, there's no such thing as a coincidence."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the chains on Anfeng's body and then lingered on his face, saying:
"It seems, young brother, you are practicing a form of External Kung Fu."
Anfeng was slightly startled but did not deny it, simply smiling and saying:
"I didn't know Mr. Jiang was also skilled in martial arts."
Jiang Shouyi shook his head, "I don't know martial arts, but I've seen a lot and understand some. It seems you've been cultivating all along the way, and you must be a bit weary. How about you come into my new residence and have a cup of tea to moisten your throat?"
His voice was warm and inviting, and before he finished speaking, he stepped to the side and gestured with an open hand, his eyes watching Anfeng warmly and smiling. Anfeng hesitated for a moment, feeling that since it was a neighborly invitation, it would be somewhat impolite to refuse, so he bowed his fist in gratitude and said:
"Since that's the case, I'll impose upon you, and I hope you won't mind my sweatiness..."
"With a friend's arrival, my heart knows only joy. Please come in."
Jiang Shouyi chuckled lightly and led Wang Anfeng inside. Although the residence was small, it had its own dignity, with an air reminiscent of a quiet room. The child sitting beside the desk softly read his book until Jiang Shouyi called out to him. Glancing up to see Wang Anfeng, his eyes brightened subtly. Without making a sound, he pushed the scroll slightly away and crisply called out:
Wang Anfeng smiled and greeted him, "Hello, Tianhong." Jiang Shouyi pretended not to notice his son's little movement and went to the inner room. A brief moment later, with Jiang Shouyi still not having returned, a graceful woman brought out a tea set and said to him gently:
"Anfeng, please have a seat."
Although her features were only delicately beautiful, she possessed a remarkable temperament, serene and profound, hard to overlook. Wang Anfeng bowed and said, "Thank you," and carefully sat down. The woman started to prepare tea. Her every action, though simple, was in perfect harmony with nature, like the wind passing through bamboo or water flowing quietly, calming the minds of those who watched.
The surging qi and blood within Wang Anfeng's body unconsciously settled, and a cup of clear tea was already placed before him. The tea cooled the warmth in his throat.
Jiang Shouyi was sitting in front of him at some point and smiled:
"The mountain tea from this area has its own charm, but since you, Anfeng, drink it often, I'm afraid you're already accustomed to it."
Only then did Wang Anfeng realize that the flavor was the usual mountain tea he drank, with nothing peculiar about it. And the way that woman prepared the tea was far from the craft of a teahouse tea scholar, yet the unique experience was undeniably real. Confusion appeared on his face, and Jiang Shouyi, after taking a sip, gently lowered his eyes and said:
"Do not overthink it, my wife is not versed in the martial arts."
Wang Anfeng paused briefly, and as Jiang Shouyi looked up and smiled at him:
"I am but a mere scholar who knows that when literature reaches an extreme, it's not about being extraordinary but about being just right; when tea preparation reaches an extreme, it's not about being different but about being natural."
He paused, his voice softening:
"I imagine martial arts ought to be the same."
Wang Anfeng's expression subtly changed as if he glimpsed an understanding, but like a white steed flashing past a gap, it disappeared in an instant, leaving no trace. By then, Jiang Shouyi had changed the topic, as if his previous comment had been just an offhand remark with no other meaning. About half an hour later, Wang Anfeng stood up to take his leave.
Jiang Shouyi and Jiang Tianhong saw him to the door. Wang Anfeng first bowed to Jiang Shouyi, then lightly patted the child's head and smiled:
"Tianhong, I will take my leave now..."
Jiang Shouyi smiled and said, "Just call him Little Brother Jiang, Anfeng."
As Wang Anfeng stood there surprised, the child also gave him a smile and waved his hand, and so Wang Anfeng returned the gesture with a smile and turned to leave.
Jiang Shouyi stood motionless for a moment, then slowly turned and walked back. The beautiful woman was unfolding a letter, beside her a yellow-plumed jade-like bird was affectionately nuzzling her hand. She looked up at her husband with an expression that held a touch of helplessness and said:
"They are urging again... saying the academy is short of staff and want us to return to teach."
Jiang Shouyi sat down and asked:
"Whose seal is on it this time?"
"Great Qin's Xuanwu King, the Chief Commander Longxiang, the headmaster of the academy... and the current Crown Prince. The Crown Prince has promised the position of Grand Tutor and an additional tenure over a thousand households."
Each of the four names was enough to shake the entire Great Qin Country thrice over, yet Jiang Shouyi's expression remained unchanged. He took a sip of the clear tea and said flatly:
"A teacher exists to impart knowledge and guide learning. The academy is filled with ignoramuses; despite their external wealth and splendor, they lack the heart to pursue knowledge earnestly. My teacher had three wishes, and with my ordinary talents, I could only fulfill one: to find and teach talents from all over the land.
If I cannot apply my learning and nurture talents in the academy, it would be better to travel the world, seeking those uncut gems among the people, ensuring that they do not go to waste. If even one or two of them stand out, our wishes would be more than fulfilled."
The woman sighed and said, "But how should we reply? The headmaster says everything can be discussed."
Jiang Shouyi put down his tea cup and said, "I'll reply to the letter."
He took some paper and a pen and wrote just one line. The woman looked up and read it softly:
"My teacher is like a father; if there is a teacher's order, we must naturally obey it."
After reading it, she looked up at Jiang Shouyi, her expression somewhat peculiar, as she addressed her calm and serene husband:
"My lord, your teacher, the master, didn't he pass away earlier this year..."
Jiang Shouyi glanced at her and said indifferently:
"Therefore, there's nothing to discuss."