Chapter 20: Task

Chapter 20: Task

Today is the Second Month's Second Day, the Dragon Raises Its Head.

All things come back to life, and the spring breeze warms.

On this day, Meng Yuan drew water from the well, washed up, and then went to the training ground to practice diligently.

It had been half a month since he attained rank, but the other young men and women had yet to open their acupoints and attain rank. Meng Yuan had not mentioned to them that his acupoints were already more than half-opened.

After the first full growth of the essence flame, it grew much more slowly. Although he ate an egg and a pound of meat every day, it was still much slower than before.

However, Meng Yuan noticed that this time the essence flame was more refined. Externally, he was less afraid of the cold, had more abundant energy, and his spirit was very full. He could practice boxing late into the night without feeling tired.

Because of this, Meng Yuan worked hard to build strength and nurture true qi during the day, and only at night, in his single room, did he try to open his acupoints.

The first full growth of the essence flame had cleansed his body, and many acupoints were already loosened. Therefore, Meng Yuan could basically open one acupoint per night.

If one full growth could achieve such results, Meng Yuan looked forward to the second full growth of the essence flame even more.

"Eating meat, eating a lot of meat, and having a child bride..." After morning practice, while eating breakfast, Meng Yuan began to ponder.

Nie Shi's guidance was based on his own abilities, and Xun Mei's favor was due to his pure and kind nature.

But Meng Yuan knew that all human relationships and social graces were like flowers in a mirror or the moon in water. Only when one's realm improved would these relationships be useful. Otherwise, others' support would not last long!

Martial arts realm was the foundation, and the growth of the essence flame was his own foundation.

Therefore, he needed to eat meat and find every possible way to eat meat.

By mid-morning, Meng Yuan finally waited for Nie Yanian to arrive.

"Meng Scholar, come here." Nie Yanian had a sword on his waist and another in his hand, which he immediately threw to Meng Yuan.

Ever since borrowing the book, Meng Yuan would read it during his breaks. When Nie Yanian caught him, he didn't stop him but gave him a nickname.

"You are a fake scholar now. If you go to the tavern, the girls will surely see through you. Once you learn the saber technique, when they see through you, you can cut them down in a fit of anger." Nie Yanian said with great reason.

This person was always full of talk, and Meng Yuan was already familiar with it.

Nie Yanian didn't say anything more and immediately set up his stance, slowly demonstrating the technique.

Meng Yuan watched carefully but felt that Nie Yanian's saber technique was awkward, as if something was missing.

"Try it yourself." Nie Yanian said.

Meng Yuan had an excellent memory and had already opened his Baihui acupoint. He slowly followed the moves Nie Yanian had demonstrated.

"Meng Scholar is not bad." Nie Yanian praised sarcastically, then added, "But this is a fast saber technique, called the Gale Blade Technique. It requires quickness in both the saber and the person, with steady and fierce strikes. It is a technique for killing!"

As he spoke, Nie Yanian demonstrated again, this time as fast as a gale, making it impossible to see the long saber, only a flash of white light.

Meng Yuan watched entranced, realizing he could never achieve such speed.

After demonstrating, Nie Yanian sheathed his saber and put his arm around Meng Yuan's neck, "This saber technique is not just about using the hands and waist. It requires the whole body's strength. Once you open the acupoints in your trunk and arms, the power changes; when all acupoints are open, the power changes again; and when you attain the Eighth Rank, the power changes once more. Do you understand?"

"Nie Shi means that this saber technique can be used by ordinary people, but if one has attained rank and uses the method of circulating true qi within the body, the power increases even more?" Meng Yuan asked.

"A scholar is a scholar, you catch on quickly." Nie Yanian was quite pleased, "Alright, go practice. Get the body technique down, then teach it to the kids. I'll teach you the method of circulating true qi tomorrow."

Seeing Nie Yanian about to leave, Meng Yuan quickly pulled him back.

Meng Yuan led Nie Yanian to a distance and, thick-skinned, said, "Nie Shi, lend me ten taels of silver."

In these days, Meng Yuan had figured out Nie Yanian's character. This person talked without restraint, always spouting lewd talk, but was actually a good person, not concerned with formality, and didn't act like a teacher. It was best to speak directly about matters.

"You want to borrow ten taels? I'm so poor I can't even afford food! You might as well chop me up and sell me!" Nie Yinian exclaimed.

Seeing that Nie Yinian was genuinely in a desperate and impoverished state, Meng Yuan sized him up and said, "Never mind, then."

As Meng Yuan was about to leave to borrow some money from Hu Qian, Nie Yinian grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, wait!"

Nie Yinian examined Meng Yuan and asked, "What do you need to borrow money for, kid?"

"I want to eat meat. Our food isn't enough," Meng Yuan replied honestly.

"You can't eat meat every day," Nie Yinian reasoned as he took out a silver ingot and tossed it to Meng Yuan, saying, "Here."

Meng Yuan quickly caught it and asked, "But didn't you say you didn't have any money, Nie Shi?"

"I've been crying poor for so long, it's become a habit," Nie Yinian laughed.

So, as soon as I asked to borrow money, you immediately started crying poor without even thinking about it? You're quite the actor! Meng Yuan carefully studied Nie Shi's expression, thinking that he should learn from his senior.

"Nie Shi, why don't you lend me another ten taels to save me from having to borrow again later?" Meng Yuan suggested.

"Are you taking advantage of my kindness?" Nie Yinian twisted Meng Yuan's ear and said, "Come with me!"

After leaving the training ground, Meng Yuan followed behind Nie Yinian, curiously asking, "Nie Shi, where are we going?"

"To get your wages," Nie Yinian replied.

"You never told me I'd be getting paid!"

"You never asked!"

After walking for a while, they arrived at a small courtyard. Inside the house, an old man sat. Nie Yinian, without any courtesy, pointed at Meng Yuan and said, "This kid is a new guard. He's here to collect his wages in advance."

The old accountant, Gou Zhangfang, looked at Meng Yuan and asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Meng Yuan," he replied.

Gou Zhangfang flipped through his account book and said, "There is such a person, but you've been working as a guard for less than a month. I can't advance your wages."

Meng Yuan remained silent and looked at Nie Yinian.

"He was recommended by Xun Mei," Nie Yinian explained.

"Our Princess Consort is very considerate. It's not a problem to advance his wages. You are the lowest-ranked guard, with a monthly wage of ten taels, and festival bonuses are calculated separately," he said as he quickly calculated on the abacus and took out ten taels of silver.

Meng Yuan took the silver, looking at Nie Yinian with a sense of dissatisfaction.

"I'll advance three months' worth," Nie Yinian said.

Gou Zhangfang said, "Nie Shi, if you were advancing the wages, I wouldn't say anything. But this kid is new; it's not reasonable for him."

"He's a close friend of Xun Mei," Nie Yinian explained.

Gou Zhangfang rubbed his eyes and then carefully examined Meng Yuan. Seeing that the young man had a tall and straight posture, bushy eyebrows, and bright eyes, he was quite handsome, and he exuded a masculine aura. "Everyone has their difficulties. It's not uncommon for young people to have higher expenses. I'll take responsibility for this!"

Meng Yuan, after receiving the silver, felt even more strongly that rank was extremely important; otherwise, no one would believe his lies.

After leaving the courtyard, Meng Yuan repeatedly thanked Nie Yinian and even made some polite remarks about treating him to a meal in the future.

"Now that you've received your monthly wages, shouldn't you repay the ten taels you borrowed from me?" Nie Yinian immediately asked for repayment.

You lent me money less than a quarter of an hour ago, and now you're asking for repayment? Meng Yuan had borrowed the money through his own abilities, and it hadn't even been a while. How could he repay it?

"Nie Shi, I have many uses for the money," Meng Yuan said earnestly.

Nie Yinian tapped Meng Yuan's shoulder twice and then said, "I forgot to tell you, there's a job. If you succeed, there's a reward."

"What kind of job?" Meng Yuan was very cautious.

Nie Yinian didn't give a direct answer. "Let's go eat first, and we can talk while we eat."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end