Chapter 24: Moving House
Chapter 24: Moving House
The previous day's continuous drizzle had given way to a bright and sunny morning, as if the radiant sun had chased away the gloom, leaving no trace of the city's impurities.
Chen Mu was unaware of the undercurrents that had stirred during the night.
However, he always remained vigilant, understanding that opportunities and crises often coexisted. Becoming a Senior Patrol Officer elevated his status, but it also meant facing more thorny troubles and dangers. To navigate these challenges and ascend to greater heights, he could only rely on his own strength.
Thus, he had not neglected his cultivation for a moment during the night. After the move, he began practicing the Skin Tempering Technique.
Moving to a new residence was usually a hassle, but for Chen Mu, it was quite simple. His home had almost nothing worth taking, and all he needed to bring were Chen Yue and Wang Ni.
Dressed in new clothes and looking immaculate, Chen Yue followed Chen Mu out of the house.
Since she turned twelve, Chen Mu rarely took her out. Even when he did, he made sure she looked disheveled, making her appear short and her gender indistinguishable. Now, she could finally go out in new clothes.
Chen Mu felt no attachment to the two old houses. Outside, a patrol officer was waiting, and upon seeing Chen Mu with Chen Yue and Wang Ni, they escorted them to the backstreet of Nine Streets.
They soon arrived at their destination—a residence located behind the City Guard Headquarters, separated by only two streets. Although not a grand mansion, the house had two redwood doors, neatly swept and clean. Inside, the rows of houses were tidy and clean.
The residence consisted of two courtyards, each with a front and back yard, three rooms wide and three rooms deep, making it quite spacious. Even with three to five servants, it wouldn't feel cramped, and it was not a typical dwelling for ordinary folks.
"Master," an old servant waiting outside greeted Chen Mu with a respectful bow. As he led Chen Mu inside, he explained the layout of the residence. "Sir Min rarely comes here, so I, an old servant, take care of cleaning and sweeping. If you find the need for more servants, it's easy to hire from the market."
After the introduction, the servant stood by attentively.
In these chaotic times, serving a powerful figure as a servant was something many would vie for. Becoming a servant meant freedom from various vexing taxes and the harassment of gang members. Even without a monthly salary, one could at least eat without worry and live a relaxed life.
For Chen Mu, the new master, the servant dared not show the slightest negligence. If he offended Chen Mu and got expelled, he would lose his place of refuge.
"I prefer peace and quiet. Hiring more servants can wait for now," Chen Mu waved his hand at the servant.
The residence wasn't small, but it wasn't large either. One servant to clean the house was sufficient, and with Wang Ni accompanying Chen Yue, there was no need to hire a maid. Maintaining the status quo was best.
As they moved into the spacious new home, Chen Yue became lively, exploring every corner of each room. Wang Ni, on the other hand, followed her obediently, not interfering.
Chen Mu didn't join in their play but went to the back yard on his own.
The back yard housed the main hall and two side rooms. Chen Mu let Chen Yue choose one, and she picked the west side room, while Chen Mu took the main hall. Previously, the siblings had to squeeze into one room, even sharing a bed in winter, but now they finally had a spare room.
"Finally, it's starting to feel like a home," Chen Mu thought as he entered his main hall. He nodded in satisfaction at the spacious outer room and the bedroom within. Sitting on a yellow wooden chair, he pondered for a moment before taking out a stack of yellow paper from his embrace.
The paper contained the 'Jade-Gold Skin Polishing Technique'.
The previous night, he had carefully examined and memorized the technique, but unlike swordsmanship, this Skin Tempering Technique required external objects. Thus, he couldn't practice it last night and had to go shopping for the necessary items today.
Rather than calling it the Jade-Gold Skin Polishing Technique, it would be more fitting to call it the Jade Sand Skin Polishing Technique. The method involved digging a pit, lying down horizontally, and being buried in fine sand, followed by pouring a medicinal broth repeatedly over the body.
Common Skin Polishing Techniques often involved coarse salt grinding, striking stone pillars, or repeatedly impacting and tempering the skin membrane, causing hidden injuries that might not manifest in youth but could lead to various problems in old age.
The Jade-Gold Skin Polishing Technique, in contrast, was a much gentler method, primarily relying on specially prepared medicinal powders for Sinew Tempering. It utilized cool sand to moderate the potency of the powders, creating a balanced and harmonious approach that was less taxing on the body.
"The Skin Polishing Technique is a cumulative practice. One achieves minor mastery in a year, major mastery in another, and full mastery in the third year..."
Chen Mu murmured as he read the description on the paper.
Generally, it took most people three years to achieve full mastery, but this timeline wasn't set in stone. It varied depending on one's constitution and compatibility with the medicinal powder. The better the constitution, the faster the skin tempering process.
Compatibility referred to the harmony between the individual's body and the medicinal powder. Some people had cold bodies, while others were naturally warm. Some leaned towards the Yin, while others were more Yang. If one's Yin-Yang balance perfectly aligned with the powder, their body would adapt exceptionally well, allowing for an increased dosage. The practice could be intensified from twice a day to three times, significantly accelerating progress.
"I think my constitution is only slightly above average. I wonder about my compatibility though."
Chen Mu's face reflected deep thought.
While 'slightly above average' constitution sounded promising, in reality, unless one had a severely deformed body, a hunchback, or an abnormal bone structure, everyone was considered to have a 'medium' constitution. 'Slightly above average' meant just a bit better than the average person.
However, Chen Mu's primary concern wasn't his constitution or compatibility but whether the Skin Polishing Technique, like swordsmanship, could accumulate experience points through the system. He decided to give it a try.
The Jade-Gold Skin Polishing Technique had two medicinal powder formulas: one for internal consumption to strengthen the body's qi and blood, and the other for external application for skin tempering. The ingredients in the two formulas differed, and although they weren't the most precious category, in this world, any involvement with medicinal ingredients usually came with a hefty price tag.
After personally purchasing the ingredients from a medicine shop, Chen Mu did a quick calculation. If he used the powder twice a day, it would cost him nearly two hundred taels of silver a year, an expense that most ordinary families couldn't afford.
Fortunately, he was financially comfortable at the moment, with over three hundred taels of silver in his possession. Moreover, as a Senior Patrol Officer, he would have ways to earn more silver, making the expense manageable.
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
After a busy day, dusk was approaching.
Chen Mu asked Chen Yue to play in the front yard, then went to the backyard, where he lay in a pre-dug pit and covered himself with sand. He then picked up the water pot beside him and poured the prepared infusion from his feet to his chest.
Chen Mu had experienced something similar in his past life when he buried himself in the sand at the beach. But as he poured the small pot of Skin Polishing infusion over himself, the sensation was immediately different. The warm infusion seeped through the cool sand, and as the two mixed and touched his skin, a burning sensation began to swirl, spreading from his feet upwards.
For a moment, Chen Mu couldn't tell if it was pain or pleasure.
He felt as if countless ants were trying to burrow into his skin from every pore, creating a mix of mild pain, tingling, and a subtle sense of comfort—a peculiar sensation he couldn't quite describe.
After about a quarter of an hour, this feeling gradually subsided.
Chen Mu picked up the water pot and poured the infusion again... Repeating this process three times until he finished the first batch.
Climbing out of the sand pit, Chen Mu didn't feel much stronger, but instead, his entire body felt numb and weak. For a moment, he couldn't even muster the strength to stand, so he called out to Chen Yue, asking her and Wang Ni to support him as he made his way back to the house and into the wooden tub for a wash.
"Why did you bury yourself in a pit? Were you practicing some kind of martial art?"
Chen Yue asked curiously as she poured water for Chen Mu.
Chen Mu, feeling weak, leaned against the wooden tub, letting Chen Yue fill it with water. With a hearty laugh, he said, "Yes, why don't you practice some martial arts too, Yue'er?"
"No way."
Chen Yue made a silly face at Chen Mu. "I'm not going to bury myself like that."
She then ran outside.
Chen Mu shook his head with a smile, relaxing in the warm water. He summoned the system panel and noticed a new change. Below the Gale and Blazing Wind Blade Techniques, a new line had appeared.
【Jade-Gold Skin Polishing Technique (Incomplete)】
【Experience: 11】
(End of Chapter)
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