“Since you, Brother Heng, have officially started practicing Martial Arts, your Third Uncle can’t hold back either. Take this book! If you don’t understand anything, you can ask me or the masters in the manor!”
Saying that, Third Uncle went back to his room and brought out a slightly wrinkled book, handing it over.
Taking the book, the first thing that caught his eye were the large characters: “Bloodline Fist.”
“This book records a first-grade Martial Arts I obtained in my early years, the Bloodline Fist. Although it is only a first-grade Martial Arts, if one practices it to Major Achievement, it can barely compete with a second-grade Martial Arts. Moreover, the last Move of this fist technique is a desperate, ruthless Move, far surpassing even ordinary second-grade Martial Arts!”
Third Uncle praised his unique skill endlessly, with a hint of pride on his face. Although this fist technique was only first-grade, it was something he had completed by integrating dozens of first-grade fist techniques, taking their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses, all based on his original foundation. This was also the unique skill he relied on for his livelihood as a bodyguard.
“Brother Heng, since you’ve made up your mind, practice diligently. Once your fist technique is good, everything else you practice afterward will be twice as effective with half the effort!”
Jiang Heng nodded. So this was Third Uncle’s unique skill. However, hearing it was first-grade, he still felt a faint sense of disappointment, though he didn’t show it. After all, no matter what one does, it’s impossible to get fat with one bite; everything needs to be taken slowly.
Third Uncle then explained some of his insights into fist techniques and told Jiang Heng to study hard and ask him if he didn’t understand anything.
He spoke for a full hour, and the teacups on the table beside them were replaced again and again. It wasn’t until Jiang Heng saw Third Uncle’s words beginning to run out that he bid farewell.
Returning to the small courtyard outside his bedroom, Jiang Heng drank the medicinal soup under Xiao Rou’s service, letting out a few long breaths.
After practicing all morning, Jiang Heng felt better than ever. The refreshing feeling after the pain was very pleasant.
No wonder he heard people in the fitness circles in his previous life say that lifting weights can be addictive.
He returned to his side room.
Flipping through the newly acquired fist technique book in his room, he then recalled the calligraphy and painting he had seen on the street. After pondering for a long time, Jiang Heng then said to Xiao Rou.
“Xiao Rou, do you know where the place that sells calligraphy and paintings in the city is?”
“Young Master, your servant knows, it’s in the south of the city. Does Young Master want to learn calligraphy and painting?” The young girl looked at her Young Master suspiciously, her big eyes seeming to say, ‘Young Master, are you joking?’
“No!” Jiang Heng shook his head. He already felt he didn’t have enough time to practice Martial Arts, so how could he have time to learn such pretentious things?
“Take me to see!”
As soon as Jiang Heng and Xiao Rou stepped out, before they even got into the carriage, two scholars dressed as literati were walking and talking about something, fanning themselves.
“Brother Liu, are you still going to Miss Xiao Yan’s pleasure boat today? Tsk tsk, I heard that Miss Xiao Yan is truly exceptional at playing the zither!” These two scholars were hurrying along, and one of them, a slightly shorter and more lewd-looking scholar, chatted idly.
The scholar referred to as Brother Liu frowned upon hearing this, turning to his companion with a strange expression.
“Brother Li, don’t you know yet?”
“Know what?” Scholar Li asked, somewhat puzzled.
“Didn’t Miss Xiao Yan drown and die in the middle of last month?”
“Die... die... died?”
Scholar Liu was clearly frightened, trembling and somewhat disbelieving.
“Brother Li, please don’t joke! Brother Zhang, Brother Zhao, and I were still on Miss Xiao Yan’s boat last night!” As if remembering something, Scholar Liu quickly retorted.
“Brother Zhang? Brother Zhao?” Scholar Li looked at Brother Liu in front of him with an even stranger expression.
“Brother Liu... the bodies of Brother Zhang and Brother Zhao were already fished out by the yamen people this morning.”
“What?!!!”
Scholar Liu’s face was truly ashen with fright at this moment.
“Brother Li, you... are you lying to me? Right! You... you are lying to me!”
Scholar Li shook his head slightly, “Brother Liu, you can go to the yamen to see about this matter. The bodies are still there. I just helped the yamen copy documents this morning; I came from there.”
Scholar Liu clearly knew Scholar Li’s background, and his face turned even paler upon hearing this.
“Brother Li, I... I... I have something to do... I’ll take my leave now!”
Saying that, Scholar Liu hurriedly turned around and left.
“Hey, Brother Liu!”
The two left almost one after the other.
Looking at the two departing figures, Jiang Heng’s face had already darkened.
If it had been a day ago, he wouldn’t have believed such bizarre things, but after what happened last night, Jiang Heng no longer maintained a hundred percent disbelief in this matter. Instead, he had doubts!
The doubt was because he had never truly seen a Ghost!
“I wonder if I would survive if I encountered such a monstrous thing.”
Thinking to himself, a sense of urgency already surfaced in Jiang Heng’s heart.
He must become stronger!
He must become stronger!
Thinking of this, Jiang Heng’s heart grew increasingly restless, but what he lacked most now was time, so he simply urged the coachman to hurry the carriage.
The thought that the world he might be in was somewhat unusual made the sense of urgency in Jiang Heng’s heart gradually intensify.
The calligraphy and painting shop in the south of the city had a considerable storefront, a two-story establishment named ‘Yihua Zhai’. Due to the flourishing literary arts in Great Yan, there were many literati and scholars, and naturally, many items of refined taste.
This ‘Yihua Zhai’ had decent business in the city. It was said to house some masterpieces by renowned artists from Cang Prefecture, including famous paintings by master painters and calligraphy by master calligraphers. However, the prices were extremely high, and ordinary families could only admire them from afar.
Jiang Heng flicked his long robe and led Xiao Rou into the shop first, while Lai Fu waited outside.
Jiang Heng’s attire today was different from before. Due to practicing Martial Arts, he no longer liked the delicate Young Master’s clothing style of the past. His current attire appeared more capable and simple, although his appearance as a graceful Young Master remained unchanged.
Jiang Heng’s style had completely changed, becoming more astute. The flamboyant Young Master’s demeanor of the past was gone.
“Oh! Young Master, are you looking for calligraphy and paintings?” The shopkeeper saw Jiang Heng enter with a maidservant behind him, assuming he had considerable wealth at home, and immediately went over, cupped his hands, and smiled.
“Mm!” Jiang Heng didn’t waste time and said directly, “Do you have any famous paintings or masterpieces here? Bring them all out for me to see. If they are genuine, I certainly won’t shortchange you on the silver!”
Hearing Jiang Heng’s domineering words, the shopkeeper’s eyes lit up. He thought, ‘A rich patron has arrived,’ and immediately showed an even brighter smile, saying, “Heh! Young Master, you’ve certainly come to the right place. My Yihua Zhai has nothing but countless famous calligraphy and paintings!”
“Young Master, please have a seat. I’ll go get them for you now. Wenzhi, hurry and serve tea to our esteemed guest!”
Saying that, the shopkeeper scurried upstairs.
Jiang Heng also sat idly on a chair in the middle of the shop. Xiao Rou stood gracefully behind her Young Master. She was actually a little unclear why her Young Master suddenly became interested in calligraphy and paintings.
Jiang Heng looked around and saw that the walls on the first floor of Yihua Zhai were hung with many calligraphy and paintings, all quite decent; at least to an outsider, they looked like excellent works.
Eh!
When he saw a certain calligraphy, Jiang Heng froze, because he felt a faint, warm Qi flowing from his eyes into his Dantian in his abdomen.