Half a day later.
Housekeeper Fang and Little Shan tidied up all the travelogues.
"Young master, are you sure you don't want them?"
"Really don't want them, really don't want them."
After confirming seven or eight times, the little maid didn't believe it, and Housekeeper Fang also didn't believe it, which indeed made Chu Ming a bit speechless.
"Young master, I know I might be nagging, but I must say once more, the selling price of these travelogues will be very different from the purchase price, are you really..."
"Enough, enough, or should I go myself?" Chu Ming said with a frown.
In the original owner's memory, this old housekeeper was quite stable, but why was he being so fussy now?
"Little Shan, help the young master to his room to rest, I'll go sell them."
Help?
He can walk just fine.
So annoying.
...
As dusk approached, Housekeeper Fang finally returned.
"Young master, twenty-six travelogues were exchanged for three books of poetry and two taels of silver."
"Only three books?"
Chu Ming was slightly taken aback. Although he knew the resold travelogues weren't worth much, the original owner had purchased them at a high price. Old items indeed depreciate everywhere...
"'General Theory of the Book of Songs', 'Essence of Classics and History', 'Complete Book of Agricultural Administration'..."
Three books it is then.
With the Poetry and Book Essentials, he directly went back to his room and started reading by lamplight.
The 'General Theory of the Book of Songs' was entirely poems and songs, definitely a sleep aid in his past life.
Now it's slightly better; Chu Ming persisted until nine o'clock at night, over eleven o'clock, and couldn't hold on anymore.
Even though "reading" allowed him to take in ten lines at a glance and remember them instantly, his body was weak, and his spiritual power insufficient, burning through several hours was already the limit.
Luckily, the progress in "reading" could be increased, reaching '31' in one night.
After a night's rest, Chu Ming practiced the "Slapping Wind Palm" in the morning and began reading the three Poetry and Book Essentials in the afternoon.
"Housekeeper Fang, please persuade the young master, yesterday after having breakfast, he was just waving the air in the courtyard and didn't rest; after that, he went inside to read poetry books..."
"The young master is more obsessed than he was with travelogues..."
Little Shan, holding the breakfast porridge, said with a worried expression.
"Sigh...I'll talk to the young master when he comes out," Housekeeper Fang sighed inwardly.
If the young master keeps practicing like this, he truly feels sorry to madam.
Before long.
"Young master, I have something to say to you..."
"Talk later," Chu Ming waved his hand, not waiting for Housekeeper Fang to finish, and walked to the center of the courtyard to start practicing the Palm Technique.
"Slapping Wind Palm (Entry-level)"
"Progress: 92/100"
93...94...95...96...99...
"Slapping Wind Palm (Minor Success)"
"Progress: 1/100"
"Phew...finally advanced."
A hint of happiness flashed across his eyes.
"Just wonder how powerful it is."
He scanned around the courtyard and saw a wooden stake in the corner.
"What is the young master going to do?" Little Shan looked on curiously: "Chop..."
Boom!
Before Little Shan could finish speaking, she saw the young master chop a hand on the wooden stake.
"Young master!" Suddenly, she was scared pale.
Chopping a wooden stake with bare hands would break his hand.
However, as she ran over, the wooden stake split in two.
Little Shan was stunned, at a loss.
Yo... yo... Young master... split the wooden stake with one chop?
Not only Little Shan but the originally contemplative Housekeeper Fang also had a face full of shock.
That wooden stake was meant for chopping firewood, not particularly hard, with many cracks, but for an ordinary person to split it wasn't easy.
And he saw with his own eyes, the young master with damaged foundation, who even needed help to walk, split it with one chop!
Moreover, that chop... was swift and fierce, it seemed like a kind of Palm Technique.
The young master flailed the air randomly for several days and really comprehended a Palm Technique?
Impossible!
The difficulty of Martial Arts, without a healthy physique, without proper guidance, to spontaneously develop a martial skill is like a madman's dream.
Unless... a genius!
Young master? A genius?
How come never noticed?
Or did the young master have the wrong obsession before and now has enlightened?
Late bloomer...?
No, sixteen... it's also not too late.
"Housekeeper Fang, you had something to tell me?"
The Slapping Wind Palm achieved Minor Success, showing initial power; although it couldn't kill with one move, it could hurt people and was no longer just flashy.
Chu Ming was fairly satisfied with it; most of the effort went into splitting the stake; with a full force hit, the power could be stronger, finally some self-defense capability.
'It's just too exhausting; hitting once, today I might only do 'reading''.
Housekeeper Fang regained his composure, eyes like an eagle landed on the youth in the center of the courtyard.
"Recently, my legs have become increasingly sluggish, I happened to recall a method for strengthening the body yesterday, not sure if the young master would allow me to practice daily."
"Oh, Grandpa Fang, your legs really are sluggish?" Little Shan said with concern: "From now on, let Little Shan handle buying groceries."
"..." Wrinkles on Housekeeper Fang's face slightly trembled.
This little girl...
Upon hearing this, Chu Ming's eyes brightened: "Of course, feel free to practice."
This old housekeeper finally relented.
It sounds like Housekeeper Fang wants to practice his legs, but in reality, he wants to demonstrate something to him.
"Thank you, young master."
Housekeeper Fang walked to the center of the courtyard.
"Grandpa Fang, should Little Shan help you?"
"..." Housekeeper Fang's face turned dark, and his walking did appear slightly sluggish.
This is psychological impact.
Chu Ming had a smile on his lips; this old housekeeper also experienced the psychological damage from 'helping'.
But in the next moment, his smile faded entirely, replaced with solemnity.
"What I will practice is called 'Tiger and Python Strength', not especially powerful, but it can invigorate the blood and improve the body."
Housekeeper Fang explained while practicing.
"Tiger and Python Strength consists of twelve forms, each form has ten movements..."
Afraid I can't remember?
Chu Ming stood aside, watching Housekeeper Fang's extremely slow movements, like the old men practicing Tai Chi in a park in his past life...
But clearly, Tiger and Python Strength isn't about using softness to overcome hardness.
When Housekeeper Fang finished a set, the speed gradually increased, the moves becoming more vigorous, especially the last two forms, they had the appearance of a tiger roaring in the woods.
"Young master, would you like to try?"
Timing was perfect, Housekeeper Fang ceased to hide.
'Since the young master can comprehend a powerful Palm Technique on his own without his health worsening, it shows that he can practice Tiger and Python Strength.'
'If the young master really is a genius, perhaps he can master Tiger and Python Strength in half a year before his vitality runs dry, and then cultivate Body Refining Technique to repair the foundation through Martial Arts...'
"Housekeeper Fang, the young master's illness just recovered, he's practiced the palm technique all morning, how can he still practice this Tiger and Python Strength..." Little Shan blinked hard.
As if saying: Grandpa Fang, Little Shan asked you to persuade the young master not to practice, not to teach the young master to practice.
"Alright, let me try." Chu Ming took a break; his stamina slightly recovered.
"Young master, Tiger and Python Strength has many complex movements, let me demonstrate again..."
"No need, I remember."
Not only does he remember books at a glance, but these movements too, Chu Ming memorized them with just one look.
Housekeeper Fang stepped aside, with a smile on his face.
Tiger and Python Strength not only has many movements but they are complex and difficult; just watching twice and remembering them?
He didn't call it out, just observed quietly, thinking to offer demonstrations when the young master forgot.
Chu Ming walked to the center of the courtyard, striking a stance, planting steps, clenching fists, swinging arms...
"Tiger and Python Strength (Entry-level)"
"Progress: 1/100"
"Here it comes."
Sure enough, new text appeared on the panel.
"Progress: 2/100"
"Progress: 3/100"
...