Text-based martial arts: A nighttime rendezvous with the gang leader's wife in a dilapidated te

Chen Xuan felt somewhat uneasy.

This was the explanation he had prepared in reality.

He knew that Cao Qing would be suspicious of this statement, but he still said it anyway.

He had to show curiosity and enthusiasm for martial arts in order to provoke Cao Qing's interest. He could also see that Cao Qing really wanted to take him as a disciple.

Cao Qing frowned, looking at the fishing rod made of silver willow wood:

"Fishing rod technique? What kind of martial art is that? Show me..."

You blinked, then followed Cao Qing to the inner courtyard, picked up the fishing rod, and began to demonstrate.

Seeing your movements, Cao Qing's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and a hint of helplessness and relief flashed in his eyes.

However, his gaze towards you softened as if he had thought of something.

Cao Qing's favorability towards you increases by 2, current favorability: 41 (Friend in the Martial World)

Ok?

Chen Xuan was momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of the favorability indicator.

I was fine that I didn't lose any favorability rating for coming home late this time, but it actually increased it?

However, it must be said that Cao Qing has too many secrets. People like Shen Fu and Wang Wu are normal 'NPCs', but Cao Qing gives him the feeling of being a real person, with joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, and self-doubt and conviction.

But all in all, improving favorability is always a good thing.

He didn't interrupt you until you finished demonstrating these two so-called fishing rod techniques, then calmly spoke:

"Where did you learn those acrobatic skills? If you have some free time in the future, you might as well practice the Five Animal Frolics I taught you; it'll do you some good for your health."

"But you actually caught that golden coin-shaped fish? You're quite lucky! That old fisherman was lucky too; otherwise, how could ordinary mortals have the chance to eat such a treasure fish!"

Seeing Cao Qing's softened expression, you breathed a sigh of relief. Facing Cao Qing, you prepared...

[1. Inquiry.]

[2 Say goodbye and go back to the house. 】

"Sir, what is a treasure fish? After I ate it, I felt all warm all over..."

In response to your question, Cao Qing explained: "The Treasure Fish is a kind of aquatic spirit beast. In this world, there are terrestrial immortals who achieve immortality through martial arts, and even legendary celestial beings who transcend the sky. Besides martial artists, some beasts are naturally also extraordinary!"

There are many aquatic treasure fish, mythical beasts, and ferocious birds of prey in the world! While their flesh and blood offer unparalleled benefits to martial artists, their destructive power is also considerable. You're lucky; the Golden Money Gudgeon, this kind of treasure fish, isn't particularly fierce, unlike mythical beasts or ferocious birds.

Furthermore, legends speak of even higher beings, known as divine beasts and spirits of plants and trees, but these are mostly just tales and stories of the strange and unusual, and should not be taken as fact…”

[Spirit beasts, treasure fish, ferocious birds, even divine beasts and spirits! Only then do you realize how vast and immense this world truly is, and your yearning and longing for the martial world overflows in this moment.]

Seeing your expression, Cao Qing didn't hesitate to pour cold water on your enthusiasm:

"Kid, with your skills, don't even think about it. Focus on learning medicine and strengthening your physique. With your current constitution, you think you can roam the martial world? Even if the 'True Explanation of the Water Transport Gang's 'Ten Thousand Rivers Flowing to the Sea' were placed in front of you, you still wouldn't be able to learn it!"

Upon hearing these words, all that ambition and passion vanished without a trace.

Seeing your dejected appearance, Cao Qing couldn't help but laugh and scold you:

"Alright, since I have some free time today, if you have any questions about the Five Animal Frolics or the medical book, feel free to ask me!"

[System notification: You have triggered 'Guidance'. You can ask the current character for guidance on corresponding martial arts or life skills.]

"Guide!" Chen Xuan's eyes lit up. "Is this the benefit of breaking through 40 points in favorability?"

Although the alchemy technique has not yet begun, this guidance is the only medium for improving martial arts on the "Martial Arts" forum, apart from personal hard work, adding potential points, and using pills limited to internal strength and certain special cases.

Sensing Cao Qing's interest, you quickly seized this golden opportunity and chose to ask him about the "Five Animal Frolics."

[After spending the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Cao Qing explained in detail some of the key points and essentials of the Five Animal Frolics. Your Five Animal Frolics experience has increased by 8%.]

[After spending the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Cao Qing explained in detail some of the key points and essentials of the Five Animal Frolics. Your Five Animal Frolics experience has increased by 8%.]

Seeing that you still wanted to ask about the Five Animal Frolics, Cao Qing frowned: "The founder of medicine traveled the world with his medical skills, and even used them to create the foundation for subsequent martial arts. Medicine is the foundation, and physical skills are secondary. Don't put the cart before the horse..."

Sensing Cao Qing's displeasure, you promptly took out the Qingqing Book and began to consult him.

[After spending the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Cao Qing explained in detail some of the key medical techniques within the Qingqing Manual. Your Qingqing Manual experience has increased by 6%.]

【…】

"Alright, that's enough for today! You're quite perceptive, kid. If you have any questions in the future, just come and ask me when I have time. Oh, and tomorrow we'll officially start refining pills, so don't forget to come along!"

Cao Qing left satisfied...

[The guidance has ended.]

Chen Xuan eagerly opened his character list and looked at the progress of his studies in the two books:

[Qingqing's Book: Level 2, 15% (Basic Knowledge)]

【Five Animal Frolics: Level 1 30% (Beginner)】

Total progress: 31%.

Roughly calculated, this guidance saved me a full 150 potential points, which is enough to gain from three ordinary adventures at the mortal level!

At this moment, Chen Xuan finally understood the true purpose of Lao Cao's 40-point favorability rating!

The teaching of alchemy is one aspect, but the guidance on medical skills is even more important!

If this pace continues, I can accumulate my potential points and, relying on guidance and my own idle gameplay, I'm afraid I can advance both Qingqing Book and Five Animal Frolics within three to five days!

Qingqing's medical skills are one thing, but with the advancement of the Five Animal Frolics, she can gain another attribute point, bringing her total controllable attribute points to six, which is the limit for a normal person to allocate attribute points!

Although it's still quite far from what a normal person could achieve,

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!

With each serendipitous encounter, Chen Xuan believed that his name would surely have a place in the future martial arts world!