Chen Sansi and Zhao Qiao returned to Yanbian Village together.
Along the way, they were almost treated as heroes.
After all, with the Black Bear dead, whether going up the mountain to hunt or gather herbs, it would be much safer.
Some villagers wanted to send their children to him as apprentices.
Others wanted to offer their daughters to him as concubines.
A single bear equaled several dozen taels of silver, which in those days could buy the lives of many young girls of marriageable age.
Chen Sansi naturally declined each offer politely.
Even when he pushed open his door, two matchmakers coincidentally walked out of his house.
"How did all this come to my doorstep?"
Chen Sansi was speechless.
"You weren't injured, were you?"
Gu Xinlan, as always, checked the man's body to make sure he was unharmed before she breathed a sigh of relief, "What do you think?
"What do you mean, what do I think?"
Chen Sansi was stunned for a moment before he realized she was referring to the matter of taking a concubine.
He hurriedly shook his head, "I need to focus on practicing martial arts, I don't have time for this."
"I figured as much, so I turned them down for you."
Gu Xinlan helped him unload the bow and iron spear from his body and said softly, "Brother Shi, whenever you want to find someone, just tell me, and I'll help you pick a good-looking one."
Chen Sansi was somewhat surprised.
It seemed that Sister Lan didn't care about this matter after all.
Indeed, the mindset of ancient women was different.
"Sister Lan, please prepare this for me, just boil it in plain water without adding salt."
Chen Sansi hadn't forgotten the important matter at hand, he took out the nearly four-pound bear heart, which felt potent with vigorous life force even through the lotus leaves.
"Keep this silver safe, remember to replace anything that's lacking at home, and also manage this bear meat for me; I plan to take it to the garrison in a couple of days to share."
Having a female master in the house meant that he almost didn't need to worry about anything.
Gu Xinlan started a fire in the kitchen.
Chen Sansi went outside to practice his spear technique.
After several sets of spear movements, he was so hungry that he felt dizzy, and there was a clear sense of "deficit" within his body; fortunately, the meal was soon ready.
Bear meat, pork, rice, wild vegetable and egg soup, and most importantly, the hearty dish of bear heart.
Chen Sansi picked up the bear heart and took a big bite directly.
The taste of blood spread throughout his mouth, then rushed straight to the crown of his head, almost causing him to vomit. He covered his mouth and forcefully chewed and swallowed.
Taste aside, the effects were genuinely good.
As soon as the bear heart entered his stomach, Chen Sansi felt a warmth there, as if a small flame was burning. As his digestive system worked, the nutrients were quickly absorbed by his body, replenishing the deficit caused by practicing martial arts.
He couldn't be fussy about the taste and stuffed more pieces of bear heart meat into his mouth.
After consuming a third of the bear heart, Chen Sansi felt as if he were on fire. He hurriedly ate some other foods to fill his stomach, then rushed outside to continue practicing.
The bear heart was indeed a great supplement; he practiced until it was dark and did not feel the "deficit" anymore. If it wasn't for the need to rest his muscles, he would have considered practicing all night long.
[Cultivation Technique: Military Basic Spear Technique (Not Initiated)]
[Progress: (67/100)]
[Utility: None]
Efficacy skyrocketed!
With two-thirds of the bear heart remaining, producing his first thread of Qi-Blood was just a matter of a couple of days.
After putting away his spear and returning to the house, the great supplement effects of the bear heart were still active; Chen Sansi felt full of energy.
Under the warm yellow candlelight, Gu Xinlan was rushing to finish sewing clothes.
Since she no longer had to labor outside, her skin had become even more fair, and her fingers were no longer swollen, from afar, she appeared as if carved out of white jade.
To save silver, Gu Xinlan did not buy ready-made clothes, but instead bought various fabrics to make them herself.
Chen Sansi quietly walked up behind her, and suddenly, he whispered in her ear, "Wife, put on the red one, I'll wait for you in the room."
"Ah...."
Gu Xinlan hadn't heard his footsteps and was startled into trembling.
She patted her chest, then her eyes drifted towards the fabric on the table.
Red...
Her face flushed deeply.
It was a half-finished red bellyband.
...
Chen Sansi stayed at home for two days.
On the third day, thinking it was about time, he packed up his belongings and headed towards the garrison.
Cloth armor and a red hat, carrying a bow and spear, full of style.
The villagers frequently cast their glances.
"Brother Shi is about to become an official," one said.
"Yes, I have a relative who serves in the garrison too; I heard Brother Shi is doing quite well."
"Psh! I don't think his fancy days will last long."
"Uncle Lai Zi, you really can't speak anything good!"
"Believe it or not, whatever."
Uncle Lai Zi raised his voice loud enough to ensure Brother Shi heard him.
"Uncle Lai Zi."
Chen Sansi approached, "Do you have something to say to me again?"
"You're quite sharp, lad!"
Uncle Lai Zi leaned closer, "Guess what I saw recently?
"These past few days, I've been seeing Qin Xiong's brother frequently inviting a fat official from the military camp to drinks. Guess what he's planning?"
The fat official?
Wang Zhi?
Chen Sansi speculated.
Qin Feng has been frequently hosting Wang Zhi recently?
He wasn't too worried.
Wang Zhi had known long ago that he had issues with the people from Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy. If he intended to harm him, why would he bother to teach Hao Ran the Breathing Skill?
Moreover, accepting invitations doesn't mean he agrees to help with affairs.
He had experienced this firsthand.
It looked likely that Qin Feng would waste his silver for nothing...
Of course, Chen Sansi still needed to be cautious in case the other party became desperate.
He had specifically inquired about it these past few days.
He learned that half a month ago, Qin Feng had suddenly transformed from an external disciple to a True Inheritor, but since becoming a True Inheritor, he had only recently mastered Blood Refining.
Chen Sansi was only a step away from entering Blood Cultivation.
When the time came, he might be able to battle it out.
The experience of hunting Black Bear had taught him that having a bit of extra strength wasn't that remarkable!
With this in mind, he felt full of motivation.
At the entrance to the military camp, he encountered Wang Zhi returning on horseback.
Even from a distance, he could smell the thick scent of alcohol on him.
"Catch!"
He tossed him a flask, "Inside is deer blood wine. This flask alone costs three taels of silver, but it's worth it. I bought it especially for you!
"Who says I, Wang Zhi, am stingy and treasure money as if it were my life? Don't listen to Old Liu and the others spouting nonsense. Stick with me, and you won't miss out on benefits!
"You also strive for it, and try to cultivate your first strand of Qi-Blood within ten days."
"Thank you, Hundred Households Wang."
Chen Sansi bowed with his hands clasped, "I have reached a bottleneck practicing my spear technique and was wondering if I might receive some guidance from you to prevent any deviations?"
"Bottleneck? What bottleneck in the introductory period, wait a minute—"
Wang Zhi sobered up a bit, "You, you're about to start Blood Cultivation?!"
At the Martial Arts Arena.
Chen Sansi swallowed the last piece of bear heart and gulped down a few more mouthfuls of deer blood wine, feeling an intense heat throughout his body, with Qi Power almost overflowing.
He seized the moment to pick up his Plum Blossom Spear and practiced the basic military spear skills.
Pile Work, spear technique, Breathing Skill!
With the triple reinforcement, Chen Sansi's body entered a fully loaded state. Coupled with the supplement of meat and wine, his spear moves became faster and faster, not feeling the slightest fatigue or depletion.
His heart was beating wildly, as if something was about to burst forth from within.
'Is this Qi-Blood?' he wondered.
Chen Sansi knew this was the crucial moment for cultivating Qi-Blood, so he dared not stop, continuously increasing the power of each move, exhaustingly extracting every last bit of physical strength and pushing his heart to the limit.
Until his arms went numb and veins bulged all over his body, he let out a loud shout, gathering his last breath, and thrust the spear into a large stone at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.
At last.
A unique stream of hot blood flowed from his heart.
[Cultivation Technique: Basic Military Spear Skill (Entry-Level)]
[Progress: (0/500)]
[Utility: Swift Gun Movement, Amazing Endurance]