Chapter 23: Open Source
Adjusting his mindset, Chen Mu washed up and prepared a meal. White wheat rice, charcoal-grilled wild rabbit, and a platter of forest fruits. This was the first time since returning to Chen Family Village that he had carefully prepared a meal. The past few days, his mind had been foggy, spending all day wandering through the woods, practicing throwing stones like locust stones.
This skill gave him a sense of security.
The plants, insects, and snakes in the forest had caused him no small amount of trouble.
He summoned the gray wall and recorded his stats:
Calligraphy: 1445/10000, Second Tier;
Painting: 1353/10000, Second Tier;
Throwing: 4623/10000, Second Tier;
Red Hawk Form Practice: 216/10000, Second Tier;
Culinary Arts: 2642/10000, First Tier.
He had been somewhat lax with form practice, gaining only around thirty experience points per day. Yet his throwing skill had surpassed half the required points. Not only had his throwing technique become more refined, but his mind was also filled with numerous ingenious methods for crafting hidden weapons.
Chen Mu recalled how, when he killed Sheng Hong, one stone flew straight for his opponent’s forehead. Sheng Hong’s forehead was split open, blood streaming down his face, yet the bone beneath remained unbroken.
“Once form practice reaches the Bone Hardening stage, the bones become tough. Ordinary stones may shatter upon impact but won’t necessarily harm the bone.”
“In a couple of days, once I return to the city, I’ll craft a batch of special hidden weapons.”
...
Three days later, Chen Mu had no choice but to return to Qingshan County Town. He needed to go to the county office to paint wanted posters.
Along the way back to town, Chen Mu appeared calm on the surface but was quite anxious inside. He feared a sudden ambush by constables who might bind him tight. Yet nothing happened.
Sheng Hong’s disappearance was silent and unnoticed; no one cared. Even when Chen Mu left the county office, no one troubled him.
He also subtly inquired about major events in the county. Aside from the Zuo family suffering a curse that led to the eldest son going on a rampage and getting cut down, nothing else noteworthy had occurred.
“Peace and quiet is good,” Chen Mu sighed with relief as he headed home.
On the way, he stopped by the blacksmith’s to order a pouch of iron lotus seeds, preparing to upgrade his locust stones.
...
After cautiously investigating for several more days and confirming that no one had discovered Sheng Hong’s death, Chen Mu finally felt completely at ease.
Time passed day by day, and the weather grew colder. People on the streets wrapped themselves up as tightly as rice dumplings.
Chen Mu discovered another benefit of form practice—cold resistance.
After completing the Muscle-Tendon Change stage, it felt as if a special tissue had formed beneath his skin, not only improving defense but enhancing tolerance to temperature.
He could feel the cold but was no longer afraid of it.
Still, to blend in, Chen Mu wrapped himself up tightly.
At the East Market rice shop.
---
Chen Mu carried a sack of white wheat as he left.
“Six copper coins per jin, it’s doubled, hasn’t it?”
The chaos in the heartland of Daliang was inevitably affecting this border town.
He had begun consciously stockpiling grain.
He also stopped by Zheng the butcher, where meat prices were also rising.
Not only were prices higher, but there had been several shortages this month.
“Is Qingshan County going to fall into chaos as well?” Chen Mu worried.
...
As time passed, the weather grew colder, and the number of people on the streets visibly decreased.
News of unrest in various parts of Daliang made the small town even quieter. Everyone stayed home, no longer venturing out.
The entire county town seemed peaceful on the surface, but beneath, a hidden current surged.
Chen Mu sat at a square table, counting his silver and copper coins carefully.
“Ninety-seven taels of silver, four hundred and thirty-five copper coins.”
Monthly spending on medicine, meat, and training was at least sixty taels.
If he didn’t reduce his training intensity, he could only last another month and a half.
Chen Mu’s face darkened.
He hadn’t taken a single portrait commission all February.
Since Boss Zhen of the Fine Painting Workshop left for Nanyang Prefecture, he hadn’t returned.
Without portrait commissions, Chen Mu’s livelihood took a sharp turn for the worse.
Portrait painting depended on a peaceful, stable environment.
The coming chaos inevitably affected the arts industry.
“I have to find a way to increase income.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to cut expenses, but he simply couldn’t.
Rapidly advancing form practice required secret medicines.
He had also considered no longer having Jiejia run errands to buy them, as it cost twenty taels of silver each time, and he felt sorry for the old man.
But now, with bandits blocking the official roads and most medicinal materials missing from pharmacies, Jiejia’s channels were the only ones available.
“Maybe I should sell this manual,” Chen Mu said, looking at the portrait hanging on the wall, which detailed the Red Hawk Form Practice.
He was reluctant, harboring a sense of exclusivity.
But thinking about how many people Sheng Hong might have taught it to, he couldn’t claim to be the sole owner.
And even if others learned it, without his proficiency bonus, no one could practice faster or better than him.
That thought comforted him.
Selling it for a large sum of silver would enable him to train better and faster!
“It’s decided. I’ll find a chance to sell it for money.”
...
At the end of February, in the evening.
Chen Mu prepared a table full of dishes at home.
Not long after, Jiejia appeared mysteriously as usual.
At Chen Mu’s current Muscle-Tendon Change stage, he could barely make out the old man’s figure.
The old man might still be a top expert at the Bone Hardening stage.
“Old Jiejia, want to eat some with me?” Chen Mu invited warmly.
Jiejia glanced at the dishes, his eyes darting as he fixed Chen Mu with a stare.
“Speak,” he said.
“Speak what?” Chen Mu feigned ignorance.
“Payment,” Jiejia said lightly, tossing down the medicine pouch.
If Chen Mu didn’t bring it up, Jiejia wouldn’t mention it.
Chen Mu smiled awkwardly; the old man was always so straightforward.
“I want to sell a form practice manual. Do you have any connections?” Chen Mu didn’t hide his intentions.
Yes, he was targeting Jiejia.
The old man was a secretive assassin with unique channels.
“Twenty percent,” Jiejia said flatly.
“What does that mean?” Chen Mu was momentarily confused, then realized it was a twenty percent commission.
That greedy old man!
“Deal!” Chen Mu bit his teeth in frustration.
Form practice was powerful; ordinary people couldn’t afford it, and without channels, it was hard to sell!
“Tomorrow evening, Ghost Market,” Jiejia nodded with satisfaction.
The old man actually knew about the Ghost Market—he truly had connections!
Chen Mu had lived in Qingshan County for over half a year and had heard many rumors. The Ghost Market was one of them.
They said anything could be sold there—anything dared to be sold!
“Hurry up and give me the payment. I’ll help you open the Ghost Market gate,” Jiejia urged.
“All right, all right,” Chen Mu said happily.
Selling the form practice manual would give him a big boost and allow him to train steadily for a long time.
Just as he was about to take out the silver, something felt off.
Urging payment so quickly?
Chen Mu looked at the bags of herbs, then at the calm Jiejia.
He stepped forward and opened the bags to examine the contents one by one.
After a long while, Chen Mu pulled out a handful of medicinal herbs from the bottom of the pouch and compared them carefully with those on the top.
They looked almost identical, but...
Chen Mu looked at Jiejia helplessly.
Luckily, he had recently been bored and read a few medical books, gaining some skill in pharmaceutical techniques. Otherwise, Jiejia might have gotten away with fooling him!
And how had Jiejia’s counterfeit skills improved?
“Damn fake medicine peddler,” Jiejia said softly, a flash of disappointment briefly crossing his eyes.
Chen Mu glared at him.
When others said that, they meant fake medicine sellers selling counterfeit drugs.
But when Jiejia said it, he was complaining that the counterfeit medicines weren’t fake enough!