Chapter 58 Arrival

"Aren't you trying to sell a set of body-shaping techniques?" Chen Mu asked suddenly.

"One thousand taels," Jie Jia said indifferently.

"Is there a divine intent diagram included?" Chen Mu asked, overjoyed. Expensive as it was, he would scrape together every coin and sell everything he owned to buy it.

"No." Jie Jia glanced at Chen Mu. If it came with a divine intent diagram, how could it possibly cost only a thousand taels?

Chen Mu's excitement instantly plummeted into deep disappointment.

"You cannot afford a heritage that includes a divine intent diagram," Jie Jia said calmly.

Chen Mu was half-skeptical. Were there really times when silver wasn't all-powerful?

"Is there a ghost market in Nanyang Prefecture?" Chen Mu still wanted to go and look around.

Jie Jia glanced at him without trying to persuade him. "There is."

When you are disappointed enough, you will naturally come back to buy.

"Does the Red Falcon body-shaping technique really not have a divine intent diagram?" Chen Mu refused to give up.

"The divine intent diagram is both the core and the source of any body-shaping technique," Jie Jia explained.

"The original creator might have had it in their mind, but if their comprehension was incomplete, they couldn't record it, and without a record, it naturally doesn't exist."

"Most minor heritages are in this state."

"The Red Falcon body-shaping technique has only been passed down within this single prefecture of Nanyang. As far as I know, it does not exist," Jie Jia stated calmly.

Without a divine intent diagram, one could never forge the spirit魄 (soul-force).

Knowing the limitations of the Red Falcon technique, Chen Mu was deeply disappointed.

Yet, he was far from despairing.

Ordinary people took ten years to shape their bodies and a hundred years to nurture their souls. He had only been practicing martial arts for a year and a half. If the Red Falcon technique was inadequate, he could simply switch to another.

"Where can I learn a body-shaping technique that includes a divine intent diagram?" Chen Mu asked.

"The military, aristocratic families, large-scale gang factions, and a few exceptional lone wanderers," Jie Jia replied indifferently.

Chen Mu nodded, committing the information to memory.

Sooner or later, he would have to find a way through these channels.

Since he had crossed into this world and possessed a proficiency cheat, he naturally wanted to climb to the pinnacle.

However, there was no need to rush.

While ordinary people needed a decade, he could complete body-shaping in a little over a year. He had plenty of time and could afford to take things steadily.

His immediate priority was to settle down in Nanyang Prefecture and scout around only after he was secure.

...

The caravan continued its journey.

A few days later, a heavy downpour struck, forcing the convoy to halt and rest.

Taking advantage of the delay, Chen Mu found a secluded spot to test the changes brought about by his marrow-cleansing.

Deep in a grove of trees, Chen Mu's figure abruptly vanished.

amidst the tangled undergrowth, he moved with the agility of a nimble falcon.

He changed direction freely, moved in absolute silence, stopped the instant he wished, and burst into motion with the swiftness of thunder.

Even though the Red Falcon technique was a minor heritage devoid of a divine intent diagram, it was still a body-shaping art capable of fundamentally transforming one's physique.

When he moved at full speed, ordinary people would only see a blur of shadow, easily mistaking him for a swift bird flashing past if they didn't look closely.

"My stamina has also grown much more abundant," Chen Mu reflected on the changes of the past two days.

He only needed to sleep for three hours a day to remain full of energy.

In an emergency, he could go without sleep for two consecutive days without feeling the slightest fatigue.

"And this is just a minor heritage body-shaping technique."

The body-shaping techniques, the Five-Ghost Bag, and all these other wondrous things filled Chen Mu with ever-growing anticipation for the future.

...

Over the next few days, the roads grew smoother and easier to travel.

Villages and vast expanses of fertile farmland began to appear in the surrounding landscape.

From time to time, peasants could be seen toiling in the fields.

After five more days of travel, the caravan finally reached Nanyang Prefecture.

From afar, a long, winding black line stretched horizontally across the horizon. As they drew closer, they realized it was an endless city wall. Compared to the sprawling expanse of Nanyang Prefecture, Qingshan County was nothing more than a tiny courtyard.

In a place this vast, walking from the southern gate to the northern gate could easily take two or three days.

"Truly magnificent," Chen Mu sighed in wonder.

And this was merely one of the thirteen prefectures of the Great Liang Dynasty. He could only imagine what the far more prosperous capital of Great Liang looked like.

Just as the travelers stood agape like country bumpkins admiring the prefecture city, seven or eight galloping horses charged straight toward the caravan.

A two-meter-tall, white-clad young master with fair skin and a face as flawless as jade reined in his horse and dismounted gracefully in the middle of the convoy.

The newcomer was none other than the eldest young master of the Zuo family, Zuo Sheng.

Seeming to notice Chen Mu's gaze, the young man turned his head and looked over.

Catching sight of Chen Mu, he paused for a moment before offering a polite smile and a nod.

Chen Mu awkwardly returned a polite smile.

As a murderer running into an eyewitness, his conscience felt rather unsteady.

Zuo Sheng withdrew his gaze and leapt onto a spacious carriage to visit his relatives.

Chen Mu, acting just like everyone else, casually inspected Zuo Sheng's retinue.

Each of them wore martial attire with fierce expressions in their eyes, their exposed arms bulging with ropy muscles—one glance was enough to tell they were not men to be trifled with.

"Those are people from the Stunning Swan Gang," remarked Magistrate Du, who had kept a low profile all this way.

Now that they had reached Nanyang Prefecture, the formerly cautious ex-magistrate finally relaxed, seemingly regaining his talkative streak. "The Stunning Swan Gang is the largest gang in Nanyang Prefecture, controlling the Jinshui River and wielding immense power."

"Do they still take recruits?" Zhang Ye asked eagerly.

Having started out as a local ruffian, he couldn't shake off the gang life he had spent half his life mixed up in, even after changing locations.

Chen Mu pricked up his ears to listen as well.

Jie Jia had once mentioned that some major factions and gangs possessed divine intent diagram heritages.

"Don't even think about it. They only recruit young children to train themselves. At your age, even if you managed to join, you'd only be an outer member. There are no benefits, just gratuitous exploitation."

Zhang Ye's expression darkened, considering he had once been a gang leader himself. If he could become a core member, taking orders wouldn't bother him. But serving merely as an outer-ring lackey meant being nothing more expendable cannon fodder.

Chen Mu was equally disappointed.

Without a way to join the core ranks, obtaining the divine intent diagram heritage was impossible.

As for accumulating immense contributions to earn the reward—just how massive would a contribution have to be to earn such a legacy?

Besides, within gangs of this scale, struggles for power and profit were countless. Having crossed over into this world, Chen Mu had no intention of wasting his time on petty scheming and infighting.

...

Nanyang City looked close, but the walk took longer than expected. By the time the caravan slowly reached the city gates, afternoon had arrived.

Here, the travelers who had journeyed together all this way began to part ways.

The first to leave was the young lady surnamed Bai.

That striking maidservant, Cui Cui, drove their carriage forward, nodded farewell to Jie Jia, and departed.

The second to leave was Du Huai.

The moment he reached the gates, a man in his fifties dressed like a head steward hurried forward to welcome him.

Du Huai cupped his fists in farewell to the group and boarded a luxurious carriage with his entourage.

Chen Mu thought thoughtfully—it seemed Magistrate Du's family was doing quite well within the city.

"Eldest Senior Brother! I'm over here!" Chengming, who had been pressing his face against the carriage window to watch the crowds, suddenly shouted.

A middle-aged Daoist priest driving a carriage quickly approached them.

"How did you get ahead of us?" Chengming leaped onto the man's carriage, wrapping his arms around Chengyi's neck and asking excitedly.

"Because my martial arts are better and I run faster," Chengyi said with a smiling expression.

"Chengyi, did the Abbot come too?" Daoist He, who had been trailing behind all this time, hurried over.

"Uncle He, let's head back first. We can talk after we're settled," Chengyi said.

Then, leaping down from the carriage, he bowed to Jie Jia. "Thank you for your safe escort all this way, Elder."

Jie Jia gave a calm nod.

"Goodbye, Brother Chen!" Chengming shouted toward Chen Mu.

Chen Mu smiled and waved, fishing out the last two packets of dried meat from his bundle and tossing them over.

"Thanks, Brother Chen!" Chengming eagerly pulled out a piece of dried meat and began chewing happily.

"Oh, Brother Chen, once I enter the city, where can I find you? I still want my senior brother to treat you to a big feast!" Chengming said, his large eyes blinking craftily.

"Chengming, do not be rude!" Chengyi gently reprimaned.

He then turned his gaze toward Daoist He. "Uncle He?"

Daoist He immediately stepped forward and briefly summarized the events of the journey.

"Uncle He, get in the carriage first. I'll make the arrangements," Chengyi nodded in acknowledgment, signaling Chengming and Daoist He to climb into the carriage cabin.

Chengyi walked slowly over, gazing calmly at Chen Mu. "Young Master Chen, we meet again."

Chen Mu offered a polite, cupped-fist salute in return. He always felt that this Daoist priest harbored some inexplicable aversion toward him.

"My junior brother is young and ignorant, and he troubled Young Master Chen with his hospitality all along the way." As he spoke, Chengyi withdrew a banknote from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Mu.

"We do not plan to stay long in Nanyang and cannot properly repay your kindness. Please accept this small token of gratitude."

"It was just some food; there's no need for this," Chen Mu frowned slightly.

"Young Master Chen would do well to accept it," Chengyi said indifferently. "And I hope Young Master Chen will never appear before my junior brother again."

Chen Mu stared at Chengyi.

Sensing the subtle threat and thick repulsion radiating from the man, he truly could not understand how he had offended him.

Glancing briefly at the banknote in the other's hand, Chen Mu chuckled softly, leaned back inside the carriage cabin, and calmly looked ahead.

With a light kick of his heel against the horse, his carriage slowly rolled past Chengyi.

Chengyi watched the departing vehicle with a blank expression, pocketing the banknote.

"Demonic arts..."

"Humph!"

Chengyi looked indifferently at the receding carriage. "I hope you know what's good for you, otherwise..."

"Senior Brother, why did Brother Chen leave? He hasn't told me how to find him yet!" Chengming poked his head out of the carriage window, asking curiously.

A smile blossomed on Chengyi's face as he looked affectionately at the boy. "Little Junior Brother, Young Master Chen is only passing through Nanyang and will be leaving soon."

"We shouldn't disrupt other people's travels."

"Leaving? Didn't Brother Chen say he was going to settle down here?" Chengming asked, puzzled.

Chengyi climbed onto the carriage, urged the horses forward, and maintained an unperturbed expression. "How can you take an adult's joking remarks seriously?"

"Brother Chen would never tease me like that."

"Fine, fine, he didn't tease you, I'm teasing you."

"Eldest Senior Brother, stop treating me like a child!"

"Alright, then I'll treat you like a little adult..."

"Eldest Senior Brother..."