Chapter 47—New Plans
“I knew this was a bad idea!” Yu Han screamed. He heaved himself out of bed and rushed to the outhouse.
He’d had the fasting brew, then a magical cultivation drug. An upset stomach was the least of his worries.
After half an hour, Fatty Yu came out with weak knees.
“Fuck hole-in-the-ground toilets, fuck water rocks. I’m going to make indoor plumbing and commode toilets if it’s the last thing I do—”
He stopped, then headed back in again.
The curses continued for two hours. Squatting that long should give me at least a point in endurance.
When he was done, he filled a bucket with water. It would be a poor bath, but with soap from the hot spring, at least he’d feel clean.
Name: Yu Han (Johan)
Level: 1
True Qi: 78 (+9) / 200
Pure Qi: 11 (-11) / 200
Primordial Qi: 0
Lifeforce: 711 / 720
[Mind Origin: 16.13]
[Body Origin: 6.00]
[Spirit Origin: 8.20]
“Huh?” It worked. He’d gained nine true qi. Assuming one or two were from Calm Before the Storm Breathing Technique and natural true qi gain, seven or eight were from assimilated pure qi.
So, three pure qi was wasted. Not a bad deal by any means.
Arts:
[Deep Sleep]
Type: Bloodline
Grade: Mortal Level 1
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 189 (+8) / 200
[Echoing Dreamscape]
Type: Auxiliary
Grade: Mortal Level 9
Mastery: Initial Step Level 3
True Qi: 179 (+40) / 400
[Calm Before the Storm Breathing Technique]
Type: Cultivation
Grade: Mortal Level 5
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 188 (+55) / 200
[Ox Tail 72 Sweeping Forms]
Type: Martial
Grade: Elite Level 2
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 127 (+35) / 200
[Thousand Petals Awareness]
Type: Psychic
Grade: Elite Level 9
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 37 (+12) / 200
Next, traits.
Traits:
[Existential Anchor]
Grade: Mortal Level 1
True Qi: Requirements Not Satisfied
[Deep Writhing Clam Bloodline]
Grade: Mortal Level 10
True Qi: 0 / 1100
[Qi Affinity]
Grade: Mortal Level 7
True Qi: 2 (+1) / 800
Yu Han stared at the qi affinity trait. Ji’s Cultivation Contemplations alluded to a lot of things, and Senior Wen had confirmed some of the allusions.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
If a cultivator had mortal-grade qi affinity—which was the common talent that shone red with the talent orb—their usual upper limit would be the qi gathering realm. For refined talents—elite-grade qi affinity—the limit was foundation building.
Profound talents with qi affinity above elite, like Wu Di’s, could aim to break past foundation building to core formation. With enough practise and dedication, and a bit of luck, at least foundation building wouldn’t be an issue.
But common talents like Yu Han, Huang Niuniu, and Senior Wen Liujie would spend most of their lives trying to grind the qi affinity trait to the next grade. That was, if they indeed reached qi gathering before death called. Levelling up traits required monster cores, magical herbs, special pills, and other earthly resources and heavenly treasures.
Yu Han dried himself with a towel, then filled the water bucket again and used it as a mirror. The scar on his nose was ugly, and not the cool kind.
He got dressed and grabbed the halberd. It was time for morning training; he could worry about earthly resources and heavenly treasures another time. Neglecting daily progress through grit and sweat would be the height of folly. This training would be the very thing that would enable him to grasp future opportunities.
After two hours, with one light drizzle in between, he completed the eighth variation of Ox Tail 72 Sweeping Forms.
Stat gained.
Endurance: 6 -> 7
Strength: 6 -> 7
[Body Origin: 6.00 -> 6.40]
Lifeforce: 711 / 768 (+48)
“Hell yeah!” Yu Han cheered. Two stats into body. He’d decided to go all in with memory, so it was blessings from the heavens that he had Huang Niuniu and the Deep Sea’s Spites. As for endurance, Yu Han guessed it was all the cardio he was doing. On that end, all the aerobic and anaerobic exercise should be contributing to both endurance and strength.
He continued training. Mountain Root Stance! Stone Cutting Chop! Swift Hoof Lunge! Grass Cutting Hook!
One form after another, one variation after the next. He felt stronger; he could go further.
With this, I can take care of the Filth-Eating Ghouls more easily. The increased lifeforce would give him more leeway, too.
Hidden realm, wait for me! He would get all the monster cores he could to grind up his qi affinity.
He trained for two more hours. It was easy with the regular progression pings, though it wasn’t always a stat gain. It could be merely a progression of true qi, whether realm or arts, or it could be an observable difference in what he could do. Either way, every bit was a huge dopamine spike.
Yu Han was getting addicted.
“Did you have an upset tummy too?” Huang Niuniu asked.
“Holy cow!” Yu Han jumped back. The halberd slipped from his hands—luckily, he always trained while the blade was sheathed. “You scared me!”
“I’m not a cow!” Huang Niuniu yelled. “Mother was a village girl. It’s actually a very common name in the countryside. It’s even lovable. Why does everyone keep—never mind.”
“It’s not an insult. It’s an exclamation, like ‘By the Heavens!’ or ‘Oh my god.’”
“Really?”
Yu Han nodded. “What’s your mother’s name?”
“…Hong Doudou.”
“Red Bean Bean?” Yu Han pursed his lips. He would not chuckle!
“How much true qi did you get?” Huang Niuniu asked, scowling. She had definitely noticed his grin.
“Eleven.”
Huang Niuniu stared.
“What?”
“I got the same,” she said suspiciously. “We have to get more pure qi assimilating elixirs.”
“You’re aiming to be an alchemist. Make more for us,” Yu Han said. Behind Huang Niuniu, a tall young man walked up the dirt road.
“Why’s he here?” Huang Niuniu frowned as she followed Yu Han’s gaze.
“Tubs! Good news,” Li Yao called as he ran toward them. “I got a trait.”
He had two swords slung on his waist on both sides and wore sleeveless robes. His hair had grown out, and there was a hint of stubble. It didn’t cover up the scar on his face, making it look more pronounced.
“We’re gonna get drunk tonight. All booze on me,” Li Yao said, giving Yu Han a fist bump.
“Sure. I’ll never say no to free food.”
“You better say no,” Huang Niuniu said. “Or was it a lie that you wanted to lose weight?”
“Stop butting in, woman.” Li Yao scowled.
“Stop enabling him, boy,” Huang Niuniu shot back.
As they argued, an intense battle waged within Yu Han.
What’s going on? Just a moment ago, I wasn’t hungry at all. But now an intense, overpowering desire for some good, sugary drinks welled up inside him.
He punched the fence.
“Tubs?” Li Yao looked flabbergasted.
“Sorry, Li Yao. I’m not drinking,” Yu Han replied gloomily.
“Seriously?” Li Yao grinned. “Well, good job rejecting. Wanna know what my trait is?”
“And how you got it.”
Li Yao grinned and walked past him to the yard. With both hands, he smoothly unsheathed his swords. They were old iron—one had a wooden hilt while the other one had metal.
He dual-wielded both swords, then jumped into motion. His right sword made large, sweeping slashes, while the left sword was more precise. As he moved, the silver sword flash seemed to dance in the light. It would pierce, thrust, cut. Simultaneously, the other sword would slash, chop, sever.
Both hands moved without obstructing each other. If Yu Han were to fight him, he would lose.
Maybe if I use my longer range? No, Li Yao would easily block. His scar looks better than mine too. Bastard.
Li Yao’s sword display finished. He didn’t look tired at all, a huge grin on his face.
“What’s the trait called?” Yu Han asked.
“Ambidextrous Sword Arms,” Li Yao said. “I was practising the sword technique you gave me with my left hand, and my original one with my right. And before I knew it, I had the trait.”
How did he get such a good deal? Yu Han was amazed.
“Hey, hey. Let’s meet up at Barfing Dragon Tavern this evening. You’ll have time after your work, right?” Li Yao said. “No drinks, just food. Their whole roasted goat leg is to die for.”
“I still think that name is extremely disrespectful. Dragons are sacred creatures.” Huang Niuniu pouted.
Yu Han looked conflicted. He turned to Huang Niuniu. “Will we sell the cores?”
Huang Niuniu shook her head. “We need to cultivate our bloodlines. It’s better to keep it for now.”
“I would rather not use cores from Filth-Eating Ghouls for that. We’ll have to refine the cores to an elixir, right? I say we sell these and get less… unhygienic cores.”
“The Night Alchemists receive more in-depth tutelage regarding Night Alchemist matters. Senior Wen was drying Filth-Eating Ghoul carcasses for a pill too. I’m sure I can use it somehow. At least for practise. But if you insist—”
Yu Han held his hands up. “Then you practise. We can get more cores in the hidden realm, in any case.” She’s too easy to give up on what she wants. Girl, you have to be more assertive!
By now, Huang Niuniu had become Yu Han’s second-best friend. She wanted something from him, and he was sure she had some plans of sweet revenge. But other than being evasive, she treated him sincerely.
Nurturing connections, huh? Yu Han remembered the words of his past life father. Dad wasn’t wrong. With friends, even the icy cold world could give him warmth.
“Hidden realm?” Li Yao looked excited. “Are you guys planning to go? You’ll need an official sect-sanctioned external mission for that.”
Huang Niuniu and Yu Han exchanged glances. She looked discontented, but Yu Han decided to share.
“Want to join?”
“The hell you asking for?!” Li Yao grabbed both his shoulders and shook him. “I’m in! When, where, how? What do I need to do?”
“Let go of me,” Yu Han said mysteriously. “We have our ways.”
Because of the stigma associated with night soil collectors, not many joined. They were always treated like second-class disciples, like taboos not to be associated with. It made sense. Even in mortal cities, they were the lowest of the low class.
Here, though, it was important work. A job that needed to be done. So the sect, the medical hall, and the alchemy hall had put in many incentives to dissuade the disciples from quitting because of the inevitable ostracisation. Pure qi assimilating elixirs, healing elixirs and pills, the alchemy tutelage that Huang Niuniu was eyeing. The hot springs, the coveralls, and many more.
“That’s Fang Zhao,” Li Yao said. The red-eyed young man trod the same path Li Yao did. He soon reached the three.
“What’s up?” Yu Han asked.
The young man looked up. “The sky?”
“It’s a greeting.”
“Oh,” Fang Zhao said. He looked down. “Are you busy now? There’s a matter I’d like to ask Brother Yu and Sister Huang.”
The three exchanged glances.
“What is it?”
Fang Zhao looked troubled. But he soon gathered himself. His fists were clenched, eyes resolute. “Would you like to go to the hidden realm with me?”
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Li Yao - Scarfaced gangster. Yu Han’s first friend. Calls him tubs.
Huang Niuniu - Cow girl. Nice, sweet, and after the ship arc, unpredictable.
Fang Zhao - Red-eyed cripple. Noble Young Master (one of the good ones?).
Xiao Zhuzi - His name literally means Little Bamboo, former beggar.
Hu Feng - Farmer’s son. Maybe a bit perverted.
Li Weidong - Almost drowned trying to clear his Tribulation.
Dong Tianlan - Granddaughter of Elder Scribe. Has an eternal frown.
Dong Chou - Ninth Scribe Official of the Outer Sect. Probably has high blood pressure.
Yong Lefan - Sarcastic Senior Bro with a stone book.
Shi Miao - Mysterious white-haired girl who may or may not resort to violence.
Song Yinuo - Mysterious pig-tailed spoiled brat.
Duan Xiaolong - Is cool. Has monkey.
