Chapter 5 : This Simple

Chapter 5: This Simple

“Pfft!”

Li Yunqing could not help but laugh out loud.

“Miss, are you laughing at me for being stupid?” Xiaolan’s expression turned even more bitter, her brows tightly furrowed.

“No!”

Li Yunqing forcibly suppressed her laughter. Facing Xiaolan’s suspicious gaze, she put on a serious expression: “Really not!”

“My Xiaolan is very clever—things Miss can’t do, Xiaolan can!”

“For example, scrubbing backs, massages, ladling soup, cooking, arranging flowers, and so on!”

Watching Xiaolan’s face shift from cloudy to clear, Li Yunqing pursed her lips and smiled again.

Yet in her mind, she suddenly thought of her father, her elder brother, Elder Xu’s laughter, as well as Hall Master Liu’s indifference.

She seemed to understand.

Back then, they probably saw her the same way, didn’t they?

In an instant, the smile on Li Yunqing’s face froze.

“Tap, tap, tap…”

Jiang Yu, who had left and returned, stepped back into the courtyard, holding a jade bottle in his hand and extending it toward Li Yunqing.

“What is this?”

Li Yunqing asked in confusion. Toward Jiang Yu, she still harbored a bit of prejudice.

Especially since this fellow had only met her once yet dared to come propose marriage, disrupting her plans.

“This is a Vital Blood Pill, refined from more than a dozen nourishing medicinal ingredients. It’s extremely effective at replenishing qi and blood!”

“Your constitution is naturally weak. If you don’t nourish it, it will harm your foundation.”

Jiang Yu explained patiently, showing no trace of neglect in his expression.

He was even quite courteous and tactful, never stepping within three paces of Li Yunqing, maintaining his distance.

Li Yunqing raised her hand to take the jade bottle, poured out a brown pill, and in an instant, a refreshing fragrance filled the air.

“How much?” she asked.

Practicing martial arts required medicinal nourishment—she naturally understood the principle that “the poor cultivate literature, the rich cultivate martial arts.”

Although the Li family could not compare to the great clans, they had at least established themselves in the Inner City. Since childhood, her food, clothing, and daily necessities had all been excellent.

She also received dozens of taels of allowance each month. As she rarely went out, over the years she had accumulated as much as ten thousand taels of silver.

Though she knew that the man before her had come to propose marriage and was backed by the Jiang Family, which likewise lacked no money,

after taking up martial arts, she was destined not to marry. Thus, she was unwilling to take advantage of others.

Of course, that was another matter for those who truly provoked her.

“Fifty taels…” Jiang Yu replied.

“Xiaolan, pay him!”

Li Yunqing spoke, pinching the pill and bringing it to her lips. She extended her tongue and lightly licked it.

Such a scene caused the words “per pill,” which had yet to leave Jiang Yu’s mouth, to get stuck in his throat.

His eyes blinked. “Why does this little girl seem a bit cute?”

“It seems learning about medical poisons and pills must also be put on the agenda.”

After confirming that there was nothing unusual in her body, Li Yunqing finally placed the pill in her mouth and swallowed it gently.

In an instant, it felt as though a flame rose in her stomach, transforming into a stream of heat that rapidly spread through her limbs and bones.

Wherever it passed, her body, which had just been somewhat fatigued, recovered rapidly.

Her pale complexion gradually became rosy, and her body regained strength.

And that flame-like current continued to surge through her limbs and bones.

“Very good!”

Feeling the medicinal effect, she once again took her stance and began practicing her fist technique.

“Quite cautious…” Jiang Yu muttered in realization.

He looked at Li Yunqing, then at the fifty-tael banknote in his hand, muttering inwardly, “Fifty taels per pill, ten pills per bottle… is this calculation right?”

However, he said nothing more. After putting away the banknote, he simply stood there silently watching Li Yunqing practice her fist technique, a faint smile on his lips.

His father had brought up the proposal, and he had not resisted.

If nothing unexpected happened, this girl would inevitably become his wife in the future.

“Although she has a bit of a temper, she’s quite good.”

The thought flashed through Jiang Yu’s mind, and a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes.

From their first meeting, he had already developed a bit of interest in her. Otherwise, he would not have sent people to investigate.

She was proficient in Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, especially her zither music—it stirred the heart, drew people in, and could even evoke the deepest thoughts within.

Such skill in the zither was enough to make her a renowned master, yet her temperament was not the least bit ostentatious.

If not for that accidental hearing that day, he would not even have known that such a person existed in Qingzhou City.

Compared to the young ladies of other families, who wished for the entire city to know of their talents,

Li Yunqing’s quiet and unassuming nature instead made her more intriguing.

“Mingyu Fist experience +1.”

As her fist technique grew more proficient, every cup of tea’s time, lines of text would flash before Li Yunqing’s eyes.

With the nourishment of the medicine, she did not feel tired. Instead, as she practiced, her body grew stronger and lighter.

“Mingyu Fist Art (Not Yet Initiated 5/10)”

“This medicine is truly excellent!”

Looking at the changes on the panel, Li Yunqing could still feel the stream of heat within her body, filling her limbs and bones.

The effect of a single pill was enough for her to cultivate for an entire day.

Moreover, she could feel that her spirit had not weakened in the slightest.

Normally, such focused practice of fist techniques would not only consume physical strength but also drain mental energy.

“It’s the Mental Vigor trait at work!”

“In that case, I can keep practicing endlessly and grind experience.”

“I can enter the basics today, achieve minor success in three days, mastery in ten days, and great accomplishment?”

“Perhaps within a month, I can reach completion and become a ranked martial artist.”

At this thought, the pressure and hesitation in her heart instantly vanished.

All pressure and hesitation stemmed from insufficient strength and concern for her own safety.

Once she had confidence, those pressures and hesitations would no longer be problems—they would dissipate like smoke.

Moreover, as her experience increased, her understanding of the Mingyu Fist deepened, continuously accumulating within her mind.

“It’s the Unparalleled Comprehension trait at work!”

“The fist technique drives the circulation of qi and blood, vibrating the muscles, bones, and flesh.”

“This nourishes the physical body. The stronger the qi and blood, the stronger the body becomes through the fist technique.”

“And as the muscles and bones strengthen, they in turn generate even stronger and more abundant qi and blood, forming a continuous cycle.”

Li Yunqing lightly stepped forward. As her figure turned, her right hand clenched into a fist and swung out.

In that instant, she clearly felt the trembling of her bones and meridians, as well as the circulation of the heat and qi and blood within her body.

This was the advantage of strong spirit, combined with the support of the Single-Minded Focus trait.

Her insights grew more numerous.

“My body is naturally weaker than a man’s. The fist technique Jiang Yu demonstrated must also be adjusted and modified.”

“Only by suiting myself can I achieve the best results!”

“The steps cannot be too large or too small—yes, like this. It can vibrate all the muscles, bones, and flesh of the legs!”

“The waist transmits force; it must be driven by the strength of the legs.”

“Natural and smooth, while maximizing the transmission of force and qi and blood.”

“And the punch must also be driven by the waist’s strength. The force cannot be fully exhausted, nor too little.”

“Otherwise, it cannot maximize the vibration of muscles, bones, and blood vessels!”

As Li Yunqing practiced, she continuously adjusted the postures and force within the fist technique.

Gradually, she became completely immersed.

It was as if only she remained between heaven and earth—she could not feel the passage of time, nor any external disturbance.

Slowly, her stepping, turning, and punching became increasingly fluid, even generating bursts of wind.

Xiaolan, who had been memorizing diligently with her head down, slightly raised her head and looked at her young lady, her eyes sparkling. “Miss looks so beautiful when she practices.”

Jiang Yu, who had been carefully observing and seeking the right moment to give guidance, also paused slightly, staring at Li Yunqing without blinking.

Her long, straight legs were like a crane dancing gracefully.

Her slender, delicate waist swayed like a willow brushing the breeze.

Her full chest moved with her posture, like a jade rabbit hidden within her robes, thumping vigorously.

Fine beads of sweat shimmered on her fair neck and face under the sunlight.

A few strands of hair stuck to her forehead, playfully swaying before her bright, focused eyes.

Every movement was like poetry and painting.

Even Jiang Yu was momentarily dazed, wanting to step closer, murmuring softly, “So women practicing martial arts can be this graceful!”

“Mingyu Fist experience +5.”

“Mingyu Fist (Initiated 0/100)”

As Li Yunqing stopped, a line of text suddenly appeared before her eyes.

At the same time, countless insights regarding the Mingyu Fist silently merged into her heart.

A bright smile appeared on her face, and her pleasant murmur slowly sounded.

“So I’ve entered the basics?”

“So practicing martial arts is this simple!”

Hearing Li Yunqing’s murmur, Jiang Yu suddenly came back to his senses, his expression turning rather colorful.

“Practicing martial arts is simple?”