Chapter 4: Mastering Taizu Changquan in Five Days! Li Laocai's Illness Accelerates! Intelligence Refreshed Again

Qin Wang knew that behind Li Laocai's manor, there was a bamboo forest spanning five miles, filled with over three-zhang tall nanzhu bamboo. Children often played hide-and-seek there. If he didn't go retrieve the item at night, someone else might find it.

Li Laocai's home was in the southwest of Qingniuji.

Qin Wang's home was at the east end of Qingniuji. To reach the bamboo forest, he had to cross Qingniuji, which was about a ten-mile journey.

At this moment, there was no moon in the sky, but the road was faintly visible.

Qin Wang dressed, locked the door, and headed towards the bamboo forest using the faint light for guidance.

At night, an old watchman patrolled Qingniuji, striking the watch. Qin Wang walked and stopped, avoiding the old watchman. After half an hour, he arrived at the bamboo forest behind Li Laocai's manor.

A cold wind blew, making the bamboo forest rustle.

"First, find the millstone-sized rock!"

Qin Wang tightened his clothes, mustered his courage, and entered the bamboo forest. The ground was covered with bamboo leaves that made a slight rustling sound as he stepped on them.

According to the information, the Taizu Changquan manual was near a millstone-sized rock.

Qin Wang had a tinderbox but didn't dare to use it for fear of being spotted by Li Laocai's household. He had to muster his courage and slowly groped around to find the millstone-sized rock.

After a quarter of an hour, Qin Wang saw a millstone-sized rock thirty zhang away from the Li family's manor wall in the bamboo forest. He was overjoyed.

In the faint light, he saw that the millstone-sized rock was about a foot high, covered with dried bamboo leaves, and flanked by two thick bamboo stalks.

Between the bamboo and the rock, there was a booklet wedged in the crevice, hard to spot if not closely inspected.

"I found it!"

"Great!"

Qin Wang extracted the booklet and brought it close to his eyes. The cover read "Taizu Changquan."

He tucked the Taizu Changquan manual into his bosom and left.

Half an hour later, Qin Wang returned to his humble home with dirt walls and a thatched roof.

He locked the door, used an iron hoe to secure it from behind, then lit a charcoal fire in the kitchen and began reading the Taizu Changquan manual by its light.

Taizu Changquan was a martial art transmitted by the founding emperor of the Dacang dynasty, Cang Yunshan, to his subordinates during his uprising, and it later spread widely.

Over the centuries, many branches of Taizu Changquan formed.

The most renowned were the Southern and Northern styles.

This Taizu Changquan manual was derived from the Northern branch and only contained thirty-two fist techniques. Other techniques like Tanjiao and Panlong Staff were not included.

Taizu Changquan featured unique moves, agile footwork, strong bursts of power, and was excellent for close combat.

"Rest first, regain strength, and tomorrow morning, start practicing the first move 'Shuang Chao Feng Tian.'"

Qin Wang read the Taizu Changquan manual for over an hour before carefully tucking it under the straw beneath his bedding and fell asleep.

"Shuang Chao Feng Tian, Chong Bu Shuang Zhang, Hui Shou Shuang Diao, Kui Xing Ti Dou, Jin Bu Chong Chui."

The next day, at the east end of Qingniuji, in his humble home, Qin Wang closed the door and, following the manual's instructions, practiced each move of Taizu Changquan in his small hall.

After fifteen minutes of practice, he was sweating profusely and felt warm all over.

"It's not showing up on the interface yet, rest a bit and continue!"

Qin Wang brought up the interface in his consciousness and saw only "Cooking" listed. Taizu Changquan had not appeared yet. He sat down for a while, drank a bowl of warm water, and avoided drinking cold well water after intense training.

He was too weak; falling ill would be troublesome.

Just after drinking the water, he heard a knock on the door.

"Hmm? Aunt Yan?"

He wiped the sweat off his body and opened the door to see a woman in her fifties, dressed in a brown linen dress, with some white hair and two orange cloth flowers pinned in it, standing at the door holding an orange magpie handkerchief.

He recognized this woman as Aunt Yan, who had introduced his sister Qin Xuemei to the Chen family.

"Little Qin, Aunt Yan has come to tell you some good news!"

Seeing Qin Wang, the woman greeted him warmly.

"What good news?"

Qin Wang asked flatly. He already knew from the intelligence that this old witch wanted to sell him.

When the opportunity arose, he would definitely get rid of this evil woman!

"I know the manager of the Su family clothing shop in the county. They asked me to find about ten tailors, the pay is good, and they offer room and board. Would you like to go?"

Aunt Yan looked at Qin Wang as if she saw a pile of silver.

"No, thank you, Aunt Yan. Uncle Yunhai promised to teach me fishing soon."

Qin Wang made up an excuse to decline.

"Fishing under the sun and wind? Tailoring is so much better! With room and board and a good salary, what a great opportunity! How long can your 600 coins last? Besides, don't you want to earn money to redeem your sister someday?"

"Auntie is looking out for you, seeing you're alone and helpless."

Seeing Qin Wang's reluctance, Aunt Yan frowned slightly and tried to persuade him.

Although Qin Wang was thin, his features were handsome. With some nourishment, he could become a beautiful young man and fetch a good price. She had her eyes on him for a long time and wouldn't let go easily.

"Thank you, Aunt Yan, but I really can't do handicrafts. I prefer to learn fishing."

Qin Wang shook his head.

In his heart, he was pondering how to eliminate this wicked Aunt Yan.

"If you change your mind, come find me. I'll be in Qingniuji for the next few days."

Seeing that Qin Wang was unwilling, Aunt Yan decided not to press further, suggesting he think it over and then left.

"This rascal must be out of his mind, wanting to learn fishing."

Aunt Yan muttered as she walked towards Qingniuji's main street, scratching her head in frustration.

She had already agreed with Li Laocai to send Qin Wang to the brothel in the county, where he'd be trained by the madam. She'd get five taels of silver in return, but this little rascal unexpectedly refused, leaving her at a loss.

"Could he have sensed my intentions?"

Aunt Yan considered but then shook her head. "Impossible. Only Li Laocai and I know about this. He wouldn't say anything. I'll go ask Li Laocai if he has any ideas!"

In Li Laocai's manor, he lay in bed under thick blankets, glaring at his son Li Tianyi, who stood with his head lowered. His mouth twitched. "You rascal! Now I know why you didn't practice today; you lost the manual!"

"You wastrel! Go find it!"

"All of you, go find it now! What are you waiting for!"

Li Laocai scolded his son and then yelled at the three maids nearby.

"Yes, father, I'll go find it!"

Knowing he was at fault, Li Tianyi hurried out, followed by the three maids. At this moment, the steward Chen Pu walked in with a troubled expression.

"Old... old master."

"Have they found the money bag?"

Li Laocai asked, feeling weaker and unable to gather strength after his earlier outburst.

"Not yet... it's something else."

Chen Pu stepped forward and whispered, "Old master, this morning I heard people talking in the market. Someone posted notices saying that young master Tianxin... isn't your son, but the child of the guard Li Ligang. They say you're a cuckold."

"What?!"

"Which bastard spread this rumor?"

Li Laocai sat up, eyes wide in disbelief.

"People saw the notices on the doors of taverns, teahouses, and shops early this morning, but no one knows who posted them."

Chen Pu shook his head.

"This is infuriating... ugh!"

Li Laocai's face turned red with rage. His body started convulsing, sweating profusely, foaming at the mouth, and his eyes became vacant.

"Master, what's happening?"

Chen Pu panicked, calling for help. "Help! Someone, help!"

The next day at dawn, Qin Wang sat on his bed.

Today's Intelligence

1: Yesterday, you posted notices in Qingniuji claiming that Li Laocai's younger son, Li Tianxin, is not his but the guard Li Ligang's child. As a result, Li Laocai got extremely agitated and developed tetanus. He will die in five days.

2: Yesterday, you practiced Taizu Changquan. As per the intelligence, diligence compensates for clumsiness, and you will master Taizu Changquan in five days.

3: Yesterday, you visited the Shiweitian Tavern. The intelligence indicates that Shiweitian will launch a new dish called Beggar's Chicken in three days.

4: Yesterday, you posted information about Li Tianxin's parentage. As per the intelligence, after Li Laocai's condition stabilizes, he will demand a blood test. When the blood does not match, Li Tianxin and his adulterous mother will be expelled from the manor. Two hours later, they will drown in a river accident, and the adulterer Li Ligang will disappear.

5: Yesterday, you passed by Qingniuji Teahouse. The intelligence indicates that for the next six months, the main topic there will be about the cuckolded Li Laocai.

6: Yesterday, you passed by Qingniuji Fish Market. The intelligence indicates that the Golden Fish Gang leader will meet his superior from the Zhaixing Tower and will announce a 10% price increase at the fish market.

7: Insufficient intelligence triggered.

8: Insufficient intelligence triggered.

9: Insufficient intelligence triggered.

10: Insufficient intelligence triggered.

"Hmm?"

"Li Laocai will die in five days due to tetanus from my rumors? Serves him right!"

Qin Wang read the first piece of intelligence with satisfaction.

"My Taizu Changquan will be mastered in five days?"

"Wonderful!"

Qin Wang looked at the intelligence with anticipation.

He was worried about not mastering it, but now he was reassured.

You see, after posting the notices about Li Laocai in Qingniuji last night, he stayed home practicing Taizu Changquan, hoping to master it soon.

4o