Shocking! A well-known Cultivation Technique surprisingly harbors a secret flaw unknown to others. What is this secret that causes those who know about it to blush and stay silent, yet secretly study it under the covers at night?
Fang Zhou fell into a trap again.
But this time, the pit was shallow, only causing hair loss, which was not unacceptable, as long as no one saw it.
Besides this hair-loss flaw, the New Moon Qi Qi Refining Technique was actually quite powerful. After several days of cultivation, Fang Zhou's physique was a little stronger, and his strength had increased, though it was not enough to show up as a whole unit of increase in attributes.
When he encountered something he didn't understand during cultivation, Fang Zhou would try to figure it out by himself, and only when he really couldn't understand would he go to Ling Xiaoyue for advice.
Why so? Not because Fang Zhou was self-reliant, but because Ling Xiaoyue, that fool, actually charged!! money!! for answering questions!
You heard right, it cost money to ask her questions.
Living through two worlds, Fang Zhou™ had never heard of a disciple having to pay to ask his or her mentor questions. Not only that, Ling Xiaoyue charged Fang Zhou for food, accommodation, medical expenses, clothing, and so on, inventing various reasons to collect money.
Fang Zhou seriously suspected that this woman must have died poor in her past life and fell into a money pit as soon as she was born in this one.
Ling Xiaoyue, however, had a ready argument: "I'm not your mother; why would I raise you? Don't eating, medical care, and clothing cost money?"
Fang Zhou was a bit annoyed: "I've already given you 1,200 silver taels as a ceremony gift when becoming your disciple!"
"Correct!"
Ling Xiaoyue said as though it was a matter of course: "Didn't I freely teach you New Moon Qi? I will pass on so many more techniques to you in the future, you're earning big here."
Fang Zhou spread his hands: "Then we are merely in a transactional relationship, not a mentor-student relationship."
"Oh, my foolish disciple!"
Ling Xiaoyue scoffed: "The essence of the mentor-student relationship is reciprocal benefits, cloaked in a layer of emotional pretense. Try handing over 1,200 taels to see which sect would accept you as a disciple. I'll teach you another lesson; free things are the most expensive. If a sect takes you in without charge, they surely covet something of yours, like your body, hehe."
Fang Zhou was at a loss for words, Ling Xiaoyue had a pile of twisted logic, but he had to admit there was a grain of truth in her words.
The threshold for Cultivation in this world was not low at all, with countless people waving around silver bills and still unable to find the entrance, only talent and connections acting as the key.
It was somewhat like those renowned private universities on Earth—one needs a recommendation letter to enter, and having money alone only means being treated like a fat sheep to be slaughtered.
If a sect doesn't want money and has no connections, they're probably after your talent. The Xuanji Sect's elder probably took Fang Zhou as a disciple because she fancied his talent, but she didn't expect they wouldn't let go of his body either.
Regardless, this was not a reason for Ling Xiaoyue to look for excuses to charge him money.
Unable to argue or fight his way out, Fang Zhou could only give in, sheared like a sheep by Ling Xiaoyue. He kept these grievances in mind, vowing to settle accounts with this woman one day.
In just a few days, Fang Zhou had accumulated a massive debt, and the creditor was his own mentor.
However, once he had accepted the reality of the situation, Fang Zhou settled down. After all, owing debts made one the boss. She can shear all she wants; if I ever repay even a penny, I'll take her last name.
...
The Jing Chu Territory lies in the northern part of Jingnan State, and the easiest route is to follow the Jing Chu River.
After leaving Yun Mountain Region, Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue traveled northwards alongside Jing Chu River. Many places offered boat rides—easy and effort-saving. Yet Ling Xiaoyue, a cultivator through and through, complained about the expensive boat fares, dragging him through dozens of miles of mountain roads almost breaking him to pieces.
However, through such trials, Fang Zhou became even more adept at absorbing and channeling Spiritual Energy. Sitting on horseback, he could nurture his body with Spiritual Energy at any time and clearly felt his physique growing stronger.
And finally, his strength increased, from 2 points to 3 points.
Fang Zhou did not know if Ling Xiaoyue did this intentionally or not, but considering her carefree demeanor, he took it as unintentional.
Continuing north, Fang Zhou's horse began to lose condition, and continuing to run would ruin it, so they had to stop at a place called Qingde City.
Qingde City, smaller than Wu City, was still a large city with a population of a hundred thousand, with soaring walls and grand city gates.
Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue joined the flow of people into the city, where high-rise buildings dotted the skyline, streets were orderly and broad, and throngs of pedestrians bustled about—a picture of prosperity.
Fang Zhou entered the city and wanted to find a place to stay, have a good meal, and take a hot bath. Having been living on dry rations outdoors for some time, the constant diet was almost making him sick, and he seldom had a chance to bathe, leaving his skin uncomfortably sticky.
Ling Xiaoyue, however, looked as if dust could not soil her, as if she was impervious to any grime.
Seeing Fang Zhou heading towards the bustling taverns and inns, Ling Xiaoyue reached out to stop him: "Where are you going?"
"Obviously, to find a place to stay."
Fang Zhou first looked perplexed, then cautiously at her: "You... you're not planning to sleep on the streets now that we're in the city, are you?"
He had resigned himself to sleeping in the wild and feeding the mosquitoes while on the road, as there was no alternative, but if she expected him to sleep on the streets now that they were in the city, he would never stand for it.
Seeing Fang Zhou with a look that said, "dare to make me sleep on the streets and I'll sever ties with you as my master," Ling Xiaoyue laughed: "Would I be the kind of person to make you sleep in the streets?"
"Yes!"
Her laughter abruptly stopped, and Ling Xiaoyue scolded him with a stern face: "We're cultivators; how can we stay in an inn like ordinary people? That's beneath our dignity."
Fang Zhou revealed a mocking smile: "So sleeping on a tree doesn't make us lose face, right? Monkeys also sleep on trees."
Ling Xiaoyue picked up a wine jug and threw it at Fang Zhou, but he agilely dodged it.
"Follow me. Let your master teach you the secrets of wandering the mortal realms as a cultivator, something I don't even tell regular folks."
Despite Ling Xiaoyue's earnest words, Fang Zhou remained skeptical, but she didn't care about his disbelief. Mounting her horse, she turned and left, leaving Fang Zhou no choice but to follow.
The two arrived at the public announcement wall in Qingde City, where government officials posted documents to inform the populace, stuck various gazettes on the board, and also pasted curious tidbits, missing persons notices, etc. Of course, you had to have money to do that; without money, you'd be left pasting flyers in alleys and street corners.
Many townsfolk, with nothing better to do, would come here for entertainment, mainly listening to literate people explain the postings, much like enjoying a storyteller, and it was all free.
The public announcement wall wasn't large, and with the crowd of onlookers pushing forward, several government officials were maintaining order at the edge of the wall, creating an organized chaos amidst the hubbub.
What Fang Zhou found predictable yet still intriguing was that all the people present were female, including the government officials.
Under these circumstances, if Fang Zhou dared to squeeze in, he'd immediately be engulfed by a sea of women, experiencing the "treatment" of being fawned over.
But he dared not, as each of these women was robust and burly, with thickset faces; if he pushed his way in, it would be questionable whose 'tofu' was being eaten—his, or theirs. He feared that he might enter alive but not make it out the same way.
With his improved constitution, Fang Zhou had keen eyesight and hearing, allowing him to see clearly from the periphery the contents posted on the wall.
Fang Zhou curiously glanced over and saw wanted posters with portraits, notices of earth dragons turning in some cities, frequent incidents of missing children in Jing Chu Territory, rampant human trafficking, warning people to watch out for their young ones.
Just then, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly gestured, and a flyer flew off the wall into her hand as if by magic.
This act instantly caught the attention of many onlookers around the wall, who then turned to look.
Ling Xiaoyue, with such an appearance, could attract attention anywhere in the real world, but unfortunately, this world was not normal. After a quick glimpse at her, the next second, all eyes were on Fang Zhou.
Fang Zhou instantly felt like he was spot-lit, the dense gazes seemingly stripping him of his clothes.
Flip the genders and it's akin to countless burly men brazenly ogling a beautiful young girl.
"What a handsome young lad!"
"Such a perky butt!"
"Let me touch, and I swear I'd rather stay unmarried for two years, heh."
All sorts of teasing remarks and even sounds of salivation reached Fang Zhou's ears, making his skin crawl.
Although Fang Zhou did not meet the standards of beauty demanded by the affluent for marrying a handsome youth, his looks were still exceptionally high, and his tall figure could easily stir the desire to conquer within women.
People were starting to close in; Fang Zhou hastily urged Ling Xiaoyue: "Let's go, quickly!"
Fang Zhou's embarrassment brought Ling Xiaoyue much joy, but she didn't linger, taking him away with her.