EFB Chapter 23 Test
Chapter 23 Test
As Chen Luo pondered, Li Jiangwei continued softly, "So, although Father only guided you this once, he actually values you very much."
"I understand." Chen Luo nodded. "I will not let Instructor Li down."
"It's good that you have the intention."
Li Jiangwei smiled and said, "However, after helping you this time, Father will not take the initiative to help you again. Only if you are outstanding enough will he continue to train you."
"Of course, don't put too much pressure on yourself." She added, "If you perform poorly, they won't come after you for the eighteen taels of silver, but your future opportunities may just end there."
"That's only natural," Chen Luo replied with a smile.
He understood the subtle hint in Li Jiangwei's words; in a way, it was a test.
The so-called "outstanding" simply refers to whether he can break through to the third level of strength, and how long it takes to break through to the third level of strength.
The faster someone breaks through a cultivation level, the higher their potential for development; conversely, the slower they break through, the lower their potential for development.
This is understandable; he can't expect Instructor Li to treat him like a treasure just because he broke through to the second level of internal strength in half a month. This assistance is already sufficient.
If he remembered correctly, after Song Ruokui first entered the martial arts school and displayed amazing talent, she did not immediately receive Li's full support. Instead, she only gained favor after she had achieved a minor mastery of the Nine Yang Strength.
Ultimately, this kind of training is like a favorable east wind; whether one can take off with it ultimately depends on how strong one's own wings are.
While she was pondering, the carriage had already left the east of the city, but it did not stop at the martial arts school. Li Jiangwei instructed the driver to drive straight to the vicinity of Chen Luo's house.
"Remember to be diligent and never slack off," Li Jiangwei earnestly reminded Chen Luo as he got out of the car.
"I understand. Thank you for your help today, Manager Li," Chen Luo said with a smile.
"This is my duty."
Li Jiangwei reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, smiling sweetly. "Actually, we're about the same age, so when we're out together, you don't have to call me 'Manager,' just call me Miss Li."
After speaking, without waiting for Chen Luo's response, the curtains of the carriage window were lowered, and the carriage rumbled away into the distance.
"..." Chen Luo watched the carriage depart and couldn't help but smile.
He not only understood how much Li Shen valued him, but also sensed Li Jiangwei's expectations; she was truly dedicated to Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy.
"I need to break through to the third level of strength as soon as possible," Chen Luo muttered to himself, subconsciously thinking of Song Ruokui again.
In his eyes, Song Ruokui is now a textbook and a model student. Since she was able to achieve the minor success of the Nine Yang Strength in one month, his goal is also to achieve it in one month.
Chen Luo shook the burlap bag in his hand, wondering how much benefit this bag of deer antlers and blood could provide.
"Alo." Just then, a familiar voice came from beside him.
Chen Luo turned his head and saw Huang Chen.
He hadn't spoken to Huang Chen since paying his taxes last time, so he was quite surprised to see him on this country road. "Oh, it's Chen! Aren't you on duty today?"
"I'm off today and just happened to be passing by." Huang Chen glanced in the direction the carriage had gone. "I just saw you get off the martial arts academy's carriage. Was that Manager Li inside?"
"Manager Li was going the same way, so he gave me a ride back," Chen Luo explained simply, without saying anything more.
"I heard it's because you broke through to the second level of strength in half a month." Huang Chen looked at Chen Luo with a complicated expression. "A Luo, I didn't expect you to have such talent. I thought you would have a hard time even getting to the beginner level."
"That's probably because I'm a late bloomer," Chen Luo smiled, then asked, "What have you been up to lately?"
Huang Chen didn't speak. He was silent for a moment before saying, "A Luo, I'm getting married."
"Huh?" Chen Luo was taken aback. He was about to ask why they were getting married so early, but before he could say it, he knew he had fallen into a habitual thought pattern.
This world is no longer modern. Logically speaking, in this feudal dynasty, getting married at nineteen is very normal, or even a bit late.
In Qingshan County, young men and women who leave the martial arts school and do not make any progress in martial arts will generally choose to get married and start a family, and begin to worry about the daily necessities of life and continuing the family line.
"Congratulations!" Chen Luo smiled, composed himself. "What does the woman look like? Is she pretty?"
"I've never seen her before." Huang Chen shook his head. "She's the daughter of Xu, the clerk in the county government. I just asked her name."
Asking the name is after the betrothal ceremony. After asking the name, the next step is to accept the auspicious name, which means the engagement is about to take place.
They're about to get engaged but haven't even met each other yet; it's clearly an arranged marriage, a so-called blind marriage.
Logically speaking, Huang Chen comes from an ordinary background, and in terms of family marriage, he should not be a good match for Xu Dianli's daughter.
But in Chen Luo's memory, Huang Chen's mother, Cheng, was a very capable woman. Although she was just a farmer, she was able to get Huang Chen a job in the county government. This marriage was probably arranged by Cheng.
If I remember correctly, the Cheng family seemed to have had some entanglements with his father from the previous life.
Chen Luo thought to himself, then smiled and congratulated him, "Don't forget to send me an invitation when you get married!"
"Okay." Huang Chen nodded, looked at Chen Luo, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just smiled, "I'll invite you over then, you'll have to do me the honor."
Despite it being a joyous occasion, he didn't show much happiness on his face.
Chen Luo noticed this and subconsciously guessed that he was afraid of marriage.
"Ah Chen, everyone has their own ambitions and their own path to walk. As long as you have a clear conscience, that's enough."
Huang Chen was taken aback by his words, then slapped him hard on the shoulder and forced a laugh, "What are you talking about, kid!"
"It's nothing, just a casual remark," Chen Luo smiled and waved his hand. "Then I'll be going now."
"Mm." Huang Chen said goodbye to him, and stood silently for a long time watching his receding figure before turning and leaving.
On the other side, Chen Luo returned home and did not rush to open the medicine packet. Instead, he practiced the Nine Yang Strength first, and only opened the medicine packet after dinner in the evening.
Upon opening it, he found that the deer antlers and blood were not separated as he had expected. Instead, the deer antlers were ground into powder and mixed with chunks of deer blood, emitting a somewhat pungent smell.
It is worth noting that the deer blood was actually bluish-green, truly living up to the name of the Blue-Blooded Deer.
There were also some yellow powders mixed in with the blue blood clots; it was unclear what they were.
Chen Luo carefully divided it into five equal parts, put away the remaining four pieces, then started boiling water in a pot. After the water boiled, he put a piece of the green blood into the pot and covered it with a wooden lid.
After waiting a moment, he lifted the lid and was immediately stunned.
A viscous, bluish-green liquid was churning and bubbling in the scalding water, emitting a pungent odor that filled the room, resembling a potion concocted by an old witch in a fantasy story. Chen Luo frowned deeply, his face turning dark. "Is this even edible?"