Chapter 22 Refill (1 more update)

Shi Zhongmei frowned as she glanced at Fang Yu, but nonetheless, she took the letter and entered the martial arts training hall.The people lined up behind couldn’t see the details.

They just saw Fang Yu give something to Shi Zhongmei, and then she went inside.

In a short while, when she came out again, she actually brought Fang Yu with her into the martial arts hall.

The long queue burst into an uproar.

"Damn it! Why? Why does he get to go straight in for the assessment?"

"Cutting in line! This is serious queue jumping! Yuan Body Martial Arts Hall is unfair!!"

"What’s going on? Who is that kid?"

"He’s cheating! Where’s the GM? Someone’s cheating!!"

"You’re a player too?! Damn! Cousin!! Let’s team up to enter the martial arts hall!"

"Take me with you, take me with you."

"Good grief, so many players in the line for the martial arts hall?"

"Of course! Who wants to do blacksmithing or weaving when you can play games and get stronger? It’s the trend of the times!"

"A bunch of noobs, didn’t you listen to the game introduction? You need to hide your identities! I need to set boundaries with you rookies!"

"Why hide your identity? Is there a reason?"

"Don’t know, just need to hide! Hide and conceal!"

Li Qianxuan’s recommendation letter was more useful than Fang Yu thought.

Once inside Yuan Body Martial Arts Hall, he found it was quite large.

From the archery target dummies to the practice stakes, the space was vast and well laid out, equipped with all kinds of apparatus.

Some people were sparring with each other, punching fiercely, hitting each other with genuine force.

Others were practicing on wooden stakes, their moves smooth, invoking envy in onlookers.

Following Shi Zhongmei all the way to a main hall, Fang Yu finally met the hall master of Yuan Body Martial Arts Hall, Yuan Hongxin.

He was a man in his forties, dressed in grey cloth with a ’Yuan’ character embroidered in the middle.

Sitting in his chair like the head of a family, he slowly sipped his tea and exhaled while reading the letter.

"Master, I’ve brought the person here."

"Hmm."

Shi Zhongmei was about to step back but was stopped by Yuan Hongxin.

"Zhongmei, we are not taking on disciples today. Go disperse the crowd at the door."

Shi Zhongmei’s face showed surprise.

Why were they stopping the intake of disciples just as the day had begun?

Shi Zhongmei glanced at Fang Yu, feeling that it had something to do with him.

After receiving the order, she stepped down.

Only Yuan Hongxin and Fang Yu remained in the main hall.

Fang Yu looked at Yuan Hongxin’s health bar.

Such high health!

Stronger than Li Qianxuan!

Fang Yu quickly assumed a more humble posture.

"I’ve read the letter, and since you come recommended by the Li Family, I will accept you."

"The rules stay the same, the tuition fee is 10 silver taels, and an additional 2 silver taels a month for basic living expenses."

"The martial arts hall provides a secret soup medicine every month."

"If you want more, you pay extra."

"Additionally, if you want to learn martial arts, the first skill book is free, after that it’s 5 silver taels per book."

"Any questions?"

Yes, what a rip-off!

Fang Yu had thought he was pretty well off.

Yet, after visiting the martial arts hall, it was like being skinned alive.

But on the surface, he promptly performed the master-disciple salute.

"Disciple Diao Deyi, willing to join Yuan Body Martial Arts Hall."

Money was paid, tea was presented, and the ceremony was complete.

Fang Yu was officially inducted.

Yuan Hongxin tossed a manual to Fang Yu.

"Hmm, this is ’Solid Foundation Technique’, the core martial arts of our Yuan Body Martial Arts Hall. It is also the free martial arts book included in your tuition. Start learning it, and talk to me once you make progress."

To be honest, Yuan Hongxin wasn’t optimistic about Fang Yu.

Starting martial arts at 16 was too late.

Indeed, as Fang Yu took the ’Solid Foundation Technique’, he seemed unable to comprehend it for quite a while.

Just then, Shi Zhongmei came over with the secret soup medicine.

"Shi Zhongmei, stay and teach him."

"Yes."

After giving the order, Yuan Hongxin left, truly acting like someone washing his hands of the matter.

But Shi Zhongmei was quite patient.

"Which part don’t you understand?"

Fang Yu pointed to the ’Solid Foundation Technique’.

"I can’t feel the Qi it’s talking about."

Li Qianxuan flipped through the "Solid Foundation Technique" once.

It wasn’t like in other games where you could just skim through or slap the skill book to learn the skill.

So he had to read it word by word.

Fortunately, the "Solid Foundation Technique" combined images with text, had high information content in the pictures and few words, so it was a quick read.

The most important step in it was to absorb the surrounding Qi and refine the body.

But he couldn’t sense it.

"This is because your aptitude is too poor."

Shi Zhongmei was quite blunt.

"What should I do then?"

"Drink soup medicine."

Fang Yu didn’t hesitate and gulped it down in one go.

The secret soup medicine was not tasty, with an odd palate, sort of like spoiled mashed potatoes.

But once it hit the stomach, there was an immediate warm feeling.

, Experience Points +10.]

Holy shit!

Such a good deal?!

Awesome stuff!

Fang Yu instantly became envious.

He had only gotten 300 experience points for killing a demon previously, but this thing gave 10 points with just a sip? Wouldn’t it equal killing a demon with just thirty cups?

Seemingly sensing Fang Yu’s distraction, Shi Zhongmei spoke up.

"Close your eyes, sense, draw in the Qi."

Shi Zhongmei didn’t seem to be new to this, her instructions concise and direct.

"The medicinal effect of the soup is short-lived and evaporates quickly. If you don’t grasp this brief period, you would have drunk it for nothing."

Is that so?!

Fang Yu quickly reined in his emotions and focused on sensing the Qi.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, held his breath for a while, then opened his eyes.

"I still can’t feel the Qi."

"Then continue."

"Continue what?"

"Continue drinking the soup."

Fang Yu was taken aback.

"Isn’t it one bowl per month?"

Shi Zhongmei rarely smiled.

A shallow smile, but quite pretty.

"The master didn’t say he wouldn’t give you a refill."

Fang Yu’s spirit was lifted.

Another good deal?

"Well, that’s great, hurry up and give me another bowl... no! A hundred bowls!"

Shi Zhongmei held out her hand.

Fang Yu was startled.

"For what?"

"Pay up."

Fang Yu: ...

Fang Yu: ???

Fang Yu had a confused expression.

"Refills cost money??"

"Yes. The second bowl is 1 tael, the third bowl is 2 taels, the fourth bowl is 4 taels, and so on. The count resets to zero in the second month."

Are you racking up sales here??

Fang Yu felt the 5 taels of silver in his pocket, somewhat reluctant to part with them.

You see, those players on the forum would beat their brains out over a mere ten coins.

Just because the cost of becoming someone else’s apprentice was ten coins.

Those ten taels of silver he possessed, just by taking one out and selling it in the city, that was the feeling of several Dali coins coming in.

Spending on this... would it be too wasteful?

Most importantly, he was afraid he’d go all in and only be able to drink two bowls of the medicine.

And if he still couldn’t master the technique after finishing, he would have to wait for next month’s free soup. Wouldn’t that be a waste of money for nothing?

But after thinking it over, he also felt he couldn’t catch a wolf if he didn’t want to risk his child.

Man up, stop dithering.

Others fear, I am greedy; others hesitate, I go all in!

Besides, drinking the medicine also gives experience points; isn’t that much easier than laboriously earning experience outside?

Not a loss!

Smack!

Fang Yu slapped 3 taels on the table.

"Two bowls! Bring them together!"