Chapter 109: Chapter 108: He Simply Gave Too Much

In a quiet and elegant little courtyard, Wu Chen sat for a short rest at a square table. Li Qi emerged from the inner room, a yellowed manual in hand, and walked toward him.

"Bear Body Forging Skill."

Wu Chen took the Jade Bone Realm Martial Arts manual from Li Qi. His gaze swept over the name, then fell upon the small, gold-stamped words below.

Demon Suppression Bureau.

Evidently, this was a Martial Arts manual issued by the Demon Suppression Bureau.

"This Body Refining Skill is from the Demon Suppression Bureau. Can you just let an outsider read it? Won’t this cause problems for you?"

Wu Chen asked, genuinely curious. After all, every organization had its own rules, but the regulations regarding Martial Arts were likely more or less the same.

For example, at Refining Valley, even an outsider like himself with a huge amount of Contribution Points couldn’t exchange them for Martial Arts. The Demon Suppression Bureau probably operated the same way.

Although Wu Chen needed the Martial Arts, he didn’t think it was worth jeopardizing Li Qi’s future.

"It’s fine. The Demon Suppression Bureau Captain never said this was forbidden."

Li Qi sat on the other side of the table and said, "Besides, without the ’Bear Bone Pills’ issued by the Demon Suppression Bureau, even if someone read this Martial Arts manual, they couldn’t achieve the goal of cleansing their meridians and refining their marrow."

"It’s just that..."

Seeing Wu Chen already start to flip through the Martial Arts manual, Li Qi said awkwardly:

"When the Demon Suppression Bureau Captain came to Mountain Mist City several months ago, he gave me five ’Bear Bone Pills’ along with this Martial Arts manual. I’ve already consumed them all."

"I’m afraid that if Young Master Wu only reads this Martial Arts, you’ll still have to take a post at the Demon Suppression Bureau if you want to advance..."

Wu Chen nodded but said nothing.

’No "Bear Bone Pills"?’

’That won’t affect me.’

But Li Qi was growing restless. After all, just giving him a Bone Forging Skill without the pills was an exercise in futility; it was completely useless for raising one’s realm.

Watching Wu Chen earnestly reading the manual, Li Qi feared he would back out. His lips trembled for a moment before he finally spoke, clumsily making a grand promise:

"Young Master Wu can memorize this Bone Forging Skill. If I manage to enter the Demon Suppression Bureau, I will definitely obtain the ’Bear Bone Pills’ for you and deliver them with my own two hands."

Wu Chen still paid his words no mind, focusing only on reading the Martial Arts manual.

When Wu Chen didn’t reply, Li Qi’s face flushed with shame. He knew his promise was incredibly crude; not one person in ten would believe it.

After all, Mountain Mist City had its own cautionary tale. A former official had gone to serve in the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Before he left, he’d talked every day about becoming a good official in Cangwu City.

After he arrived, all he talked about was how mediocre the local specialties mailed from Mountain Mist City were.

Now, that man was the laughingstock of Mountain Mist City, a perfect example of how empty promises are the hardest to believe.

SIZZLE!...

Just as Li Qi fell silent, a sharp noise came from the direction of the courtyard’s kitchen.

It was the sound of hot oil hit by something cold, followed by the clang of a spatula against a wok.

The continuous sounds of stir-frying followed.

Before long, the aroma of cooking food drifted from the kitchen and filled the entire quiet courtyard, whetting one’s appetite.

’I never said I was hungry!’

’Why is she being so diligent today!’

Li Qi frowned, his gaze shifting away from the kitchen. But when his eyes landed on Wu Chen, a dreadful thought suddenly occurred to him:

’Oh no!’

’My sister isn’t making this meal for me!’

Li Qi was horrified, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

He couldn’t just kick Wu Chen out. After all, he was still counting on him for a way to increase his strength.

In no time at all, Li Qiuyao finished stir-frying a few small dishes and brought them out. Then she opened a jar of wine and poured a full cup for Wu Chen.

As she left, she even bumped her brother.

The reason was simple: he had been a terrible host.

She naturally knew what had been troubling her brother lately. For him to uncharacteristically bring this man home to read a Martial Arts manual, it had to be about the Demon Suppression Bureau’s assessment!

But since he’d brought a guest home, how could he not even offer tea or fruit?

That was why she had made a simple home-cooked meal to fulfill their duties as hosts.

’If necessary, even sending me, his sister, over to him would be fine!’

Li Qi rubbed the shoulder his sister had bumped, a bitter expression on his face. He knew his sister had probably developed feelings for Wu Chen.

But frankly, as someone who had reached the Jade Bone Realm at the age of twenty, Li Qi didn’t think very highly of Wu Chen.

The fact that the man needed a Jade Bone Realm Martial Arts manual meant his strength was also at the Jade Bone Realm, and not much higher.

Therefore, Li Qi didn’t find him particularly impressive.

Furthermore, Wu Chen had killed the mountain bandits and entered the city alone on horseback. He was clearly a Ranger who roamed the martial world, a drifter with no fixed residence and an unknown background.

How could he, as her older brother, possibly feel at ease letting his sister marry such a man!

Li Qi mulled it over and decided it was best to wait until he got to the Demon Suppression Bureau in Cangwu City.

He could find an ordinary family for her in Cangwu City. He wouldn’t even need a betrothal gift; as long as his sister could live a good life, he would be content.

"..."

Wu Chen had no idea what was going through the siblings’ minds. Smelling the fragrant food, he didn’t stand on ceremony.

He ate the dishes while continuing to read the Martial Arts manual, occasionally taking a small sip of sweet wine, making himself completely at home.

After he had finished the four or five small dishes on the table, several lines of text began to flash in his vision:

[Entry-level Bear Body Forging Skill proficiency +1]

[Entry-level Bear Body Forging Skill proficiency +1]

[Entry-level Bear Body Forging Skill...]

[Entry-level Bear Body Forging Skill (12/1500)]

Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, he closed the Martial Arts Manual in his hand.

Wu Chen then casually pulled out a silver banknote worth a thousand taels, placed it on top of the manual, and pushed both across the table toward Li Qi, who was alternately shaking and bobbing his head.

"HUFF!"

Li Qi, who had been wracking his brain for a way to dissuade his sister, slowly registered the silver banknote worth one thousand taels appearing in his line of sight.

When he finally processed what it was, he couldn’t tear his eyes away, and his breathing grew ragged.

Needless to say, he knew the silver banknote worth one thousand taels was for him.

Honestly, even as a Jade Bone Realm expert who had served in Mountain Mist City for many years, Li Qi had never even touched a silver banknote with a face value of one thousand taels, let alone seen one from this close.

"This... With this, if Qiuyao is with you, I can rest assured..."

If Li Qi had any reservations or dissatisfactions with Wu Chen before, they were all completely gone now.

Because the amount he offered was simply too much.

With this much money, never mind marrying his sister.

He wouldn’t have any complaints even if he had to throw himself into the deal.

"What are you talking about?"

Wu Chen’s eyebrow twitched. He had no idea what the man was rambling about. He tapped the silver banknote worth one thousand taels with his finger and said:

"These thousand taels are to buy your Martial Arts manual. I don’t want you to be at a disadvantage."

"Oh, so that’s what it is..."

Li Qi’s expression was one of disappointment, a disappointment even more profound than that of Li Qiuyao, who was peeking and eavesdropping from behind a window.

But she knew she was needed at this moment. She quickly went outside, cleared the cups and plates from the table, and then returned inside.

"Now, let’s talk about your assessment." Wu Chen stood up and stretched his stiff muscles after sitting for so long.

Hearing the mention of the assessment, Li Qi’s expression turned serious, and he stopped letting his mind wander.

But he truly couldn’t imagine how he could possibly defeat He Kui, who was two minor realms above him.

"Young Master Wu, do you have some kind of Secret Technique that can raise my strength in a short time?" Li Qi asked softly, gritting his teeth.

"No."

Wu Chen was direct. "Regarding your assessment, I have two methods. One is slow, the other is fast. Which one do you want to hear?"

"What’s the slow one?" Li Qi asked, confused.

"I’ll guide you in your martial arts training."

"I’m afraid that’s not a good idea..."

Li Qi shook his head. To say nothing of whether guidance from one Jade Bone Realm expert to another would even be effective, the Demon Suppression Bureau Captain would be arriving in a few days. The assessment was right around the corner. With so little time, it was obviously too late to start training now.

"And the fast one?" he asked.

"The fast one?"

Wu Chen pricked up his ears. After listening carefully, he confirmed that besides Li Qi’s sister, there was no one else around.

Only then did he slowly reveal his answer.

"I’ll help you kill the other candidate."

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