Chapter 10

"These boots are quite powerful!"

Moving through the crowd, Li Yuan's eyes sparkled as he mastered the 'Six Directions Boots.'

This was a more immediate improvement than practicing with a hammer or a bone-cutting knife. With every step, it felt as if someone was pushing him from behind, not only saving effort but also increasing his speed.

The only downside was that one shoe did have some impact...

"Tsk, tsk, moving like the wind. Is the enhancement from entering a rank so obvious? This is just one boot; if it were two, the speed would be even faster, wouldn't it?"

With each step, he would dart forward three to four meters, feeling a strong 'push from behind.' Li Yuan's eyes gleamed, and the muddy and slippery snow had no effect on him at all.

"A first-rank Armament Scroll can only control one weapon at a time, and changing it requires a two-day cooldown... I need to advance in rank, and I need to earn money!"

Li Yuan felt both joy and distress in his heart.

Money is hard to earn, both in ancient times and today.

Over the past month, apart from joining the kitchen and greatly improving his meals, he had also tried other methods.

However, the skills he learned in his previous life, whether it was performing rituals or assisting in childbirth, were of no use here.

As for buying low and selling high, he had no capital, and even if he did, there was a significant barrier to entry.

Gangs!

In Gaoliu County, all industries were already divided among various families. Fishing and woodcutting were managed and taxed by the Woodcutters' Guild and the Fishermen's Guild, and other industries were no different.

"Liáng Āshuǐ is here!"

Suddenly, someone in the market shouted.

Li Yuan looked up and saw a crowd gathering around a young man carrying several fish baskets to the west.

He was well-built, with a slightly dark complexion, and was none other than Liáng Āshuǐ, who had become famous in the Woodcutters' and Fishermen's Workshop over the past few months.

"Did he catch another spirit fish?"

Li Yuan muttered to himself.

As a frequent buyer, he had naturally heard of Liáng Āshuǐ's exploits.

It was said that his parents had died early, but he had developed excellent fishing skills and caught three spirit fish in a row. Not only did he renovate his house, but he also joined one of the three major martial arts schools in the inner city, the 'Líhé Martial Arts School.'

Even the Fishermen's Guild, which had designs on him, could do nothing.

"Red-browed fish? Qin Xiong's luck is good. How much for this fish? I'll take it!"

Amidst the noise, Li Yuan heard a familiar, loud voice. Who else could it be but Qin Xiong?

In a street where most people were around 1.7 meters tall, the 1.98-meter-tall Qin Xiong stood out like a crane among chickens.

As he walked, people scattered, allowing him to reach Liáng Āshuǐ.

"A spirit fish."

Glancing at the crowd, Li Yuan felt a bit itchy.

The price of a spirit fish was daunting, but it also made him excited. This was a quick way to earn money; one fish was worth the monthly wages of several apprentices for three years!

"Unfortunately, I haven't seen any weapons related to fishing..."

Li Yuan watched from a distance for a while, then turned and left.

...

Li Yuan put away the silver, first returned to the blacksmith's shop, and then picked up two salted fish. He took leave and walked through the alleys and streets to his second brother Li Lin's courtyard.

The midday sun was bright, and the snow in the city was gradually melting. People were shoveling snow in front of their doors in the streets and alleys.

Li Lin was pushing snow out of the alley. Seeing Li Yuan, he smiled.

"Come in and rest for a bit. I'll push this snow out and then cook for you!"

"No need, Second Brother, I just ate."

Li Yuan handed the two salted fish to his second brother and grabbed the shovel to clear the snow.

"Good boy, you're getting stronger!"

Li Lin was surprised, smiled, and took the salted fish.

"Then you clear the snow, and I'll cook these fish for you. By the way, your sister-in-law bought two pounds of fatty meat yesterday..."

"I really ate. The kitchen staff in the blacksmith's shop don't go hungry, do they?"

Li Yuan was helpless but didn't stop Li Lin. He quickly cleared the snow and, upon entering the courtyard, smelled the aroma of fish.

"Go inside and wait, it's cold outside."

Li Lin, busy, didn't look up.

"The snow came early this year. The winter clothes are just by the bed. Go try them on to see if they fit."

"Second Brother!"

Li Yuan saw the winter clothes inside and felt a bit tight in his heart.

"Second Brother, where did you get so much money?"

Firewood, rice, oil, and salt, with firewood being the first. Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation, with clothing being the most important. A winter coat was not cheap; even the cheapest fabric and cotton would cost more than one tael of silver, enough to feed an ordinary family for half a year.

"The price of charcoal before winter was good. I cut more wood these past few months, and with your sister-in-law's wages, making a cotton coat is no big deal."

After stewing the salted fish, Li Lin returned to the room, closed the door, and put the cotton coat on Li Yuan, smiling.

"You're growing so fast, luckily your sister-in-law made it a bit bigger, or it would be tight on you!"

"I don't want this cotton coat. The blacksmith's shop will issue winter clothes after winter starts. You can alter this one and give it to your wife. She works hard washing clothes for others."

Li Yuan shook his head and took off the coat.

"What good clothes can apprentices have? Take it and wear it!"

Li Lin glared, but seeing his third brother frowning, he softened his tone.

"Our family has been in decline for many years, but your sister-in-law still married me. If I mistreated her, wouldn't I be struck by lightning? Take it and keep it."

Seeing Li Lin's firm attitude, Li Yuan had to accept it but held his second brother's hand.

"Second Brother, tell me the truth, did you borrow money from someone?"

"Who told you? That fatso..."

Li Lin frowned but quickly relaxed. He glanced at the door and windows and lowered his voice.

"I borrowed some money from Qian Bao on the front street, nine out and thirteen back, a normal rate. I'll pay him back before next winter... Our family has been in decline, but we still have some savings. You..."

Li Lin coughed, and footsteps were heard outside the door. It was his sister-in-law returning.

"Second Brother, you..."

Li Yuan wanted to ask more, but seeing the beautiful woman enter, he had to hold back.

"Sister-in-law."

Li Yuan greeted her.

"Um."

The woman went to the kitchen to fetch warm water to soak her frostbitten hands, not looking back as she responded.

"Since you're here, take the cotton coat. It will save your second brother a trip! I don't know what bad luck I've had..."

"Thank you, Sister-in-law."

Li Yuan thanked her, ignoring her last words.

He respected his sister-in-law greatly.

After the Li family declined, she did not break the engagement but brought her dowry and married his second brother. She had even used her dowry to pay off the family's debts.

"The fish is ready, I'll serve it!"

Li Lin, head down, ran to the kitchen.

"Sister-in-law, I ate at noon, so I'll leave first."

Li Yuan also wanted to leave.

Two fish and two pounds of meat seemed like a lot, but if he stayed, the couple would probably eat very little, which he did not want.

"Eat and then leave, eh?"

"Brat!"

Hearing his brother and sister-in-law's shouts, Li Yuan, holding the cotton coat, ran out of the alley without looking back.

With the 'moving like the wind' enhancement, Li Lin, who chased after him, couldn't even see his shadow and had to stomp his feet and return to the house.

...

"Qian Bao? Lives on the front street, seems to be a minor leader in the Fishermen's Guild? Nine out and thirteen back, this is actually considered fair in my memory?"

Outside the alley, Li Yuan slowed his pace, recalling and feeling slightly relieved.

In his memory, his second brother, though seemingly simple, was not an ordinary person. He had managed to raise him despite the death of their father and grandfather and the disappearance of his eldest brother, and he should not borrow money he couldn't repay, right?

But can there be good people in the business of usury?

Recalling some lending and debt collection stories from his previous life, Li Yuan felt a sense of urgency.

"I need to earn money!"

Li Yuan gritted his teeth.

"Before that, I need to master the White Ape Cloak Hammer!"

...

...

"Exhale!"

"Inhale!"

The moonlight shone on the snow, making it very bright. In the small courtyard, Li Yuan stood in the ape stance, constantly adjusting his breathing.

"The book says that the Six Breaths of the Ape must completely replace the original breathing method for the Ape Cloak Hammer to be fully mastered, but Sun Fatty's breathing seems normal..."

Relaxing his muscles, Li Yuan pondered.

After about half an hour, feeling the vibration of the Armament Scroll, he closed his eyes slightly, took off the 'Six Directions Boots' on the gray stone platform, and re-mastered the 'Practice Hammer.'

"In an instant, decades of hammer practice experience flooded my mind. This power..."

Holding the iron hammer, Li Yuan adjusted his breathing.

Exhale!

At a certain moment, the hammer head broke through the wind, and he swung his arms in the ape stance.

Snowflakes were lifted into the air as Li Yuan stood in the stance and wielded the hammer. The proficient hammer technique did not include a breathing method, but the hammer technique was inherently related to breathing.

Gradually, his movements became faster, and the noise was so loud that it even woke up Sun Fatty inside the house.

But soon, he stopped and stood still.

"Hmm?"

Sun Fatty squinted.

"Exhale!"

"Inhale!"

Li Yuan was immersed in his own breathing.

He felt as if he had transformed into a stream of air, flowing through his respiratory tract into his limbs and every part of his body. His senses became extremely sensitive,

He could even 'hear' the sound of his blood?

Buzz!

At a certain moment, Li Yuan's eyes widened, feeling as if a faint gas was emerging from his blood!

"Success!"