Xu Qing had already arrived at the brokerage. He found the merchant, stated his needs, and with the merchant's help, selected a suitable courtyard home.
Of course.
Xu Qing only bought a single-courtyard home, spending five hundred and eighty silver. Considering the prices in the Great Zhou Martial Country, it wasn't too expensive, especially for a house within Qingbei Town.
Keep in mind.
When Xu Qing was renting before, it cost five silver a month for just an ordinary Wooden House. This, however, was a proper single-courtyard home.
Additionally.
As Xu Qing was leaving the brokerage, he happened to run into Yu Chen. They greeted each other, and after asking, Xu Qing learned why Yu Chen was there.
"Brother Xu, you're moving again?"
Yu Chen said.
"Yes."
Xu Qing nodded. "Thank you again for the introduction last time, Brother Yu. But that place was too small, and the location wasn't great, so I decided to find a new place to live."
"Ahem..."
Yu Chen cleared his throat and said frankly, "Brother Xu, it's like this. Since Hu Zi has to go to your place every night to practice his fists, we were thinking of moving somewhere closer to you."
"That's fine."
Xu Qing smiled.
And so.
Xu Qing and Yu Chen discussed it for a moment. After confirming the location of Xu Qing's new house, Yu Chen rented another house not far from it.
Keep in mind.
Last time, when he asked Xu Qing to be the master, Yu Chen had given him one thousand silver. This had cost him more than half his life's savings, so he didn't really have much silver left.
Next.
Xu Qing went to take a look at the new single-courtyard home. It was quite clean and tidy. In the courtyard, there was a well and a jujube tree about as thick as a forearm.
"Not bad."
Xu Qing nodded. After confirming there were no problems, he finalized the matter. The two parties signed a new deed, had it notarized at the Government Office, and paid the tax. With that, the matter was settled.
In fact.
By the time he finished with this, it was already noon.
"A courtyard this big, and it's just me. It feels a bit deserted."
Xu Qing sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard. The jujube tree cast a shade, blocking the sun, as he enjoyed a moment of peaceful leisure.
At noon.
Xu Qing ate lunch, which consisted of a pan-fried piece of Tai Sui Spirit Meat. After filling his stomach, he left the courtyard. He was going to try the method he had thought of last night.
Before he knew it.
Xu Qing was already outside the city.
Outside the city, Xu Qing saw a scene of desolation, as if the inside and outside of the city were two different worlds. The people inside the city, though poor, at least had a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and could still afford to eat.
However.
Just outside the city.
Xu Qing saw many refugees and beggars by the roadside, along with desolate skeletons. The air was filled with depression.
Involuntarily.
Xu Qing couldn't help but recall his sixteen years of wandering. He had followed his grandfather, Nine Fingers, to many counties and encountered many things.
Xu Qing didn't know the reason.
But.
The Great Zhou Martial Country was becoming more and more depressed. The common people were growing more destitute. For years now, for some unknown reason, crops in the fields grew slowly and were often plagued by various pests. The heavens rarely sent gentle rain; it was either that or torrential downpours that lasted for days on end.
Therefore.
The crops in the fields either died of drought or were drowned.
"A pity."
Xu Qing shook his head and mused, "After all, this isn't a feudal dynasty from Earth. In this world, there is terrifyingly powerful personal martial might."
"So..."
"The lofty existences rely on their own extremely powerful personal martial might to suppress the entire world. It's even harder for the common people at the bottom to rise up than it was in the feudal dynasties on Earth."
"On Earth, the common people of ancient feudal dynasties at least had the chance to revolt. But in this world, facing such terrifying personal martial might, it doesn't matter how many ordinary people you have—it's useless."
Under these circumstances.
There was only one possibility.
That among these poor, common people, a so-called 'Child of Destiny' would be born—one who would have a string of fortuitous encounters, possess profound Talent, grow up in a short time, and gain extremely powerful personal martial might. Only then would it be possible to lead the people of the world in a successful uprising.
At that time.
It could possibly evolve into a struggle for supremacy among heroes.
Of course.
These were all just Xu Qing's speculations and deductions.
White Dwarf Mountain.
Xu Qing revisited a familiar place. He saw the still-dilapidated Mountain God Temple. The statue of the Mountain God inside had long been broken, and the temple had become a shelter for many beggars.
Afterward.
Xu Qing came to the gravestone of his grandfather, Nine Fingers.
"Grandpa, I'm back."
Xu Qing cleared the weeds from the grave, muttering, "A lot has happened these past few days, a lot of things... but I've overcome all the difficulties."
"I said last time that I'd get you a new coffin made of Golden Rattan Wood. I didn't bring it this time. If I changed it for you and left you buried here, I'm afraid your grave would get dug up by someone."
"It's better if I just build you a new one when the time is right."
Next.
Xu Qing left and began to search on White Dwarf Mountain. About half an hour later, he found an anthill.
"Let's give it a try."
A hint of joy appeared on Xu Qing's face. He took a deep breath, pulled a thin needle from his clothes, and lightly pricked the pad of his finger, drawing a bead of blood.
"Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique."
A drop of blood fell.
Xu Qing formed hand seals and cast the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique, infusing a sliver of his consciousness into the blood, which landed on an ant.
The ant quickly absorbed the drop of blood.
HUMMM!
In the unseen realm.
Xu Qing formed a faint connection. He had successfully cast the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique and tamed an ordinary ant.
"It worked."
Xu Qing's face lit up with joy. "I thought I wouldn't be able to tame an ant."
[Experience +1]
"Good."
Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction.
[Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique Level 1: 1/10.]
Next.
Xu Qing stomped his foot down.
He hissed.
Xu Qing's mind jolted. He felt a faint sensation in his head, like being pricked by a needle, which made his scalp tingle slightly.
At the same time.
The ant he had just successfully tamed was crushed under his foot.
He let out a breath.
Xu Qing took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his face. 'It's just as I thought. An ant is an extremely small creature. Because of the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique, its death causes a backlash, but since it's so small, the backlash is also extremely slight.'
'If I had tamed a different, larger beast, a single backlash would probably leave me spiritually drained for a long time.'
'My idea really can work.'
Without hesitation.
Xu Qing rubbed the bridge of his nose. He squeezed another drop of blood from the wound on his fingertip, cast the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique again, and used the blood as a medium to tame another ant.
[Experience +1]
"Good."
Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction.
Then.
He stomped on this ant as well. He felt the faint sensation of being pricked by a needle in his head again, but he slowly recovered.
"Still manageable."
Xu Qing said.
...
[Experience +1]
...
[Experience +1]
...
[Experience +1]
...
After the tenth time.
Xu Qing sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. After this one, he felt dizzy. He knew he had reached his limit; ten times was his limit.
"I can't go on."
Xu Qing shook his head, rubbing his temples and the bridge of his nose with both hands. "I've hit my limit. If I keep going, I feel like I'll damage my foundation. I can't grind for experience anymore."
Fortunately.
After ten times.
Xu Qing had gathered ten Experience Points.
[Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique Level 1: 10/10 (Upgradeable!)]
"I should head back for now."
Xu Qing said.
In the blink of an eye, Xu Qing had descended the mountain, returned to Qingbei Town, and was back at his own residence. He realized that, without noticing, it was already approaching dusk.
"Time flies."
Xu Qing remarked, still feeling a grogginess in his head. The backlash from the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique hadn't completely subsided yet.
In the evening.
Yu Hu arrived early at Xu Qing's residence.
"Master."
Yu Hu rubbed the back of his head, a simple, honest smile on his face.
"You're here."
Xu Qing glanced at Yu Hu.
"Mhm."
Yu Hu nodded.
"Let's begin then."
Xu Qing said.
Then.
Xu Qing began to teach Yu Hu Baji Fist. While he was instructing Yu Hu in Baji Fist, the Evil Ghost Mask in his pocket stirred slightly.
"Hm?"
Xu Qing frowned, pondering for a moment. 'What's going on? Why would the Evil Ghost Mask react? And it's the 'Witch Evil Ghost' sleeping inside it, no less.'
Apparently.
Something must have happened to Yu Hu.
It was just that.
Xu Qing didn't know what it was yet.
Before he knew it.
Over an hour had passed.
It was getting late.
"Hu Zi, it's time for you to go home."
Xu Qing said.
"Okay, Master."
Yu Hu nodded and left obediently.
"Summon."
HUMMM!
Xu Qing took out the Evil Ghost Mask and put it on his face. With a thought, he released the Power of the Evil Ghost Mask and summoned the 'Witch Evil Ghost'.
A thick, gray-black fog could be seen pouring out of the Evil Ghost Mask. Under the moonlight, the fog roiled continuously, as if one ferocious face and head after another were appearing within it.
Finally.
It condensed into the form of a hunched-over old woman. The Witch Evil Ghost kept its head low, blending into the darkness, and exuded a chill that seemed capable of freezing the soul.
"Master."
The Witch Evil Ghost's voice was hoarse.
"Go follow Yu Hu. Find out what exactly happened to him."
Xu Qing commanded.
"Yes."
The Witch Evil Ghost nodded respectfully.
"Don't get too close. Ordinary people can't withstand your Ghost Qi, let alone a child like Yu Hu. Just observe from a distance."
Xu Qing said gravely.
"As you command."
The Witch Evil Ghost said.
HUMMM!
The next moment.
The Witch Evil Ghost dissolved into a gray mist and vanished, heading off to track Yu Hu's aura. In the unseen realm, Xu Qing maintained a faint connection and sense of the Witch Evil Ghost.