Chapter 90 - 88: The Prodigy Gu Wenhui
This day.
In the courtyard, Song Changming held a Pile Skill posture, unmoving like a mountain, allowing his muscles and skin to resonate together with his breath.
After a while, his entire body’s skin heated up, lasting for the time of an incense stick before returning to normal.
Song Changming reached out to touch his own skin, the texture didn’t feel rough, but he could vaguely sense thickness and great resilience.
"Second Realm!"
Today, his Rhino Horn Skill had finally broken through to the Second Realm, the texture of his skin had clearly changed.
Second Realm Skin Refining, Second Realm Muscle Training, Third Realm Washing Marrow, Fifth Realm Bone Forging!
Among the martial artists he had encountered, no one was as comprehensive as him in their training.
If he were to disclose his current body refinement progress, he would definitely be seen as an outlier.
The vast majority of martial artists, exhausting their life energies, might train one specialty to the Sixth Mirror; it would be remarkable and nearly reaching the limit of body refinement.
There isn’t extra energy to simultaneously cultivate as many body refining skills as he does.
With this time, it’d be better to strive further and train to the Seventh Realm, or the Eighth Realm; that would be a top-tier powerhouse of the era.
But training comprehensively has its own benefits.
People who specialize, ultimately are not as formidable as a Warrior.
A Warrior represents having no flaws or weaknesses.
No matter if someone has stronger bones than him, their speed is not as fast.
If someone is faster, their skin and muscle strength are not as great as his.
Relying on the advantages of the other three aspects, he can maneuver against martial artists with higher body refining realms and even defeat them!
Tasks others cannot complete in their lifetime, he can accomplish.
It’s not just that he has a cultivation state bestowed by Heaven Rewards Diligence, seemingly without bottlenecks; he also has constantly increasing life span.
A task unfinishable in one life, he can take several lifetimes to complete, it will surely be done.
Concluding his practice, he wipes away the sweat from his body; today’s training ends here.
"I’ll head back today to grab a bite to eat." Feeling hungry after the training, Song Changming decided, patting his stomach.
It’s been some time since he went back to Song Residence, occasionally missing the meals cooked by Song’s Mother.
Riding out on his horse, he soon arrived at the familiar Three Alleys in Houli Street.
Year after year, Song Residence remained the same, except the previously new paint now appeared dim, no longer as bright as when they first moved in.
He knocked on the door, greeted by a teenage boy.
The boy seemed around fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a simple, efficient waist-bound outer garment.
His skin was slightly dark and appeared rough, his appearance honest; seeing Song Changming, he immediately greeted respectfully, saying Brother Song.
The boy was met last year by Song Changming on the street.
His parents succumbed to severe illness and couldn’t survive last year’s harsh winter, both dying early.
The boy came to the County City seeking medical help, but ultimately faced having to sell himself to bury his parents.
Song Changming, seeing his pitiful situation and considering his own aging parents would eventually need care, decided to buy the boy and bring him back to Song Residence.
After some observation, feeling the boy had decent character, he renamed him Song Ping’an.
Henceforth, the boy would be considered part of the Song Family.
Ordinarily, he was responsible for odd jobs, errands, and attending to Song Father and Song Mother’s daily needs.
"Ping’an, it’s been a while, you’ve grown taller and stronger." Song Changming observed.
He remembered that when he brought back the boy last year, he was lusterless and emaciated, very small, and severely malnourished.
After a year of nourishment at the Song’s, with no stinginess on food and drink, plus being at the developmental stage, the boy’s physique clearly grew significantly sturdier, reaching up to Song Changming’s chin.
"Thanks to the patriarch and the mistress’s kindness." Song Ping’an scratched his head and said.
Song Father and Song Mother truly treated him well, seldom using him as a servant, and never beating or scolding.
This made him deeply grateful.
According to the law, he had already sold himself to Song Changming, signed the selling contract, and his life and death were no longer his own.
Even if the Song Family were to shout for beating or killing him, he would have no complaints.
He had heard of the cruel ways some wealthy families treated servants, and compared to them, he felt lucky to have met the relatively kind Song Changming and Song Father and Mother.
"What good day is today, Changming has come back." Song’s Mother smiled warmly, bringing Song Changming into the courtyard.
"It’s been a long time since I returned, I came to have a look today." Song Changming smiled.
"Haha, great." Song’s Mother chuckled happily.
Dahuang and White, the two large watchdogs, upon seeing Song Changming, were also delighted, jumping around excitedly, nearly wagging their tails off.
Only someone with Song Changming’s kind of physique could handle these beasts larger than humans.
"Brother Song is truly powerful!" Song Ping’an remarked upon seeing.
He knew the tonnage of these two big dogs, even ordinary martial artists could barely withstand their pouncing.
"When idle, exercise your body more. Being at my Song’s household without strength is not acceptable." Song Changming advised Song Ping’an.
He planned to observe more to see if this Song Ping’an was reliable.
And also wait for him to grow further, and restore his body once severely lacking Qi Blood, before considering whether to teach him Martial Tao.
"Brother Song is right." Song Ping’an nodded firmly.
Having settled in Houli Street these days, he heard many past stories about Song Changming from neighbors.
He knew that although Song Changming seemed young, in this County City, he had long achieved fame and success.
Counting Song Changming’s past achievements, anyone who heard them would have to marvel at this contemporary hero!
In the future, I will surely become renowned!
Song Ping’an also harbors youthful ambition, secretly admiring the achievements Song Changming has made and yearning to become as formidable a person as Song Changming.
"I must not let Brother Song down!" he thought to himself.
Father Song beckoned to Song Changming.
"Changming, you’re just in time, take a look at this."
Song Changming looked over. In the water jar, a noticeably larger Bisho Silkworm stood out, with three blue stripes on its body.
"When I last came, there wasn’t a Three Striped Green Water Silkworm. Did this one appear recently?" Song Changming remarked with surprise.
"Indeed, just five days ago." Father Song stroked his beard, his expression content.
He now treated raising silkworms as a hobby, much like others would keep birds or go fishing.
Whether it was profitable was secondary; the old man truly enjoyed the sense of achievement from his efforts.
Having raised such a Three Striped Green Water Silkworm was enough to keep him satisfied for a while.
As soon as Song Changming arrived, he couldn’t wait to show off.
"If there’s one, there’ll be more. From now on, it should be easier to cultivate Three Striped Green Water Silkworms. I’ve noticed that high-grade silkworms subtly improve the water quality they inhabit..."
After chatting with his father for a while, Song’s Mother brought the food to the table.
Song Changming motioned to Song Ping’an.
Song Ping’an hesitated for a moment but eventually sat obediently beside Song Changming to eat with the family.
This is something rarely seen in other households.
Servants have their own meals; they don’t dine with the family.
But Song Changming wasn’t so formal, and Father Song and Song’s Mother were from humble backgrounds, so they usually allowed Song Ping’an to dine and live with them.
Even the two big dogs were considered part of the family, lying nearby and eating from two basin-sized portions of vegetables and meat.
No matter how chaotic the outside world got, this small home always felt peaceful and comfortable in Song Changming’s heart.
...
August.
On Brocade Street, at the Piaoxiang Pavilion, two young gentlemen put on a spectacular show of "anger for a beauty," talked about with great relish by others.
They even succeeded in catapulting an artist named Honglian to fame, making her the new star of the Piaoxiang Pavilion.
Every day, many people came to see this beauty, satisfying their curiosity.
Just what kind of appearance could enchant those two young gentlemen so much and provoke such widespread talk?
Song Changming was among the curious.
That evening, in a private room at Piaoxiang Pavilion.
"So this is Captain Song, whom Brother Lu has mentioned to me many times. Indeed, a person of great talent."
A man in his thirties, wearing a ceremonial headdress and a broad-sleeved brocade robe, set down his wine cup and said with a smile.
He had an impressive appearance, with two neatly trimmed mustaches.
"Greetings, Lord Gu," Song Changming cupped his hands and said.
"We aren’t wearing our official uniforms, so there’s no need for formality," Gu Wenhui waved his hand and continued.
"Brother Lu once said that in this vast Public Security Bureau, your strength ranks first, with him second. Is this true?"
Song Changming glanced at Lu Zheng beside him and said, "Captain Lu and I have not competed, it’s Captain Lu who speaks highly of me."
Gu Wenhui shook his head, "Brother Lu and I have a life-and-death bond, I doubt he would joke about this with me. Moreover, with his pride, he wouldn’t flatter anyone."
Upon hearing this, Song Changming refrained from further courteous remarks and waited for the other to continue.
"I’ve also heard you had the opportunity, through the Xiao Family’s fourth lady’s recommendation, to join the Governor’s Mansion, and become, like me, one of Lord Governor’s advisors. Why did you decline?"
Upon hearing this, even Lu Zheng was taken aback, giving Song Changming a second look.
The chance to become the Governor’s advisor was a significant advancement for captains like them.
Refusing such an excellent opportunity was indeed puzzling.
"Lord Gu’s news is indeed well-informed," Song Changming replied helplessly.
Gu Wenhui stroked his small mustache and chuckled.
Song Changming nodded and said, "Indeed, that was the case, but I do not consider myself sufficiently capable or experienced. Even if I did become an advisor, I’d likely be of little help to the Governor and might even draw undue attention. I prefer to hone my skills at the General Department for a few more years."
"In this world, many are driven by immediate gains and aspirations beyond their reach. A steadfast and humble person like Captain Song is indeed rare," Gu Wenhui praised Song Changming before continuing.
"However, given Captain Song’s martial prowess, securing a position as a military officer alongside the Governor should be more than achievable. Age and experience aren’t obstacles; I, too, went at twenty-five, and any disparaging remarks can be easily quelled with capability."
"Lord Gu makes a good point," Song Changming said.
He was acquainted with Gu Wenhui’s reputation and achievements.
A local elite from the Gu Family, a youthful prodigy with a reputation that preceded even Song Changming.
He could read and do arithmetic at three, compose poetry at eight, and by eleven, he was a well-known prodigy in Donglai Prefecture.
Each year saw new stories about him, whether it was a renowned poem or a brilliant piece of writing that left scholars in awe.
At previous academic exchanges, his brilliance was evident.
At twenty-five, Gu Wenhui presented a stunning policy essay to the Governor, earning an invitation to become an advisor at the Governor’s Mansion.
In summary, the man before him was indeed a true prodigy, famous from a young age.
Intelligent and exceptionally talented.
Why such a person came specifically to see him today, Song Changming couldn’t quite tell.
...