My experience of grinding in another world

Chapter 14 Getting Started
In Chen Mu's home in Ping'anfang.

"Two penniless bastards." Chen Mu fiddled with a few pieces of silver in disappointment.

The two of them gave gifts that were far inferior to those given by the painter Yan!
Fortunately, his portrait business has been booming lately, so he's not short of money.

With two thugs' legs broken, they won't be able to cause him any trouble for at least six months.

After putting away the loose silver, Chen Mu went to the west side of the courtyard.

There was a small pile of rubble under the thatched shed.

He collected these stones specifically for practicing flying locusts.

Whoosh... Bang!

Whoosh... Bang!

A series of low, booming sounds rose in the courtyard.

An hour later, Chen Mu stopped practicing, rubbing his sore arms.

"We can't practice at home anymore." Chen Mu frowned, staring at the uneven mud wall. He was afraid he would smash it down.

With a thought, the gray wall was brought to life.

Writing: 1132/10000/Second order;

Drawing: 569/10000/Second order;

Throw: 1331/10000/Tier 2;

He refined the Flying Locust Stone to the second level, and its power gradually became apparent.

It has a perfect accuracy within ten meters and its impact force is extremely powerful, even comparable to small-caliber firearms from my previous life.

It was precisely because of the power of the flying locust stone that he was able to break the legs of the two thugs in just a few blows.

"This is only the second tier..." Chen Mu exclaimed with great anticipation.

After resting for a while, Chen Mu continued to study the Red Falcon Form Training Technique.

According to Sheng Hong, the Body Refining Technique is a secret art that can transform a person completely.

With continued practice, one can gradually break through the limits of the human body and gain abilities such as strength, speed, and reaction that are difficult for ordinary people to achieve.

That's also why Officer Lu could cover five or six meters in a single step.

The Red Falcon Formation Technique focuses on increasing speed.

The difficulty lies in the breathing technique. It has a whole set of requirements for breathing.

Each segment consists of sixty breaths, with specific requirements for the depth and speed of each breath.

Furthermore, the beginning and end are connected and echo each other, forming a cycle.

Chen Mu needs to change his breathing habits and keep himself in this cycle.

Then, by correctly combining the various postures of the exercise, one can be considered to have truly entered the field.

He has been working hard to change his breathing habits these days. Now he can largely keep his breathing regular.

Today is the day to test the leap-style coordination.

Chen Mu concentrated intently, running and maneuvering around the yard strictly following the footwork taught by Sheng Hong.

At a certain moment, breathing and overall movement suddenly became connected.

The whole person was like a car with the clutch released, with strength and movement becoming intertwined.

My whole body felt much more relaxed and I could exert force smoothly.

As soon as he stopped, Chen Mu immediately brought up the gray wall.

Writing: 1132/10000/Second order;

Drawing: 569/10000/Second order;

Throw: 1372/10000/Tier 2;

Red Falcon Form Training Technique: 3/10000/Tier 1;
"Finally, I made the list."

……

West Market, Baoan Hall.

A small pharmacy tucked away in an alley.

The people who usually come here for medical treatment and medicine are ordinary people.

Chen Mu, dressed in a gray-white long gown, walked along the blue brick path, through the narrow alley that resembled a sliver of sky, and entered this inconspicuous pharmacy.

Fifteen minutes later, he quickly left with a bag of medicinal herbs.

Afterwards, he went to several other small pharmacies and bought some medicinal herbs from each one. Only then did he hurry home.

The Red Falcon's Form Training Technique has been mastered; now it requires the use of a matching secret medicine.

Buying medicine in separate places is also to avoid being noticed by the pharmacy.

Weigh the herbs according to the prescription, pour them all into the clay pot and start simmering.

"There must be a reason for this, but for now, this is the only way," Chen Mu sighed.

Taking medicine, eating meat, and practicing martial arts—Chen Mu did these few things whenever he stayed at home.

What seems tedious and boring to ordinary people, he actually finds quite enjoyable.

However, he had to go out to draw portraits for people every few days.

This is his only source of income at present, and it cannot be cut off. Of course, he also occasionally goes to the county government office to help draw wanted posters.

This was something I had promised County Magistrate Du.

Although it's unpaid work, it's not without its benefits.

At least no more street thugs bothered him.

……

Time passed slowly, and half a month later.

Chen Mu left his house, intending to go to the East Market to buy meat.

Chen Mu was immersed in his training, which consumed a lot of energy. He needed to eat two pounds of meat at each meal, otherwise he wouldn't feel full at all.

To supplement his nutrition, Chen Mu plans to buy a few hens and raise a few sheep, providing them with goat milk and eggs.

He was terrified of training himself to the point of going bald.

Upon arriving at Dongshi, I saw a large crowd gathered at the crossroads.

Zheng Tu, the butcher, was leaning against the street corner, watching the commotion.

"Why are there so many people gathered around?" Chen Mu asked Zheng Tu as he approached him.

"Remember the Wang family massacre? The thief has been caught. Today we're going to chop off his head." Zheng Tu's fat cheeks jiggled as he looked on with amusement.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu stood on tiptoe to look.

There is a circular stone platform with a diameter of three or four meters in the center of the crossroads.

A prisoner dressed in prison clothes was kneeling on the stone platform. His feet were chained, his hands were bound behind his back, and a black cloth bag covered his face.

The area around the stone platform was filled with yamen runners and constables.

On the north side of the street corner, there was a gray cloth tent, where three people dressed in official robes sat calmly below.

The person in the middle is a middle-aged man in his forties.

With a square face, slightly dark skin, and an expressionless expression, he was none other than the magistrate of Qingshan County.

The county magistrate, Du, who was in charge of protecting the local people, was sitting to the left of the other person.

On the other side was an elderly man in his fifties or sixties, with a white beard. Chen Mu guessed that he was probably the county magistrate of Qingshan County.

Zheng Tu whispered, "That bandit is formidable. It's said that Officer Lu was seriously injured while trying to capture him."

Could he possibly injure Constable Lu?
Looks like he's a powerful person who's practiced some form-manipulation techniques!
Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the crowd. Chen Mu turned his head and saw the thief who had taken off his hood.

Staring at that face, Chen Mu's heart skipped a beat.

This person looks exactly like the portrait on the wanted poster.

But he knew that the wanted poster was drawn by Yan the painter, and it was still four or five points different from the real appearance of the thief.

"This guy isn't the real ruthless bandit who wiped out an entire family!"

"Was it an accidental arrest of the wrong person? Or was it a scapegoat found by the county government?"

Don't think about it anymore, let's go!
"Cut me ten catties of meat, half tenderloin and half pork belly. I'll go buy some wheat first and come back to pick it up later," Chen Mu said to Zheng Tu, and left in a hurry without waiting for his reply.

He hadn't walked far when he heard shouts behind him. Chen Mu paused for a moment, then strode away.

……

In the private room of Ruyi Zhai in Anlefang, Dongshi, seven or eight people were drinking and chatting.

A middle-aged man with a round face and small eyes, who looked quite well-off, sat at the head of the table.

"Recently, a young painter with superb skills has appeared in the city. It is said that his portraits are so lifelike. Have you heard of him, Master Yan?" the middle-aged man said with a smile to the painter Yan beside him.

Painter Yan's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm and collected: "I've heard that the master has taken a liking to his painting skills?"

The well-off middle-aged man nodded: "That's right. Bringing us into Miaohua Studio will enhance its influence."

“But I heard he has connections with the government, so it’s not good to touch him.” Painter Yan looked troubled.

"Old Yan is mistaken. You can't force this kind of talent," the portly middle-aged man said, shaking his head.

“Our Miaohua Studio has connections, he has painting skills, and by cooperating with us, he has more clients, and we increase our influence. It’s a win-win situation.”

“Then I’ll give it a try,” Painter Yan nodded.

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder Yan." The well-off middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction.

Then came another round of toasts and drinks.

After the meal, the painter Yan parted ways with everyone, all smiles on his face.

He left Ruyi Zhai with two burly followers.

He hadn't walked far when the smile on his face gradually turned cold.

"I never expected that kid would actually make a name for himself!" Painter Yan thought to himself with resentment.

“Zhang Qing and Li Fan are two useless pieces of trash. If they had been crippled long ago, none of this would have happened!” Painter Yan felt threatened.

"Once that kid enters the Wonderful Painting Workshop, my position will be in jeopardy." Painter Yan frowned in deep thought.

"No, we have to get rid of that kid!" Painter Yan glanced at the two burly men behind him.

“These two are connected through the Miaohua Studio, so we can’t use them,” Painter Yan pondered to himself.

"I guess I'll have to go to the ghost market. That'll be another expense. Damn kid!" Painter Yan left quickly, his face ashen.

(End of this chapter)