8mi Chapter 21 Becoming an Apprentice
Chapter 21 Becoming an Apprentice
Two days later.
A restaurant in the inner city.
Inside the side room, Yang Feng, Lin Qing, Yu Qiuyu, and other members of the corpse-collecting team gathered. Except for a few who were on duty and not present, everyone else was there.
"Today, I have an important announcement to make: Lin Qing is now my apprentice!"
Before the meal, Yang Feng loudly announced the matter, causing an uproar throughout the room.
Taking advantage of the situation, Lin Qing presented a jar of fine wine with both hands. This wine was called Monkey Wine and was reserved for those who wished to become apprentices.
"Master, please accept my three bows!"
Lin Qing bowed three times to Yang Feng with utmost respect.
Yang Feng took the wine jar, poured a bowl for himself and Yang Feng, and then the two faced each other and raised their wine cups.
"This cup of wine proclaims to heaven and earth that we, master and disciple, must treat each other with sincerity and never betray each other!"
"Dry!"
The two tilted their heads back and drank the wine in their bowls in one gulp.
"good!"
The crowd cheered and looked at Lin Qing with envy.
Yang Feng is a man of upright character and strong abilities. He is highly regarded by Chief Envoy Cheng, and everyone wants to become his apprentice, but they have never had the opportunity. Now that Lin Qinggang has joined, he has such a powerful backer, and his future is limitless.
"Brother Lin, I toast you!"
"Brother Lin, if you encounter any trouble, just let me know, and I, Gao Yan, will do my utmost to help you."
"Yes, we're all brothers, no need to be so polite!"
After becoming an apprentice, Lin Qing could clearly feel that the atmosphere in the room had become much more enthusiastic, and many people's attitudes had changed dramatically. They had been very indifferent before, but now they had suddenly become extremely enthusiastic.
Lin Qing was not an aloof or arrogant person; he would respond warmly to anyone who greeted him.
Before long, the guests had left after a satisfying meal, leaving only Lin Qing and his companion, both slightly tipsy, in the private room.
"Chief Envoy Cheng will be testing your swordsmanship in a few days, so don't forget about it," Yang Feng instructed.
"I will keep this in mind and never forget it," Lin Qing said respectfully.
"Are you confident?" Yang Feng asked again. "This is no easy task."
"I'm fairly confident," Lin Qing nodded.
"That's good. Your talent is indeed very strong. In the re-examination six months later, we will look at your cultivation level and your Yin Bone. Since your Yin Bone is of the lower grade, you should try your best to learn more martial arts and master more types of internal energy. Only in this way can you cover up the disadvantage brought by the lower Yin Bone," Yang Feng instructed.
"Understood," Lin Qingying replied.
"Alright, if you need anything in the future, just let me know."
"Master, I'd like to borrow some silver," Lin Qing said. He had two hundred-tael silver notes in his hand, but out of caution, he hadn't dared to exchange them for silver at the money exchange.
"How many?"
"Thirty taels," Lin Qing replied.
"Alright, you come from a poor background and want to succeed in martial arts, but you can't do it without money. I'll send it to you when we get back," Yang Feng said gently.
"Thank you, Master." Lin Qing bowed deeply.
...
into the night.
Lin Qing returned to the small courtyard of the Craftsman's Office from the restaurant.
in the room.
Shen Lian lay on the soft couch, her back exposed, her skin smooth and fair, looking more like a young girl than a woman approaching thirty.
Lin Qing remained calm, holding a silver needle and occasionally pricking key acupoints on his back.
Shen Lian no longer has red spots on her body, but to completely eradicate them, she must continue taking the medicine and also receive acupuncture treatment.
Before long, Shen Lian had thirty-nine silver needles inserted into her back.
Lin Qing got up, went to the wooden basin on the open ground next to him, scooped up the water in the basin and quickly washed his hands, then slowly dried the water stains on his hands with a white towel next to him.
Shen Lian looked Chen Jin up and down with interest, then teased him with a smile, "I'm so charming, how come you don't react at all?"
Lin Qing smiled wryly, "Lord Shen, please don't make fun of me. If I, Lin Qing, don't even have this much self-control, I might as well give up martial arts and just pack my bags and go home."
"Tsk tsk, no wonder Yang Feng took you as his apprentice, you two are such blockheads," Shen Lian laughed. "Are you going to take the re-examination next year?"
"Of course I'll give it a try." Lin Qing said, reaching out to grab a handful of roasted soybeans from the table and sitting down on the chair next to Shen Lian's bed.
"You're so talented, it's a waste for you to stay in this small county. You have to give it your all and try to pass the re-examination next year." Shen Lian said, reaching out to grab a handful of roasted soybeans.
Is it difficult?
"It's as difficult as climbing to heaven! Those who can enter the Soul Division of the prefectural town are geniuses that are only seen once in a hundred years in major counties. If it's not one in ten thousand, it has to be one in a thousand." Shen Lian chewed on soybeans, making a crisp crunching sound.
"Is it that difficult to get started? I wonder what the treatment is like?" Lin Qing pondered.
"The treatment is naturally top-notch, incomparable to the county's Soul Suppression Division. I heard that once you go to the prefectural city, you'll have plenty of pills and will be exposed to all kinds of advanced martial arts. If you want to stand out from the crowd, this is your only way," Shen Lian said with a smile.
Lin Qing nodded and came to Shen Lian's side: "It's about time, it's time to remove the needles."
"If you become a constable of the Soul Suppression Division in the prefectural city, even the high-ranking officials of these powerful families in the county will have to show you respect. In this era, evil spirits are rampant, and the status of the Soul Suppression Division has risen accordingly, surpassing all the major departments of the imperial court. It can be said to be second only to the emperor, above tens of thousands of people. In short, as long as you pass the re-examination, it will be like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, rising to the top in one step." Shen Lian said, then sighed softly, "It's just that my talent isn't that great, otherwise I would have gone to the prefectural city long ago. Why would I be stuck in this small place suffering and toil?"
As Lin Qing listened, his heart burned with excitement. Besides the obvious benefits, going to the Soul Division of the prefectural city would allow him to come into contact with the corpses of more and more powerful martial artists, enabling him to improve his strength at a faster pace.
"No matter what, I have to give it my all for next year's re-examination," Lin Qing whispered.
"That's more like it. Young people should have ambition. Train hard. I have high hopes for you. Ask for anything you need. Just don't be an ungrateful wretch when you become successful in the future," Shen Lian said to herself.
At this moment, Lin Qing reached out and removed the last silver needle: "Lord Shen, that's enough."
Shen Lian got up, dressed, and smiled, "Your technique is really good."
Lin Qing nodded: "Sir, were you serious about what you just said?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Shen Lian said irritably.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony, I'm short of money."
"How many?"
"Two hundred taels, I'll repay you with silver notes in the future," Lin Qing said.
"You're really asking for the moon, kid. I don't have two hundred taels, one hundred taels at most." Shen Lian rolled her eyes.
"Then one hundred taels."
A moment later, Lin Qing walked out of Shen Lian's room with this large sum of silver in his pocket.
"I borrowed 130 taels in total, and will repay it with silver notes in the future, so I won't have to risk going to the money exchange in person."
"With this 130 taels of silver, the Record of Rebirth should be able to be upgraded." A look of joy appeared in Lin Qing's eyes.
As he copied more and more talents, the first-order Rebirth Record was no longer enough, and the second-order was barely sufficient.
While pondering, Lin Qing returned to his room. He placed the silver on the table, reached out and grabbed one of the coins. With a thought, information appeared before him.
"Gold and silver items detected. Absorbing them can increase your Rebirth Record level. Absorb?"
"absorb."
In an instant, the silver coin in his palm vanished, and the level of his Rebirth Record on the panel began to increase rapidly.
...
"Brother Han, has that old hag Yin Muhua left Jiangyin County? She hasn't made any moves for a while."
Across from the Zhenhun Division's office, in a three-story private room of a restaurant, Jiang Baihe took a sip of yellow wine and said with a smile.