Chương 23: The Full-Month Banquet

Could it be… someone had captured that alligator-dragon? An unbelievable thought appeared in Jiang Huanyu's heart. The danger of Blackwater Pond was famous, and at that time, the alligator-dragon had already dragged the fishing net toward the depths of Blackwater Pond. What ordinary person would dare go deep inside to capture an alligator-dragon with boundless strength? This thing was far more powerful in water than on land.

Its terrifying bite force, combined with a death roll, meant even a plowing ox would not be its match. Jiang Huanyu shook his head. Estimating that the fishing net in his hand no longer had much value for repair, he threw the tattered net onto the ox cart and continued toward Cloudwater Town. By the time he bought a new fishing net and returned home, Hu Yufen had already brought Anu back. The little fellow was currently tearfully complaining to his mother about being beaten today.

Jiang Huanyu did not interrupt from the side. He wanted to see how his wife would handle it.

"Teacher only hit you three times?" After hearing this, Hu Yufen asked back. The little fellow seemed not to hear the meaning in her words. He even stretched out his red and swollen little hand to seek comfort.

"Mother, I was just playful…"

"Ah!" Before he could finish speaking, his ear was grabbed.

"Mother! Mother! Be gentle!"

"I was wrong!" The little fellow cried out in pain. Hu Yufen said with a stern face, "Being accepted under Teacher's door is an opportunity many people beg for but cannot obtain. Yet you are blessed without knowing your blessing."

"Mother will tell you today. If you are naughty and make Teacher angry in the future, and he drives you out, I will have your father break your legs!" Jiang Wenyan, who had never seen his mother angry before, was immediately frightened. He did not dare say anything more and could only nod in agreement.

"Mother, Anu knows he was wrong. Please don't be angry." The anger on Hu Yufen's face softened slightly. She got up and walked toward the kitchen house. Jiang Huanyu quickly followed and comforted her, "Since you've already taught him a lesson, don't be angry anymore. You still haven't finished your postpartum confinement. Don't damage your body with anger." After hearing this, Hu Yufen sighed slightly.

"This stinky boy is far less reassuring than Stone."

"Fortunately, Teacher is strict. Hopefully, he can temper his temperament." Jiang Huanyu agreed while pushing her outside the kitchen house.

"We agreed that before your postpartum confinement is over, you are not to enter the kitchen house. I'll do it. Go watch the children." … Cloudwater Town martial arts school. Jiang Wenfeng was still cultivating as diligently as ever. These days, he always felt as if he had sensed the aura of qi and blood, but he could never grasp it. At the Dragon hour, after bitterly training for a long while, the somewhat irritated Jiang Wenfeng ended his practice.

After simply washing up, he came to the rear courtyard of the martial arts school. The rear courtyard was where Huang Qingzhou's family lived. Normally, Jiang Wenfeng rarely set foot there. After knocking on the courtyard gate and hearing Huang Qingzhou's voice, he pushed the door open and entered. At this moment, in the courtyard, Huang Qingzhou was bare-chested and standing in a stance. Jiang Wenfeng could tell at a glance that Huang Qingzhou's stance training was not the same as the kind they usually learned.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Elder Uncle, I am truly sorry for disturbing you so late." Huang Qingzhou ended his stance training, wiped the sweat from his face, and smiled.

"Stinky brat, your father entrusted you to Elder Uncle, so don't act like an outsider."

"Did you encounter a problem in cultivation?" He understood Jiang Wenfeng. Without something important, he would not step into the rear courtyard. Jiang Wenfeng nodded.

"Recently, when this nephew stands in stances, I can faintly feel a force of qi and blood flowing inside my body."

"But when I want to grasp it, it seems to suddenly disappear again. I came here to ask Elder Uncle whether this is this nephew's illusion, or…" After hearing his description, Huang Qingzhou was somewhat surprised.

"If this old man remembers correctly, you are still not yet ten years old, right?" Jiang Wenfeng cupped his hands.

"Still two months short." After receiving confirmation, Huang Qingzhou's expression became complicated. He had him sit to the side.

"Give me your hand." Grabbing Jiang Wenfeng's palm, he carefully sensed it for a while and said, "It really is qi sensation."

"Your talent is even better than Elder Uncle imagined." Jiang Wenfeng did not understand.

"Elder Uncle, what is qi sensation?" Huang Qingzhou put on a piece of clothing and explained, "We martial artists cultivate qi and blood."

"Qi and blood are things everyone has, but the qi and blood power of ordinary people is very weak."

"Martial artists use stance training to temper themselves, medicinal meals and some medicines to nourish themselves, constantly strengthening their own qi and blood until they can sense and control the power of qi and blood."

"The stage you are at now is the stage just before breaking through to the Acquired Realm martial artist level. It is also called qi sensation."

"This is not an illusion. Cultivate properly. Later, Elder Uncle will have people add three more medicinal meals for you each month. Strive to break through to the Acquired Realm as soon as possible." Add medicinal meals? After hearing this, Jiang Wenfeng felt somewhat troubled. Three medicinal meals meant ten taels of silver. He deeply knew that the family was already difficult enough now, and he truly did not want to spend more silver.

"Elder Uncle, even without adding medicinal meals, it won't affect this nephew's breakthrough, right?" In his view, not adding medicinal meals would at most mean breaking through a little later. He was not even ten years old now, so there was no need to rush.

"Stinky brat, Elder Uncle knows your family is struggling. These medicinal meals will be considered Elder Uncle's gift to you. Don't think too much." Huang Qingzhou saw through his little thoughts and could not help laughing and scolding him. After witnessing Jiang Wenfeng's talent, he already had plans in his heart. It was time to renew the relationship with the Jiang family. These three medicinal meals could be considered the first step of investment.

"Right, I heard before that your mother was about to give birth. How is it now?" Jiang Wenfeng froze slightly, thinking of what his father had instructed him when he came this time. He hurriedly cupped his hands.

"Elder Uncle, please forgive me. This nephew has been practicing martial arts so much lately that I became foolish. Elder Uncle, please wait." As he spoke, he hurriedly ran back to his residence and took out the invitation from under his pillow.

"When I came this time, Father did not see Elder Uncle, so he entrusted this nephew to give you this invitation. This nephew was careless and actually forgot, nearly delaying an important matter." Huang Qingzhou received the invitation and opened it to take a look. Then he smiled and said,"There are still some days. It is not late, not late." Jiang Wenfeng breathed a sigh of relief and slightly cupped his hands.

"Then this nephew will not disturb Elder Uncle." After he left, Huang Qingzhou looked at the invitation in his hand again and smiled while shaking his head. How could he not see that this was a little play acted by the father and son? But this play did not make one feel disgusted. On the contrary, Huang Qingzhou very much liked Jiang Huanyu's self-awareness. If Jiang Huanyu had directly sent this invitation, then if Huang Qingzhou refused, it would not look good on the surface.

But if he agreed, he would also feel uncomfortable inside. Now, just as he was thinking of renewing this relationship with the Jiang family, the invitation had been delivered to his hand. It could be said to be just right.

"Getting along with clever people is truly comfortable." Huang Qingzhou smiled and put away the invitation, then walked into the house. … Time passed in a flash, and in the blink of an eye, it was nearly time for Jiang Wenping and Jiang wenchen's full-month banquet. During this period, Jiang Huanyu went to Blackwater Pond a few more times, but he did not catch a single fish. The reason was that, for some unknown cause, all the alligator-dragons in the pond had crawled onto the shore.

Around the entire Blackwater Pond, ferocious alligator-dragons could be seen everywhere, and he did not dare approach at all. As for that fishing old man, perhaps he was also afraid of these alligator-dragons, because Jiang Huanyu did not see him again. Late October. The family's small courtyard was filled with joy. Since this was not the full-month banquet of the legitimate eldest son, not many people were invited.

Counting Lu Zhiyuan and Uncle Ya, as well as Huang Qingzhou's family, there were only three tables of food in total. The wine and dishes were simple. He had found some commoners in the village who were good at cooking to help, while Jiang Huanyu welcomed the arriving guests at the door. In the distance, Uncle Ya walked slowly over, carrying a wooden box in one hand and leading a donkey with the other. Lu Zhiyuan sat on the donkey's back.

"Father, Teacher is here," Stone reminded him, and Jiang Huanyu quickly went forward to greet them.

"Teacher, Uncle Ya." Lu Zhiyuan got down from the donkey, cupped his hands, and smiled.

"Congratulations, Little Brother Jiang." Uncle Ya took the opportunity to hand over the wooden box and cupped his hands with a smile.

"Teacher, please come inside." Jiang Huanyu smiled and received the wooden box. Then he turned and saw, on the village road in the distance, a carriage slowly approaching. Behind the carriage were two figures riding warhorses.

"Stone, accompany Teacher inside first. Your Elder Uncle Huang has arrived, so Father will go welcome him."

"Teacher, excuse me." Lu Zhiyuan nodded slightly and followed Stone into the courtyard. At this moment, the carriage had already slowly drawn near. Only then did Jiang Huanyu see that the ones following behind the carriage were Huang Yunxiao and another burly man with a full beard.