Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 51: March

Outside the South Gate Traveler’s Inn.

Ruan Youzhi watched a few busy members of the Three Red Gang, frowning slightly.

He’d just joined the Shaving Knife Gang yesterday, hadn’t even warmed the seat, slept one night, and woke up to find the Shaving Knife Gang wiped out, and the controller of South Gate Traveler’s Inn replaced by new faces.

"Just my luck!"

He muttered softly, a touch of resignation in his voice.

For people like him, known for their intelligence, it’s all about the domino effect, so a shift in circumstances mattered a great deal.

Everything moves toward set goals, but if your environment changes, your goals get impacted too, plans have to change accordingly.

For example, if he got too deeply tied to the Shaving Knife Gang, this South Gate Traveler’s Inn would be a bad place to stay.

Best to avoid getting targeted by this new faction.

Luckily, they weren’t deeply involved yet. Call it a small blessing amid misfortune.

"So what now, Second Bro?"

Li Long adjusted the straw hat on his head, asking.

"Four Gates had been stable for years, and now the Three Red Gang stirs up trouble. Seems like they’re ambitious and have plans. Joining them might just make us the spark that shakes up Black Mountain Prefecture!"

Ruan Youzhi smiled as he spoke.

"But—with all this chaos, won’t they lie low for a while?" Li Long said.

Ruan Youzhi shook his head, looking certain of himself, "No, no, no. You underestimate human nature. Ambition’s like a wildfire in the grasslands—once it’s lit, almost impossible to control! Take advantage of desire and no one can resist!"

"Can’t argue with that, Second Bro!"

Li Long nodded.

So the two waited for their chance, showed off some skill, and with the rapid expansion of the Three Red Gang—desperate for manpower—they got in easily.

······

Time flew by.

With Wei Feng quietly helping behind the scenes, the clinic opened for business smoothly.

On opening day, a few strangers arrived, not exactly friendly, but once Lu Chang’sheng mentioned being This Year’s Child Scholar and dropped Wei Feng’s name, their faces eased up.

Even so, they still found an opportunity to ask about the clinic’s prices. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Once Lu Chang’sheng gave a rough range, they finally smiled a little, congratulated him repeatedly, and left.

The medical business is quite profitable—if your conscience is black enough, you can wring out every last coin an ordinary family has.

That’s why every new clinic in town is a competitor. If Lu Chang’sheng’s place didn’t have backup, it’d be hard to keep going; if it did, then he’d have to play by the unspoken rules. Prices couldn’t be too low, otherwise he’d break the alliance.

Cut off someone else’s money, and they’ll have it out for you to the very end.

"Tough times, hard to be a good man."

Lu Chang’sheng watched the medical reps leave, a bit of sentiment weighing on him.

If not for these concerns, he’d definitely lower fees, develop his own medical skills more.

Compared to chasing a few silver coins, improving his technique was clearly more important.

During the day, he’d head over to Jixia Academy for classes; as soon as school was out, he’d go back to the clinic to help with patients.

He’d fit in extra time for practicing the Four-Sided Blade Technique and reading the Anshi Book.

He’d put the Flood Stake on hold—not from lack of time, but because after splitting with the Lin Family, he couldn’t get the medicated soups anymore, so the training time shown on the panel just kept climbing.

Given his current root bone talent, pounding away at the Flood Stake just wasn’t worth it right now.

The Four-Sided Blade Technique, on the other hand, didn’t need any outside "additives," and his blade technique talent was up a tier, so that got priority.

Three months later, time for rest and bathing.

Lu Chang’sheng got up early out of habit, training at the Four-Sided Blade Technique.

The blade was bought from the ironworks at South Gate—cost him a good 800 copper coins.

After a few rounds of practice, even though he hadn’t gotten much faster, it wasn’t as clumsy and awkward as when he’d first started.

Suddenly, a beam of morning light streamed in, and he felt something click. His blade got faster and faster, almost becoming a blur.

Busy in the kitchen, Li Nangua seemed to sense something, turned to look, and a flash of surprise crossed her face.

Soon, the blade’s speed dropped, and finally stopped altogether.

Lu Chang’sheng sheathed his blade, wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Chang’sheng, your Four-Sided Blade Technique looks different today." Li Nangua handed over a pot of tea, asking.

"Just broke through to Minor Achievement."

Lu Chang’sheng glanced at the light curtain panel—

"Root Bone (Side): 2/3 [Blade Technique, High Grade, next tier: Genius]"

"Four-Sided Blade Technique: (Skill)"

"Time for Entry: 0.3 years (Entry)"

"Time for Minor Achievement: 2 years (Minor Achievement)"

"Time for Great Success: 8 years (Great Success)"

······

"Looks like, at the same stage, skill and art take drastically different times!"

Strictly speaking, the Four-Sided Blade Technique counts as a type of Martial Dao, but the Golden Finger divides things up pretty finely: art versus skill.

The blade technique’s progress is all about practice—the more you train, the faster the progress bar moves.

Because of this, Lu Chang’sheng even cut down his time practicing medicine quite a bit.

"Almost thirteen... Just over two more years, and I’ll get a new point of root bone!"

Lu Chang’sheng felt hopeful inside.

His main root bone was still a long way from leveling up, but the side root bone would jump a rank nearly every time it climbed by one point.

"So that means, by thirty, my martial talent will reach genius level. After that, maybe even the most advanced martial arts won’t be much trouble for me?"

He chuckled to himself.

Next, he checked Medical Technique—

"Medical Technique: (Skill)"

"Time for Entry: 0.5 years (Entry)"

"Time for Minor Achievement: 2 years (Minor Achievement)"

"Time for Great Success: 9 years (Great Success)"

Still a bit more to go!

"Already absorbed everything from the Anshi Book—need to find more medical books!"

New medical manuals could make the training time much shorter.

Lu Chang’sheng made a note, planning to search for new books when he got the chance.

Li Nangua’s eyes lit up again, sneaking glances at Lu Chang’sheng.

"How’s your own progress with the Four-Sided Blade Technique?" Lu Chang’sheng asked her.

"Hmm, still got a ways to go!" At Lu Chang’sheng’s cue, she picked up the blade and got to practicing.

The Four-Sided Blade Technique, as the name implies, is all about seeing in all directions, listening in all directions.

It lets you cover four sides at once.

Lu Chang’sheng watched for a while, feeling a bit emotional.

Li Nangua wasn’t improving as fast as he’d hoped, but that was mainly because she didn’t train as regularly.

If she’d worked as hard as he did, she might’ve outpaced him long ago.

"Looks like her martial talent’s honestly not bad!"

The clinic and archery ground were making decent profits, so Lu Chang’sheng decided to take everyone to the White Crane Martial Arts Hall for training.

Once Wang Heihou, Niu Dazhuang, and the others returned, Lu Chang’sheng had them get ready.

Zhao Hu hadn’t come, so he sent Wang Heihou to call him as well.

That afternoon, the group set out excitedly toward the nearest White Crane Martial Arts Hall.

At the gate, they saw a big courtyard, a straw archery target hanging by the side, and on it an iron bow.

A fierce martial aura lingered in the air.

Two old men stood guard at the door. Noticing the group’s plain clothing, their faces remained blank until Lu Chang’sheng gave his name as This Year’s Child Scholar—then they relaxed a bit.

"So you’re Lu Tongsheng, here to get people trained?"

"Yes. I was wondering if Master Bai could check root bone for us?" Lu Chang’sheng guessed Li Nangua might have good martial roots, so he wanted an old master’s opinion.

Master Bai was, of course, Bai Hesong—the owner of White Crane Martial Arts Hall, famous for his White Crane True Qi.

If Li Nangua could become his direct disciple, it’d be great news for them all.

"You’re being too polite, Child Scholar Lu. The Head’s in closed-door cultivation and has no time for guests! Besides, there’s no need to trouble him for this—it’s something Master Gao can handle!"

Lu Chang’sheng sighed inwardly, knowing that just being a Child Scholar wasn’t enough to get an audience with Martial Artists at the True Qi Realm. He’d mostly asked on a whim; hearing the response, he gave up hope for now.

"It’s fine if the other masters check. If Nangua’s gifted, it might still get Bai Hesong’s attention!"

That’s what he thought, but as it turned out, things were much further off from what he’d expected!