11: Spring Crisis

Based on the information he had gathered intentionally or unintentionally over the past few days, Qin Feng had gained a clearer understanding of the martial arts environment in Star South City.

If he wanted to obtain decent weapons, there were several blacksmith shops in the city where they could be purchased, but they all required registration, and the origin and purpose of the purchase had to be clearly explained. Carrying a Profound Rank treasure like the Azure Edge Sword, he naturally did not dare to take such a risk. As for more threatening equipment like armor, it was strictly controlled by the City Lord's Mansion, and only the City Guard was qualified to be equipped with it.

The mainstream methods for obtaining Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills to systematically improve one's strength were firmly controlled by several major powers: joining the City Lord's Mansion or its subordinate City Guard; joining local Gangs like the Fierce Tiger Gang or the Black Snake Gang; passing the assessment to enter the imperial court's Six Fan School; or being recruited as a retainer by the powerful aristocratic families that dominated the region. No matter which path he chose, it meant losing some freedom and becoming embroiled in power struggles.

“Right now, I'm basically at a kindergarten level, but I've been given a middle school textbook.” Qin Feng looked at the 'Mystic Pole Sword Manual' in the System space and smiled helplessly. Without a foundation, an Advanced sword manual was like a book written in a foreign language. He urgently needed a basic Cultivation Technique that could guide him into the Martial Apprentice Realm and was suitable for sword manipulation.

After much hesitation, he decided to try his luck and chose the one closest to his residence—the Nanhe Martial Arts Hall.

The martial arts hall's storefront was quite grand. A young Disciple in a uniform short-sleeved outfit stood at the entrance, his eyes sweeping over Qin Feng's clean but cheap martial arts attire with a hint of subtle disdain.

“Want to learn martial arts?” The Disciple raised his chin and said in a flat tone, “Registration fee is ten gold coins. How much you learn within a month depends on your own Comprehension Ability; the martial arts hall is not responsible.”

Ten gold coins! Qin Feng was shocked; this was practically robbery! Although he carried a “huge sum” of dozens of gold coins, he knew the importance of not flaunting his wealth, and he couldn't afford to squander it like this.

“It's too expensive...” Qin Feng put on a troubled expression. “Senior Brother, I wonder if your hall has... a basic Cultivation Technique suitable for practicing sword techniques? It doesn't need to be Advanced, just the most basic one will do.”

The Disciple glanced at him, seemingly accustomed to poor people who only wanted to buy basic techniques, and said lazily, “'Basic Sword Art', which includes basic footwork, sword-holding stances, force-exertion techniques, and three basic sword moves, is five gold coins.”

Five gold coins! That was still a significant amount. But Qin Feng knew that this kind of thing was common in all the major martial arts halls in Star South City, and the cost was extremely low.

“Senior Brother, could it be a bit cheaper? I really...” Qin Feng lowered his posture and bargained with a smile.

Perhaps seeing that he really didn't look like a wealthy person, or perhaps not wanting to deal with him further, the Disciple finally waved his hand impatiently: “Fine, fine, thirty silver coins. Take it if you want it, otherwise, leave quickly!”

“I'll take it! Thank you, Senior Brother!” Qin Feng immediately pulled out thirty silver coins and handed them over, receiving in exchange a thin, rough-papered, and even slightly ink-smelling handwritten copy of the Basic Sword Art.

Back at his rented room, Qin Feng couldn't wait to flip through it. This Basic Sword Art was indeed extremely basic, providing detailed explanations on how to stand, how to coordinate breathing, how to mobilize weak qi and blood power to infuse the sword, and the three most fundamental sword moves: straight thrust, horizontal slash, and vertical chop.

However, it was precisely these most basic things that solved his urgent problem! Comparing it with the obscure descriptions in the 'Azure Edge Sword Manual', this Basic Sword Art was like a key that opened the door to the Dao of the sword.

Following the Secret Manual, he began practicing move by move in the small courtyard. He adjusted his breathing, feeling the faint current of air generated in his body by the qi and blood pills and exercise, and tried to guide it to his arm and infuse it into... (naturally, he didn't dare take out the Azure Edge Sword and used a wooden stick instead).

As expected, with the correct method, progress was rapid! In less than half a day, he could perform those three basic sword moves decently. Although the power was almost negligible, the feeling of initially controlling that strength and the rhythm of his qi and blood allowed him to truly touch the Martial Apprentice Realm!

“It's true that literature is for the poor and martial arts for the rich.” Feeling the hunger in his stomach from the intense exercise, Qin Feng lamented. Just the introductory practice consumed so much, and he would need medicinal herbs to replenish his qi and blood in the future. It seemed he would have to go to Doctor Chu to get more medicine for strengthening the foundation, which would be another expense.

Night fell, and at the zi hour, the intelligence refreshed.

[ (White) Due to the cutthroat competition among the eight major martial arts halls in Star South City, which are undercutting each other to snatch students, the price of the 'Basic Sword Art' has plummeted from its original ten gold coins to a minimum of just two gold coins. Almost every Martial Apprentice in the city with even a little wealth has a copy, and the major halls have hired scholars to hand-copy hundreds of duplicates. ]

[ (White) Liu Gang, the leader of the White Tiger Gang, was ambushed by the Fierce Tiger Gang yesterday during negotiations at the docks and suffered internal injuries. He is secretly looking for a familiar physician for treatment while claiming to be in seclusion to the outside world. ]

[ (White) Xiaochun, an apprentice at Huichun Medical Hall, has been targeted by the Flower Picking Bandit, Chen Yu Lang, while out purchasing medicinal herbs today due to her clear and beautiful appearance and young age. Chen Yu Lang plans to kidnap her in a small alley on her inevitable path when she goes out again tomorrow. ]

After reading the first piece of intelligence, Qin Feng's face twitched. Thirty silver coins! He thought he had gotten a bargain, but it turned out this thing had already dropped to two gold coins? Outdated information really is a killer!

The second one, a Gang fight, had nothing to do with him.

But the third piece of black intelligence caused Qin Feng's heart to sink suddenly, and a surge of anger rushed to his head.

“Animal! To even lay hands on a teenage girl!” The image of Xiaochun's simple and kind smile with her dimples, and Doctor Chu's hidden depth yet kindness for saving him, appeared in his mind.

Chen Yu Lang! An Advanced Martial Master and a flower-picking thief! His strength far exceeded his own!

Save her? How? With his strength as a newly initiated Martial Apprentice, going there would just be seeking death and would get Xiaochun killed as well.

Not save her? To watch helplessly as the girl who gave him a discount and kindly sold him the 'Iron-Corroding Water' fell into the clutches of a monster to be humiliated and murdered? How painful would it be for Doctor Chu to lose his beloved daughter? How could he live with himself?

Should he go and warn them? But how would he explain the source of the information? Would Doctor Chu believe him? How could a stranger know the precise action plan of a Martial Master-level criminal? If they didn't believe him, or if he alerted the enemy, causing Chen Yu Lang to change his plan or act directly with force, the consequences would be even more unimaginable!

Go to the authorities? Would the Six Fan School believe the words of a low-level laborer and immediately send out an expert capable of confronting an Advanced Martial Master?

Qin Feng fell into an unprecedented dilemma, his brow furrowed as he paced back and forth in the small room. Gratitude and danger, conscience and strength, were in a fierce battle within his heart.