2: I'm trying to cultivate myself, butler, why are you foaming at the mouth?
Deep night fell.
In the large communal sleeping area of the servants' quarters at the Su Residence, snoring was like thunder, and the mixture of sweat and foot odor was suffocating.
Lin Que huddled on the hard bunk, completely sleepless.
He glanced at the System Panel.
[Current Realm: Iron Skin Technique Initial Stage (5%)]
[Currently Bound Target: Steward Zhao Si (Status: Critically Injured, Bedridden)]
“Only 5%...”
Lin Que frowned. Although that previous instance of using his opponent's strength against him allowed him to successfully reach the Initial Stage, it was far from enough.
The Su Residence's Eldest Young Master was a notorious martial arts fanatic and tyrant. His standard for choosing a human shield wasn't just being “able to take a beating,” but also “durable.” An Initial Stage Iron Body Technique could, at most, withstand a few strikes from a staff, but facing blades or internal energy, he would still die.
“Since Steward Zhao isn't dead yet, I can't waste this resource.”
Lin Que pulled the crumpled remnant scroll of the Iron Skin Technique from his chest, and using the moonlight filtering through the window, he flipped to the “Internal Cultivation Chapter.”
External training strengthens the tendons, bones, and skin; internal training focuses on the breath.
Although the Iron Skin Technique is an External Martial Art, it still requires guiding Qi and blood to nourish the skin and membranes. For Lin Que, whose aptitude was the lowest of the low, this was pure torture.
The book stated: “Qi flows along the Ren Meridian, passing through the Danzhong point, like a warm stream providing comfort.”
Lin Que gave it a try.
[Warning! Host aptitude is dull, meridians are blocked!]
[Qi and Blood flow reversed! Side effect generated: Burning Heart Pain!]
[Judgment activated: Damage transfer commencing!]
Hiss—!
Lin Que's chest suddenly constricted, feeling as if he had swallowed a piece of burning charcoal, and his internal organs were on fire. This kind of pain would have caused an ordinary person to suffer Qi Deviation and cough up blood long ago.
But Lin Que instantly looked relaxed, as if nothing had happened.
“Practice.”
If practicing doesn't kill you, practice until you drop... Meanwhile, at the Su Residence's Medical Hall.
“Ouch... Be gentle... You're killing me...”
Steward Zhao Si lay on the sickbed, his entire left arm and back encased in thick splints. Even the slightest movement caused agonizing pain.
The Resident Doctor next to him was taking his pulse, his brows tightly furrowed.
“Steward Zhao, your injury is very strange.”
The doctor stroked his beard, looking confused.
“Logically, it's just a simple fracture; setting it should be enough. But your pulse... why is it as chaotic as a pot of porridge? It's as if... someone shattered your internal force.”
Zhao Si was sweating profusely from the pain, grinding his teeth as he cursed: “It's Lin Que, that little beast! He must have some kind of protective talisman on him, or that staff was cursed! It's demonic, utterly demonic!”
He had thrown his weight around the Su Residence for so many years, and today he was forced to kneel in public—he had lost all face.
If he didn't avenge this humiliation, he swore he wasn't human!
“Once my injuries heal... I swear I'll skin that boy ali—AUGH!!!”
Before he could finish his threat, Zhao Si's eyes suddenly bulged, and he clutched his chest tightly with both hands, letting out a horrific, pig-slaughtering scream.
His entire body sprang directly off the bed!
“What's wrong?! What's wrong?!” The doctor was so startled his hand shook, nearly dropping the pulse pillow.
“Hot! Hot, hot, hot!!”
Zhao Si thrashed wildly on the bed, his face flushed red like a cooked pig's head, and hot air streamed from his mouth.
“There's fire in my heart! Someone is burning my heart!! Water! Quick, give me water!!”
The doctor was dumbfounded.
His pulse was fine just a moment ago, so how did his “Heart Fire suddenly Rage”? This isn't scientific (scratch that) medical!
...Servants' Quarters.
Lin Que felt the previously violent “Burning Heart Pain” vanish from his body, replaced by faint traces of warm energy slowly strengthening the skin and membranes over his chest.
[Transfer successful. Cultivation progress +2%]
“So internal cultivation progresses slower than external cultivation...”
Lin Que was slightly dissatisfied.
That was “Burning Heart”; next, I'll try “Intestine Severing.”
Having poor aptitude also had its benefits: he could practice incorrectly everywhere, meaning problems could arise anywhere.
He circulated the mental technique again. This time, he deliberately diverted the path slightly, forcefully charging the most fragile “Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian”... Inside the Medical Hall.
Steward Zhao Si had just chugged a large pot of cold water and felt the burning sensation in his chest subside slightly. He was currently sprawled on the bed, heavily panting.
“Doctor... did I get poisoned?” Zhao Si asked weakly.
The doctor wiped his sweat: “It doesn't look like poisoning. It seems more like internal fire caused by Qi Deviation. Steward Zhao, you should get angry less often and focus more on self-cultivation...”
“I'll cultivate your big—Ugh!!!”
Zhao Si suddenly stiffened all over, his legs clamping together tightly.
This time, he couldn't even scream.
An extreme, intense 'refreshment'—as if two walnuts were viciously smashed by a hammer—instantly swept through his lower body.
“Wuu! Wuwu!!”
Zhao Si rolled his eyes, foamed at the mouth, clutched his crotch with his right hand, and curled up into a large shrimp on the bed.
“Steward Zhao?!”
The doctor was completely panicked. Why did the symptoms change every few moments?
A moment ago it was heart fire, and now it looks like... his kidney exploded?
...Servants' Quarters.
Lin Que slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
“Phew... that one was intense.”
He glanced at the panel.
[Transfer successful (Critical Hit). Cultivation progress +5%]
Although this cultivation method was a bit inefficient (relying mainly on the feedback from side effects), it had the advantage of being safe, covert, and... stress-relieving.
Lin Que didn't think he was cruel.
When the original body was forced to work hard, had his wages withheld by Steward Zhao Si, and finally froze and starved to death, Zhao Si certainly didn't think he was cruel.
Since he occupied this body, some debts had to be settled.
“Tonight's goal is to cultivate to the 'Minor Achievement' stage.”
Lin Que looked at the moonlight outside the window, his gaze calm.
The long night stretched on, and he had no desire to sleep.
Might as well practice a few more times.
Thus, over the next two hours, the Medical Hall of the Su Residence became the busiest and most terrifying place in the entire manor.
“Doctor! My head hurts! It feels like an awl is drilling into it!” (Lin Que was practicing the Qi sensation for the Iron Head Technique on his head)
“Doctor! My intestines are severed! Help me!” (Lin Que's Qi and blood went astray and rushed into the Stomach Meridian)
“Doctor! Kill me! Just give me a quick death!!” (Lin Que attempted a full-body Qi and blood reversal of the Great Heavenly Cycle)
By the latter half of the night, the Medical Hall finally fell silent.
It wasn't that Zhao Si had recovered; he had simply run out of strength, leaving only nervous twitching.
The doctor slumped in his chair, looking dazed, as if he had aged ten years.
He had practiced medicine for thirty years and had never encountered such bizarre symptoms.
How could this be an illness? This was clearly death by a thousand cuts!
...In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight shone into the Stables.
Lin Que opened his eyes, feeling refreshed, and sat up on the communal bunk.
After a night of “diligent study and hard practice,” his skin faintly possessed a dull sheen. Although his muscle definition was still thin, it felt tough like old rattan when touched.
[Current Realm: Iron Skin Technique Minor Achievement (35%)]
[Evaluation: The strength of your skin and membranes has surpassed the limit of ordinary wooden stick strikes, making you difficult to injure with common blades and swords.]
“Hoo... comfortable.”
Lin Que stretched, his joints popping loudly.
Er Niu next to him, sporting dark circles under his eyes, got up with a resentful look: “Lin Que, did you have a nightmare last night? You were tossing and turning the whole time? And...”
Er Gou shrank his neck and whispered: “Did you hear it? Last night, the Medical Hall in the front courtyard was screaming like a pig being slaughtered. I heard Steward Zhao was causing a ruckus all night, scaring the doctor half to death.”
Lin Que put on his worn cotton jacket, picked up the half cold steamed bun, took a bite, and said calmly: “Steward Zhao probably works too hard normally, and his exhaustion has led to illness.”
Er Gou nodded, convinced: “He definitely did too many bad things. Oh, right, I heard a Guard Instructor is coming for the review today. Steward Zhao definitely can't make it in that state. I wonder who will lead the team.”
Just as he was speaking, the door was kicked open.
A burly servant with a fierce face walked in.
He was Steward Zhao Si's number one lackey, named Ma Liu.
Relying on Steward Zhao Si's backing, he usually bullied these low-ranking servants quite often.
Ma Liu held a whip that hadn't been cleaned of bloodstains, his fierce gaze sweeping around before finally settling on Lin Que, who was eating the steamed bun.
“What are you looking at! All of you, get out and assemble!”
Ma Liu sneered coldly, pointing fiercely at Lin Que: “Steward Zhao is sick, so I'm in charge today! Lin Que, you were lucky yesterday that Steward Zhao's hand slipped. Today, let's see who can save you! During the review later, I'll personally 'loosen your bones'!”
[Dangerous level malice detected]
[Target Locked: Ma Liu (Malice Value 70%), Steward Zhao Si (Malice Value: 100%).]
[Target: Steward Zhao Si's status is critical. Transfer receiving target?]
Lin Que swallowed the bun in his mouth, looked up at the arrogant Ma Liu, his eyes holding a strange look.
Steward Zhao's “status” was nearly exhausted. Unexpectedly, someone was rushing to deliver a new one?
[Yes]
Lin Que dusted the crumbs from his hands and slowly stood up.
“Alright.”
Lin Que smiled, his expression carrying an unfathomable sincerity.
“Then I'll trouble Instructor Ma to hit a little harder later.”