18. Xuanwu
Five days later...
In the mountains.
A simple wooden cabin had been erected, but it was not yet completely finished.
Song Cheng, holding a sharp wooden spike as a nail in one hand and a rock as a hammer in the other, was hammering away, climbing up and down.
Tong Jia, on the other hand, was inserting split bamboo halves around the outside of the cabin to form a bamboo fence. Then, she took some medical bandages, tore them open, and twisted them into ropes to weave between the bamboo pieces.
Thus, the two were busy until evening before they stopped.
"I'm exhausted," she exclaimed.
The young lady of the house sat on a large blue stone in the courtyard, her gaze naturally sweeping towards the north side of the cabin.
The mountain stream murmured, reflecting the golden shimmering waves, appearing serene and beautiful.
Song Cheng was still alright, pacing around the cabin twice and saying, "Finally, it's finished."
Joy filled his voice too.
In his previous life, when he read novels, he always had the illusion that cabins were effortless to create. But once he actually got to work, he realized how difficult it was.
Choosing the site, clearing fields, removing weeds and miscellaneous trees, then chopping trees, planning, laying the foundation...
Even with a couple working united, it still took a full five days to have a house.
Tong Jia called out, "What's for dinner tonight, dear?"
Song Cheng replied, "Fish."
Immediately, he grabbed the Fine Blade and walked towards the stream, his eyes locked on the "0~0" data darting under the water, suddenly flicking his wrist.
That hand, that blade, like a venomous snake suddenly striking from the darkness, swiftly lunged at one of the data.
The tip of the blade sent back a solid feeling in an instant.
Song Cheng flicked his wrist again, then scooped.
A pure wild, natural fish broke the surface, sending a series of sunset-colored water droplets onto the grass, sparkling brilliantly.
Song Cheng said, "We're eating grilled fish!"
The lady of the house laughed, "Sounds good."
Song Cheng also smiled.
In fact, for the past few days, the couple had basically been eating grilled fish every day.
Even though Tong Jia said, "I'm tired of eating it," he didn't find it odd.
But the lady of the house did not complain but repeatedly remarked, "Do you know, this fish weighs at least three pounds, it would sell for about thirty wen in town?"
After saying that, the young lady would happily eat with him.
Life became leisurely, as if they had leaped out of the muddy past; here, there were no nets woven by malicious hearts. Song Cheng also gradually emerged from the previous sad and regretful atmosphere.
Seeing nature, one's heart can be healed.
At this moment, he was holding the blade, flicked it in the sunset, then looked at his panel:
[Name: Song Cheng]
[Talent: Longevity]
[Added Points: 0 points]
[Realm: Yellow Level Grade D]
[Cultivation Technique]
White Snake Blade (Yellow Level Grade D) (Perfection)
[Skills]
White Snake Blade Technique (Yellow Level Grade D) (Great Achievement) (3/16)
Pagoda Visualization Method (Yellow Level Grade D) (Perfection)
[Taboo]
1. Blessing of the Drowning Ghost
...
In these past few days, he had completely used up a total of 41 remaining points.
The White Snake Blade cultivation method, the Pagoda Visualization Method had reached Perfection.
Then, with great fortune, he spent only 2 remaining points to deduce the White Snake Blade Technique at a 30% success rate, and now the progress of that technique had reached "3/16".
Song Cheng casting another glance at his own data:
13~20!
With such strength, he was confident he could completely annihilate Tang River Village, even if those strong men from before were there, together they would not stand a chance against him.
Indeed, if those strong men were all fearless, then he certainly would be worn out.
But a more realistic scenario would be that with a few slashes, he would brutally finish off several men, effectively crushing the morale of those strong men, and then Tang River Village would become the fish on his chopping board, at his beck and call.
"Since the bandits outside the city did not violently invade the village, but waited for there to be an insider before they made a move, then… there should be no one among the bandits with my level of strength."
Song Cheng quickly assessed his current strength.
pNext, he focused on the "+" sign after "Pagoda Visualization Method (Yellow Level Grade D) (Perfection)".
The "+" sign showed a success rate of "10%".
He nodded his head, there was still room for improvement.
Not in a hurry.
...
...
Living by the river in deep mountains, the young couple had achieved "wood freedom" and "water freedom".
After Tong Jia had eaten, she indulgently boiled a large pot of water.
The pot was made of stone, forcefully fashioned by Song Cheng.
The mandarin ducks swam and slept together.
It was joyful harmony.
After a long while, following a high-pitched, song-like vocalization, the curtain fell.
The young lady of the house fell powerlessly next to Song Cheng, and then stretched out her white fingers to twirl around Song Cheng's hair, saying, "My dear, if we stay here permanently, when will you accompany me to the mountains to gather some herbs? I want to set up a garden in the courtyard to plant them."
Song Cheng laughed, "How about tomorrow?"
...
...
The day after the cabin was built.
[You and Tong Jia spent a happy night together, gaining 7 remaining points].
Song Cheng increased his points.
Progress of the White Snake Blade Technique changed to (10/16).
He went mountain climbing with the mistress of the house, searching for herbs.
Upon returning, they discovered two foxes attracted by the residual scent of meat in the house.
That evening, for dinner, they stewed the foxes.
...
The third day.
[You and Tong Jia spent a happy night and gained 7 Remaining Points.]
Song Cheng increased his points.
White Snake Blade Technique achieved Great Achievement, with 1 point remaining.
Song Cheng's strength became "13~26".
This technique of the White Snake Blade was tricky and unpredictable, extremely agile.
'+' appeared after "White Snake Blade", with a derivation success rate of 10%.
However, pushing the derivation upward from a Yellow Grade D Cultivation Technique required 2 points each time.
Tong Jia took a day off, and two more medicinal patches appeared in the small courtyard.
By evening, Song Cheng, tired of eating fish, began to wait for the foxes.
The foxes did not come.
...
The fourth day.
[You and Tong Jia spent a happy night and gained 7 Remaining Points.]
Song Cheng forcefully tried to derive the "White Snake Blade" 4 times.
The result was a failure.
The two went mountain climbing again and collected some more herbs to enrich the medicinal garden.
After returning, Song Cheng found five wolves pacing around the left and right sides of the house.
The wolves' strength was "1~2".
Song Cheng drew his blade, one stroke per wolf, slaughtered four, and one, seeing the bad situation, hurriedly fled.
That evening, for dinner, they stewed wolves.
Tong Jia said, "Wolf meat tastes better, it's not gamey."
...
The fifth day.
[You and Tong Jia spent a happy night and gained 7 Remaining Points.]
Song Cheng considered continuing to challenge that "10%" chance, but for some reason, he suddenly remembered his past life's "ten consecutive draws."
Perhaps, the chances in a sequence of ten might be higher.
He decided to wait a bit longer.
The medicinal garden was completely established.
As Tong Jia wiped sweat from her brow, she suddenly expressed a desire to learn the sword technique.
The husband and wife pair started practicing the "Lovers' Sword Technique."
That evening, Song Cheng deliberately ate grilled fish in the courtyard.
The wolf meat from the day before was not yet finished; it was air drying on one side, and hanging nearby were the skins of wolves and foxes.
But who would complain about too much meat?
He continued to wait for wolves and foxes.
Without success.
...
The sixth day.
[You and Tong Jia spent a happy night and gained 7 Remaining Points.]
Song Cheng waited for wolves and foxes.
Without success.
As the pelts dried, Tong Jia started sewing, attempting to create a "fur coat" with a fluffy large tail to make the winter warmer.
As night fell, Tong Jia said, "I wonder how the village is doing, should we go back and take a look from afar?"
Song Cheng refused because his Cultivation Technique was not yet perfected.
...
The seventh day.
[You and Tong Jia spent a happy night and gained 7 Remaining Points.]
Song Cheng looked at the 21 points and rubbed his hands together, striking at that "10%" success rate "+" behind the "White Snake Blade."
A mysterious feeling stirred within him.
Song Cheng closed his eyes.
Many memories flashed through his mind.
He was wielding a blade, pursuing more powerful strength, and since there was no path, he decided to forge one.
He had failed many times, but he also found the key to advancing further—it was the "coverage" of muscular strength.
"White Snake Blade" focused on the chest, abdomen, and arms, but... his waist and legs were not trained.
He needed a complementary strength to achieve "total coverage of muscular strength."
After failing time and again, he suddenly recalled an image: the Seven Mansions of the North, high in the sky, their shape resembling a black snake entwining a turtle, known as "Xuanwu."
If the arms are like a snake, why shouldn't the waist and legs be like a turtle?
He pondered for years, attempting to create a new Cultivation Technique by mimicking the training method of the "White Snake Blade", but it was hardly easy.
Many years later, after a heavy rain, he inadvertently witnessed a snake trying to swallow a turtle, leading to a fight between them, and suddenly had an epiphany.
He had not crafted that new Cultivation Technique, but he had found the opportunity he needed.
The thoracic spine moved like a snake, agile.
The lumbar spine was steady like a turtle.
Song Cheng opened his eyes, and his panel information changed:
[Cultivation Technique]
Mysterious Turtle Step (Yellow Grade D) (Uninitiated) (0/2)