Chapter 17: A Moment of Safety

"Come in!" 

A somewhat aged voice called from outside the door. 

Jiang Ning slowly pushed open the gate to the backyard. 

Just like the day before, he saw Wang Jin, who appeared to be around fifty years old, lying peacefully on a rattan chair, basking in the sun like an ordinary farmer. 

Except for the absence of Senior Sister Li Qing by Wang Jin's side, everything looked the same as yesterday. 

"Master!" Jiang Ning bowed slightly. 

"What brings you here at this time?" Wang Jin asked. 

Jiang Ning replied respectfully, "I wish to stay at the martial arts school permanently and seek some work! I don't need payment!" 

"Seek work? Why?" Wang Jin asked curiously. 

After a moment of thought, Jiang Ning answered, "There are people outside the school who want to harm me." 

"I see!" Wang Jin nodded, then continued, "In that case, you may stay. After your daily training, you can chop firewood in the backyard. Can you handle that?" 

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded, feeling a surge of joy in his heart. 

"No wages, but food and lodging will be provided. Can you accept that?" Wang Jin asked again. 

"Yes!" Jiang Ning nodded once more, then clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Master, for your great kindness!!!" 

Wang Jin narrowed his eyes, the wrinkles on his face deepening as he waved his hand. "You may go now." 

He then added, "Train hard. As long as you master the Five Animals Fist, you can deal with anyone who tries to harm you. The true essence of the Five Animals Fist lies in mastering all five animal forms. Once you reach a certain level of proficiency, your strength will not be weak!" 

"Yes, I understand, Master!" Jiang Ning bowed. 

As he left the backyard, a smile appeared on Jiang Ning's face, and the weight of his heart lifted. 

Being able to stay at the martial arts school meant that his safety was temporarily secured. 

The Canglang Martial Arts School was one of the safest places in all of Luoshui County. 

[Five Animals Fist Experience +2] 

After practicing the fist techniques once, Jiang Ning had used up the energy he had regained by noon. He then took out the wild ginseng he had. 

With time being of the essence, he naturally wouldn't be stingy with the ginseng. 

Every improvement in his fist techniques and every additional strand of refined vital energy would make him stronger. 

Another tenth of the ginseng entered his stomach. 

Jiang Ning immediately felt a warm current flowing through his body. With the support of the medicinal power, his heartbeats became stronger and more vigorous, and his energy gradually replenished. 

He began practicing the fist techniques in the front yard. 

[Five Animals Fist Experience +1] 

[Five Animals Fist Experience +1] 

[After this session of practicing the Five Animals Fist, a total of 10 experience points were gained.] 

The entire afternoon was spent practicing the fist techniques. 

In the middle, he went out once to bid farewell to his elder brother, Jiang Li, informing him that the schoolmaster had agreed to let him stay at the martial arts school permanently. 

After returning, Jiang Ning continued to practice. 

By the time the sun set, the medicinal soup at the martial arts school had been prepared, and he finally stopped. 

[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (Beginner 26/100) 

One-fourth of the way there. 

Looking at the changes on the panel, Jiang Ning felt quite excited. 

Having reached this level in the Five Animals Fist, the total amount of vital energy in his body had also reached over twenty strands. With these strands gathered in his right arm, Jiang Ning could feel that the power he could unleash was even greater. 

Arriving at the kitchen courtyard, Jiang Ning picked up a bowl of medicinal soup. 

Gulp 

Gulp 

After a few large mouthfuls, the entire bowl of soup had entered his stomach. 

The soup was quickly absorbed by his body, and a warm sensation spread throughout his limbs, gradually dispelling the fatigue in his muscles and bones. 

Just as he closed his eyes to feel the changes in his body, a loud voice rang out. 

"Who is Jiang Ning?" 

Jiang Ning opened his eyes and saw the woman in charge of the kitchen at the martial arts school. 

She was wearing an apron, her body as stout as a barrel, with thick muscles all over. At first glance, she weighed at least two hundred pounds, and her imposing figure naturally carried a sense of pressure. 

She wiped her hands on her apron, her eyes scanning the crowd repeatedly. 

"That's me!" Jiang Ning quickly responded. 

"So it's you, kid!" The burly woman looked Jiang Ning up and down, clicking her tongue. "You're quite handsome, but there's not much meat on your bones. Can you handle heavy labor?" 

"Yes!" Jiang Ning replied confidently. 

"Alright, follow me!" 

The two of them left, heading toward a small courtyard next door, while whispers followed behind them. 

"Does anyone know who he is? Why is Auntie Sun looking for him?" 

"Who knows? Junior Brother, why don't you go ask Auntie Sun?" 

Hearing these words, the junior brother's neck shrank slightly, and he quickly waved his hands. "Forget it!" 

When they arrived at the neighboring courtyard, Jiang Ning immediately saw pig legs hanging out to dry in the open space. These legs had been sun-dried all day, and the dripping fat had soaked the ground below. 

Moreover, these pig legs had been smoked and roasted. Even from a few meters away, the aroma of meat wafted through the air. 

"Such extravagance, truly extravagant!!" 

Jiang Ning's throat moved as he secretly swallowed his saliva, inwardly criticizing the martial arts school for such wasteful behavior. 

In his previous life, salted and sun-dried meat was nothing special, just a common way for ordinary families to preserve food. 

But in this world, where salt and iron were strictly controlled, salt was a relatively expensive necessity, and ordinary families would not dare to waste even a single grain. 

As for meat, it was even rarer. Most families could only afford to eat meat a few times a year. 

For martial artists, salt and meat were essential. 

The way the martial arts school prepared its ingredients seemed like a complete waste to Jiang Ning. 

"Hey, kid, are you drooling?" Seeing Jiang Ning's fixed gaze, the burly Auntie Sun laughed, the flesh on her face jiggling. 

Jiang Ning gave an embarrassed smile and nodded slightly. 

"Do you want to eat some?" Auntie Sun asked with a smile. 

"Yes!" Jiang Ning answered honestly. 

Hearing this, Auntie Sun's expression momentarily faltered. After regaining her composure, she shook her head slightly. "You're quite straightforward, kid." 

Jiang Ning immediately flashed a bright, sunny smile. 

"You remind me of someone!!" 

Looking at Jiang Ning's smile, Auntie Sun's expression became distant once more. 

After collecting herself, she said to Jiang Ning, "Kid, follow me!" 

"Alright, Sister!!" 

"Don't call me sister!" Auntie Sun's face inexplicably flushed. "I'm already over thirty, almost forty. My surname is Sun. You can call me Auntie Sun from now on!" 

"That doesn't feel right," Jiang Ning shook his head. "Auntie Sun doesn't sound old at all. How about I call you Big Sister instead?" 

"Fine, whatever you want," Auntie Sun said indifferently, though a faint smile crept into her expression. 

Auntie Sun led Jiang Ning to a shaded area in the corner of the courtyard. 

She pointed to a pile of firewood stacked under the shade. 

"According to Master Wang's instructions, the task of chopping firewood will now be your responsibility. Can your little body handle it?" 

"No problem!" Jiang Ning looked at the pile of firewood and nodded repeatedly. 

"If there's no problem, then get to work! I need to go prepare dinner!" Auntie Sun said. 

"Alright, Big Sister!" Jiang Ning replied. 

Arriving at the chopping block, Jiang Ning picked up a thick log about forty centimeters long. 

"This is heavy!" He was slightly surprised by the weight of the log. 

"This log must be made of special wood!" he thought to himself. 

He then placed the thick log on the chopping block. 

After looking around, he found only a fifty-centimeter-long chopping knife with a thick back. 

"It seems there's no axe here." 

Jiang Ning muttered to himself, picking up the chopping knife and testing its weight. He estimated it to be over five pounds. 

"This is going to be a labor-intensive task." 

Now Jiang Ning understood why Auntie Sun had asked him earlier if he could handle it. 

The thick, heavy log combined with the five-pound chopping knife undoubtedly made for a strenuous task.