Chapter 18: Mastering a New Skill
Standing in front of the chopping block, Jiang Ning gripped the chopping knife tightly in his right hand and swung it down forcefully at the log in front of him.
Crack
The sound of splitting wood echoed.
Jiang Ning couldn't help but let go of the knife and shake his right hand, which had gone numb from the impact.
"Kid, can you handle it?" Auntie Sun poked her head out from the kitchen window.
"Big Sister Sun, I'm fine!" Jiang Ning smiled at her.
He rubbed his palm, and as blood circulation improved, the numbness in his hand gradually subsided.
He then gripped the knife again, stepped on the log with one foot, and with a surge of vital energy, pulled the knife out of the log in one swift motion.
In the next moment, Jiang Ning channeled his vital energy into his right arm once more and swung the knife down with full force at the half-split log.
Crack
The log split cleanly in two.
"Not bad!" A calm voice came from behind him, almost unnoticed.
Jiang Ning turned around, immediately put down the knife, and bowed respectfully.
"Master!"
"Don't mind me. Keep chopping. Chopping wood is also a form of training. The words 'Canglang' are the name of a sword technique!" Wang Jin said slowly.
Hearing this, Jiang Ning's eyes lit up, and he instantly understood why Wang Jin had assigned him this task.
"It seems my performance this morning caught Master Wang's attention!" Jiang Ning thought to himself, now fully aware of the situation.
With renewed motivation, he felt reassured. Being in Wang Jin's favor meant his safety was temporarily secured, especially since he could now stay at the martial arts school permanently.
He then picked up another thick log, channeled his vital energy into his right arm, and swung the knife down.
Crack
The log split cleanly in two.
"The power of vital energy is truly remarkable!" Jiang Ning marveled inwardly.
The first strike, without using vital energy, had only split the log halfway. But with the surge of vital energy, the log was cleanly divided in one stroke. This demonstrated the profound effects of vital energy.
Wang Jin stood watching for a while, then nodded in satisfaction before heading toward the kitchen where Auntie Sun was.
Entering the kitchen, Wang Jin sniffed the air.
"You've been quite generous with the kid. You even added earth fungus to tonight's meat stew."
"Master!" Auntie Sun replied nervously, then hesitated. "Looking at him, I couldn't help but think of my child. If he were still alive, he'd probably be around the same age as Jiang Ning."
Wang Jin fell silent at her words.
The kitchen was quiet for a few moments, save for the crackling of burning wood.
Finally, Wang Jin broke the silence.
"It's fine. Add more meat to the stew. I've taken a bit of a liking to the kid."
Auntie Sun's eyes brightened. "Master, are you saying he has the potential to inherit your legacy?"
Wang Jin shook his head. "It's too early to say. Whether he can seize this opportunity depends on his comprehension. Without sufficient understanding, even if he inherits my teachings, he won't go far. But for now, he's worth nurturing."
"Understood!" Auntie Sun replied with a hint of joy. "The kid is very polite. I quite like him."
Wang Jin seemed to recall something, and his expression softened into a slight smile. "Yes, he is indeed very polite."
Meanwhile, as the two were talking, Jiang Ning stood in front of the chopping block, his eyes wide with astonishment.
[Skill]: Firewood Chopping Knife Technique (Beginner 1/100)
"Chopping wood gave me a knife technique?" Jiang Ning was filled with disbelief.
Then, a smile crept onto his face.
"Let's try again!"
With this thought, he placed another log on the chopping block.
With a surge of vital energy, he swung the knife down.
Crack
The log split in two.
[Firewood Chopping Knife Technique Experience +1]
[Skill]: Firewood Chopping Knife Technique (Beginner 2/100)
"It works!"
He couldn't help but feel delighted, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
He placed another log on the block.
Crack
The knife came down, and the log split cleanly.
[Firewood Chopping Knife Technique Experience +1]
[Skill]: Firewood Chopping Knife Technique (Beginner 3/100)
"Not bad, really not bad!"
Looking at the changes on the panel, he felt quite satisfied.
"With such rapid experience gain, this is much faster than the Five Animals Fist. It might even be easier than gaining experience in literacy!"
After testing it out, Jiang Ning's motivation soared.
"Log after log was split under his hands."
[Firewood Chopping Knife Technique Experience +1]
[Firewood Chopping Knife Technique Experience +1]
[...]
When Wang Jin walked out of the kitchen, his attention was immediately drawn to Jiang Ning.
"Is this kid crazy?" Wang Jin muttered, his mouth slightly agape as he watched Jiang Ning.
Noticing Wang Jin's presence out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Ning immediately put down the knife, slightly out of breath, and bowed to Wang Jin.
"Master!"
Wang Jin waved his hand. "What's going on? Why are you chopping wood so vigorously?"
Jiang Ning replied with utmost seriousness, "Master, you've allowed me to stay at the school and protected me. I have no way to repay you except to work hard and express my gratitude."
Hearing this, Wang Jin looked at Jiang Ning with a mix of amusement and helplessness. "There's no need to go to such lengths. You should pace yourself. If you exhaust yourself, how will you have the energy to practice martial arts?"
Jiang Ning shook his head. "Master, don't worry. I still have the wild ginseng Senior Brother Zhou gave me to restore my energy."
"Using wild ginseng to recover your energy just to chop wood? Kid, you're missing the point!" Wang Jin said, both amused and exasperated.
"Master, you've not only taught me but also protected me. I'm deeply grateful, and this is the only way I can express it. If I were to accept your kindness without doing anything in return, I wouldn't feel at ease," Jiang Ning said earnestly.
Wang Jin shook his head helplessly. "Fine, do as you wish. Chopping wood can also help you build strength and get a feel for the knife. Eye-hand coordination is the foundation of knife techniques. If your comprehension meets the standard and you become my true disciple, mastering the basics of knife techniques will be essential."
"Understood!" Jiang Ning replied excitedly.
Seeing this, Wang Jin couldn't help but smile.
"Young people are so straightforward. What they're thinking is written all over their faces. Not like an old man like me, always so reserved."
Wang Jin then secretly observed Jiang Ning for a while longer.
"This kid is quite loyal and righteous," Wang Jin thought to himself, nodding slightly. His gaze toward Jiang Ning gradually softened.
"Now, I just hope his comprehension meets the standard. With his character, he might even take care of me in my old age and not betray me. He does seem like a good candidate. But in the end, it's up to him to prove himself. In martial arts, if you don't strive, your achievements will always be limited."
[Firewood Chopping Knife Technique Experience +1]
[Skill]: Firewood Chopping Knife Technique (Beginner 99/100)
"Just one more experience point, and I'll break through!"
Looking at his panel, Jiang Ning's tired body suddenly felt a surge of energy. He placed another log on the block and swung the knife down.
Crack
The log split cleanly in two.
[Firewood Chopping Knife Technique Experience +1]
[Skill]: Firewood Chopping Knife Technique (Proficient 0/200)
In an instant, the final experience point triggered a qualitative change, and the Firewood Chopping Knife Technique advanced from Beginner to Proficient.
As Jiang Ning gripped the knife, he immediately felt a sense of familiarity.
He instinctively knew how to exert force to maximize the power of his strikes and how to conserve energy efficiently.
The muscles in his arm, which had been tightening through the constant accumulation of experience, now felt warm and even more taut after the breakthrough.
Jiang Ning put down the knife and clenched his fist, feeling the change in his arm's strength. He nodded in satisfaction.
"The breakthrough in the Firewood Chopping Knife Technique is worth it!"
"Reaching Proficient has already given me noticeable improvements. The breakthroughs to Small Mastery, Great Mastery, and Perfection will only bring greater effects!"
"And then there's the breakthrough beyond limits!!!" His eyes sparkled with anticipation. "The first breakthrough in literacy gave me the ability of photographic memory. I wonder what the first breakthrough in the Firewood Chopping Knife Technique will give me?"
"With my current efficiency, it shouldn't take many days to grind the Firewood Chopping Knife Technique to its limit!"