Chapter 5: Heart-to-Heart Planning

Silence resembled a renowned chef in the culinary world, directing his apprentices in cooking. Xiao Hong stood beside him, her eyes wide open, wearing a look of confusion. Does Liu Langjun expect me to remember all of this

He is somewhat curious about the martial arts of this ancient continent, wondering if there are any superlative martial skills like those described in the books of the great hero Jin, such as the "Nine Yin Manual," "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms," "Sunflower Manual," and "Dugu Nine Swords"

"Liulang Jun, this is..." Xiao Hong blinked her eyes, her face full of curiosity. In fact, she had already noticed that Shen Mo was preparing food, but she was internally questioning whether it could be eaten this way

As a descendant of the Shen family, the monthly allowance is twenty taels; for those born out of wedlock, it is uniformly ten taels, while the unfortunate receive only five taels. However, those with exceptional abilities are given priority cultivation by the family, with a monthly allowance reaching as high as fifty taels. In special circumstances, they may even access family funds amounting to thousands or tens of thousands of taels. Are you envious? There is no way around it; this ancient continent is inherently unfair. To stand out, one must possess the capability.

Thinking of making money, he instinctively touched his pocket, where there were more than 200 taels of silver. Among them, two banknotes were the hundred-tael silver notes from the Datong Bank, which his mother, Shen Wangyuexiang, had secretly given him. The other thirty taels of cash were given by his thirteen-year-old sister, Shen Hui. He knew that this was his sister's pocket money that she had saved up over time, and he was moved to the point of having red eyes.

In a casual conversation with Old Wei, he finally understood that the martial arts system of the Canglong Continent is actually quite simple, divided into two realms: Mingjin and Anjin. Each realm consists of six stages. The former, which involves the practice of hardening the body, is achieved when one reaches the realm of lifting light as if it were heavy, and is referred to as a Grand Master. The latter involves the reshaping of muscles and bones, transforming strength into energy, and causing harm invisibly. Those who reach the realm of transforming energy are called Qi Refiners, the super experts of the martial world, who, when they achieve great success, exist like monsters. It is said that no one in the world has yet been able to cultivate to the supreme realm of great success.

Having eaten and drunk to satisfaction, he only set down his chopsticks in silence. He knew that Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu could not join the table, so he deliberately left some slices of pork belly for them to taste the flavor of the hot pot

The person was still in a daze when Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu woke them up, it was dawn

Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu stand outside the door, salivating at the aroma of the fish and meat. Although Liu Langjun has invited them to take their seats, they dare not comply. Despite being exiled by his family, Liu Langjun is still a descendant of the Shen family, holding a position of high status. The distinction between high and low, noble and humble, is like an insurmountable chasm.

Slice the pork belly into thin pieces and place them in a bowl

"Yes, Liu Langjun." Xiao Hong wore a puzzled expression, wondering what Liu Langjun was really trying to do

The martial arts of a certain individual are family heirlooms, excelling in whip techniques. Recently, they have just broken through the realm of Mingjin and entered the realm of Anjin... What Lord Liu Lang spoke of, I have never heard before

This ceramic basin, yes, that's it, go wash it clean. Silence turned around in the kitchen and spotted a ceramic basin, which was as large as a pot. Without an iron pot, it could only be used.

Oh..." Shen Mo displayed a look of sudden realization, a self-deprecating smile escaping the corners of his lips, it seems I was overthinking, hehe

On this night, Shen Mo slept soundly, experiencing the deepest and sweetest slumber since his soul had crossed over.

This is called hot pot, and on such a cold day, it is most suitable to eat hot pot, Shen Mo explained

"Liu Lang, you are being too polite. Just call me Old Wei; it sounds more friendly and pleasant to the ear," Old Wei hurriedly replied. He was merely a rogue from the rivers and lakes, pursued by enemies. When he was at his wits' end, he was saved by the passing Liu Wuye, and from that moment on, he followed Liu Wuye closely. His true loyalty was only to Liu Wuye.

Peel the ginger, slice it into shreds, and divide it into the fish head and pork. Add salt and wine, and mix well. Cut a few dried chili peppers, crush a few cloves of garlic, add a couple of slices of dried tangerine peel, and one bay leaf

Cut this piece of pork offal into two pieces and place them in the pot

"Well, pay attention to how I do it later and remember it in your heart," Shen Mo instructed. He could not imagine someone like Zhuge Liang who personally experienced everything, exhausting himself in the process. I am not destined for a life of toil; I am meant to enjoy the blessings.

"Uncle Zhuang, what kind of martial arts are you practicing?" Silence leaned against the wall of the carriage, his back resting on a soft cotton cushion, wrapped in a silk quilt, feeling warm and comfortable. This carriage was the exclusive vehicle of Master Liu, not particularly high-end or luxurious, but it excelled in comfort, indicating that he was a person who knew how to enjoy life.

Old Wei went to the city to buy wine for Master Liu Wu, and Wang Ji's Cangyao wine is quite famous locally, being Master Liu Wu's favorite.

He only wants to make his current body a bit healthier; being handsome alone is not enough, the body must also be in good condition, otherwise, it would be like a decorative pillow—good-looking but useless. He also wants to marry several beautiful wives and live a carefree life, surrounded by affection without any shame or restraint. Besides making money, he needs to have a good physique as well. However, this cannot be rushed; it requires careful planning. The immediate priority is still to earn the first pot of gold.

Silence, no, the ex is a spendthrift and a wastrel, unable to even save the twenty taels of example money, entirely relying on his mother, Shen Wangyuexiang, for support. A doting mother often raises a wayward son. The ex has not saved a single coin, completely broke, and these two hundred and thirty taels of silver are his startup capital. Until he becomes wealthy, he cannot spend extravagantly and must be frugal.

Before long, the water in the porcelain pot boiled, emitting an enticing aroma that stimulated the appetite. Silence could no longer contain himself and began to eat eagerly. On a cold day like this, energy was consumed quickly, and coupled with the fact that he had eaten little at noon, he was already quite hungry.

Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu definitely did not dare to eat in front of him. They moved Dong Dong outside, placed it in the outer room, and then picked up the bamboo chopsticks, imitating the silent demeanor, putting the meat and dried vegetables into the pot. After it was cooked, they served it out to eat, slowly savoring the flavors within. By the end, the two of them left not a single drop of soup behind. Liu Langjun was right; the culinary skills of those five chefs were truly subpar.

Hmm. Xiao Hong nodded vigorously. On such a cold day, eating the hot pot mentioned by Liu Langjun is indeed convenient and effective for warding off the cold, but I wonder how it tastes

Shen Mo's eyes lit up upon hearing this; the notion of practicing the supreme heart method to become the world's number one expert was all just empty talk. The various hardships of cultivating the Mingjing realm were already more than he could bear, and he lacked the time, perseverance, and determination for it. Thus, he regarded it as mere illusion and chose to ignore it.

He is merely an old coachman in the Shen family, unworthy of the title 'Shen Mo', yet he still feels quite pleased in his heart, while also being perplexed. Lord Shen Liulang's demeanor is like that of a cultured and modest gentleman, completely contrary to the various unsavory rumors of the past. Could it be that the experience of exile has profoundly changed his character?

After the cook had prepared everything according to his instructions, Shen Mo and Xiao Hong brought Dong Dong back to their residence in the courtyard. They asked Xiao Hong to fetch a small stove for boiling medicine, placed red-hot charcoal into it, and then moved a few bricks to elevate the stove. They set a large porcelain basin containing two pieces of miscellaneous bones on top and poured in clean water

It is certainly more delicious than what those five guys made. Shen Mo patted his chest, looking quite proud, but unfortunately, there were too few ingredients, and it was hard to find them in the middle of winter. I will take my time to prepare it again when I have the chance

After purchasing the wine, Old Wei hurriedly drove the horse-drawn cart to Chen's Iron Shop. This time, Shen Mo entered the city to have a few small items crafted at the iron shop, to have a few small things made at the porcelain shop, and finally to buy a few books at the bookstore

In the world, many talented individuals emerge, and some genius-level grandmasters have developed various secret techniques to expedite their cultivation process. It is said that there are over one hundred such techniques, creating a situation reminiscent of the Hundred Schools of Thought. However, these techniques are restricted to the children or disciples of their respective schools and are never passed on to outsiders. Only a few ordinary techniques, such as the Five Animal Frolics and the Eight Brocade Exercises, aimed at strengthening the body, circulate among noble families. Yet, there are very few who genuinely dedicate themselves to practicing these techniques.

Shen Mo hurriedly took a few bites of food and then rode into the city in Lao Zhuang's cart

This fish head, cut in half, is placed in a bowl

The county town is not large, nor is it particularly prosperous. Shen Mo is too lazy to wander around and does not have the time to do so. First, he goes with Old Wei to the wine shop under the Wang family to buy wine. Liu Wuye is a regular customer, purchasing two large jars of Cangyao wine every month, each jar costing fifteen taels of silver. Shen Mo tasted the Cangyao wine and merely frowned, but did not say a word. Brewing wine is one of the channels through which he can make a fortune, and it is currently his primary source of initial capital. However, before that, he needs to sort out some other matters.