Two taels?
Chu Ming's mouth twitched slightly. This Wu Chun looks like a big lug, but he's actually just a big lug, though he's a bit petty.
"Dad," Wu Chun stumbled as he leaned towards Hou Ping's ear and whispered, "I want to buy a cultivation technique."
"Cultivation technique?" Hou Ping's face changed a bit, "The Tiger and Python Strength I taught you is the best Body Refining Technique."
"No, Dad, this technique is even more powerful than Tiger and Python Strength." Wu Chun was so anxious that sweat almost dripped from his forehead.
"Haha, since when could you tell which technique is more powerful? Wu Chun, Wu Chun, your mother was right, you really should read more books, who knows what you think about all day."
"Dad, it's really more powerful than Tiger and Python Strength..."
"Let me see it."
"Will you buy it after you see it?"
"Let's see first."
"Alright."
Wu Chun panted heavily and ran back into the house: "Brother Chu, can I take it out to show my dad... Hey, no, Brother Chu, don't really tear it!"
Tearing—
The paper was torn in half, and Wu Chun felt like his body was being forcibly split in two.
"Take it." Chu Ming crumpled the paper into two balls and threw one out.
Wu Chun shivered, lunged out, and caught the paper ball, as if it was made of porcelain and couldn't withstand a fall.
Then, he grabbed the paper ball and rushed out of the house anxiously.
"Dad, look." Wu Chun held the paper ball in both hands.
"Boy, are you messing with your dad?"
Seeing Wu Chun come out with a paper ball, Hou Ping's anger surged, and he raised his hand as if to smack his son away.
"Dad, dad..." Wu Chun rolled nimbly and landed next to Fang Xiao, unfolding the crumpled paper awkwardly and spreading it on the stone table.
"You little rascal, coming out with a paper ball, and it's torn... hmm?"
Hou Ping's hand, halfway in mid-swing, suddenly stopped, and his eyes were fixed on the crumpled paper.
Fang Xiao happened to glance over and was immediately captivated by the movements depicted on it.
"Dad, how about it, I wasn't lying, was I?" Wu Chun raised his head, a hint of pride flashing between his brows.
"These movements... it's Tiger and Python Strength... no, Tiger and Python Strength is more complex..." Hou Ping mused, "But these movements give me a feeling..."
The morning breeze brushed by, lifting the paper into the air.
Swish—
Fang Xiao reached out and caught the paper, carefully spreading it back on the stone table.
"It's not that the movements are simple, but rather more fluid and seamless. They look simple, yet are actually more advanced," Fang Xiao exclaimed.
Half a sheet of paper, containing only a dozen movements, showed shadows of the first to fifth forms of Tiger and Python Strength...
"Where did you get this from?" Hou Ping grabbed Wu Chun.
"Brother Chu, it's Brother Chu's!" Wu Chun winced, "Dad, be gentle."
Hou Ping snapped out of it, realizing that he was so excited he unconsciously used Qi and Blood Power to grip Wu Chun's wrist.
Young Master?!
Fang Xiao's eyes sharpened, as the astonishing tale of Chu Ming comprehending the Palm Technique from nowhere flashed through his mind.
Could it be that Young Master deduced an even more advanced Body Refining Technique from Tiger and Python Strength?!
As this thought emerged, he himself was startled.
Brother Fang's little master?!
Hou Ping raised his brows and cast an inquisitive glance at Fang Xiao: "Brother Fang..."
Fang Xiao came to himself, looked at the half sheet of paper in his hand, and slowly raised his head: "Brother Hou, I can't make this decision."
"Dad, this was just a piece of paper. Brother Chu was going to toss it as trash, hurry and give me silver, or it will really be gone!"
"What?!" Hou Ping slammed the stone table, leaping up, "Wait, I'll get money from your mother!"
He hurriedly rushed to the kitchen.
Soon, a furious voice could be heard by everyone: "Three taels?! Hou Ping, you just took five taels, and now you want three more, we can't live like this."
"?" Inside the house, Chu Ming was momentarily stunned, children following in their father's footsteps?
Fang Xiao in the courtyard also felt something was amiss.
Whatever Hou Ping said afterward, he came out wearing a peculiar smile.
Wu Chun immediately recognized that expression, a look of a scheme succeeding!
"Dad... Dad..." He rubbed his hands, moving closer to Hou Ping.
Hou Ping picked a tael of silver from his palm, glared at Wu Chun, and stealthily tucked it into his pocket, "I'll go myself!"
"What?" Wu Chun was suddenly anxious, "Dad, let me, let me."
However, Hou Ping was already at the door of Chu Ming's house in a few steps, speaking in a steady voice: "Young Master Chu..."
"Come in."
Before he finished speaking, a voice sounded from inside, and Hou Ping quietly pushed the door open, seeing a slender youth sitting calmly at the desk.
"Young Master Chu, here are the taels." He placed two taels of silver on the table, his eyes fixed on the paper ball casually discarded at the table corner like scrap paper.
Wu Chun stood at the door, his face sour, sweat rolling off his brow, anxious, and uneasy.
Chu Ming picked up the paper ball and walked to Hou Ping: "Uncle Hou, no need to be so formal, one tael will do."
"One tael? Wasn't it two?" Hou Ping questioned.
It's over!
Wu Chun wildly gestured behind him, making faces, signaling Chu Ming not to spill the beans.
Amused internally, Chu Ming showed no emotion: "Uncle Hou coming personally, one tael is sufficient."
"Phew..." Wu Chun exhaled in relief.
Hou Ping looked at the youth before him, hearing the relieved breathing behind, somewhat guessing what this was about.
"Thank you, Young Master Chu."
Taking the paper ball, he turned and left the small house, though the fierce look he gave made Wu Chun's teeth chatter.
...
In the small courtyard.
Wu Chun carefully pieced the two crumpled sheets together, thirty movements vividly depicted.
"Brother Fang, pardon my behavior."
Hou Ping had Wu Chun hold the paper up, and he started practicing the movements in the courtyard.
As he performed more and more movements, Hou Ping's eyes grew increasingly astonished.
Standing aside, Fang Xiao was equally shocked, though he wasn't practicing personally, just watching made him feel that these movements were superior to the original Tiger and Python Strength.
Having completed the movements on the paper, Hou Ping found his qi and blood within his veins stirring.
It must be noted that he, at the middle stage of the Blood Circulation Realm, was unaffected by the Tiger and Python Strength.
Breathing slightly rapid, he looked at Fang Xiao: "Brother Fang, these movements seem like an advanced technique from Tiger and Python Strength, with fewer movements, more continuity and ease, yet the effect is several times better than Tiger and Python Strength."
"Dad, how about it, I wasn't wrong, was I?"
"For once, you showed some insight."
"Then the silver you embezzled from mom..."
"Say that one more time!"
"Fine, I'll say it." Wu Chun shouted towards the direction of the kitchen, about to cry out.
Snap—
The next moment, shiny silver taped onto his face, sealing his mouth.
"Thanks, Dad!"
...
At noon, Madam Hou Ping and Little Shan prepared a sumptuous meal, with fish and meat, the aroma reached Chu Ming in his room.
It did taste great, better than what Little Shan usually made, satisfying his stomach thoroughly.
After the meal, Hou Ping and Fang Xiao discussed the case for a while, then the family of three prepared to leave.
But as they stepped out of the courtyard, they saw a nicely decorated carriage approaching slowly.
Hou Ping and Fang Xiao stood still, watching as the carriage curtain lifted and an old man and a young boy alighted.
"Captain Hou?!"
"Chix Jin?!"
"Wu Chun!"
"Chix Lin!"
The four exchanged glances, as if they all discerned something in each other's eyes.