Chapter 121
Chapter 121: Phoenix Tree
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After Chu Li finished his meal, he helped Xue Ling with her cultivation for the night.
As his spirit was strong, Xue Ling’s advancement was fast. She broke through two acupuncture points in a night, getting one step closer to the Innate Mastery’s Boundary, this made Xue Ling’s cold, impassive face break into a smile.
The next day, Su Ru in a yellow robe strolled in casually during breakfast. Her face clear and bright, her eyes smiling.
She walked into the small courtyard and cast a glance at the Glory’s Will Tree first. The Glory’s Will Tree’s height had reached her waist, its growth was impressive, her smile broadened. Su Ru walked with a spring in her step towards the pagoda and sat in front of Chu Li.
Chu Li inhaled the fragrant scent that drifted from her and laughed. “Something good happened to Chief?”
“You got promoted to chief, is this not a joyous occasion?” Su Ru giggled.
Xue Ling brought a white jade teacup into the pagoda, handed it gently to her and looked at Chu Li astonishingly.
Su Ru laughed. “Xue Ling, your Master has distinguished himself. From now on, he is promoted to Chief of the Glory’s Will Courtyard!”
“The Chief of the Glory’s Will Courtyard?” Xue Ling said dubiously, “I feel like I have never even heard of the Glory’s Will Courtyard!”
“The Glory’s Will Courtyard is actually your courtyard.” Su Ru chuckled. “In any case, a chief is a chief... Chu Li, you can have 10 Scribes and 20 Protectors, including two Innate Masters!”
Chu Li shook his head and burst out laughing. “I don’t need so many people.”
“For the Protectors, you can always go to the Martial Arts Hall and ask for them,” Su Ru said. “As for the Scribes, you can select them at any time, it’s up to you whether you want them or not. No matter what, the pay of the Glory’s Will Courtyard will be given directly to you.”
Chu Li smiled. “How much?”
“10,000 taels silver per month.”
“That much?” Xue Ling’s bright eyes turned round.
The pay for the Protectors and Scribes were given directly by the Public House and the Glory’s Will Courtyard did not have to pay for them. This 10,000 taels silver was used as expenses during duties and to reward their subordinates.
“This is not considered much.” Su Ru sipped a mouthful of tea. “If you carry out a deed of merit in the future, it will increase... you must have heard about Zhao Ying’s matter?”
“I know the gist, Xue Ling did not give me the details.”
“That group of fellows from Phoenix Tree Faction!” Su Ru scoffed, “Feng Shicai has a brother, he is an Elder in the Phoenix Tree Faction.”
“He certainly has guts!” Chu Li’s expression turned dark.
“Probably, he is trying to test the water.” Su Ru smiled. “When Zhao Ying intervened, she scared them until they retreated!”
“Phoenix Tree Faction... ” Chu Li pondered.
“This Phoenix Tree Faction cannot be underestimated,” Su Ru said. “In recent years, their power has risen sharply and a number of young talents originated from this faction. There is a sign of resurgence.”
“They dare to challenge the Public House?” Chu Li frowned.
Zhao Ying’s identity was not a secret, someone will know who she was with just a slight investigation. Going against Zhao Ying in Chong Ming Town indicated a provocation against the Public House.
Su Ru sneered, “Our Public House has weakened in recent years, people are increasingly irreverent about the Public House. Through provocation against our Public House, the Phoenix Tree Faction will become famous overnight, they have wishful thinking!”
“They are not afraid that the Public House will take action against them?”
“They knew the limit and calculated the risks well. The only mistake they made was not knowing that Zhao Ying’s martial arts skill is good.” Su Ru chuckled. “Who would know that a delicate girl like Zhao Ying would have such skills, all of this is your credit!”
Chu Li waved his hand.
“They turned obedient after that, they now know that nobody can provoke our Public House!” Su Ru scoffed and then smiled. “As a matter of fact, Zhao Ying did a great job this time!”
“Sister Zhao Ying has worked hard.” Chu Li sighed.
Since the start of the business in the Leisure Cloud Pub, Zhao Ying had always been guarding the pub. Never leaving there even for a moment, lest there was someone bullying that group of poor women.
“It’s rare that she did not forget to train her martial arts,” Su Ru said, “but that place suits her well.”
Zhao Ying’s character was too soft, not suitable to be a Protector who carried out duties outside the Public House. Su Ru had given her suggestion to the Martial Arts Hall, to turn the job of protecting Leisure Cloud Pub into a duty. This allowed Zhao Ying to avoid doing other duties and stay in the Leisure Cloud Pub.
Chu Li changed the topic. “Chief, can the Art of White Tiger be taught to others?”
“Who do you want to impart it to?” Su Ru was surprised.
This was an ancient martial art, mysterious and unpredictable, the combination of volume 1 and volume 2. It was one of the rarest torso tuning technique, but the threshold was a little too high for the average person to practice.
“The sisters in the Leisure Cloud Pub,” answered Chu Li.
“Can they practice it?” Su Ru smiled. “Don’t joke with me!”
Even Lady Xiao Qi could not execute it and they could do it successfully? It was impossible!
“I have a way.”
“What way?”
“Buddhism’s Enlightenment Technique.”
“No matter what method,” Su Ru said disapprovingly, “didn’t you say that practicing forcefully would damage one’s spirit?”
“I added the Art of White Tiger into the foundation aspect and let them practice the foundation first. Slowly, they will be able to practice the Art of White Tiger.”
“There is such a thing?” Su Ru said, “Then let me try first!”
“Can I teach it to them?”
Su Ru frowned and thought for a while. “I would need to ask Lady Xiao Qi,” she finally said.
Chu Li nodded slightly.
It was necessary as the Art of White Tiger’s value was inestimable, how can it be taught to others that easily? Not only would it be unfair, there would also certainly be trouble in the future.
“Enlighten me first to see if your method really works,” said Su Ru.
Chu Li laughed. “Chief, you really dare to try?”
“Will you harm me?” Su Ru clearly did not think so and she laughed. “When do you want to try it?”
“We can do it right now.”
“If so, let’s go then!” Su Ru placed the teacup down.
Chu Li stood up, went to sit beside her and smiled. “Chief, calm your mind.”
As he said that, his right palm slowly pressed onto Su Ru’s head.
Su Ru remained unmoved, smiling while she looked at him. They were very close to each other and Chu Li was able to hear her breath. Su Ru’s breath was as fresh and fragrant as the orchid, her eyes were as clear as the water on a lake, her delicate skin was smooth, and her facial features beautiful and refined. The closer Chu Li was to her, the more beautiful she looked.
“Close your eyes,” said Chu Li.
Su Ru closed her eyes and laughed. “Is that all?”
Chu Li did not answer, he manifested the Buddhism’s Enlightenment Technique and inserted a painting of a fierce tiger into her mind.
By observing the painting of a fierce tiger, he gained great sensibility. After grasping the essence of this painting, Chu Li was able to grasp the others’ essence as well. When he unfolded the Art of White Tiger, each of the tiger paintings transformed into the Art of White Tiger, but their momentums were either too strong or too weak and their effects were different too. Thus, they were differentiated into separate levels.
The White Tiger that was inserted into the mind of Su Ru had a weak momentum, and through this painting, she was able to absorb the invisible force like a gentle breeze from the void. Her body strengthening effect was subtle but when accumulated to a certain level, the effects would be amazing too.
Chu Li let go of her hand. Su Ru opened her bright eyes and closed them again, trying to visualize an image in her mind. There was indeed a white tiger jumping and displaying various postures and forms. A faint and weak force entered her body.
“It’s really the Art of White Tiger!” she stared at Chu Li astonishingly.
Chu Li smiled. “Practice this for a while first. When your spirit has grown stronger, only then you can practice the following paintings.”
“Chu Li, you are awesome!” said Su Ru excitedly.
She had understood Chu Li’s intention. He weakened the White Tiger’s momentum so the effects might be frail, but it was far better than not being able to practice it at all. The original Art of White Tiger’s threshold was too high and the average person could not practice it.
Su Ru stood up impatiently, waved her hand at Chu Li and walked out of the small courtyard.
Xue Ling looked at him inquisitively.
“You can’t practice it,” said Chu Li, sensing Xue Ling’s curiosity.
“Why not?” Xue Ling asked disappointedly.
Chu Li smiled. “The torso tuning technique is best to wait until you reach the Innate Mastery’s Boundary to attempt it.”
The Art of White Tiger was marvelous, but he did not know if it would hinder the breakthrough into the Innate Mastery’s Boundary. Chen Ying and the girls were different, they were older and there was radical damage done to their bodies, so Chu Li had a different plan for them.
“Innate Mastery’s Boundary... ” Xue Ling’s cold and impassive face revealed resignation, it was unattainable.
Su Ru soon came back. She laughed and said, “The Lady agreed, but you can only teach them the first volume, and... ”
Chu Li was all ears.
“You are only allowed to teach them using the enlightenment technique. They are not allowed to read the secret manual,” said Su Ru.
Inheritance through enlightenment was different from reading the secret manual. It could only be sensed, not expressed by words. To draw the white tiger in his mind onto a paper, not to mention how high one’s painting skill was required, even if it was seen by others, it would be useless.
“Many thanks to Lady Xiao Qi!” Chu Li laughed.
Chu Li saw a glimmer of hope, he could train Chen Ying and the girls so that they could help him out in the future.