"Mr. Su, goodbye!"
A dozen or so children, aged five or six, bowed and said farewell to Su Que, then slung their book bags over their shoulders and skipped out of the school.
Su Que nodded and smiled in response, until all the children had left, the smile gradually faded from his face, and he sighed.
Name: Su Que (17 years old)
Lifespan: 15 years
Talent Value: 1
He wasn't originally from this world.
Three days ago, he transmigrated into this body.
The owner of this body, also named Su Que, was an honest and simple teacher.
The original person became a Scholar at 15 and then needed to prepare for the provincial examination.
However, the original person was poor, needing to teach at the school during the day and only study by lamplight at night.
Because the original person was just a young Scholar, he could only enlighten children at the school.
The wages were nowhere near those of the experienced scholars.
The original person was very diligent, sleeping very little each day, until three days ago, when he died suddenly.
Su Que transmigrated at this time, taking over the original person's shell.
Upon transmigration, the Golden Finger awakened with him.
At that moment, some information about the Golden Finger appeared in his mind.
Through this Golden Finger, he could see his remaining lifespan and Talent Value.
The Talent Value was linked to his remaining lifespan.
If the remaining lifespan increased, the Talent Value would also increase.
The Talent Value represented his talent, quality, and enlightenment.
The higher the Talent Value, the faster he could learn and cultivate.
"With this Golden Finger, I can learn various longevity-enhancing skills, extend my lifespan, and improve my Talent Value!"
Su Que thought, reaching into his clothes to clutch his money pouch.
Today, the school issued this month's wages.
With the wages saved by the original person, plus thirty percent of this month's wages, he would be able to learn the Five Animals Qigong at Huichun Hall.
After inheriting the original person's memories, this was the only longevity-enhancing skill he could think of.
It's said that the doctor Hua Chunji at Huichun Hall is already a centenarian, as a result of practicing the Five Animals Qigong, he remains vigorous today and can eat three bowls of rice at a meal.
Su Que wanted to try practicing the Five Animals Qigong to see if it could extend his lifespan.
While pondering, he tidied up his scrolls and then left the school.
...
The school where he taught was in the south of the city.
Huichun Hall was in the east of the city.
When Su Que reached the east of the city, he saw martial arts halls and clinics.
In the memory of the original person, this was a world where martial arts flourished.
Various martial arts were endless.
"If I have time in the future, I should also practice martial arts."
"For self-protection."
Su Que thought.
Currently, external troubles from neighboring countries plague Liang Kingdom, while internal rebel armies and bandits are rampant.
If possible, even a scholar immersed in literature should practice martial arts for self-defense.
In the small Jade Water City where he lived, there were six local gangs.
Sometimes, gang fights often implicate innocent civilians.
If one is without martial arts, they might lose their life senselessly.
He planned to train in martial arts enough to protect himself, then find a more prosperous small city than Jade Water City, to cultivate some health cultivation techniques for longevity, and live peacefully and happily in this world.
As Su Que was planning for the future, he arrived at Huichun Hall.
After stating his purpose to a shop assistant, the assistant led Su Que to one of Hua Chunji's disciples.
The disciple received Su Que's Silver Coins, registered him, and then directed him to wait in the courtyard behind Huichun Hall.
The disciple said that every day at the third quarter of the evening, his senior would teach the Five Animals Qigong there.
Following instructions, Su Que went to the courtyard, finding over fifty people there besides himself, ranging from their twenties to fifties.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a strong and vigorous middle-aged man arrived.
This man first introduced himself, saying he was the third disciple of Hua Chunji, named Ji Hai.
After carefully explaining the principles of the Five Animals Qigong, he began demonstrating them.
Su Que, along with others, concentrated on watching.
After watching Ji Hai's demonstration three times, Su Que and the others began practicing under Ji Hai's guidance.
More than an hour passed before today's instruction ended.
Su Que's heart stirred, as a few lines of dark text appeared before him.
Name: Su Que (17 years old)
Lifespan: 15 years
Talent Value: 1
Martial Arts: Five Animals Qigong (Entry-Level 10%)
Seeing the Five Animals Qigong appear on the screen, Su Que felt elated.
As long as he diligently practiced the Five Animals Qigong in the future, his lifespan would increase, thereby increasing his Talent Value, speeding up his cultivation rate.
After the cultivation rate speeds up, the progress in practicing the Five Animals Qigong will also increase, consequently extending lifespan and increasing Talent Value...
Just like a snowball effect!
If he were to find and practice a few more health cultivation techniques, he might live longer, maybe even achieve eternal life!
Su Que was excited, thinking as he walked towards home.
Both his parents passed away before he turned thirteen.
Since then, he had depended on his elder sister, Su Jing, who was three years older than him.
Before he became a scholar, it was his sister Su Jing who worked several jobs to barely make ends meet.
When he got home, he saw his sister Su Jing collecting the laundry.
Although his sister wasn't a great beauty, she was delicate-featured and well-proportioned.
Many men actually wanted to propose to her.
Several matchmakers had come, but his sister politely declined them all because she wanted to take care of him.
Besides teaching at school, his sister also did needlework for others at home.
He was precocious, and his parents, as well as his sister Su Jing, hoped that one day he would achieve academic success.
Especially after his parents' death, he became a scholar at the age of fifteen.
His sister Su Jing had even greater hopes for him.
Su Que also planned to attend the county examination in the prefecture city next year.
After all, he had worked so hard preparing for it for a long time.
His mind was filled with memories related to the national examinations.
He didn't want to waste this knowledge, so he decided to take the exam. If he accidentally succeeded, he might even secure a job in the future.
Moreover, if he became a successful candidate, even if he didn't pursue officialdom, his status at the school would rise, and his salary would naturally improve.
"Xiao Que is back!"
Su Jing saw Su Que enter the courtyard, quickly packed the clothes, and served him a meal.
...
Ten days later, at Huichun Hall.
"Alright, Mr. Su, you've mastered the Five Animals Qigong."
Ji Hai watched as Su Que performed a set and, seeing no mistakes in his movements, spoke to him.
Su Que nodded; from now on, he could practice at home without needing to go to Huichun Hall daily.
After dinner, Su Que went to the overgrown courtyard to practice the Five Animals Qigong.
Name: Su Que
Life Expectancy: 15 years
Talent Value: 1
Martial Arts: Five Animals Qigong (Entry 99%)
His Five Animals Qigong was about to break through the entry level.
The Five Animals Qigong includes the Tiger, Deer, Bear, Monkey, and Bird movements.
The Tiger exercise benefits the liver, the Deer exercise benefits the kidneys, the Bear exercise benefits the spleen, the Monkey exercise benefits the heart, and the Bird exercise benefits the lungs.
Practicing the Five Exercises nourishes the Five Viscera.
Su Que moved in the courtyard, performing the movements of the Tiger, Deer, Bear, Monkey, and Bird, breaking a slight sweat.
After a stick of incense, he suddenly felt a surge of energy about to erupt from his internal organs.
Even without checking the panel, he knew the Five Animals Qigong was on the verge of a breakthrough to a new realm.
"I wonder how much life expectancy it will increase after breaking through entry level?"
Su Que thought with anticipation in his heart.
Suddenly.
This long-brewing energy burst from within him but then pierced into his internal organs like countless small knives.
Instantly, his body was in excruciating pain!
"Puh!"
A metallic taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood!
A blood mist hung in the air, droplets of blood falling and forming spots on the ground.
"What's going on?"
Su Que's face turned pale as he called upon the panel.
Name: Su Que (17 years old)
Life Expectancy: 13 years
Talent Value: 1
Martial Arts: Five Animals Qigong (1st Realm Initial Insight 1%)
"Practicing the Five Animals Qigong actually reduced my life expectancy by two years?!"
Su Que glanced back at Su Jing in the kitchen, relieved she hadn't noticed, then hurriedly covered the bloodstains on the ground with dirt.
Afterwards, he began to ponder.
After spitting that blood, his internal organs felt as if they were being burned.
On the first day he practiced the Five Animals Qigong, he heard from the medical hall master that practicing it could strengthen the internal organs and prolong life.
However, after practicing the Five Animals Qigong, his internal organs were damaged, and his life expectancy reduced.
It was completely reversed!
Thus, an unbelievable thought arose in his mind.
— Could it be that when I practice martial arts, the effects on my body are completely reversed?
Su Que narrowed his eyes slightly.
He thought for a bit more and gradually reasoned that, after experiencing transmigration and awakening his golden finger, such a thing happening to him wasn't impossible!
"Anyway, the Five Animals Qigong can't save me anymore!"
"I might as well try an evil technique that harms the body!"