Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System-Chapter 46: Toothache
"Amazing Saber Technique, Senior Brother!"
Chu Lingguang was entangled with Hei Hu. As Hei Hu’s Saber Technique quickened, Chu Lingguang started to retreat, looking like he could barely hold on.
He chose not to clash head-on with Hei Hu or shatter his Sword Momentum and dazzle Guo Wei once more. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
He wanted to earn Guo Wei’s respect, but he couldn’t completely overshadow Hei Hu.
Besides, Hei Hu had just manifested the Sword Sound last night and was still riding the high. If Chu Lingguang shattered his Saber Technique right now, or revealed that he too had achieved the Sword Sound, it might sour their relationship as martial brothers.
Chu Lingguang was in no rush. He could wait a few more days to tell Guo Wei that he, too, had achieved the Sword Sound.
"CLANG!"
With a sweeping slash aimed at the waist, Hei Hu forced Chu Lingguang to retreat four or five steps.
"Junior Brother, how does my Saber Technique stack up against the guys from the Big Saber Gang?"
Hei Hu asked excitedly. He felt that his Saber Technique could now completely overpower Chu Lingguang.
"You have the slight edge, Senior Brother."
Chu Lingguang knew Hei Hu was fishing for compliments. He had just made a breakthrough after so much effort; it wouldn’t be right to rain on his parade.
"So, you’re saying if I had been there, I could have beaten them until they pissed their pants!"
Hei Hu’s imagination ran wild.
"PFFT!"
Guo Wei spat a grape seed onto Hei Hu’s face and growled, "Or maybe they would’ve diced you into little pieces!"
"Uhh..."
Hei Hu looked embarrassed. He didn’t dare talk back under Guo Wei’s furious gaze, so he simply resumed practicing the Iron Mountain Saber Technique.
Chu Lingguang, meanwhile, began practicing the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques.
He quietly glanced at his status panel.
Favors: None
Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques (88-150)
Staff Technique (33-100)
Tidal Breathing Technique (89-300)
Riding Skill (37-100)
Turtle Breath Technique (61-500)
Heaven and Earth Art (47-1000)
(Remaining Lifespan: 79)
For the past month, Chu Lingguang had focused on the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques and the Tidal Breathing Technique. Though his natural talent was lacking, he made up for it with diligence. Thanks to his hard work and focus, his values for both the Tidal Breathing Technique and the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques had risen by several points.
It was a shame. He could already switch freely between the moves of the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques. He could even combine it with his Riding Skill to charge through the woods and obliterate a wooden post with a single thrust. Yet, he was still a long way from his Spear Technique solidifying, from truly manifesting its Gun Form.
The good news was that his Qiao Pass and Saber Technique could already earn him an A Class score.
Furthermore, his Fist Technique was outstanding among the exam candidates, and his Archery had reached the realm of Hundred-step Piercing Willow. Chu Lingguang didn’t have much to worry about now. As long as he could bring his Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques to a tangible state before the Daoist Examination, he was confident he would make the list.
Mounted Archery and the Lance were considered bonus skills. Even if he couldn’t achieve an A Class grade in those two, with his advantages in Spear Technique, Saber Technique, Fist Technique, Archery, and Qiao Pass, Chu Lingguang wasn’t afraid of failing to make the list.
Of course, the standards for the Daoist Examination weren’t set in stone. Despite his confidence, Chu Lingguang knew he had to keep training hard to avoid any surprises that might leave him flustered and scrambling.
The next day, Hei Hu couldn’t come to train due to a toothache. Master Hei came personally to ask for a day off for Hei Hu.
Chu Lingguang was in the backyard practicing the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques by himself.
"Lin Guang, once you’re done with your Spear Technique, take this pack of herbs to Hei Hu. Tell him to decoct it in three bowls of water until only half a bowl remains. His tooth won’t hurt after he drinks it."
Guo Wei handed a packet of Chinese medicine to Chu Lingguang.
"Oh, okay."
That evening, after dinner at the Martial Arts Hall, Chu Lingguang headed to Hei Hu’s house with the herbs in hand.
Just as he arrived at Hei Hu’s front door, he saw a physician coming out with a frown.
"Young Master Chu."
The physician recognized Chu Lingguang.
Over a month ago, Chu Lingguang had confronted the Big Saber Gang, reducing the monthly protection fee for everyone. The physician had been there and immediately greeted Chu Lingguang when he saw him.
"Physician Li, are you here to check on my senior brother’s toothache?"
Chu Lingguang recognized the physician as well.
"Toothache? There’s nothing wrong with Master Hu’s teeth. It’s his face that’s swollen beyond belief. Sigh, those guys from the Big Saber Gang are too ruthless."
Physician Li shook his head.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Chu Lingguang was stunned, realizing something was wrong.
"Master Hu was drinking on Wine Street last night and got into a conflict with the Big Saber Gang. You didn’t know?"
Physician Li asked in return.
Chu Lingguang shook his head.
"I haven’t said a thing."
Physician Li realized his slip and hurried away.
Chu Lingguang looked at the toothache medicine in his hand, hesitating over whether he should just take it back. But Guo Wei had given him a direct order, so he could only bite the bullet and go inside.
"Master Hei, my master sent me to deliver some toothache medicine for Hei Hu."
Chu Lingguang called out as he entered.
"Oh, you’ve gone to so much trouble, Young Master Chu. Please thank Master Guo for me. It’s just a toothache; he didn’t need to go out of his way to prepare medicine for him."
Master Hei heard the voice and came out from a side room, carefully closing the door behind him.
Chu Lingguang glanced at the side room, handed the herbs to Master Hei, and relayed the instructions: "Master wants Senior Brother to return to the Martial Arts Hall to train soon. He said to decoct this pack of herbs in three bowls of water down to half a bowl. After Hei Hu drinks it, his toothache will be gone."
"Ah, alright! Please thank Master Guo for me!"
Master Hei had a grateful expression.
"I’ll be heading back then."
"Take care."
Master Hei saw Chu Lingguang to the door.
Chu Lingguang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Usually, when he visited Hei Hu’s home, Master Hei would insist he stay for several meals. This time, he wasn’t even offered a cup of tea. It seemed Hei Hu had really gotten into trouble.
He saw through the lie but didn’t expose it, pretending he knew nothing.
"Dad, what did my master say?"
Hei Hu’s voice was muffled and indistinct. His cheeks were swollen, and judging by the red mark on one, it looked like he had been slapped with the flat of a blade.
"Master Guo sent some medicine. He said it will cure your toothache and that you should return to the Martial Arts Hall for training tomorrow morning."
Master Hei said.
"Then hurry up and brew the medicine for me! My tooth really does hurt a bit."
Hei Hu cried out.
"Alright... sigh."
Master Hei shook his head and sighed. Last night, after Hei Hu finished his training, he had told his father to just wait and see him make a name for himself, then ran off to Wine Street. When he returned, his head was swollen like a pig’s, and the whole family thought a thief had broken in.
「An hour later.」
Master Hei brought the decocted medicine to Hei Hu and advised, "Son, why don’t you go to the Martial Arts Hall tomorrow and explain things to Master Guo?"
"No way! If Master sees me like this, he’ll kick me out of the Martial Arts Hall for sure."
Hei Hu shook his head. He then slowly sucked the bowl of herbal medicine into his mouth. His cheeks were so swollen that his large mouth had been squeezed into the size of a cherry, making it impossible to swallow in big gulps.
He finally managed to finish the medicine and was just about to apply a medicinal paste.
"HISS!"
Suddenly, he sucked in a sharp, cold breath. He felt as if the teeth inside his mouth were about to fall out of his gums on their own. A pain so unbearable it was worse than death made him let out a squeal like a stuck pig.
"Son, are you alright?!"
Master Hei was in a panic.
"It hurts, Dad! The pain is killing me!"
Hei Hu rolled around on the bed, drenched in a cold sweat.
"How could this be? Master Guo clearly said this was medicine for a toothache!"
Master Hei was completely baffled.
"Dad, hurry, take me to see my master! Master, I was wrong!"
Hei Hu snapped to his senses, finally realizing what the problem was. He suddenly understood that Guo Wei hadn’t sent Chu Lingguang to treat his toothache at all. It was clear he had sent Chu Lingguang to teach him a lesson, knowing that he had disgraced their school on Wine Street.
(Thanks for the one-yuan tips, everyone! They warm my heart when I’m all alone.)
