e-booksonline Chapter 2 The Moonlight Envoy in the Well
Chapter 2 The Moonlight Envoy in the Well
The man who came was named Tan Ming. He was quite senior, and everyone in the water shop called him Brother Tan.
Zhao Xiaoqi was startled and quickly explained, "Brother Tan, the well water has some impurities and an odd smell, that's why we used alum..."
"You still can't use alum!" Tan Ming interrupted. "Don't you know how strict the water quality requirements are for martial arts schools? Alum is also an impurity!"
Last month, someone from the West Street water shop delivered alum water to a martial arts school, and the water supplier ended up losing a full five taels of silver!
Five taels of silver!
Zhao Xiaoqi's face turned pale. These waterworkers couldn't even save five taels of silver a year.
Seeing that Zhao Xiaoqi was flustered, Tan Ming changed the subject: "Luckily, I stored a few extra buckets of clean water yesterday. If you need it urgently, I can share some with you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaoqi immediately said, "Use it! We'll use it!"
"Alright, come with me to the water room to get it." Tan Ming said, turning to leave, but then paused as if suddenly remembering something. "By the way, do you guys... have any spare cash? Lend me some."
Zhao Xiaoqi was taken aback: "Brother Tan, how many do you want?"
"Not much, just an ounce or two will do. I plan to go to a martial arts school to learn martial arts, but I'm a little short on money."
Practicing martial arts?
Zhao Xiaoqi was taken aback.
Everyone in the waterworks knows that this old waterworker has always only wanted to save money to get married, and he would shake his head whenever martial arts were mentioned. How did he suddenly change his mind?
There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.
When Tan Ming "kindly reminded" him not to use alum, Jiang Qi actually saw the man's eyes darting around.
Sure enough, borrowing water was just a pretense; the real purpose was to borrow money.
It is common knowledge that 99% of the money lent out is never recovered, and you will only make an enemy in the process.
Not to mention, he really didn't have a single tael of silver.
Seeing that the two did not respond, Tan Ming's expression changed slightly, and he said again, "Then... five hundred coins will do!"
"Brother Tan, I have ten or eight coins if you need to lend me, or five hundred..."
Jiang Qi and Zhao Xiaoqi couldn't afford five hundred coins either.
Seeing this, Tan Ming's feigned enthusiasm vanished, and he simply shook his head and said:
"Oh, I see. It's alright. Oh, I just remembered, I need to deliver those buckets of water to the Ironclad Gang as soon as possible, so I can't lend them to you."
After saying that, he pushed the cart and left.
After Tan Ming walked away.
"Qi-ge, what should we do..." Zhao Xiaoqi said worriedly, looking at the several buckets of water treated with alum. "Brother Tan said the martial arts school doesn't want alum water..."
"It's alright." Jiang Qi patted Xiao Qi on the shoulder. "I'll deliver this water. If anything happens, it's on me."
He didn't know whether the martial arts school needed alum water, but these buckets of water were dry water, not alum water.
"No way!" Zhao Xiaoqi, though afraid, was also loyal. "I'll go with you!"
......
Zhenyuan Martial Arts School is located on West Street in Licheng. It has a spacious entrance, with shiny copper nails on the black lacquered gate and majestic stone lions on both sides, giving it a solemn and imposing atmosphere.
Water is not delivered through the main entrance.
Jiang Qi and Zhao Xiaoqi pushed the water cart and entered through a small door at the back of the martial arts school.
From afar, one could hear shouts and the sound of fists and feet cutting through the air coming from the training ground in the front yard.
When passing a high wall, there happened to be a gap on the top of the wall.
Zhao Xiaoqi couldn't help but tiptoe and peek inside, and Jiang Qi followed suit.
On the spacious training ground, twenty or thirty strong men were practicing boxing shirtless.
Their movements were synchronized and powerful, their punches were fierce, and the ground trembled slightly with each step.
Several people practiced their strength against the heavy wooden stakes, and with each punch, wood chips flew everywhere.
Sunlight shone on his bronzed, muscular body, and beneath the glistening sweat lay a power that ordinary people could only dream of.
Zhao Xiaoqi's eyes burned with fervor, yet she sighed softly, "Practicing martial arts is wonderful... but it's just too difficult."
Just to get into this Zhenyuan Martial Arts School, the entrance fee alone is ten taels of silver.
People like us need to save up for several years to accumulate enough.
Moreover, even if they get in, most of them won't learn anything useful, and their money will just go down the drain...
Jiang Qi silently withdrew his gaze.
Ten taels of silver, almost a year's wages, is indeed a lot.
However, martial arts training is essential.
......
The two arrived at the back kitchen courtyard, where someone was already waiting.
The water collector was a fat cook, and he had always been the one collecting the water before, so he recognized Jiang Qi and Zhao Xiaoqi.
However, as usual, the fat cook scooped up a ladle of water, carefully examined its clarity against the light, and then brought it to his nose to smell and check the water quality.
Zhao Xiaoqi's palms were sweating with nervousness.
The portly cook nodded, a satisfied look on his face: "Hmm, the water is excellent today, very clear and cool."
"Give each person an extra ten coins as a reward. Also, give them two coins' worth of braised meat."
what?
Zhao Xiaoqi could hardly believe her ears. It wasn't until she received the coins and the braised meat wrapped in oil paper that she came to her senses and thanked them repeatedly with great excitement.
The portly cook waved his hand, and since he was quite familiar with Jiang Qi and Zhao Xiaoqi, he suddenly reminded them, "Things aren't very peaceful in the city lately, so don't wander around outside too much. Go home early after you finish delivering the water, especially at night."
Thank you.
Jiang Qi and Zhao Xiaoqi bowed to each other.
......
Leaving the martial arts school, Zhao Xiaoqi looked at the coins in his hand, then picked up the braised meat and took several deep breaths. "It smells so good. The martial arts school is really generous."
"That's really generous."
If you spread the monthly allowance over each day, it's only thirty coins, but the martial arts school gives you ten coins at a time.
Not to mention, there's a small packet of braised meat that costs less than thirty coins.
Jiang Qi glanced at the high walls of the martial arts school, his gaze slightly narrowed.
The gap between the rich and the poor in this world is enormous, and martial artists belong to the rich.
Zhao Xiaoqi sighed, then suddenly said with concern, "Brother Qi, the Suolong Well was flooded once last month, and it's flooded again today."
I've heard the waterman mention before that if an old well keeps producing impurities, it's either because the water is polluted, or... the well water is about to dry up.
Jiang Qi, pushing the cart, also frowned slightly.
If the well water is truly about to dry up, then this livelihood of "relying on the well for water" will probably come to an end soon.
Therefore, I need to quickly upgrade the [Waterworker] skill to level three for job advancement and get the martial arts training done.
"Qi-ge'er, could it be a dragon turning over? Suolong Well is also called the Dragon-Locking Well."
"That well is so small, a mudfish could barely turn over. It's probably just some debris that fell in. Don't overthink it."
"..."
The two chatted idly, exchanging only a few words.
Back at the water mill, they resumed drawing water.
[Hydraulic Engineering] +1
[Hydraulic Engineering] +1...
......
Two days later, at dusk.
Jiang Qi lifted a bucket of well water.
Deep within consciousness, the [Book of a Hundred Trades] shimmered with golden light:
【Occupation: Plumber (Can be changed to another occupation)】
[Level: 3]
Finally, I've reached level three.
Focusing his mind on the words "Job Change Available," the scroll unfurled in an instant, revealing two paths of different radiance:
[Job Change Options:]
【I. Moonlight Envoy】
[By drawing moonlight into the well, the mortal spring water is transformed into a spiritual liquid. By absorbing the essence of the moon and condensing it into "Moonlight Water," long-term consumption can subtly improve one's constitution and nourish one's bones.]
[II. Those Who Are Pure or Impure]
It can separate impurities and foul gases from water, purifying the water and making it impervious to filth.
"The Moon's Essence...the Purifier of Impurities..."
Jiang Qi examined the two professions in detail.
The former transforms ordinary water into spiritual water, while the latter tends to purify impurities.
Both had their advantages, but after only a slight hesitation, he made his decision.
[The Purifier] If used properly, it has a very wide range of applications, such as treating illnesses and purifying toxins.
But for him, the [Moonlight Envoy] is more suitable.
Improving physical condition and nourishing the body's foundation undoubtedly greatly helps in martial arts training.
"Change your class to [Moonlight Envoy]".
Once the thought was chosen, the two characters "Waterworker" faded on the scroll, and the three characters "Moonlight Envoy" emerged, shimmering with a hazy moonlight.
【Occupation: Moonlight Envoy (Level 3, eligible for job advancement)】
[Level: 1 (1/1000)]
[Effects: Allows the user to sense the activity of water and move with it; significantly enhances physical strength.]
【Skill:
Moonlight – When the moon is bright and the night is deep, the essence of the moon can be guided into the well and condensed into moonlight water.
[Water removal – This process removes impurities from the water, improves water quality, makes the water more active, and has healing and detoxifying effects.]
......
That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.
Jiang Qi came to the well and silently looked at the water.
In just a moment, a full moon was reflected on the surface of the well.
"Moonlight," he murmured.
The water surface rippled slightly, and the full moon turned on its own, then slowly shrank inward until it became a wisp of light.
"I feel completely drained..." Jiang Qi looked at the luster and rubbed his temples wearily.
Both the skills [Leaving Water] and [Moonlight] require mental energy to use.
The former doesn't consume much energy before job advancement and can be used multiple times a day.
However, after changing jobs, the effects of both are greatly enhanced, and naturally, the 'mana' consumed also increases.
"Mental strength is related to physical strength. Once you practice martial arts, your physique will improve, and your mental strength will also increase, allowing you to use it more often."
Jiang Qi waved his hand slightly, and the light in the well dissipated, revealing a drop of moon-colored liquid in his palm.
This is the Moon Essence Water.
After a brief pause, the moon water entered my throat, instantly giving me a sweet and refreshing feeling, which then transformed into a warm current that spread throughout my limbs and bones.
In just a moment, my body felt a cleansing and refreshing sensation.
"Is this what improving physical condition is...?"
The changes are not obvious, but they are truly happening.
"Moonlight water improves physical condition...it can heal wounds and detoxify when not in water..."
Jiang Qi looked at the well water, his eyes shining brightly.
"Save up for a few days, exchange for silver, and practice martial arts."