After adjusting his mindset, Chen Mu washed up and prepared a meal.

    Wheat rice, roasted wild rabbit, and a platter of wild fruits from the forest.

    This was the first time he had prepared a meal with care since returning to Chen Family Village.

    For the past few days, he had been in a daze, spending his days throwing stones in the forest to practice the Flying Locust Stone.

    This skill gave him a sense of security.

    The grasses, trees, insects, and snakes in the forest had brought him no small trouble.

    He brought up the grey wall.

    Writing: 1445/10000/Second Rank;

    Drawing: 1353/10000/Second Rank;

    Throwing: 4623/10000/Second Rank;

    Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique: 216/10000/Second Rank;

    Cooking: 2642/10000/First Rank;

    He had been slightly negligent in his Shape Cultivation Technique, gaining only about thirty experience a day.

    Instead, his throwing skill had advanced by more than half.

    His throwing technique had become more exquisite, and his mind was filled with numerous methods for making unique hidden weapons.

    Chen Mu couldn''t help but reflect.

    When he killed Sheng Hong, there was a stone that went straight for the other''s forehead.

    Sheng Hong''s forehead was cut open, his face covered in blood, but the bones were not broken.

    "Once Shape Cultivation reaches the Bone Transformation Realm, the bones become hard, and ordinary stones might not be able to damage them even if they shatter."

    "In a couple of days when I return to town, I''ll have a batch of special hidden weapons made."

    ...

    Three days later, Chen Mu had no choice but to return to Qingshan County Town.

    He needed to go to the Qingshan County Government Office to draw wanted posters.

    On his way back to town, Chen Mu appeared calm on the surface but was quite nervous inside.

    He was afraid that a group of Government Officials would jump out of a corner and tie him up tightly.

    But in reality, nothing happened.

    Sheng Hong''s disappearance was silent and unnoticed; no one cared.

    Even when Chen Mu left the County Government Office, no one troubled him.

    He even went out of his way to probe indirectly, inquiring about major events in the county.

    Besides the Zuo Family experiencing some evil spirits, resulting in the young master of the Zuo Family displaying great valor by cutting them down, there was nothing fresh to report.

    "Calm seas and gentle winds are good," Chen Mu reassured himself and headed home.

    On the way, he also stopped by the blacksmith shop and ordered a bag of Iron Lotus Seeds. He planned to upgrade his Flying Locust Stone.

    ...

    After cautiously investigating for a few more days and confirming that indeed no one had discovered Sheng Hong''s death, Chen Mu finally felt completely at ease.

    As days passed by day after day, the weather grew colder.

    People on the street wrapped themselves up as if they were zongzi (rice dumplings).

    Chen Mu also discovered another benefit of Shape Cultivation—resistance to cold.

    After completing the Muscle Transformation, it seemed as though a special kind of tissue had formed under his skin, not only improving his defense but also enhancing his tolerance to temperature.

    He could feel the cold, but he wasn''t afraid of it.

    Chen Mu had prepared a full table of food at home.

    It wasn''t long before Jie Jia appeared, as if by magic, just like always.

    Even with Chen Mu''s current status at the Muscle Transformation Realm, he could only barely make out the other''s figure.

    This old man might even be at the Marrow Transformation Realm, a true master of the highest order.

    "Old Jie, care to join me for a meal?" Chen Mu invited warmly.

    Jie Jia scrutinized the dishes carefully, his eyes moving around, then fixed on Chen Mu, "Speak."

    "Speak what?" Chen Mu played dumb.

    "The payment for the goods," Jie Jia said flatly, throwing down the bag of medicines.

    If he wouldn''t say it, that was that.

    Chen Mu gave a sheepish grin; the old man was as blunt and straightforward as ever.

    "I''m looking to sell a Shape Cultivation Technique. Do you have a channel?" Chen Mu didn''t bother hiding it.

    Indeed, Chen Mu had his sights set on Jie Jia.

    The man was a secretive assassin with unique channels.

    "Twenty percent," Jie Jia stated blandly.

    "What do you mean?" Chen Mu was confused.

    Then it dawned on him, was he asking for a twenty percent cut as payment?!

    The greedy old man!

    "Fine!" Chen Mu said almost through clenched teeth.

    The Shape Cultivation Technique was powerful; ordinary people couldn''t afford it, and without a channel, it was indeed hard to sell!

    "Tomorrow evening, Ghost Market," Jie Jia said with a satisfied nod.

    This old man actually knew about the Ghost Market; he really did have connections!

    Having lived in Qingshan County for half a year, Chen Mu had heard plenty of rumors and bits of gossip.

    The Ghost Market was one of them.

    It was said that one could buy anything there, and they dared to sell anything!

    "Hurry up and give me the payment; I''ll go smooth things out for you at the Ghost Market," Jie Jia urged.

    "Alright," Chen Mu said, his face lighting up with joy.

    Selling the Shape Cultivation Technique would replenish a tremendous amount of his resources, allowing him to cultivate peacefully for a long time.

    Just as he was about to hand over the silver, he suddenly felt something was off.

    Asking for the payment in such a hurry?

    Chen Mu looked at the bags of medicinal herbs and then at Jie Jia, who seemed completely at ease.

    Approaching, he opened the bags and started checking them one by one.

    After a long while, Chen Mu pulled out a handful of herbs from the bottom of a bag and compared them carefully with those on top.

    They looked almost identical but...

    Chen Mu sighed, looking helplessly at Jie Jia.

    Lucky for me, I had been bored recently and read a few medical books, picking up some alchemy skills. Otherwise, you really would have pulled the wool over my eyes!

    Your counterfeiting technique has even improved, hasn''t it?!

    "Damn fake drug peddler," Jie Jia said coolly, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

    Chen Mu glared at Jie Jia.

    If anyone else said that, they''d be criticizing the drug peddler for selling fakes.

    But when Jie Jia said it, damn, he was lamenting that the drug peddler''s fakes weren''t fake enough!