CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: GENIUS, EFFORT, BRUTE FORCE

On the ninth day of the ninth month, this day was a holiday called the ’City God Festival’.

Baojiao County was bustling with locals and visitors for the fair. Each household bought heavenly fragrances and candles to worship the County’s City God, praying for a year of favorable weather and for the people to live in peace and prosperity.

But within the Medicine King Hall this day, unusually, the assistants were not busy. The assistants from the various courtyards, including the kitchen, Inner Treasury, and front hall, had all been summoned together.

"It’s the Third Shopkeeper who’s personally overseeing this monthly assessment!"

Chen Ku, along with Zhang Erniu, Che Ping, and Huang Wenbao, stood among a group of Disciples, listening to the excited, hushed whispers of the assistants clad in long robes.

Chen Ku also looked toward the man walking slowly in front of several Medicine Hall Masters. He was tall, with black hair cascading over his shoulders, and wore a tiger-embroidered, cross-collared robe. With a broad forehead and a high nose bridge, he exuded masculinity and carried the oppressive aura of someone of high rank.

Chen Ku thought, The Third Shopkeeper, Cao Shouxiong, is one of the three highest-ranked people in the entire Medicine King Hall.

The Medicine King Hall, similar in layout to an ordinary pharmacy, had a hierarchy from the bottom up: assistants and odd-job workers, Apprentices, Disciples, Masters, Grandmasters, and Shopkeepers.

As a colossal presence in Baojiao County, a Shopkeeper’s status was significant. Even in the county government office, they would be treated with respect and could engage in pleasant conversation with the County Magistrate.

Among the three top Shopkeepers, the Store Manager and the Second Shopkeeper were appointed by the Owner. Only the Third Shopkeeper had climbed up from the bottom. Starting as an Apprentice, he had managed to rise to become one of the helmsmen of this colossal power in Baojiao County.

Zhang Erniu, standing beside him, was also quite excited. He said in a low voice to Chen Ku, "The Third Shopkeeper doesn’t usually come for the monthly assessments. This time he’s personally here. We must perform well. If he notices us and remembers us, the benefits would be considerable."

The indifferent Che Ping scoffed quietly, "Dream on. No matter how well an assistant performs, he won’t catch the Shopkeeper’s attention."

Zhang Erniu, his voice stern with dissatisfaction, retorted, "Then why do you think the Third Shopkeeper came?"

Che Ping said dismissively, "Isn’t it obvious? Haven’t you seen who’s included in this month’s assessment? Wealthy Proprietor Fang’s son Fang Ding from East Street... the young owner of the Tongwen House... and Xu Fang from the Heyuan Escort Agency... None of them are from our courtyards. They were just squeezed in this morning. Given the status of their families, they have the final say in the county. That’s why the Third Shopkeeper personally came to show them face."

Chen Ku’s heart stirred.

"Will these people affect us?" Zhang Erniu asked with a frown.

"Who knows? Maybe they won’t take any spots, or maybe they’ll directly replace you," Che Ping said with a cold laugh. "What’s the use of trying? These days, if you want to get ahead, you need background and connections. Isn’t that right, Huang Wenbao?"

Huang Wenbao closed his eyes, ignoring him.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ku said, "I guess that’s why the Third Shopkeeper has come. He also climbed up from the bottom, so he’s willing to give others a fair chance."

Che Ping suddenly fell silent.

Zhang Erniu looked at Chen Ku and nodded seriously. "I think you’re right. It must be so!"

At that moment, once the important figures in the courtyard had all taken their positions, a resounding call came from a person standing behind the Third Shopkeeper. His voice, booming like thunder and carrying an indomitable aura that pressed down on everyone, declared, "Listen to the Third Shopkeeper."

Chen Ku looked towards the source of the voice. He didn’t recognize the person but had heard of him: Chai Bao, the foremost bodyguard of the Medicine King Hall.

He pondered, Just from the Qi Power in his voice, is he stronger than Grandmaster Shang Yunfang from the Butcher Court that day? I wonder what level of master he is, someone beyond Inner Qi?

Under the call for silence, everyone in the courtyards stopped talking. The assistants all breathed more quietly, holding their breath and becoming still under the immense pressure.

Then, the Third Shopkeeper, Cao Shouxiong, began to speak. His calm and gentle gaze swept over the crowd of assistants before him:

"Our Medicine King Hall was established over a hundred years ago at the beginning of Da Ji’s foundation, rooted in Baojiao County. Initially, it was a small Medicine Hall. Thanks to the sponsorship of several Owners and a century of diligent work, it finally achieved its current status. In a sense, the Medicine King Hall long robes you wear represent a kind of honor."

The assistants, including Chen Ku, understood this statement; they had all felt the weight of the long robes they wore.

Cao Shouxiong continued, one hand behind his back, "But, after all, an assistant is just an assistant and cannot stay in the Medicine King Hall forever. Unless," he said, addressing the ’brothers’ present, "you can show some aptitude that the Hall values, you could indeed become an Apprentice here. By then, you could continue to study in the Hall. In the future, even standing in my position would not be out of the question."

With these words, many assistants began to breathe more heavily.

For a Shopkeeper of such status to call them ’brothers’ was enough to set their hearts aflame, let alone his final words.

In the future, they could be Shopkeepers too!

Even Chen Ku had to marvel that, no matter the world, those in high positions were naturally adept at making grand promises and building rapport. Yet, he also had to admit that this approach was indeed effective.

Seeing that his words had successfully ignited the assistants’ enthusiasm, Cao Shouxiong said no more and signaled to a Master beside him, "Begin."

The person who stepped out from behind Cao Shouxiong was Huang Gun.

He cleared his throat and said, "As with previous months, this monthly assessment will test three major areas: techniques, pharmacology, and Realm. The top three in each category will be promoted to Apprentices, for a total of nine individuals. Additionally, there will be rewards for the top three. Now, let’s begin. Groups of ten, take your cudgels and demonstrate the Spirit Ape Knocking Mountain Stick in front of the Shopkeepers and Masters."

Ten people immediately stepped out from beside Chen Ku, each holding a cudgel, and began their demonstration.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Chen Ku watched the ten, their cudgels whistling through the air. Evidently, they had all been practicing the Spirit Ape Knocking Mountain Stick for at least half a year.

But he silently graded them in his mind: All of them are only at the entry-level; none have reached Minor Achievement.

In Martial Arts techniques, there are four levels: entry-level, Minor Achievement, great achievement, and Perfection.

Of course, Chen Ku’s own Spirit Ape Knocking Mountain Stick was also only at the entry-level.

He sighed inwardly, What a pity they aren’t testing the Earth Art Fist. Otherwise, I’d have to show them my Perfection-level leg technique.

The desire to hunt a Spirit Ape to achieve a Transformation in his aptitude burned stronger than ever in his mind.

Soon, the results for a large group were out.

Although many were only at the entry-level, there were still many Stick Technique geniuses who had been practicing for a considerable time. Finally, after several rounds, two geniuses who had reached ’Minor Achievement’ in Stick Technique emerged.

Seeing this, Zhang Erniu secretly clenched his fists. This month, I’ve also reached Minor Achievement in Stick Technique! I’ve been practicing extra hard every day, so I’m much more proficient than they are. For Stick Technique alone, I’m set on being in the top three this time!

Finally, it was Chen Ku’s group’s turn. He, his three roommates, and six others stepped out together. They took their places in the vast courtyard and began with the first form of the White Ape Knocking Mountain Stick.

Zhang Erniu was completely immersed in his Stick Technique, feeling the gazes of the Masters and Shopkeepers upon him.

But soon, he realized that on both his left and right, far more formidable cudgel winds were sweeping past.

What? Che Ping! This is impossible! I’ve worked so hard, and he’s never seriously practiced Martial Arts. How could he also have reached Minor Achievement in Stick Technique? Heavens, this is unfair!!

What shattered Zhang Erniu’s composure even more was Chen Ku to his left.

Chen Ku swung his cudgel. With a BOOM, the air itself seemed to crack, displaced by the sheer force.

And Chen Ku! What level of cudgel wind is this? Even at Minor Achievement, I can’t produce such a wind! Why?! How can they both be better than me?!

Not far away, Cao Shouxiong also let out a soft "hmm" and remarked, "These three... quite interesting."

One was a genius, one was diligent, and another... possessed sheer brute strength.