boyutpedia Chapter 2 Hesitation
Chapter 2 Hesitation
After performing the actions once in a row, Song Shen was stunned.
Because he saw that the progress bar behind the Hunyuan Stake clearly moved.
go ahead.
Although it appeared to be only a slight loosening, and even the numerical values hadn't changed, it had moved nonetheless, albeit slowly, but with unwavering determination.
Song Shen was single-minded and focused.
On the second and third try, the numbers after the progress bar finally changed.
【Hun Yuan Zhuang (Beginner 1% → 2%)】
……
"Three times for each point?"
After a brief assessment, Song Shen wondered if he could achieve it within a month. The main issue was that he didn't yet know what the next level of mastery would be, so he dared not be too optimistic at the moment.
After the fourth and fifth readings, Song Shen gradually understood a problem.
That is, I was able to accurately replicate every correct movement from before, and then continue to correct and improve upon that movement.
"This... could it be that one certificate is valid forever?"
You must know that no matter how talented you are in practicing any skill, there will always be times when you forget it. If you don't practice for three days, you're guaranteed to regress.
But once Song Shen gains proficiency, it will never regress or disappear.
He will only improve and never regress; he won't even encounter any bottlenecks because he can increase his progress as soon as he starts practicing.
At least he has plenty of time; there's no martial art in this world that Song Shen can't master.
"Fine, even though you're not quite as good as Grandpa Deep Blue, you can still be a dad."
Song Shen reluctantly accepted the offer for the time being.
And so the sun set.
Zhang Long walked over: "Alright, guys, that's enough for today. Someone will bring the herbal medicine over later. One bowl each, don't fight over it, or I won't let them get away with it!"
Everyone was exhausted by this point. Song Shen stopped, looking at the boy named Lu Shan who was still practicing on his own. There were also Lu Shan and Liu Zhan, who were practically stamina monsters.
The first time I got completely destroyed by a talent monster.
Many teenagers were extremely discouraged.
In fact, most of them were already exhausted. They were just mechanically repeating the same action. Although they were being reprimanded by coach Zhang Long, they were not doing it correctly at all and were just forcing themselves to practice.
This isn't a scene from preschool, where teachers patiently guide children by patting their heads.
With just a glance and a few words of advice, Zhang Long had already given up on most people; in his eyes, they were just gray background figures.
Song Shen was also somewhat frustrated, but he remained calm overall. He checked his progress and found that he had reached the 10% level of beginner level in just one afternoon. He couldn't compare to those two geniuses, but he was confident that he wouldn't lose to the others.
but……
This is not a race against others, but a contest against time.
Zhang Long patted the two boys on the shoulders: "Alright, that's enough for now! Let's eat and drink soup first, and continue tonight!"
Both of them paused, somewhat reluctantly.
Zhang Long then said in a deep voice, "You two, go and see if there's anything else you can do to help, anything that can give you some support. You two lads are quite talented; if you invest one tael of silver now, you'll get a hundred taels back in the future!"
These words sounded like a seduction, but for these two people, they were undoubtedly a spark.
Just as the crowd was about to disperse, Zhang Long suddenly looked at Song Shen and said, "You...you should give it a try too."
Song Shen asked in astonishment, "Master Zhang, am I a genius too?"
Zhang Long pondered for a moment, "Judging from your physical attributes, you are clearly not one, but judging from your comprehension, you undoubtedly are. Of course, act according to your ability. If the two of them need to invest ten taels of silver, then you should invest twenty taels."
"However... you only have this one chance in your entire life."
Having said what he needed to say, Zhang Long walked away, leaving behind a group of teenagers lost in their own thoughts.
*
*
*
"Shen, do you think... I might have a chance too?"
Song Chengzong, standing to the side, said with a hint of fantasy in his voice, but his face was already full of frustration. He had been practicing in a daze all afternoon and still couldn't figure out how to breathe or how to do those movements correctly. He was completely clueless about how to combine the movements with his breathing. His mind was full of distractions whenever he practiced.
The answer, though harsh, is self-evident: he has no talent.
Song Shen was holding a bowl of soup, which was green and looked like the kind of sinful dish, but it was the nourishing soup that Zhang Long had mentioned, a rare treasure.
"Keep going, who knows?"
Song Shen wasn't a fortune teller, so how could he possibly know what his future held?
Actually, Song Shen was thinking about what Zhang Long had said.
Is there anyone left who can lend me a hand?
When this thought arose, it was reinforced by the stark reality before my eyes.
I drank this bowl of nourishing soup and there was no special effect. But less than fifteen minutes later, a warm feeling slowly spread from my stomach throughout my body. Like a magic pill, it relieved most of my fatigue and pain, and the soreness caused by the accumulated lactic acid was also greatly relieved.
If you could have two bowls a day,
Ten bowls
How wonderful it would be if there were even more?
Song Shen wasn't entirely without savings, but the original owner only left him a few dozen copper coins, which wasn't much. Over the years, the kid spent all the money he had and didn't save anything.
however,
He was born into this world as a mere servant, all alone. Oh, and he had an older sister, who was also a servant. Even though he had saved up some money, Song Shen dared not ask her for it, because it was her fate.
Thinking of this, Song Shen couldn't help but sigh.
Song Chengzong also sighed.
The two sighed almost simultaneously, but with two different mindsets.
"Shen, you still have a chance, but me... sigh."
Recalling the encouraging words Zhang Long had spoken to Song Shen that afternoon, Song Chengzong felt a sudden pang of sadness for no apparent reason. Even a single approving glance from Zhang Long would have brought him back to life.
Unfortunately, there was nothing there; he had never even entered the other person's field of vision.
This cruel disregard is what truly pierces his heart, triggering pain and despair.
Honestly, he would only envy Lu Shan and Liu Zhan for taking off, not feel sad. But when Song Shen, whom he had known since childhood from the same place, was about to take off, he felt so jealous.
When he was little, he ran faster than Song Shen and grew taller than Song Shen. Adults also praised him for being more clever than Song Shen. But why, when it came to the most crucial moment, was he not even as good as Song Shen?
If he had to suffer like this for the rest of his life, he would rather his brothers stay with him.
However, when this feeling arose, Song Chengzong felt tormented by his conscience.
With a hint of compensation, Song Chengzong said, "A-Shen, do you know? Your father and the others have come to the city."
"what?"
Song Shen knew nothing about this. His hometown came to the city without even telling him.
Song Chengzong said, "I only found out about this when I went back to my hometown last time. The Cao family requisitioned your family's land and gave your family a large sum of money. Your father and his family then opened a small restaurant in the city."
Song Shen had heard a little about this. In recent years, the Cao family has been expanding their territory in Xinyu City, not only operating mines and medicinal fields, but now they have also started to get involved in fishing.
Song Shen was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where is your family?"
Song Chengzong said, "My home is quite far from yours, but our Cao family is going to build a fish farm in that area, and land nearby is being bought up at high prices. My family might have to sell land too."
Villagers generally don't sell their land because it's their lifeblood, passed down through generations.
However, Song Shen's family lived in a poor and remote area. The good land had long been taken by wealthy families. Their land was in a very bad location and was often flooded by the lake, affecting the harvest. It was only because it was very close to Green Lake, making fishing more convenient. So it was normal for them to sell it. Even if they used the money to buy land elsewhere, it would be a better option.
"Where is it located? A teahouse?" Song Shen knew that his father had a secret recipe for black tea, and opening a teahouse was his long-held ambition.
Song Chengzong nodded and said, "It's right in the suburbs, hehe, it really is a teahouse."
"Oh……"
Song Shen didn't say much, but his mind was full of calculations and hesitations.
Without his own help, could he really succeed? Song Shen was confident that giving him an extra month would be no problem, but he dared not claim to be absolutely certain about it.
The most terrifying thing is that the consequences of failure are hard to accept.
Thinking this way, Song Shen carried his rice bowl to their usual spot for dinner.
With his mind preoccupied with thoughts, the already bland dinner tasted even worse, and he remained unresponsive until his sister Song Zhen, who had been sold to the Cao family with him, brought him a bowl.
The place she eats at isn't close by, but she comes here every day.
"Sis, I've told you so many times, you don't need to come here every day. I'll come see you every other day."
Song Zhen squinted and said, "What's wrong? Can't I come by myself? I didn't ask you to come over."
Her hands, which held the rice bowl, were covered in calluses, typical of a working person. She was only the age of a female college student in her previous life, but her body already showed signs of aging.
Year after year, she grew old and spinster, poverty concealing her original beauty as thinness and shabbyness.
Song Shenshi couldn't bear it, but said helplessly, "I mean you were already tired."
Song Zhen put on a stern face and said unhappily, "Do you think your sister is embarrassing you by coming here?"
Song Shen said helplessly, "That's true to some extent."
Enraged, Song Zhen kicked Song Shen's butt, nearly causing him to fall flat on his face.
The two were eating and laughing when Song Zhen suddenly said, "Why didn't you tell me you were going to practice martial arts?"
"What's there to say? You wouldn't understand anyway." Song Shen pouted, wondering how she knew.
Song Zhen glanced at Song Shen silently, offering no response.
While eating, Song Shen suddenly said, "Sister, did you know? The family has moved to the city, and it seems they've opened a teahouse in the suburbs."
"oh."
Song Zhen was stunned for a while after hearing this, and then responded coldly, without any emotion.
Song Shen knew she harbored resentment towards her family, but wasn't he the same?
They sold themselves here like livestock, and even though life has gotten better over the years, they haven't bothered to check on each other.
In fact, Song Shen also had some hesitation. It was the Song family who sold him back then, but after all, it was a time of famine, when people even ate each other. Selling his children was a last resort.
But when Song Shen saw the food in the basin, his resolve hardened.
He'd really had enough of those pitch-black cornbread buns.
I didn't transmigrate here to be someone's dog or pig feeder.
Song Shen felt a surge of anger, and at this point, he didn't care about saving face anymore.
Song Zhen said softly, "Do you want to go and see?"
Song Shen nodded and said, "Yes, after all, we're family."
"A family...?"
Song Zhen murmured, but said nothing more.