Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 6 Budget Balance
Previously on Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World...
Gu Sheng pushed aside his remaining concerns and concentrated on splitting logs.
At present, he could hardly manage his own affairs. While he felt a bit uneasy about Gu Erniu, he was powerless to act.
Upon attaining Small Success in log splitting.
As Gu Sheng had predicted, the number of logs he split daily climbed beyond five hundred!
When Gu Sheng took the five Copper Coins from Gu He's grasp, he distinctly noticed the shock in Gu He's gaze.
It was profound.
Gu Sheng knew exactly what ran through Gu He's mind—such a swift boost in output over so little time was sure to attract notice.
Yet he remained unconcerned; in fact, this shift wasn't particularly striking.
Moreover, he had a ready justification prepared.
Gu He regarded the slender youth before him. He couldn't say for sure if it was mere fancy, but since their initial encounter, the boy's build appeared somewhat more robust.
He delegated the bookkeeping to his helper servant and guided Gu Sheng toward the woodshed.
Stacks of orderly piled split wood sat to the side, drawing a nod of satisfaction from him.
"Demonstrate your typical log-splitting technique," he instructed, nursing certain suspicions inwardly.
Gu Sheng offered no unnecessary talk.
With fluid motions, he secured a round log in place, gripped the axe in both hands, twisted his torso, drove off his right foot, spun his midsection, directed power via his limbs, and brought it down with force.
Crack!
A sharp snap of breaking wood echoed as the log divided neatly in half.
The whole motion was crisp, free of excess gestures.
Gu He's gaze filled with growing wonder. Having practiced martial arts in his younger days and not being a true Martial Artist, his discernment still exceeded the norm.
To him, the way Gu Sheng harnessed his full body's power into one blow rivaled that of many grown men.
Such proficiency belonged only to seasoned log splitters.
"No innate Divine Power..."
Gu He thought to himself, then voiced:
"Did anyone instruct you in log splitting prior to this?"
Gu Sheng nodded at first, then shook his head.
"I've observed others at it but never attempted it myself."
Gu He gave a measured nod, a trace of commendation on his face:
"Fine instincts. Keep at it. Soon, the log-splitting jobs from the landlord's estate will sustain you well."
Maybe it was witnessing a vulnerable lad carving out his path through sheer effort in this harsh world, but a subtle happiness touched Gu He's features, and his voice grew a touch gentler.
Gu Sheng acknowledged with a nod, silently observing Gu He's departure.
He'd considered inquiring about Gu Erniu's mountain venture, yet the question died unspoken.
It felt untimely.
Exiting the landlord's estate,
Gu Sheng fetched a pottery pot of healing salve from his dwelling. After applying the final scant coating, the pot stood completely depleted.
Gu Sheng rinsed the pot thoroughly, scouring each nook.
After a brief reflection, he gathered wild weeds and started braiding. Soon, a basic grasshopper crafted from the weeds took shape in his palm. Under the faint evening light, it strikingly mimicked the actual insect.
Admiring his creation, Gu Sheng grinned in satisfaction and set off for Gu Erniu's residence with the pot and grasshopper.
Gu Erniu's abode was evidently more prosperous than Gu Sheng's. The mud-brick walls encircling the thatched hut looked more solid, with far fewer gaps, and its dimensions doubled at least.
"Erniu's wife, are you in?"
Gu Sheng called gently from beyond the enclosure.
"Is that Asheng?"
"Yes, it's me."
The door groaned open, and Li Lian peered warily outward. Recognizing Gu Sheng, she breathed a sigh of ease and remarked with mock irritation:
"What brings you so late, Asheng? You gave me a fright!"
Gu Sheng rubbed his head sheepishly and chuckled:
"Tied up with log splitting all day..."
"Sis, I'm here to give back the pot from before, and I've got this small plaything for Xiao Wan too."
He passed the items across.
Li Lian's eyes brightened at the braided grasshopper. "Asheng, you can craft these?"
"Just tinkered with it during spare moments."
"What a pity! In town, that talent could earn you a livelihood. Xiao Wan's sleeping at the moment, but I'll pass on his thanks—he'll be overjoyed to find this toy come morning."
Li Lian took the offerings with a warm smile, touched by Gu Sheng's kindness. After some light conversation, she let out a sudden breath:
"Did Brother Erniu dispatch you? He's forever like this... No telling when he'll return from those mountains this round."
Evidently,
Li Lian fretted over Gu Erniu's mountain expedition as well. Trips like that seldom dragged on so.
Gu Sheng held his peace, providing reassurance:
"Ease your mind, Sis. Martial Artists from the village are with him this time. No real peril."
Li Lian drew a heavy sigh. "May it prove true."
"It's getting late, Asheng. Head home and sleep soon. You've got logs awaiting you tomorrow. Your brother Erniu, really..."
Gu Sheng smiled and nodded.
"Don't fret, Sis. I'll handle log splitting at the landlord's by day. For any chores you need, summon me—my stamina's up to it these days without trouble."
"Fine, fine, off you go then!"
Gu Sheng pivoted and returned homeward. Noting the stability at Li Lian's, his inner strain loosened.
Back at his place, he methodically tallied his family's funds.
"Lately, I've used around two pounds of bran daily. The rice container holds sufficient for about twelve days more—plenty to last until Great Success in log splitting."
"To date, I've gathered fifteen copper coins altogether. I'll set them by for the moment and defer purchasing village millet until Great Success lets me offset costs and build a reserve."
"Moving forward, two pounds of grain each day is essential, or muscle won't develop. Staying scrawny won't suffice."
In recent days, with proper meals and log splitting as exercise, Gu Sheng sensed his frame toughening markedly.
This marked a solid beginning.
"Progress may crawl, but it's secure."
Gu Sheng avoided overconfidence even with his awakened panel, aware of the perils in this realm. Steady steps were key.
The initial hurdle proved toughest.
The earliest savings always demanded the most toil.
...
In the days that followed,
Gu Sheng persisted in log splitting, maintaining a straightforward routine of labor at the landlord's and repose at home—highly regimented.
Now and then, he stopped by Gu Erniu's to assist with any strenuous tasks.
Gu Erniu had vowed a return in three to five days tops, yet on the fifth, no sign of him.
Gu Sheng observed Li Lian's mounting distress and unease—it swelled visibly.
In such eras, a family's main provider absent left a widow and child in dire straits for survival.
All he managed was words of solace:
The mountain party's villagers remained absent, signaling mere postponement.
He reassured himself similarly.
Gu Erniu's absence lingered, yet daily existence pressed on.
Gu Sheng kept at log splitting, steadily accruing experience points.
Daily advances held firm—peaking at 14%, dipping to 10%. He neared Great Success gradually.
Gu Sheng perceived his physique hardening, power nearing a superior level.
On the eighth day after Gu Erniu's mountain departure,
Sunset neared.
Gu Sheng split logs in the landlord's rear yard.
As ever, he wielded the axe via fulcrum, though this strike carried a novel sensation.
At that instant,
Gu Sheng felt his full might unify, surging fluidly from legs, pelvis, midriff, and arms, pouring wholly into the axe edge with zero loss.
Crack!
Thud!
The log parted smoothly in twain, the axe driving onward to embed deeply in the underlying stump!
This power not only exceeded prior levels—it outstripped most grown men's.
Gu Sheng paused briefly.
Joy then flooded his expression. Checking his panel, he noted the update in the Martial Arts section.
[Martial Arts]: Chopping Wood (Great Success 0%)!
A broad smile broke as elation overtook him.
"Great Success in log splitting means output at least doubles! Balance of earnings and spending is within reach, plus extras!"
Gu Sheng brimmed with optimism for once—his fortunes were turning upward.