NOVEL WEB 22. Art of Meridian Mending
Chapter 22: Art of Meridian Mending
Luo Ling was a man of discipline and had great self-restraint.
Even though he was eager to dive into the contents of Art of Meridians Mending, he kept his composure and started with the body-forging exercise. While Immortal Cultivation remained his ultimate goal, Luo Ling knew that for now, he had to focus on practicing Martial Arts and regaining his former Transcendent stage strength.
The various stances of the Iron Muscles Steel Veins Body Forging exercise were deeply ingrained into his muscle memory after doing it again and again for six months. Even without conscious control, Luo Ling could still perform all the stances with perfection.
By the time Luo Ling completed the exercise routine for the tenth time, two hours had slipped away unnoticed. The sun was beginning its slow descent toward the west, signaling that the day was drawing to a close.
Luo Ling took a swift glance into his inner world and felt a surge of satisfaction as he noted his body forging proficiency had climbed by ten points. At this rate, within the next few days, he’d reach the level of a 1st-rate martial warrior, allowing him to finally tap into his mental force.
He just had to be steady. No need to rush things.
The steamed buns, devoured during the brief breaks between sets, had all but disappeared. It’d only be a matter of time before hunger makes its comeback with a vengeance.
“I’ll get something to eat first,” He mumbled, caressing his toned belly.
Luo Ling decided to address his nutrition needs before moving on to the next set of exercises. After his meal, he planned to practice swordsmanship for half an hour, sharpening his movements and coordination while avoiding any known swordsmanship martial techniques. Following that, he’d dedicate another half an hour to archery.
-~X~-
Like always, Luo Ling chose Madam Wei’s eatery over the orphanage’s cafeteria or any other place to have his lunch.
It wasn’t that her recipes were tastier than other eateries in the village, or that they satisfied his palate more, but mostly because her stall was closer to his training spot. Plus, the lady running it often scooped him a few extra helpings for free, which made it an easy choice for a quick meal.
“Here for your lunch, Ling’er?” As soon as Luo Ling stepped through the door, a warm, familiar voice greeted him. An elderly lady, her hair completely white, emerged from behind the stove with a gentle smile.
Her white apron was stained in oil, grease, and faded food colors. Luo Ling grinned as he nodded. “Yes. Give me my usual, granny Wei.”
“Go and sit inside. I’ll prepare your order.”
As Granny Wei disappeared into the back room behind the smoldering stove, Luo Ling made his way to the dining area. He picked a table that looked relatively clean, brushing off a few stray crumbs before sitting down. The air smelled of freshly cooked food, a comforting scent that always seemed to linger in Granny Wei's place.
A few minutes later, his order was served.
Two huge chunks of roasted pork leg, a steaming bowl of vegetable stew, and a basket of brown bread landed on the table—a feast too large for a normal kid his age. But to Luo Ling, it was nothing more than a subpar replacement for the nutrition-packed wild game he was used to. He eyed the food with knitted brows, knowing it would all be gone in mere minutes.
After draining the last few mouthfuls of the soup, Luo Ling stood and made his way to the counter, fingers already slipping into the folds of his training robes. His hand emerged with a small stack of iron plates; their metallic clink muffled against the cloth of his satchel. Without a second thought, he tossed them onto the table, the dull thud disappearing amidst the hub-dub of noises.
As a regular at Granny Wei’s place, Luo Ling knew the price of every dish by heart, from the roasted pork leg to the vegetable stew. The moment his fingers brushed the iron plates, he already knew exactly how much to leave behind.
“Wait, Ling’er.”
Just as Luo Ling reached the doorway, Granny Wei’s voice called out from behind, halting him mid-step. He turned, a puzzled expression crossing his face. "Something wrong, granny?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, curiosity creeping into his tone.
Did the prices rise again?
The older woman waded through the crowd of sweaty men milling about, each coming and going in the bustling lunchtime rush. The restaurant was packed with laborers and farmers, their rough hands and sun-baked faces marking them as the hardworking backbone of the village.
Wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, Granny Wei took a few deep breaths to steady herself. "I have a little favor to ask," she said, her voice edged with a hint of hesitance. "Do you think you could help me with something?"
Luo Ling cocked an eyebrow. “Sure, if it’s within my capability.”
He didn’t refuse immediately. Granny Wei had always been kind to him, often giving him extra on his orders. If her request wasn’t too far-fetched, he was inclined to lend a hand.
“Tomorrow, I’ve got some important guests to entertain,” she said with a smile. “I’m planning to cook something special for them. Could you help me out by hunting a few wild games? I’ll pay a premium for them.”
“Oh,” Luo Ling scratched his head, considering the request. “Would wild rabbits work for you?”
“Only rabbits?” Madam Wei pulled her lips into a frown. “Can’t you get something bigger?”
“Sorry, granny. Because of the maneater situation, I’d rather not go deeper into the woods.” Luo Ling smiled apologetically.
Though he was keen to assist Granny Wei, Luo Ling wasn’t willing to put his safety on the line. Lord Ping had slain the maneater, but the forest was vast, and he couldn’t be sure there weren’t more lurking in the shadows.
The larger game Granny Wei was talking about typically roamed deep within the forest, near the edge of the outer periphery and into the middle section. He was not going that deep into the woods just yet.
“Why not ask the professional hunters?” Luo Ling asked.
“Them? Forget it. Last time, they sold me a domesticated goat and tried to pass it off as a mountain goat,” Granny Wei grumbled, shaking her head in irritation. “Rabbits will do. Just bring me at least five.”
“Sure.”
-~X~-
Once Luo Ling returned to the clearing, he didn’t dive straight into training. Instead, he settled onto a polished stump and carefully opened the body forging technique book gifted by Lord Ping.
The book contained twenty pages, each one displaying a detailed illustration of a different sitting position. The diagrams were simple, yet precise, showing the exact way the body should be aligned for each posture.
Beneath each image was a brief note, outlining how long to hold the posture and the specific benefit it promised. But honestly, Luo Ling found it hard to believe that sitting still in these odd positions could do anything to improve the grade of his Meridian Coils. They just seemed... too simple. He wasn’t convinced by the logic that such passive exercises could bring any real progress.
But he didn’t doubt Lord Ping. There was no reason for such a prestigious man to play with the feelings of a child.
If the man said it would work, then it had to work.
Later that day, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. In that serene moment, a new entry blinked into existence on the [Records of Toil].
[Iron Muscles Steel Veins Body Forging Exercise (Second Level)] – Proficiency: 260/500
[Archery (Houtian III); Penetration (Rank 1); Weakness (Rank 1)]— Proficiency: 1608/5000
[Art of Meridian Mending Vol 1] — Proficiency: 1/1000]