Cultivation by Trial and Error

Immersed in the world of Taoist Skill, time always flew by rapidly.

In Chen Hai's feeling, it seemed like he had just taken a nap, and for some unknown reason, it had already turned dark.

Zhang Yong, whom he had beaten up, wasn't seen all afternoon.

As to whether he was skipping class or had taken leave, Chen Hai wasn't very clear, nor did he go around asking.

"This guy, could he be holding a grudge and thinking about getting people to retaliate against me?"

Young men, full of vigor, during the fight with Zhang Yong, he was a bit hot-blooded and hadn't thought too much.

But now, when this thought came to Chen Hai's mind, he couldn't help feeling a few twinges of worry.

After all, everyone in their Class 103 knew that Zhang Yong hung out with Qian Bing.

And this group always had some interactions with societal people outside of school.

Mana infused into the eyes would enhance one's vision significantly, elevating both sensory and reactive capabilities several levels.

With such confidence, Chen Hai wasn't afraid of taking on either Qian Bing or Zhang Yong one-on-one.

But if it were a group setting that came to gang up on him, he guessed he would be done for!

"Let them come, I'll fight them if they come, block them if they block, at the worst, I just won't leave the school gates for a while!"

"In school, Qian Bing and Zhang Yong definitely wouldn't dare to be reckless."

"Those societal people outside generally wouldn't step into the campus either."

Thinking this, Chen Hai finally felt a lot more at ease.

The content of the Nameless Ancient Book and the curious knowledge in his mind actually had much to explore.

After having dinner, during evening self-study, he began to delve into his Taoist Skill knowledge again.

The next morning, Zhang Yong finally came back to class.

This guy always glared at Chen Hai with a resentful gaze when he wasn't paying attention.

But that was it, nothing more aside from that.

From others, Chen Hai knew that the school bully, Qian Bing from the class next door, had taken medical leave these past days to get treatment at the county hospital.

Chen Hai wasn't sure if that was why Zhang Yong did not act rashly for now.

These past days, studying and such had been thrown aside by Chen Hai.

He threw himself completely into the cultivation of Taoist Skill, and although the improvements in his realm weren't quite evident, after soul departure and Manifesting his Leech Soul Body, Chen Hai had figured out a few things himself.

For instance, if he wanted to scare someone, he could make his Leech Soul Body visible only to that person, unnoticed by others.

Additionally, he learned that his Leech Soul Body, apart from fearing sunlight, was also particularly terrified of thunder.

Upon hearing the roaring of thunder, his departed soul, as if encountering a natural enemy, went completely out of his control, only shivering uncontrollably.

All in all, his cultivation these past days had yielded some results, not totally fruitless.

It was the end of March, and after the seventh period of the Friday class, it was finally time for Chen Hai and his classmates to take their monthly break.

When he returned to the dormitory, it was already empty.

Holding his monthly exam report card, Chen Hai hesitated for a long time, then he sighed.

After tidying up his luggage briefly, he picked up his pack and started heading to his hometown, Chenjiaping.

Thinking of that almost top five ranking and the single-digit scores in several subjects, Chen Hai really felt somewhat daunted to go back.

Although his parents couldn't recognize many characters, at least they could still understand the exam report card.

"This time returning home, I'm sure to get a scolding from my parents!"

He sighed heavily, feeling genuinely sorry towards his parents in his heart.

The ten-plus mile mountain road was nothing to Chen Hai, a boy raised in the mountains.

Although his steps felt heavy, it took him less than an hour to see the shadow of his home's wooden hut with black tiles nestled in the hollow of the mountains.

"What has to be faced, must be faced. Even if my exam results are poor and my parents want to hit or scold me, I'll accept it!"

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Hai gritted his teeth and strode towards his home.

The door was wide open. It was past five in the afternoon, usually the time when Chen Zhonghua and Jiang Meixian would be having dinner—likely today as well.

"Dad! Mom! I'm back!" he shouted as he entered the house.

Chen Hai walked straight into his room and set down his luggage first.

"Oh! Hai, you're back from school, aren't you? I figured you'd be back around this time!"

Wearing a dirt-streaked apron, Jiang Meixian came out of the kitchen, repeatedly wiping her dirty hands on it.

"Hai, haven't eaten dinner yet, right? You must be starving!"

"Come, have something to eat first. Don't starve yourself!"

Following closely behind Chen Hai, Jiang Meixian also entered his room.

"Okay!" he responded softly and nodded his head.

"That's good, I'll go bring you your meal!"

Looking at her son Chen Hai with tenderness, Jiang Meixian said nothing more and turned back toward the kitchen.

Hesitating briefly, Chen Hai followed her.

The meal was exceedingly simple: a bowl of cabbage with a few pickled dishes—the daily standard for his parents!

Looking at the overly simple meal in front of him, and thinking about everything he had done over the years, a sense of guilt inexplicably surged in Chen Hai's heart.

He always reminded himself to study hard and improve every day.

It might be because he lacked self-discipline, or perhaps, he was just not cut out for studying.

His mind would wander in class, and he would fall into a drowsy state as soon as he picked up a book.

In Taoist Skill cultivation, he was almost madly diligent; but in studying, he was the complete opposite.

"You silly boy, what are you daydreaming about? Eat first, push everything else aside for now!"

"People are iron, food is steel; without it for a day, one would panic!"

Seeing Chen Hai staring blankly with a pair of chopsticks, Jiang Meixian grabbed a large amount of cabbage with them and put it into Chen Hai's bowl.

Then she muttered softly, "It's your growing phase, eat more vegetables; it's good for your body!"

The bowl had not much cabbage, and with Jiang Meixian's serving, at least half had gone into Chen Hai's bowl.

"Mom, you should eat more yourself!" Witnessing this scene made Chen Hai's heart ache repeatedly.

For some reason, he suddenly felt an urge to cry, even clearly sensing something rolling in his eye sockets.

Burying his head and stuffing his mouth with food, Chen Hai only felt an added salty taste in the rice.

Perhaps, it was because tears had fallen into his bowl.

Although he was trying hard to control himself, numerous tears uncontrollably fell from his eyes.

"Hai, your exam results should be out by now. Let me see them after dinner!"

It was then that Chen Zhonghua, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up.