Tian Wudi strolled around more, enjoying his time, flirting with ladies but learning more about the town, he even paid a shady information broker to learn and know about everything he had to share about geography, politics, power dynamics and influencing parties, sects and clans.
Eventually he returned.
He walked back through the massive iron gates of the Gu Clan estate. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the courtyard, but his mood was bright because he now has a Spatial Pouch hanging from his belt.
The guards at the gate stiffened. They had heard the news. This pig, who used to eat leftovers and used to get scared and squeal, suddenly had beaten Gu Bo and Elder Gu Hai.
The guards did not dare to block him, so they looked away as he waddled past them.
Tian Wudi also ignored them. If they do not target him, he would not too. Let's enjoy life and let others enjoy it.
He walked toward the Clan Library Pavilion.
He needed a cultivation technique, a mortal one for now.
Although he has the memories of the Eternal Sovereign, his previous cultivation methods would be too extreme for his current body.
The 'Eternal Frost Sword Art' required a constitution of pure ice jade. His current body was a pig. It was fleshy, heavy, and full of fire-natured beast blood.
If he tried to use the Frost Art, it would fail to activate it, and even if he succeeded somehow, his blood would freeze, and he would die of stupidity.
"I need to find something specific, a unique Body Tempering Manual," he thought. "Something I can modify. Something that accepts my bestial nature & strength but also complements my human disposition."
As he approached the library, he heard a commotion.
"You useless servant! You spilled tea on my silk robe!"
In the garden outside the library, a young man was shouting. He had sharp eyebrows and a mean face. This was Gu Feng, a cousin of the clan. He was not a genius like Gu Bo, but he was a bully who enjoyed tormenting the weak.
Standing in front of him was a young servant girl, Little Yao. She was only fourteen, with large, watery eyes. She was trembling.
"I... I am sorry, Young Master Feng! The stone... I tripped..." she sobbed.
"Sorry? Sorry doesn't clean silk!" Gu Feng raised his hand to slap her. "This robe costs ten gold coins! I will sell you to the brothel to pay for it!"
Little Yao closed her eyes, waiting for the pain.
But the slap never came.
A chubby, hairy hand caught Gu Feng's wrist.
"Who?" Gu Feng shouted angrily. He turned around and saw a pig face inches from his nose.
A wet snout twitching.
"You..." Gu Feng's eyes widened. "The Trash Pig?"
Tian Wudi sighed. His breath smelled of roasted chicken and strong wine.
"You noisy flies are everywhere," Tian Wudi voice raspy. "Can't you see I am trying to go to the library? Why are you barking?"
"How am I supposed to know that? Let go of me!" Gu Feng struggled. He tried to pull his hand back, but Tian Wudi's grip was like an iron clamp.
Gu Feng was at the Body Tempering Stage 3. He circulated his Qi. He tried to kick Tian Wudi's stomach.
Tian Wudi looked at the incoming leg.
"Too slow," he smirked. "Your stance is unbalanced. You put too much weight on your back heel. When you kick, you expose your groin. Amateur."
Tian Wudi did not dodge. He simply puffed out his belly.
Bam!
Gu Feng's foot hit the belly. It felt like kicking a bag of wet sand wrapped around a steel plate. The force rebounded.
"Argh!" Gu Feng cried out as his ankle twisted.
Tian Wudi then slapped Gu Feng's face. It wasn't a martial art. Just a disrespectful slap.
Whack!
Gu Feng spun in a circle and fell into the mud. His face swelled up instantly like a steamed bun.
"Scram," Tian Wudi said boredly. "Before I decide to test how far I can throw a piece of trash."
Gu Feng scrambled up. He was terrified. The rumors were true! This pig was now a demon! He ran away without looking back.
Tian Wudi turned to Little Yao. The girl was shaking. She was afraid of Gu Feng, but she was more afraid of the pig-monster standing on two legs.
Tian Wudi looked at her. He scanned her body.
"Malnourished," he thought. "Flat chest. No hips. However... her eyes have a clear spirit."
"Thank you... Young Master Zhu," she whispered, clutching her tray.
"Don't call me Young Master. Call me Lord Husband... or Dear Sovereign, whichever you prefer," Tian Wudi grinned.
He reached into the spatial pouch, the Elder's pouch he stole and pulled out a handful of Spirit Stones. He grabbed her small hand and forced the stones into her palm.
"Take this. Go buy some meat. Eat more. A woman must have meat on her bones to be pleasing to the touch."
Little Yao gasped. "This... this is too much! This is five years of wages!"
"Pocket change," Tian Wudi waved his hand dismissively. "Also, your breathing is shallow. You have a blockage in your lung meridian. That is why you are always cold, yes?"
Little Yao nodded, wide-eyed. "Yes! How did you know?"
"I see everything," Tian Wudi said shamelessly. "Tonight, come to my courtyard. I will massage your chest to open the airways. It is a very medical procedure. It requires skin-to-skin contact to transfer heat. Don't be shy."
"Courtyard?" She didn't get embarrassed by the perverted offer at all but got confused by his declaration that he has a courtyard.
Only Elders and their family members get to deserve a courtyard. This Zhu lives in a woodshed with livestocks.
Before she could answer or run away, he turned and waddled into the library.
The Library Pavilion was a three-story wooden tower. The first floor held Common Tier techniques. The second floor held Mortal Tier techniques. The third floor was forbidden.