The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

Ye Sheng woke up just as dawn was breaking.

It was very cold inside the dilapidated temple; you could see the white mist from his breath.

He stood up and stretched his somewhat stiff body. The wounds on his shoulders and arms had scabbed over thanks to the healing medicine.

Although it still hurts a bit, it doesn't affect my mobility.

Ye Sheng walked out of the dilapidated temple. The river was shrouded in mist, and the shouts of fishermen could be heard in the distance.

He walked quickly along the riverbank towards Shuilongdu.

Yesterday's battle, though dangerous, yielded significant results.

The reward of fifty coins, plus the introduction to [Standing Posture] and a significant increase in [Basic Knife Techniques], made this trip worthwhile.

After walking for about two hours, the pier of Shuilongdu finally came into view.

Ye Sheng quickened his pace, climbed over the last earthen slope, and the dilapidated shack was right in front of him.

Pushing open the door, Ye Kai was startled, but relaxed when he saw that it was Ye Sheng.

"Brother, you're back?"

"Um."

Ye Sheng put the wood-chopping knife back in the corner of the wall and sat down next to his younger brother.

"Have you finished the work with the boatmen?" Ye Kai asked cautiously.

"It's done."

Ye Sheng took the cloth bag out of his pocket and waved it in front of Ye Kai.

"Fifty coins, not bad."

Ye Kai took the cloth bag, opened it, and stared wide-eyed.

"Brother, so many?"

"Um."

Ye Sheng nodded and said, "Adding what we saved before, we now have 520 coins."

Ye Kai was stunned for a moment, and his eyes immediately reddened.

"Brother, are we...are we almost enough?"

"Soon."

Ye Sheng reached out and rubbed his head.

"In a little over a month, we will be able to pay off the debts owed to the shipping guild."

He paused.

"By the way, has anything happened at home these past few days?"

Ye Kai shook his head.

"It's nothing, just those bastards, Wang Laizi and his gang, they came by the day before yesterday."

Ye Sheng frowned.

What are they doing?

"I didn't do anything."

Ye Kai said in a low voice.

"He just walked around outside our shed, saw the peach wood plaque on the side of the boat, and left cursing."

Ye Sheng's eyes turned cold.

That bastard Wang Laizi is really persistent.

However, with the boatmen's name on him, he didn't dare to act recklessly for the time being.

"If they come again, just ignore them."

Ye Sheng said in a deep voice.

"If they dare to make a move, call for help; the boatmen will take care of it."

Ye Kai nodded.

Ye Sheng stood up, walked to the corner of the wall, and rummaged through a broken wooden box to find a few herbs.

"I'll go brew you some medicine."

He went outside the shed, lit a fire, and threw the herbs into an earthenware pot to boil.

Before long, the aroma of medicine filled the air.

Ye Sheng poured the boiled medicine into a bowl and handed it to Ye Kai.

"Drink it while it's hot."

Ye Kai took the bowl and drank it down in small sips.

After drinking the medicine, he looked up at Ye Sheng.

"Brother, you...were you alright yesterday?"

Ye Sheng shook his head.

"It's nothing, just a little cut on my hand."

He rolled up his sleeve to show Ye Kai the scabbed wound on his hand.

"Apply the medicine, it will heal quickly."

Ye Kai looked at the wounds, and his eyes reddened again.

Ye Sheng sighed and sat down next to his younger brother.

"Brother, I know you're worried. But that's how the world is; if you don't fight for it, you won't survive."

He paused.

"Once we pay off the debts to the boatmen, I won't take on this kind of dangerous work anymore."

Ye Kai bit his lip and nodded.

After a moment of silence, Ye Sheng suddenly spoke.

"Oh, by the way, did Miss Su leave you some herbs before she left?"

Ye Kai nodded and took out a small cloth bag from beside him.

"Here it is."

Ye Sheng took the cloth bag, opened it, and looked inside.

Inside were several high-quality medicinal herbs, including blood orchids, maidenhair ferns, and one he had never seen before.

The grass was entirely green, with slender leaves, thick roots, and a faint fragrance.

The panel for 【Herbal Identification】 flickered.

[Feedback: Jade Marrow Grass is warm in nature, greatly replenishes qi and blood, can treat deficiency syndromes, and is extremely rare.]

Ye Sheng's pupils contracted.

Jadeite Grass?

This is good stuff.

He had seen the name on those three pieces of vermilion paper; it was an extremely precious medicinal herb that could not be bought in ordinary pharmacies.

How did Su Wan get this?

Ye Sheng pondered for a moment, but didn't think much of it.

Since it was left behind by Su Wan, it must be for Ye Kai to use.

"Brother, these herbs are all good stuff."

Ye Sheng took out the jade marrow grass.

"Especially this one, it can greatly replenish qi and blood, which is good for your legs."

He paused.

"I'll brew some for you later, so drink it on time."

Ye Kai nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Sister Su is such a good person."

Ye Sheng didn't say anything, and carefully put away the jade grass.

He stood up, walked outside the shed, and looked out at the river in the distance.

The river flows eastward, its waves surging.

Ye Sheng knew in his heart that this peaceful period would not last long.

Although Wang Laizi was temporarily intimidated by the boatmen's signboard, he certainly wouldn't give up easily.

There are also people from the Blood Pact Merchant Guild. Although Su Wan has already gone to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, it's uncertain whether those people will come knocking on her door.

More importantly, although the three-month deadline was approaching, he still needed to continue earning money in order to completely pay off the debts owed to the shipping guild.

Thinking of this, Ye Sheng clenched his fist.

We must continue to grow stronger.

Only by being strong enough can one protect their younger brother and survive in this world.

He turned around and went back into the house, picked up the wood-chopping knife, and walked to the open space outside the shed.

Get into position and begin practicing the basic sword techniques.

Chop, slash, flick, stab!

Once, twice, three times...

Ye Sheng's clothes were soaked with sweat, and his arms were so sore that he could barely lift them.

But he didn't stop. The scenes from yesterday's battle kept flashing through his mind.

The swordsmanship of those men in black, their movements, their weaknesses...

Ye Sheng practiced his swordsmanship while recalling memories and pondering the situation.

Gradually, his understanding of the basic sword techniques deepened.

[Basic knife skills: 35/500 → 38/500]

The progress has increased by three points.

Ye Sheng stopped what he was doing, panting heavily. He put away his machete, turned around, and went back to the shed.

Ye Kai was already asleep, and Ye Sheng sat down by the fire and closed his eyes.

Take a good rest today, and continue chopping wood to earn money tomorrow.

There were only thirty coins left to pay off the debt to the boatmen.

……

The next morning, Ye Sheng got up very early and brewed a bowl of chalcedony herbal water.

After Ye Kai finished drinking the medicine, his complexion improved significantly, and even his cough lessened.

"Brother, I feel much lighter."

Ye Kai's eyes were bright.

"This medicine really works."

Ye Sheng nodded.

"Take good care of yourself, and your leg will get better in a while."

He paused.

"Brother has gone out to chop wood, he'll be back soon."

Ye Kai nodded.

"Brother, be careful."

Ye Sheng slung his firewood basket over his shoulder, grabbed his wood-chopping knife, and pushed open the door to go out.

The mist on the river dissipated, and sunlight shone on the water, making it sparkle.

Ye Sheng walked quickly along the riverbank into the mountains.

He had walked the path into the mountains countless times; he could find it with his eyes closed.

After walking for about an hour, he arrived at the familiar grove of trees.

Ye Sheng put down the firewood basket, drew his machete, and began to chop wood.

Each strike employed the power generation techniques of the "basic swordsmanship," with the force transmitted smoothly through the shoulders, waist, hips, and legs in one fluid motion.

Before long, a piece of miscellaneous wood, as thick as a bowl, fell down.

Ye Sheng cut off the branches, cut the wood into sections, tied them up, and put them into the firewood basket.

Just as he was about to cut the second one, he suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from not far away.

Ye Sheng's heart tightened. He gripped his wood-chopping knife and looked warily in the direction from which the sound came, thinking to himself: Could it be that we've encountered the Ironback Jackal again?

Just as he was wondering what was going on, a person emerged from the depths of the woods.

He was a young man, about twenty years old, wearing a blue long robe with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, and had an otherworldly air about him.

He was clearly no ordinary person. Ye Sheng frowned, remaining vigilant.

When the man saw Ye Sheng, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he smiled.

"Excuse me, sir."

His voice was gentle and he was very polite.

"I'm passing through this area and have gotten lost. I wonder how far it is from here to Blackrock Town?"

Ye Sheng looked him over and remained silent for a moment.

"Go east, about thirty li."

The man nodded.

Thank you.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, his gaze suddenly fell on the wood-chopping knife in Ye Sheng's hand, and his eyes narrowed.

"Just now, I noticed the way you chopped wood with that knife... Could it be that you've practiced martial arts?"

Ye Sheng's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm.

"No, I learned it by chopping wood."

The man stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Brother, you are too modest."

He paused.

"My name is Yun Zhonghe, an outer sect steward of the Qingyun Sword Sect."

Ye Sheng's pupils contracted.

The Azure Cloud Sword Sect? Could it be the sect Su Wan went to?

Yun Zhonghe looked at Ye Sheng's reaction, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"It seems you've heard of our sect."

He paused.

"Would you be interested in joining the Qingyun Sword Sect?"

Ye Sheng was stunned.

Join the Qingyun Sword Sect?

This is a major sect in the Eastern Region, a place that countless people dream of.

But Ye Sheng quickly calmed down.

He was a wandering laborer, without any official status or roots; how could the Qingyun Sword Sect possibly accept him?

"Thank you for your kindness, Deacon Yun."

Ye Sheng shook his head.

"I am but a humble woodcutter, I cannot presume to be worthy of your status."

Yun Zhonghe raised an eyebrow.

"Migrant household?"

He sized up Ye Sheng, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Brother, although you are a wanderer, your skills are not simple."

He paused.

"Our sect recruits disciples based solely on talent, not background."

Ye Sheng's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly suppressed it.

"Steward Yun, I have a sick younger brother at home who needs my care, so I really can't leave."

Yun Zhonghe remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I see."

He took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to Ye Sheng.

"This is my identity token. If you change your mind in the future, you can bring this token to the Qingyun Sword Sect to find me."

Ye Sheng accepted the jade token and clasped his hands in greeting to Yun Zhonghe.

"Thank you, Steward Yun."

Yun Zhonghe waved his hand and turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Ye Sheng.

"By the way, do you know a young lady named Su Wan?"