Physical immortality begins with Bajiquan

The next day, Qin Heng went to work at the Cui family's pharmacy as usual.

At first, he didn't want to spar with Cui Ran anymore, but the other party insisted on giving him moves.

Unable to refuse, Qin Heng had no choice but to adopt the Bajiquan stance and spar with Cui Ran.

He deliberately held back some of his strength, but the restrained and profound aura in his punches could not escape Cui Ran's eyes.

Cui Ran threw a punch, but Qin Heng blocked it by turning to the side. He subtly tapped the fist with his fingertips to deflect the force, and Cui Ran felt the punch's power vanish like a mud ox sinking into the sea. His entire arm suddenly went numb, and he staggered back two steps.

"Hidden strength? It's hidden strength! You actually succeeded in breaking through?" Cui Ran's eyes widened in astonishment, then turned to ecstasy. Without saying a word, he pulled Qin Heng towards the left wing of the main hall.

After the two were seated, he instructed the maid to serve a pot of fine tea.

After the maid brought the tea, Cui Ran poured it himself, speaking with great enthusiasm: "Xiao Heng, come, have a taste! This is this year's Longjing tea, brought from the south by waterway. It's a rare treat bestowed upon us by our master; ordinary people can't possibly drink it. Even the water used to brew it is spring water transported from Qingping Mountain outside the city—clear, sweet, and perfect for nourishing the tea."

Qin Heng reached out and took a sip. "Not bad, this tastes different, better than what I've had before."

Seeing that Qin Heng had finished his tea, Cui Ran said seriously, "Xiao Heng, now that you have reached the Dark Strength level, my subsidies and benefits here will naturally increase. From now on, your monthly salary will be increased to fifteen taels, thirty catties of mutton, and two Blood-Boosting Pills."

He finished speaking with a hint of difficulty on his face, "Xiao Heng, I know this treatment is about 30% lower than that of a normal Dark Force cultivator, but this is all Uncle Cui can offer. However, I have also prepared a special gift for you—the precious silver carp that the master family bestowed upon you a few days ago. I'll have someone bring it to you right away!"

A short while later, Cui Yingying strode in carrying a porcelain basin. Just as she was about to question him, she heard Cui Ran point at Qin Heng and say:

"Quick, daughter, give this to Xiao Heng. This is my gift to celebrate his breakthrough to the Dark Force realm!"

"Him? Hidden strength!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Yingying was startled and subconsciously slammed the porcelain basin on the table. She covered her mouth with both hands and looked at Qin Heng with disbelief. She never imagined that this boy with mediocre aptitude would become a martial artist with hidden strength so quietly.

Then Cui Ran seized the opportunity to say that the martial arts examination was approaching, and if Qin Heng could pass the examination and become a martial arts scholar, he would be qualified to enter the inner city. At that time, he would personally introduce Qin Heng to the head of the Cui family.

Qin Heng bowed and thanked him upon hearing this.

Having fished in Yuhuo Bay for many years, he naturally knew the value of the silver carp, considering it a precious fish.

The treasure fish is considered a spiritual creature of heaven and earth. Eating it will bring all sorts of incredible effects. It is extremely difficult to catch and is very valuable.

Like trees, the size of a goldfish is related to its age; the older the goldfish, the more potent and astonishing its medicinal properties.

Qin Heng didn't linger any longer. He had to go to the martial arts school to practice his boxing in the afternoon. He picked up the porcelain basin, said goodbye to Cui Ran and Cui Yingying, and then turned and walked towards the door.

Suddenly, Cui Ran thought of something and was about to call out to him when Cui Yingying had already taken the lead and quickly caught up with him.

She first pulled back the heavy cotton curtain, stepped aside to let Qin Heng pass, and then spoke softly and gently:

"Brother Qin, please wait a moment."

After Qin Heng stopped, she added softly, "The medicinal properties of this silver crucian carp are too strong. Your sister is an ordinary person with a weak constitution and cannot withstand it. Please do not let her eat it as well. She can only drink half a bowl of fish soup, otherwise she will be too weak to handle the nourishment and it will damage her health."

"Thank you, Miss Cui, I've got it."

Qin Heng nodded slightly, then turned and walked towards Fishing Fire Bay.

Behind him, Cui Yingying did not leave, staring blankly at his tall back, unaware that Cui Ran had walked up behind her.

"What's wrong, girl? Have you taken a fancy to this boy?" Cui Ran asked with a half-smile, arms crossed.

Cui Yingying snapped back to her senses, her cheeks instantly turning bright red. She stomped her foot and scolded:

"Father! What nonsense are you talking about! If I'm going to marry, I'll naturally marry someone from a respectable family. What is he, a poor boy from Yuhuo Bay?"

She paused, looking in the direction Qin Heng had left, and added, "Unless he can pass the martial arts exam, then maybe it'll be alright."

Cui Ran smiled indulgently and reached out to pat her daughter's head: "Then why did you stare at that person's back for so long?"

Cui Yingying put away her shyness and became serious: "Father, I was thinking about the family division competition at the beginning of next year. If he is willing to help, our family will definitely not be at the bottom this time. Even if we only move up one place, the benefits will be several times greater than now."

A glint flashed in Cui Ran's eyes, and he slowly nodded: "Father had the same idea, otherwise how could I bear to give him that silver carp?" He looked at Qin Heng's departing figure and said slowly, "People, if you want to get things done, you have to learn to be willing to give. If you want others to do their work, you have to give them enough benefits first, and then they will sincerely help our family get through this difficult time."

......

When we returned to Yuhuo Bay, it was midday with the sun at its strongest.

The early winter wind, carrying flakes of snow, swept across the alleyway, making the cloth banners on the street rustle loudly.

Qin Heng, carrying a porcelain basin, pushed open the door of his family's breakfast shop and saw Qin Ting huddled in a corner of the shop, bending over and clutching her left knee, her brows furrowed.

Hearing the door open, she looked up, her face showing some weariness, and forced a smile:

"Xiao Heng, why are you back so early today?"

Qin Heng placed the porcelain basin on the cutting board, walked over, squatted down, and reached out to warm her cold knees:

"Sis, your pain is starting again."

"It's alright." Qin Ting smiled and shook her head. "I'm still young, this little pain is nothing. It will naturally get better when the weather gets warmer."

Qin Heng didn't say anything, but he held her knee even tighter and gently massaged it.

Qin Ting looked down at her younger brother with satisfaction, then looked up at the white porcelain basin on the cutting board: "Xiao Heng, what did you bring back?"

"These are silver carp that Manager Cui sent." Qin Heng also looked up at the porcelain basin. "I'll stew them in a bit so you can try my cooking. But Miss Cui said that this fish is very nourishing, so you can't eat too much, you can only drink half a bowl of fish soup."

Qin Ting nodded gently. Living in Fishing Fire Bay, she naturally understood the preciousness of the treasure fish and its potent medicinal properties.

After warming Qin Ting's knees for a while, Qin Heng got up and busied himself at the stove.

He first picked up the kitchen knife and used the back of the blade to strike the still-living silver carp hard. The fish twitched twice and then stopped moving.

These silver-thread crucian carp are naturally scaleless, and their entire bodies are covered with a layer of slippery, transparent mucus, making them impossible to hold in your hand.

Qin Heng scooped up half a spoonful of coarse salt and sprinkled it evenly on both sides of the fish, then vigorously rubbed it back and forth with both hands.

The mucus quickly dehydrates and solidifies upon contact with salt, turning into grayish-white flocculent dirt that falls off and no longer sticks to the hands.

Picking up the silver carp, the fish was only slightly larger than the palm of my hand, but it was unusually heavy.

He scooped up well water and rinsed the fish three more times. After rinsing it clean, he cut open the fish's belly, carefully removed the gills and internal organs, and then rinsed the black membrane inside the abdominal cavity with clean water.

Place the prepared silver carp into a clay pot, add water and a few slices of ginger, cover the pot and simmer over low heat.

Half an hour later, an exceptionally pure and fresh aroma wafted from the gaps in the pot lid, and the soup had turned a thick, milky white.

Qin Heng first ladled out half a bowl of fish soup, blew on it to warm it up, and handed it to Qin Ting: "Sister, drink slowly. If you feel uncomfortable, stop immediately. Don't force yourself. We don't mind wasting food."

Qin Ting nodded and took small sips.

Qin Heng then picked up the casserole and began to eat. After taking just one bite of fish, he felt a pure, potent, and extremely domineering medicinal power sweep through his throat and throughout his body.

The internal strength he had just practiced yesterday was instantly compressed and refined by the immense medicinal power.

"This is truly a wonderful product! Its effects are several times stronger than those of the Blood-Boosting Pill!"

A glint flashed in Qin Heng's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He knew very well that the monthly salary Uncle Cui was giving him today was more than 30% lower than the market rate.

Considering the previous financial assistance, he can work at the Cui family's pharmacy for a while longer.

However, this precious fish was not given away for nothing; it must be related to what Cui Ran had asked for earlier.

Qin Heng gulped down the fish and soup, having already made up his mind.

For a period of time before and after Wu Ke, he decided to continue serving the Cui family with peace of mind.

But in the future, it will still need to be replaced.

The main branch of the Cui family has been drawn into the struggle between the top powers in Heyang City, and the branch families will also be implicated and dragged into the vortex of disaster sooner or later.

Staying here for now is only a temporary measure; we will definitely find another way in the future.