Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

By the time we returned to the yam shop in the county town, it was already getting dark.

As the convoy entered the backyard, the guards, who had been on edge the whole way, breathed a sigh of relief.

Several medicine carts were pushed to the front of the warehouse, where Wang Shouyi was already waiting with his accountant and assistants.

Seeing that the cart full of medicines was safe and sound, the tension on his face eased a little, and he quickly ordered, "Quick! Put the medicines into storage first!"

The workers immediately stepped forward to move the boxes.

The guards all took a break. The escort mission was finally over.

Although they only encountered a group of out-of-town bandits, and were eventually scattered by them, the sudden battle still left many people with lingering fear.

This world is too chaotic; no one knows if the next one will be a powerful enemy.

Liu Heng's death was like a bucket of cold water poured on everyone's hearts.

The night before last, everyone was sitting around the campfire drinking together, watching him spar with Lu Chen with great vigor; today, when he returned to the city, he was already wrapped in an oilcloth and had become a corpse.

The guards looked at the corpse, their faces turning pale.

"Life is unpredictable..."

"Liu Heng was unlucky; everyone else was fine, but he was the only one who died."

Wang Zhong stood to the side, his face grim, and said to Wang Shouyi, "We encountered a band of bandits on the road. They weren't from Chixia Mountain; they must have fled from another county. The medicinal herbs were undamaged, and the brothers weren't seriously injured, except for Liu Heng, who died."

The smile on Wang Shouyi's face vanished instantly.

He glanced at Liu Heng, who was being carried down, remained silent for a moment, and then said only, "A proper burial, and compensation according to regulations."

After saying that, he looked at everyone and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you all for your hard work on this trip. You have all done a good job escorting the goods today, so each of you will be rewarded with one tael of silver."

Upon hearing about the reward, a hint of joy appeared on everyone's faces.

Lu Chen returned to his guard dormitory; it was already late at night.

The courtyard was dimly lit.

Lu Chen pushed open the door and entered the room. He first brushed the dust off his body and then washed away the lingering smell of blood from his hands.

Clear water flowed through my fingers, carrying away the faint red stain.

He gazed at the basin of water, and his emotions gradually calmed down.

Today's battle on the mountain path came suddenly. Bandits, medicine carts, shouts of battle, Liu Heng's hand reaching out from behind... all these scenes flashed through my mind.

Lu Chen felt no remorse whatsoever for Liu Heng's death.

He attacked Lu Chen from behind during the chaos, aiming to kill him.

Since the other party had the intention to kill first, dying under the bandits' blades was nothing more than their own fault.

"One should always be wary of others; we must be even more cautious in the future."

"Never entrust your back to someone else!"

Lu Chen silently warned himself.

Then, he summoned his maid, Xiao Lü, to prepare a medicinal bath for him.

A short while later, the maid Xiao Lü brought in a packet of medicine. Xiao Lü noticed several tears in his sleeves and smelled a faint scent of blood. Her face paled slightly. "Brother Lu, I heard you encountered bandits on your way back..."

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Lu Chen said calmly, "Prepare a medicinal bath, make sure the water is hot."

Little Green quickly replied, "Yes."

Lu Chen did not sit and wait inside the house.

He walked to the open space outside, slowly assumed a boxing stance, and continued practicing his boxing techniques.

The night wind blew through the courtyard wall, bringing a chill.

Lu Chen's fists grew hotter and hotter, his internal energy and blood circulated with the movement of his fists, and the power between his shoulders, back, waist, hips, and arms flowed smoothly.

In chaotic times, human life is as worthless as grass.

Only with strong fists and powerful qi and blood can one stand firm in the storm.

The aroma of medicine gradually wafted out of the room.

Xiao Lü whispered at the door, "Brother Lu, the medicinal bath is ready."

Lu Chen withdrew his fist and exhaled a breath of hot air.

A transparent light screen quietly appeared before my eyes:

[Azure Dragon Tongbei Fist: Minor Success]

[Progress: 351/500]

Lu Chen glanced at it and felt somewhat reassured.

The mastery of his fist techniques is not far off.

……

Before he knew it, Lu Chen had been at the yam shop for a month.

He spent his days on roll call, patrolling the hospital, practicing boxing, taking medicinal baths, and taking blood-nourishing powder, supplemented with meat to nourish himself; his days were exceptionally fulfilling.

It was a day off, and Chen Chong sent a message early in the morning, inviting him to a small gathering at Xiaoshenglou.

Lu Chen changed into a clean blue robe and left the yam shop.

Having not strolled around much for a month, the hustle and bustle of the streets made him feel somewhat dazed. The sounds of hawkers, cartwheels, and laughter and banter from restaurants mingled together, which greatly relaxed Lu Chen's mind.

When they arrived at Xiaoshenglou, Chen Chong was already waiting at the door.

When he saw Lu Chen, his eyes lit up: "It's only been a month, Junior Brother Lu, you've gotten so much stronger!"

He reached out and pinched Lu Chen's arm, feeling the muscles beneath his fingers were firm, like twisted beef tendons, and couldn't help but marvel.

"My blood and energy are much stronger now!"

Lu Chen smiled and said, "My job at the yam shop is quite relaxed, so I have plenty of time to practice my skills this month."

Over the course of the month, the amount of blood and qi in his chest increased from one strand to five strands, a fourfold increase. Coupled with the completion of the Panlong Zhuang Gong, which reshaped his muscles and bones, and the nourishment from the medicinal bath and blood-qi powder, his body became even more toned and powerful.

Now, standing still, he exudes a calm and composed martial arts aura.

The two entered Xiaoshenglou and found a table by the window in the lobby on the first floor to sit down.

The window faces a long street with a constant stream of pedestrians. Inside, the aroma of wine and meat fills the air, and a storyteller is striking his gavel in a corner, while several wandering swordsmen listen with great interest.

Chen Chong ordered several signature dishes and a pot of wine.

Chen Chong looked at Lu Chen and started the conversation, saying, "I heard that you went to escort medicine to the Chixia Mountain herb garden a few days ago and encountered bandits on the way? And a disciple of Weiyuan Hall died?"

Lu Chen nodded.

"Weiyuan Hall has gained considerable momentum in the past two years, competing with Qianhe Martial Arts School for the title of the number one martial arts school in Chixia County."

Chen Chong added, "I have quite a few disciples, so the death of a few won't have much of an impact."

As the food and drinks were served, Chen Chong put some meat on Lu Chen's plate and then said, "However, our Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School is getting better and better."

Lu Chen looked up: "Is there some good news at the martial arts school?"

I guess so.

Chen Chong smiled, his eyes showing a hint of excitement.

"Recently, a batch of new people have arrived, more than ten in total, and the martial arts school is much more popular than before."

"In the past, we might not even get ten new disciples in six months."

The entrance fee for the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School is ten taels of silver, and for more than ten new disciples, it would be over a hundred taels.

"And Shi Hao, do you know him?" Chen Chong added.

"What do you know?" Lu Chen raised his eyebrows, his hand holding the food paused slightly.

"This kid has broken through to the Lesser Mastery of Blood Transformation."

Chen Chong took a sip of wine, his tone a mixture of admiration and barely concealed pressure and helplessness, "A mere fifteen-year-old who has achieved such a feat in blood transfusion."

"Among his peers in Chixia County, he would be considered outstanding."

As he spoke, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Well, I'm the one who got surpassed by a junior brother who's ten years younger than me."

Lu Chen hadn't expected Shi Hao to take this step so quickly.

In the initial stage of Blood Transfusion, Qi and blood are as thin as threads; in the minor stage of Blood Transfusion, Qi and blood are as flowing as streams.

Don't underestimate the difference of just one level; many people may spend years, or even a lifetime, and still not be able to reach the threshold.

Shi Hao is only fifteen years old; his future is promising.

Lu Chen's thoughts raced through his mind, but his face remained largely expressionless.

He patted Chen Chong on the shoulder and comforted him, "Senior brother, you have a solid foundation and are accumulating knowledge and experience. Sooner or later, you will also achieve a breakthrough."

"Haha, you sure know how to talk."

"Come on, let's have a drink."

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Chen Chong took out a money pouch from his pocket and pushed it in front of Lu Chen.

Lu Chen glanced at it and asked, "What's this?"

Chen Chong said, "This is the financial assistance our Chen family is providing you this month."

Chen Chong opened the money bag, inside which were four taels of silver neatly arranged.

Lu Chen straightened his expression, accepted the silver without hesitation, and solemnly clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother Chen. Please give my regards to your father."

Chen Chong nodded, looked at Lu Chen, and smiled, "Practice hard, Junior Brother Lu. I'll be waiting for your good news of breaking through to the minor stage!"