Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

The people in the room held their breath. Two taels of silver was a bit too much for them, who earned only a few coins a day as menial laborers.

They might not be able to save that much even after a year.

"It's not a matter of whether this thing is expensive or not..."

Seeing that Gu Shuxian seemed slightly surprised and then quite absent-minded, Qian Le quickly explained:

"Look at those martial arts schools outside. You pay money to learn martial arts techniques and buy herbal medicine. They might teach you the complete techniques, but they would never tell you their exclusive herbal medicine recipes!"

"But what are those exclusive medicinal soups they treasure so much worth in our sect's eyes?"

"In terms of the quality and effectiveness of these martial arts resources, none within a radius of hundreds of miles can compare to our Suishan Sword Sect!"

"These formulas of our sect are top secrets; we don't even sell the medicinal soups we make!"

"Let me put it this way, this stuff only costs two taels in the outer sect, that's a perk for outer sect disciples! Outside, it's priceless and unavailable!"

After Qian Le finished speaking, he lowered his voice and asked:

"I heard this thing is only supplied to outer disciples, and the servants' quarters have no way to get it. Junior Brother Gu... how did you manage to get it?"

"I helped a senior student out of a small favor on the way, and he gave me this."

Gu Shuxian mumbled something.

He can't possibly tell anyone what happened today.

"Give me bone-strengthening ointment for helping me with such a small favor? Which senior brother is so generous?" Qian Le was very surprised.

"I met him... during that trip to the Enforcement Hall. Well, you know the Enforcement Hall is quite confidential, those who know, know. I can't say more..."

Qian Le suddenly realized, then hesitated and said:

"This item is too valuable; we cannot accept it."

"Besides, you're young and have a solid foundation, giving you a better chance than us to enter the bone-strengthening stage. This bone-strengthening ointment is your confidence. If you give it to us, what will you do yourself?"

"Yes, Junior Brother Gu, you, you keep it for yourself!" Deng Shifan nodded vigorously.

Zheng Da, Xu Ergou, and others watched with envy.

That's a bone-strengthening ointment!

They keep making excuses and passing the buck!

Don't give them to them!

Zheng Da and Xu Ergou were so envious their eyes almost popped out, but having just given in, they didn't have the courage to ask for it now.

Zhang Tieniu and Wu Shuisheng were stunned, but they looked at Li Dashuan with complicated expressions.

Li Dashuan was filled with regret. When Gu Shuxian first came to Room 9, he, Zhang Tieniu, and Wu Shuisheng were in a small group. But after weighing the pros and cons, he deliberately distanced himself from Zhao Kui and cut off all contact.

If he hadn't done that back then, he might have gotten a share of this bone-strengthening ointment too.

Seeing the two men's excuses, Gu Shuxian raised an eyebrow and said dismissively:

"No need to refuse, there will be more in the future. That senior brother from the outer sect said he would continue to sponsor me with bone-strengthening ointment until I complete the bone forging process, and I will share it with the two senior brothers at that time."

This is true; Zhou Ji really said it, but at the time, Gu Shuxian didn't realize how arrogant it was.

Looking back now, those people who make pills are really damn good at making money. Gu Shuxian's dream of becoming a librarian almost fell apart!

The room fell silent.

One sentence kept echoing in everyone's mind.

"I'll continue to sponsor my bone-strengthening ointment until I've completed my bone-strengthening process..."

Continued sponsorship...

Zheng Da's eyes widened, his expression shifting from envy to jealousy, then to shock, and finally to bewilderment. He simply couldn't understand what kind of small favor could make an outer sect senior brother make such a promise.

Xu Ergou was also taken aback, but soon he felt a surge of excitement. If he played the role of a lackey well, could he also get a share of the profits?

Li Dashuan's mind was buzzing.

One box of bone-strengthening ointment contains two ounces. From muscle training to bone strengthening, there are at least seven or eight boxes, and possibly more than a dozen!

A few dozen taels of silver was an astronomical figure for him!

He swallowed hard, wondering if Gu Shuxian would remember their past relationship...

Qian Le's face was also filled with shock. He gritted his teeth and said:

"Okay, then divide it into three portions, and you should keep one for yourself too!"

What use would I have for keeping it? I don't need it.

Gu Shuxian was helpless; he couldn't very well say that he had already opened his meridians and didn't need this.

The most obvious distinction between the five internal energy cultivation methods begins with internal breathing. The first two stages share the same origin but have some differences, such as the different areas of emphasis, but overall the differences are not significant.

Moreover, I have my own health-preserving boxing style, which can completely make up for this difference.

But seeing their determined looks, I might as well just put them in my own hands for now.

Gu Shuxian thought for a moment and nodded.

……

After some time.

The door creaked open.

Meng Ping walked in with his usual calm and indifferent expression.

His gaze swept across the room, and when he saw Gu Shuxian, he was slightly taken aback.

But he didn't say anything, just nodded, and went straight to his bunk.

Gu Shuxian got up, walked to Meng Ping's bedside, and handed him the last third of the bone-strengthening ointment:

"Senior Brother Meng, this is for you."

Although Meng Ping slacked off a bit at the last minute, Gu Shuxian didn't forget his two acts of speaking up for justice.

Meng Ping glanced down, his expression shifting slightly:

"Do you know anyone from the Pill Hall?"

Gu Shuxian found it a bit strange.

I didn't tell anyone Zhou Ji's identity, so why did Meng Ping immediately mention the Pill Hall?

"Why do you ask that, Senior Brother Meng?" Gu Shuxian asked calmly.

Meng Ping was silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes and explained:

"The servants' quarters can't get this stuff; it can only come from the outer sect. And the only ones who can casually give it away are the disciples of the pill hall. Other outer sect disciples don't even have enough for themselves."

That explanation makes sense.

But Gu Shuxian always felt that he was hiding something.

"More or less." Gu Shuxian didn't press further, and handed over the plaster. "Thank you for what happened before, Senior Brother."

Meng Ping glanced at it, but didn't take it.

"No need. I've already reached the threshold of bone forging; I don't need this."

"Even if it's just icing on the cake, it's still good."

"Leave it for those who need it more."

Meng Ping shook his head and lay down, clearly not wanting to continue the topic.

Gu Shuxian seemed to be thinking about something, so she stopped insisting and took the plaster back.

……

Night was falling.

The servants' quarters gradually quieted down.

Gu Shuxian was leaning against her bunk, flipping through the books she had borrowed from Huang Ziyi, when the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

The visitor was Guo Xunzhen, the master of skill transmission!

Qian Le and Deng Shifan immediately stood up alertly.

Gu Shuxian put down his book, assuming the other party was there to cause trouble, and provoked them:

"Steward Guo, what brings you here?"

Unexpectedly, Guo Xunzhen's expression changed upon seeing him. Finally, she took a deep breath and calmly spoke:

"Since the Enforcement Hall believes you are innocent, it seems I was mistaken."

"I was anxious about their whereabouts during the day, and I spoke a bit harshly. Please don't take it to heart."

Gu Shuxian paused, somewhat surprised.

But he quickly realized that while the servants' quarters were not under the jurisdiction of the Enforcement Hall, the servants' quarters stewards and managers were subject to the supervision of the Enforcement Hall, and the Enforcement Hall's deterrence against them was much greater than that against the servants.

In Guo Xunzhen's view, the Law Enforcement Hall had already been defined, so he didn't dare to refute it at all. Moreover, to him, they were just two achievements, not two biological sons, so there was no need to go crazy.

"Since it's a misunderstanding, let's leave it at that. Goodbye." Guo Xunzhen said curtly, then turned and left.

The people inside looked at each other, somewhat incredulous.

Gu Shuxian ignored him and lowered her head to finish reading the last paragraph of the book in her hand.

[...That once innocent young man has become a cold and ruthless king of handymen. The turmoil caused by the handymen's quarters has finally settled. What will become of this young handyman? Please read the next volume—The Turmoil of the Great City!]

"How come this tattered book has a next volume? But it's truly interesting; it's bound to be a masterpiece!"

[You were engrossed in your reading today, not forgetting your duty as the guardian of the library. As the saying goes, great things come to those who accumulate knowledge and experience. You are hereby rewarded with "One Day of Study"]

"Never mind what I said."