I Want to Improve

Yang Heng had no idea that after he left, everyone's wild imaginings led them to believe a martial artist was backing him.

If he had known, he probably would have laughed himself awake even in his dreams.

But even if he knew, he could not laugh now.

At that moment, he was holding an iron shovel and scooping excrement out of the latrine. Shovel after shovel, he dumped the foul-smelling filth into a manure bucket.

Once the bucket was full, he placed it on a one-wheeled handcart, pushed it to the side entrance of the medicine shop, and sold it to the man who collected excrement. Every Copper Coin he received was turned over to the shop.

Half an hour later, with the joint efforts of the other three apprentices, the latrine had been cleaned. Only after their master inspected it and found no fault did they go eat.

These apprentices had no dedicated place to dine. The cook put the food in a fixed location and left someone to guard it.

The apprentices each had a fixed portion, and not getting enough to eat was a common occurrence.

Of course, if one was a favorite before the master, the man serving food would give them a little extra.

Breakfast was a bowl of porridge and two coarse-grain steamed buns per person. Ever since Yang Heng had entered the medicine shop, it had always been this way, never changing.

After receiving his food, Yang Heng went to a corner by the wall, squatted down, and began wolfing it down.

It was called porridge, but it was really little more than clear broth; scarcely a few grains of rice could be seen in the bowl.

The coarse-grain buns had not been skimmed on, but they tasted awful. Eating them was like gnawing on dirt—dry, astringent, and hard on the throat.

Paired with the "porridge," they could barely be swallowed.

Many apprentices secretly discussed how, according to the medicine shop's rules, their meals should not have been this poor. Most of their rations had likely been pocketed by the kitchen buyer.

But that man was a distant relative of the medicine shop's owner, so complaining was useless.

Someone had complained before. As a result, his every meal became a single bowl of "porridge," and before long, he starved to death alive.

After that, no one dared discuss it again.

After finishing his food, Yang Heng noticed that inside the Marrow Cleansing Pearl, which had originally been empty, there was now a thread of white so fine it was nearly imperceptible.

Eating this stuff every day, at this rate, for the Marrow Cleansing Pearl to fill with energy... that would take until the monkeys' year and horses' month.

No!

He had to think of a way.

A way to get money.

But his current status was lowly. He only had one rest day every half month, and only on rest days was he permitted to leave. Trying to make money while staying in the medicine shop was harder than climbing to heaven.

Only by going out would there be hope.

To go out every day, he would have to become an apprentice assigned to deliver medicine.

Yang Heng frowned tightly and paced back and forth. The Copper Coins in his pocket jostled together, producing a crisp clinking sound that caught his attention.

His eyes immediately lit up. He had an idea.

Inside an antique side room on the eastern side of the medicine shop, Yang Heng bent at the waist in a deep bow, his face filled with respect as he said:

"Master Zhang, I was ignorant before. This silver was left behind by my father, and keeping it on me only takes up space. I hope Master Zhang can help look after it for me. I would be endlessly grateful."

Standing across from Yang Heng was a middle-aged man dressed in a gray cloth robe. He had a pair of mung-bean eyes and two thin mouse whiskers at the corners of his mouth. This was Master Zhang, known for his greed, who was in charge of all apprentice affairs and had previously punished Yang Heng.

He weighed the money pouch in his hand. It made a heavy sound, and its weight was no trifling matter. There had to be no less than two taels of silver inside. Master Zhang was delighted. Money had come knocking at his door first thing in the morning—how could he not be happy?

And it was no small sum, equivalent to a month's wages at the medicine shop.

Master Zhang nodded, looking at Yang Heng with approval as he said with a smile, "Your name is Yang Heng, right? Not bad, not bad."

"From the day you entered the medicine shop, I knew you were a promising lad. After half a year of tempering, you've finally been tempered into shape."

"I'll keep this money for you first. You can come get it from me anytime."

Tempering? If I hadn't brought you money today, I'd probably have continued being tempered in the latrine for another half year.

Yang Heng sneered inwardly.

Get it back? Once the money enters your pocket, can I still take it back? Who are you trying to fool, a child?

If I really came to retrieve it, I'm afraid you wouldn't be saying this.

Though that was what he thought, he still had to keep up appearances.

Yang Heng smiled. "Master Zhang, I would be a hundred times at ease leaving the money in your care. I'll have to trouble you."

As for the word "retrieve," he did not mention it at all.

Yang Heng had come here precisely to give away the money in exchange for a position delivering medicine outside, so he could see whether he could find a way to make money out there.

Master Zhang was also an old fox. He knew that Yang Heng's initiative in offering money meant he must be asking for something. If it were a small matter, then for the money's sake, agreeing would do no harm.

If it were difficult, he could simply refuse outright. Yang Heng would not dare say anything more.

After pondering for a moment, Master Zhang said casually:

"Yang Heng, you've performed well recently. The medicine shop is preparing to place a heavier burden on your shoulders. What do you think?"

Yang Heng put on an extremely grateful expression and declared excitedly, "Thank you, Master Zhang, for your recognition, and thank the medicine shop for valuing me. No matter what task the medicine shop assigns me, I will pour out my heart's blood to complete it well and live up to your usual guidance."

Hearing this, Master Zhang nodded in satisfaction. "If you have any ideas, you can tell me. I'll report them to the medicine shop on your behalf."

Yang Heng did not hesitate and said directly, "Delivering medicine outside suits me very well. I hope Master Zhang can put in a good word for me with the medicine shop. I would be endlessly grateful, and I will come pay my respects to you often in the future."

After speaking, Yang Heng bowed.

"Mm. I'll report it to the medicine shop. If there's nothing else, go back to work."

Yang Heng withdrew with a bow, knowing that since Master Zhang had not rejected him to his face, the matter was already more than half settled.

What he had done today did not mean their past grievances had vanished. He was merely swallowing humiliation for the moment, waiting for the winds to change.

Only one who could bend and stretch was a true man.

If one was blindly rigid, insisting black was black and white was white, unable to accommodate all things or mingle one's light with the dust, it would be very difficult to survive in this chaotic world.

Only by living could there be a future.

Sure enough, early the next morning, Yang Heng's work assignment was changed to delivering medicine outside.

After Master Zhang announced the order, the other apprentices immediately looked at Yang Heng differently. Their gazes became far more eager, no longer as indifferent as before, or outright dismissive.

The apprentices who shared a room with Yang Heng became even more certain that a martial artist was backing him.

Otherwise, why would Master Zhang, who had suppressed Yang Heng before, suddenly change his attitude today, treat Yang Heng so amiably, and even switch his work assignment?

They all crowded around Yang Heng to offer congratulations. The smiles on their faces were clearly far more sincere than those of the others, even carrying a trace of reverence.

When Li Kui saw this, his heart turned ice-cold.

He had originally fantasized that Yang Heng might have accidentally obtained medicine that stimulated his body's potential and had nothing to do with a martial artist.

But Master Zhang's sudden change in attitude shattered that fantasy.

He had followed Master Zhang for two years and knew his character inside and out.

Greedy for money, bullying the weak, and fearing the strong.

He did not believe for a hundred lifetimes that Yang Heng had given Master Zhang money, causing him to change his attitude.

Would that Second Fool's brain understand such worldly dealings?

If he did, he would not have waited until today. He would have acted long ago.

The possibility that a martial artist was supporting him was greater than that.

Li Kui could believe that Yang Heng's strength had suddenly surged in a short time.

But for his mind to suddenly open up, for him to comprehend without a teacher and become deeply versed in worldly affairs—no one would believe that.

In any case, Li Kui had made up his mind. He would find an opportunity to kill Yang Heng and strike first for the advantage.

Delivering medicine outside was the perfect opportunity.

Li Kui coldly watched Yang Heng's departing back, a chill gleaming in his eyes.