At first light, Wang Yuan rose as usual, changed into clean training clothes, greeted his family with an unchanged expression, and headed to Panshi Fist Academy.
Training, eating—everything remained the same.
He immersed himself in practicing the Panshi Fist, striving to familiarize himself with his newfound strength and the use of his Vital Blood, as though nothing had happened last night.
During a break.
Senior Disciple Brother Shi Long's burly figure sidled over. With a mysterious air, he hooked an arm around Wang Yuan's shoulders and led him behind an ancient pine in the corner of the courtyard.
"Junior Brother."
Shi Long lowered his bell-like voice, his bull-like eyes gleaming with an I know what you did look.
"Have you heard? That Black Tiger Gang punk named Song San got slaughtered last night!"
"In an alley over in the western district. What a miserable death—his breastbone was shattered, and even his spine was stomped broken!"
Wang Yuan's heart stirred, but his face remained perfectly calm.
He even showed just the right trace of curiosity and followed up, asking:
"Oh? Who killed him?"
Seeing Wang Yuan's calm, this has nothing to do with me expression, Shi Long could not help curling his lip.
He lightly poked Wang Yuan in the chest with a thick finger and said in a muffled voice:
"Heh, still putting on an act with your senior brother?"
"You brat, you were ruthless and efficient enough, but your cleanup work was far too green!"
The curiosity Wang Yuan had feigned froze instantly, revealing a trace of embarrassment at being exposed.
He truly had not considered the matter of disposing of the body. Or rather—
Given the current chaos in Gaoye City, he had thought that once someone was killed, they were simply killed. He had not considered what came afterward at all.
There were no cameras in that alley. Who would know who the murderer was?
Seeing his junior brother's somewhat sheepish expression, Shi Long chuckled and pulled a small, unremarkable black porcelain bottle from his robes, stuffing it into Wang Yuan's hand.
Lowering his voice, he spoke with the air of passing down "experience":
"Here, take this. Keep it safe, and don't let anyone see it."
Wang Yuan accepted the porcelain bottle. It felt icy cold in his hand, and he looked at Shi Long in confusion.
"This is called Bone Dissolving Water. Good stuff!"
Shi Long winked, lowering his voice further.
"Don't be fooled by that tiny bottle. It's extremely corrosive."
"Just drip on a few drops. Even if someone has copper skin and Iron Bone Force, it'll dissolve them clean away. Not even a scrap of bone will remain—like water passing by without a trace!"
Wang Yuan was first startled, then delight appeared in his eyes.
This was an essential treasure for killing, looting, and destroying corpses to erase evidence!
With this thing, he would indeed have far less trouble when acting in the future.
But when he looked up at Shi Long's square face, full of flesh, with its honest and simple appearance—
Then recalled how practiced and natural Shi Long had been when pulling out the Bone Dissolving Water, Wang Yuan's mouth could not help twitching slightly as he inwardly complained:
Senior Disciple Brother... You look so thick-browed and big-eyed, so righteous and imposing. Who would have thought... you actually carry this kind of thing around?
Shi Long seemed to notice the odd look in Wang Yuan's eyes. His old face reddened, and after two dry coughs, he patted Wang Yuan on the shoulder and spoke earnestly:
"Cough, cough... Junior Brother, the martial world is dangerous. Some things are best kept prepared, just in case!"
"Your senior brother is doing this for your own good."
"Remember, next time... well, try not to leave an intact corpse. Too troublesome!"
Wang Yuan tightened his grip around the small porcelain bottle, feeling its icy touch, and nodded solemnly.
"Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother. I understand."
At that moment, he gained a deeper understanding of this world's cruelty and its laws of survival.
The sun climbed higher, nearing noon.
Wang Yuan had just finished a set of Panshi Fist. Heat steamed from his entire body, and his newly born Vital Blood circulated briskly within him, washing away the last traces of fatigue and discomfort left from the previous night.
"At this pace, I'll probably be able to attempt my First Blood Change in less than half a month."
Wang Yuan finished his stance and was preparing to join the other disciples for lunch at the dining tables in the front courtyard.
Just then, a faint fragrance drifted over from behind him.
Second Senior Sister Zheng Ying had somehow quietly arrived behind him and gently patted his shoulder.
"Junior Brother."
Zheng Ying's voice was as cool as ever, though it carried a nearly imperceptible gentleness.
"Come with me."
Wang Yuan was slightly taken aback, but immediately nodded.
"Yes, Second Senior Sister."
Zheng Ying said nothing more. She turned and led the way, but not toward the noisy dining hall in the front courtyard.
Instead, she headed toward a quieter side room on the other side of the inner courtyard.
Pushing open the door revealed a small hall, simply furnished yet elegant, with a round redwood table in the center.
Several dishes had already been laid out on the table, entirely unlike the rough fare from the large pots outside.
There were not many dishes, but they were clearly much more refined.
Yet what drew Wang Yuan's gaze most was the large platter of reddish-brown meat in the very center of the table, steaming hot.
The meat's texture was exceptionally fine, faintly gleaming with a luster unlike that of ordinary livestock.
Even from some distance away, he could smell a distinctive meaty fragrance tinged with a touch of wildness.
It made his index finger twitch with appetite, while the Vital Blood in his body seemed to give a tiny, eager leap.
"This is... Monster Beast Meat?"
Wang Yuan's heart stirred, and he immediately guessed where the meat had come from.
He remembered his master Zheng Shan saying that martial artists, especially during the stage of strengthening their Vital Blood, could not do without the nourishment of medicinal ingredients and Monster Beast Meat.
Zheng Ying gestured for Wang Yuan to sit, then seated herself across from him. Picking up her bowl and chopsticks, she explained in an even tone:
"Yes. Hind leg meat from a first-rank Ironhide Boar. It is especially nourishing for Vital Blood."
"You have already nurtured Vital Blood and formally stepped across the threshold of martial arts. The energy provided by ordinary meals can no longer keep up with your consumption."
"Starting today, you will eat here. This is the treatment a True Disciple deserves."
She paused, glanced at Wang Yuan, and added:
"My father specifically instructed this."
Understanding dawned on Wang Yuan. This was what they called getting special meals.
Panshi Fist Academy had limited resources, so naturally they would be tilted toward the True Disciples with the greatest potential.
Ordinary beginner disciples likely would not receive more than a few slices of this Monster Beast Meat in an entire month, yet he could enjoy it every day.
"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Second Senior Sister."
Wang Yuan did not hypocritically decline. Resources were of paramount importance in martial cultivation.
After thanking her, he picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece of Monster Beast Meat, and put it into his mouth.
The meat was exceptionally firm and springy, requiring some effort to chew.
But with every bite, a warm, pure energy dissolved in his mouth and slid down his throat into his stomach.
Then, a heat flow several times more intense than when he had drunk Nourishing Origin Soup or eaten ordinary braised meat erupted with a boom. Like trickling warm currents, it rapidly surged through his limbs and bones before finally pouring into the black pearl-shaped mark on his chest!
[Energy Absorption in Progress... Current Energy: (3.85/100)]
Just that one piece of meat had visibly increased his energy progress by a small amount.
It was far more efficient than eating so much ordinary food before!
Wang Yuan secretly rejoiced, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely increased his eating speed a little.
Like a howling wind sweeping away scattered clouds, he devoured the sizable platter of Monster Beast Meat, along with the other dishes and rice, until nothing remained.
Feeling the surging energy within him and his warmly flowing Vital Blood—
He felt refreshed and invigorated, with even more drive to practice his fist techniques that afternoon.
Zheng Ying did not eat much. For most of the meal, she merely watched silently as Wang Yuan wolfed down the food. Only after he finished did she speak faintly:
"Monster Beast Meat contains domineering energy. You must move around after eating to digest it; do not sit in meditation immediately."
"You must be even more focused during this afternoon's training."
"Yes, Second Senior Sister. I understand."
Wang Yuan answered respectfully.
This special-meal treatment not only provided precious cultivation resources, but also represented his status and his master's expectations.
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