Medicinal Supplement

In the room.

Zhao Feng was still excitedly waving his hands.

Zhao Yuman and Qing He both stared with wide eyes.

In just a few short days, the Bright Strength martial artist, whom she remembered as having only Low-grade root bone, had actually crossed a threshold that many people could never overcome in their entire lives?

Zhao Yuman felt a "buzz" in her head, as if countless needles were pricking her temples simultaneously. Zhao Feng's excited words became a blur, with only the words "Hidden Strength" echoing repeatedly.

She subconsciously raised her hand and pressed down on the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white from the force, barely preventing herself from sliding off the chair.

Zhao Feng was still excitedly saying, "Our escort agency currently only has one Hidden Strength Grand Escort Chief. If we can invite him to be the Grand Escort Chief, the safety of our future escort missions can be improved by at least 30%. Moreover, since Liu Maolin asked for your opinion on him, it shows that this person should be satisfied with you. Then, if we arrange a marriage, our escort agency will have another Hidden Strength expert as a son-in-law. This would be family, much more reliable than a guest elder..."

But seeing his sister's pale face and dazed expression, his voice gradually lowered, and he asked with some worry, "Manman, what's wrong?"

Zhao Yuman then seemed to jolt awake from a nightmare. She took a deep breath, but couldn't calm the surging waves in her chest. She looked at the ink blot spreading on the table, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Brother, don't hold out any hope." Her voice was still trembling, but steadier than before. "Liu Maolin did mention him to me before, but I... I clearly refused."

"Refused?" Zhao Feng was stunned, his joy instantly vanishing, his brows furrowed into a knot. "Why did you refuse for no reason?"

Zhao Yuman lowered her eyelids, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of the ledger, her voice dropping. "At that time... I saw his Talent was only Low-grade, and I thought his potential was limited. Even if he became a martial artist, it would be difficult to achieve great success, and it wouldn't help our escort agency's business much..."

How could she have imagined then that a Low-grade root bone, which she had judged as having "exhausted potential," could break through to Hidden Strength in such a short time?

Zhao Feng sighed heavily after listening. The sigh was full of regret and helplessness.

He paced the room with his hands behind his back, his brows tightly furrowed. "You..."

The words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.

Hidden Strength experts were proud, especially those who broke through at such a young age like Yang Jing. They had their own arrogance.

After being looked down upon and rejected before, how could the Zhao family easily win him over now?

"Forget it," Zhao Feng stopped pacing, his tone somewhat dejected. "It seems this matter is difficult. Geniuses have pride. Since you've already rejected him, it's unlikely we can invite him again."

The candlelight illuminated the silent figures of the siblings, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly turned somber.

Zhao Yuman looked at the glaring ink stain on the ledger, feeling as if something was blocking her heart, making her feel stifled and panicked.

She never thought she would misjudge someone, and so ridiculously at that.

Bitterness, regret, and a vague sense of melancholy intertwined in her heart, lingering for a long time.

Zhao Yuman gripped the corner of the ledger, her knuckles turning white. Suppressing the regret in her heart, she looked up at Zhao Feng, her voice much steadier. "Brother, don't be too regretful. I recently met a Hidden Strength expert, Shen Lie, a core disciple of the Pashan Martial Arts School. In terms of potential, he has medium to high-grade Talent. He's already reached Hidden Strength at a young age. In terms of strength, his Surging Wave Leg has been practiced to perfection, far stronger than Yang Jing."

Zhao Feng was startled, then his brows relaxed slightly. "Shen Lie of the Pashan Martial Arts School? I've heard of that name. It's said he reached Hidden Strength at nineteen and is now in his early twenties, already the most promising disciple in the martial arts school." He sized up his sister. "How do you know him?"

"I met him at a banquet hosted by friends a few days ago," Zhao Yuman avoided her brother's gaze, picked up her teacup, and took a sip, concealing her guilt. "He... seems to be interested in me and initiated a conversation."

In reality, it was just a casual question about her escort agency's business, but she had deliberately exaggerated this "interest."

Zhao Feng nodded, clearly approving of Shen Lie's reputation. "Since he's a young talent, we should meet him. When can you arrange a casual dinner?"

"He's busy preparing for the Parade Ground Trial recently, saying he wants to secure an official position and doesn't have time for social engagements," Zhao Yuman continued to weave her story, her heart pounding. "But he said he's sure to win the Parade Ground Trial. After he finishes the exam, I'll invite him out, and then I'll formally introduce him to you."

She calculated that the Parade Ground Trial was still more than half a month away. This half a month was enough for her to find a way to get closer to Shen Lie.

Even if they weren't close now, as long as Shen Lie had even a shred of good feeling towards her, she was confident she could get him to agree.

When she presented a Hidden Strength expert with an official position to her brother, who would remember the Yang Jing she had missed?

Zhao Feng didn't notice his sister's thoughts. He only felt that this matter had a turning point, and a smile appeared on his face. "Alright, after he wins a rank in the Parade Ground Trial and obtains an official position, although he is a Hidden Strength expert, you still need to remind him not to be careless. Many Hidden Strength experts have failed in the Parade Ground Trial in previous years."

"Okay." Zhao Yuman quickly nodded. "Yes, brother, I'll tell him."

Zhao Feng hummed softly and said in a low voice, "You should also hurry, don't be like last time..." He stopped mid-sentence, but it was enough to make Zhao Yuman's face flush.

"Don't worry, brother, I know what I'm doing this time," Zhao Yuman lowered her eyes and said softly.

Wazi Township, Ning Family.

The August sun was scorching, and even the air in the study was hot.

Ning Xuezhi was bent over his desk, verifying this year's land rent ledger. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and as soon as he wiped them with a handkerchief, they reappeared.

"Dong, dong, dong." The study door was knocked.

"Come in." Ning Xuezhi didn't look up, his brush tip drawing across the ledger.

The butler, Li Zhong, pushed the door open, followed by a young servant in a coarse cloth tunic, the personal attendant of the second young master, Ning Wenbo.

The servant's face showed some panic, and he stood at the doorway, nervously rubbing his hands.

"Master," Li Zhong bowed. "I have something important to report."

Ning Xuezhi put down his brush and looked at the servant. "What is it, rushing like this?"

The servant swallowed, his voice trembling slightly. "Master, it's... it's news from the city. That Yang Jing... Yang Jing has broken through to Hidden Strength! It's all over the martial arts schools in the city now, saying he's the newly promoted Hidden Strength expert of the Sun Clan Martial Arts School!"

"What did you say?" Ning Xuezhi suddenly sat up straight in his chair.

"Yang Jing from Yang Family Village has broken through to Hidden Strength!" The servant took a deep breath and raised his voice. "Master, it's absolutely true. Many people at the Weiyuan Martial Arts School are discussing it!"

Ning Xuezhi's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air, his pupils contracting slightly.

Although he was not a martial artist, he had managed affairs in Wazi Township for many years and had seen much of the world. He naturally understood the vast difference between Bright Strength and Hidden Strength.

Bright Strength martial artists could be dealt with by sheer numbers, but Hidden Strength masters could shatter metal and stone with a single punch or kick. Ordinary guards were no match for them, and even the prominent families in the county had to show them respect.

Back when Yang Jing broke through to Bright Strength, he felt apprehensive but only thought of not provoking him.

But now... Hidden Strength! Such a figure was already a powerful individual in Yuhe County, no longer someone he could afford to look down upon.

"Is that true?" Ning Xuezhi asked again, disbelieving. In his impression, Hidden Strength masters were extremely rare. Could a mere Yang Family Village produce such a person?

"It's true!" The servant patted his chest. "Young Master saw it with his own eyes in the city. When Yang Jing walks on the street now, even many gang members have to give him a wide berth!"

Ning Xuezhi fell silent for a moment, then slammed his teacup onto the table. A bit of tea splashed out, but he didn't notice. He made a decisive command: "Li Zhong!"

"Here!" Li Zhong quickly responded.

"Prepare a generous gift immediately!" Ning Xuezhi's voice was deep. "Choose the finest silk, nourishing medicinal herbs, and add thirty taels of silver. No, fifty taels! Send it to Yang Jing's home in Yang Family Village right away!"

He stood up and paced a couple of steps in the study, then added, "Tell the Yang family that I, Ning Xuezhi, admire Brother Yang Jing's youthful achievements. This small gift is a token of my respect. If the Ning family can ever help in the future, don't hesitate to ask!"

Li Zhong was startled. Fifty taels of silver plus silk and medicinal herbs – for their usually stingy master, this gift was astonishingly generous. But seeing his master's grave expression, he didn't dare to ask further and quickly replied, "Yes, I'll go do it now!"

After Li Zhong and the servant left, Ning Xuezhi was alone in the study.

He looked out at the scorching sun outside, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.

Fortunately, he had always reacted promptly. After Feng Lei's death, he hadn't pursued the matter further, and after Yang Jing broke through to Bright Strength, he had even sent a plow ox to ease their relationship.

If the Ning family had incurred the wrath of this Hidden Strength master due to past grievances, not only would they be unable to establish themselves in Wazi Township, but their entire family might be ruined.

At this moment, Ning Xuezhi couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

That Feng Lei fellow died for a good reason.

"Yang Jing..." Ning Xuezhi murmured to himself, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Over the next few days.

While not neglecting his martial arts practice, Yang Jing also conducted some investigations into the Surging Wave Leg.

Through his extensive inquiries, he learned that no prominent family in Yuhe County possessed the Surging Wave Leg as a hereditary martial art, nor was it taught at any martial arts school.

This finding put Yang Jing's mind at ease.

It seemed that the Surging Wave Leg martial art was likely Xu Tai's personal fortuitous encounter.

With no other hidden dangers, Yang Jing could confidently teach this martial art to his cousin, Yang An.

During this period, Yang Jing didn't have time to return to his hometown. He entrusted Yang Lao San, a peddler from the same village, to deliver a message home, urging his grandfather to bring the family to the city.

For him now, even a small slip from his fingers could support his entire family. He wasn't worried about them lacking a livelihood in the city. Moreover, his grandfather, grandmother, mother, and aunt were all hardworking and capable, so finding work in the city wouldn't be difficult.

However, his grandfather sent back a message through Yang Lao San, stating that he was unwilling to move to the city, and wished to remain in Yang Family Village. His grandmother, mother, and aunt felt the same way.

On one hand, they couldn't bear to leave their house and fields. After all, they had been farmers for generations, and suddenly moving to a strange environment in the city made them uneasy and frightened.

On the other hand, his father and uncle had been away for more than half a year, and the family missed them greatly, worrying about them and wanting to wait for their return at home.

Of course, there were other reasons, such as his grandfather perhaps feeling that establishing himself in the city was already difficult enough, and bringing the whole family along would be a burden.

Despite his grandfather being a farmer who couldn't read or write many characters, Yang Jing knew he was thoughtful and extremely sensitive and delicate.

Since his grandfather and the others wanted to stay in their hometown for now, he would let them stay a while longer.

Whether he would forcibly bring them into Yuhe County town in the future would depend on the developing situation.

If the chaos intensified, then regardless of their wishes, Yang Jing would have to bring them into the city.

Compared to the chaotic countryside, the city was relatively more stable.

Tongyi Ward was close to the inner city, and the public security was better.

This way, his loved ones would be close by, and Yang Jing could take care of them.

However, since his grandfather and the others were not willing to come to the city for the time being, Yang Jing sent a letter home, asking his cousin Yang An to pack up and come to the city to find him with Yang Lao San.

Yang An also loved practicing martial arts, but his circumstances didn't allow it.

Now that Yang Jing had broken through to Hidden Strength, he was considered a master capable of holding his own in the entire Yuhe County, far beyond what he was when he was at Bright Strength. He could now take Yang An under his wing and guide him in his martial arts practice.

Just as dawn was breaking, before the rooster in the neighboring yard had even crowed, Yang Jing had already gotten up.

He took out a small piece of the prized Aged Ginseng he had been saving and retrieved several medicinal herbs from the medicine chest he had brought back from the Liu Family Medical Hall: Angelica, Astragalus, Placenta, Goji Berry, and so on.

He then went to the kitchen, placed a clay pot on a small mud stove, added clear water, and first put in the sliced Aged Ginseng to simmer over a low heat. Once the water began to deepen in color, he added the other medicinal ingredients one by one.

The medicinal aroma soon filled the air, carrying a mellow warmth, more gentle and soothing than the fishy smell of Fierce Beast Meat.

Half an hour later, the medicinal soup had reduced to just over half a bowl, its color a deep brown, thick as honey.

Yang Jing picked up the bowl and drank it down in one gulp.

The taste was slightly bitter at first, but as it went down his throat, it turned into a warm current that flowed down his esophagus and into his abdomen, quickly spreading to his limbs and bones.

Unlike the violent energy from the Fierce Beast Meat, this medicinal supplement's nourishment was more sustained, like spring rain nourishing the fields, slowly permeating his bones and meridians, even making his internal energy feel softer.

Yang Jing could clearly feel the flow of his Blood Essence becoming smoother than usual. The old injuries and hidden ailments from his previous fist practice seemed to be soothed by this warm current.

"This medicinal supplement is much more effective than dietary supplements," Yang Jing smacked his lips and placed the bowl aside.

He also understood.

The reason it was more effective than dietary supplements was mainly due to the quality of the ingredients. The main ingredient was a valuable piece of nearly hundred-year-old Aged Ginseng. Although it was just a small slice, its value was higher than ordinary Fierce Beast Meat.

Yang Jing recalled the Spirit Fish he had eaten a few days prior. After consuming it, its nourishing effect was astonishing. He had practiced Mountain Collapse Fist for an entire day without showing any fatigue, and that day's cultivation progress was equivalent to three ordinary days.

If he could eat a Spirit Fish every meal, the effect would be even better than consuming this slice of hundred-year-old ginseng.