Morning.
In the courtyard in Tongyi Ward.
Yang Jing finished washing and wiped his face with a cloth.
Yang An had already laid out breakfast on the Eight Immortals Table in the main room.
A large basin of tiger meat, stewed until meltingly tender, sat steaming in its thick broth.
Beside it were a plate of pickled vegetables and two bowls of white rice porridge, their steam billowing into mist in the morning light.
"Come on, eat while it's hot. I stewed this tiger meat for half the night and added extra warming, nourishing herbs especially for you."
Yang An grinned as he ladled out a bowl of porridge for Yang Jing. "The parade ground trial takes a lot out of you. Eat more to build your strength."
Yang Jing sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and took a piece of tiger meat.
The meat was tender, with a faint herbal fragrance on his tongue. Clearly, a great deal of care had gone into it.
He chewed slowly, feeling the tiger meat's vital essence resonate with the lingering medicinal power of the Qi Gathering Pill inside him. His dantian felt wonderfully warm and comfortable.
Normally, he had a hearty appetite, and a pound of meat barely took the edge off his hunger. Today, however, with the Qi Gathering Pill's medicinal power circulating through him, his stomach felt as though it were filled with a warm current. After eating a pound, he was already full.
"Why aren't you eating more?"
Seeing him put down his chopsticks, Yang An looked puzzled. "This tiger meat is precious stuff. The price is outrageous. The hunter said it nourishes your qi and blood and strengthens your muscles and bones."
"That's enough," Yang Jing said with a smile, wiping his mouth. "I won't eat so much