In a small courtyard in Yicheng, Gu Sheng returned with a large bundle. He moved very quietly and did not disturb the neighbors who had already gone to sleep.
Gu Sheng returned to his small room, changed into clean clothes, and placed the bundle on the stone table in the courtyard outside. He then practiced Tiger Form Fist in the courtyard to absorb the medicinal power that had not yet dissipated.
"Creak~"
The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Teng Qingshan entered carrying a large "bundle."
"You're here!"
Gu Sheng smiled and nodded at him, then walked over and released this time's "hostage."
Chu Xin glared hatefully at Gu Sheng, her pearly teeth clenched as she wanted nothing more than to bite him. She had already recognized Gu Sheng and Teng Qingshan. Weren't they two of the mountain villagers she had helped out of a sense of justice during the day?
How dare they! These ungrateful wretches had not only killed Qin San, but had kidnapped her and brought her here. They had gone too far! The angry look on Chu Xin's face was extremely adorable, and Gu Sheng's heart itched as he felt like teasing her again.
Gu Sheng pulled Chu Xin, whose hands and feet were free but who could not speak, to his side. After suppressing the little beauty's resistance, he smiled at Teng Qingshan and said, "Qingshan! Take a look at the things on the table and see which ones you need!"
After looking over them a few times, Teng Qingshan shook his head. "No. I'm still young, and my body hasn't fully developed. Taking medicine rashly might affect my growth later on. You should use these medicinal ingredients instead, Cousin!"
"I see!"
Gu Sheng nodded and said nothing more. Since Teng Qingshan had put it that way, he would not stand on ceremony with these things. After all, they would greatly help him increase his strength.
"Cousin!"
Teng Qingshan advised him, "There are some things you shouldn't take too far... Otherwise, we wouldn't be any different from those bandits." As he spoke, he looked at Chu Xin in Gu Sheng's arms. Judging by his expression, he had probably misunderstood and thought Gu Sheng wanted to do something to Chu Xin.
"What are you thinking?"
Gu Sheng smiled and patted Chu Xin's shoulder. "Your cousin isn't so desperate that I'd eat anything. If I wanted a woman, there are plenty at the brothels. Speaking of which, Qingshan, we gained so much this time. How about Cousin takes you out to broaden your horizons..."
Gu Sheng spoke with great animation, looking exactly like a pimp. Even Teng Qingshan, who was normally calm, felt extremely awkward. After responding briefly, he went straight back to his room.
"How boring!"
Once Teng Qingshan left, Gu Sheng stopped talking as well. He had actually realized just now that Teng Qingshan wanted to persuade him to give up cultivating the Inner Force manual and focus on Internal Fist, which was why he had deliberately changed the subject.
In the long run, Teng Qingshan's suggestion was not wrong. But where was Gu Sheng? The Lord God Space! If he had to slowly cultivate until he reached the realm of an Internal Fist grandmaster, wouldn't he have risen to prominence long ago?
Besides, cultivating the Inner Force manual did not mean he had to abandon Internal Fist. In truth, once his theoretical realm in Internal Fist reached the stage of returning to simplicity, cultivating the Inner Force manual might instead produce a complementary effect.
However, before he had truly verified this, he had no confidence that he could convince Teng Qingshan.
"All right, little darling. The night is long, so we should return to the room and go to bed."
Gu Sheng carried the bundle. Under Chu Xin's murderous gaze, he reached out and lightly pinched her delicate nose, then laughingly pulled the young lady back to his room.
"Don't come any closer!"
After Gu Sheng tossed Chu Xin onto the head of the bed, she discovered that her body had completely recovered. She therefore cooperated perfectly, crying out as she shrank into the corner of the bed.
"Hey! Go ahead and scream! Even if you scream your throat raw..."
Gu Sheng's wicked sense of humor flared up. He pressed his entire body toward Chu Xin, forcing her into a corner where she could not escape.
"Wuwu... Help! Help..."
Chu Xin was terrified. Covering her chest with both hands, she had tears like pear blossoms on her little face. "Don't do this. Even if you get my body, you'll never get my heart."
"Why would I want your heart? Isn't enjoying your body enough?"
Gu Sheng lifted the little beauty's chin frivolously, wore a teasing smile, and opened his mouth as if he were about to kiss her.
Chu Xin was frightened by Gu Sheng's hateful words and closed her eyes. But after a while, she felt something was strange. That beast opposite her had not made a move. She cautiously opened her eyes and met a pair of eyes that seemed to be smiling and not smiling.
"Do you know your mistake now? That's what you get for trying to trick me just now."
Gu Sheng extended a finger and tapped Chu Xin's fair, smooth forehead.
"You~"
Chu Xin felt utterly speechless. She was both angry and amused, her feelings complicated and difficult to describe. What kind of person was this fellow? He was so petty that he had kept remembering how she had ordered Cuier to trick him. Yet he also seemed to be a "good person." Although he showed her no respect, he had not done anything excessive to her.
"You'll sleep here tonight. It's getting late, so go to sleep early!"
Gu Sheng smiled and left the head of the bed. He walked to the table, took out five jade boxes, arranged them, and opened them. Then, under Chu Xin's astonished gaze, he grabbed an arm-sized Golden Ginseng and brought it to his mouth.
"Gulp!"
Gu Sheng opened his mouth wide, his throat convulsed, and he swallowed the entire Golden Ginseng in one go.
"Hey! Are you trying to die?"
Chu Xin was stunned by his actions. Why had she never dared to take the medicinal ingredients from her cheap father's medicine storehouse? Wasn't it because her small body simply could not withstand that tremendous medicinal power?
She had also figured out Gu Sheng's strength. He was only a Third-Rate martial artist, roughly on par with her. Doing this could very likely cause the medicinal power to overwhelm his body, leaving him unable to absorb it.
Gu Sheng did not answer Chu Xin. He immediately assumed a stance and began practicing Tiger Form Fist. The medicinal power of a single Golden Ginseng was extremely fierce. Even with Tiger Form Fist helping him absorb it, Gu Sheng nearly could not endure it.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh~~~"
Gu Sheng's breathing grew hurried. He panted like an ox, sweat poured down his body, and his entire body turned crimson. Even his eyes began to redden slightly, frightening Chu Xin, who was already somewhat afraid of him, into shrinking back repeatedly.
She had absolutely no trust in this "ungrateful wretch" Gu Sheng. She was terrified that, with his temper overheated by the medicinal power, he would take advantage of the situation and have his way with her.
After a long while, Gu Sheng slowly exhaled. He looked somewhat normal again.
"A single Golden Ginseng increased my strength by over a hundred pounds, allowing me to enter the level of a thousand pounds of strength. Moreover, I feel that I still haven't completely absorbed its medicinal power..."
Gu Sheng loosened his muscles and bones, feeling thoroughly refreshed. He glanced at Chu Xin, who was pretending to be asleep, smiled, and shook his head before leaving the room. After drawing a basin of cold water and washing himself, a layer of gray-white had already appeared on the horizon.
He shook his somewhat dizzy head and returned to his room, then directly climbed into bed and shared it with Chu Xin.
"People of the martial world shouldn't fuss over such little things!"
That was the excuse he found for himself. As for what he was truly thinking, perhaps only he knew.
"Big pervert!"
Chu Xin opened her eyes and glanced at Gu Sheng. After discovering that he was not making any other moves, she relaxed a little. She cursed him silently, tightened her dress around herself, and carefully squeezed over to the other side of the bed. Wary and on guard, she reluctantly fell asleep.
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