After saying goodbye to Zhou Xing, Xie An took the silver and went to the black market to buy three portions of Tiger Hide Elixir from Shopkeeper Wang.
Shopkeeper Wang ran the largest medicinal-materials shop in the black market. After several months, he had grown familiar with Xie An, but he was stubborn and rigid. Even knowing that Xie An was a steward, he refused to lower the price and still demanded twenty taels per portion.
Xie An knew, however, that Shopkeeper Wang was honest. His medicinal mixtures were never short-weighted, nor did he mix in inferior ingredients. Their efficacy was guaranteed, and they were certainly somewhat better than the Tiger Hide Elixir sold elsewhere.
After collecting the medicinal mixtures, Xie An returned to his own courtyard.
He drew several buckets of cool well water, heated them, and poured them into the bathing tub. Then he added a portion of Tiger Hide Elixir. The various medicinal ingredients soon steeped open in the hot water, releasing a rich medicinal aroma.
It was somewhat pungent and not very pleasant. But once one grew accustomed to it, it would smell like a medicinal fragrance.
"It should be about ready."
Xie An smelled the medicinal steam, then inspected the color of the liquid in the tub. Knowing it had reached the right point, he removed his clothes, sat down in the tub, and began his medicinal bath.
Although Xie An had now entered the Bronze Skin Realm minor accomplishment stage, he still needed to use Tiger Hide Elixir regularly for medicinal baths, further tempering his skin and membranes and strengthening his physical power.
Now that the Plum Blossom Monster had set its sights on the black market, the pressure on Xie An had increased tremendously. He only wanted to improve his strength as quickly as possible.
Possessing the Lifelong Legacy, Xie An was not anxious in the slightest.
He knew very well that he only needed to develop slowly.
If talent was lacking, effort would make up the difference.
There was nothing he could not outlast.
During the medicinal bath, Xie An sat cross-legged and began cultivating the Fetal Breathing Technique. The hairs covering his entire body began to tremble faintly.
The Fetal Breathing Technique's Three Styles Method had reached mastery when one could breathe through the navel.
Xie An had now entered the second stage of the Fetal Breathing Technique, and Yin-Yang Convergence was already nearly halfway complete. He could now make his two eyes meet, allowing them to sense each other and regulate their breaths together.
He had already entered the second convergence of Yin-Yang Convergence: the convergence of heart and kidneys.
The so-called convergence of heart and kidneys meant that, according to the Fetal Breathing Technique, the spirit of the heart belonged to yin within yang, while the qi of the kidneys belonged to yang within yin. When heart and kidneys converged, essence and qi were produced, transforming into bodily fluids that irrigated the five viscera.
As it happened, the bodily fluids irrigating the five viscera could complement the Five Animal Play: Strengthening the Five Viscera, supporting and promoting each other.
Xie An's Five Animal Play: Strengthening the Five Viscera had now reached 98 progress, only the final two points short of full completion.
Xie An put aside his thoughts and tried to break through those final two points as quickly as possible.
Huff, huff, huff.
After taking several breaths, Xie An sealed his mouth and nose.
He relied solely on breathing through his navel to maintain the circulation, then urged the convergence of heart and kidneys. The hairs on the surface of his skin began to flutter on their own, as though some force had blown across them.
"Once the pores of the skin can breathe, that will be a sign that the convergence of heart and kidneys has reached mastery. No need to rush. Take it slowly..."
The daytime soon passed.
Dusk arrived, and the black market was about to open. The disciples became busy once more.
Xie An also ended his medicinal bath at the proper time.
He opened the panel:
Current Lifelong Legacy: Level One! Five Animal Play: Strengthening the Five Viscera (99/100) Fetal Breathing Technique: Yin-Yang Convergence (47/100) Remaining Years: 30 years
"Hm? The Five Animal Play actually increased by one point!"
Xie An was delighted.
Based on his past experience, the closer he got to full completion, the more difficult it became to increase his progress.
"It seems the two health-preserving arts really can promote each other. Once Strengthening the Five Viscera reaches full completion, I can enter the final stage of the Five Animal Play—Nurturing Internal Qi! By then, I should be able to cultivate the so-called Qi Sensation. At that point, it might not be impossible to go to Tang Family Fort and seek that opportunity."
At this thought, a smile spread across Xie An's face.
The regrettable part was that he had made no progress in martial training.
Xie An already knew that he had little talent for martial arts, so he had adjusted his mindset accordingly.
"Old Brother!"
Zhang Lin's knock sounded from outside the door.
Xie An changed into his uniform robe and opened the door to welcome Zhang Lin inside.
The moment Zhang Lin entered, he asked, "Old Brother, Zhou Xing told me you wanted the black market to continue opening today?"
Knowing that Zhang Lin was frightened, Xie An gave him two reasons.
"First, if we close the black market because of this, we'll have to bear the enormous losses ourselves. It will also make Wei Dian think that the two of us stewards are incompetent cowards.
"Second, our urgent priority is to find information about the Plum Blossom Monster and report it to Wei Dian so that he can respond appropriately. We shouldn't panic and rush to report the moment something happens..."
After hearing him out, Zhang Lin looked at Xie An with newfound respect and admiration. "Old Brother really did think this through. I was rash before. Then we'll handle the patrols according to your plan. We're stewards of the Tiger Wolf Gate. As long as we prepare properly, the Plum Blossom Monster may not find an opportunity to take advantage of us."
No matter how formidable the Plum Blossom Monster was, it could not withstand sheer numbers. The greatest danger was being caught alone...
Xie An deeply agreed. "Brother Zhang, remember not to act alone. I'm skilled with archery, so I'll bring the heavy bow and lurk behind you."
Zhang Lin immediately recalled the Divine Archer technique Xie An had displayed during his assessment. He felt much more at ease and cupped his hands in thanks. "With Old Brother watching my back, I'll have no more worries."
After finalizing the details of the plan, Xie An took the heavy bow from his room, slung on the quiver, then brought the standard broad saber. Only then did he leave with Zhang Lin.
Zhang Lin noticed that the heavy bow hanging at Xie An's waist was even thicker and sturdier than the one he had used during the assessment. "That bow looks incredibly solid. It isn't a two-stone bow, is it?"
Xie An did not conceal the truth. "My strength has improved somewhat from practicing martial arts these past few months, so I switched to a three-stone bow."
Hearing this, Zhang Lin immediately felt several times more secure. "Excellent. A three-stone bow packs quite a punch. Even the Plum Blossom Monster may not be able to withstand it."
Xie An merely smiled and said nothing more. After instructing Liang Zhi to keep watch over the black market, Xie An followed Zhang Lin, Zhou Xing, and the others out. They patrolled the nearby mountain paths beneath the night sky.
When they had gone halfway, Xie An said to Zhang Lin, "Brother Zhang, I'm an archer. I'm better suited to hiding in the dark and following behind."
"That makes sense. Tonight, we'll have to rely on Old Brother's Divine Archer skill." Zhang Lin did not think much of it and bade him farewell before going on ahead.
Xie An entered the woods on either side of the mountain path and followed secretly.
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