Blood and Qi Tonic

After Zhang Chaofeng returned with the supplies, Shen Bai, having finished his meal, dozed off in the recliner for an hour. Combined with the air currents in his dantian, his body had fully recovered.

"Old Zhang, keep an eye on the shop. I'm heading to the backyard for a bit."

Shen Bai stretched and said to Zhang Chaofeng.

Zhang Chaofeng, who was in the middle of his daily accounts, nodded and replied, "Alright, Boss, you go ahead."

In the backyard.

Shen Bai gripped the rusty longsword and began to dance again.

Without Malevolent Qi, and with no clear source for it, plus it being broad daylight and inconvenient to go out, Shen Bai found it easier to practice Blood Sword Dance.

Currently, Blood Sword Dance had reached 800 proficiency points. While still far from the next level, Shen Bai felt that proficiency was something earned through sheer grinding.

The saying, "Someone lives inside the liver," truly applied here.

With every few swings of the longsword, the proficiency would increase a little, bringing a considerable sense of accomplishment.

The vibrations of his qi and blood led to a significant consumption of internal energy. After practicing for a while, Shen Bai stopped.

"The sword swings of Blood Sword Dance emphasize qi and blood vibrations. If I keep this up, I won't be able to practice for long before needing to eat a meal, which will slow me down."

Shen Bai stroked his chin, looking at the Blood Sword Dance proficiency, lost in thought.

He realized this was a problem.

Vajra Fist was fine; its qi and blood consumption wasn't high. But Blood Sword Dance was a major consumer of qi and blood, and he couldn't sustain it like this.

"Perhaps ordinary food is no longer enough for me. I need something that can replenish qi and blood."

After a brief contemplation, Shen Bai decided not to grind Blood Sword Dance for now, but to go out and find something to replenish his qi and blood.

A craftsman must first sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well. This was not something that could be rushed.

Shen Bai hung the rusty longsword at his waist and went to the counter. "Old Zhang, what do you think are some things that can replenish qi and blood?"

Zhang Chaofeng had just finished checking the accounts. Upon hearing Shen Bai's question, his eyes widened. "Boss, you didn't actually go to the pleasure quarters last night, did you?"

He had initially joked about it, but now Shen Bai was asking about replenishing qi and blood, which caught Zhang Chaofeng completely off guard.

"If it's for replenishing qi and blood, you'll have to go to the apothecary. There's a resident doctor there who might have a prescription."

"Apothecary?"

Shen Bai nodded. "Old Zhang, you stay here and mind the shop. I'm going to the apothecary."

"Alright, Boss. Even though you're young and full of vigor, you still need to know how to exercise restraint. Those women in the pleasure quarters are too skilled; I'm afraid you won't be able to handle them."

Zhang Chaofeng spoke like a seasoned veteran.

Shen Bai's mouth twitched slightly. Without saying anything more, he walked out and headed towards the apothecary.

Ascending Cloud County Apothecary.

As the only apothecary in Ascending Cloud County, it had always been located in the bustling downtown area.

When Shen Bai arrived, he followed the usual procedure and had the doctor take his pulse.

The resident doctor had barely taken Shen Bai's pulse for a moment when a look of surprise appeared on his face. "Manager Shen, you have no problems whatsoever. Why are you here to see a doctor?"

Shen Bai replied, "I just need a prescription to replenish qi and blood. Doctor, don't look at how healthy I am now, but Old Zhang is practically on his last legs. His wife demanded too much last night, and he can barely walk today. I'm just getting this for him."

In Ascending Cloud County, Shen Bai's pawnshop was the only one, so everyone in the neighborhood knew each other.

"For Old Zhang to be able to still enjoy such pleasures at his age, that's truly impressive."

The doctor showed no suspicion and then wrote out a prescription. "Then take a few doses of this medicine, go home, and brew it."

Shen Bai shook his head. "Twenty doses."

The doctor paused slightly. "Manager Shen, is Old Zhang trying to kill himself?"

"Don't worry about it. After all, it's Old Zhang's business," Shen Bai said.

In these times, if there was money to be made, it should naturally be made.

Since Shen Bai had put it that way, the doctor didn't say much more and wrote the prescription according to Shen Bai's request.

As for the subsequent matter of Zhang Chaofeng's qi and blood deficiency, that was a future concern.

Anyway, Old Zhang was at that age where taking the blame was normal.

Before long, Shen Bai had the prescription and the medicine.

A full twenty doses; Shen Bai felt that it should last him for some time.

With Blood Sword Dance on his mind, he was about to leave the apothecary and go back to grinding.

But before Shen Bai could take two steps, someone suddenly walked into the apothecary from outside.

It was a little girl, five or six years old, wearing clothes full of patches.

At first glance, most children in the county town dressed similarly.

Shen Bai wouldn't have typically paid attention, but as the little girl walked in, he caught an unusual scent.

A fragrance?

Shen Bai had smelled this exact fragrance before, when he encountered that person in black at the Qian Family's residence.

This little girl is clearly not that person.

Neither her height, build, nor even her age matched.

Shen Bai stroked his chin, thinking to himself, Perhaps this little girl came into contact with the person in black, which is why she carries their scent.

He couldn't think of any other reason.

After entering, the little girl carefully took out a piece of paper and handed it to the doctor. "Doctor, I'm here to pick up some medicine."

The doctor took the paper, surprised. "Little girl, what do you need external injury medicine for?"

The little girl lowered her head, gripping the corner of her clothes with her hand. "My dad went into the mountains to gather goods the day before yesterday and accidentally fell, so he sent me to get the medicine."

Hearing this, the doctor didn't question further and simply instructed the assistant who handled the medicine.

After picking up the medicine and paying, the little girl left on her own.

Shen Bai watched the entire exchange. After a brief moment of thought, he quietly slipped out the door and followed the little girl.

Shen Bai had always been curious about the identity of that person in black.

He needed Malevolent Qi now, and he also needed to come into contact with things related to it.

Shen Bai didn't consider the yamen; matters involving officials were complicated, and he didn't want to get involved and create unnecessary trouble.

The person in black was clearly also investigating the Qian Family's affairs, so Shen Bai wondered if he could obtain Malevolent Qi through them.

The first step was to figure out the identity of the person in black, and this little girl was a breakthrough.

Having made up his mind, Shen Bai quietly followed.

The little girl's pace wasn't fast, and carrying the medicine made her even slower.

After following her for a while, the bustling street gradually became quiet, eventually leading to a remote and dilapidated area.

Ahead stood a rundown house.

The little girl approached the door, looked left and right, and finding no one, took a key from her waist, pushed the door open, entered, and closed it behind her.

Shen Bai pondered for a moment, then came to the door and listened intently.

Not long after, the little girl's voice came from inside the house.

"Elder sister, this is the medicine you asked for. Can you let my dad go now?"

After the little girl finished speaking, a clear female voice echoed from inside the house.

"Your father cultivates the Five Hearts Technique of the Five Hearts Sect and has already been corrupted. Releasing him would only harm him further."