Testing the Medicine

Jiang Liu leaned close to Zhang Liu and asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother, what is Master Lin's background?"

Zhang Liu replied quietly, "The Fallen Blossom Gang, the biggest gang in South City! You know it, right? Master Lin is one of the Fallen Blossom Gang's four hall masters."

"Ah! Master Lin has such a powerful background? I heard all four hall masters of the Fallen Blossom Gang are fifth-rank experts, while the chief hall master is even sixth-rank. Is that true?" Jiang Liu asked with a look of astonishment.

"It must be true! The Fallen Blossom Gang has a good relationship with our medicine shop and often looks after our business. You just arrived, so you don't know these things yet. Stay longer and you'll understand. Doctor An Yuan often drinks with the Fallen Blossom Gang's leader too!" Zhang Liu said enviously.

Jiang Liu followed Zhang Liu and Master Lin to the decocting room. Zhang Liu brought out a bowl of herbal medicine and handed it to Jiang Liu. "Junior Brother, try this medicine. I just finished brewing it!"

Jiang Liu took it and said, "Senior Brother, can I try it in the courtyard? It's more spacious there, so it'll be easier for me to move."

Zhang Liu said, "Junior Brother, I've always known you practiced martial arts, but I don't know what martial technique you practice?"

"Senior Brother, it's nothing good, just an ordinary, unranked technique!"

Jiang Liu went to the courtyard and drained the bowl of medicine in one gulp, waiting for its effects to take hold. Shortly afterward, a wave of heat surged up from his organs and quickly spread through his entire body. His boiling blood and qi rampaged everywhere! Jiang Liu involuntarily assumed a stance and began practicing the Fierce Tiger Fist.

"Eh! Fierce Tiger Fist? He has learned it rather well, with both form and spirit! But this unranked fist art will ultimately be of little use. Being able to cultivate it to a rank would already require exceptional talent!" Master Lin was mildly surprised.

Then he shook his head. At such a young age, his fists are already quite good. His talent is decent. What a pity he is learning this Fierce Tiger Fist. Should I recruit him into the gang? If we bring him in and nurture him, he should become another capable helper. Master Lin thought to himself.

Master Lin carefully observed Jiang Liu's method of circulating qi and the speed at which his blood and qi flowed, judging the potency of the medicine. Before long, he nodded and said to Jiang Liu, "That's enough. Stop circulating your qi and let me take a look!"

"All right!" Jiang Liu answered. He had just finished practicing the Fierce Tiger Fist twice. Jiang Liu sat cross-legged on the ground and followed the Fierce Tiger Fist's circulation method, beginning to circulate his qi and calm the blood and qi rampaging through his body. With a thought—

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Skin Tempering)

Fierce Tiger Fist (Beginner 16/100)

Alchemy (Beginner 28/100)

He had gained experience twice, and he had also received twenty taels of silver. This job was worth doing. Jiang Liu felt delighted inside. Now he had the silver to go to the Martial Hall.

After recording the data, Master Lin said to Jiang Liu, "That's enough! Do you feel any discomfort?"

Jiang Liu replied, "No discomfort. My entire body is still brimming with strength!"

"This is your first time taking this medicine! That's a normal reaction! It's nothing!" Master Lin paused briefly before asking, "Little brother, what is your name?"

"My name is Jiang Liu." Jiang Liu cupped his fists as he spoke.

"Jiang Liu, are you interested in joining the Fallen Blossom Gang?" Master Lin asked.

"Join the Fallen Blossom Gang? Of course I want to, but I have only just started studying medicine at the medicine shop. I'm afraid Doctor An Yuan...?" Jiang Liu said with a troubled expression.

"It's fine. Given the friendship between your doctor and our Fallen Blossom Gang, your doctor won't refuse. It only depends on whether you want to join!"

"If you join our Fallen Blossom Gang, we'll provide martial arts manuals for you to cultivate, and you'll receive a monthly allowance as well. Usually there isn't much to do; you only need to focus on cultivation. Shall I discuss it with your doctor?" Master Lin said.

"I won't trouble you with that! If I decide to go, I'll speak to the doctor myself!" Jiang Liu replied respectfully.

"Good! I'll wait for your good news. Once you've made up your mind, come find me at Fallen Blossom Hall in the south of the city!" As Master Lin spoke, he walked out through the medicine shop's front doors.

"All right! Thank you, Master Lin!" Jiang Liu hurriedly saw Master Lin out.

Watching Master Lin's figure gradually disappear, Jiang Liu fell into deep thought before turning and returning to the medicine shop.

The moment he entered, Zhang Liu said to Jiang Liu with delight, "Congratulations, Junior Brother! Master Lin has taken a liking to you! To be noticed by a great figure like Master Lin, you'll soar to greatness sooner or later! Don't forget your senior brother when that time comes!"

"Not at all. I should thank Senior Brother for giving me this opportunity today. Otherwise, I wouldn't have met Master Lin. How about we have a couple of drinks together after we close up? My treat! Thanks for helping me earn silver today!" Jiang Liu said modestly.

"Jiang Liu is treating? Can I come too?" The moment they heard Jiang Liu was treating, the seven or eight apprentices in the medicine shop gathered around as well. After all, those apprenticing here were all poor folk, and their incomes were not high.

Even advanced apprentices like Zhang Liu only earned one hundred and twenty copper coins a month, while intermediate apprentices earned only sixty, with no extra income at all.

After all, they had to work and study, so they did not have much time. Martial artists were usually found for medicine testing, and Jiang Liu only happened to fit the requirements, which was why he had this opportunity.

They rarely got to drink, and now someone was treating—especially their youngest junior brother. Besides, Jiang Liu usually treated people kindly and did not quibble with others, so naturally they had to come over and join in the excitement.

"Sure! Let's all have a good time today! We'll go together after closing up! If any of you need to tell your wives at home, you'd better do it early! Don't come back tonight and find yourselves locked out!" Jiang Liu joked as he looked at the three senior brothers who were already married.

"What's everyone so happy about?" Doctor An Yuan came out after hearing the commotion outside.

After hearing Zhang Liu's explanation, Doctor An Yuan said to Jiang Liu, "Come in with me!"

Jiang Liu followed Doctor An Yuan into the Inner Hall. Doctor An Yuan looked at Jiang Liu kindly and asked, "You want to join the Fallen Blossom Gang?"

"I want to go, Doctor," Jiang Liu said.

"Since you have thought it through, I won't stop you. But you must understand that once you step onto the road of the Jianghu, it is very difficult to turn back!"

"With your talent, you could have become an outstanding doctor at my medicine shop. There was no need for you to insist on walking the road of the Jianghu. Since you've made up your mind, then go. If anything happens, you can still come back and find me." Doctor An Yuan said with concern.

"Thank you, Doctor, for taking care of me these past days! I will!" Jiang Liu said solemnly.

"Take this medical book and this Compendium of Herbs with you as well! They should be useful to you. There isn't much more I can help you with. Whatever you do, keep your eyes open and be more cautious!" Doctor An Yuan said earnestly.

Jiang Liu accepted the medical book and the Compendium of Herbs, then said respectfully to Doctor An Yuan, "I will! When I have time, I'll come back to visit you too!" Doctor An Yuan was the first good person Jiang Liu had encountered since coming to this world. As expected, a healer has the heart of a parent, Jiang Liu thought.

After leaving the Inner Hall, Jiang Liu continued helping with the medicine brewing. After all, he had not yet gained today's Alchemy experience.

He humbly asked Zhang Liu about every detail of brewing medicine—the precautions, the brewing time, and what temperature was best for drinking so the medicine's potency would be at its strongest.

Then he continued memorizing the learning tasks he needed to complete that day. Zhang Liu could not help nodding as he watched Jiang Liu. Only someone like this could truly learn something. Even knowing he was about to leave, Jiang Liu remained neither anxious nor impatient.

Without incident, it soon came time for the medicine shop to close. Jiang Liu wanted to invite Doctor An Yuan out for drinks, but Doctor An Yuan waved him off, saying he already had plans. They could talk about it next time.

PS: Exotic beasts had the same ranks as humans. Beyond the ninth rank, they were Lesser Beast King, Beast King, and Beast Emperor, corresponding to the three Grandmaster realms of human martial artists.