Jiming Pharmacy

The student years were one of the most beautiful stretches of a person's life, not merely because they carried our youth.

It was also because the companionship of that time was purer, with less worldliness and fewer schemes.

With the memories of two lifetimes fused together, Zhao Rui cherished these rare school days all the more.

After school that afternoon, Zhao Rui left campus and rode his bicycle straight to Jiming Pharmacy.

Li Cunxin was sitting solemnly before the Eight Immortals Table in the pharmacy, taking the pulse of a visiting patient.

The patient was a young married woman dressed in a magnificent Cheongsam. Her features were delicate, and her long hair was coiled high with a jade-green hairpin.

Several strings of crystalline jade hung from the hairpin, making her resemble a palace lady from ancient times.

The woman had a graceful figure. The slanting evening light fell across her navy-blue Cheongsam, refracting a supple, enchanting glow.

The Brocade at her chest was thick and full, like spring scenery beneath an ink-wash landscape, flowing along the winding curve of her waist.

The slit in her Cheongsam was like a Sandalwood Fan snapping open, revealing, along the tilt of her plump legs, a gleam like glaze on white porcelain that had yet to dry.

She was a woman brimming with the charm of a mature wife.

Senior Disciple Brother and Fifth Disciple Brother stood beside them as well. Both were studying medicine under Master.

As for how skilled they were, Zhao Rui had no idea. He did not even know how skilled his own Master was, much less his two Senior Brothers.

He had always felt there was a greater chance that his Master was a fraud.

"Ms. Zhao, there is nothing wrong with your body. Take the two doses I prescribe later, rest peacefully for a few days, and you'll be fine!"

Li Cunxin removed his fingers from the woman's fair wrist, stroked his long beard, and spoke steadily.

"It's good that I'm fine. These past few days, my mind has been restless, and I've felt worse and worse. I suppose it's because my daughter's Gaokao is approaching, and I've been too anxious!"

The woman smiled brightly. Her sparkling eyes and white teeth were like flowers in early spring, making one's mood brighten without realizing it.

"Yes. Children have their own blessings. Ms. Zhao, just put your mind at ease."

"Thank you, Doctor Li!"

The woman rose slightly, and her exquisite, jade-carved curves unfurled at once. The full, lifted arc did not diminish; instead, it seemed even more slender, taut, and shapely.

"You're welcome. That'll be 600 yuan."

Without even raising his brows, Li Cunxin spoke.

The woman did not find this inappropriate at all. Instead, she clasped her hands respectfully and departed.

Zhao Rui knew this woman. She was one of Master's old clients and often came to Master to have her pulse checked and receive treatment.

Back when Zhao Rui had still been a little brat, he had not understood the beauty of mature women. Now, with the memories of his previous life, he realized this woman was absolutely top-tier.

No wonder Master had been so serious while taking her pulse and treating her.

After briefly greeting Master and his Senior Brothers, Zhao Rui headed directly to the Martial Arts Hall and found Third Disciple Brother.

He had called beforehand, and Third Disciple Brother had been waiting there since early that morning.

"I've noticed that your understanding of Cloud Hand Plucks Stars has grown much deeper lately. You should be close to breaking through the Minor Circulation, right?"

The moment they met, Third Disciple Brother said this.

"Senior Brother, you have sharp eyes. I should be close. I also have to thank you for tirelessly helping me!"

"What are you being polite for? We're fellow disciples!"

Third Disciple Brother smiled. Then the two changed into Martial Arts Uniforms and began to spar.

The path of martial arts was broad and profound.

In terms of cultivation alone, there were Static Practice and Dynamic Practice.

Static Practice meant cultivating alone, opening up one's inner qi, practicing martial techniques, and accumulating effort day after day until the body naturally followed the will and the techniques flowed naturally.

Dynamic Practice was the opposite. It placed greater emphasis on actual combat, improving the body's reactions in battle and engraving martial mastery into bodily memory. From the outside to the inside, the paths eventually converged, and the internal and external became one!

The distinction between Static Practice and Dynamic Practice was not absolute. Most martial artists practiced both.

Thus, it was not unusual for Zhao Rui to seek his Senior Brother to gain more combat experience. On the contrary, it showed diligence and commitment.

Among his fellow disciples, Third Disciple Brother got along best with him. That was also why Zhao Rui had sought him out.

"Junior Brother, the second layer of our Cloud Hand Plucks Stars emphasizes a single word: enlightenment. Watch how I use this Star Scattered Chessboard!"

"Then this Junior Brother won't hold back either. Crane Cry in Clouds!"

The two Senior Brothers had learned martial arts from the same Master and were thoroughly familiar with each other's moves. Once they began exchanging blows, they countered every move with another, their movements swift as lightning.

"Ho! Third Junior Brother, Little Junior Brother, you two are in high spirits!"

At that moment, a man and a woman entered through the Martial Arts Hall doors. Seeing Zhao Rui and the other man sparring, they immediately called out.

"The more, the merrier. Come join us!"

Third Disciple Brother laughed heartily and directly used a Zong Step. His body seemed to ride the clouds as he leaped through the air, diving forward and drawing the other two into his offensive range.

Zhao Rui was instantly speechless. Third Disciple Brother had been fighting just fine, yet he found it wasn't exciting enough.

Once I reach level eight, just watch how I grind you into the dirt!

The newcomers were Second Disciple Brother and Fourth Disciple Sister. All three of them were far stronger than Zhao Rui, and the moment they exchanged blows, Zhao Rui lost any chance to intervene.

He could only remain where he was in frustration, waiting for their fight to end.

The three traded fists and kicks. Their true qi surged wildly, producing violent collisions that filled the entire Martial Arts Hall with booming thunder.

"That was satisfying! Little Junior Brother, don't just stand there. Come join us!"

Second Disciple Brother and the others laughed heartily, leaping into the air and dragging Zhao Rui, who had been standing there, into the fray as well.

Zhao Rui's scalp immediately went numb. But with things having come to this, he could only grit his teeth, focus his mind, and deal with it as best he could.

After holding on like that for more than ten minutes, he had already taken several palms from his Senior Brothers and Senior Sister.

Had the three not exercised restraint, he would have been coughing blood from internal injuries by now.

Though he had taken quite a beating, it was not without gains. After the four had fought for a quarter of an hour, a new change finally appeared on Zhao Rui's system panel.

"Cloud Hand Plucks Stars progress: 100%!"

Zhao Rui used a sweeping move that drove all three back, then sprang out of the battle circle. Panting heavily, he said, "No more, no more!"

Hearing this, the three withdrew their moves and laughed. "Little Junior Brother, you need to work harder. We fellow disciples are counting on you to win glory for Master!"

Zhao Rui hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, I can't shoulder that responsibility! Senior Brother, Senior Sister, stop making fun of me!"

"If not you, then who? You're Master's youngest disciple."

Fourth Disciple Sister Zhan Yan smiled brilliantly, a trace of amused anticipation in her eyes.

"Wait until you get into university and train for a few years. By then, I reckon you should be able to beat him!"

Second Disciple Brother chimed in as well.

Hearing the two of them, Zhao Rui's handsome face immediately showed a bitter expression, as though he had eaten constipation.

Master had a "rival." The two had feuded for most of their lives, but who knew what possessed them later on? They stopped fighting each other and instead made their disciples fight.

Every three years, there was a competition between their disciples.

The winning disciple could receive an electric scooter. Of course, that was not the main point. What truly mattered was the honor of the martial school and Master's pride.

Unfortunately, Jiming Pharmacy had lost two consecutive competitions over the past few years.

There was no other reason—they were simply inferior in skill.

Over the past two years, every tier of Li Cunxin's disciples had been weaker than their opponents. How could they not lose?

Li Cunxin had flown into a rage over this matter more than once, but martial arts were not child's play. How could one become skilled just by saying so?

As a newly accepted disciple, Zhao Rui had initially gathered quite a bit of Li Cunxin's effort and hope.

But after two matches, Li Cunxin could no longer be bothered to place overly high expectations on Zhao Rui.

His talent was lacking, and he was not much more hardworking than others. How could he win?