Distribution

In the early morning, the sky was as dark as ink, and the clouds pressed extremely low, casting a heavy atmosphere over the entire Nanning County.

The Blood Pill incident spread like wildfire.

The Martial Guard Division suffered heavy losses, with Wang Hao, Zhou Bo, and others killed in action. Many constables were either dead or injured, making it almost impossible to maintain daily order.

Rumors about "Daoist Chai," "Mad Demon," and "Blood Pills" filled the streets and alleys, causing the common folk to turn pale at the mere mention of them.

The Martial Guard Division posted a notice: all injured personnel would rest for seven days, and county soldiers would temporarily take over patrol duties.

Gu Chang'an and Li Hongye were no exception. They took advantage of the situation to request leave and returned to Sky Wind Martial Hall to observe the unfolding events.

In the early morning, before dawn.

Gu Chang'an, cloaked, left the city alone.

He carefully avoided the main road, taking a detour to a rocky hill three miles away.

There, hidden, was a clay pot he had sealed with mud.

He squatted down, brushed away the thin layer of soil, and lifted the clay pot. He cautiously peeled back the oilcloth, and a cold glint emanated from within.

The items he had acquired through blood and fire were safe and sound.

When he returned to the martial hall, Li Hongye was already waiting in the room, with the doors and windows tightly shut.

"You brought it all back?" Li Hongye's voice was low.

"Mm." Gu Chang'an gently placed the clay pot on the table and slowly took out the contents one by one.

Like underground merchants, the two of them spread their spoils neatly across the table and the bed, taking stock of each item.

Banknotes totaling four thousand three hundred taels, seals intact.

Loose silver, at least two to three hundred taels.

And gold leaves, fifty taels.

According to market prices, one tael of gold leaf was worth one hundred taels of silver.

These alone were enough to make an ordinary person wealthy for three lifetimes.

Even more precious were the pills—

Body Tempering Pills, fifteen in total. All were of high quality, with clear medicinal patterns on the surface and a rich aroma. According to market estimates, each pill was worth five hundred taels of silver, and they were rarely seen in the market.

Blood Burst Pills, three. They were blood-red all over, used for explosive combat bursts. Taking one could instantly boost combat power, but the price was severe side effects. They were worth at least five hundred taels each.

The most valuable were the Bone Strengthening Pills, two. They were specifically for refining tendons and bones, rare items for Eighth Rank martial artists at the Bone Tempering stage.

These were worth at least a thousand taels, priceless in the market.

In addition, there was a pile of loose pills. Li Hongye counted them while murmuring softly:

"Blood Generating Pills... can quickly stop bleeding and heal wounds."

"Poison Dispelling Powder... effective against most common poisons."

"..."

Gu Chang'an rubbed his chin and muttered, "If we sell these pills, we'll make a fortune. We need to keep them hidden well."

Li Hongye nodded, then took out a stack of tattered but yellowed booklets from her bag.

"And these martial arts," she paused, her gaze serious.

"There are four Yellow Grade Middle Rank ones: Golden Snake Swordplay, Golden Snake Steps, Shattering Gold Palm, and Bone Entangling Body Tempering Technique."

"There are also four Yellow Grade Low Rank ones: Iron Armor Strength, Wind Shattering Leg, Swimming Dragon Small Grappling, and Short Blade Strike Method."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chang'an couldn't help but grin, his eyes filled with unconcealed elation:

"These are all valuable goods... Yellow Grade Middle Rank martial arts manuals start at two thousand taels of silver in the Black Market, and they're priceless. You might not get them even if you fought tooth and nail for them."

He counted them as he mumbled, "Four Middle Rank ones, eight thousand taels minimum... Four Low Rank ones, another two thousand... Just these alone are worth over ten thousand taels."

Li Hongye nodded:

"Adding the banknotes, gold leaves, and pills from before... conservatively, we have over thirty thousand taels this time."

Her throat bobbed, her expression excited.

She had been a constable for many years, later promoted to Head Constable.

Chasing thieves and bandits, living with her head on the line, her monthly salary was only fifty taels of silver. With some arrest bonuses, saving two to three hundred taels was considered excellent.

However, her monthly cultivation expenses alone consumed two to three hundred taels of silver worth of medicinal herbs.

And that was the minimum expenditure.

Without family support, she wouldn't have been able to persist.

And now, in just one day, they had become little millionaires!

The two looked at each other, speechless for a long time.

They had won this gamble of flashing blades and bloodshed.

Finally, Gu Chang'an let out a breath, a relieved smile appearing on his face:

"Senior Sister, these silver notes, gold leaves, and pills... let's split them equally. As for the martial arts manuals, we'll sell them when we have the chance in the future and then split the profits."

Li Hongye shook her head, her expression serious.

"That won't do. I didn't do anything. Without you, I might have already died at the hands of the Mad Demon. How can we split it equally?"

Gu Chang'an was slightly stunned, then the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing his familiar smile:

"You didn't do anything? Was it because the Mad Demon found you pretty and didn't want to hurt you?"

Li Hongye shot him a glare. "I'm serious."

"I'm serious too," Gu Chang'an said, his eyes unusually solemn.

"Senior Sister, from the day we entered Black Wind Ridge, we've been in the same boat."

"Even knowing the danger, you still faced it with me."

"If you don't leave, I won't abandon you. What's mine is yours."

"Besides, we scavenged all this from the corpses together. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to find so much, and I would have been caught by the county soldiers."

"At that time, we wouldn't have even earned half of this, and it would have all been confiscated."

"So, even if we split it equally, I'm not at a loss."

Li Hongye looked at him, and after a long while, she chuckled softly.

"Then I'll owe you. But I don't want this much."

Gu Chang'an glanced at her, the corners of his mouth curling up. "You don't get to decide."

With that, he skillfully sorted the silver notes, loose silver, and gold leaves.

Li Hongye tried to stop him, but he completely ignored her.

"If you don't need it, then consider it a loan."

Seeing his firm attitude, Li Hongye finally didn't refuse anymore, only sighing softly.

In the end, Gu Chang'an kept three thousand taels of silver notes and thirty taels of gold leaves for himself.

He also took the loose silver and small change.

The remaining thirteen hundred taels of silver notes and twenty taels of gold leaves were all pushed towards Li Hongye.

As for the pills, Gu Chang'an took out ten Body Tempering Pills and one Blood Burst Pill and handed them to Li Hongye:

"This is what you deserve, don't refuse again."

Li Hongye wanted to say something but stopped. These were too precious.

But looking at the Blood Burst Pill with its faint red glow and the Body Tempering Pills, she finally nodded gently. "Okay."

These Body Tempering Pills could help her break through to Eighth Rank faster and achieve her dream.

And the Blood Burst Pill could enhance her self-preservation abilities.

Other medicinal drugs for healing and detoxification, such as Bone Strengthening Pills, Blood Generating Pills, Clear Spirit Powder, Spirit Condensing Pills, Bone Washing Paste, and Jade Marrow Recovery Powder, would be kept by Gu Chang'an for the time being.

Especially the Bone Strengthening Pills.

He needed to prepare for his breakthrough to Eighth Rank and couldn't afford any mistakes.

As for the eight martial arts manuals, neither of them touched them. They were simply wrapped in cloth and sealed in a wooden box.

"These are hard to move," Gu Chang'an patted the box. "We'll figure out how to deal with them after things calm down."

"Mm," Li Hongye nodded. "If we mess with these now, it's easy to get into trouble."

Gu Chang'an glanced at her and asked casually, "I've never been to the Black Market before. Where is it?"

"In the east city," Li Hongye said softly. "Near the old barracks in the east of the city. There are many people who deal in smuggled goods there. It opens every three days and closes every five days. You need a connection to get in."

Gu Chang'an mused, "Then let's go some time later. The heat is on recently, so it's not good to show our faces."

"Okay."

Silence fell in the room for a moment, only the faint clinking of the medicinal bottles could be heard.

Li Hongye suddenly turned around and looked at Gu Chang'an, asking softly:

"Right, that day in front of the Pill Hall, before Director Wang died... what exactly did he say to you?"