Danger Sense

On the way back to the village.

He looked at the panel. He had 38 distributable points left.

Yesterday, he'd had 357. Last night, he'd first raised the stance-training method to mastery.

[Realm: Mortal Martial Mastery (1/1000)]

[Broken Fist Stance-Training Method: Mastery (1/1000)]

[Effects: Physique +15, Damage Resistance +15, Bonus Damage +15, Critical Hit +2]

This brought Cui Hao's understanding of the stance-training method to a whole new level. It also felt as if he'd practiced for many years—he knew it inside out and could control it as easily as his own arm.

The moves and footwork that had once felt stiff and disconnected now flowed with perfect ease.

His physique, build, and qi and blood also seemed to have been tempered a thousand times over, growing stronger and more vigorous!

After that, he raised archery to mastery.

[Archery: Mastery (1/1000)]

[Effects: Soreness -20, Arm Strength +20, Accuracy +20, Critical Hit +1]

His understanding and use of the bow and arrow had reached a new level.

Before, he could draw a two-stone bow only five or six times. Now he could keep drawing it without getting tired.

His accuracy had improved noticeably, too. Hitting a rabbit from a hundred paces was no problem.

Back in the village, Cui Hao saw Su Yun looking a little flustered.

"Brother Hao," Su Yun said as she came up to him. "Aunt Li said the city guard died. Is it true?"

Cui Hao nodded.

"The village head says our taxes might go up?"

"Sister Yun, don't worry too much. I'm hungry."

"Go sit inside. I'll heat up the flatbread and meat. It'll be ready in a moment."

"Sister Yun, I'll heat them up. You two go sit inside." Lingdang, who had been staying with them for over a month, hurried off to the kitchen to get things ready.

Cui Hao soon sat down to meat and flatbread. The meat was pork belly, glistening with oil. It felt greasy, but tasted delicious.

Martial training was exhausting. Without meat, his body would be depleted.

The same went for Qi and Blood Powder. Without it, his body couldn't withstand the daily training, and his qi and blood would decline.

What's more, Cui Hao was gradually realizing that a packet of Qi and Blood Powder couldn't sustain him for three days. It ran out after just over two.

"Oh, right," Su Yun suddenly said, remembering something. "Some people from the Wusheng Sect came to preach in the village this morning."

Cui Hao's brows knit slightly. On the night they took Lingdang in, someone had climbed over the wall looking for her.

Then there'd been no sign of them for over a month.

The city guard had been blown up and killed that morning, and the Wusheng Sect had come to preach in the village after vanishing for over a month... Could the two be connected?

He wasn't going to fret over other people's business. He'd eat his fill, enjoy the food, wrap his bow and arrows in a piece of rag, and head into the mountains to gather herbs!

[Gathering: Beginner 114/300]

[Effects: Affinity with Plants +5, Danger Sense +5]

The next day, early afternoon, at Xu's Pharmacy.

"Qingming Grass."

"The main ingredient in Qingling Powder. It can counteract a hundred poisons and is best for clearing the agitation caused by practicing martial arts, or the pill toxins and fiery toxins caused by taking inferior pills. Two hundred copper coins per stalk. You've got sixteen here, so I'll give you three taels of silver."

Shopkeeper Xu of Xu's Pharmacy, a man with a goatee, paused. When he saw the second herb, he froze. "This is... Dragon Saliva Grass!?"

"Shopkeeper Xu, there's no need to doubt it," Cui Hao said firmly. "It's Dragon Saliva Grass."

"Excellent stuff!" Shopkeeper Xu conceded. "Dragon Saliva Grass only grows in crevices along cliffs where hot veins run. It's the main ingredient for Dragon Blood Paste, a high-grade wound medicine. I'll give you three taels of silver for these two."

As before, Cui Hao gathered up the herbs. "I'll check with the other two shops."

"Young Master Cui..." Shopkeeper Xu hurried out from behind the counter and stopped him. "I was wrong before. The prices I just quoted you are all fair. Please sell them to us."

"You've already lost my trust." Cui Hao pushed Shopkeeper Xu aside and met his fifth senior brother, Xu Ren, outside.

"Junior Brother Cui..." Xu Ren took in Cui Hao's dusty appearance. "Did you just come back from the mountains?"

"Yes. I went up yesterday afternoon and found nothing. I went back this morning and got some good stuff."

Just then, Shopkeeper Xu came out. "Young Master, Young Master Cui has sixteen stalks of Qingming Grass and two stalks of Dragon Saliva Grass, but he won't sell them to us."

"Junior Brother Cui... Uh... What have we done wrong? Please tell me."

Cui Hao looked at Shopkeeper Xu. "Shopkeeper Xu, you tell him."

On the busy street, Shopkeeper Xu briefly explained what had happened earlier.

"Uncle Xu, integrity comes first. You didn't know that? Your pay is reduced by one rank." Xu Ren stared at the shopkeeper. "If it happens again, you can go back to your hometown."

Shopkeeper Xu lowered his head and acknowledged the order.

Turning around, Xu Ren looked at Cui Hao. "Junior Brother Cui, we were in the wrong. You can compare prices at the other shops. Once you come back with their quotes, we'll buy these herbs from you for ten percent more."

Just as Cui Hao was about to make his next move, an unexpected interruption stopped him.