Skin Refining Cultivation Technique

I tucked the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique secret manual close to my body, then searched the rest of the room for anything suspicious. I found nothing valuable.

After carefully checking the alley and confirming no one was around, Luo Yi ran straight back to his own courtyard.

Sitting at the stone table in the yard, he thought about the possible consequences of Luo Wei's death, recalling Wang Meng's warning that day about Mister Li behind Luo Wei.

If Mister Li made a move against him, could he really withstand it? Doubt crept into his mind.

He pulled out the "one hundred tael silver note and a secret manual" he'd taken from Luo Wei's place.

Luo Wei had just gone missing—if he took the silver to sign up at a Martial Arts Hall in town right away, it would be too flashy and easily draw the attention of those with ill intent.

So he opened the secret manual and began reading it carefully.

Drawing on his predecessor's memories, Luo Yi found he could understand most of the content in the manual.

After reading it through once, he realized it was a Skin Refining cultivation technique.

Curious, Luo Yi wondered how someone like Luo Wei could have gotten his hands on something this good.

Though puzzled, he didn't want to waste time. He memorized the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique's incantations and movements, then walked into the yard to start practicing.

Five minutes passed as he completed a full round of the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique.

Luo Yi silently commanded in his mind: Open Panel.

Code
Host: Luo Yi
Age: 16
Realm: Mortal
Skills: Basic Archery (Mastery 17/400)
 Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Not Started 1/100)
Traits: None

Seeing the "Not Started" status for the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique on the Panel.

"Good, good, good." As long as the system could record it on the Panel, Luo Yi wasn't afraid he wouldn't master it.

Standing in the yard, Luo Yi kept practicing the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique. His body would feel a numbing pain one moment, then a strange itch the next, and sometimes both sensations mixed together, making it extremely uncomfortable.

After nearly an hour of practice, he glanced at the Panel showing Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Not Started 21/100) and felt a wave of weakness wash over his body.

He stopped practicing, walked to the well, and looked at his reflection in the moonlight. His once sturdy build had become gaunt, and the flesh on his face had sunken in.

He pondered the cause. Could it be that overtraining had drained his body?

Afraid that continuing would turn him into a dried-up husk, he dared not go on.

Lying on the floor of his room, Luo Yi thought, "Tomorrow, I'll go to the town's pharmacy and see if I can buy some restorative medicine to make up for the body's depletion."

"And the food Xiao Xi and I eat every day is too bland—not enough nutrition. Now that I'm starting martial arts training, I need to eat better."

Early the next morning, Luo Yi got up from the floor. Luo Xi, still asleep, was startled awake by the noise her brother made.

Seeing his sister's confused expression, Luo Yi said, "Xiao Xi, sleep a little longer. I'm going to town to buy some things."

At the largest pharmacy in town, Luo Yi said to the shopkeeper, "My body's been badly depleted lately. Give me a few strong restorative prescriptions."

Looking at the young man with sunken cheeks, a dark complexion, and the look of kidney deficiency, the shopkeeper gave him a knowing smile.

He took out five pre-packaged doses of herbal medicine and handed them to Luo Yi.

"Soak the herbs in cold water for fifteen minutes, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low for another fifteen minutes. Take each dose once in the morning and once in the evening. That'll be five taels of silver, sir."

Seeing that such a small amount of medicine cost five taels, Luo Yi thought he'd walked into a scam and turned to leave.

The shopkeeper's voice came from behind, "Young man, you've overtrained and depleted your body, haven't you? Don't think my medicine is expensive. Take this every day, and you'll be able to train at least two or three more hours."

Hearing that the shopkeeper could tell at a glance his depletion was from training, Luo Yi turned back, placed five taels of silver on the counter, and cupped his hands. "This junior failed to recognize a true master. Please don't take offense, senior."

The shopkeeper picked up the silver, weighed it in his hand to confirm it was good, then handed the medicine to Luo Yi. "Don't call me 'senior.' I don't know martial arts—I'm just an ordinary doctor at the town clinic. Come to me if you need more restorative medicine in the future."

With that, he waved his hand in a shooing gesture.

Seeing the shopkeeper wanted him gone, Luo Yi left the pharmacy and headed to the busiest market in town. Listening to the hawkers' cries on both sides of the street, he remembered the fragrant, steaming buns he'd smelled right after transmigrating.

He walked to the Steamed Bun Shop and bought twenty large buns in one go, then carried them home.

Luo Xi had just woken up and was about to cook breakfast when she saw her brother come in through the door, holding twenty big buns. Drool dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Seeing his greedy younger sister, Luo Yi set the buns on the stone table in the yard.

"Xiao Xi, no need to cook breakfast today. We'll eat buns."

Picking up a fragrant bun, Luo Yi took a big bite. It tasted about the same as the factory-made frozen buns from his past life, but it was still the best thing he'd eaten recently.

After they'd both eaten their fill, Luo Yi carried the herbal medicine to the kitchen to brew a dose.

Luo Xi, seeing the medicine in her brother's hands, asked anxiously, "Big brother, did you get hurt hunting in the mountains recently?"

Looking at his concerned younger sister, he ruffled her hair.

These aren't wound medicines. My brother's been training hard lately, and his body's pretty drained—these are all tonics.

Hearing they were tonics, Luo Xi snatched them up in a hurry and rushed into the kitchen to brew the medicine.

Seeing this, Luo Yi smiled faintly, didn't push it, and picked up his bow and arrows to practice in the yard.

Half an hour later, Luo Xi came over with the brewed medicine and said, "Brother, take a break first. Drink this before you keep practicing."

Taking the tonic his younger sister handed him, he downed it in two gulps.

As the liquid entered his stomach, a surge of heat coursed through his body, swirling around his abdomen.

Feeling the medicinal power spreading inside him, Luo Yi assumed a stance and practiced "Tiger Strength" over and over again.

This time, he trained for nearly three hours until a feeling of weakness crept through his body.

He glanced at the Panel, which showed: Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Not Yet Mastered 93/100).

"Good," "Good," "Good," Luo Yi's heart swelled with exhilaration, seeing he was only seven points away from leveling up.

Remembering what the shopkeeper said—one dose of medicine, taken once in the morning and once at night—he had no more tonics now and dared not continue.

He slung his bow and arrows over his back and headed toward Yunling Mountain.

Arriving at the entrance of Yunling Mountain, Luo Yi spotted two constables from afar, stationed at the gate, questioning hunters coming and going.

Could it be that Luo Wei's body was found in the woods, and someone reported it to the authorities?

Doubt filled his mind.

To avoid raising suspicion, Luo Yi steeled himself and walked over.

The two constables saw a young man, no more than fifteen or sixteen, dressed like a hunter.

One of them pulled out a piece of paper with a colorful bead drawn on it.

"Have you seen this thing in the mountains lately?"