Camp Patrol, Digesting the Gains

Nanny Wu waved expressionlessly, and several guards immediately stepped forward to drag away Wang Zheng and the other two, limp as mud. Silence fell over the scene, broken only by the mournful howl of the cold wind sweeping across the snow and everyone's suppressed breathing. Every guard lowered their head, not daring to look directly at the silent carriage, much less at Li Bufan, standing straight despite being drenched in blood.

Lin Zhiyan's cool voice came from within the carriage again. This time, she spoke directly to Li Bufan. "Li Bufan, your injuries are serious, and your Vital Energy and blood are depleted. In light of the injuries you suffered this time, you need not venture deep into the mountains for the coming Winter Hunt."

Li Bufan's heart jolted. This was exactly what he wanted! His outer wounds and inner depletion demanded rest, and he urgently needed to digest the insights and gains from that life-and-death battle. The deep mountains and ancient forests were fraught with danger, hardly a good place for him. He immediately replied respectfully, "Thank you for your consideration, Young Miss!"

Lin Zhiyan paused, seemingly studying him through a gap in the carriage curtain, then continued, "You will be responsible for patrolling the camp. Though you are injured, you must not slack off."

"This subordinate obeys! I will not fail Young Miss's trust!" Li Bufan answered firmly. Camp patrol might appear to be a sidelined duty, but it was safe and offered relatively free time. For him, it was simply a heaven-sent opportunity to digest his gains.

"Mm." A faint response came from within the carriage. Then the curtain fell, and there was no further movement. Nanny Wu swept her gaze around and barked, "What are you all standing around for? Count the prey and prepare camp! Same as usual tomorrow!"

Only then did everyone snap out of it and begin moving. Yet the atmosphere remained heavy, and the looks they gave Li Bufan had become exceedingly complicated—respect, curiosity, and wariness all mixed together.

Before long, a guard in charge of logistics finished tallying the day's haul from Wang Zheng, the other two, and their squad, then delivered it to Li Bufan. It was quite a substantial haul: two intact Snow Wolf pelts, several Snow Rabbits, Snow Chickens, and even a cold-aspected herb of decent age. Clearly, those men had risked their lives to perform well, only for it all to benefit Li Bufan now.

Li Bufan said nothing and silently accepted it. These were precisely the cultivation resources he needed most at present. Under the complicated gazes of the other guards, he dragged his utterly exhausted body away, collected a camp patrol token and a new set of leather armor, then found the crude tent assigned to him.

Only after entering the tent, cut off from the eyes outside, did Li Bufan finally let down his guard completely. Intense pain and extreme exhaustion surged over him like a tide, instantly drowning him. He relied almost entirely on willpower to hold himself up as he carefully examined and redressed his wounds, especially the deeper injuries on his arms and calves, applying the medicine he carried with great care.

After finishing all this, he was nearly spent. He collapsed onto the straw-covered bedding, finding even the movement of a finger arduous. Yet he did not immediately fall unconscious. Instead, he forced himself to stay alert and began circulating the last faint traces of Vital Energy and blood within him, while every detail of his bloody battle against the wolf pack replayed uncontrollably in his mind.

The paths of the Snow Wolves' lunges, the sharp whistle of claws ripping through the wind, the savagery of fangs tearing and biting, the resistance of his waist saber cleaving into bone and flesh, the eruptions and choices made at the edge of life and death... all of it was branded deep into his mind.

Under extreme exhaustion and the pressure of death, his mind instead became unusually active and clear. The force-generating techniques he had once found difficult to grasp while cultivating the Mighty Ox Fist, along with the subtle key points of circulating Vital Energy and blood, now suddenly opened before him as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

So that was it... Mighty Ox Charge was not mere brute force. The waist and stance had to become one, with Vital Energy and blood erupting at a single point in an instant, like an ox's horn driving forward—vast and irresistible...

Vital Energy and blood did not spread evenly across the skin. When attacked, intent had to move and energy had to arrive, gathering at the point of impact. Only then could one remain unyielding and unbreakable...

When surrounded by wolves, footwork was especially important. Though the mighty ox was clumsy, it still possessed the might to stamp the earth and intimidate. Between advance and retreat, there was its own method...

Countless insights flooded his heart, making him forget the pain in his body as he immersed himself completely in sorting through and comprehending martial arts. These gains of the mind were far more precious than his physical wounds and material spoils. This was a transformation that could only be brought about by great terror and great opportunity between life and death.

He did not know how long passed before he emerged from that profound state of enlightenment. Though his body remained weak, his gaze had become deeper and brighter. He knew full well that he had to turn these insights into tangible strength as soon as possible.

He took out the cold-aspected herb and chewed it up before swallowing it without hesitation. A cool medicinal power rich with abundant Vital Energy instantly spread through him, flowing into his limbs and bones as it nourished his parched Meridians and damaged body. Afterward, he sliced off a small piece of Snow Wolf heart and slowly ate it. The heart and blood of a fierce beast contained vigorous Vital Energy and blood, making it the finest supplement for replenishing his losses.

After that, overwhelming drowsiness finally struck. He could no longer hold on and fell asleep at once. His breathing soon became long and steady as his body instinctively absorbed the medicine's power and repaired his injuries.

The next day, Li Bufan woke on time. His body still ached, and his wounds had not fully healed, but much of his Vital Energy and blood had recovered, while his spirit was more vigorous than ever. He changed into his patrol attire, fastened his waist saber, and stepped out of the tent.

The camp was already awake, with cooking smoke curling into the air. Most of the guard squads had gathered again. After Nanny Wu's brief orders, they silently and swiftly disappeared into the forest, just as they had the day before.

The camp immediately became empty, leaving only a little over a dozen guards responsible for logistics, cooking, and patrol duty alongside Li Bufan. Patrol work was not demanding. It mainly involved keeping watch around the camp perimeter to prevent beasts or suspicious people from approaching, as well as conducting routine internal inspections.

Li Bufan exchanged greetings with the other patrol guards. They had clearly learned of yesterday's events, and their attitudes toward him were quite polite, even carrying a trace of respect. They proactively assigned him the easiest patrol route, the one closest to the camp's core area.

This suited Li Bufan perfectly. He cupped his fist in thanks and began carrying out his duty. He patrolled with meticulous care, his sharp gaze sweeping over every corner to ensure that no danger lay hidden. Yet at the same time, most of his mind was immersed in further digesting last night's insights and deducing the Mighty Ox Fist.

As he walked his patrol route with steady steps, he continuously simulated the fist technique's moves in his mind. His Vital Energy and blood slowly circulated within him according to his new understanding. Every step and every breath seemed to align with a unique rhythm.

The patrol route passed through a relatively secluded clearing near the edge of camp. Whenever he reached this place and no one was around, Li Bufan would pause briefly and, following the insights in his heart, practice one or two Mighty Ox Fist movements with extreme slowness. The movements were so slow that they even seemed somewhat twisted and strange. He was not seeking power or speed, but carefully sensing every minute change in his muscles, fascia, and Vital Energy and blood as he exerted force, searching for that subtle feeling of "intent moves, energy arrives" and "gathering at a single point."

After one patrol round, his understanding of the Mighty Ox Fist had deepened further, and the Vital Energy and blood within him had become livelier and more obedient.

In the afternoon, he had a fairly long rest period. He hurriedly finished the food allotted to him, then immediately returned to his tent. Carefully, he took out the little Skin Tempering Paste he had left.

Looking at the dark ointment, Li Bufan's eyes burned. After yesterday's life-and-death battle and today's digestion of his insights, he felt that he had already touched the peak threshold of Minor Success in Skin Refining. Only a final kick at the door remained before he could temper his skin to the extreme of his current realm and lay a firm foundation for his next breakthrough. The Major Success Realm of the Mighty Ox Fist was also already in sight.

He hesitated no longer and evenly spread the precious Skin Tempering Paste across his entire body, paying particular attention to the wounds from yesterday that had now scabbed over.

The familiar scorching, stinging pain struck again, but this time Li Bufan's experience was entirely different. His mind was intensely focused as he carefully guided the Vital Energy and blood within his body, working with the medicinal power to actively assault and temper every inch of skin.

Rather than practicing the complete Mighty Ox Fist as usual, he sat cross-legged with his palms, soles, and crown facing heaven, fully circulating the breathing method within the fist technique. Under the precise control of his will, his Vital Energy and blood became like countless tiny brushes dipped in the medicinal power of the Skin Tempering Paste, washing, permeating, and strengthening his skin again and again.

His body gradually reddened, heat steaming from it as a faint scent of medicine and sweat filled the tent. At his wounds, numb itchiness and stinging pain intertwined. It was a sign that flesh was healing rapidly and new skin was becoming tougher.

Time passed bit by bit as the medicinal power of the Skin Tempering Paste was absorbed frantically. Li Bufan's skin gradually darkened, shifting from a faint bronze to a deeper, sunken bronze. A tough metallic sheen even faintly appeared across its surface. The skin over his whole body seemed to come alive, rising and falling gently with his breathing, containing formidable defensive power.

He could clearly feel the resilience and density of his skin rapidly increasing. Only a thin layer of window paper separated him from the Perfection Realm of Minor Success in Skin Refining, as though it would break with a single poke.

At the same time, his control over his own Vital Energy and blood reached a new height. With the slightest movement of thought, he could swiftly gather it beneath the skin of a designated area, instantly greatly increasing its defensive power. This was one of the enormous benefits brought by his life-and-death insights from the previous night.

He did not know how long passed before the sky outside the tent gradually darkened. Li Bufan slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid air thick with the scent of medicine. A flash of sharp light passed through his eyes.

He lowered his head and looked over his body. The Skin Tempering Paste had been fully absorbed, leaving his skin smooth, resilient, and filled with a sense of strength. The horrifying wounds from yesterday had already shed their scabs, revealing tender pink new skin whose toughness seemed no less than that of the old skin around it.

Just a little more... Li Bufan clenched his fists, feeling the surging power in his body and the roaring Vital Energy and blood beneath his skin. His heart brimmed with confidence. I have already passed more than half the way through Minor Success in Skin Refining. Only a hair's breadth remains before Perfection. The Major Success Realm of the Mighty Ox Fist is clearly within sight as well!

He knew that this final breakthrough might no longer require the simple accumulation of medicinal power, but an opportunity—one perfectly timed tempering or insight. And after being tempered by the bloody battle with the wolf pack, that opportunity would not be far away.

At that moment, the noisy sounds of other guards returning to camp and handing over their prey came from outside the tent, signaling the end of the day's hunt.

Li Bufan composed himself, quickly straightened his clothes, and buried his exhaustion and delight deep within. His face returned to its usual calm. He lifted the tent flap and walked outside, continuing to fulfill his patrol duties as his steady gaze swept across the camp gradually coming alive with activity.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone upon him. His straight back appeared no different from when he had returned yesterday, but only he knew what a profound transformation this day and night of settling and cultivation had brought him.

The road ahead seemed clearer than ever. Beyond the camp, deep in the mountains, the Winter Hunt belonging to the others continued still.