Foul-Smelling Decoction, Growth in Strength

Arriving at Clinic No. 13 of the Hanging Pot Medical Hall.

"Senior Brother Shen, look..."

Feng Hao wore an expression of utter helplessness.

As it turned out, the clinic had only just opened, yet the patients seeking treatment had already packed the consultation room to the brim; some were even coming to blows just to secure a spot.

"Brother Feng Hao, do me a favor."

Shen Han thought for a moment before pulling Feng Hao aside.

Feng Hao was already drenched in sweat: "Senior Brother Shen, what is it?"

Shen Han said with a serious expression: "More and more people are coming to our clinic, and with such a mixed crowd, this chaos cannot continue."

"Then what should we do?"

Feng Hao wiped his sweat and said, "The clinic doors are wide open; we can't just chase them away, can we?"

"I have an idea."

Shen Han told Feng Hao his plan in full.

Feng Hao was stunned as he listened: "Will this really work?"

Shen Han smiled: "Go ahead, operate it just like that. I will take responsibility for any consequences!"

"Alright then."

Feng Hao returned to the consultation room and announced a new rule to the crowd.

"Everyone, stop pushing! From now on, our Clinic No. 13 will implement a registration system for consultations!"

A registration system?

No one understood what that meant.

However, after Feng Hao patiently explained it, everyone finally grasped the concept.

The so-called registration system meant that patients would first take a number each day and then be seen in order. Since the number tags established a sequence, patients who weren't up yet would wait outside. In this way, the consultation room would no longer be in such a mess.

Sure enough, once the registration system was implemented, the clinic instantly became orderly.

At the same time, the patients coming to the clinic for treatment no longer felt so hostile.

Just like that, thanks to the registration system, even though Clinic No. 13 saw the highest number of patients, all of them had been treated and had left before the Shen period of the afternoon had even passed.

Feng Hao couldn't help but praise: "Senior Brother Shen, it's miraculous! How did you come up with this rule?"

"Actually..."

Just as Shen Han was about to launch into a long-winded explanation, he saw the captain of the guard, Zhan Chaoyang, walking over in a hurry.

"Guard Zhan, is something the matter?"

Shen Han invited him to take a seat.

One had to know that, under normal circumstances, the guard team almost never came to the clinic. The last time Guard Zhan had entered the clinic was when he brought his seriously ill uncle to seek medical help.

Zhan Chaoyang's eyes were grave: "Little Doctor Shen, Little Feng, I came here specifically to tell you something.

Are you aware that two martial artists in the Skin Refining Realm were killed in an alley in the East City last night?"

"Ah?"

Feng Hao's mouth hung open in shock.

Shen Han asked: "Did they kill each other?"

Zhan Chaoyang shook his head: "No, they were killed by a third party. The specific motive for the murder is unknown, but the identities of the two deceased are quite unusual.

A friend of mine is a Constable at the County Yamen.

According to him, the two deceased were nicknamed the Qiankun Two Rats, and they were members of the Iron Fist Martial Hall."

"The Iron Fist Martial Hall?"

Feng Hao couldn't believe it: "Who would have the guts to stir up trouble for the Iron Fist Martial Hall?"

Zhan Chaoyang said: "It's most likely a vendetta between gangs."

"Are you talking about the Black Dragon Gang and the Green Garment Gang?"

Shen Han said casually.

Zhan Chaoyang nodded: "Yes, those two gangs and the Iron Fist Martial Hall are known as the three major powers of Three Rivers County. They have been entrenched outside the county seat and have long wanted to extend their reach into the city. It is perfectly logical for them to clash with the Iron Fist Martial Hall."

"That makes sense."

Shen Han sipped his tea and said calmly.

No one could have guessed that the person who killed the Qiankun Two Rats was none other than this very doctor!

Zhan Chaoyang continued: "I came here to warn you. As the saying goes, when gods fight, mortals suffer. Three Rivers County might not be very peaceful lately, so you two should be extra careful."

"Understood. Thank you for the heads-up, Guard Zhan."

Shen Han and Feng Hao spoke in unison.

After Zhan Chaoyang left, Feng Hao sighed: "Senior Brother Shen, tomorrow is our clinic's day off. I had planned to go for a hike outside the county town, but forget it. For the sake of safety, I'd better just stay in the city and wander around."

"Same here."

"See you the day after tomorrow, Senior Brother Shen."

After finishing his shift, Shen Han first found a restaurant to eat dinner. Once he returned home, he took out the medicinal herbs for the Qi Condensing Powder and boiled water to brew the medicine.

"It stinks..."

Unlike the bitterness of the Blood-Qi Soup, the medicinal scent produced by this Qi Condensing Powder was incredibly foul and fishy.

In an instant, the room was filled with a nauseating stench.

"I'll probably have to scrub the pot for ages later."

Shen Han stared at the medicinal liquid in the pot, complaining to himself.

"Good thing I'm not the one drinking this brew. Oh clone, my clone, it's all up to you!"

Half an hour later.

The pale yellow Qi Condensing Powder was successfully brewed. A large pot of water had been reduced to just over half a bowl.

Holding his nose, Shen Han took out the Bronze Mirror.

The next moment, the clone quickly took the bowl, blew on it a few times, and downed it in one gulp.

"So hot!"

Even though it was the clone drinking the medicine, Shen Han immediately felt the sensations brought on by the Qi Condensing Powder.

No time to lose, time to train!

He immediately directed the clone to take the opportunity to practice the Breathing Technique.

Inside the Bronze Mirror, the clone understood perfectly. With eyes slightly closed and mind settled, he began to practice according to the mental cultivation method of the Breathing Technique.

With each inhalation and exhalation, the air passing through the clone's nose and mouth gradually became long and steady.

Shen Han watched clearly as the clone's breathing shifted from its initial heavy, rapid state to something slow and even. Every inhalation drew both true qi and the medicinal power of the Qi Condensing Powder into the clone's meridians, while every exhalation expelled foul, turbid air from the clone's body.

"The Qi Condensing Powder is truly much stronger than the Blood-Qi Soup!"

Shen Han couldn't help but praise it.

Wisps of green smoke had already begun to rise from the top of the clone's head; clearly, the medicinal effect had reached its peak!

An hour flashed by in the blink of an eye.

"My strength... has finally increased again."

Crack!

Shen Han raised his hand and gently clenched his fist. Without needing to exert deliberate force, he felt the power contained within his palm, and a crisp, faint sound echoed from his bones.

With a casual wave, the air even whistled with the sound of breaking through the void.

Everything happened in a flash. The muscles all over his body became increasingly firm, as if a hidden power within him had been awakened, surging forth from every limb and bone.

Hoo!

Shen Han was incredibly excited.

Practicing the Breathing Technique had already become a futile effort, but under the influence of this foul-smelling bowl of Qi Condensing Powder, his cultivation had improved once more. How could he not be happy?

He let out a long breath, feeling his previously dry and tight meridians being widened and nourished bit by bit. A subtle tingling sensation spread throughout his entire body, followed by waves of comfort, as if a long-parched field had finally received sweet rain.

"The Qi Condensing Powder is worth taking every day!"

Shen Han made his decision. "One tael of silver is a bit expensive, but it's definitely not something I can skimp on."

He opened his panel and took a glance.

Mirror Master: Shen Han
Cultivation: Skin Refining
Technique: Breathing Technique (Perfected)
Martial Arts: Basic Fist Technique (Perfected)
Skills: Medicine (Perfected)

At the very least, until he found a new cultivation technique, the Qi Condensing Powder was the only way to improve his cultivation.

Of course, the top priority was still to find a new manual!

It was already late at night.

"Time to clean up..."

Shen Han opened the room's doors and windows to air out the stench, then moved the pot and stove over to the well in the small courtyard, preparing to fetch water for scrubbing.

Suddenly.

Under the cover of night, two men's heads popped up sneakily over the top of the courtyard wall.

What is going on?

Shen Han made a split-second decision, held his breath, and hid behind a large tree near the well.