The Wonderful Uses of Medicinal Cuisine, A Secret Plot Between Two Gangs

At dusk, Shen Han returned to the small courtyard in the east of the city.

He immediately took out a portion of herbs for the Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water and began to simmer them over a low flame in a medicine furnace.

Before long, a faint, delicate fragrance began to drift through the air.

"The scent of this Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water is so much better than the Qi Condensing Powder; I can finally stop smelling that stench..."

Shen Han muttered to himself.

While waiting for the medicinal decoction to finish, he took the other items out from the Bronze Mirror.

First was the Returning Cloud Pill.

There were nine pills in total across two bottles. The example of Green Garment Gang leader Cao Ziping showed that these Returning Cloud Pills were no ordinary items; as long as one still had a breath left, they could save a life. It was just unclear how they had been stolen from the palace.

This pill will be useful to me...

Next were the silk cloth depicting four patterns, the Dark Iron Brick, and the Soul-Illuminating Jade Seal.

Shen Han leaned in close to the oil lamp to study the silk cloth carefully, especially the four characters: "Mystic Frost Soul-Sealing."

It was obvious that each character was taken from the name of one of the four items.

Mystic: Dark Iron Brick.

Frost: Cold Frost Wood Mirror.

Seal: Heavenly Seal-Opening Bead.

Soul: Soul-Illuminating Jade Seal.

But how exactly was this thing supposed to be used?

Iron Fist Villa had been constantly pursuing the Dark Iron Brick, and the Soul-Illuminating Jade Seal had been kept close by Du Chong at all times. If these items were ordinary, they certainly wouldn't have gone to such lengths, which proved that the claims about accelerating cultivation were definitely not groundless.

However, how was one supposed to operate it?

Shen Han had no clue.

After all, there were no mechanisms on the Dark Iron Brick or the Soul-Illuminating Jade Seal; their materials were simply unique.

"I'll think about it later..."

He put everything back into the Bronze Mirror.

At least for now, letting his clone cultivate was the only path forward.

Fortunately, his clone was gifted with extraordinary talent, and its speed of practicing martial arts was improving by leaps and bounds—it was truly an incredible existence.

Mirror Master: Shen Han
Cultivation: Flesh Refining
Technique: Ancient Sun Technique (Great Success)
Martial Arts: Angry Dragon Divine Fist (Perfected), Sky-Splitting Blade Technique (Perfected)
Skills: Medicine (Perfected)

The clone was becoming increasingly proficient at circulating its internal energy, the efficiency of condensing Qi was rising, and its daily growth in strength was visible to the naked eye.

"Time to test the medicine."

After waiting a while longer, the Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water was ready.

It was a bowl of clear, translucent medicinal broth. Shen Han placed the bowl in front of the Bronze Mirror and directed his clone to drink it and begin cultivation immediately.

"It's useful up until the Bone Refining stage; let's see how effective it is!"

The next moment, the clone understood his intent, tilted its head back, and drank the entire bowl of Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water clean.

Following that, the clone sat cross-legged and began to practice in coordination with the medicinal properties.

"Hoo..."

Shen Han immediately felt the change.

The massive warm current brought to the clone by the Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water was shared entirely with his own body, feeling like surging, boiling water that was about to overflow.

"Awesome!"

Shen Han couldn't help but shout out loud.

Looking back into the mirror, the clone was steaming all over, practicing with great intensity.

An hour passed quickly.

The clone was drenched in sweat, and the results of the session were excellent; the purity of its Qi had increased by a full thirty percent.

"Of the Four Stages of Martial Arts—Skin Refining, Flesh Refining, Tendon Refining, and Bone Refining—the time it takes for me to break through to Tendon Refining will be greatly shortened.

The Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water is truly extraordinary and cannot be compared to the Qi Condensing Powder. The only drawback is that it's expensive; no wonder Wen He and his apprentice were extorting such large sums of money.

But regardless, I must ensure I have one dose every day!"

Shen Han secretly made his decision.

To become stronger, the Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water, a high-level medicinal decoction, must be administered to the clone daily.

There are twenty-four portions remaining, and subsequent medicinal ingredients certainly cannot be procured from the Green Garment Gang anymore; I will have to find other channels and think of other ways.

"Clone, continue practicing, I'm going to sleep first."

After drawing water to bathe, Shen Han collapsed onto the bed.

The clone practiced day and night while he provided sufficient food; in his own words, this was a clear division of labor, working together for a win-win situation...

Stone Ox Mountain, Green Garment Gang.

Secret chamber.

"What did you say? My Lin was actually hacked to death with a single blade!"

Gang Leader Cao Ziping stomped his foot heavily and roared at the four martial artists kneeling before him.

The martial artists trembled in fear: "It is true, the Young Gang Leader had no chance to fight back before he was split in two... The four of us risked our lives just to barely escape back and report the news..."

Deputy Gang Leader Li Shan snorted coldly: "Who is the culprit?"

"It is an Ugly Man. Not only did he kill the Young Gang Leader, he also cut off the head of Du Chong from the Black Dragon Gang..."

The martial artists recounted the events of last night in full detail.

Hearing this, Cao Ziping's face turned livid: "This matter was caused by the traitor Qin Wu; his family must be buried with him! Supervisor Meng, there is no time to lose, take my written order and go slaughter Qin Wu's entire family!"

"Yes, Gang Leader!"

Meng Songyun hurriedly accepted the order and retreated, and the four martial artists were all terrified at the sight.

"By the way, Old Li, have you ever heard of that Ugly Man?"

Cao Ziping asked Li Shan again.

"No."

Li Shan shook his head, "I have been rolling in the martial arts circles of Three Rivers County for decades and have never seen any ugly middle-aged expert."

Cao Ziping frowned: "That is strange, who would dare to take action against both my Green Garment Gang and the Black Dragon Gang at the same time?"

"Could it be someone from the Moon Worship Cult?"

Li Shan proposed a hypothesis.

Cao Ziping waved his hand and said: "I know the cultivation level of that Deputy Incense Master Bai Wei well. In my opinion, his subordinates would not dare to openly challenge my Green Garment Gang."

Li Shan added: "But this matter is absolutely no small thing, Gang Leader; we must take precautions early."

Cao Ziping said in a deep voice: "That is exactly right, and our struggle with the Black Dragon Gang cannot stop.

You few, where is my Lin's corpse?"

The four martial artists hurriedly said: "Still at the villa..."

"Bastards! And you dared to come back?" Cao Ziping's expression immediately turned stern, "Old Li, I leave it to you!"

"I will obey the Gang Leader's command."

Crack, crack, crack, crack!

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shan took action, and the necks of the four martial artists were twisted, killing them on the spot.

Meanwhile, Black Dragon Gang headquarters.

Three men wore heavy expressions.

These three were the top brass of the Black Dragon Gang.

Gang Leader Du Guangling, tall and fierce in appearance.

Left Protector Ding Dian, dressed like a scholar.

Right Protector Cai Long, wearing a straw hat.

"Gang Leader, your subordinate has not yet found the origin of that Ugly Man."

Cai Long cupped his fists to report.

Ding Dian also said: "Yes, as far as your subordinate knows, there is no such person in Three Rivers County."

Du Guangling said fiercely: "This person killed my Chong'er and even insulted Chong'er's head; it is clear he is targeting the Black Dragon Gang. This is intolerable!"

"Cao Lin of the Green Garment Gang also died at his hands."

Cai Long added.

Du Guangling took a deep breath: "Could it be that he has the intention of taking on both our gangs alone?"

Ding Dian hurriedly said: "Gang Leader, could that guy be from the Iron Fist Martial Hall?"

"Not very likely."

Du Guangling said, "The mole I planted in the martial hall says there is no ugly middle-aged man in the entire hall."

Ding Dian said: "Intriguing."

Du Guangling pondered for a moment and shouted: "One day, I will tear that Ugly Man into ten thousand pieces to avenge my Chong'er! Cai Long, Ding Dian, you two continue to investigate in secret; as soon as there is news, report back to me immediately!"

"Understood!"

"Besides that, annexing the Green Garment Gang is imminent, and now is the time when we need money. Next time you take people to collect protection fees, raise the prices!"