Caught Up in Turmoil, a Daoist Gives Me Meat. I Just Want to Live in Peace-Don't Push Me (Please Read On!)

Shi Wen paid no attention to the idle gossip.

He practiced his basic exercises in his usual spot, working up a sweat.

After taking the Fish-Dragon Precious Blood, he found that his proficiency was increasing much faster!

He didn't have to practice each exercise for the amount of time specified in the original routine to increase his proficiency.

This shortened his training time considerably.

By the time the gong rang to signal the end of classes, Shi Wen was delighted to find that his proficiency had increased by six points!

"If I can swallow more Treasure Blood, I'll definitely be able to train even faster!"

"At this rate, if I practice my basic exercises during the day, it won't take more than a few days to reach mastery. Then I can advance to perfection. I wonder whether perfecting the basic exercises will give me any other traits?"

"Once I've perfected the basic exercises, I'll let it slip that I've developed qi and blood, then advance to the Inner Courtyard. There's no point wasting too much time in the Outer Courtyard..."

Shi Wen pondered as he put away the equipment.

Li Qianqian was putting away her things nearby. She happened to glance at Shi Wen, and surprise flickered through her beautiful eyes.

"Does Junior Brother Shi seem a little taller? Has his skin gotten better, too?"

She gazed at the boy putting away equipment beneath the sunlight.

Her expression turned dazed.

In the ten-odd days since the boy had joined the Fist Academy, his frame had grown much straighter.

His features seemed more defined, his brows like swords, his thin lips gently pursed. Loose strands of hair fluttered in the breeze, while the setting sun draped him in a beautiful golden outline.

The boy's temperament was just as it had been.

Quiet and reserved. At a glance, though, he seemed to have gained an indescribable calm and confidence.

Even the Senior Brother from one of Black Cloud County's local wealthy families wasn't as captivating as this vibrant young boy.

There was something about his youthful vigor that seemed to pierce straight into her heart.

Though Li Qianqian had never considered herself someone who judged people by their looks, she couldn't help admiring him now.

"Senior Sister Li, I'll head back first."

Shi Wen cupped his hands to her, then turned to leave.

She gave a slight nod, still a little dazed. "Take care, Junior Brother Shi."

By the time he reached Minggong Street,

Shi Wen arrived just in time to see the goateed Daoist handing out meat.

Relying on his strong physique, he snatched quite a few chunks, and even took the opportunity to buy Blessing Meat from the crowd.

Shi Wen was very cautious.

He only wanted to quietly gather Blessing Meat. Unfortunately, he'd underestimated human greed.

Someone shouted something.

Once word spread that a person was buying Blessing Meat for a hundred Treasure Coins a piece,

the scene grew even more chaotic.

A huge crowd of poor folk at the bottom of society stopped listening to the so-called sermons. They rushed over with meat morsels to exchange for money, then left grinning from ear to ear.

But this scene

didn't escape the notice of the goateed Daoist preaching the Immortal Mother Sutra at the altar. A strange glint flashed in his eyes.

Xiang Ju stopped the Daoists who were about to make a move with a look.

Holding a well-worn scripture in his hands, he walked over to Shi Wen.

"Compassion, compassion. The Immortal Mother saves all."

After reciting a Daoist invocation, the goateed Daoist looked at Shi Wen and asked gently, "Young friend, why are you causing trouble at the site of our sermon?"

"Sorry, Immortal. I just really like Blessing Meat."

Seeing the goateed Daoist approach, Shi Wen hurriedly gave an awkward smile.

His face wore a harmless expression.

Xiang Ju looked at the boy.

He saw nothing but a pure longing for Blessing Meat and a trace of embarrassment in the boy's eyes.

With a soft sigh, he said, "The Immortal Mother dispels calamities and grants longevity. Compassion, compassion. Ying Kuang, since this young friend likes it, prepare an extra bag of Blessing Meat for him whenever he comes."

"Ying Kuang, bring him a bag of Blessing Meat now."

"Yes." A young Daoist beside them quickly brought over a small bag of Blessing Meat.

"Mm."

Xiang Ju smiled warmly, then handed him a wooden carving wrapped with red cloth as well. "The Immortal Mother saves all. You should worship her and pray with sincerity day and night. Your illnesses will fade, calamities will be dispelled, and you'll be free of all worries."

"Thank you, Immortal."

Shi Wen looked grateful.

After noticing the prompt from Extreme Seal, he smiled and accepted the wooden carving, then turned to leave.

Xiang Ju silently watched Shi Wen walk away.

A murderous glint flashed in his placid eyes.

Only after Shi Wen had disappeared from sight

did Xiang Ju finally look away. He left an elderly Daoist in charge of the gathering and went to the shade of a nearby tree to ask the young Daoist, "Has any faction come to this area?"

"Reporting to Elder, we've carried out our arrangements with great care. Nothing has leaked. And the Union hasn't informed us that any factions are coming to Black Cloud County!"

Ying Kuang hurriedly replied.

"If no one sent him, why would that kid come by to pick up free Blessing Meat?" Xiang Ju furrowed his brows slightly. "Find out everything you can about him, then come back and report to me immediately."

"Yes!"

Ying Kuang hurried away, vanishing into the crowd like a loach.

"Only my branch knows the secret of Black Cloud County. We haven't been here long enough to lay our plans, so how could outsiders know about it? Could it be a coincidence?"

"Or is there a traitor in the Union who leaked the news?"

"If this goes wrong, the Holy Son will tear me limb from limb!"

Xiang Ju watched the golden, fish-scale clouds overhead, broken into countless fragments by the setting sun, his gaze grave.

Only after a long while did he finally look away.

He continued leafing through the Immortal Mother Sutra, his expression calm.

Some time later, Ying Kuang returned and whispered something in Xiang Ju's ear.

Xiang Ju looked briefly taken aback. Then a strange smile appeared on his face. "Heh. He must be a little martial artist who's only just developed qi and blood, greedy for Blessing Meat to replenish himself and convinced he's gotten a great bargain."

"So that's why a martial artist was buying Blessing Meat at the gathering. He comes from the bottom, and he doesn't have the money to nourish his body."

"Elder, should I kill him?"

A murderous glint flashed in Ying Kuang's eyes, but Xiang Ju smiled and shook his head. "Let's see whether he really likes Blessing Meat. If he stops coming after today or tomorrow, take care of it neatly. If he keeps coming, leave him alone."

"I'm also curious to see what sort of effect bait nourished by a martial artist can have!"

"Besides, he's just a little shrimp. He can't disrupt the bigger picture."

His confidence and hearty laughter made it seem as though he were waiting to watch a good show.

Hearing this, Ying Kuang also looked curious.

It was the first time he'd seen a martial artist come of his own accord for something being given away for free.

If the bait were nurtured by a martial artist, it might have an unexpected effect. After all, this meant eating it willingly, not being forced.

Once they completed their task early,

they wouldn't have to worry about other factions discovering them and stirring up trouble...

Shi Wen strode down the street, his heart heavy.

Today, he'd seen the true benefits of the Treasure Blood.

Afraid that the Daoists might stop handing out Blessing Meat, he'd decided to buy some.

At first, he'd kept things low-key. He hadn't expected the crowd to riot later, with everyone rushing over to hand him chunks of meat and collect their money. The Daoists had noticed him.

He'd acted far too recklessly today!

"Should I stop coming after today?"

Shi Wen considered the idea, but immediately dismissed it.

If he stopped coming, his behavior would seem even more suspicious.

Those mysterious people might secretly murder him.

On the other hand, if he kept going,

he could get more Blessing Meat.

He could refine it into enough Treasure Blood to nourish his martial training and undergo a complete transformation!

By the time he'd nurtured his True Intent until the qi and blood throughout his body were as concentrated and pure as molten lava—

By the time his martial cultivation reached the pinnacle—

why would he need to fear these people who hid their heads and showed no faces?

"I just want to cultivate in peace. I hope you won't push me."

Shi Wen sighed.

He took out some Blessing Meat and wrapped it separately in oil paper to refine later. Then he took a detour to the blacksmith's shop to check on the progress of the iron post.

Only after that did he hurry back to Peace Lane.

But who could have guessed—

When he reached the alley near his home, he saw a large group of neighbors cooling off by the entrance and chatting.

Even his parents were there.

The topic of their conversation was, unmistakably, the Harmony and Prosperity Union.