Remarkable Results

The calm voice fell on the house servant's ears like thunder from a clear sky, frightening him pale on the spot.

His face darkened as he stepped forward and berated them without explanation. "Qin Hao, what are you doing? You can't even rock a boat properly? If you don't know how, don't delay my young master's important business!"

Having said that, he hurriedly turned to Wang Heng, changing his expression completely as he said in trembling panic, "Young Master, I'll get someone else for you right away!"

"No need. They're rocking it well enough." Wang Heng waved a hand in refusal.

The words left the house servant slightly stunned. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "Then what do you mean?"

"Bring me my Blood-Qi Medicine!" Wang Heng gave no explanation, merely issued the command.

The house servant scampered off to fetch it, while Qin Hao at the side of the boat quietly wiped away a cold sweat.

Just now, he had thought the two of them had made another mistake while rocking the boat, which was why Wang Heng had stopped them. He had already prepared himself to apologize and make amends, only for it to be a false alarm!

Not long afterward, the house servant brought over the medicine. After Wang Heng drank it, he immediately boarded the boat and assumed his stance.

Qin Hao and Hong Ming slowly rocked the boat, dutifully playing their roles.

After taking the Blood-Qi Medicine, Wang Heng seemed far more vigorous. Qin Hao and Hong Ming had to rock the boat for a full hour and a half before he finally stopped.

The two of them were drenched in sweat, panting like oxen, their mouths and tongues dry.

Wang Heng, by contrast, merely had disordered breathing and a flushed complexion. He was in far better condition than either of them.

"Alright, we'll stop here for today." Wang Heng spoke blandly after stepping off the boat.

This time, he was not merely calling for a stop, but directly ending the morning's training.

The boat Qin Hao and Hong Ming rocked suited his cultivation particularly well, causing the medicine's effects to run out ahead of time.

If he continued training, not only would he get half the result for twice the effort, but he might also injure his muscles and affect future cultivation. The loss would outweigh the gain.

At this, Qin Hao's expression brightened slightly. The workload of rocking the boat this time had doubled compared to usual, and he had truly been worried that something would go wrong if they kept at it.

Having to apologize and lose money would be a minor matter. Losing the job would be the real disaster. Offending Wang Heng would be an even graver sin!

Even as he rejoiced inwardly, he did not forget his manners. He bowed and saw him off. "Thank you for your understanding, Young Master Wang!"

"Qin Hao, I don't want what happened this morning to happen again." After Wang Heng left, the house servant took charge.

His expression was still rather ugly, and he had clearly not recovered from the fright. He solemnly warned Qin Hao.

Qin Hao showed none of the embarrassment of being scolded. With a smile plastered across his face, he promised, "Yes, yes, yes. It absolutely won't happen again!"

"If there's a next time, bear the consequences yourself!" The house servant shot Qin Hao a sidelong glance and snorted coldly.

Only after Qin Hao repeatedly apologized did he reluctantly take out the money.

"Thank you, Master Fu! Take care, Master Fu!"

With the payment in hand, Qin Hao's smile deepened as he willingly saw the man off.

Only after the house servant had gone far away did he slowly withdraw his smile. He spat lightly, then turned to Hong Ming. "Hong Ming, this is yours."

The payment was exactly as Qin Hao had said: one mace of silver.

"Thanks." Hong Ming accepted the money and thanked him.

He noticed that the house servant had handed out more than two mace of silver in payment, but he said nothing.

After putting away the silver, he took out ten copper coins and, following the understanding the two had long maintained, handed them to Qin Hao.

This was the fee for introducing him to the job. It was not an open rule, but an unspoken one beneath the table.

It was precisely through this that Qin Hao had introduced him to hauling goods in the past. This time, Qin Hao had helped him earn a little money again. By both sentiment and reason, he ought to return the favor.

Qin Hao understood this perfectly and accepted without pretense. "Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony."

There were no promises made, but Hong Ming knew that if there were any good jobs like this in the future, Qin Hao would certainly think of him first.

After the two parted ways, Qin Hao went to attend to other matters, while Hong Ming eagerly found a secluded place, intending to test the effects of his new Trait.

Rather than boarding a boat to practice the stance, he assumed his posture right where he was and, following his memories, worked through the various movements.

The Coiling Dragon Stake had a corresponding breathing method, but it was not free. It had to be bought, and the price was far beyond what Hong Ming could afford.

Hong Ming had never experienced the effects of training with the matching breathing method before, yet now, he inexplicably felt as though he was experiencing it.

There was no need for deliberate guidance. The instant each movement fell into place, the corresponding breath began moving on its own.

His breathing fit the movements with seamless precision!

The forms were movement, the breathing was stillness; movement and stillness joined together, complementing one another.

Even this dry, tedious training gained a touch of unexpected delight.

After completing the entire set of movements, Hong Ming was drenched in sweat, yet felt no fatigue. Instead, he felt thoroughly invigorated and still wanted more.

This was a state he had never experienced before!

Previously, after finishing the Coiling Dragon Stake, he would feel aching tendons and swollen bones, numb muscles, and, after practicing too long, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Now, all those negative conditions were completely absent!

This showed that the "Breathing and Exhalation" Trait was not only useful for cultivation, but remarkably effective!

The voice in his mind further confirmed the result:

[Coiling Dragon Stake +1]

Looking at the increased experience on the panel, Hong Ming finally revealed a smile of immense relief.

The effects of "Breathing and Exhalation" were like a beam of light tearing through the darkness ahead, illuminating a brilliant road before him.

After resting briefly, Hong Ming continued training, only stopping once he was utterly exhausted.

After several rounds, the results were outstanding. His Coiling Dragon Stake had gained three experience points, practically one point per round.

Compared with the previous rate of one point every three rounds, it was a clear improvement!

"It's time to collect the Blood-Qi Medicine."

Within the Water Army, soldiers could go to the Medicine Hall every five days to collect Blood-Qi Medicine.

This was a free benefit intended to help the soldiers cultivate more effectively.

Otherwise, ordinary food alone could never provide what was needed for daily martial training.

Half an hour later, Hong Ming arrived.

After registering his information, the soldier in charge of distributing the medicine said, "Hong Ming, right? Here's your Blood-Qi Medicine."

"Only one dose?" Hong Ming asked, looking at the medicine in the other man's hand.

The question instead left the soldier puzzled. "There has always only been one dose!"

After a pause, he added, "Of course, if you want more, you can pay for it. One dose of Blood-Qi Medicine costs half a mace of silver."

"No need." Hong Ming shook his head and left with the medicine.

The soldier watched Hong Ming depart, scratched his head, then turned around and continued working.

"I used to receive two doses. Now there's been a change. It seems..."

On the way back, Hong Ming pondered the reason behind this.

He understood it perfectly well. The reason he had been able to receive extra medicine before was because Instructor Huang Chun had privately given him that convenience.

Now that he had delayed in responding to that favor, things had naturally returned to normal.

At the same time, it was likely Huang Chun's warning: the medicine could not be taken for free; he had to offer something in return.

Though somewhat regretful, Hong Ming accepted it calmly. Carrying the medicine, he went to the Dining Hall specifically meant for brewing it.

After roughly the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Hong Ming brewed a bowl of medicinal soup. Once it had cooled to a warm temperature, he drank it in one gulp.

The medicinal soup was slightly bitter upon entering his throat, followed by a gentle yet exceptionally solid current of heat.

It traveled down his throat into his dantian, then suddenly spread out, domineering and direct.

The "Cure-All" Trait took effect at once!

What had originally been a gradual medicinal effect turned, the moment it entered his stomach, into a small flame cooking oil, rapidly heating his entire body.

Hong Ming was somewhat startled by the fierce medicinal power, but he had no time to think. He immediately assumed his stance.

[Coiling Dragon Stake +1]

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