The Choice!

"The Zhou Kingdom has finally reached this point."

Jiang Ye sighed inwardly.

Although there had been refugees and bandits causing trouble before, it had been limited to the countryside at most.

Now that the unrest had spread to the county seat, it meant the situation had deteriorated to a dire degree.

Jiang Ye remained silent for a moment, his sharp gaze gradually receding, his voice returning to its previous indifference:

"Since the times have forced your hand, I cannot blame you. These Blood Replenishing Pills... give me twenty bottles to start."

He did not haggle over the price, stating the quantity directly.

With great chaos imminent, resources to enhance one's strength were more important than gold or silver.

"Twenty bottles?!" Cui Yang's eyes lit up instantly, the smile on his face becoming even more sincere and enthusiastic. "The old gentleman is truly straightforward! Please, take a seat; I shall fetch the best stock for you immediately!"

He turned at once, personally instructing a nimble young clerk behind him to retrieve the medicine.

Before long, the clerk returned quickly, cradling a heavy sandalwood medicine box.

The lid was opened to reveal a deep red velvet lining, where twenty thumb-sized, jade-white porcelain bottles were arranged neatly. The bottles felt warm and smooth, emitting a faint, medicinal fragrance.

Cui Yang personally took out a bottle and presented it to Jiang Ye with both hands. "Old gentleman, please take a look. This batch of pills was crafted using Mature Blood Ginseng aged over three years. The medicinal potency is two parts stronger than standard stock, and if stored properly, it will retain its efficacy for a year."

Jiang Ye took the porcelain bottle, pulled out the stopper, and brought it to his nose.

A rich, mellow, and slightly bittersweet medicinal scent wafted out. Even inhaling a mere wisp made the blood and qi in his chest and abdomen stir slightly.

He nodded slightly, replaced the stopper, and returned the bottle to the box.

Without any superfluous chatter, he reached into his robes and produced a neatly folded silver note, spreading it slowly across the counter.

One thousand taels!

Cui Yang's pupils constricted. He took the note with both hands, carefully verifying the serial number and seal. Once confirmed, his attitude became even more respectful.

"Very well, old gentleman. Here is your medicine, and the receipt is sealed inside as well. There are specific methods to taking the Blood Replenishing Pills; it is best to..."

He nimbly packed the box and issued the receipt, then handed it to Jiang Ye with fawning diligence, reciting a few tips on how to consume the pills.

Jiang Ye took the box, tucked it into the wide folds of his robes, and turned to leave, his pace neither hurried nor slow.

"Walk slowly, then. If you have any needs in the future, do not hesitate to return to Treasure Medicine Hall."

Cui Yang called out to the back that had already crossed the threshold.

Only when that grey-brown figure had completely merged into the night outside did the smile on his face fade, a flicker of deep thought crossing his eyes.

"That old man is at least a master of Dark Strength. When did such a person emerge in Anxi County?"

As long as one was a martial artist, there was a demand for pills. As the manager of Treasure Medicine Hall, he inevitably dealt with such people.

However, he had no impression of this white-haired elder, which was truly surprising for a master of Dark Strength.

The night was like a curtain.

Jiang Ye sat cross-legged on the edge of the hard bed, remaining still for a long time, his breathing as steady and calm as an ancient well.

After a while, he slowly reached into his robes, took out the smooth jade-white porcelain bottle, poured out a single Blood Replenishing Pill, and swallowed it.

The pill dissolved the moment it hit his throat. At first, it felt cool, but in an instant, a scorching yet controlled heat bloomed within his body.

"Not bad."

Jiang Ye let out a muffled grunt, a flash of brightness crossing his aged eyes.

The potency of this batch of Blood Replenishing Pills was even stronger than the ones he had seized from Xu Tao previously.

He had no intention of wasting the medicinal power.

Taking advantage of the heat that had just dissolved and was now surging through his body, Jiang Ye moved, rising from the bedside to the center of the cramped gatehouse, where he slowly assumed the opening stance of the Five Animal Fist.

Ever since he learned that Lushan County had been sealed due to internal strife, a sense of urgency had taken root in Jiang Ye's heart.

This fire would eventually reach Anxi County.

He had lived peacefully for decades under the protection of Liu Qingshi, but this unrest, which had already reached the county seat, was absolutely no small matter.

Even a Transformation Strength martial artist like Liu Qingshi would likely find it difficult to protect himself.

Therefore, he had to improve his strength as much as possible before the chaos arrived.

"If I can break through to Transformation Strength before the chaos arrives..."

A look of concentration flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes.

Then, no matter how great the chaos, he would have the confidence to face it.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

At dawn, as the first light touched the horizon.

On the open ground in front of the Martial Academy, Jiang Ye slowly retracted his hands from the final move of the Five Animal Fist, the Bird Soaring.

His body stood still, his aura shifting from active to tranquil, like a rushing stream flowing into a deep pool, instantly becoming calm.

Only the slight flutter of his robes retained the lingering resonance of his internal energy circulation.

Host: Jiang Ye

Lifespan: 85

Strength: Dark Strength (Mid-stage)

Destiny: Ascension Stairway [Effect 1: Peerless Comprehension]

Mastered Martial Arts: Five Animal Fist [Grandmastery, 501/1000]

Mastered True Intent: Tiger Walk Like Sickness, Spirit Ape Thousand Changes

He glanced at the system panel, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

After three days of cultivation, his control over internal energy had improved another step, reaching the mid-stage of Dark Strength.

He slightly raised his eyes, looking towards a certain spot.

That girl Liu Yiyi, after years of arduous training and a solid foundation, should also be at the mid-stage of Dark Strength now.

Of course, that was just her apparent strength. With his comprehension of two Fist Intentions, Liu Yiyi would definitely not be his match in a real fight.

"It's time to rest."

Jiang Ye slowly exhaled a long breath, his surging blood and qi calming down within him, like receding tides returning to silence.

Although he didn't lack medicinal pills for nourishment now, this aged body was not made of iron after all.

Too much is as bad as too little; he understood this principle better than anyone.

Once his breathing completely stabilized and the thin layer of sweat on his forehead was dried by the morning breeze, Jiang Ye unhurriedly opened the gate of the Martial Academy, continuing his role as the old gatekeeper.

"Sigh, did you hear? It seems our neighboring Lushan County has been sealed off due to internal strife."

"Sealed off? I thought it was just a rumor! So something really happened."

"Then... will it spread to our Anxi County? My home is right by the west city, not far from the refugee camp..."

"Hard to say. My mom said the rice and flour in the city have already started to increase in price."

"In this turbulent world, life is getting harder and harder."

Sitting by the entrance, Jiang Ye heard the disciples' glum discussions, a flicker of solemnity in his eyes.

Even these young disciples, who were ignorant of worldly affairs and focused solely on martial arts, were discussing the changes in Lushan County. This indicated that the news had already spread through the populace, and the situation was likely even more severe than what he had heard from Cui Yang three days ago.

A sense of panic spread among the disciples of the Martial Academy.

However, in the afternoon, another shocking piece of news came from within the Martial Academy.

Hu Tian had successfully broken through to Bright Strength!

"Tsk tsk, Junior Brother Hu Tian is truly remarkable."

"He succeeded in breaking through to Bright Strength after only half a month of practicing martial arts!"

"At this rate, Junior Brother Hu Tian might even break through to Dark Strength within a year!"

"The talent of this superior bone structure is truly enviable."

The disciples of the Inner Courtyard looked at Hu Tian with envy and jealousy, their exclamations of admiration unending.

Hu Tian, the center of the discussion, also had a look of ecstatic joy on his face, though not as ostentatious as when he first grasped the basics of fist techniques.

He had been worried about offending Liu Yiyi and Su Yan these past few days, so he could only dedicate his time to practicing his fists.

He never expected that he would successfully break through to Bright Strength through this opportunity.

"Hu Tian."

A deep, resonant voice came from behind the crowd, and the clamor abruptly ceased.

Liu Qingshi had emerged from the study at some unknown time, standing with his hands behind his back under the corridor, his gaze falling on Hu Tian, and he nodded slightly.

A rare hint of approval appeared on his usually stern face.

"I originally thought you would need a month to break through. Not bad, faster than I imagined."

He walked closer, took out the familiar small porcelain bottle from his sleeve, and handed it to Hu Tian.

The bottle was smooth and warm, with a faint medicinal aroma – it was a brand new Blood Replenishing Pill.

"I hope you continue to maintain this diligence and do not let down this bone structure."

"Thank you, Master, for the reward! I will definitely train even harder!"

Hu Tian excitedly took the Blood Replenishing Pill from Liu Qingshi's hand.

After encouraging Hu Tian a few more times, Liu Qingshi glanced at Shi Lei, who was diligently practicing his fists not far away, a hint of imperceptible relief flashing in his eyes, before turning back to his study.

After the Pavilion Master left, the atmosphere in the Inner Courtyard became even more lively.

Several disciples who were close to Hu Tian immediately surrounded him, their words now filled with undisguised flattery.

"Junior Brother Hu Tian—no, I should call you Senior Brother Hu Tian now! Having breached the threshold of Bright Strength, we are equals from here on out!"

"Senior Brother Hu Tian, when you have a moment, you must do me the honor of letting me host a banquet to celebrate your breakthrough!"

"Heh, come to think of it, Junior Brother Shi Lei and Senior Brother Hu Tian started their fist training on the same day, right? I wonder what stage he's reached now..."

"Need you ask? Junior Brother Shi Lei only has mediocre talent. By the time he breaches Bright Strength, Senior Brother Hu Tian will probably already be preparing to break through to Dark Strength!"

Someone lowered their voice with a hint of deliberate mockery, their peripheral vision darting toward that solitary figure in the distance.

Hearing the surrounding disciples' comments, which were tinged with a sense of sycophancy toward him, Hu Tian couldn't help but curl his lips into a smug arc.

On the other side, Shi Lei remained completely unaffected, as if he were isolated in a world apart from the other disciples.

Zhao Gang, the head disciple of the Martial Academy, had originally intended to walk over and offer a few words of comfort, but seeing this scene, a look of admiration couldn't help but flash across his eyes.

"I never imagined Junior Brother Shi Lei's temperament was so resilient..."

He glanced again at Hu Tian, who was looking smug not far away, and thought to himself, "Given time, Junior Brother Shi Lei might not necessarily fail to catch up to Hu Tian."

Meanwhile.

As Hu Tian's gaze swept over Shi Lei, who was practicing his punches alone like an ascetic monk, a look of undisguised disdain flashed in his eyes, and he snorted inwardly:

"With mediocre talent, no matter how hard you train, you will never even see my heels."

The smugness on his face grew more intense, and he could barely stop himself from laughing out loud.

Suddenly.

His peripheral vision inadvertently swept over two figures standing under the distant corridor.

Liu Yiyi and Su Yan stood side by side, one as cold as snow, the other as gentle as the moon.

Even though they weren't looking in this direction...

Hu Tian felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart.

It was as if a basin of ice water had been poured over his crown without any warning.

The smugness that had just ignited, the joy that had swelled until it nearly overflowed his chest, was stripped away by a baseless chill in that single tremor.

The smug expression still hung on his lips, but it had stiffened into an unnatural arc.

The wild joy of breaking through to Bright Strength had, at this moment, inexplicably faded by three parts.

Finally, it was near closing time.

Hu Tian was the first to leave the Martial Academy once again.

He couldn't wait to get home and share the joy of his breakthrough to Bright Strength with his sister.

Just as he passed a quiet street corner, a black figure seemed to grow out of the shadows of the wall, blocking his path with unerring precision.

"Big Brother Zhang Wang?!"

Hu Tian stopped abruptly, nearly stumbling.

The person before him was none other than Zhang Wang, Zhang Xu's right-hand man.

Zhang Wang looked Hu Tian over, then patted his shoulder with practiced familiarity:

"Incredible, truly incredible! The Young Master really didn't misjudge you. How many days has it been? You've already breached Bright Strength! Looking at the younger generation in all of Anxi County, your talent is one of a kind!"

As he spoke, he draped an arm over Hu Tian's shoulder. "Come, Brother Hu Tian, the Young Master wants to see you."

Hearing this, Hu Tian's expression shifted, and a trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes.

Although he didn't know what had happened between Senior Brother Zhang Xu and the two senior sisters that night, leading to his expulsion from the Martial Academy.

However, it was clear that the two parties had completely fallen out.

And because he had acted as the go-between, he had already offended the two senior sisters.

If he went to see Zhang Xu now, it would be even harder for him to gain a foothold in the Martial Academy in the future.

"Big Brother Zhang Wang, do you know what Senior Brother Zhang Xu did that night..."

Hu Tian started to ask.

"Sigh..."

Zhang Wang let out a long sigh, cutting him off directly: "Brother Hu Tian, I don't know the inside story either."

"But you can ask the Young Master yourself."

Seeing that Hu Tian was still hesitant, Zhang Wang spoke again: "Brother Hu Tian, have you forgotten how the Young Master looked after you when you first entered the Martial Academy?"

As he spoke, Zhang Wang's gaze swept over Hu Tian's clothes.

These were the very clothes Zhang Xu had taken Hu Tian to buy back then.

"Fine, I will go with you to see Senior Brother Zhang Xu."

Hu Tian hesitated for a moment, but ultimately followed Zhang Wang away.

East of the city, Anxi County.

The Zhang Family manor.

"Senior Brother Zhang Xu... how did you... end up so badly injured?!"

Hu Tian, who had followed Zhang Wang into the room, felt his pupils constrict sharply, his entire being stunned into silence.

Lying on the bed at this moment, Zhang Xu was deathly pale, his chest wrapped in bandages that were still seeping with traces of blood.

He looked like a man who had just returned from the gates of hell.

At the same time, Hu Tian grew increasingly curious about what exactly Senior Brother Zhang Xu had done that night to end up in such a state.

Hearing Hu Tian's voice, the half-awake Zhang Xu slowly opened his eyes, his lips trembling as he spoke:

"Hu... Hu Tian, you've finally come..."

Beyond the weakness and hoarseness, his voice carried a hint of teeth-grinding, sinister softness.

Hu Tian snapped back to reality, practically stumbling as he lunged toward the bedside.

He gazed at Zhang Xu's sunken, bloodless face, his voice trembling as he asked, "Senior Brother... this... what on earth happened..."

Zhang Xu remained silent for a moment. Instead of answering the question, he asked, "Hu Tian, how do you think I have treated you?"

Hu Tian froze. After a long while, he nodded slightly and said, "Senior Brother Zhang has been quite good to me."

Zhang Xu stared straight at Hu Tian, his voice growing even more raspy:

"Then, would you be willing to leave the Bluestone Martial Academy?"