With his consummate knowledge of pharmacology, Lin Qing appeared to stroll casually from stall to stall, but in truth, he had already taken in the quality, age, and authenticity of most of the medicinal ingredients.
Most of the wares sold here were rare medicinal ingredients, but there were plenty of fakes, too.
"This Blood Spirit Grass looks dull on the surface, but it's actually brimming with vital energy. Its roots were damaged when it was harvested, though, so its medicinal power has leaked out. That's why it's been mistaken for a second-rate herb..."
"Bought."
"That ten-year-old Poria was half eaten by insects. It looks awful, but the medicinal properties of its core are intact. It's worth far more than the stall owner is asking..."
"Buy it."
"These Snake Saliva Fruits are the wrong color, so the stall owner is selling them as aphrodisiacs. In truth, they grew in an unusual environment and contain a trace of a mild poison. They're remarkably effective in certain specialized medicines for treating injuries."
Without showing a hint of emotion, Lin Qing bought these medicinal ingredients—which looked poor in quality or had unusual uses—one by one at rock-bottom prices.
By the time he had made a full circuit, he had spent twelve taels of silver and bought a large bundle of medicinal ingredients.
By his rough estimate, if he carefully processed these ingredients—especially if he made them into more potent Blood Nourishing Powder to sell—he could at least triple his investment.
This was a relatively safe way to make money.
As he shopped for medicinal ingredients and spoke quietly with the stall owners,
his pharmacology experience in the Heavenly Dao Record was also increasing rapidly.
Here in the Black Market, he had seen all sorts of medicinal ingredients rarely encountered in everyday life, along with their mutated forms and even half-finished products processed in strange ways. It had greatly broadened his knowledge.
When he bought the last ingredient, a Yin Condensing Flower, at a low price, his pharmacology experience suddenly jumped.
[Pharmacology (Mastery)]
[Experience: 1/10000]
An unprecedented sense of clarity surged through him.
At that moment, he realized that medicinal ingredients had no absolute good or bad; they were simply suitable or unsuitable.
He even felt he could vaguely deduce unknown combinations of medicinal properties.
His control and use of medicinal power had reached an entirely new level.
With his shopping done, Lin Qing didn't dare linger.
He slung his bulging bundle over his back and headed for the exit.
Just then, a scar-faced man had come out of the Black Market's gambling den, still cursing his rotten luck.
"Damn it, what rotten luck. I lost everything I owned."
The scar-faced man muttered under his breath.
A lean man beside him nudged him.
"Scarface, that kid's definitely a greenhorn. He bought a bunch of lousy medicinal ingredients. Take him out, then we can keep going."
The lean man grinned.
"You sure?" Scarface asked suspiciously.
He had robbed and killed plenty of people before,
but he wouldn't make a move unless he was certain.
"Sure." The lean man nodded.
"Fine. Wait for me. I'll gamble a few more rounds and win it all back today."
Scarface narrowed his eyes, then followed after him.
By then, Lin Qing had reached the exit.
Just as he handed over his token and was about to leave the Black Market,
the tall man guarding the exit suddenly said in a low voice, "Your voice still sounds young. Scarface has his eye on you. Take care."
Lin Qing's heart lurched.
That was it. Though he had deliberately lowered his voice,
a young man's voice was ultimately different from that of an old hand. Someone observant had noticed.
He didn't dare look back, much less thank the guard. His steps faltered almost imperceptibly, then he quickened his pace and hurried out of the Black Market.
After leaving the abandoned brickyard, he immediately turned onto a secluded path and picked up speed.
But before he had gone even two li, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.
He glanced back and saw a man with a scar on his face, carrying a broad saber and chasing after him with a vicious look in his eyes.
Lin Qing knew there was no talking his way out of this. The man had clearly taken him for an easy mark because he was young and had bought a lot of things.
His gaze swept quickly over the surroundings. There was a dense thicket just up ahead.
He pretended to panic, stumbling as he charged toward the thicket.
A vicious grin spread across Scarface's face as he hurried after him, shouting, "Kid, leave your things and I'll let you live!"
Just as Scarface reached the edge of the thicket,
his body was about to come into view—
"Catch this!"
Lin Qing suddenly flung up his hand, hurling a whole handful of lime powder he had been clutching all along straight at the man's face.
It hit him square in the face.
"Despicable!"
Caught off guard, Scarface got lime in his eyes. He wildly swung his broad saber to protect himself as he stumbled backward.
But that was exactly the chance Lin Qing had been waiting for. He planted his foot, lunged in from the side, clenched his fist, and punched toward the man's ribs with a whoosh.
Though Scarface couldn't see, his hearing remained sharp. Sensing the rush of air, he instinctively whipped his saber around in a slash!
"Rip!"
The sharp blade tore through Lin Qing's clothes, revealing the wooden board strapped to his chest.
Lin Qing broke out in a cold sweat. His opponent's speed and ferocity with the saber had far exceeded his expectations.
He didn't try to meet him head-on. Instead, he hurriedly retreated and shook both arms, letting the ropes slip away!
"Clink—!"
More than a dozen dark iron rings hidden in his sleeves slid from his forearms to his wrists, clashing together with a clear metallic chime!
"Iron Wire Fist? You're with the Hong Family?"
At the unique sound of the iron rings, Scarface's movements abruptly faltered. His bloodshot eyes opened to narrow slits.
"Too late to figure that out now!"
Lin Qing barked. While Scarface's mind wavered, Lin Qing stamped his foot against the ground, the muscles of his right arm twisting and tightening. His iron rings cut through the air as he slammed his arm down at his opponent!
Scarface hurriedly raised his saber to block.
"Bang!"
Scarface felt his arm go numb as the iron rings hammered his broad saber downward.
His saber technique was fierce enough, sweeping like crashing waves as it deflected Lin Qing's attacks one after another. He had clearly practiced for years and was at least in the late stage of the First Barrier Realm.
Clang, clang, clang!
Saber and fist clashed as the two men fought fiercely in a clearing among the trees, bursts of sparks flashing through the woods.
Lin Qing was slightly weaker, but Iron Wire Fist was powerful. He used the iron rings to block the blade, and the clanging rang out without pause.
He kept Zhang Shun's advice in mind: never be bound by forms; mix the real with the feint.
During the struggle, Lin Qing left an opening, seeming to throw a punch that missed as he leaned forward.
"I thought you had some real skill. Turns out you really are a greenhorn!"
Thinking his chance had come, Scarface grinned viciously and slashed sideways with his saber!
At the instant the blade touched him, Lin Qing twisted his waist and narrowly dodged it. At the same time, he snapped up his leg in a vicious rising kick, straight toward his opponent's crotch!
Smack!
The sound of crushed balls rang out.
"Argh—!"
A scream was forced from Scarface's throat. His whole body curled up like a shrimp, the broad saber almost slipping from his hand. All color drained from his face.
"Let me treat you to another mouthful of powder!"
Lin Qing pressed his advantage and flung another handful of lime powder over Scarface's head.
Most of it went straight into his gaping mouth.
"Cough, cough... Ugh..."
The pain in Scarface's eyes hadn't even subsided, and now he had swallowed lime. He choked so violently he felt his insides tearing apart, tears and snot streaming down his face. His fighting strength plummeted.
Like a madman, he summoned the last of his ferocity, gripped his saber with both hands, and hacked wildly at Lin Qing, trying to force him back.
But Lin Qing refused to meet him head-on. He kept circling with nimble footwork, using the iron rings to block and deflect the force. Every now and then, he would sneak in a rock throw.
After fighting for a while, he would use the trees and bushes to dart away, wearing down his opponent's strength and patience.
Scarface was already badly wounded, and the lime had tormented him mercilessly. Under Lin Qing's shameless tactics, his strength drained quickly, his movements slowed, and openings appeared everywhere.
At last, Scarface's saber cut through empty air. His previous strength was spent, and he hadn't yet gathered new force. Lin Qing suddenly drew his arm back and drove all his strength into a heavy punch, smashing it into Scarface's temple!
"Thud!"
The dull sound of a skull cracking rang out.
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