Li Pingsheng gathered his aura and left the Back Mountain Stele Forest.
He considered the situation before the great examination.
The Zhao Family and the Black Water Gang had both suffered heavy losses in their struggle, so they wouldn't be paying attention to him for the time being.
But he knew he still needed to keep pretending to be useless and avoid drawing anyone's attention.
His family was still in the Outer City, making them potential leverage against him.
Until he was strong enough to bring them into the Inner City and protect them, any showy actions could put them in danger.
The Outer City, the Wealthy District.
Not far from home, Li Pingsheng heard several neighbors gossiping by a wall.
"Have you heard? The Li Family's child prodigy apparently practiced until he snapped his meridians at a martial hall in the Inner City?"
"Oh, is that true?"
"The Li Family will have suffered for nothing. They borrowed so much money at exorbitant interest just to raise a cripple?"
"Exactly! The Li Family's finished now. Just wait until the creditors come knocking and see how they cry!"
Li Pingsheng walked past them without saying a word.
In this world, many people liked to console themselves with other people's misfortunes.
He pushed open the wooden door.
In the courtyard, Grandpa Li sat on a little stool, weaving a bamboo basket.
Second Uncle leaned against a recliner. His face was pale, but he seemed to be in better spirits than before.
"Brother! You're back!"
A delighted cry rang out.
A small figure rushed into his arms and wrapped both arms around his leg.
Yunmei looked up at him.
Seeing his little sister brought some color back to Li Pingsheng's face.
He patted Yunmei's head. "Mm, your brother's back."
Li Pingsheng led Yunmei inside, avoided his mother and second aunt, and handed Grandpa Li a hundred-tael silver note.
Grandpa Li saw the note and immediately tried to return it. "Pingsheng! What are you doing? Where did this money come from? You can't break the law!"
Li Pingsheng held his grandfather's hand. "Don't worry, Grandpa. The source of this money is perfectly clear. The instructor thought I had good aptitude, so he gave me my monthly allowance in advance."
"He said that as long as I train hard, after the great examination I'll be able to move the whole family into the Inner City. Hold on to this money for now. Buy something to eat and get medicine for Second Uncle."
Hearing that the martial hall instructor had told him so, Grandpa Li was reassured, and his eyes reddened.
After putting away the note, he patted Li Pingsheng's hand. "Good child. Grandpa's love for you wasn't wasted..."
After settling Grandpa Li's concerns, Li Pingsheng said he had learned how to prepare nourishing medicinal meals that could help his family improve their health. He went into the kitchen and locked the door from the inside.
He took out a jade box.
Inside was a piece of marrow from a third-tier demonic beast, an Iron-Armored Savage Bull, which he had casually "taken" from the Black Water Gang's treasury.
Then he took out several mild medicinal herbs.
He opened [Martial Wisdom].
The marrow of a third-tier demonic beast would damage an ordinary person's meridians and internal organs if consumed directly, killing them on the spot.
Li Pingsheng calculated the amount of each herb and when to add it to the pot.
Three qian of Clear Heart Grass could neutralize the marrow's fiery toxins.
Two qian of Lily Root could preserve everything contained in the Savage Bull's vital essence.
He added some Chinese yam, red dates, and other ingredients to soothe the stomach and spleen.
He lit the fire and poured in water.
Once the water boiled, he added the herbs in order.
Then he put the Iron-Armored Savage Bull's marrow into the boiling water.
As soon as the marrow touched the water, the pot began to boil furiously, releasing thick red smoke.
Li Pingsheng covered the pot and used his qi and blood to control the heat through the iron.
With the aid of [Martial Wisdom], the herbs' medicinal power enveloped all the vital essence inside the Savage Bull and completely assimilated it.
Once the herbs had harmonized it, that power became pure and gentle.
Two hours later, the pot began to bubble.
A rich fragrance rose from the bone.
The soup turned milky white.
A sweet, clean scent filled the air.
The fragrance wafted out through the chimney and cracks in the doors, spreading across the entire courtyard and even drifting into the surrounding streets.
Auntie Wang leaned over the earthen wall, craning her neck to look toward the Li Family's courtyard as she swallowed again and again.
"Well, Sister-in-law Li, what treasure are you cooking up in the middle of the day? It smells so good even the immortals would leap over the wall! Did you suddenly strike it rich? Share some with the neighbors so we can have a taste!"
Madam Li and Second Uncle's wife both looked at her, but neither said a word.
At last, the kitchen door opened.
Yunmei was waiting at the doorway, sniffing the air nonstop.
The moment she saw Li Pingsheng coming out with a bowl, she wrapped herself around his leg. "Brother, it smells so good! Yun'er wants some!"
"Greedy little thing. There'll be plenty for you."
Li Pingsheng brought out the bone broth and filled several bowls, handing them to Grandpa Li and Second Uncle. "Grandpa, Second Uncle, this medicinal soup should be drunk while it's hot. It's good for your health."
Grandpa Li picked up his bowl and took a sip.
The bone broth tasted a little sweet as it went down.
The knee pain caused by his rheumatism began to ease, and warmth spread through the joint.
He straightened his back. The aches, pains, and fatigue throughout his body disappeared.
"Ah..."
Grandpa Li's face was full of shock.
Second Uncle closed his eyes.
His right leg, injured by Master Qin's thugs last time, began to itch.
The medicine was speeding up the healing of his broken bone.
This was immortal medicine!
Second Uncle opened his eyes and stared at the bowl of soup in disbelief.
After drinking the soup, Yunmei's cheeks were flushed, and beads of sweat covered her body.
Li Pingsheng took a towel and wiped Yunmei down.
As he wiped her, he noticed a layer of gray impurities being expelled through her skin, along with a foul, fishy smell.
This was bone cleansing and marrow washing.
Li Pingsheng was astonished.
Even after its medicinal power had been neutralized, the marrow of a third-tier demonic beast still had a powerful effect on ordinary people.
The soup had also forced out the foul qi Yunmei had been born with.
After she had been "cleansed," she felt as if she had endless strength.
She bounced around the courtyard, pestering Li Pingsheng. "Brother! I feel like I could kill a bull now! Will you teach me how to punch?"
Grandpa Li and Second Uncle sat to one side, watching the show.
Laughter had already filled the Li Family's little courtyard.
Li Pingsheng shook his head. "You're still a long way from killing a bull. Come on, I'll teach you the most basic stance."
Standing in the middle of the courtyard, he guided Yunmei's posture by hand, teaching her the Health Preservation Stance from the Azure Cloud Martial Hall.
"Chest out, stomach in, breathe steadily. Imagine your roots reaching deep into the earth..."
As he corrected Yunmei's movements, Li Pingsheng activated his [Synesthesia] talent to observe how the qi and blood in her body circulated.
Once [Synesthesia] was active, blue ripples appeared in the air around Yunmei.
A few blue specks of light between heaven and earth rose and fell with Yunmei's breathing, passed through her skin, and flowed into her body, gathering around the acupoints within.
All energies had a voice; a touch of spiritual opportunity was all it took!
This wasn't the circulation of martial qi and blood. She was drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth!
Li Pingsheng was utterly astonished.
He had gained the aptitude to cultivate the Mystic Gate's path only by spending potential points to unlock his [Spirit Aperture].
Yunmei had possessed a [Spirit Aperture] since she was nine.
She was born to cultivate the Mystic Gate's path!
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