[Life Master:Lu Li] [Destiny:Heaven Rewards Diligence] [Attribute:Even a slow horse can cover a thousand miles in ten days; success lies in perseverance] [Martial Arts:Tiger-Subduing Fist(Skin-Refining Realm 15/400) one practice per day, 40 years to master]
Lu Li's build grew increasingly sturdy, and his strength more enduring. Since he had returned early, he practiced from the hour of the Rooster until the hour of the Pig, raising his proficiency by a full 15 points.
Only then did Lu Li feel his strength completely spent. His limbs felt as heavy as if they had been filled with lead. He tidied up and hastily went to sleep.
The next day.
With a basket of herbs on his back, Lu Li went to the Huang Family again.
Niu Er had found another valuable medicinal herb. This time, he had earned only thirty taels of silver. After splitting it with the others who had gone with him, he still had ten taels left.
Even so, many people envied him, and the number of people asking to accompany him into the mountains suddenly shot up.
Niu Er had taken on the airs of a leader, his nostrils pointed to the sky.
"We're heading into a den of wolves and tigers, where nine out of ten won't make it back. I need strong, able-bodied men. If you can't run fast or you're weak, go back where you came from."
"And I won't take cowards, either. They'll only hold us back."
As he spoke, he kept glancing at Lu Li, his look full of smug triumph. He had the air of a nouveau riche down to a tee.
Lu Li had seen it all before. In his previous life, people like that were everywhere.
Uncle Zhao stood beside Lu Li, looking envious too. If he had that much silver, he wouldn't have to worry about his family.
Too bad he couldn't go.
When he saw Niu Er sneering at Lu Li again, he couldn't hold back. He considered Lu Li one of his own, after all. "Hey, you pointy-headed fool! Did your mother squeeze your skull too hard when she gave birth to you? Is there nothing between your ears?"
"What kind of place is the deep mountains? Do you think you can come back safe every single time?"
At that, Niu Er's hand paused where it rested on his head. He flew into a rage. "You, Zhao! How dare you curse me?"
"You think I won't lay a hand on you just because you're old?"
"Want to see who's tougher—your old bones or my fists?"
After saying that, he seemed to remember something, and a sneer spread across his face. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Your wife's sick, and you need silver right now, don't you?"
"I'm feeling generous. Cut ties with Lu Li, and I'll pay for her treatment."
Uncle Zhao let out a cold laugh. "Save that money for yourself. When a demon chews your leg off, you can spend it on your own treatment."
"You..."
"What kind of racket is this? This is Huang Mansion, a distinguished household, not a place for a bunch of country bumpkins to raise hell. If you want to argue, get out."
Uncle Huang spoke, his tone cold.
Seeing that these people were all good-for-nothings who couldn't be helped, and that they would never fulfill the master's instructions, he was in a foul mood.
Uncle Zhao and Niu Er finally fell silent.
Lu Li tugged at Uncle Zhao's sleeve. "Aunt Zhao is sick?"
Uncle Zhao forced a smile. "It's nothing serious. A few doses of medicine and she'll be fine. Don't worry."
He hurried to change the subject. "Heh, don't let Niu Er's bear-like appearance fool you. He wouldn't dare lay a hand on anyone. Now that he's come into money, he naturally wants to stay alive. If he dies, the silver goes with him."
"Talking about throwing punches is just bragging. With that pointy head of his, he can't think of anything better to say."
Uncle Zhao patted Lu Li's head, as if he were stroking his own child.
Lu Li knew Uncle Zhao was covering something up, but he didn't press him.
After his father died, Uncle Zhao had always helped him, often bringing over clothes and food and even teaching him how to gather herbs.
Without that, Lu Li would have starved to death long ago.
Uncle Zhao had practically given him a second life.
After all this time, Lu Li knew him well. Uncle Zhao wouldn't lie; he could only change the subject.
But he was clumsy at changing the subject, which meant Aunt Zhao's illness must be very serious.
Though Lu Li now had a fortune of seventy taels, he couldn't take it out in the open.
The moment he showed his wealth, people would start eyeing it.
He had always been cautious, unlike a nouveau riche like Niu Er, who flaunted everything.
Soon, Uncle Zhao found an excuse and hurried away, as if afraid Lu Li would follow him.
Lu Li had no intention of following.
He looked up at the sky and made up his mind: tomorrow, he would go into the mountains.
Aunt Zhao was waiting for treatment.
He also needed an identity to conceal his true circumstances.
He hurried straight home, lit the fire to cook, practiced martial arts, and went to sleep.
When he finished practicing, his points rose by another 15, reaching 30.
Long-Abundance Mountain covered a vast area, stretching for eight hundred li.
The deeper parts were rarely visited by people.
Trees grew thickly, and dead branches and leaves carpeted the ground, crunching underfoot.
The paths were rugged, with snow covering the rocks. One careless step could send him tumbling.
He pressed on carefully.
So far, he had gone only ten li into the mountains and hadn't ventured recklessly any farther.
He advanced slowly beneath the trees. Peering through the dense leaves at the sky, he could see that it was nearly noon.
At last, by a small pond, he spotted a medicinal herb that was golden all over, its stem and leaves shaped like triangles.
Lu Li lifted his nose and sniffed. It did have a faint, sweet fragrance, but its medicinal properties didn't seem especially potent.
Lu Li picked it and continued deeper into the mountains.
Before long, he found another medicinal herb. It was quite wondrous: a faint glimmer of light shone from its round leaves.
It also gave off an intoxicating fragrance. It was sure to be worth a great deal.
Lu Li carefully dug it up and gently placed it in his basket, afraid of damaging it.
If its medicinal properties were lost, its effectiveness would be greatly reduced.
"No wonder they named this place Long-Abundance. The deep mountains really are rich in natural treasures."
"Of course, it's also because I'm a martial artist. I'm strong, agile, and sharp-eyed, so I can find them."
"But ordinary people can't enjoy this abundance. They can only trade their lives for it." Lu Li sighed inwardly.
Someone was following him.
He had been careful the whole way, his face full of worry as he constantly scanned his surroundings, like a frightened man expecting trouble.
He had kept up the act all along, thinking he'd make it through safely.
But something unexpected had happened. Someone was following him.
Fortunately, he had already trained his vigilance to the Flesh-Refining Realm, sharpening his ears and eyes.
That was how he'd heard the faint sounds behind him through the howling north wind.
An ordinary person would never have noticed.
"Tsk, I'm really unlucky. My first trip out, and I've already run into danger in the deep mountains. I have to admit, Niu Er's dumb luck has its perks," Lu Li grumbled inwardly.
He wasn't worried. The person was making enough noise for him to notice.
They couldn't even walk silently, which meant they didn't have much control over their body. They were certainly far weaker than he was.
Lu Li stopped, then suddenly turned and headed back, quickening his pace.
His face showed delight, but his eyes were full of anxiety as he kept glancing around.
He perfectly acted the part of a timid man who'd found treasure and was afraid someone would discover it—nervous and overjoyed all at once.
Perched in the branches of a towering ancient tree, a black-robed man watched Lu Li with mocking amusement.
"Heh, another lowly herb gatherer. Why have there been so many of them these past few days? Did they all come to the mountains to get rich?"
"Heh, even better. I was just worrying about where to find nourishment, and now you've lined up to deliver yourselves!"
With that, he leaped down and blocked the path Lu Li was bound to take.
His black robe fluttered, his sleeves billowing.
His qi and blood surged through his skin, causing it to swell and tighten, as tough as cowhide.
He was unmistakably a Skin-Refining martial artist!
Lu Li abruptly skidded to a halt, his expression changing drastically.
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