Close Friends and Family, Pay Extra

Thus, Wang Xuance began several days of "seeking instruction," and his True Martial Qi steadily grew day by day.

For some unknown reason, his immediate superior, Chen Feng, did not make things difficult for him or stir up trouble, allowing him to live peacefully for a time.

Naturally, he did not know that Chen Feng had recently been preparing to break into the martial artist realm, open his three apertures, and cultivate true qi, leaving him with no time to spare for other matters.

Life in the military was simple and unadorned. They were generally granted three days of leave every month, so during this month's rest period, Wang Xuance came to the largest Medicine King Shop in the outer city.

It was a shop that specialized in selling spiritual medicine.

As the saying went, "The poor pursue learning, the rich pursue martial arts." Beyond relentless hardship and years of accumulation, martial training also depended greatly on certain unique medicines.

After a month of experimentation, he had gradually come to understand that the restrictions on the "cheat" in his body were no small matter.

Anyone he had fought and drawn True Martial Qi from seemed to have been marked. If they fought again, he could no longer obtain True Martial Qi from them.

Secondly, if he could defeat his opponent, he would obtain the greatest amount of True Martial Qi. Wang Xuance had fought nearly every person in the Mountain Sea Guard who had reached the Second Knock Blood Barrier, yet he had defeated only a scant few.

But the abundant True Martial Qi he had gained still left even him amazed, once again confirming that his decision to enlist had been the right one.

Wang Xuance raised his head and stared at the extravagant, luxurious Medicine King Shop, his expression faintly dazed.

The Medicine King Shop had four floors. Its main hall was paved with countless slabs of white marble, while rare spiritual medicines were displayed in colorful cases.

The rich medicinal aura stirred a craving that seeped from every pore of his body. Just among the herbs within his sight were several rare medicinal plants that would greatly benefit him.

"Sir, what medicinal herbs do you need?"

A crisp female voice, like the song of an oriole, came from beside him.

Wang Xuance turned at the sound. Not looking was one thing; once he looked, he was startled.

The woman approaching him was no taller than his chest.

She wore a spring-colored qipao and embroidered shoes. Her bare, lotus-white arms hung past her hips, while the pair of full "weapons" that seemed ready to spill from her dress instantly sent the young man's blood surging.

"Cough, cough..."

Wang Xuance waved a hand, turned his gaze away, and spoke bluntly.

"I need two ten-year Vermilion Summer Fruits. Please pack them in a stone-jade box, miss. Here is one tael of silver."

He flipped out a purple pouch and handed it to the qipao-clad woman, not daring to look at her even a moment longer.

Seriously, what's the difference between this and the foot-washing massage parlors from my previous life? They only hire women dressed up like fluttering flowers!

Wang Xuance forcibly suppressed the pounding in his chest. Next time, he would definitely choose another medicine shop.

"Hehe, sir, judging by the herbs you want, you must be preparing to break through the Jiuwei acupoint in the Third Knock Blood Barrier. Consider these two Vermilion Summer Fruits a gift, a token of friendship!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman lightly clapped twice. A servant in green brought over a pearwood tray.

On it were precisely the Vermilion Summer Fruits Wang Xuance wanted.

A Vermilion Summer Fruit was no bigger than an infant's fist. It was entirely crimson, streaked with faint golden threads. Its fragrance was rich, accompanied by a clear and refreshing aura.

It was one of the essential medicines for those seeking to break through the Third Knock Blood Barrier.

The usual market price was one tael and five mace for each Vermilion Summer Fruit. Wang Xuance had emptied his savings for these two fruits.

Yet the woman before him had casually said she would give them to him as a gesture of friendship. It was impossible for him not to grow suspicious.

Unsolicited kindness—either treachery or theft.

Without caring whether she accepted it, he stuffed the pouch into her hand, picked up the two Vermilion Summer Fruits, and started toward the door.

Seeing that Wang Xuance ignored her goodwill, the voluptuous woman lightly twisted her fingers and said directly, "Could it be that you intend to wait for Chen Feng's retaliation?"

Whoosh!

A sharp gaze locked onto the woman. Whether or not she could stir his blood qi, he made no effort to conceal the icy killing intent in his eyes.

Under his stare, the voluptuous woman could not help but feel chills crawl over her scalp. She waved a hand, and the two entered a private room.

Countless questions ran through Wang Xuance's mind. He had only been in the army for less than a full month. Just who was this woman, to know about the matter between him and Chen Feng?

"Please do not blame me, Young Master. I had no choice!"

The woman rose and bowed, making no attempt to conceal her proud "weapons."

"Young Master Wang, my name is Chen Linger. Chen Feng and I are both members of the Chen family of the outer city!"

Chen Linger's words were shocking. Wang Xuance's eyes shifted as he shot her a vicious glare.

"What a bad habit. Your family has a problem—what does it have to do with me?"

"I'm also a martial apprentice who has crossed the Third Knock Blood Barrier. I can challenge the martial artist realm too; I have no reason to fear him."

"When that time comes, if he truly wants to deal with me, he'd better be prepared to have his teeth shattered!"

In any case, Wang Xuance would be safe during these hundred days, so he was not worried that Chen Feng would make any moves against him.

After all, the iron-blooded rules of the military were not something Chen Feng could easily shake.

Seeing Wang Xuance say nothing and merely stare at her, Chen Linger felt slightly uneasy. Then she clenched her silver teeth and placed a rosewood box between them.

"Young Master Wang, to show my sincerity after my presumptuous behavior, I am willing to give this item to you!"

With a snap, the sandalwood box opened, revealing what lay within.

Wang Xuance merely glanced at it, but his pupils abruptly contracted. There was now a strange look in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Miss Chen!"

"It seems we've had no dealings with each other, have we?"

"What is this? Planning to throw your weight around? Or force a sale?"

Wang Xuance said coldly and without the slightest politeness.

"I wouldn't dare, Young Master Wang. Consider it merely a token of friendship!"

"That depends on whether Brother Wang wishes to accept my goodwill!"

As though she had thrown caution to the wind, Chen Linger directly laid out her purpose.

"Hmph! Others may fear your Chen family, but I do not!"

Wang Xuance sneered, flicking his sleeve as he prepared to leave.

It was obvious the woman before him needed something from him, yet her manner made him deeply displeased. To a young man, improving his martial cultivation was what truly mattered.

So long as his strength was great enough, no demons, monsters, ghosts, or fiends would be worth mentioning.

"Please wait, Young Master Wang. If the two of us work together, we can get rid of Chen Feng. Once it is done, I am willing to offer a top-grade mortal-tier fist technique and two untouched maidservants as payment!"

"Oh? Miss Chen, have you gone a little mad? Chen Feng is someone preparing to break through to become a martial artist!"

"I'm only at the Second Knock of the Blood Barrier, and at most you're merely equal to me. You want to kill someone at the Third Knock of the Blood Barrier? Isn't that wishful thinking? Dreaming in broad daylight?"

Wang Xuance sighed inwardly. This woman was truly reckless—no wonder she was offering such generous terms. If he were the original owner of this body, he would probably have agreed.

But having lived two lives, he understood that "a true man can bend and stretch." He would never stand beneath a crumbling wall.

"Young Master Wang, if I have a way to make his strength fall below the Third Knock of the Blood Barrier for a certain period of time, would you be interested?"

Chen Linger slowly uttered words that promised death without end.

Wang Xuance rested his fingers on the tabletop.

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

"Miss Chen, do you not know that Chen Feng is my immediate superior?"

"He is the squad leader of our Mountain Sea Guard. We are on excellent terms—close as kin! For you to ask me to kill him..."

"...You'll have to pay more!!"