Task

After mastering the stance art, Lu Chen shifted the focus of his training to fist techniques.

After all, breaking through to the next stage of the Coiling Dragon Stance Art required a full thousand progress points.

That was not something he could accomplish in a short time.

The Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist was different. It was only a few hundred progress points away from mastery.

If he could push the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist to mastery and pair it with the mastered Coiling Dragon Stance, Lu Chen's combat strength would surely rise another level.

Then, if he faced an old hand like Liu Heng again, he would be even more at ease.

Before morning watch, Lu Chen practiced his fists.

After his evening shift, Lu Chen practiced his fists.

At night, after soaking in a medicinal bath and stirring up his qi and blood, he would still run through his fist techniques several more times in the training yard.

Azure Dragon Claw, Azure Dragon Coiling Body, Piercing Clouds, Entering the Sea, Dragon's Roar Pierces the Sun...

Move after move flowed ever more smoothly through his hands.

In the past, when he practiced fist techniques, he had mostly followed the established forms, relying on repetition to pile up variations.

But after mastering the stance art, Lu Chen's feeling when practicing the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist was completely different.

His footing was steadier, his waist and back more supple, and the muscles throughout his body seemed linked into a single line. Power traveled through him with exceptional smoothness.

This made every punch faster, and every change of move silkier.

However, in the intervals between practicing the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist, Lu Chen did not forget the Iron Thread Grappling Hand.

Lu Chen intended to learn this signature martial art of Mighty Far Hall.

The Iron Thread Grappling Hand was completely different from the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist.

It did not seek to knock someone down with a single punch. Instead, it specialized in disrupting an opponent's power, seizing their joints, and forcing them into a dead end.

When Lu Chen practiced alone in his room, the more he trained, the more troublesome he found this martial art.

Several days later, realization flashed through Lu Chen's eyes. "The key to the Iron Thread Grappling Hand isn't gripping the wrist or locking the elbow... it's catching the point where the opponent generates force."

When a martial artist threw a punch, it was not just the fist exerting strength.

From the feet, to the waist and hips, to the shoulders and back, to the arms, power was transmitted layer by layer.

As long as the path of force was cut off at any point, the opponent's punching power would collapse.

If I can learn this grappling hand and work it into actual combat, it will definitely catch people off guard.

Lu Chen pondered in secret.

Then he glanced at the translucent light screen:

[Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist: Minor Mastery]

[Progress: 289/500]

[Iron Thread Grappling Hand: Not Yet Initiated]

[Progress: 52/100]

Watching the progress increase, Lu Chen slowly let out a breath.

First, train the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist to mastery.

Then get the Iron Thread Grappling Hand to the beginner level.

With the two combined, I should be able to sweep aside martial artists of the initial realm.

At dawn, the courtyard guards gradually gathered in the rear courtyard for roll call.

The mist had yet to disperse, while cooking smoke had already risen from the kitchen. The blue-brick ground was damp with moisture. Some men yawned, some rubbed their aching shoulders, complaining that days of martial training had left them exhausted in body and mind.

Lu Chen stood among the crowd as well.

He had practiced his fists until late last night, then risen early this morning to hold the Coiling Dragon Stance for half an hour. By rights, after such exertion, he should have been sore from the waist down and mentally drained today.

Yet his eyes were bright, his breathing long and steady, and the qi and blood within his chest and abdomen circulated slowly. Not only did he show no trace of listlessness, he was even more energetic than usual.

That was the benefit of medicinal baths.

After all, each dose cost one tael of silver, and the effect was quite obvious.

Without medicinal baths to cleanse and temper the body, the fatigue, soreness, and subtle hidden injuries accumulated during training would settle into the tendons, bones, flesh, and blood day after day.

Nothing would show in the short term, but as time piled up, they would eventually turn against the body.

Many martial artists relied on their vigorous qi and blood in their youth, sparing no effort in training their fists and seeking only to advance a little faster. Once they grew older and their qi and blood began to decline, the hidden injuries accumulated in their early years would erupt all at once.

In the end, plagued by every sort of ache and illness, they would be worse off than dead.

Before long, Zhao Yiting walked over.

The moment he stepped onto the stone stairs, the somewhat scattered courtyard guards immediately stood at attention.

Zhao Yiting swept his gaze across the crowd and said in a low voice, "Today will not follow the usual patrol arrangements."

At those words, everyone's expressions grew several degrees more serious.

Zhao Yiting continued, "It is time again to escort medicinal herbs from the deep-mountain herb garden."

The moment he said that, murmurs rose from the crowd.

"The deep-mountain herb garden?"

"So we're going into Scarlet Cloud Mountain again this time."

"Tch, the mountain roads won't be easy."

"Let's hope we don't run into mountain bandits this time."

Lu Chen's heart stirred.

He had been at the Yam Herb Shop for some time now, so he had naturally heard of the deep-mountain herb garden.

The truly valuable things belonging to Wang's Ginseng Shop were not all stored in the county town's warehouses. They were in Scarlet Cloud Mountain outside the county town.

There was an herb garden that Wang's Firm had operated for many years, where quite a few precious medicinal herbs were grown. Whenever the herbs ripened for harvest, courtyard guards had to be sent to escort them from the mountains back to the town.

Zhao Yiting raised a hand and pressed it down, and the crowd immediately fell silent.

"The Yam Herb Shop has an herb garden in Scarlet Cloud Mountain. It grows Red Blood Vine, Black-Bone Lingzhi, Dragon-Whisker Grass, and several other main ingredients for refining Blood-Qi Powder."

"A batch of herbs has ripened this month. If we can transport them back safely, it will be enough for the pill room to fire up the furnace and refine several batches of Blood-Qi Powder."

An older courtyard guard asked, "Leader Zhao, who is leading the team this time?"

"It will still be Leader Wang Zhong," Zhao Yiting said.

Wang Zhong was a martial artist at Minor Achievement in Blood Moving whom the Wang Family had raised themselves. His surname had not originally been Wang; only after breaking through to Minor Achievement in Blood Moving had he been granted the Wang surname and become a member of the Wang Family proper.

Lu Chen had not yet met Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong generally remained stationed at the deep-mountain herb garden, where he was responsible for escorting medicinal herbs.

Zhao Yiting added at this point, "Escorting medicinal herbs along mountain roads is far more dangerous than serving as a courtyard guard at the Yam Herb Shop."

"Mountain bandits roam the mountains. Whether it is Black Wind Stronghold or the Golden Tiger Gang, neither is a kind lot."

"No matter who among you receives the assignment, you must be careful!"

"Yes!" the courtyard guards answered in unison.

After that, Zhao Yiting began calling names.

"Zhou Li, Liu Heng, Li Qing, Lu Chen..."

One by one, those called stepped forward, and Lu Chen was among them.

The escort duty came up once or twice a month, and basically everyone got a turn.

After finishing the roll call, Zhao Yiting looked at Lu Chen and gave him a reminder. "Once you enter the mountains, obey all orders."

"With Leader Wang Zhong there, he is seasoned and experienced. Follow him, and nothing will happen."

Lu Chen clasped his fists. "Understood."

Zhao Yiting nodded, then said, "This time, we are not only going to collect medicinal herbs. We also need to deliver a batch of supplies to the herb garden, such as salt and cloth. There will be cargo on the way there, and cargo on the way back."

"We depart in half an hour."

"Go back and pack your things."

"If anyone holds the group back on the road, don't blame me for docking his monthly pay when we return!"

The courtyard guards answered together, "Yes!"

After everyone dispersed, Lu Chen turned and headed back to his quarters.

Before he left, Qian Ming came to see Lu Chen off.

"Take these."

Qian Ming walked into the room and casually tossed Lu Chen a small cloth pouch.

Lu Chen caught it and opened it. Inside were several small black pills and a pinch of insect-repelling incense.

"What are these?"

"Antidote pills, and insect-repelling incense," Qian Ming said. "The mountains are damp and full of venomous bugs. Sleep for one night, and a centipede might crawl right into your ear."

Lu Chen put away the pouch. "Thanks."

"Be more careful on the road. If you run into mountain bandits, fight if you can. If you can't, run."

"It's only a few taels of silver a month. It's not worth risking your life over."

Qian Ming added.

Lu Chen nodded. "I know."