Regret (Please Keep Reading)

After resting for a night in the herb garden, the medicinal wine he had drunk the night before had been fully digested.

Its medicinal power was not as fierce as Blood-Qi Powder, but it was gentle and enduring. Once the wine's fumes faded, the remaining medicine turned into wisps of warmth that slowly traveled through his limbs and bones, nourishing his muscles and driving out cold and damp.

When Lu Chen woke, he felt warm all over.

He had spent the entire previous day rushing along mountain roads and had fought Liu Heng as well. By rights, his body should have been sore, yet now only his shoulders and back felt slightly taut, while his qi and blood flowed even more smoothly than the night before.

"This medicinal wine isn't bad."

Lu Chen thought to himself.

For Yam Herb Shop to operate in Scarlet Cloud Mountain for so many years, it truly had some foundation.

He wanted to buy a few bottles of this medicinal wine to take back with him.

The sky had only just begun to lighten, yet the herb garden was already stirring.

The distant mountain forest lay dark and heavy, with the occasional birdcall drifting through it. Between the herb fields, early-rising herb farmers had already begun working, while several guards with bows on their backs slowly patrolled the perimeter.

After getting up, Lu Chen came to an open area in the herb garden and first assumed the Coiling Dragon Stance.

His feet stood slightly apart, his knees and hips sank low, and his spine coiled like an Azure Dragon as his breathing rose and fell.

As he settled into the stance, the qi and blood within him circulated slowly. The lingering warmth from last night's medicinal wine was gradually gathered and guided through his meridians, sinking deep into his flesh and blood.

Half an hour later, Lu Chen ended the stance.

He exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and felt heat coursing through his entire body, every muscle fully awakened.

Then he began practicing the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist.

Azure Dragon Claw, Azure Dragon Coiling Body, Piercing Clouds, Entering the Sea...

His fists carved streaks of white through the morning mist, while his sleeves snapped in the wind.

Not far away, Wang Zhong, who had just finished a round of patrols through the herb garden, approached with a mountain bow on his back.

Seeing this, he stopped in his tracks, a hint of approval appearing in his eyes.

"Your Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist has decent mastery. You've already reached Minor Accomplishment?"

After Lu Chen withdrew his fists, Wang Zhong stepped forward and asked with a smile.

Lu Chen clasped his hands. "Greetings, Chief Wang. Your eye is indeed experienced."

"My fist art has reached Minor Accomplishment."

As he spoke, a transparent light screen silently appeared:

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

[Progress: 329/500]

The admiration in Wang Zhong's eyes deepened. "Good!"

"The Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist excels in nimble variations, and among the fist arts taught by martial halls, it is considered rather difficult to master. To train it to Minor Accomplishment at such a young age shows that you have considerable talent."

"You flatter me, Chief Wang," Lu Chen replied modestly.

Wang Zhong smiled. "Your spar with Liu Heng last night also made me see you in a new light."

He then patted Lu Chen's arm and said, "That boy Liu Heng is narrow-minded and small-hearted. That punch you gave him yesterday can be considered a lesson for him."

"You'll all be brothers from now on. Don't let this damage the harmony between you."

Lu Chen knew Wang Zhong was trying to resolve the grudge between him and Liu Heng and prevent internal strife. After all, they both worked under Wang Firm; whoever got hurt would be Wang Firm's loss.

He fell silent for a moment before saying, "Rest assured, Chief Wang. As long as he doesn't provoke me, I naturally won't make another move against him."

Wang Zhong nodded. "Good."

"You'll rest and recover in the herb garden today. Once the herbs are loaded, you'll escort them back to the city early tomorrow morning."

Then Wang Zhong turned his gaze toward the depths of the mountains.

The morning mist had yet to disperse. Layer upon layer of peaks lay veiled beneath thin fog, revealing only vague outlines. Farther away, a crimson glow hung above the mountain ridge, like fire and like blood. It never dispersed throughout the year, staining half the sky with an eerie red.

Wang Zhong narrowed his eyes. After a moment of silence, he murmured, "Does Scarlet Cloud Mountain hide immortals... or shelter demons?"

His voice was low, as though he were speaking to himself.

The next day, morning light shone bright.

All the mature herbs in the herb garden had been loaded onto carts.

Wooden crates were bound tightly with coarse hemp rope.

Wang Zhong personally inspected the cart ropes, then had people cover them with oilcloth before saying in a deep voice, "Move out."

The escort party numbered twenty in total.

Wang Zhong, who had reached Minor Accomplishment in Blood Transferring, led the group, while the accompanying guards were all capable experts of the Blood Transferring realm.

On the return journey, everyone was noticeably more cautious than before.

On the way here, the carts had carried ordinary goods like salt, cloth, and grain, which were of limited value. Yam Herb Shop would not have cared much if they were lost.

But now, several carts were filled to the brim with medicinal herbs. If they were stolen, Wang Firm's pill supply for the coming month would be affected.

The mountain path was narrow, and cart wheels rolled over wet mud with dull rumbling sounds.

Dense woods rose on both sides, their branches and leaves blotting out the sky. By the time sunlight filtered through, it had shattered into mottled patches of light and shadow. When the mountain wind blew, faint rustling often came from the grass, making it impossible to tell whether it was insects and snakes or people hiding in the dark.

Wang Zhong walked at the front, a mountain bow on his back and a short blade at his waist swaying with each step.

Lu Chen was responsible for escorting the third cart of herbs.

Liu Heng trailed at the rear. Having lost both face and silver to Lu Chen, he could not suppress the venomous resentment hidden in his gaze whenever he looked at him.

By noon, the group had just rounded a slope strewn with rocks when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from the forest ahead.

Wang Zhong abruptly raised a hand.

"Stop!"

The entire party halted at once.

The next moment, more than a dozen ragged figures rushed out of the woods.

They were unlike the seasoned bandits of Black Wind Stronghold who knew the mountain paths well. Their steps were disorderly, and their faces were filled with exhaustion and ferocity. Some carried bundles on their backs, some held chipped blades, and two were wounded, as if they had only just fled here from somewhere else.

The two sides ran into each other head-on on the mountain road, and both froze.

The leading man had a face full of stubble and a fresh blade scar beneath his left eye. When he saw the escort party, his expression immediately changed.

Wang Zhong's gaze darkened. "What road are you from?"

The scarred man did not answer.

His eyes swept over the escort party. Seeing that Wang Zhong and the others were all strong and clearly trained fighters, hesitation flickered across his face.

But the fragrance of herbs wafting from the carts quickly let greed overwhelm his wariness.

"Several carts filled with herbs. The brothers have been worrying about not having money to buy medicine. They've delivered it right to our door."

The scarred man gritted his teeth and shouted, "Brothers, seize these herbs, and we'll have a way to live!"

Wang Zhong's expression turned cold. "Show no mercy. Kill them!"

The moment his words fell, the vagrants howled and charged.

The mountain road was narrow, leaving neither side room to maneuver. They collided directly.

Blade light flashed, and shouts of battle instantly tore through the silence of the mountain forest.

Wang Zhong bent his bow and nocked an arrow. The bowstring rang, and an arrow pierced the chest of a vagrant charging at the front. He screamed and rolled down the slope.

One vagrant rushed into the cart convoy and swung his blade down at Lu Chen. The attack was chaotic, yet it carried the savage desperation of a man who did not care for his life.

Lu Chen sidestepped the blow, his right arm shooting out like a dragon as his fist smashed into the man's wrist.

Crack!

The vagrant's wrist snapped, and his blade flew from his hand.

Lu Chen immediately drove forward with his shoulder, his fist slamming into the man's chest and sending him flying backward into a companion behind him, knocking the latter over.

His gaze was calm. Once his fist momentum unfolded, he guarded the side of the herb cart, his fist forms spreading across the chaotic mountain road.

Within a few breaths, three vagrants had already fallen at his feet.

But at that moment, an extremely faint rush of force suddenly came from behind him.

"Hmm?"

Iron Thread Grappling Hand.

Liu Heng!

Amid the melee, Liu Heng had actually taken advantage of Lu Chen's back being turned to silently close in. His five fingers curled like hooks as they clawed straight for Lu Chen's right shoulder.

If this grab landed, then with a twist of the shoulder and elbow, Lu Chen's arm would be crippled at once.

And before him, another vagrant was bringing down a large blade.

"Die."

Liu Heng's eyes were filled with venom.

Originally, he had planned to train the Iron Thread Grappling Hand to Great Accomplishment before seeking Lu Chen out to settle accounts.

Yet he had not expected heaven to hand him this opportunity by letting them run into a band of vagrants.

Evil rose in Liu Heng's heart, and he directly struck at Lu Chen from behind.

"My silver isn't so easy to take!"

"You may have the life to take it, but not the life to spend it!"

Yet at the instant his five fingers seized Lu Chen's shoulder, Lu Chen grabbed his wrist behind his back instead.

"Grappling hand?"

"I know it too!"

Lu Chen seized Liu Heng's wrist and yanked hard, dragging Liu Heng's entire body in front of him.

In Liu Heng's stunned confusion, a chipped blade was already chopping down toward his head.

Splurt!

Blood sprayed everywhere as Liu Heng's heart was cleaved open by the blade.

He died on the spot!

Meanwhile, Lu Chen's fist shot out from behind Liu Heng's back and smashed into the vagrant's face, caving his nose completely inward.

After a fierce battle, this band of vagrants was no match for them at all. Their scarred leader was killed by a palm strike from Wang Zhong, while the rest either died or fled.

Wang Zhong had no time to pursue the fleeing vagrants. He hurriedly checked the herb carts and the escort party.

The herbs were intact, and no one had been injured. Only Liu Heng was dead.

Wang Zhong stepped forward to inspect Liu Heng's corpse. Lu Chen stood to one side and explained that Liu Heng's failed sneak attack had resulted in him being accidentally cleaved to death by a vagrant.

Wang Zhong glanced at Lu Chen without asking for details.

He knew what kind of person Liu Heng was.

He merely said flatly, "Put him on the cart. Return to the city!"

A martial artist at the initial stage of Blood Transferring was nothing in these chaotic times. If he died, then he died.

Watching Liu Heng's corpse being lifted onto the cart, Lu Chen felt some regret. I didn't get the chance to loot the body yet...