Blood-Moving Minor Achievement

By the time they returned to the Yam Herb Shop in the county town, dusk had fallen.

The convoy entered the back courtyard, and the guards, who had been tense the whole way, breathed a sigh of relief.

Several carts of medicinal herbs were pushed up to the storeroom. Wang Shouyi was already waiting there with the accountant and shop hands.

Only when he saw the carts arrive full and undamaged did some of the tension leave his face. He hurriedly ordered, "Quick! Get the herbs into storage first!"

The shop hands immediately stepped forward to carry the crates.

The guards moved aside to rest. They had finally made it through this escort run.

They had only encountered a band of roving bandits from elsewhere, and they had scattered them in the end. Still, the sudden bloodshed had left many of the guards shaken.

These were chaotic times. No one knew whether the next band they met would be a powerful enemy.

Liu Heng's death was more like a basin of cold water poured over them all.

Just the night before last, they had sat around the campfire drinking with him and watched him spar with Lu Chen, full of life. Today, on their return to town, he was wrapped in oilcloth, a corpse.

Several guards looked at the body, their faces pale.

"Life changes without warning..."

"Liu Heng had rotten luck. Everyone else came through, and he was the only one who died."

Wang Zhong stood nearby, his expression grim. He said to Wang Shouyi, "We ran into a band of roving bandits on the road. They weren't locals from Scarlet Cloud Mountain; they probably fled here from another county. The herbs are undamaged, and none of the brothers were badly hurt. Only Liu Heng died."

The smile vanished from Wang Shouyi's face.

He glanced at Liu Heng as the body was carried down. After a moment's silence, he said only, "Give him a proper burial. Pay his family the customary compensation."

Then he looked over the others and cupped his fists. "Thank you all for your hard work on this trip. Each of you will receive one tael of silver for your service today."

At the mention of a reward, their faces brightened.

By the time Lu Chen returned to his quarters, night had deepened.

The courtyard lamps cast a dim yellow glow.

Lu Chen pushed open the door, brushed the dust from his clothes, then washed the lingering smell of blood from his hands.

Clear water ran between his fingers, carrying away faint traces of red.

He gazed into the basin, his thoughts gradually settling.

Today's fight on the mountain road had come without warning. The bandits, the herb carts, the shouts of battle, the hand Liu Heng had reached toward him from behind... Scene after scene flashed through his mind.

Lu Chen felt not a shred of guilt over Liu Heng's death.

In the middle of the melee, Liu Heng had tried to strike him from behind. He had meant to kill Lu Chen.

Since Liu Heng had harbored murderous intent first, dying beneath a bandit's blade was nothing more than reaping what he had sown.

I can never be too wary of others. I'll have to be even more careful from now on.

I must never leave my back to anyone!

Lu Chen silently warned himself.

Then he called for the maid, Little Green, to prepare his medicinal bath.

Before long, Little Green came in carrying the packet of herbs. She saw the tears in his sleeve and caught the faint smell of blood. Her face paled. "Brother Lu, I heard you ran into bandits on the way back..."

"Don't worry. I'm fine."

Lu Chen's tone was calm. "Prepare the bath. Make the water a little hotter."

Little Green hurriedly answered, "Yes."

Lu Chen did not sit inside and wait.

He went out to an open patch of the courtyard, slowly settled into a fighting stance, and continued practicing his fist art.

The night wind swept over the courtyard wall, bringing a touch of cold.

Yet Lu Chen's fists grew hotter and hotter. His qi and blood flowed with each movement, and power linked his shoulders, back, waist, hips, and arms, joint by joint.

In troubled times, human lives were no more than blades of grass.

Only with hard enough fists and strong enough qi and blood could a person stand firm amid the wind and waves.

The fragrance of herbs gradually drifted from the room.

Little Green called softly from the doorway, "Brother Lu, the medicinal bath is ready."

Lu Chen drew back his fists and breathed out a gust of warm air.

A translucent panel quietly appeared before his eyes:

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

[Progress: 351/500]

Lu Chen glanced at it and felt a little more at ease.

His fist art was not far from major achievement.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Chen had spent a month at the Yam Herb Shop.

Each day, he reported for duty, patrolled the courtyard, practiced his fists, soaked in medicinal baths, took Blood-Qi Powder, and nourished himself with meat. His days were exceptionally full.

On a day off, Chen Chong sent word early, inviting him to meet at Little Prosperity Tower.

Lu Chen changed into a clean blue robe and left the Yam Herb Shop.

He had barely wandered the streets that month, and their bustle now left him a little dazed. Hawkers' cries, the rumble of cart wheels, and laughter and banter spilling from restaurants mingled together, easing his mind.

When he reached Little Prosperity Tower, Chen Chong was already waiting at the entrance.

His eyes lit up when he saw Lu Chen. "It's only been a month, Junior Brother Lu, but you've grown much sturdier."

He reached out and squeezed Lu Chen's arm. The muscle beneath his fingers was firm as a tightly twisted ox tendon, and he clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Your qi and blood are much stronger too!"

Lu Chen smiled. "My posting at the Yam Herb Shop is easy. I've had plenty of time to train this month."

Over the month, the wisp of qi and blood in his chest had grown to five wisps, a fourfold increase. With his Coiling Dragon Stance Art at major achievement, the muscles and tendons throughout his body had been reshaped. Nourished further by medicinal baths and Blood-Qi Powder, they had grown firmer and stronger.

Now, even standing still, he carried the steady presence of a martial artist.

The two entered Little Prosperity Tower and found a table by the window in the ground-floor dining hall.

The window overlooked the long street, where pedestrians streamed past. Inside, the aromas of wine and meat filled the air. A storyteller struck his block in a corner while several martial wanderers listened with relish.

Chen Chong ordered a few house specialties and a pot of wine.

Looking at Lu Chen, he opened the conversation. "I heard you escorted herbs from the Scarlet Cloud Mountain Herb Garden a while back and ran into bandits on the road? And a disciple from Mighty Far Hall died?"

Lu Chen nodded.

"Mighty Far Hall has been making a name for itself these past two years, vying with Thousand Crane Martial Hall for the title of Scarlet Cloud County's foremost martial hall."

Chen Chong continued, "They have plenty of disciples. Losing a few won't make much difference."

When the food and wine arrived, Chen Chong put some meat on Lu Chen's plate, then said, "Still, our Hidden Dragon Martial Hall is doing better and better too."

Lu Chen looked up. "Is there good news from the martial hall?"

"You could say that."

Chen Chong smiled, a trace of excitement in his eyes.

"A batch of newcomers has arrived lately, more than ten of them. The hall is much livelier than it used to be."

"There were times we didn't get ten new disciples in half a year."

The entry fee at Hidden Dragon Martial Hall was ten taels of silver. More than ten new disciples meant over a hundred taels.

"And Shi Hao—have you heard?" Chen Chong added.

"Heard what?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, his chopsticks pausing slightly.

"That kid broke through to Blood-Moving Minor Achievement."

Chen Chong took a sip of wine. His voice held admiration, along with pressure and resignation he could not quite hide. "Blood-Moving Minor Achievement at fifteen."

"Among his peers in Scarlet Cloud County, he stands out like a crane among chickens."

He gave a self-mocking smile. "Meanwhile, I've been overtaken by a junior brother ten years younger than me."

Lu Chen had not expected Shi Hao to take that step so soon either.

At the initial stage of the Blood-Moving Realm, qi and blood were like wisps. At minor achievement, they were like a stream.

The two stages might be only one step apart, but many people trained for years, even their entire lives, without ever reaching that threshold.

Shi Hao was only fifteen. His future looked bright.

The thought passed through Lu Chen's mind, but little showed on his face.

He patted Chen Chong's shoulder and said reassuringly, "Senior Brother, you've built a solid foundation. Once all that effort bears fruit, your day of breaking through to minor achievement will come."

"Haha, you really know what to say."

"Come on, let's have a drink."

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Chen Chong took a money pouch from his robe and pushed it toward Lu Chen.

Lu Chen glanced at it. "What's this?"

Chen Chong said, "This month's support from the Chen Family."

Chen Chong opened the pouch. Inside lay four taels of silver, neatly arranged.

Lu Chen's expression turned solemn. He did not refuse the money. After putting it away, he cupped his fists and said earnestly, "Thank you, Senior Brother Chen. Please give your father my regards."

Chen Chong nodded and smiled at Lu Chen. "Train hard, Junior Brother Lu. I'll be waiting to hear that you've broken through to minor achievement!"