Arrangements

Inside the room.

Lamplight fell across Wang Shouyi's face, softening some of his usual merchant's slickness and revealing a rare solemnity.

He looked at Lu Chen, his voice graver than usual. "Lu Chen, starting today, we're improving your compensation."

"Your monthly pay will rise from six taels to twenty."

"In addition, the Wang Firm will provide you with ten doses of Blood-Qi Powder each month for your cultivation."

Twenty taels a month.

Ten doses of Blood-Qi Powder.

His compensation had multiplied several times over in one stroke.

Even Lu Chen was stunned.

"Twenty taels, plus ten doses of Blood-Qi Powder?"

He had never expected Wang Shouyi to make such a generous offer right out of the gate.

Twenty taels in wages and ten doses of Blood-Qi Powder amounted to a full forty taels a month.

Even Zhao Yiting, who had spent five years with the Wang Firm, might not receive such treatment.

"What?" Wang Shouyi asked. "Not enough?"

Lu Chen immediately cupped his fist. "You misunderstand, Shopkeeper. It's simply so generous that I'm a little overwhelmed by the favor."

"Generous?"

Wang Shouyi shook his head. "If we judged only by your current blood-moving minor achievement strength, it certainly would be."

"But I'm looking at more than the present."

His gaze rested on Lu Chen, admiration shining irrepressibly in his eyes.

"You've only been with our Wang Firm for two months, yet you've already broken through to minor achievement and earned Qiao Yuan's appreciation."

"You're also the finest fighter among our guards."

"If I still judged a young, accomplished martial artist with your talent and boundless potential by the standards of an ordinary blood-moving minor achievement practitioner, I'd truly be blind."

The praise left even Lu Chen feeling as though he were floating on air.

He drew a deep breath and solemnly cupped his fist. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Wang."

"I won't let the Wang Firm's generosity go to waste."

Wang Shouyi nodded in satisfaction.

Clearly, these arrangements were meant to nurture Lu Chen. Wang Shouyi was even treating him as Qiao Yuan's future successor, the new sea-calming pillar that would anchor the Wang Firm.

Then his smile faded. Lowering his voice further, he gave an earnest warning.

"However, Lu Chen, don't let word of your breakthrough to minor achievement spread just yet."

Lu Chen looked at Wang Shouyi, waiting for him to continue.

Wang Shouyi's gaze deepened. "No one knows you've reached minor achievement so quickly, or that our Wang Firm has gained another blood-moving minor achievement martial artist."

"I want you to be a hidden card up our sleeve. You may prove unexpectedly useful in the future!"

"Do you understand?"

Lu Chen nodded.

He understood Wang Shouyi's arrangement.

It was simply a matter of concealing their strength to catch others off guard.

"When you collect your monthly pay from the accounts office, take the same amount as before," Wang Shouyi continued. "I'll give you the rest privately."

"I'll also arrange for you to go to the Scarlet Cloud Mountain Herb Garden."

Lu Chen paused. "The herb garden?"

"That's right."

Wang Shouyi nodded. "Winter is when snow wolves roam. The herb garden needs more hands."

"Besides, you'll be away from the watching eyes in the county town and can cultivate in peace."

Lu Chen nodded. "You've thought of everything, Shopkeeper."

After spending a day preparing at the Yam Herb Shop, Lu Chen packed his belongings and set out the following morning.

The chill in Scarlet Cloud County's town was growing sharper, and passersby hurried along with their necks hunched into their collars.

Once Lu Chen left town and followed the mountain path toward Scarlet Cloud Mountain, the sky grew increasingly gloomy.

Halfway there, snow began to fall.

At first, it was only a few scattered flakes, melting into damp marks on his shoulders. Then the snowfall thickened, slowly coating the withered grass and branches beside the path in white.

A cold wind swept down from the mountain pass, scraping his cheeks like a knife.

Yet Lu Chen felt no cold.

He had already reached blood-moving minor achievement. His blood and qi flowed like a stream, circulating throughout his body and filling him with warmth. Most of the chill that slipped beneath his collar was immediately driven away.

He walked steadily up the mountain path, his footsteps crunching softly in the thin snow.

Toward evening, Lu Chen finally caught sight of the Scarlet Cloud Mountain Herb Garden.

The herb garden was built against the mountainside, with sentries in thick fur coats keeping watch from two towers. Inside, rows of herb beds lay beneath straw mats and bamboo shelters to protect the plants from frost and snow.

From a distance, the intermingling snow, herb shelters, and wooden buildings gave it something of the air of a mountain stronghold.

The guard at the gate recognized Lu Chen and immediately called out with a smile, "Guard Lu is here!"

Lu Chen's defeat of Liu Heng that night had become a talking point throughout the herb garden. Everyone knew about it.

Before long, a middle-aged man in a thick padded robe strode out to greet him.

It was Wang Zhong, the head of the herb garden.

The moment Wang Zhong spotted Lu Chen, a hearty smile spread across his face. He cupped his hands while still some distance away. "Haha! Brother Lu, we meet again already!"

Lu Chen smiled and cupped his fist in return. "Chief Wang, sorry for the trouble during my stay."

"Not at all!"

Wang Zhong came over and gave Lu Chen's shoulder a firm pat. "Shopkeeper Wang has already sent someone to inform me. Now that you're here, Brother Lu, just focus on cultivating in peace."

Admiration flickered in his eyes as he added, "Heroes truly do emerge from the young."

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

"Come, I'll show you where you'll be staying."

Wang Zhong turned and pointed into the garden.

"I've already arranged your lodgings. That little courtyard to the east, near the mountain behind us. It's very quiet. Aside from the mountain patrols, nobody goes there."

"We've also prepared the medicinal herbs you'll need for your training. Just let me know whenever you need them."

"And there's another benefit to staying here—as much medicinal wine as you can drink!"

Lu Chen's face brightened. "Then you have my thanks, Chief Wang."

The Wang Firm's medicinal wine invigorated the blood and strengthened qi. A few cups each day were quite beneficial to the circulation of blood and qi.

After entering the herb garden, Lu Chen settled into the little eastern courtyard.

The courtyard was small, but its tranquility more than made up for that. Woodland stood directly behind the house, snow weighing down the pine branches. Occasionally, clumps fell with a soft rustle in the night. Farther off, straw mats covered the herb beds, and rows of bamboo shelters crouched low in the snow like the ridged backs of sleeping beasts.

That night, a bonfire blazed in the center of the herb garden.

The fire burned fiercely, dry wood crackling as sparks whirled up on the cold wind and quickly vanished into the darkness.

To welcome Lu Chen, Wang Zhong had made a special trip into the mountains with some men that morning and hunted a wild boar.

The boar had now been gutted and cleaned, and was turning slowly on a wooden roasting frame. Heat drew out its fat, which dripped onto the coals with a sizzling hiss.

A rich, meaty aroma soon filled the air.

Sitting beside the fire with a short knife in hand, Wang Zhong carved off a golden-brown piece and handed it to Lu Chen.

"Brother Lu, give this a try."

"Mountain boars are raised by heaven and nourished by earth. There's strength in their flesh. Eating this builds more strength than other meat."

Lu Chen accepted the roast meat and took a bite.

The outside was crisp, the meat firm, and the flavors of coarse salt and mountain pepper mingled together beautifully.

"That smells and tastes wonderful!"

Lu Chen's praise was heartfelt.

Everyone shared the roast meat, eating until grease shone on their lips, thoroughly satisfied.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Wang Zhong explained some of the precautions to take in the mountains. "The mountains aren't peaceful in winter, either. Plenty of wild beasts are out roaming."

"Especially those packs of snow wolves."

"They're astonishingly strong, every bit the equal of a grown initial-stage martial artist."

"And they move in packs. Once they set their sights on you, you'll be lucky to escape with your life."

"Lu Chen, stay in the herb garden and cultivate in peace for now. If you want to take a stroll in the mountain woods or hunt some game, let me know."

"I know these woods well. I know where the dangers are and where to find prey."

Lu Chen nodded. "Don't worry, Chief Wang. I know my limits. I won't act rashly."