The Effects of the Secret Medicine, Sparring Next Month

"So close! Just one step short!"

The sparring session was brief; half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Not a single senior apprentice who had reached the Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation became a formal disciple. They each received only a dose of Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine.

Luo Yongcheng had drawn poorly and been matched against an apprentice who had long since achieved Qi and Blood Circulation. After several dozen exchanges, he suffered a narrow defeat on the spot.

Watching the other man happily accept a small pouch of Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine from a maid, his eyes were full of frustration and unwillingness.

"Brother Luo, victory and defeat are common matters for martial artists."

Jiang Shu stepped forward and comforted him in a low voice. Though he had already achieved Qi and Blood Circulation, his foundation had been built on the Horse Stance. He only knew the entry-level Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Method, while the Tiger Form Three Styles—crucial in sparring—had not yet reached the minor mastery realm.

Naturally, he would not force himself onto the stage.

Otherwise, he would merely be going through the motions. Not only would he gain nothing, he might also draw the attention of others.

Luo Yongcheng's clenched fist tightened, then loosened. He sighed. "I know. It's just... Junior Brother Jiang, you know my family's situation too... If I can't reach the Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation soon, earn Old Man Chou's favor, and become a formal disciple of the martial hall... my family's medicine shop may..."

"I also know Old Man Chou is extremely strict when accepting disciples. The last disciple he accepted had reached the Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation at twenty. But... this is my only path. In all of Pingling County, only Old Man Chou truly opened a martial hall through martial arts. The other martial halls all have wealthy households backing them..."

"I'm already twenty-two... I can't keep dragging this out..."

Jiang Shu fell silent. It was only later that he learned that, among Pingling County's fifteen martial halls, only the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall had no wealthy household supporting it. That was why it was located in such a remote place, and why it received twenty to thirty percent fewer apprentices each month than the other martial halls.

"Jiang Shu... if... never mind, we'll talk about it later. Old Man Chou is about to inspect our stance and breathing progress..."

Seeing the other apprentices begin their stance training and breathing, receiving Old Man Chou's guidance, Luo Yongcheng returned to his place and adjusted his state.

The root cause of his loss in this sparring match was that his foundation in the Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Method was not yet stable enough. His Blood Qi was not vigorous enough, and he could not sustain explosive bursts.

After several dozen exchanges, his strength began to wane. He was struck by a single move and forced back several steps.

If only his Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance had been steadier, if only his Hungry Tiger Breathing Method had lasted longer... the outcome would have been uncertain!

Watching Luo Yongcheng's retreating back, Jiang Shu withdrew his gaze. He crouched like a tiger and breathed like a tiger.

Old Man Chou walked slowly. He passed directly over the apprentices who had achieved the Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation and headed toward those at Qi and Blood Circulation. Before long, he arrived before Luo Yongcheng and said unhurriedly, "The best age for a martial artist to begin training is fifteen or sixteen. In the early stages, medicinal meals and medicinal baths are enough to nourish the body. You began training too late, and you were born prematurely with insufficient vital essence. Even with medicinal supplements, your future achievements will be limited."

"Old Man Chou..."

"This old man is merely offering advice. Whether you continue training is up to you."

After passing Luo Yongcheng, Old Man Chou strolled over to the little fat boy, Zhou Yang, his expression calm. A few breaths later, he looked at Han Dali beside him and said, "Mm. Both your stance and breathing are steady. Your progress is good."

"When you began martial training, you said you were born strong, with roughly half again the strength of an ordinary person?"

"Yes, Old Man Chou."

Han Dali raised his head, excitement written across his face. He had not expected Old Man Chou to pause specifically before him during today's instruction.

"In a few days, your one-month training period will be over. If you wish to continue martial training next month, pay fifteen taels of silver. But you'll receive an additional bowl of Secret Medicine Meat Soup every day. If you can break through to Qi and Blood Circulation by the middle of next month, this old man will reward you with a dose of Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine."

"Old Man Chou... Brother Han has already signed with my family's restaurant. Next month, he'll be registered under our Zhou Family Restaurant and won't be able to come to the martial hall to train." Before Han Dali could respond, Zhou Yang hurriedly spoke up from the side.

He stopped his stance training and breathing, wearing a fawning smile as his chubby little face bobbed before Old Man Chou.

He had spent half a month arranging this matter, and the contract had already been signed. Han Dali would surely enter Qi and Blood Circulation next month, more than capable of serving as a decent guard for the household.

After eating so much meat from his family, it was time for him to repay them.

"Oh."

Old Man Chou replied neither warmly nor coldly and walked toward the next apprentice, leaving Han Dali standing there in a daze.

Last month, Han Dali's parents had taken out the savings they had accumulated over several years and sent him to the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall to learn martial arts.

With Old Man Chou's guidance every few days, along with the meat and refined rice from the Zhou Family Restaurant, his martial progress had been extremely rapid. What he had once believed would take half a year to achieve—Qi and Blood Circulation—now required only a little over one month.

He had always believed himself fortunate. Even when he signed the contract with the Zhou Family Restaurant a few days ago.

He had trusted that since both Zhou Yang and he were at the martial hall, and Zhou Yang treated him so well, Zhou Yang would never harm him.

His parents were happy, and his future was secure.

For someone whose family had never been well-off, this was truly an excellent outcome.

But now, Old Man Chou's appreciation in his words, and Zhou Yang's refusal on his behalf—

He suddenly had the faint feeling that he had made some kind of mistake.

"Eh..."

Old Man Chou suddenly stopped. His voice was soft, yet it reached Jiang Shu's ears with perfect clarity.

At once, Jiang Shu's body tensed. Every hair on his body stood on end, as though he had been targeted by a savage tiger.

Sunlight passed through Old Man Chou's figure, casting a thin shadow before Jiang Shu.

"A new apprentice from last month?"

"Mm."

Forcibly maintaining the Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance, Jiang Shu raised his head and met his gaze directly.

"Not bad. A martial artist must possess great boldness and great perseverance. If you do not even dare meet this old man's eyes, then you will amount to nothing for your entire life. The same goes for you—if you wish to continue martial training next month, pay fifteen taels of silver. Two bowls of Secret Medicine Meat Soup every day. If you reach Qi and Blood Circulation by midmonth, you will be rewarded with a dose of Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine."

"Thank you, Old Man Chou."

Old Man Chou's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

As if sensing someone watching him, Jiang Shu turned his head and met Luo Yongcheng's complicated gaze.

One month later.

Jiang Shu—

Great Jing Dynasty Language/Writing: Minor Mastery (16/1000)

Horse Stance: Major Mastery (200/1000)

Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance: Minor Mastery (525/1000)

Hungry Tiger Breathing Method: Minor Mastery (525/1000)

Tiger Form Three Styles: Minor Mastery (230/1000)

The Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine truly has miraculous effects! After taking it at Qi and Blood Circulation, the soreness in my muscles and tendons lessens considerably. I can maintain my stance for two additional hours a day! Its effects also last three to five days.

If I take it once every three to five days, my martial training progress should increase by around fifty percent!

What a pity that only formal disciples receive such treatment.

I wonder how the Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine and Exotic Beast Meat at the Xia Kingdom Academy will compare to the Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine in the future?

Mulling it over, Jiang Shu handed over a little more than half a qian of silver and walked out of Crooked Snake Alley.

Over the past month, the Green Snake Gang and the Black Water Gang had clashed repeatedly over territory in Pingling County's Outer City. The commoners and refugees within the two gangs' spheres of influence were restless and miserable, their complaints rising everywhere.

The monthly fee they had to pay had also risen from fifty copper coins to sixty.

Yet no one resisted.

Jiang Shu followed the crowd into the Inner City.

Hungry Tiger Martial Hall.

The apprentices had arrived long ago.

Today was once again the martial hall's monthly sparring match.