Jichuntang Hall

Jichuntang Hall was the largest pharmacy on East Street in Dingshan County.

Its three-bay storefront bore a black-lacquered plaque with the three gilded characters "Jichuntang Hall," said to be the work of a successful candidate from the previous dynasty.

Upon entering, one faced a row of L-shaped counters, their lacquer worn down to reveal the wood beneath. Behind them stood an entire wall of medicine cabinets, with over a hundred drawers. Each drawer bore the name of an herb in tiny regular script, from "ginseng" to "plantain seed," densely packed like a silent dictionary.

Further inside, past a hanging-flower gate, the space suddenly opened up. The rear courtyard was far larger than the front hall.

The ground was paved with bluestone, with reed-mat awnings erected overhead. Beneath them, the space was divided into several sections: to the west were medicine-washing pools, three stone troughs side by side with clear water constantly flowing; to the east were medicine-cutting tables, lined with chopping blades, knives, and grinding troughs, where several laborers bent over cutting astragalus; to the south was a medicine-drying yard, bamboo trays covering the open ground, white peony root, angelica, and Sichuan lovage spread out in sheets, their medicinal scent so thick it could not be dissolved; in the northern corner was the medicine-drying room, where rehmannia root baked atop earthen kang beds, waves of heat carrying bitterness out into the air.

Chen Chong's group of laborers was responsible for preparing the medicinal ingredients.

Preparation meant rough processing before the herbs went into the cabinets: sorting, washing, moistening, cutting, drying in the sun, and baking. Sorting meant picking out impurities and moldy pieces; washing removed mud and sand; moistening softened them with water; cutting meant slicing them into different forms based on their properties—thick slices, thin slices, diagonal slices, shreds, chunks, and segments.

For instance, astragalus had to be cut into diagonal slices, poria into square chunks, licorice into round slices, and dried tangerine peel into shreds.

The cut herbs still needed drying, divided into shade-drying and sun-drying. Roots and rhizomes were mostly dried in the sun, while flowers and leaves were mostly dried in the shade. Chen Chong had long since become so practiced at this entire process that it flowed from his hands naturally.

There were a dozen or so laborer apprentices in all, most of them from poor families.

They earned only a few copper coins a month, but food and lodging were provided, and they could learn something about medicinal herbs. When they left in the future, it would still count as a trade. So everyone worked hard. The rustling of sliced herbs, the rolling of grinding troughs, and the shaking of medicine sieves rose and fell throughout the rear courtyard.

Wang Yu alone was the exception.

Wang Yu was also in the laborer class, but he was a distant relative of Steward Wang, so he usually considered himself a cut above the rest.

While others cut herbs, he wandered around with his hands behind his back. While others dried herbs, he picked his teeth with a bamboo splinter.

At the slightest displeasure, he would point at someone's nose and curse. "Are you blind? You cut this astragalus like it was gnawed by a donkey!" Or, "You don't turn the herbs while drying them? Are you here to eat for free?"

The laborer apprentices all endured it. It was not easy for poor families to find work, and no one wanted to lose their rice bowl over a few words. No matter how viciously Wang Yu cursed, they only lowered their heads and kept their hands moving.

When Chen Chong had first arrived, Wang Yu had naturally tried to squeeze him as well.

"New here? Go clean out the earthen kang in the drying room. The ash is three inches thick." Wang Yu eyed him sideways.

Chen Chong ignored him.

The body's original owner had come from a wealthy family. Though his family had later fallen into decline, that young master's temper still remained in his bones.

Back when he had first come to the pharmacy, he had been indifferent to anyone who spoke to him. When Wang Yu ordered him around, he would not even raise an eyelid.

When had Wang Yu ever suffered such treatment? A mere laborer dared to disregard him? From then on, Wang Yu bore a grudge against Chen Chong and picked fights every other day.

Yet today, when Wang Yu passed Chen Chong, he merely gave him a cold glance and, unexpectedly, did not cause trouble as usual.

Chen Chong knew perfectly well why. Two days ago, Wang Yu had reported him for stealing Blood-Seen Sorrow. The search had turned up nothing, and Steward Wang's face had been so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

Wang Yu had probably received a dressing-down from Steward Wang, which was why he had been much more obedient these past two days.

Chen Chong gave it no further thought and lowered his head to continue cutting herbs. The blade rose and fell, producing astragalus slices thin as cicada wings, neatly arranged on bamboo trays. Yet his thoughts had sunk into his sea of consciousness.

The panel floated silently—

[Technique: Green Mountain Breathing Method (Great Perfection)]

[Realm: Martial Initiate (78/100)]

The Breathing Method had reached Great Perfection.

As the senior brothers at the martial academy put it, "The Breathing Method is easy to begin, difficult to attain minor mastery in, rare to attain major mastery in. Great Perfection? That would take the founding patriarch showing his spirit."

Li Qingshan, the founder of Green Mountain Martial Academy, had entered the Skin Tempering Realm through Great Perfection in the Breathing Method. Only after creating the Green Mountain Five Forms had he planted firm roots in Dingshan County.

Over the following decades, the martial academy had taken in countless disciples. It was said that those who reached Great Perfection in the Breathing Method could be counted on one hand. Other than Li Qingshan himself, there had never been a second.

Yet Chen Chong had relied on the panel's simplified word, "breathe," to reach a threshold others could never touch in a lifetime within a single week.

The benefits Great Perfection brought were solid and real. Once the Green Mountain Breathing Method reached perfection, the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body formed its own Lesser Celestial Circuit, nourishing the skin and membranes at every moment. Progress in the Skin Tempering Realm thus became much faster.

Another week passed, and Chen Chong's body underwent enormous changes.

His once thin, undersized frame now had broad shoulders and back, with sharply defined muscles on his arms. He had also shot up in height. He had once stood half a head shorter than others, but was now of average build.

Most noticeable was his skin. It was no longer pale and thin, but gleamed with a faint luster almost like glaze. When pressed with a finger, it was taut and springy, like a thin layer of cowhide.

The Skin Tempering Realm.

The skin and membranes became tough. Ordinary blades found it difficult to cut through, and punches and kicks landed as though striking rotten wadding. The five senses also became far keener; from ten paces away, he could clearly hear a mosquito beat its wings. This was the first great hurdle in martial training. Only by crossing it could one truly become different from ordinary people.

But no one at the pharmacy thought much of it.

Everyone at the pharmacy knew that Chen Chong had injured himself practicing martial arts some time ago. Back then, his face had been waxy yellow, and he even staggered when he walked.

Chen Chong himself said he had bought some ingredients to nourish himself, and everyone believed him. After all, he had grown taller and looked sturdier; they merely assumed he had recovered what he had lost.

"Chen Chong, your complexion's improved." Uncle Zhang, who was cutting herbs, looked up at him.

"Mm. I bought some bones and stewed soup," Chen Chong said, following the conversation.

"Young people should eat more." Uncle Zhang lowered his head and continued cutting herbs.

Just before work ended, Steward Wang came over from the front and clapped his hands. "Stop for a moment. Tomorrow, the pharmacy is going up the mountain to gather herbs. All laborers are going. Mount Dingjun. We leave at dawn. Bring your own provisions."

Everyone answered in agreement. They were rather pleased inside. Staying in the pharmacy all day had steeped them through and through in medicinal smells. Going into the mountains was still work, but getting some fresh air was always a good thing.

The next day, just after dawn, the horizon began to whiten.

Mount Dingjun lay northwest of the county town. It was not especially high, but its ridges stretched on for dozens of li from east to west, like an old dragon lying prone upon the earth.

Many years ago, this place had been the frontier of a dynasty. Rammed-earth beacon towers still remained along the ridgeline, weathered by wind and rain until only low stumps remained.

It was said that many battles had been fought here, that people had died and bones had been buried. But times had changed. Dingshan County was now far from the frontier, and the border had long since been pushed a thousand li away.

Chen Chong carried a bamboo basket on his back and a sickle in his hand as he moved through the shrubs halfway up the mountain.

The increase in stamina brought by the Skin Tempering Realm was extremely obvious. Others were panting after climbing for half an hour, but after walking for a full hour, his breathing remained even and his steps light.

With his sharpened senses, a sweep of his eyes showed him exactly which trees had astragalus beneath them and which cracks in the rocks held dendrobium. Gathering herbs went smoothly, and before noon, his bamboo basket was already half full.

Though Mount Dingjun saw many travelers and had no large wild beasts, venomous insects and snakes were plentiful.

Chen Chong was especially careful. Before every step, he used his sickle to part the grass and check whether any snakes were coiled there. He had seen an herb gatherer bitten by a viper, his whole arm swelling like a winter melon. He had nearly died.

Just as he bent to gather a stalk of bupleurum, Chen Chong suddenly threw himself forward.

"Whoosh—"

An arrow buried itself in the spot where he had just been standing. Its shaft buzzed and trembled, sunk three inches into the earth.

Chen Chong rolled across the ground and ducked between several large trees ahead. With his back against a thick trunk and his sickle in hand, cold sweat streamed down him.

Thankfully, he had reached the Skin Tempering Realm and his senses were sharp. He had heard the arrow tearing through the air half a beat earlier than an ordinary person would have. The Skin Tempering Realm offered strong defense, but an arrow would still injure him. Arrows had great piercing power; the skin and membranes might withstand a blade, but not necessarily a powerful bow.

Two figures emerged from behind the shrubs.

Wang Yu. And another man, tall and powerfully built, with a face full of hard flesh. He carried a hunting bow on his back and wore a hunting knife at his waist. Li Hu, a hunter who lived below Mount Dingjun, was Wang Yu's friend. The two were birds of a feather and often drank together.

"Fuck, he dodged that?" Wang Yu cursed, a herb-gathering sickle in his hand. "Chen Chong learned martial arts at the academy for two days. Him dodging that was probably just luck."

Li Hu nodded, drew his hunting knife, and scanned their surroundings. He vaguely felt something was wrong. He had aimed that arrow at Chen Chong's heart from behind, and the shot had been certain. How could a pharmacy laborer react the instant an arrow left the string?

But he did not think too deeply about it. Chen Chong had entered the Skin Tempering Realm? Impossible. Almost everyone practiced martial arts, but on the path of martial training, talent and money were both indispensable. Entering a realm was a fantasy beyond fantasy for commoners like them.

Behind the tree, Chen Chong felt deeply conflicted.

All along, he had not taken the conflict between the body's original owner and Wang Yu seriously. By the logic of his previous life, the two had merely exchanged a few harsh words. At worst, they could have fought. What profound hatred could there be? He had never imagined Wang Yu would find someone to kill him.

Only then did he realize this was a world of martial arts. Human lives were not worth that much.

Chen Chong adjusted his grip on the sickle and took a deep breath.

Then he charged out.

He cleaved down with one strike.

The speed and force of the Skin Tempering Realm surpassed Li Hu's imagination. Li Hu's pupils abruptly contracted, and he hastily raised his knife to block.

Clang!

His tiger's mouth went numb, and the hunting knife nearly flew from his grip. Before he could react, Chen Chong kicked him in the chest. Li Hu's burly body flew backward and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Only then did Wang Yu react, swinging his sickle at Chen Chong.

But Chen Chong's sickle arrived later yet struck first. A flash of cold light swept past, and Wang Yu's head soared into the sky, blood spraying across Li Hu's face.

Li Hu's soul flew from his body in terror. He scrambled backward on hands and knees. "Misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding! It was Wang Yu, Wang Yu made me—"

He did not finish.

Chen Chong ended him with one stroke.

The mountain forest fell quiet. Only the rustling of wind through leaves remained, along with the calls of unknown birds in the distance.

Chen Chong crouched and searched the two men. There were only a few copper coins: over thirty coins on Wang Yu, around fifty on Li Hu. Together, they did not even make a hundred.

He rose, wiped the blood from his sickle, and slung the bamboo basket back over his shoulders. Inside it, bupleurum, astragalus, and dendrobium lay quietly, giving off a faint medicinal fragrance.