Rapid Progress

Huff~

Inhale~

In the bath barrel, Chen Xun soaked in the medicinal bath while performing a complex breathing routine.

This was the breathing method that accompanied the Iron Garment Art.

The Iron Garment Art was cultivated by using this breathing method to mobilize the Blood Qi within the body, merge it with the medicinal power absorbed from outside, and then use it to strengthen the skin until it became as hard as steel.

According to the manual, even those with exceptional talent needed three to five days to master this breathing method.

For those with poor aptitude, taking one or two months was perfectly normal.

So how long had Chen Xun taken?

The answer was one breath.

With the Perfect Iron Garment Art entry assisting him, Chen Xun had mastered it effortlessly after only a slight attempt.

And beyond the breathing method, medicinal baths were also indispensable to cultivating the Iron Garment Art.

The Iron Garment Art manual recorded three medicinal baths in total: the Wolf Medicinal Bath, Python Medicinal Bath, and Tiger Medicinal Bath.

The Wolf Medicinal Bath required wild wolf bones as the medicinal catalyst.

Likewise, the Python Medicinal Bath and Tiger Medicinal Bath required fresh bones from pythons and tigers as their medicinal catalysts.

The Wolf Medicinal Bath could be used until the Iron Garment Art reached Minor Accomplishment.

The Python Medicinal Bath was used after Minor Accomplishment, and so on.

What Chen Xun was soaking in now was precisely the Wolf Medicinal Bath.

By now, Chen Xun had soaked for half an hour. The originally pitch-black, glossy medicinal liquid had not only faded considerably, but also developed many impurities, making the water much murkier.

With a splash, Chen Xun rose from the bath barrel.

After picking up a towel beside him and drying himself off, Chen Xun quickly put on his clothes.

"My skin's defense seems to have increased quite a bit again."

Chen Xun poked the skin on his arm, his face full of satisfaction.

He opened the panel:

[Martial Art: Iron Garment Art (Proficient 380/500)]

"Not bad. I'm almost at Minor Accomplishment."

The smile on Chen Xun's face widened.

One had to know that only seven days had passed since he had first come into contact with the Iron Garment Art.

In such a short time, those with worse aptitude would not even have figured out the breathing method, let alone entered the path.

Then, with one hand, Chen Xun easily lifted the water-filled bath barrel, opened the door, and poured it into the drainage ditch in the alley.

"Big Brother, are you done washing?"

Outside the door, Chen Qingqing came up with a grin.

"How many times have I told you? I'm cultivating, not bathing."

Chen Xun helplessly rubbed his sister's head, then looked at the young married woman beside her and smiled. "Sister Ye, thank you."

"We're neighbors. No need to be so polite."

After Sister Ye spoke, her gaze could not help lingering on Chen Xun for a few more moments.

"Chen Xun, it feels like you've changed quite a bit."

"Oh? What's changed?"

"How should I put it? You still look the same, but you just feel a little different."

Sister Ye could not quite put her finger on it.

Yet Chen Xun understood. It was a change in temperament.

Before, Chen Xun had merely been an ordinary person. Now, he was already a Martial Artist.

Whether in body or mindset, he was completely different from before.

If someone had a photograph of the old Chen Xun, they would see that his eyes were more spirited now, his expression more confident, and his physique sturdier.

"Sister Ye, are you free later? I'll treat you to a meal, to thank you for looking after Qingqing and for working so hard to boil water for me these past few days."

These past few days, Chen Xun had cultivated here in the mornings and returned to the Li Estate in the afternoons.

Ever since taking on the Medicine Escort Team assignment, Chen Xun had been able to leave the estate every day and was no longer restricted.

"Sure. I've been tired all morning, and I'm hungry too."

Sister Ye did not stand on ceremony with Chen Xun and replied with a smile.

She had indeed worked hard. Heating such a huge barrel of water took quite a bit of time.

"Yay! We get to eat something delicious!"

Ye Qingqing, standing nearby, immediately cheered.

Soon afterward, the three of them left together and found a restaurant with decent food.

Sister Ye chose the place. She had eaten there several times before; the food was good, and the prices were fair.

Chen Xun called over the waiter and ordered seven dishes in one go.

"Chen Xun, that's too much. The three of us can't eat all that."

Sister Ye hurriedly tried to stop him.

"Sister Ye, you and Qingqing may not be able to finish it, but isn't there still me? You should know that every Martial Artist can eat a lot."

In the end, Chen Xun still ordered seven dishes—six dishes and one soup, all meat dishes.

Once the dishes were served, their fragrance filled the air. Ye Qingqing took a deep sniff and started drooling.

Sister Ye swallowed twice as well.

As a widow, Sister Ye was not well-off either. Usually, she could not afford such a lavish spread.

"Eat."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Before long, the entire table of dishes had been wiped clean, with Chen Xun devouring most of them.

The other two had eaten two bowls of rice each and were already full.

"Waiter, the bill."

Just as Chen Xun was about to settle the bill, a somewhat familiar voice rang out.

"Well, isn't this Chen Xun?"

Chen Xun looked toward the voice and saw a somewhat lecherous-looking man approaching with two burly men.

After the man's sharp eyes took in the seven plates on Chen Xun's table, he narrowed his eyes and said with a fake smile, "Well, looks like you've struck it rich lately. Seven dishes for one meal?"

"What, you got rich and didn't tell your big brother? Take your big brother along too. That method of yours last time made me quite a bit of money."

Chen Xun looked coldly at him.

"Yu Sheng. Long time no see."

"It has been a long time. I heard you sold yourself to the Li Estate. You really made me search high and low."

Yu Sheng wore a smiling expression, but it was nothing more than a false smile. There was no amusement in his eyes, only viciousness.

"Since we ran into each other today, come with me. Your big brother has something to tell you."

As he spoke, Yu Sheng reached out to hook an arm around Chen Xun's shoulder, only for Chen Xun to seize his wrist.

"No need. We have nothing to talk about."

Chen Xun exerted force, and Yu Sheng immediately screamed, "Damn it, let go! Let go now!"

"Let go of our boss!"

The two burly men behind Yu Sheng immediately stepped forward and pulled wooden clubs from their clothes. One swung at Chen Xun's head, while the other swung at the right hand holding Yu Sheng.

Chen Xun caught the club aimed at his head with his left hand and allowed the other club to strike his arm.

"Big Brother!"

"Chen Xun!"

Chen Qingqing and Sister Ye cried out anxiously.

"I'm fine."

Upon closer inspection, the wooden club that had struck Chen Xun's arm had snapped directly into two pieces.

There was not even a red mark on Chen Xun's hand, and he did not feel the slightest pain. Naturally, the Iron Skin entry was at work.

"You became a Martial Artist?"

Yu Sheng was greatly shocked at the sight.

"That's right."

With that, Chen Xun yanked the wooden club from the burly man's hand and viciously smashed it down at him.

With one blow, he broke the man's right hand.

A scream rang out as the man clutched his right hand, collapsed to the ground, and groaned.

Seeing that things had gone wrong, the other burly man tried to flee, but Chen Xun hurled a club at him. It struck him in the back and sent him crashing into a table of food, splashing soup and dishes all over him.

It also drew angry shouts from the diners at that table.

"You're next."

"No, I was wrong! I'll get lost right now! Don't hit me!"

Yu Sheng hurriedly begged for mercy, but Chen Xun ignored him completely. With a hard twist, he broke Yu Sheng's right hand.

"Ah!" Yu Sheng clutched his arm, bent at a grotesque angle with bone fragments exposed, and screamed in agony.

"Shopkeeper, make this man compensate you for the damage to the restaurant."

"This is my meal money."

Chen Xun tossed a corner of silver to the restaurant owner, who had rushed over in a hurry, then left directly with Chen Qingqing and Sister Ye.

The owner did not dare stop him and could only watch Chen Xun leave.

As he passed the burly man lying on the ground covered in soup and food, Chen Xun paused. Without warning, he stomped down and broke the man's right hand.

This brutal scene made the other diners present tremble with fear.

Whenever Chen Xun passed by, they unconsciously made way for him.

Just like that, Chen Xun left the restaurant without incident.

"Sister Ye, sorry for the scare."

"N-No, it's fine."

Sister Ye's face had gone somewhat pale, but she still maintained a measure of calm, making Chen Xun see her in a new light.

"Qingqing, are you scared?"

"No!"

Chen Qingqing shouted loudly. Sure enough, there was no fear on her face, only excitement.

"Big Brother, you were amazing! You knocked them down in just a few moves."

"If not for that bastard, how would you have sold yourself to the Li Estate? He even caused me to fall seriously ill and left us owing so much money."

Chen Qingqing waved her arms, her face filled with indignation.

That was right. Yu Sheng was one of the people who had robbed Chen Xun of his money and business, then beaten him up.

I'd originally planned to deal with you after becoming stronger.

But since we ran into each other now, I'll collect some interest first.

At that thought, a glint of cold light flashed in Chen Xun's eyes, and killing intent suddenly surged in his heart.