As Deng Qing patrolled the North Ward, he could clearly feel that the sound of the night wind had changed.
The city gates were locked half an hour earlier than before. More Yamen Runners patrolled the streets at night, and there were more torches too.
New wooden barricades had gone up at alley entrances, and makeshift sentry posts stood outside two warehouses.
Once the Rat Hour passed, the streets grew unnervingly quiet. The quieter they were, the harder it was to feel at ease.
As Deng Qing led the Ninth Squad through the North Ward, they caught more and more thieves. Almost every one carried a weapon and fought back like his life meant nothing.
Deng Qing had no choice but to deal with them decisively.
That day, dawn was already breaking by the time he finished his duties.
In the front courtyard of the Celebration Hall, several disciples returned from outside, the smell of blood clinging to them.
Before long, another group carried in several door planks, each covered with white cloth.
The disciples practicing nearby swarmed over. Only after asking did they learn that the people lying on the planks were disciples who had gone out on assignments.
Deng Qing stared at one hand, lost in a daze.
He recognized it as Tu Wei's. There was a large, dark mole on the left thumb.
Deng Qing could hardly believe that Senior Brother Tu, so full of life and ambition just days ago, was now a cold corpse.
He shuddered despite himself, observed a moment of silence, then headed home.
For now, he decided to do nothing but honestly shore up his foundations. Without silver to replenish his Qi-Blood, progress would be slow. Slow was better than risking his life.
Night fell over his courtyard.
Deng Qing took the soft sword from his waist and practiced the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. Suddenly, someone knocked at the door.
The soft sword trembled lightly in his hand, then curled back around his waist.
Two more knocks came. Through the courtyard gate, he asked, "Who is it?"
Steward Liu's voice came from outside. "Brother Deng Qing, it's me."
Deng Qing went over and opened the gate.
Steward Liu stood outside with a smile, though the shadows beneath his eyes showed that the past few days had not been easy for him either.
"Brother Deng Qing."
He cupped his hands. "I didn't explain things clearly the other day. The apothecary is desperately short of people. Please give it another thought."
Deng Qing did not invite him in. "Steward Liu, I've thought carefully about what you said. The risk really isn't small.
"Here's my condition: I'll go, but you must negotiate with someone who knows the trade."
Steward Liu frowned. "Who?"
"Elder Wu from the Celebration Hall's Medicine Hall."
Steward Liu's first instinct was to refuse, but Deng Qing's steady gaze told him the decision was made. He could only agree.
Deng Qing changed into the White Robe, locked his gate, and went with Steward Liu to the Celebration Hall.
When they arrived, Elder Wu was leafing through a book in the Medicine Hall.
After hearing why they had come, he told Deng Qing to wait outside.
Half a cup of tea later, Steward Liu left with a cold expression.
Deng Qing hurried into the room. Elder Wu got straight to the point. "It's settled. You'll try one batch first. If you can't manage it, they'll pay you two taels for your trouble.
"If you can, but their refining fails, they'll pay you fifty taels. If the medicine succeeds, you'll get another thirty as a reward."
Deng Qing's face flushed with excitement. He cupped his hands repeatedly. "Thank you, Senior."
Elder Wu chuckled. "I should be thanking you. A pie fell from the sky and landed right on this old man's head. You won't back out now, will you, boy?"
Deng Qing smiled. "You jest, Senior."
"Refining medicine is hard work. Build yourself up first. I'll get you leave, so you won't be on duty for the next two days.
"We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning, straight for Tianshun Apothecary."
Deng Qing nodded, though he did not know what Elder Wu meant by "build yourself up." Then Elder Wu beckoned him into the bathing room.
Elder Wu tossed a packet of ingredients into a pool. A moment later, a pungent medicinal smell rose from it.
"A Medicinal Bath!"
Deng Qing was stunned.
"Did you think I'd take such a big advantage of you for nothing?" Elder Wu said. "These are scraps I've saved up myself.
"They may be scraps, but they'll give you at least thirty percent of a proper Medicinal Bath's strength. Get in."
Deng Qing bowed deeply to Elder Wu and jumped into the pool. The water had barely risen past his waist when its pungent smell rushed up his nose.
This truly was not a proper Medicinal Bath.
The water lacked the deep, heavy crimson of a normal Medicinal Pool. But as soon as it touched his skin, Deng Qing knew Elder Wu had not fooled him.
Scraps or not, their nourishing power could not compare with a proper Medicinal Bath, but they still packed a punch.
Deng Qing closed his eyes at once and circulated the Violet Palace Method.
Between his chest and abdomen, an invisible millstone turned slowly.
The medicinal energy that had been darting everywhere was gradually drawn in, ground down, then carried into his body with each breath.
Heat spread from his chest and abdomen into his shoulders and back, then crept down his arms, through his elbows and wrists, and finally into his finger joints.
The sensation was far clearer than when he practiced his swordplay.
A thought stirred in Deng Qing's mind. The notes in the Old Commentary on the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude surfaced, line by line: Gather Force into a Line. Sword Through the Empty Gaps.
Before, those words had seemed impossibly obscure.
What did it mean to Gather Force into a Line?
And what did it mean for a sword to pass through empty gaps?
It was not as though he had never considered the Old Commentary or tried to follow it while practicing.
Yet so much had always seemed separated from him by a sheet of paper. He could complete the sword movements and send out his force, but something remained missing.
Only now, with the medicinal energy driving his Qi-Blood through his shoulders, back, elbows, wrists, and finger joints, did he begin to grasp the way.
At a thought, the Clear Radiance appeared.
[Heaven Helps Those Who Help Themselves, No Effort Is Wasted] [Realm: Skin Refining Second Layer] [Tiger-Subduing Fist: 73% (Grand Mastery)] [Violet Palace Method: 33% (Minor Mastery)] [Seven Forms of Settling Solitude: 19% (Initiation)]
Deng Qing's gaze settled on the last line. The word "Initiation" beside the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude was faintly flickering.
His heart gave a violent leap. Am I about to break through?
He suppressed his excitement as soon as it rose.
He warned himself, Now, of all times, I can't lose focus.
He slowly breathed out and continued circulating the Violet Palace Method, guiding the medicinal energy through his shoulders, back, elbows, wrists, and finger joints.
He could not draw his sword while sitting in the Medicinal Pool.
So he used his finger as a sword, dipped his right hand beneath the water, and traced a gentle stroke along the path of the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude.
With a splash, the medicinal water parted and ripples spread in rings.
Deng Qing frowned slightly. He had used too much force.
After a few breaths of thought, he adjusted his Qi-Blood, steadied his strength, and calmed his mind. Again and again, he swept his finger like a sword.
At last, his fingertip cut only a hair-thin line through the surface of the Medicinal Pool, raising no ripples. Understanding flashed through Deng Qing, and he rejoiced inwardly. So that's it.
Gather Force into a Line did not mean weakening the force. It meant keeping it from scattering, so it could slip through the gaps in an opponent's attack.
Gather force into one line; send the sword through the empty gaps. That's what it means.
Deng Qing's thoughts grew clearer bit by bit as he traced one stroke after another beneath the water.
Medicinal energy continued seeping into his body. The Violet Palace Method became an invisible millstone, refining it without pause.
Without realizing it, he found an entirely new sensation in his shoulders, back, elbows, wrists, and finger joints through those countless minute adjustments.
Suddenly, the Clear Radiance appeared of its own accord, without a thought.
[Seven Forms of Settling Solitude: 20% (Minor Mastery)]
Deng Qing stared at "Minor Mastery" and clenched his fists.
After savoring his triumph for a while, he gathered his thoughts and remained in the Medicinal Pool, refining the remaining medicinal energy into his body and consolidating his breakthrough in the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude.
Only when the warmth in the pool had faded and the medicinal smell had grown less sharp did he slowly open his eyes.
Deng Qing rose from the pool. His Skin Membrane felt warm all over, and his arms and fingers were much more nimble than before.
He climbed out, washed up, changed into the White Robe, and stepped outside. Elder Wu was waiting by the door.
"Not bad. Looks like you gained something."
Elder Wu smiled as he spoke.
Deng Qing cupped his hands to him. "Thank you, Senior."
Elder Wu waved him off. "What are you thanking me for? I'm the one who should thank you. But tell me, boy, you're not going to let me down, are you?"
"I won't disappoint you, Senior."
Deng Qing had barely finished speaking when shouts erupted from the front courtyard. "Keep your eyes open! Don't let anyone escape!"
In an instant, both the front and back courtyards burst into commotion.