After leaving the Sky Wolf Gang, Mo Yun strode back with long, brisk steps.
Zhao Si's problem had been resolved, and the Sky Wolf Gang had been brought to heel. With someone secretly protecting his sister from now on, he could practice martial arts at the Mountain Manor with greater peace of mind.
"Everything's heading in the right direction..."
Mo Yun sighed with feeling, then made his way lightly through several streets and returned to the shop.
Before he even entered, he heard a lively chorus of conversation inside.
"Boss, how much is this blue cloth?"
"Thirty copper coins a foot? Isn't that too expensive? Can you lower the price?"
"Madam, wrap up half a catty of this tea for me!"
Mo Yun walked in and saw the shop bustling with people, several customers busy picking through the merchandise.
Mo Yiyi was so busy her feet barely touched the ground, yet a radiant smile lit her face. She was a completely different person from the distracted, dispirited woman of yesterday.
"You're back, little brother?" Mo Yiyi glanced up at him without stopping her work. "Go rest in the backyard. I'll come once I'm done here!"
"Let me help, Sis." Mo Yun rolled up his sleeves and started toward her.
"No, no!" Mo Yiyi hurriedly stopped him and pushed him toward the backyard. "You're not used to this sort of work. Leave it to me!"
Mo Yun: "..."
Unable to change her mind, Mo Yun could only go practice in the backyard.
Once there, he took off his outer coat, loosened up his muscles and joints, then settled into position and began practicing his punches.
This time, it was the Tiger-Crouching Fist.
Although he had advanced the Tiger-Crouching Fist entirely by adding points, Mo Yun still practiced it from time to time.
He had already reached minor accomplishment in this fist technique and knew every move and form by heart.
But he knew he was still far from major accomplishment.
"At my current cultivation efficiency, it would take years to reach major accomplishment in the Tiger-Crouching Fist through practice alone."
"Adding points is still the way to go. I need those points..."
He currently had no black points available, but they accumulated every day. In seven or eight days at most, he could save up one.
If he could buy suitable pills, it would be even faster.
Mo Yun focused on the Virtual Panel, concentrating his gaze on the Tiger-Crouching Fist. A plus sign immediately appeared after it.
When he shifted his gaze to the plus sign, a notification popped up.
Tiger-Crouching Fist (minor accomplishment) (0/3)
That meant a breakthrough required three black points, while he currently had zero.
The Tiger-Crouching Stance was the same.
As for the Tiger-Crouching Force, Commander Li had mentioned that it was better to practice it after reaching late-stage bright force. There was no rush to add points to it yet.
"Three points. I can save up enough by the end of this month, then put them straight into the Tiger-Crouching Fist..."
Seemingly remembering something, Mo Yun lowered his head and glanced at his right wrist.
Light flowed across the black-and-white brand. The black portion was nearly thirty percent filled, while the white portion had already reached eighty-five percent.
"If nothing goes wrong, once the Tiger-Crouching Fist advances, the White Mark should fill completely..."
Mo Yun let out a long, heavy breath, his heart brimming with anticipation.
After practicing the Tiger-Crouching Fist a few times, Mo Yun moved on to the Nameless Fist Technique.
Every punch and kick carried formidable weight and power.
Sweat soon soaked his clothes, but he remained oblivious, all his attention focused on the fist technique.
Once, twice, three times...
He had lost count of how many repetitions he had done when footsteps sounded behind him.
"Take a break, little brother. It's time for lunch."
Mo Yiyi approached with a bowl of water, her eyes filled with concern at the sight of his sweat-drenched head.
"I'm not hungry yet." Mo Yun took the bowl and drained it in one gulp. "Go eat without me, Sis."
He had stuffed himself at the Sky Wolf Gang and still wasn't hungry.
Mo Yiyi took the empty bowl. "What would you like to eat? I'll buy it for you."
"I really am not hungry. I ate while I was out." Mo Yun wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Go eat, Sis. Don't worry about me."
"All right, then." Mo Yiyi didn't insist. She turned toward the front courtyard, then looked back after a few steps to remind him, "Don't push yourself too hard. Take a break when you're tired."
"I know." Mo Yun nodded.
Watching his sister's back disappear around the corner, he drew a deep breath and resumed his practice.
Half an hour later, Mo Yiyi returned with a bowl of noodles.
She sat on a little stool in the backyard, slurping her noodles and occasionally looking up at Mo Yun as he practiced, her eyes full of smiles.
"Little brother, you said you did well at the Mountain Manor and the Village Master rewarded you. What exactly happened?"
She asked between bites of noodles, a touch of curiosity in her voice.
Mo Yun withdrew his fists and stood straight. After some thought, he picked out the things he could tell her.
How he had barely scraped through the aptitude test but stunned everyone in the comprehension test, how he had been praised for his efficiency in the Spirit Herb Garden, how he had taken first place in the Guard Examination...
Naturally, he skipped the fight with the female thief from the Hundred Blossoms Palace entirely, saying only that he had helped out in the Spirit Herb Garden and earned merit.
Mo Yiyi listened in astonishment, even forgetting to eat the noodles in her bowl.
"You're amazing, little brother!" She found it almost unbelievable.
Her brother, who had always been sickly, had changed so much after taking up martial arts.
Could he have that martial saint physique the storybooks talked about?
"I was lucky, too." Mo Yun smiled.
"Mm, so modest..." Mo Yiyi couldn't hide the smile on her face.
She set down her bowl and looked at Mo Yun earnestly, her eyes reddening slightly.
"Little brother, you've grown up. You're doing even better than I imagined. If Father knew, he would be so happy..."
"Don't cry, Sis," Mo Yun said hurriedly. "This is nothing. There are plenty of good days ahead. You'll have to get used to them."
Mo Yiyi: "..."
She broke into a smile, finished her noodles in a few bites, then stood and brushed the dust off her clothes.
"Keep practicing, little brother. I'll get back to work out front. We can talk later."
"All right."
Mo Yun watched her leave, smiled, and resumed practicing.
Business remained good that afternoon. Although it wasn't as hectic as the morning, customers kept streaming in, keeping Mo Yiyi rushed off her feet.
Mo Yun tried to help several times, but she sent him back every time.
Helpless, Mo Yun could only obediently stay in the backyard and practice.
The sun sank behind the western hills, and the sky gradually darkened.
As the customers dwindled, Mo Yiyi put up the shop's door boards and came to the backyard.
"Hungry, little brother? I'll take you out for something delicious!"
"Aren't you tired after working all day, Sis?" Mo Yun stopped practicing and wiped away his sweat.
"Not at all!" Mo Yiyi smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. "Business is so good that I'm too happy to feel tired!"
She pulled Mo Yun out the door, found a fairly nice restaurant, and ordered a whole table of dishes.
Braised pork knuckle, steamed sea bass, spiced beef, roasted lamb ribs... every dish was one of Mo Yun's favorites.
When she was alone, she usually made do with a simple bowl of noodles.
But her little brother was home, so she had to treat him to good food!
"Isn't this a bit much, Sis?" The corner of Mo Yun's mouth twitched as he looked at the tableful of dishes.
"Not at all. Martial arts practice is hard work. You need to eat more~" Without giving him a chance to object, Mo Yiyi placed a large piece of pork knuckle in his bowl. "Here, eat it while it's hot."
Mo Yun didn't stand on ceremony and dug in with hearty mouthfuls.
Mo Yiyi sat across from him, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him eat, her face full of smiles.
"What exactly is life at the Mountain Manor like, little brother? Tell me all about it."
Over the past two days, Mo Yiyi had asked similar questions many times. She seemed to want to know every detail of Mo Yun's life.
Mo Yun could only resign himself to talking as he ate.
Though he spoke of nothing but everyday trifles, Mo Yiyi listened with relish, occasionally interrupting with a question or two.
After dinner, they returned to the shop.
Night had fully fallen. The streets were nearly deserted, with only a few dim yellow lanterns swaying in the night breeze.
Mo Yiyi lit an oil lamp, and the siblings sat behind the counter to chat.
"Have you run into any difficulties running the shop, Sis?" Mo Yun asked.
"Difficulties..." Mo Yiyi thought for a moment.
"Nothing too serious. Sometimes customers think things are too expensive and won't buy them. Sometimes stock won't sell and piles up. Sometimes there aren't enough hands, and I can't keep up."
She sighed, sounding somewhat helpless. "That's business. You make profits and take losses. There are ups and downs."
Mo Yun nodded thoughtfully.
After a moment's hesitation, he ventured, "Sis, I have a few ideas. I don't know whether they'll work, so just hear me out."
"Go on." Mo Yiyi perked up and sat straighter.
Mo Yun gathered his thoughts and explained the marketing methods and management concepts from his previous life in terms someone from this era could understand.
For instance, a membership system: once customers spent a certain amount, they would receive a membership card and get discounts on future purchases.
Or promotional discounts: running sales during festivals, offering buy-one-get-one-free deals, or taking a certain amount off purchases over a set threshold.
Or giving commissions for referrals: existing customers could bring in new ones and receive a cut when the new customers made purchases.
There were also bundled sales, such as giving away teacups with tea or needles and thread with cloth, making customers feel they were getting a bargain.
He also covered some management-related issues.
Mo Yun talked at length, though he had only meant to offer some casual suggestions. He didn't expect his sister to accept such forward-looking ideas.
After all, these concepts really were ahead of their time in this era.
However-
Mo Yiyi's eyes shone as she listened, and she could barely stay in her seat.
"Little brother, these ideas are wonderful!" She suddenly stood, her voice trembling.
"Membership systems, promotional discounts, referral commissions, bundled sales..."
She paced behind the counter, murmuring to herself as though digesting these new ideas.
"Some of the details need adjusting. We'll have to tailor them to our shop's circumstances..."
She suddenly stopped and turned to Mo Yun, her eyes brimming with excitement.
"Little brother, I think all your ideas are excellent and worth trying. I'll give them a go tomorrow!"
Mo Yun blinked. "You really mean to try them, Sis?"
Was she really this quick to act?
"Of course!" Mo Yiyi nodded firmly. "With ideas this good, wouldn't I be a fool not to try?"
She blinked as she worked out the details. "We can make membership cards from bamboo plaques and carve numbers into them. Customers can show their cards for discounts."
"We can run promotional sales during festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival and New Year. We could even consider the first and fifteenth of every month. Then we can hire some performers. That's sure to draw plenty of people..."
Looking at his sister's boundless enthusiasm, Mo Yun didn't know what to say for a moment.
He had thought these concepts were too far ahead of their time for his sister to accept.
To his surprise, she had not only taken them in but immediately come up with concrete plans to implement them.
Someone this quick to act won't do badly at anything... Mo Yun marveled inwardly. He finally understood why his sister had managed to run the shop so well.
They talked for over half an hour before Mo Yiyi reluctantly stopped, still eager for more.
"Where did you learn all these ideas, little brother?" she asked curiously.
Mo Yun had already prepared his explanation. "At the Mountain Manor. There's an old servant who's seen a great deal of the world. He traveled far and wide when he was young and knows a lot. He told me plenty of tricks for doing business."
"Then you must thank him properly!" Mo Yiyi said earnestly.
"I will." Mo Yun nodded.
After a brief silence, he said, "Sis, I'm going back to the Mountain Manor first thing tomorrow morning."
Mo Yiyi's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered.
"You're going back so soon?"
"Yes." Mo Yun nodded. "I've just been promoted to guard, and I haven't finished all the formalities yet. There are plenty of things I'm unfamiliar with, so I need to go back early and get settled."
He had four days off this time, so in theory, he could spend another two days at home.
But he really did need to return early and complete the guard formalities. At the very least, he needed to know where he would be living and what he was supposed to do.
"All right..." Though reluctant to part with him, Mo Yiyi still nodded.
After a moment's thought, she quietly cautioned him, "Be careful in everything you do there, little brother. I've heard Crouching Tiger Manor is terribly dangerous..."
Mo Yun shook his head. "It's fine, Sis. Those earlier reports about Crouching Tiger Manor being dangerous and having frequent casualties were probably false."
He paused, then shared his guess:
"Maybe the Mountain Manor's business rivals were deliberately smearing its name. You've seen it yourself, Sis. I'm doing well at Crouching Tiger Manor. I have enough food and warm clothes, and the work isn't too hard."
In truth, Mo Yun often considered this matter himself. For a while, he had constantly lived with his heart in his throat.
But after spending so long at Crouching Tiger Manor, he still hadn't found anything dangerous about it.
Later, thinking back to the Hundred Blossoms Palace sending someone to sabotage the herb garden, he suspected those rumors had likely been deliberately spread by Crouching Tiger Manor's competitors.
Once I'm back, I can ask Commander Li about it, Mo Yun thought.
"That's good. That's good..." Mo Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief.
She had always thought Crouching Tiger Manor was a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, where he had to tread as carefully as if walking on thin ice, and a single misstep could cost him his life.
At one point, she had worried that terrible news might arrive any day.
Now, she could finally put her mind completely at ease.
"Oh, right, Sis. Is there anything here you need silver for?" Mo Yun took his money pouch out of his robe.
"I earned quite a bit of silver for my outstanding performance at the Mountain Manor. Why don't you take it for now?"
He figured running a business must involve plenty of expenses. Having more silver set aside would keep her prepared for a rainy day.
Mo Yiyi shook her head. "Everything's on track now, and things keep getting better. With the Sky Wolf Gang protecting us, there are fewer people we need to pay off, too."
She looked at Mo Yun and said earnestly, "You don't need to worry about any of that, little brother. Keep your money for yourself. Martial arts training costs a lot. If you're running short, make sure you tell me right away."
Mo Yun nodded, warmth filling his heart.
They chatted a little longer, then Mo Yiyi yawned.
"Little brother, it's getting late. Get some sleep. You have a journey ahead of you tomorrow."
"All right."
The siblings each returned to their rooms.
Mo Yun lay on the wooden bed, gazing at the pitch-dark roof beams as he thought about his next steps.
Once I finish the guard formalities, I can train normally.
I also need to find out where to buy pills. I can't skimp on the ones I need. Stockpiling black points and spending them on upgrades is the way to go. Money needs to be turned into resources. Getting stronger fast is what matters, or I might end up taking all this silver to the grave!
As he mulled things over, he grew drowsy and drifted off.
The next day, before dawn.
Mo Yun opened his eyes right on time and quietly climbed out of bed without waking his sister.
He quickly washed up, packed his belongings, and opened the door to leave.
"Little brother, wait!"
Mo Yiyi's voice came from behind him.
Mo Yun turned to see his sister running out of the inner room with an outer robe draped over her shoulders and a bundle in her hand.
"I made you a few sets of clothes. Take them back with you." Mo Yiyi pushed the bundle into Mo Yun's arms.
Without thinking much of it, Mo Yun nodded and accepted the bundle.
"You're leaving this early? Aren't you having breakfast?" Mo Yiyi asked.
"No, I'll buy something on the road." Mo Yun smiled. "Go back to sleep, sis. It's still early."
"How could I let you do that?" Mo Yiyi pressed an oilpaper parcel into his hands as well and said with a smile, "Eat these on the way. Don't go hungry."
Mo Yun took the hefty oilpaper parcel. Opening it, he found several piping-hot meat buns and a flask of water inside.
"Sis, when did you get up to make these?"
"Go on, don't miss your departure." Mo Yiyi ushered him outside, her eyes reddening slightly.
"Be careful on the road. Stay safe."
"Mm." Mo Yun nodded and strode toward the edge of town.
After walking a good distance, he glanced back.
Mo Yiyi was still standing in the doorway. In the morning light, her slender figure looked especially frail.
Mo Yun drew a deep breath, turned away, and quickened his pace.
More than two hours later, the carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain where Crouching Tiger Manor stood.
Mo Yun jumped down, paid his fare, and strode toward the Mountain Manor.
Once through the main gates, he went back to the Servants' Court dormitory instead of heading straight to the Guard Team.
Although he was already a guard, his new quarters had yet to be assigned, so he was still staying here for now.
He pushed open the door. The room was empty.
Mo Yun set down his luggage, ready to put things in order.
A moment later, he froze.
Beneath the clothes his sister had given him lay several gleaming silver ingots, their light dazzling in the morning sun.
"This..."
Mo Yun picked up the silver and counted it. Exactly twenty taels.
He stood there stunned for a moment, then suddenly felt a sting in his nose.
He drew a deep breath and tucked the silver safely against his body.
After quickly putting his things away, Mo Yun left the room and strode toward Commander Li's residence.
He still had guard formalities to complete and did not even know where he would be living.
Most importantly, he was desperate to find out where he could buy pills.
Before you continue