After leaving the Black Tiger Gang's hall, Jiang Fa walked considerably faster than he had on the way there.
The heavy pouch of silver in his sleeve pocket filled him with a sense of security.
Rather than heading toward the martial arts school, Jiang Fa turned onto the main street.
The hour of the Snake had just passed, and the shops lining the main street were all open.
The cloth shop's proprietor shook out a newly arrived bolt of silk at the entrance, while the aroma of stewing meat drifted from a restaurant's kitchen.
Several ragged paupers stood in line outside the pawnshop, clutching old family heirlooms as they waited with wooden expressions.
Jiang Fa threaded through the crowd and stopped outside an apothecary with a gold-lettered sign reading "Precious Ganoderma Hall."
The Precious Ganoderma Hall's storefront was grander than the shops on either side, with vermilion-painted doorposts and blue-brick paving. A black plaque with gold lettering hung above the entrance, every stroke exuding wealth and prestige.
A young shop assistant was dusting the counter with a feather duster.
He looked up and saw Jiang Fa standing at the entrance in his short, coarse gray clothes. His hand paused, and his brows drew together involuntarily.
"Buying medicine?" The young assistant's tone was neither particularly polite nor dismissive, merely carrying that perfunctory air merchants reserved for poor customers.
Jiang Fa stepped inside, and a rich medicinal fragrance washed over him.
Behind the counter sat an elderly proprietor with a head of silvery hair, clacking away at an ivory abacus without looking up.
"I'd like to buy Blood Strengthening Powder," Jiang Fa told the young assistant as he approached the counter.
The young assistant turned, took a yellow-paper packet of medicinal powder from the medicine cabinet, and set it on the counter.
"Blood Strengthening Powder. One tael of silver per packet."
He glanced at Jiang Fa's expression and added, "Our Blood Strengthening Powder uses the authentic formula, with angelica root, astragalus, and spatholobus vine. It's nothing like those inferior goods passed off as quality medicine elsewhere."
Jiang Fa reached out to open the packet and inspect its quality, but the young assistant pressed a hand on it with measured force. "Once you open it, you have to buy it."
Jiang Fa could only withdraw his hand.
His gaze wandered over the medicine cabinet before settling on several locked drawers at the very bottom.
Their handles had been polished to a gleam through use. Red paper labels read "Blood Condensation Pills," "Meridian Protection Pills," "Body Tempering Pills," and "Marrow Cleansing Pills," their lettering neater than that on the other labels.
"How much are the Blood Condensation Pills?" Jiang Fa asked, pointing at one of the drawers.
The young assistant frowned.
A trace of impatience rose within him, and he said flatly, "Five taels of silver per Blood Condensation Pill. Are you buying?"
Five taels of silver was enough to cover half a year's expenses for a poor household! Not just anyone could afford that.
Five taels. Jiang Fa silently worked out the figures.
Twenty taels of silver. After paying for two months of room and board, eighteen would remain. If I enter the inner courtyard, I won't need to pay for room and board.
He had originally intended to buy only a few packets of Blood Strengthening Powder and set the remaining silver aside for now, but what he had just witnessed at the Black Tiger Gang's hall had completely changed his mind.
Increasing my strength is what matters. I can earn the silver back later!
Having made up his mind, Jiang Fa said directly, "Ten packets of Blood Strengthening Powder and one Blood Condensation Pill."
The young assistant froze, his hand stopping in midair.
He sized Jiang Fa up again, his gaze lingering on him for a full three seconds.
Only after seeing that Jiang Fa's expression remained calm throughout did he turn and call the proprietor over to unlock the drawer, then retrieve a palm-sized celadon medicine bottle from the bottom of the cabinet.
"Ten packets of Blood Strengthening Powder and one Blood Condensation Pill. Fifteen taels altogether."
Jiang Fa carefully took fifteen taels of silver from his sleeve pocket and placed them on the counter.
At the sight of the silver, the young assistant's expression softened slightly, and even his tone grew warmer.
As he wrapped the purchases, he instructed, "The main ingredient in Blood Strengthening Powder is wild red ginseng rootlets, supplemented with burnet root, madder root, and cattail pollen."
"Martial artists from poor households all take this. It isn't as effective as Blood Condensation Pills, but it's affordable."
"But let me make the unpleasant part clear first. Blood Strengthening Powder is harsh and heating, and difficult to absorb. After taking it, you must immediately practice your stance and circulate your art, using the stance's downward-sinking force to press the medicinal potency down. Only then can you barely absorb it. If you lie down after taking it, the potency will accumulate in your chest and abdomen. This shop accepts no responsibility for any resulting harm to your body."
Jiang Fa nodded.
He carefully tucked the packets into his robe, checked them once, then turned and left the Precious Ganoderma Hall.
It was already noon when he returned to the martial arts school.
Without stopping, Jiang Fa went to the rear courtyard and handed his room and board payment to Steward Ma. At last, the stone weighing on his heart dropped.
The dining hall was crowded with people.
A dozen or so outer courtyard disciples were slurping porridge from coarse porcelain bowls.
In a corner, Li Tie and Wang Dahu sat facing each other, a dish of pickled vegetable chunks on the table as they talked quietly.
Li Tie looked up, spotted Jiang Fa, and hurriedly waved. "Jiang Fa, over here!"
Jiang Fa ladled himself a bowl of vegetable porridge, carried it over, and sat down.
Li Tie pushed his dish of pickles toward him, nudged his shoulder with an elbow, and lowered his voice. "Where did you run off to this morning?"
"I went out for a bit." Jiang Fa raised his bowl and took a mouthful. The porridge was made from coarse rice and wild vegetable leaves, so thin he could see the bottom of the bowl.
Li Tie studied Jiang Fa's expression but did not press him.
He broke his flatbread in half and placed one half before Jiang Fa.
"Still training this afternoon?" Li Tie asked.
"Yes." Jiang Fa thanked him without standing on ceremony, picking up the half-flatbread and putting it straight into his mouth.
"Jiang Fa, let's exchange a few more moves later. I refuse to believe it! We all learned the fist art together, so why are you so much stronger than us?"
Wang Dahu spoke with defiance written all over his face.
"Dahu's right."
Li Tie looked at Jiang Fa suspiciously. "Jiang Fa, did you secretly train before? From the looks of it, your form isn't much worse than Qin Xuan's."
Jiang Fa shook his head.
"Nothing of the sort. I've just practiced a few more times than you."
Li Tie and Wang Dahu exchanged glances.
"Really? But the two of us haven't exactly been slacking off either."
Jiang Fa nodded without explaining further.
After eating, the three left the dining hall and went to the outer courtyard training grounds.
Some people were already practicing their stances. Beneath the blazing sun, several outer courtyard disciples practiced their fist techniques bare-chested, their skin tanned dark and gleaming as sweat streamed down their backs.
These days, aside from routinely taking attendance during morning lessons, Wang Shi no longer concerned himself much with everyone's training, only occasionally coming over to offer guidance when he had time.
Training in the outer courtyard now mostly meant practicing and comprehending on one's own, exercising self-discipline and self-reflection.
As Zhao Zhong put it:
The master led you through the door, but cultivation depended on the individual. There were no shortcuts on the martial path; grueling practice was the finest teacher.
Without that understanding, the martial path would ultimately remain flowers in a mirror and the moon on water-nothing but an empty dream.
Toward evening, the sun sank behind the city walls, and the people on the outer courtyard training grounds gradually dispersed.
Rubbing his aching arms, Li Tie told Jiang Fa and Li Tie, "I'm heading back first. I really can't keep going. I'll turn in early tonight."
Not long afterward, Wang Dahu offered Jiang Fa a few reminders, then staggered away as well.
The outer courtyard training grounds gradually emptied.
Only the torch stands along the edge still shed a little light.
Jiang Fa was in no hurry to leave.
He took off his outer garment, folded it, and placed it beneath a wooden post, revealing muscles that, while not bulky, were firm and lean.
Days of grueling practice had already honed this body into sharply defined contours, the muscle lines of his shoulders and arms clearly visible.
Yet the outlines of individual ribs were visible beneath his skin, traces left by prolonged malnutrition and going without meat.
First, he held his stance for an hour to warm up his body.
Then, while no one was around, he opened a packet of Blood Strengthening Powder.
Unfolding the yellow paper revealed dark brown powder, as fine as ground bean flour. Up close, it gave off a rich medicinal fragrance.
He tipped his head back and poured the powder into his mouth, then washed it down with a large mouthful of cold water.
As the powder entered his throat, bitterness spread from the root of his tongue. Immediately afterward, a burning warmth rose in his lower abdomen, as though a scalding stone had dropped into his belly.
Soon, the medicine began to take effect.
Jiang Fa hurriedly settled firmly into the Mountain-Breaking Stance, following the art's key instructions to guide the hot current downward.
Though the Blood Strengthening Powder's potency was harsh and hot, it was plentiful. Wherever the warmth passed, his muscles felt as though they were soaking in warm water, tingling and numb.
After holding the stance for just under an hour, he felt the medicinal potency in his abdomen settle somewhat, then assumed his fighting posture and began practicing the Mountain-Breaking Fist.
On the first repetition, he performed all eighteen forms of the Mountain-Breaking Fist from beginning to end, moving somewhat faster than usual.
On the second, he slowed down, deliberately controlling the rhythm of his breathing.
As he inhaled, the hot current in his abdomen rose; as he exhaled, it sank back into his dantian. With each cycle, his form grew steadier.
By the twelfth form, he distinctly felt that the wind from his punches had grown sharper. The sound of his fists cutting through the air changed from a low moan to a rushing whoosh.
After finishing the third repetition, he withdrew his fists and stood with his eyes closed, sensing the changes for a moment.
The fourth repetition, the fifth, the sixth.
By the sixth repetition, his body had completely absorbed the Blood Strengthening Powder's medicinal potency.
His fist technique grew increasingly fluid, without any of its former awkwardness or sluggishness.
During the final few forms, he could even feel a faint current of air burst from the faces of his fists.
Though it was still far from Zhao Zhong's power to shatter wood from a distance, at least it was no longer merely superficial.
After finishing the sixth repetition, Jiang Fa stopped to catch his breath.
Sweat had completely soaked his trousers, and beads of it dripped from his chin as though he had been caught in a downpour.
He wiped his face. Without resting too long, he steadied his breathing again and assumed the Mountain-Breaking Stance.
The Blood Strengthening Powder's remaining potency still churned in his abdomen.
Following the young assistant's instructions, he pressed that heat downward, but the medicine was simply too harsh. Wherever the hot current passed, it felt as though sandpaper had scraped over him, leaving pain and numbness.
He forced himself to hold the stance for an hour. Only when he felt that he had barely suppressed some of the potency did he assume his fighting posture and continue practicing.
Halfway through the seventh repetition of the Mountain-Breaking Fist, his legs had already begun trembling.
By the end of the eighth, the edges of his clenched hands were rubbed bright red, and the skin over his knuckles was on the verge of splitting.
At last, he finished the ninth repetition.
Jiang Fa withdrew his fists, his legs gave way, and he dropped straight onto his backside.
His chest heaved violently, his heart pounding so fast it seemed about to leap out of his throat. His arms hung limply at his sides, as though their bones had been drawn out.
But he did not lie down. He merely tilted his head back and gulped for air.
Sweat blurred his vision, smearing the training ground's torchlight into rings of orange-yellow light.
Jiang Fa drew his gaze back, closed his eyes, and sank his awareness into his mind.
The familiar panel quietly appeared.
[Talents: Heaven Rewards Diligence, Learning Inevitably Bears Fruit] [Realm: none] [Cultivation arts: Mountain-Breaking Stance (middle-grade yellow tier) · beginner (72/200), Seven-Colored Glazed Glass Art (high-grade heaven tier) · first level (37/1000)] [Martial arts: Mountain-Breaking Fist (middle-grade yellow tier) · beginner (20/200)]
The Mountain-Breaking Stance had risen by 14 points, the Mountain-Breaking Fist by 8, and the Seven-Colored Glazed Glass Art by 4.
One evening, with just a single packet of Blood Strengthening Powder, had matched several days of his previous grueling practice.
"Poor scholars, wealthy martial artists. The ancients truly didn't deceive me!"
Jiang Fa opened his eyes and gazed at the pitch-black night sky overhead, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Twenty taels.
Worth it.
With these medicines, breaking through to Ming Jin was within sight.