49 Two-Pronged Approach
In Great Cloud City, Jiang Ming bought some aged wine and roasted chicken and walked towards Ji Shitang.
Every step along the way, soldiers could be seen patrolling everywhere. They were in armor, and had their weapons brandished, their eyes vigilantly scanning every person on the road.
There were far fewer vendors on the street, and some small shops had even closed. It was said that those who could migrate fled further south. There was a feeling of chaos.
At the entrance of Tiger Hunting Village stood two unfamiliar men. It seemed that they had recruited new people. Ever since they had cooperated with the Flying Cloud Castle, Tiger Hunting Village’s foundation had grown stronger and stronger. It was said that the number of third-class martial artists had increased by a lot.
Although first and second-class martial artists were stronger, the third-class martial artists were the backbone of an army. Only with enough third-class martial artists could the Tiger Hunting Village be strong enough to move to greener pastures when needed.
“But I wonder how far the Flying Cloud Castle can go?” Jiang Ming sighed internally.
He reached Ji Shitang.
As soon as Jiang Ming walked in, he saw Dr. Sun guiding his disciple to get the medicine. He suddenly smiled when he saw Jiang Ming, “You’re living a happy life in Peace Town, huh? You haven’t come here in a while.”
“I got used to being idle in the mountains.” Jiang Ming cupped his hands with a smile and put the wine and food on the counter.
Dr. Sun eyed the items on the counter. “Since you’re already here, what’s the point of bringing these? I really don’t have anything else to teach you.”
“I passed by the restaurant and saw that there were not many people waiting in line, and I bought you your favorite,” Jiang Ming said indifferently.
“Sigh, everything is so uncertain. People are torn between stocking up and fleeing. Who would have the mood to eat roast chicken?” Dr. Sun sighed, and his hand could not help but reach for the roast chicken.
Jiang Ming smiled. “I don’t want any roast chicken, but I would like a bowl of medicinal soup. May I have some? Not being able to have your soup for a while really held me back.”
The medicinal soup that nourished one’s blood Qi was Jiang Ming’s secret to his power. Although it had no direct effect on martial arts practice, it had a wonderful effect on regulating blood Qi, which was greatly beneficial to increasing the upper limit of a martial artist’s power.
If he had this medicinal soup every day, Jiang Ming’s control of his blood Qi would be greatly improved. He could suppress his boiling blood and maybe he could slash out more powerful attacks.
Dr. Sun was stunned when he heard that. He slowly retracted his hand and looked at Jiang Ming with a faint gaze, “You brat. You’re here to bribe me!”
Jiang Ming did not hide it. He said frankly, “Dr. Sun, you have a good eye. I won’t beat around the bush. I’m here today for your prescription. Please state your price.”
“You…” Dr. Sun pointed at Jiang Ming and wanted to get angry, but in the end, he shook his head and smiled bitterly, “Do you know how I managed to keep the clinic running for so long? It’s because I keep my prescriptions secret. How can I sell them to you?”
I understand. However, you have more than one secret formula.” Jiang Ming was not surprised. He smiled and said, “The effect of this medicinal soup is extraordinary. However, for most martial artists, it takes almost all their energy and money to find a way to improve their blood Qi. Thus, they can’t devote their time and energy to anything else. You can’t even sell a few bowls of this medicinal soup in a month. With the current state of the world, instead of keeping your prescriptions secret, it’s better to sell them for some silver. Only then can you live comfortably in this chaos.”
Jiang Ming’s voice was calm.
Dr. Sun’s expression was uncertain. After a long time, he sighed heavily.
“Tell me, how did the world suddenly become like this? When I was an apprentice, the world was peaceful, and the people were rich. How could it crumble like this in just a few decades?” Dr. Sun muttered.
“Times have changed,” Jiang Ming said with a sigh. “When the commoners are happy, those in power feel threatened.”
Dr. Sun smiled bitterly. “You’re giving me goosebumps. I can’t compare to martial artists like you.”
He let out a sigh.
“If it wasn’t for the current state of affairs, I would have thrown you out if you had ever dared have any ideas about my prescriptions!” He glared at Jiang Ming.
“Thank you, Dr. Sun,” Jiang Ming said with a smile.
Dr. Sun was silent for a long time before his eyes filled with sorrow and he sighed, “I am going against my ancestors. It won’t be cheap!”
* * *
A moment later, Jiang Ming walked out of Ji Shitang, put a handwritten prescription in his pocket, and strode away.
In Ji Shitang, Dr. Sun carried the heavy bag of money in his hand and sighed for a long time before he gritted his teeth and seemed to have come to a decision.
‘I have to adapt to survive. If this war continues, I may have to shut the clinic down. I’d better save more silver to be at ease. Since I’ve already started, it’s better to sell a few more copies of my prescriptions. Right, let’s go contact the regulars.’
* * *
After buying a large number of hard-to-find medicinal herbs, Jiang Ming returned to Peace Town with a full harvest.
He stayed there for two days and gave Zhou Wenxiu some pointers on martial arts. Afterward, Jiang Ming brought some medicinal herbs and other daily necessities and went back to the Cloudy Dream Mountain Forest.
The war was creeping up on them. Jiang Ming wanted to become a little stronger before he could rest assured.
“I’ve gotten a few kills, but I won’t be undefeated forever. I have to become stronger. I have to be able to defeat anyone who tries to threaten my peace.”
Outside the wooden house, Jiang Ming gulped down the entire bowl of medicinal soup and felt the blood in his body calm down. He picked up his saber and continued to practice the Blood-Burning Saber Technique.
On the surface of Jiang Ming’s body, clouds of blood mist continued to burst out, and he did not stop until the tenth slash.
“It’s useful.” Jiang Ming’s whole body was blood red. However, he was smiling.
Then, he had a strange look in his eyes.
“I’ve already lost decades of my life from simply practicing.”
He closed his eyes.
“What does it matter? I’m immortal!”
Then, he threw away his saber and went back to his house to drink another bowl of medicinal soup. He began to practice the Leather Tiger Bone Technique.
“The soup Guan Feng gave me is amazing. The more I drink, the better the effect is. A single bowl can make me focus for hours. I’m getting closer and closer to breaking through. This soup needs a name. Let’s call it the Spirit-Clearing Soup!”
Every day, he would have a bowl of both the Spirit-Clearing Soup and the medicinal soup. The medicinal soup would help him practice the Blood-Burning Saber Technique, and the Spirit-Clearing Soup would assist him in comprehending the intent of the tiger. The days passed by quickly.