Chapter 11, Touring the County City

Translator: StarReader

 

For the new disciples, the theory of the three Dantians was still a bit advanced and not directly relevant to their current training.

 

In the courtyard, the kids, under Li Kui’s guidance, focused on their Lower Dantian cultivation. They stood with legs apart, backs straight, and hands at their sides.

 

Under the ancient locust tree, Li Kui stood with his hands behind his back, his expression serious as he explained, “To master martial arts, you must start by strengthening your Lower Dantian. This involves aligning your legs, hips, and spine to build muscle, sinew, and vitality.”

 

The kids lined up in the courtyard, their backs as taut as drawn bows, legs bent in a horse stance.

 

Su Chen could barely hold on for half an incense stick before his legs, hips, and back felt swollen with blood. According to Li Kui, this was precisely the sign of blood and vitality fortification in their thighs.

 

A little while later, the kids couldn’t take it anymore; their legs trembled uncontrollably.

 

Although the most basic stance, the horse stance, was challenging enough to exhaust even veteran martial arts disciples. After just one incense stick’s worth of time, their legs ached and throbbed with fatigue, their teeth nearly grinding together in frustration.

 

“Even this is merely the refining of the Lower Dantian, the first step in martial arts basics. If you can’t even maintain the simplest horse stance with stability, your waist and back weak, your legs trembling, then no matter how extraordinary the sword in your hand may be, it would only be like a child’s swing—useless for any attack. Such puny strength wouldn’t last even a single move against a third-rate practitioner.” Li Kui snorted coldly.

 

Su Chen and the others finally understood what Pharmacist Li Kui was driving at. Even entry practice of the Lower Dantian wasn’t an easy feat for them; it would take at least half a year to achieve even modest progress.

 

For these new disciples, higher-level cultivation like refining True Qi for the Middle Dantian was still a distant prospect, let alone the elusive Upper Dantian.

 

The kids drilled horse stance for the entire morning, exhausted from their efforts. When they finally collapsed onto the wooden beds in their small room after going through several large bowls of rice and half a dozen coarse wheat buns at lunch, it was with complete exhaustion.

 

Even the most talkative and witty of them, who were usually never at a loss for words, now felt exhausted and said nothing. The room was filled with endless snoring, and after an hour’s nap in the afternoon, they finally regained some strength.

 

In the afternoon, Pharmacist Li Kui taught how to read and recognize characters, as well as identify various herbs. One had to learn to read first before moving on to the entry-level medicine called identifying herbs, which involved recognizing thousands of commonly used herb names and appearances.

 

As for basic medicine, it included tasks such as sorting, drying, cutting, and mixing herbs, among others, and these would only be taught a year later. Intermediate medicine, on the other hand, encompassed diagnosing illnesses and creating prescriptions—subjects reserved for inner disciples to learn.

 

Advanced medicine involved brewing pills, which was an area that even inner disciples could only begin to explore after three years of cultivation.

 

Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, who had both attended schools, naturally did not need to start with reading lessons. They could skip straight ahead to studying the herb books that Li Kui had given them, focusing on identifying thousands of different herbs.

 

As for Su Chen, Zhang Tieniu, and Yang Caizhi—the five outer disciples from commoner backgrounds—they had never attended any schools. They would have to start from scratch, learning one character at a time. Mastering several thousand characters in total was no easy feat.

 

Fortunately, Pharmacist Li Kui did not insist that they learn all the characters. He only taught them to recognize the herb names in the texts first so they could quickly understand the herb illustrations.

 

After all, there was so much to learn. In the first half-year alone, they were only learning the basics of medicine, and time was still very limited…

 

Unwillingly, the twelfth month passed, and it was now New Year’s Eve.

 

Medicine King Group granted all disciples a day off for New Year. Many of the new recruits who hailed from Gusu County City returned home for the festival.

 

However, only a few newcomers remained on the mountain, as they were from distant places and worried about wasting time that could be spent on cultivation. They spent the New Year at the Medicine King Estate.

 

On New Year’s Eve, the remaining young disciples gathered in the estate’s communal kitchen, preparing dumplings, kneading dough, and chopping vegetables. It was lively and festive.

 

Some of them missed their families and couldn’t help but cry and make a fuss.

 

Su Chen was eating a steaming bowl of freshly made dumplings, recalling the family’s financial struggles and feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. He wondered about his parents—had they managed to pay the constable’s boat tax and the Whale Gang’s weighing fee? Did his younger siblings and sister have new clothes for the year? Though he was no longer a burden to his family, there was still a shortage of two taels of silver this year, making the upcoming New Year’s Eve difficult to bear.

 

As night fell, Medicine King Estate buzzed with activity inside and out. Some young men, idle and seeking entertainment, fashioned bamboo tubes filled with salpeter, sulfur, and charcoal to create powerful firecrackers. Far away, Gusu County City was decked in decorations, and couplets hung outside every home, exuding a festive air of celebrating the Lunar New Year.

 

Su Chen sat alone on his bed in the small hut, listening to the crackling sounds of the firecrackers outside, deep in thought and unable to sleep throughout the night.

 

New Year came and went quickly. The newly arrived disciples at the estate returned and resumed their intense cultivation. Along with holding the horse stance, they started practicing introductory martial arts techniques such as basic boxing, kicking, and footwork.

 

Su Chen and the other four outer disciples made a surprising discovery.

 

Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, under the guidance of Pharmacist Li Kui, utilized some mid- to low-tier refining formulas composed of herbs to assist their cultivation. These herbs helped stimulate the vital energy in their bone marrow.

 

As explained by Li Kui, there were numerous advantages to using herbs for refining one’s body. First and foremost, they accelerated the activation of one’s vital energy, thereby speeding up the progress of their cultivation. Second, these herbs also aided in healing the wear and tear caused by martial arts cultivation, allowing them to train for longer periods without rest.

 

During martial arts cultivation, practitioners often vigorously pounded wooden posts with their fists and feet to strengthen their muscles, bones, and skin. This rigorous conditioning, however, inevitably led to minor injuries and potential long-term harm to the body. Hence, it was advisable not to exceed two hours of daily practice, as pushing oneself beyond that threshold risked overexertion.

 

The herbs proved particularly effective in healing these cultivation-induced injuries without leaving any lasting damage. Without the aid of these herbs, newcomers could expect it to take approximately two to three years to complete the refinement of their meridians, bone marrow, and muscles. This process would result in an abundance of vitality surging into their Lower Dantian, elevating them from being inexperienced fighters to recognized third-rate practitioners.

 

By incorporating herbs into their practice, individuals could significantly reduce the time required for this refinement process. Their progress became much more rapid, enabling them to advance far quicker than their peers who did not utilize such methods.

 

Su Chen now understood just how remarkable and efficient these herbs truly were.

 

This method was incredibly expensive, practically burning money. Even the cheapest body-strengthening herbs cost over a couple of silver taels. Only Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, two inner disciples from wealthy families with plenty of financial backing, could afford such expenses. The five outer disciples came from humble backgrounds and couldn’t afford the expensive herbs, leaving them in envy.

 

Time passed quickly at the estate, with the disciples focusing on their martial arts cultivation, scholarly studies, and herbalism. The days turned into three months of such a rigorous routine.

 

The new disciples had made progress in their basic stances, entry-level boxing techniques, and footwork—all beginning to look somewhat proper.

 

Su Chen delivered powerful punches to a wooden pole, maintaining focus for an entire incense stick’s time while holding the horse stance steady without trembling. His performance was impressive.

 

Among them, Zhang Tieniu had the strongest constitution. He could lift a fifty-kilogram stone with his arms and hold it for a couple of breaths, leaving Su Chen and Yang Caizhi, along with their fellow senior brothers, in awe and envy.

 

Overall, these five new disciples still had poor martial arts skills and were not yet at the level of a third-rate practitioner.

 

Meanwhile, Wang Fugui and Li Jiao, as inner disciples, naturally outpaced their fellow outer disciples. With the assistance of body-refining herbs in their cultivation practices, they had ridden off into the distance, leaving their fellow outer disciple far behind and getting very close to reaching the point of becoming third-rate practitioners.

 

Over time, Su Chen and the others forgot about the rule of elimination. They became fully immersed in studying herbs and cultivating their Lower Dantian.

 

…

 

One morning, Pharmacist Li Kui had to go out for business matters. He granted all the disciples a day off, allowing them to rest and take a trip to the county city, but they had to return before nightfall.

 

The disciples immediately cheered up. Having been cooped up at the Medicine King Estate for over two months, studying medicine and strengthening the body, they were finally going to get some much-needed relaxation.

 

“Let’s go! We’ll head to the county city right away. The sun is just coming up; we can spend the entire day there and return before sunset.”

 

“Let’s go to the county city for a visit. I can also stop by my family home on the way.”

 

Zhang Tieniu and Yang Caizhi agreed.

 

“I won’t be going… I’d rather stay at the estate and read on herbs.”

 

Su Chen was sitting under an old locust tree, flipping through a thick herbs book. He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

 

He was unfamiliar with Gusu County City and had no relatives or friends there. He didn’t know what to do while sightseeing, so it would be better to stay at the estate and learn more about herbs instead.

 

“Senior Brother Su,” teased Qin Huihui, “if you keep reading like that, you’ll become a bookworm.” After being cooped up at the estate for months and finally getting a day off, why not take the time to have some fun?”

 

Qin Huihui pulled Su Chen along as they joined the rest of the disciples leaving the Medicine King Estate for Gusu County City.

 

The estate was only a little over two miles from the county city. They walked quickly, covering the distance in less than a stick’s worth of incense time.

 

Wang Fugui and Li Jiao were not usually seen associating with the five outer disciples. After leaving the estate, they returned home, leaving only the five outer disciples to wander around the city together.

 

Upon entering Gusu County City, they found the streets bustling with crowds, lively and noisy. Farmers carrying vegetables, woodcutters with bundles of firewood, merchants on their way, and martial artists rushing by—all kinds of people streamed in and out of the city gates without end.

 

Su Chen distinctly felt that the common townspeople were looking at them—a group of five new Medicine King Group disciples—with different eyes. There was an air of reverence and a sense of distant respect; no one dared to approach them.

 

All of them wore brand-new Medicine King Group disciple uniforms, making them quite conspicuous. The Medicine King Group held a lofty status in Gusu County. Even the lowest-ranking outer disciples were far above ordinary civilians.

 

Su Chen couldn’t help but think inwardly that his identity was indeed different now. As a Medicine King Group disciple, he had become a martial artist disciple, though still far from being one of the elite riders on those high-spirited horses. Yet, he was no longer just an average townsman.

 

Zhang Tieniu and Yang Caizhi also noticed the change in people’s gazes, their faces lighting up with pride, feeling like they were exuding martial disciple aura.

 

The five roamed around Gusu County City, possibly having not been here in a long time. They strolled through the streets, visiting shops, eating several bowls of tofu, and trying the city’s famous river crab pancakes, peddler’s plum blossom cakes, and fish-scented spring rolls. Everything felt fresh and amusing.

 

Su Chen was experiencing his first genuine trip in Gusu County City. After Yang Caizhi explained, he finally understood the layout of the city.

 

The city center was where the constable’s office was located, along with the residences of the county magistrate and many wealthy officials. The constables carry out their duties here, creating an atmosphere of solemnity.

 

The western part of the city was the commercial district, with shops lining both sides of the streets, mostly owned by wealthy families in the city. Warehouses, rice, silk, tea, salt stores, taverns, teahouses, and all sorts of establishments were seen everywhere. Due to the convenience of river transport outside the west gate, this area was the most bustling and lively, filled with merchants from various regions.

 

The southern part of the city was where the commoners lived, home to tens of thousands of people in cramped and poorly ventilated earth and wooden houses. The streets were narrow and crowded, with foul-smelling open drains everywhere. Despite all this, owning even a small house in the southern district remained expensive, something that village peasants couldn’t aspire to.

 

The northern part of the city was inhabited by wealthy families, big merchants, village elders, and martial heroes, with numerous martial arts academies, schools, mansions, and gardens dotting the area. Their buildings stood close together, with wide streets and a quiet atmosphere. On most days, palanquins were seen coming in and out of this area.

 

At the intersection of the western street, there was a renowned brothel called Mist Terrace, famous throughout Gusu County City for its singing and dancing, colorful decorations, and soft music.

 

The madam at the entrance of the building led a group of ladies to attract customers, enticing wealthy youths and martial artists to enter for entertainment.

 

As Zhang Tieniu passed by the western street intersection, he glanced longingly at Mist Terrace. However, due to his lack of funds and Li Kui’s warning from earlier, he dared not make a move.

 

The new disciples, still green and inexperienced, dared not linger outside the brothel and hurriedly left. As they strolled further down the street, they came upon a crowd gathered around a performing acrobatic troupe putting on displays of fire-breathing, hoop diving, and chest-breaking with sledgehammers, which occasionally drew cheers and exclamations from the onlookers.

 

Yang Caizhi, sharp-eyed as ever, spotted a ruffian harassing an innocent woman in the crowd. He immediately called out, “Hey! I recognize that ruffian; his name’s Niusan. He often causes trouble on this street! Tieniu, let’s take him down!”

 

“Guys, let’s go after him!” The others shouted.

 

Zhang Tieniu, hearing this, was quick to act. His blood boiling with excitement, he charged forward at the forefront.

 

Su Chen and Yang Caizhi, fearing that Zhang might get himself into trouble, rushed forward as well. They seized the ruffian and gave him a sound thrashing until he was screaming for mercy.

 

The ruffians in Gusu County City were no match for these Medicine King Group disciples, who carried themselves with such fierce authority. These bullies, who usually only dared to act tough in front of ordinary civilians, now cowered in fear, their faces pale with terror, and fled with their tails between their legs.

 

The disciples, having stood up for justice on the streets, felt a surge of pride swelling within them. After all, subduing such a thug was merely a small test of their martial prowess in Gusu County City—a testament to their growing confidence as true martial artists.

 

By midday, after wandering around the city for the morning, everyone had grown weary. Zhang Tieniu, Yang Caizhi, and Qin Huihui were all natives of Gusu County City. Kong Xinqiao’s family also lived near the county city, so the four of them went their separate ways to reunite with their families for a meal.

 

Left alone, Su Chen stood on the bustling street, feeling isolated and disheartened. The journey back to Zhou Village, located in the water region, would take at least a full day round trip, making it impossible to return by nightfall. Moreover, he still harbored unresolved feelings of resentment and had no desire to go back.

 

Having wandered around the city until midday, his stomach felt the pangs of hunger. Su Chen felt inside his empty pocket and let out a rueful smile. The Medicine King Estate provided food, clothing, and shelter for all new apprentices, with meals in the communal kitchen costing nothing. However, there was no opportunity to earn any money.

 

In contrast, Zhang Tieniu and the others still received a small amount of copper coins from their families, allowing them to have some loose change to spend.

 

But he was penniless, unable even to afford a steamed bun on the street, and deeply embarrassed. This was also why he wasn’t too eager to leave the Medicine King Estate and come out with everyone else to wander around Gusu County City.

 

“Never mind,” Su Chen sighed. “I’ll just go hungry at noon and then have a full meal back at the estate’s dining hall in the evening.”

 

He thought for a while, trying to decide what to do next.

 

In the afternoon, he decided to pay Ah Chou a visit and check up on him.

 

They had agreed to each go their own way into Gusu County and join different martial groups, intending to travel together in the martial world one day. Su Chen wondered if Ah Chou had joined the Heaven Falcon Group yet and how he was faring.

 

Su Chen went to the Heaven Falcon Inn. In the back courtyard, he met the cook, Old Li, who was in charge of the kitchen. He asked him about Ah Chou’s whereabouts.

 

Old Li seemed startled upon seeing Su Chen dressed in the robes of a Medicine King Group disciple. His expression quickly shifted to one of cautious respect and restraint.

 

Su Chen was no longer the penniless fisherman’s boy he once was but had become a disciple of the Medicine King Group, dressed in a neat blue robe. After months of training, his physique had grown robust, exuding a martial aura characteristic of those in the martial world.

 

Old Li droned on, saying that Ah Chou hadn’t returned since that day. Word had it that he had joined the Heaven Falcon Group, becoming an outer disciple.

 

Upon hearing this, Su Chen was overjoyed and immediately set out for the main hall of the Heaven Falcon Group to find Ah Chou. However, his hopes were dashed when the main hall denied entry to outsiders. Furthermore, new disciples in the groups rarely made a name for themselves, so no one bothered to remember them. Requesting the guards at the entrance to help search for someone without offering anything in return was met with complete disregard.

 

As Su Chen failed to find Ah Chou, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed, deciding to bide his time and try again later. Nonetheless, he felt content knowing that Ah Chou had become a disciple of the Heaven Falcon Group, a member of the martial world. It was only a matter of time before they could meet again in Gusu County. Patience would be key.