Chapter 6: Minor Success! Nightmare

Bitter!

It was truly bitter!

However, as the medicinal soup slid down his throat and into his stomach, he could distinctly feel a warm current surging forth.

The heat continued to flow down into his intestines, then dispersed into his belly, chest, and finally spread throughout his limbs and bones.

This sensation was exactly the same as when he had broken through to the introductory level of the Zhengyang Stance earlier.

The difference was that this time, the effect lasted significantly longer than before.

Zhang Lingshan was both surprised and delighted.

He had originally worried that Shi Lei was trying to scam him, but to maintain a good relationship and give this future senior brother some face, he had been willing to be scammed.

But now it seemed he had misunderstood the man.

This medicinal soup was worth more than its price; the three silver coins were well spent.

Because when he checked his panel, he discovered that in this short amount of time, the 0.2 energy on the panel had actually jumped to 0.3.

Beyond that, he also noticed that his stomach no longer felt bloated; it seemed this medicinal soup had even accelerated his digestion.

Regrettably, once the energy reached 0.4, the medicinal effect seemed to vanish, and the warm, comfortable feeling throughout his body disappeared.

Zhang Lingshan sighed inwardly, still wanting more; he truly wished he could have another bowl.

He planned to ask Shi Lei when he returned if there was any way to get another serving.

Although Shi Lei had said the next bowl wouldn't be available for three days, he figured it shouldn't be a problem if he was willing to pay extra.

For the rest of the time, Zhang Lingshan waited for Shi Lei while continuing to practice the Zhengyang Stance.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but he began to feel hungry again, and at that moment, he suddenly noticed another change on the panel.

Name: Zhang Lingshan Martial Arts: Zhengyang Stance (Introductory +) Energy: 0.5

‘How did I suddenly get another 0.1 energy? Was it from digesting the lunch meal?’

Zhang Lingshan was pleasantly surprised.

He hadn't expected the food at the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall to be so good. No wonder he had been stuffed after eating so little at noon; they must have added something good to it. He just didn't know what it was. If he could get that good stuff to eat on its own, it would surely be more valuable than eating a whole pot of rice.

Pulling back his thoughts, Zhang Lingshan focused his mind and clicked the "+" next to the Zhengyang Stance (Introductory).

In the blink of an eye.

Whoosh.

0.5 energy was consumed instantly.

A scorching hot current suddenly flooded his entire body, as if a fire had been ignited within him, releasing wave after wave of heat that made Zhang Lingshan feel so comfortable he almost cried out.

His whole body felt warm, even more comfortable than soaking in a hot spring.

However, before Zhang Lingshan could continue to savor it, this strange sensation slowly faded away.

Checking the panel.

Name: Zhang Lingshan Martial Arts: Zhengyang Stance (Minor Achievement) Energy: 0

The Zhengyang Stance at the Minor Achievement level felt completely different to perform. With every set he practiced, Zhang Lingshan felt his body grow a little warmer.

As for the red marks on his body, they had faded until they were almost invisible, and the pain in his body was barely noticeable.

‘If I can push through and break through another level in one go, could the red marks disappear completely?’

Zhang Lingshan couldn't help but feel expectant.

Unfortunately, Shi Lei did not return by the time he finished his evening meal, so the medicinal soup was clearly out of reach.

On his way home, Zhang Lingshan stopped at a pharmacy and bought a prescription called Bazhen Soup.

Bazhen Soup could nourish qi and resolve blood stasis.

In Zhang Lingshan’s mind, the red marks on his body were blood stasis, so resolving stasis was the perfect remedy.

As for the qi-nourishing effect, it would strengthen his blood and energy.

If he was lucky, after drinking this medicine, the red marks on his body should disappear completely.

Filled with anticipation, Zhang Lingshan walked with a brisk, light step toward home.

As he walked down Qinghe Road again, his heart couldn't help but skip a beat, fearing a repeat of yesterday's events.

If this wasn't the only way home, he really wouldn't want to come here.

Fortunately, he was overthinking it.

There were far more pedestrians on the road today than yesterday, and since it was still light out, there were even street vendors; people were coming and going, and it was quite lively.

Zhang Lingshan was surprised.

He never imagined that the yamen would handle things so quickly.

In less than a day, the tragic scene at the Zhao residence had been cleaned up. Aside from the Zhao family's front gate being nailed shut, everything seemed to have returned to calm.

Were people not afraid?

Perhaps it was just because they had no choice for the sake of their livelihoods.

Just like him—he had to walk this road to get home.

Passing through Qinghe Road and entering Changning Street, he finally arrived home.

He saw his younger sister, Zhang Lingyu, doing needlework in the courtyard under the setting sun. Seeing Zhang Lingshan enter, she smiled brightly: "Brother, you're back."

"Yeah, where's Mom?"

"Cooking."

"Mom, I bought a chicken. You and sister should have something good to eat tonight."

As he spoke, Zhang Lingshan took the chicken to the kitchen and set up a stove to boil the medicine.

His mother asked: "Where did you get the money to buy a chicken?"

"Didn't Dad get hired by the Lei family for manual labor? They gave him quite a bit of money in advance."

"Even so, you shouldn't spend money recklessly. Your sister and I don't go out all day, we can just eat whatever; there's no need for meat. But you've started learning martial arts, so you should eat well. By the way, did your apprenticeship at the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall go smoothly today?"

"Smoothly. Master Hong Zhengdao officially accepted me as a disciple and even provides meals. The food at the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall is very filling; I ate until I was stuffed, so I won't be having dinner."

Zhang Lingshan reported the good news and kept the worries to himself.

However, when Mother Zhang saw him boiling medicine, she couldn't help but ask with concern: "Is martial arts training very tiring? It's only the first day and you're already drinking medicine. Where are you hurt?"

As she spoke, she began to check Zhang Lingshan's body, carefully looking to see where her child was injured.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. This is a tonic; training requires nourishing blood and energy."

"That's good, that's good."

The two chatted idly.

Zhang Lingshan learned from his mother that the families of Wang Datou and Li Xiaole still didn't know their children were dead; instead, they had come to their house to ask about them.

Mother Zhang didn't know what was going on, so she just said they must have been hired by the Lei family for manual labor, just like Zhang's father.

Zhang Lingshan was secretly surprised: ‘Could it be that the yamen treated those corpses as members of the Zhao family?’

The yamen really was irresponsible.

But for him, it was good news.

With the case closed so sloppily, no one would investigate him. Otherwise, if they really found him, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.

【Energy +0.1】

‘Only +0.1?’

Zhang Lingshan’s face turned ugly.

This Bazhen Soup was no cheaper than the medicinal soup Shi Lei had brought him. He had boiled the herbs down to clear water, yet the effect was greatly discounted, providing only half the benefit.

A single meal at the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall gave him +0.1 energy.

This showed that there must be something good inside the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall. It might not be much to them, but to Zhang Lingshan, it was an absolute treasure!

Or perhaps, was this the secret to why the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall had remained prominent in the Outer City for so many years?

‘I must master the Zhengyang Stance as quickly as possible and enter the inner circle of the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall to receive more training and absorb more energy.’

That night.

Zhang Lingshan continued to practice the Zhengyang Stance in his room until he couldn't hold on any longer, then collapsed into bed.

The next morning, at dawn.

*Thump!*

He woke up suddenly from a dream, drenched in sweat. He had dreamt of himself with arms growing out of his chest again.

*Hiss!*

Perhaps because he had jumped up too abruptly, straining his muscles and bones, Zhang Lingshan gasped and touched his skin. Sure enough, the red marks had reappeared.

‘Damn it!’

Zhang Lingshan’s expression was extremely ugly.

What on earth was he entangled with? The red marks had almost vanished yesterday, yet they had reappeared today.

Fortunately, after the Zhengyang Stance reached Minor Achievement, his constitution seemed to have improved, and his pain tolerance had increased.

Although the red marks were still there, the pain had lessened significantly.

Thinking this, he immediately got out of bed and began practicing the Zhengyang Stance again.

As he finished the full set, the red marks indeed began to fade, and the pain subsided along with them.

‘That’s a relief.’

Zhang Lingshan breathed a sigh of relief, ate a quick breakfast, and hurried back to the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall.

He wanted to find Shi Lei as soon as possible and ask for another bowl of medicinal soup.

Once his energy increased and he broke through the Zhengyang Stance again, it should bring him a pleasant surprise.