Strengthening Powder

early morning.

Smoke rose from the kitchen of the Zhong family, and with a splashing sound, a large pot of boiling water was poured into a large wooden tub.

"No wonder all martial artists are money-devouring beasts."

Zhong Xuan was naked, immersing himself completely in a large wooden tub.

The medicine packet turned the water in the wooden bucket a brownish-black color.

A surge of heat flowed from my limbs and up my spine, accompanied by a tingling, numbing sensation from the tiny electric currents.

Prolonged movement can damage muscles and bones.

Martial artists practice their fists no less than a hundred times a day, which inevitably leaves them with strain and hidden injuries.

Even with excellent physical constitution, it can only prolong the illness; medication is still necessary.

A common method of medicinal supplementation is medicinal bath.

However, taking a bath in Xiahe Village was a luxury. Not to mention that it would take half an hour to fetch water from outside the village, the cost of firewood for boiling water was also considerable. Moreover, Zhong Xuan had been busy since 3 a.m. to prepare this large bucket of hot water.

It took a full two hours from start to finish.

Which ordinary family would be willing to waste so much time?

Only wealthy landowners who employed servants dared to be so extravagant.

However, the effect was excellent.

Zhong Xuan could feel that after the medicinal bath, his body felt much lighter, and some minor aches and pains that were not easily noticeable had disappeared.

"With good physical constitution, it seems like the body absorbs the medicine better?"

When I was young.

He had also considered practicing martial arts and tried medicinal baths.

But the feeling wasn't nearly as intense as it is now, which must be the effect of the root bone.

"No wonder there's a saying in martial arts schools that those without natural talent shouldn't practice martial arts."

Zhong Xuan sighed.

Although the physical constitution is not as demanding as the spiritual roots of cultivators in novels from my previous life, people with poor physical constitution need ten or even a hundred times more effort and resources to achieve the same level of martial arts mastery. Before they can even become a grandmaster, they are already at the age of exhaustion.

Therefore, even the imperial examination, which claimed that both the poor and the powerful could take the exam, actually set up many thresholds to exclude those with poor aptitude.

In the following days.

The Zhang family steward didn't send anyone to ask him to copy the book.

Zhong Xuan stayed at home practicing martial arts.

One day.

There was a knock on the Zhong family's door.

Zhong Xuan pushed open the door and saw Old Xu Tian standing at the door.

"Brother Xu?"

Xu Tian smiled at Zhong Xuan: "Brother Zhong, the village chief took some people up the mountain to check the water source a few days ago and only returned yesterday. The village chief summoned a few of us village elders to discuss the matter. That scoundrel Ma San will be expelled from Xiahe Village today."

At this time.

Zhong Xuan's age gave him an advantage.

If it were a young person, even if Xu Tian wanted to befriend them, he wouldn't be able to come to discuss the matter in person due to seniority. Instead, he would invite them to Xu Tian's home to talk, and would also casually offer a few words of admonition.

Zhong Xuan and Xu Tian were about the same age, and Zhong Xuan was even a few years older.

Xu Tian then decided to visit in person.

"Thank you for telling me, Brother Xu."

Zhong Xuan smiled and thanked him.

"It's nothing, Brother Zhong. I've been practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade these past few days, but haven't made much progress. I was just thinking of asking how you practice?"

Xu Tian came to see Zhong Xuan today with the intention of seeking his advice.

Zhong Xuan was speechless.

He knew, of course, that the fundamental reason was that Xu Tian didn't have the right physique, so he couldn't master it.

But if you directly state it, you'll offend people.

Zhong Xuan explained, "The Eight Pieces of Brocade is a method of health preservation that cannot be mastered quickly. I myself have practiced it for many years before I achieved some results. Practicing it regularly can also prolong life and strengthen the body."

"I see."

Xu Tian suddenly realized.

It turns out I hadn't practiced long enough.

This also explains why Zhong Xuan became more powerful as he grew older.

He never aspired to become a martial arts grandmaster; simply maintaining good health was enough for him.

Xu Tian then consulted with Zhong Xuan for a while before leaving.

Zhong Xuan sat alone in the room.

Thoughtful.

......

......

"Brother, how am I supposed to survive if I leave Xiahe Village?"

Xiahe Village entrance.

Ma San looked at his two older brothers and one younger brother who had come to see him off with a mournful face.

He was filled with remorse at that moment.

For Zhong Xuan's dilapidated thatched hut and half an acre of land, he has now ended up having to leave his hometown.

In Qingguo, farmers like him may live a relatively comfortable life on ordinary days, but once they are driven out of the village and lose their land, they are not far from death.

No village would easily accept an outsider, let alone go to Baisha County.

Boss Ma glared at his younger brother:

"Useless. Can't even handle an old man."

"Big brother..."

Ma San looked aggrieved, his eyes filled with barely concealed hatred.

Boss Ma snorted:

"I've already gone to see my second uncle. He's used his connections to help you out in Shahe Village next door. You should be able to find some food there. Remember to avoid causing trouble in the future."

They heard that Shahe Village was a place to stay.

Ma San's eyes lit up again, but the thought of having to start all over again in Shahe Village fueled his hatred.

Hedong in thirty years and Hexi in thirty years.

"Once I, Ma San, regain my footing in Shahe Village, I'll make sure that old bastard Zhong Xuan dies early and pisss on his grave!"

"Behave yourself."

Old Master Ma knew his younger brother's temperament all too well and couldn't help but warn him again.

"Yes, yes."

Ma San nodded repeatedly.

Gone was the despair he had felt earlier; he immediately took his wife, Ma Liu, and son and headed toward Shahe Village.

......

......

"Honey, do you think Old Zhong has practiced some kind of evil magic? How did he become so powerful?"

On the road.

Ma Liu couldn't help but mutter to herself.

She was quite confident in her husband's strength.

"What are you thinking about all day, you woman? Keep an eye on our son, don't let him fall!"

Ma San glared at his wife.

Without the pressure of life and death, their minds became more active.

He had been thinking about Ma Liushi's problem for some time now.

"Could it be that that old man has obtained some incredible treasure?!"

Thinking about this...

Ma San's heart began to pound faster and faster, and he couldn't help but lick his lips.

"That treasure makes even Old Zhong so powerful. If I got it, I might become a martial arts master in one fell swoop!"

Ma San seemed to see himself rise to prominence.

With a heavy heart.

He decided that after a few days, he would find a dark and windy night to smother Old Man Zhong to death in his bed.

People die for wealth, just as birds die for food.

But just as he was pondering this...

Seven or eight burly men emerged from the path ahead, grinning maliciously at the family.

"They are..."

Ma Sanyi is cold.

But he quickly saw the attire of the people opposite him and was immediately terrified.

"Mountain bandits!?"

Almost without hesitation.

He shoved his terrified wife and children aside and roared, "Take Gou Dan and run!"

"The head of the household..."

Ma Liu stared in fear at Ma San's retreating figure.

Ma San swallowed hard.

Knowing he was no longer alive, he only hoped that his lineage could still survive.