Old Zheng's Kindness

Under Coach Yang's supervision, the afternoon training session was completed.

The new nurses were all exhausted, but their eyes held a new kind of ruthlessness they hadn't shown before.

"That's all for today!" Yang Yunxing's voice boomed. "Newly recruited nurses, go to the medicinal cuisine room and collect your seven-day supply of 'Nourishing Essence Soup' from Elder Zheng. After collecting it, go back and rest well. Tomorrow, it's the same as before!"

"Yes, Instructor!"

Feeling as if granted a pardon, the group, in twos and threes, dragged their aching bodies toward the medicinal cuisine room.

In the crowd, Chen Le wiped the sweat from his face, his breathing was heavy, and he felt his hands and feet trembling.

He was really trying his best to keep up, but Coach Yang's demands were just too harsh.

He caught a glimpse of Su Yang not far away out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that Su Yang's steps were still steady and his breathing was even, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

"Stop pretending! You're still exhausted just like everyone else!"

Chen Le muttered to himself, recalling how Su Yang's "wood-chopping theory" had made the coach look at him differently that morning, and how Coach Yang seemed to have glanced at Su Yang a few more times during training in the afternoon, which made the uncomfortable feeling even stronger.

Everyone here is new, so why do you stand out?

The familiar bitter aroma of medicine filled the medicinal cuisine room.

Old Master Zheng Shanfu sat behind the counter, with more than a dozen rough earthenware bowls in front of him. He was using a wooden spoon to scoop out dark brown medicinal soup from a large earthenware jar and distribute it to the new nurses who lined up to come forward.

The procession moved forward slowly.

Chen Le stood not far behind Su Yang, his gaze constantly drifting towards Su Yang, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

"Next."

When it was Su Yang's turn, he stepped forward and respectfully said, "Elder Zheng."

Zheng Shanfu nodded to Su Yang, picked up an empty bowl, scooped a full spoonful of medicinal soup into it, and gestured for him to step aside and drink.

Su Yang carried the warm medicine to a corner and drank it down.

The medicinal effects dissolved, gently nourishing his weary muscles and bones. His mind's interface flashed: [Simplification Points +2!]

Just as Su Yang drank the medicine, at the very moment when his blood and qi were most active and natural.

Zheng Shanfu, behind the counter, was tidying up wooden spoons with his eyelids half-closed, but his movements paused almost imperceptibly.

He gave Su Yang a meaningful look, but said nothing.

After Su Yang finished drinking the medicine, he put the empty bowl into the wooden basin, but did not leave immediately like the others.

He turned and walked towards the sink behind the counter, where there were piles of herbs waiting to be washed and empty bowls that had just been collected.

He was used to this job, so his movements were natural and fluid.

He rolled up his sleeves and quickly washed, dried, and neatly arranged the empty bowls. Then he began to clean the medicinal herbs, carefully removing the mud and withered leaves.

The medicinal cuisine room was filled with the aroma of herbs and the scent of clear water. Su Yang was very focused as he cooked, as if it were just something he was doing casually.

All of this was observed by Chen Le, who was still there and deliberately dawdling while drinking his medicine.

"Pah! Sycophant!"

Chen Le cursed inwardly, a nameless anger rising to his head: "No wonder Old Zheng nodded to him; it turns out he had already decided to latch onto this old geezer! He's quite diligent in his work, but he's wasted all his energy on these underhanded tricks!"

The more he looked, the angrier he became, finding Su Yang's serious profile particularly irritating.

You work yourself to the bone trying to get ahead in training, but others take a different approach and try to curry favor with the medicine manager!

This kind of "scheming" is more powerful than mere ability, and it makes him feel even more wronged and angry.

He couldn't stay any longer. He glared at Su Yang's back and strode out of the medicinal cuisine room, his back view radiating anger.

Zheng Shanfu directly claimed to be preparing the medicinal herbs, but didn't say anything about Su Yang's initiative to wash the herbs.

Only after Su Yang wiped the last bowl dry and put it away, and spread the washed medicinal herbs out on the bamboo tray, did he turn around, take out a medicine packet wrapped squarely and tightly in thick kraft paper from a row of medicine drawers behind him, and place it on the counter.

"Take this package. It's not some miracle cure, but it's decent for strengthening the body, nourishing the body gently, and providing some basic benefits."

Master Zheng's eyes were calm and deep, filled with scrutiny and expectation: "Take only one pill a day, with warm water after your practice. Remember, it's 'one pill a day,' not something you can eat like candy. After you finish this pack, the foundation you've just built up through intensive practice will be pretty much solidified."

Su Yang took the paper package with both hands. It was slightly heavy in his hands. Through the paper, he could feel the round pills inside and faintly smell a faint fragrance that was the same as that of the Honglan pills.

One pill adds 4 simplification points. How many simplification points can you get from this pack!

"Thank you very much, Elder Zheng!" Su Yang bowed deeply.

"Um."

Old Zheng waved his hand, squinted his eyes again, and said, "Go. Remember, one pill a day."

Su Yang carefully tucked the medicine packet into the innermost part of his body, bowed again, and then left the medicinal cuisine room.

........

After finishing dinner, Su Yang returned to his narrow but tidy single room and carefully bolted the door.

There was still some time before the scheduled meeting at 7 PM, so he needed to deal with the packet of pills first.

He took the brown paper package from his pocket and carefully opened it.

Inside were ten pills, each the size of a longan, dark brown in color, with a smooth and glossy surface. A rich, exotic fragrance immediately filled the air, even more profound and subtle than the pills given by Honglan.

"Strengthening the foundation and cultivating vitality..."

Su Yang took out one pill and carefully wrapped and hid the rest.

Once the mind has completely calmed down and the blood and qi have naturally circulated, then the pill is placed in the mouth.

The pill melted upon entering the mouth, transforming into a warm yet powerful current of heat. Unlike ordinary medicinal soups that spread to the limbs, this one seemed to have a life of its own, sinking heavily into the dantian, before slowly and steadily spreading throughout the body like snow melting in spring.

Wherever it passed, the muscles and bones felt slightly itchy and warm, as if countless tiny warm currents were washing over, nourishing, and strengthening them from within.

[Simplification point +5!]

"Not bad, this one actually has 5 points!"

"A little more than the three pills Honglan gave me!"

Su Yang looked at the panel and saw that there were 5 more simplification points, and his eyes showed satisfaction.

The medicinal effects were spreading within his body, and there was still a short time before the time for the battle. Su Yang took out a wooden knife and a wooden stick and began to "chop wood" in the room.

Gently, the wooden knife fell.

When the sword strikes the wooden stick, a notification pops up on the panel.

[Breaking Edge Blade Technique Proficiency +1!]

[Breaking Edge Blade Technique Proficiency +1!]

【……】

Time passed quietly, about fifteen minutes later.

【Breaking Edge Blade Technique (Minor Success 1/1000)】

"Buzz!"

At the same time, a soft sound rang in Su Yang's mind, as if some barrier had been broken!

A surge of intense heat erupted from the depths of my body without warning, instantly flowing throughout my entire being!

A surge of insights, techniques, and power generation methods regarding the minor mastery of the Breaking Edge Blade Technique flooded into his consciousness like a sudden awakening!

This is... an infusion of experience!

Under the influence of this force, Su Yang felt subtle yet real changes occurring in his muscles and bones, making them firmer and more powerful. The sword techniques that previously required conscious control now flowed as naturally and smoothly as breathing.

Many previously unclear and confusing power generation techniques suddenly became clear!

In a flash of inspiration, he swung his wooden sword and delivered a simple, straightforward slash!

"call out--!"

The sound of the blade cutting through the air was noticeably sharper than before; wherever it went, the air seemed to be sliced ​​open with a tiny crack.

"Not bad! A small success!"

Su Yang slowly sheathed his sword, feeling the significant increase in strength within his body, and a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

"It's almost 7 PM, time to go see Instructor Yang first, then come back and continue grinding 'wood chopping'!"

Su Yang glanced at the sky outside, put away his wooden sword, and went out.