Sun Wang, the master soup chef, has achieved minor success in internal martial arts!

Back in the main room of Ruifeng Cloth Shop, Su Yang bolted the door shut and solemnly placed the wooden box containing the ginseng on the table.

Upon opening the wooden box, three ginseng roots lay quietly on a red velvet cloth.

The ten-year-old wild ginseng was the most eye-catching. Its body was plump, and its roots were wrapped around it like silver. When you touched it with your fingertips, you could clearly feel the warm and medicinal power contained inside.

With his profound knowledge of medicine, he knew this ginseng was genuine.

He did not rashly stew the whole plant. As is common sense, ten-year-old ginseng has a rich medicinal power. Stewing it all at once would not only be wasteful, but it might also be difficult to refine due to its excessive medicinal power. Cutting it into four sections and stewing it four times in a step-by-step manner is the best choice to nourish it gradually.

During the past few days, Su Yang has been taking the three medicinal diets provided by Zhao Qian every day to nourish himself. His Nourishing Life and Strengthening Qi Technique has steadily accumulated to 1720 proficiency points, which is still 780 points away from the minor success level of 2500 points.

He went to the kitchen and got a cleaver, carefully cutting the ten-year-old wild ginseng from the rootstock into four even sections. Each section was about two fingers long, with the rootlets intact, ensuring that each section retained sufficient medicinal potency.

The remaining five-year and seven-year ginseng will be temporarily stored away for future rotation.

"Simmer the first section first, and pairing it with pork ribs and sweet potatoes is the safest option."

Su Yang summoned Sun Wang and instructed the cooks at the cloth shop to prepare according to his instructions: select two catties of tender spare ribs with cartilage, blanch them to remove blood and foam, and put them into an earthenware pot with a piece of ginseng and three pieces of chopped sweet potato. Add enough water and simmer over low heat for more than half an hour. Only add a little salt and ginger to enhance the flavor. No spicy seasonings are allowed to be added to avoid destroying the medicinal properties.

Sun Wang, with his round face and burly build, was curious about why the head of the guards was so particular about stewing ginseng, but he didn't dare to ask too many questions and hurriedly went to make arrangements.

...........

"Captain Su, the soup is ready!"

As evening approached, Sun Wang brought out a steaming pot of ginseng, pork rib, and sweet potato soup.

The moment the earthenware pot was lifted, a rich aroma of ginseng mixed with the fragrance of meat wafted out. In the milky white broth, ginseng segments, pork ribs, and sweet potatoes were arranged in a staggered pattern, with oil floating on the surface, making it look incredibly appetizing.

"Sun Wang, thank you for your hard work."

Su Yang took the earthenware pot, his fingertips touching the warm rim, and calmly looked at Sun Wang, who was standing bowing to the side.

Sun Wang is nearly thirty years old. He is a guard trained by Sun Wang. He has a talent for cooking. He is quick and efficient, and his eyes are focused when stewing dishes. He is a reliable person.

He took out two things from his pocket: a string of heavy copper coins, about a hundred coins, and a small ingot of silver weighing five taels, and handed them over together: "This hundred coins is your hard-earned money. Take it to buy some rice and grain for the family, and some tea and snacks. This five taels is for reserve funds. From now on, you will be in charge of all my medicinal meals."

Sun Wang's eyes lit up, and he quickly waved his hand, "Captain Su, this is unacceptable! Making soup is my job, how could I accept your money? You've already done me a favor by bringing me along!"

"Take it."

Su Yang's tone left no room for refusal as he directly stuffed the money and silver into his hand, his fingertips touching his rough palm: "The reserve fund is for you to be in charge of inspecting the ingredients. From now on, I will have someone purchase and deliver the ingredients, but you have to help me ensure they are fresh and meet the standards. Anything that is not fresh or does not meet the standards must be returned without exception. When stewing, follow the recipe I gave you. You must keep a close eye on the heat. You must not lift the lid until the soup is done, and don't let anyone else get close to watch. This is related to my foundation for training, so you can't be careless."

Sun Wang clutched the money and silver, his fingertips trembling slightly.

One hundred coins was enough for him to buy two catties of meat and half a peck of rice for his family, and the five taels of emergency funds far exceeded his expectations, which was a huge benefit for an ordinary guard.

He immediately bowed, bending even lower: "Captain Su, rest assured! I will do exactly as you instruct. I will personally inspect the ingredients, keep a close eye on the cooking time, and absolutely no one will be allowed near the small kitchen before the soup is ready, and I will not let anyone else know that this is ginseng soup!"

"Um."

Su Yang nodded and added, "If you prepare the medicinal cuisine well, I'll apply for an extra monthly allowance for you. You'll definitely benefit from following me from now on. By the way, change the soup combination for tomorrow morning. Use the ginseng I gave you, half an old hen, and three qian of Chinese yam. Simmer it over low heat for two hours and deliver it to my superior room before Chenshi (7-9 AM). Just knock three times on the door and don't disturb anyone else."

"I'll remember this!"

Sun Wang responded forcefully, his face full of gratitude and determination. He turned around with very light steps and was extra careful when closing the door, afraid of disturbing Su Yang's practice.

Su Yang bolted the door, looking at the ginseng soup that was emitting a rich aroma, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Sun Wang was trained by me personally, with clear division of labor, practical incentives, and instructions on confidentiality. I can trust him to get things done, and his subsequent path of cultivating ginseng soup will only be smoother.

"It smells so good!"

Su Yang ladled out a bowl, took a spoon, blew on it to warm it, and slowly drank it down, feeling his taste buds explode.

The warm broth slid into my stomach, and a warm current, several times more potent than ordinary medicinal food, instantly spread out, traveling along the meridians and nourishing my limbs and bones.

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life and Strengthening Qi Exercise +1!]

[Simplification point +1!]

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life and Strengthening Qi Exercise +1!]

【..........】

【Nourishing Life and Strengthening Vitality Exercise (Proficient 1725/2500)】

A notification popped up on the panel, indicating that the proficiency increase for a single segment of Ginseng, Pork Ribs and Sweet Potato Soup far exceeded that of ordinary medicinal dishes.

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat, and he no longer hesitated, speeding up his eating.

The ginseng slices have a slightly bitter taste at first, followed by a long-lasting sweet aftertaste. The pork ribs are tender and fall off the bone. The sweet potatoes are soaked with the aroma of ginseng and the meat juices. Every bite is accompanied by a solid warmth. The proficiency and simplification points on the worktable are also steadily increasing.

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life and Strengthening Qi Exercise +1!]

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life and Strengthening Qi Exercise +1!]

……

Before long, after finishing a pot of soup, half a piece of ginseng, and a few pieces of pork ribs, the proficiency level on the panel had skyrocketed to [Proficiency 2120/2500], and the simplification points had increased by 40 points in the same time.

Without pausing, he sat cross-legged on the bed, concentrating on practicing the Qigong exercises for nourishing life and cultivating vitality.

Guided by the cultivation technique, the warm current within his body flowed entirely into his dantian, merging with his original internal energy.

"A pot of soup made with a ten-year-old ginseng root increased my proficiency by 400 points!"

"At this rate, if I drink another can of ginseng soup tomorrow morning, my Qigong cultivation technique will break through 2500 points and advance to the minor completion stage!"

"Once my Qi-cultivation technique reaches a minor level of mastery, it will be much safer to go to the black market!"

Su Yang looked at the panel, his eyes filled with anticipation.

........

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the morning light streamed through the window into the main room of Ruifeng Cloth Shop.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Three soft knocks sounded on the door, neither too early nor too late, precisely at the beginning of the Chen hour (7-9 AM).

Su Yang got up and opened the door. Sun Wang stood outside the door holding a warm earthenware pot, his face showing a somewhat restrained respect: "Captain Su, your ginseng chicken soup is ready."

The earthenware pot was lifted, releasing a rich aroma of ginseng mixed with the mellow fragrance of old hen. The broth was milky white and clear, with ginseng pieces floating on the surface. The yam was stewed until tender and the chicken meat had distinct muscle fibers. Sun Wang simmered it over a low flame for two hours as instructed, controlling the heat perfectly.

He had dark circles under his eyes; it looked like he'd been up all night.

"You've worked hard, go and get some sleep."

Su Yang took the earthenware pot, his fingertips touching the warm rim. His gaze swept over the earnestness in Sun Wang's eyes, and he nodded in satisfaction.

Sun Wang quickly responded, his footsteps extremely light, and he turned and left, still very careful as he closed the door.

Su Yang bolted the door, placed the earthenware pot on the table, ladled out a bowl of warm chicken soup, and slowly drank it.

Unlike the pork rib and sweet potato soup from last night, the rich flavor of the old hen soup blends perfectly with the ginseng, making the medicinal properties more mellow and gentle. As it slides down the throat and into the stomach, a warm current, much stronger than before, spreads out instantly, traveling along the meridians and nourishing the limbs and bones.

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life Exercise +1!]

[Simplification point +1!]

【……】

【Nourishing Life and Strengthening Vitality Exercise (Proficient 2124/2500)】

The panel prompts kept popping up, and with each sip of soup, my proficiency steadily increased.

The ginseng slices have a slightly bitter taste followed by a sweet aftertaste, the chicken is tender and falls off the bone, and the yam has absorbed all the essence of the broth. Every bite is filled with a hearty warmth.

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life Exercise +1!]

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life Exercise +1!]

……

When the ginseng pieces and chicken in the earthenware pot were all eaten, and only a little ginseng soup remained, the control panel suddenly lit up with a bright light!

[Proficiency in the Nourishing Life Exercise +1!]

【Nourishing Life and Strengthening Vitality Exercise (Minor Success 1/12500)】

hum!

A surge of immense heat erupted from the dantian, instantly engulfing the entire body's meridians!

Su Yang's robes swelled up like a ball!

He quickly activated the Nourishing Life and Cultivating Vitality Technique, drawing the surge of internal energy into his dantian!

Previously, the internal energy within him was merely a stream.

At this moment, this heat flow was like a great river after a spring rain, surging and rushing. The internal energy column in the dantian increased at a visible speed, transforming from a stream into a mighty river!

The internal energy was still translucent, but it was more solid, with a heavy and profound feeling as it flowed. When it surged, one could almost hear a faint rumble. It was no longer just a simple flow of air, but more like a warm and lustrous amber liquid, containing power that was five times greater than before.

Su Yang could clearly feel that this internal force circulated smoothly and effortlessly. With a thought, it was as if he controlled his own arm and fingers, surging to his limbs and bones, bringing a powerful and unstoppable force.

He had a feeling that the original Tiger Fist, Blade-Breaking Saber Technique, Armor-Piercing Dart Technique, and Grass-Flying Technique, once perfected, had become at least several times more powerful with the addition of this internal force!

"Finally... a small success!"

Su Yang slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.