Chapter 007: The Realms of Martial Arts

“First, gently lay Aunt Zhou down and don’t move her. Everyone, please step back a bit. Don’t crowd around; let the wind in,” Fang Xian hurriedly called out, dispersing the people who had gathered tightly around her to allow the air to circulate.

At that moment, Aunt Zhou was letting out a series of guttural sounds, as if she wanted to cough but couldn’t. Fang Xian immediately realized her throat was blocked with phlegm, so he had Ye Hongxiu help her sit up and gave her a few firm pats on the back.

With a loud retch, Aunt Zhou spat out a large mouthful of phlegm. She began to breathe deeply, quickly regaining her composure.

“Mr. Fang is truly remarkable. Just a few pats and he brought Aunt Zhou back!” The crowd erupted into warm applause, and someone called out loudly.

“Mr. Fang’s skills are genuine. Otherwise, how could he have detoxified the old chieftain?” another person chimed in.

“Everyone, I’m staying at the clinic. If you have any minor ailments, come find me. Also, you can gather some medicinal herbs from the surrounding area as payment for my services,” Fang Xian announced to those nearby. He was certain that soon, word of his abilities would spread throughout the three peaks and five ridges of Qingyun Stronghold.

“Mr. Fang, I have no money, but please accept these eggs.” Aunt Zhou approached with a basket containing more than ten eggs.

“Very well, I’ll accept them.” Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Fang Xian nodded and took them. He then brought the eggs to Old Zhang’s noodle shop to pay for his previous meal.

When he returned to the mountain clinic, Fang Xian declined Ye Hongxiu’s invitation to walk around the peaks with him and instead retired to his room to read. It was then that he discovered his reputation points had already surpassed a thousand.

“If I exchange them for the Middle Volume of the Medical Canon and master it, my status as a renowned physician will be truly unshakable.” Fang Xian immediately redeemed the Middle Volume, but didn’t start studying it right away, as it would take at least four to five hours, making daytime unsuitable for such focused effort.

Ye Hongxiu returned to the main hall and relayed the earlier events to her father. Ye Qingyun nodded, saying, “Mr. Fang is a man of benevolence, one of our own kind—he is worth befriending.”

Throughout the day, only five or six people came to the clinic seeking Fang Xian’s help, but he skillfully addressed their ailments, prescribing herbs for them to take home.

That night, he boiled a large vat of medicinal water for bathing, using the Foundation Strengthening formula. Despite the water’s intense heat, he gritted his teeth and soaked for half an hour, emerging as red as a cooked prawn.

He slept exceptionally well that night, warmth radiating through his entire body, and woke up at dawn feeling especially energetic—save for a slight discomfort from his morning vigor.

During the night, he had also studied the Middle Volume of the Medical Canon, which detailed a variety of challenging cases and their treatments. With this knowledge, Fang Xian’s medical skills now rivaled any contemporary master.

He looked enviously at the Lower Volume of the Medical Canon, but redeeming it required three thousand reputation points, which would take time to accumulate. Nevertheless, he believed that once he mastered the Lower Volume, there would be no difficult or rare illness in the world that could trouble him.

At this point, Fang Xian’s information had changed to: System Host Fang Xian, courtesy name Mingda, possessing skills in medicine and poisons, with items including Hundred Poison Pellet (0), Small Hundred Poison Pellet (2), Detoxification Pill (7), Foundation Strengthening Formula, and 12 reputation points.

Rising early, Fang Xian took advantage of the lingering effects of the medicinal bath to exercise in the courtyard, running for a full hour until he was exhausted and his muscles ached, yet he felt an unusual surge of strength.

He knew this was the effect of the Foundation Strengthening formula, and that such training would greatly improve his physique and lay a solid foundation. With persistence, he might soon be able to practice the Tiger’s Roar in the Forest that Ye Qingyun had mentioned.

“Brother Fang, up early and training again? From now on, let Er Niu accompany you—give him any task you need done.” Ye Hongxiu appeared, bringing Er Niu along.

Not only did Er Niu arrive, but he also brought his bedding and settled into a room next to Fang Xian’s, declaring that he would be by his side from now on as his personal protector.

“Er Niu, that’s not necessary. Don’t you have many responsibilities in the stronghold? There’s no need to follow me at all times,” Fang Xian protested.

“That won’t do. My mother said a life-saving debt must be repaid with one’s life. I’ve already told the young chieftain that I’ll be stepping back from some duties to help you, sir,” Er Niu replied resolutely.

“Let Er Niu do as he wishes. He knows the stronghold well. If you need anything, just send him,” Ye Hongxiu added.

With no other choice, Fang Xian accepted Er Niu’s company. The young man proved diligent, fetching hot water for Fang Xian’s washing and breakfast—simple congee, pickled vegetables, and steamed buns, but still better than many lived outside the mountain.

“Brother Fang, let Er Niu show you around the stronghold today. I have matters to attend to, but I’ll join you for lunch,” Ye Hongxiu said with a smile after breakfast.

“Miss Hongxiu, please go about your business. I’ll explore the stronghold with Er Niu and find ways to pass the time,” Fang Xian replied. He felt more at ease with Er Niu’s company than with Ye Hongxiu’s constant presence.

“Er Niu, who else is in your family? When did you come up to the mountain?” Fang Xian asked as they strolled through the stronghold.

“My father was a bodyguard for the old chieftain but passed away, leaving just us brothers and my mother. She wept herself blind. Back then, my elder brother was ten and I was five when the old chieftain took us in.

He sheltered us and taught my brother and me martial arts. Later, my brother married, had two sons—the elder is five and the younger is two—and they live together with my mother on that nearby peak,” Er Niu recounted, holding nothing back from Fang Xian, whom he trusted deeply.

“Let’s go visit your mother. I’ll see if I can treat her eyes,” Fang Xian said, realizing that if he could cure Er Niu’s mother, both brothers would be unwaveringly loyal to him.

“Ah! I almost forgot you’re a divine healer. My mother’s been blind for over ten years. We begged Old Doctor Liu to help, but there was nothing he could do. With you here, there’s hope!” Er Niu exclaimed joyfully.

The two set off toward the neighboring peak. On the way, Fang Xian asked, “Er Niu, what is your current martial strength? Can you tell me about martial arts training?”

“Mr. Fang, I just advanced to a second-tier fighter at the end of last year, though my brother reached that level five years ago. As for martial training, I only know what the old chieftain taught. Beginners are unranked apprentices—stronger than ordinary people through training and able to wield some weapons.

With continued training, as strength, speed, and reflexes surpass normal limits and one learns some martial techniques, one becomes a third-tier warrior. Most people can reach this level if they work at it.

If you master a particular weapon or technique, you become a second-tier adept, much stronger—one can face dozens of regular soldiers alone.

However, for most, even a lifetime of training might only get them to second-tier. To become a first-tier expert, one must develop inner strength, a bottleneck many second-tier fighters never break through.

In our stronghold, Zhou Tianming, the young chieftain, and Huang Shuhua, the third chieftain’s son, are all peak second-tier fighters, but to become first-tier experts, they still await their chance.”

“At present, our old chieftain is a Grandmaster in the transformation realm. Second Chieftain Zhou Boxiong and Third Chieftain Huang Yuantao are both first-tier experts. That’s why our stronghold is one of the five major strongholds in the region,” Er Niu explained.

“So, the other four great strongholds are similar to ours, each with a Grandmaster, two or three first-tier experts, and a number of second-tier fighters. How many second-tier fighters do we have in Qingyun Stronghold?” Fang Xian inquired.

“We have about a dozen second-tier fighters; apart from the young chieftain and a few others, most are minor leaders in the stronghold. There are also five or six smaller strongholds allied with us, and three of their leaders are second-tier fighters, but none have first-tier experts,” Er Niu answered.

“I hope the old chieftain can help me find a way. In these troubled times, one must have martial skills for self-defense and survival,” Fang Xian sighed.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Fang. The old chieftain will surely look after you—after all, you’re his son-in-law,” Er Niu said with a sly grin.

“What son-in-law? Don’t joke,” Fang Xian replied, smiling and shaking his head. He had heard of Ye Hongxiu’s promise, but hadn’t taken it seriously.

“How is it a joke? The young chieftain made that promise before everyone—whoever saved the old chieftain from poison would marry her. We were all worried she’d end up with some old codger, but you saved the old chieftain, and everyone is happy with that. Now the whole stronghold is waiting for your wedding feast,” Er Niu chuckled.

“Er Niu, she said that in a moment of desperation, wanting only to save her father. Besides, she’s an extraordinary woman, unmatched in beauty—I’m not worthy of her,” Fang Xian said.

“You don’t understand, Mr. Fang. The young chieftain values her word above all. If she promises something, she’ll do it. If she forgets, I’ll remind her,” Er Niu insisted, eager to see the two together.

“No, no, you mustn’t. That would embarrass her. I’ll stay in the stronghold for a few days to see if there’s a chance to learn martial arts. If not, I may leave. So, don’t mention it again—not just you, but tell everyone else not to bring it up either. Let it fade away,” Fang Xian instructed.

“You’re leaving the stronghold? Isn’t it good here? Why would you go?” Er Niu asked anxiously.

“It’s not certain yet. If I can learn martial arts here, I’ll stay. If not, I have to find another way outside,” Fang Xian said.

Soon, they reached Er Niu’s home. His mother was sitting in the yard, basking in the sun, with two children playing nearby. Seeing Er Niu, they ran over, calling, “Uncle!”

“Huzi, call your mother out to make tea for Mr. Fang!” Er Niu bellowed.

“Mother, I’ve brought Mr. Fang to look at your eyes. He’s a divine healer—the one who cured the old chieftain’s poison!” Er Niu dropped to his knees, hugging his mother’s leg as he spoke.