He had obtained Disguise Art as a precaution. Soon, he would be selling Herbal Restoration Pills at the black market. Using his usual face and build would make him easy to recognize.
The black market was common knowledge among Stillshade's martial artists, so the Tao clan was bound to have people there. He did not yet want to break with the clan. Concealing his identity was essential.
"Simplifying Disguise Art... Simplification successful... Disguise Art → Face Washing!"
Wonderful!
Lu Zhiyuan grinned. He tried washing his face with clean water. His proficiency in Disguise Art did indeed rise by one, and insights into the art appeared in his mind.
He lost no time, rinsing his face ten or so times in succession. His proficiency climbed rapidly.
After a moment, he stopped. Washing his face increased his proficiency in Disguise Art fairly quickly, but he wanted to progress even faster. Recent observations suggested there were shortcuts even within the simplified actions.
He dampened a towel and tried wiping his cheek. More insights into Disguise Art immediately appeared in his mind, making him smile.
In the days that followed, he took one Herbal Restoration Pill daily, steadily advancing his cultivation toward the peak of the Skin Tempering stage. He also kept brewing Blood Vitality Pills, bringing his proficiency in brewing Herbal Restoration Pills gradually closer to Mastered.
He could foresee needing more and more silver. Herbal Restoration Pills would become his steady source of income.
Between batches, he never stopped practicing his movement art. After he fused in the fifth basic movement art, each new addition began to help less.
The clearest sign was that after a new movement art was fused in, Rivercrossing Cloud's resulting proficiency was already close to Mastered.
This was inevitable. Basic movement arts had simple functions and used only a few routes to direct force.
Achieving this degree of movement skill from a few basic techniques was already impressive. Still, he could feel that a transformation was close.
Perhaps fusing in the ten newly purchased movement arts would raise his speed to a new level.
Alongside alchemy and movement training, he naturally did not neglect his new Disguise Art.
Between brewing pills, practicing techniques, and resting after meals, he always remembered to take out a towel and wipe his face from time to time.
They had heard that the new deputy steward liked cooking, though they had not seen it themselves. Now he seemed unusually obsessed with cleanliness.
His head and face were hardly sweaty and already looked perfectly clean, yet he kept wiping his cheeks. It felt as though he was determined to rub his face raw.
He paid no attention to their looks. What was wrong with liking to be clean? Besides, his proficiency in various techniques kept rising, accompanied by a flood of insights.
He reveled in the satisfaction of making progress and deepening his understanding.
"Something big happened."
Early one morning, Gu Tingche approached with a conspiratorial air.
Lu Zhiyuan nodded, inviting him to continue.
"Remember the wealthy households killed a few days ago? Last night, constables and court runners from the county office went out to capture someone."
Lu Zhiyuan's expression shifted. No wonder it had been so noisy outside last night. He remembered the portrait he had thrown into the county office.
"Did they catch him?"
"No. The bandit seemed caught off guard at first, but once the constables approached, he injured everyone and escaped."
Gu Tingche shook his head regretfully. Ruthless bandits who slaughtered whole households frightened everyone. Who would not want them caught?
Lu Zhiyuan nodded. The county office had underestimated Shao Rong's strength, allowing him to escape. It also showed that he was far stronger than an ordinary martial artist.
After this, would the bandits restrain themselves, or retaliate even more wildly?
"I heard someone tipped off the county office but didn't take any of the silver bounty. Such a pity, with all that money!" Gu Tingche walked away, muttering to himself, his eyes full of longing for silver.
Ten days soon passed. Lu Zhiyuan's proficiency in brewing Herbal Restoration Pills finally reached Mastered. Each batch now produced more pills, all plump and round.
These were high-quality Herbal Restoration Pills. Very few alchemists at Clearwell Clinic could brew them to this standard.
Each sold for ten silver taels. The medicinal ingredients cost so little in comparison that their cost was almost negligible.
Over those ten days, he also practiced Disguise Art to Mastered proficiency. He could now alter his face at will and even make slight adjustments to his build. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
He was ready to sell Herbal Restoration Pills at the black market. The only remaining problem was finding a source of medicinal herbs.
Clinics and medicine shops would not sell him medicinal ingredients in bulk. They had their own alchemists and no reason to dispose of ingredients that way. He needed another source.
His cultivation should also reach a breakthrough within a few days, making him a martial artist at the Flesh Tempering stage. Compared with the lowly Skin Tempering stage, Flesh Tempering would at least give him some ability to protect himself.
The black market.
"I need a shipment of medicinal herbs. Can you supply them?"
At the bookstall, a face covering and conical hat concealed his features. The face beneath had also been altered, with the corners of his eyes deliberately elongated. He had also made himself slightly taller, giving him a cold, unapproachable air.
"With money, anything is easy."
Meng Jingxiu looked at Lu Zhiyuan, feeling that he was somewhat familiar. So many people passed through the black market, however, that a familiar face was hardly unusual.
"Ten sets of these medicinal ingredients!"
Lu Zhiyuan handed over a list. Meng Jingxiu glanced through it. "They're not hard to find. One hundred percent above market price, delivery in six days. How about it?"
Lu Zhiyuan wanted to roll his eyes. Without a word, he took back the list and turned to leave.
He had approached Meng Jingxiu mainly because they had dealt before. It was not as though he could not obtain enough ingredients elsewhere.
"Hey, don't go! Prices can always be negotiated!"
Meng Jingxiu hurried to stop him. What was wrong with people these days? They would not even haggle. People weren't what they used to be. Business had never been so difficult before.
"Five percent above market price. That margin is enough to compensate you for your trouble," Lu Zhiyuan said, turning back.
"With all the fighting outside, medicinal ingredients aren't easy to find." Meng Jingxiu shook his head.
"There are so many refugees. Pay them, and they'll find the ingredients for you."
The number of refugees outside Stillshade kept growing. Several more county seats had fallen, and the surrounding region was becoming increasingly chaotic.
Rumor had it that an army had been sent to suppress the unrest. No one knew how it would end.