Chen Yue had recently made a point to ask about the realms of the Martial Dao: Skin Refining, Refined Flesh, Bone Forging, Refining Marrow, Refining the Internal Organs... each one a step above the last.
In the small Youlin County, those in the Skin Refining Realm could become guards, while those in the Refining Flesh Realm could take on leadership roles like Li Lie, holding a high status.
As for the Bone Forging Realm, practitioners were considered top-tier experts within the county. Only a few prominent families who had been established for many years had such masters presiding over them.
Huichun Hall’s founding family, the Chen Family, had one such grandmaster of the Bone Forging Realm, which was one of the key reasons the Chen Family could maintain its foothold in Youlin County.
Chen Yue’s daily life fell into a routine. He practiced his fist techniques in the morning, refined Blood Circulation Pills before noon, and spent the afternoon observing Lin Quan refine other Elixirs or receiving his guidance. At night, he continued to polish his fist and footwork, digesting the Medicinal Power.
His Cultivation and Alchemy Skill advanced in tandem.
This day, Chen Yue sought out Steward Chen Lin in the front hall.
"Steward Chen."
"Ah, Chen Yue! Come, come, have a seat. Is there something you need for your Alchemy?" Chen Lin was very enthusiastic upon seeing Chen Yue.
"Thank you, Steward Chen. The Alchemy Room has everything I need, and Master Lin has been taking excellent care of me."
Chen Yue first expressed his thanks before stating his purpose. "I came today to ask... although I’ve become a Pill Master, I was wondering if I could still learn the Mountain Flipping Technique that the guards practice?"
Chen Lin was taken aback at first, but then he understood.
After all, Chen Yue had a foundation in the Martial Dao at the Skin Refining Realm. Now that he was a Pill Master, his status was higher than a guard’s, but it was only natural to want to be stronger for one’s own safety.
"The Mountain Flipping Technique is a Cultivation Technique that all of Huichun Hall’s guards can practice, intended to increase our own strength. Although you’re not a guard, you’re now an Alchemy Master at the pharmacy. If you want to learn the Mountain Flipping Technique, of course you can."
With a smile, Chen Lin said, "How about this: just go find Li Lie directly. Tell him I said to let you learn the Mountain Flipping Technique from him."
A grateful expression appeared on Chen Yue’s face, but he hesitated slightly. "Thank you for your help, Steward Chen. It’s just... this is my first time formally asking for instruction. It wouldn’t be right to go empty-handed."
He didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Chen Lin paused, then couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "You certainly understand the ways of the world. Not bad, not bad at all!"
Chen Lin turned to the accountant beside him and ordered, "Old Zhou, give Chen Yue a five-tael advance from his share of this month’s profits."
The accountant acknowledged the order and quickly counted out five taels of silver.
Chen Lin pushed the silver toward Chen Yue and smiled. "Based on your current speed and the quality of your Alchemy, I estimate your share for the month will be at least seven or eight taels. Take these five taels for now. Besides, you should buy yourself some new clothes."
"Thank you, Steward Chen!"
Chen Yue took the silver, bowed again, and took his leave.
First, Chen Yue went to a winery and bought a jug of fine wine. Then he went to a delicatessen and had them slice some high-quality soy-braised beef and marinated pig ears, which he had wrapped in oil paper. In total, he spent one tael of silver.
Then, Chen Yue found a newer piece of blue cloth, wrapped another tael of silver in it, and tucked it into his robes. He carefully put away the remaining three taels for emergencies.
With his preparations complete, Chen Yue carried the wine and meat to the outside of Li Lie’s living quarters.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Enter." Li Lie’s deep voice came from inside.
Chen Yue pushed the door open and entered. He saw that Li Lie was not sitting behind the desk. Instead, he was standing shirtless in the middle of the room, holding that thick-backed Blade and frozen in a peculiar opening stance for a chop, completely motionless.
An oppressive aura, as heavy as a mountain and coiled with potential energy, filled the small room.
Chen Yue remained silent, holding his breath and waiting.
Time trickled by. The only sound in the room was Li Lie’s long, steady breathing.
Chen Yue could feel the Qi Blood surging powerfully within Li Lie’s body. Though he appeared calm on the surface, a terrifying power was contained within. This was the Refining Flesh Realm, far more formidable than the Skin Refining Realm.
A moment later, the aura around Li Lie retracted. He brought the Blade lightly to his side and then slowly exhaled a long stream of white vapor. The breath shot out like an arrow, traveling over a foot before slowly dissipating.
Li Lie turned around. His gaze first fell on the wine and meat on the small table by the door, and his nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly. Then he looked at Chen Yue, his face expressionless, though his sharp eyes swept over him.
"What is it?" Li Lie asked, his voice still flat, betraying no emotion.
Chen Yue gently placed the wine and meat on the wooden table inside the room. A corner of the oil paper package came loose, revealing the glistening soy-braised beef and marinated pig ears within. Their aroma immediately filled the room.
He carefully placed the silver, wrapped in blue cloth, next to the food, arranging it so that a corner of the silver was just visible.
"Mr. Li,"
Chen Yue straightened up and clasped his hands in a salute to Li Lie. "I’ve come today to ask for your help, Mr. Li, in teaching me the Mountain Flipping Technique."
Shirtless, Li Lie didn’t respond immediately. His eyes swept over the glint of exposed silver before finally landing on Chen Yue’s face. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, a faint, unreadable smile appearing.
"Oh? The Mountain Flipping Technique?"
Li Lie’s voice was still flat, but he spoke slowly, with a playful tone. "I hear you’re a proper Alchemy Master now. You’re not a guard, so why learn the Mountain Flipping Technique? Isn’t your Iron Mountain Fist pretty good already? It’s enough."
Chen Yue maintained his smile. "To answer Mr. Li, while I can refine some crude Elixirs, I’ve always yearned for profound Martial Arts. I have indeed reached the Entry Level with my Iron Mountain Fist, but I long to improve further. I hope Mr. Li will grant my request and guide me in the essentials of the Mountain Flipping Technique."
"Yearning? Grant your request?"
Li Lie chuckled softly. He sauntered over to the table and picked up the silver wrapped in the blue cloth. He weighed it in his hand, then looked up at Chen Yue.
"Tsk tsk, being an Alchemy Master... the money sure comes in fast."
Li Lie rubbed the silver in his hand. "Not like us crude guards who only know how to fight and kill. We live on the edge, and at the end of the month, all we get is a paltry few taels of silver. Wouldn’t you say... that’s the truth of it, Chen the Pill Master?"
Chen Yue’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his heart sank a little.
’A jug of fine wine, high-quality cured meat, plus a whole tael of Cash Silver... For a first-time visit from someone within the pharmacy simply asking for instruction on a Cultivation Technique, this gift is already quite generous.’
’A regular guard works himself to the bone for a whole month just to earn one tael of silver.’
’And this Li Lie is still not satisfied?’
"Mr. Li, you jest. Alchemy is hard work too, especially since my skills are still shallow. A slight mistake could cause the furnace to explode. You and the other guards work tirelessly to protect the pharmacy. Your contributions are immense, and I have always admired you for it."
"Heh,"
Li Lie gave a noncommittal chuckle, and with a flick of his wrist, he smoothly tucked the tael of silver into his belt.
Then, he broke the clay seal on the wine jug, didn’t bother with a bowl, and tilted his head back, taking a long swig right from the mouth of the jug. GULP, GULP. Wine trickled down his chin, wetting his chest.
"Good wine!"
Li Lie wiped his mouth, slammed the jug down on the table, and looked at Chen Yue. "Go back for now. I don’t have time today. When I’m free, I’ll teach you the Mountain Flipping Technique."
Hearing this, Chen Yue’s eyes couldn’t help but narrow slightly.
’He took the gift, drank the wine, and now he’s trying to brush me off with "I don’t have time"? This Li Lie has decided to take the money and do nothing. Or rather, he thinks these two taels of silver aren’t enough and wants to demand more.’
"Mr. Li, I..." Chen Yue began to speak.
"I said I don’t have time today!"
Li Lie’s voice suddenly rose, brutally cutting Chen Yue off. His gaze turned fierce, and the sharp aura of a Refining Flesh Realm Martial Artist pressed down on Chen Yue. "Didn’t you hear me clearly?"
The atmosphere in the room instantly froze, leaving only the sound of Li Lie’s heavy breathing and the lingering smell of wine.