Chaos begins when one joins a martial arts school

Chapter 66 Bestowing Elixir
After explaining the last detail of how to exert force, Sun Yong looked at Yang Jing, who seemed to be deep in thought, and then turned and walked towards the desk.

He moved the teacup aside, and the oil lamp on the table cast a long shadow of him.

He moved aside the pile of books and took out a small wooden box, about the size of a palm, from deep inside the drawer.

The wooden box is made of fine sandalwood, with simple cloud patterns carved on the surface. The edges have been worn smooth and warm, indicating that it has been around for many years.

He placed the wooden box on the table, gently opened it, and inside was a layer of dark red velvet cloth, with a small, white porcelain bottle lying quietly in the center.

The porcelain bottle was about the length of a finger, with a body as smooth as mutton fat, and the mouth of the bottle was sealed with a cork.

Sun Yong pulled out the cork and peered inside. He could faintly smell a bitter medicinal fragrance in the study.

He re-corked the bottle, turned around and handed it to Yang Jing, saying in a steady voice, "This is a Qi-Nourishing Pill, please keep it safe."

Yang Jing's gaze fell on the porcelain bottle, and he was slightly taken aback. Before he could recover, he heard Sun Yong continue, "The nourishing effect of this pill is comparable to that of top-grade exotic beast meat. If you take one pill every day, it will be equivalent to refining the essence of one or two pounds of top-grade exotic beast meat, which will greatly benefit your cultivation."

Yang Jing blinked, then realized what was happening. He looked up at Sun Yong, his eyes filled with unspeakable astonishment. "Master, this—"

Superior exotic beast meat...

He now knows the value of that thing.

He now occasionally consumes a spirit fish, which is the meat of a strange beast, and its effects are far superior to those of the meat of a ferocious beast.

The spirit fish is just an ordinary exotic beast, yet this Qi-Nourishing Pill is comparable to top-grade exotic beast meat. One pill is worth one or two pounds of top-grade exotic beast meat?!

Yang Jing didn't know the exact value of this bottle of pills, but it was definitely far more than all his current wealth.

Perhaps a few hundred taels of silver, or perhaps over a thousand taels of silver.

Nearly a thousand taels of silver... This number felt like a mountain, making Yang Jing feel a little heavy.

He came from a rural background, and his family's annual expenses amounted to no more than three taels of silver.

Even after he made a few windfalls, the total amount of money he saved was less than four hundred taels.

Yang Jing looked at the porcelain bottle that Sun Yong handed him, his breathing became heavy, and for a moment he forgot to take it.

He could feel the air around him seemed to freeze, and the glow of the oil lamp swirled on the porcelain bottle, making the white bottle even more dazzling and heavier.

Yang Jing knew that it must be because of his performance today that he had earned his master's favor.

This was also his original plan.

If one keeps a low profile and hides everything, one will lose sight of what is important, miss many opportunities, and delay one's own cultivation.

Yang Jing never expected that his master would be so generous.

Seeing that Yang Jing was stunned and hesitated, Sun Yong stepped forward and handed over the porcelain bottle, his tone gentle and unquestionable: "Take it."

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, the cloud patterns on the wooden box shimmering under the oil lamp, and said softly, "I've been rooted in Yuhe County for thirty years. My savings may not be comparable to those of the big families, but I still have some assets."

When Yang Jing looked up, he met the deep meaning in Sun Yong's eyes.

There was no perfunctory look in his eyes; rather, it was as if he were weighing a piece of uncut jade.

Despite its flaws, it possesses an undeniable brilliance.

"Lin Yue is impulsive and flamboyant. Although he has a solid foundation and high talent, he lacks the perseverance to stay focused."

Sun Yong suddenly spoke, his voice lower than before, "You are different. You seem quiet and reserved, but you are actually very perceptive and have a strong tenacity. This tenacity, combined with your talent, makes you a good candidate for martial arts training."

He placed the porcelain bottle into Yang Jing's hand, and the warmth of his palm passed through the bottle, providing a truly comforting warmth.

"Use these pills first, and come back to me for more when you're done. Don't feel like you're getting a good deal or that you're embarrassed. The best way to repay me is to help me establish myself in Yuhe County, keep those impetuous juniors in check, or lend a hand when the martial arts school encounters difficulties."

Yang Jing held the translucent white porcelain bottle in his hand. It was slightly cool to the touch, yet strangely, it soothed the last trace of unease in his heart.

He recalled how he knew nothing when he first entered the martial arts school, wandering around on the edge of the front yard. Back then, he didn't even know what internal energy was. Who could have imagined that one day, he would be valued so highly by the school master?

"Master, don't worry."

He looked down at the fine cracks on the bottle, his voice a few decibels deeper than usual, "This disciple will not let you down."

These words were spoken frankly and without any embellishment.

He knew what he lacked: a tonic or the flesh and blood of exotic beasts that could make his blood and muscles flow freely and his bones relax.

In other words, what he lacks is someone willing to lend a helping hand as he climbs upwards.

Now that Sun Yong had given it to him, he accepted it without hesitation.

As for the reward? Yang Jing felt at ease.

With his mastery of the panel, he won't stop at the level of internal strength; one day he will step into the realm of external strength or even higher.

When that time comes, when he has made a name for himself in the martial arts world of Yuhe County and even Jintai Prefecture, he will repay Sun Yong and this martial arts school, not to mention tenfold, but even a hundredfold.

At this moment, the fingers holding the porcelain bottle tightened, and a warm current seemed to quietly spread from the place where the bottle was in contact with the palm, drilling into the limbs and bones along the blood vessels.

Yang Jing could sense that something, along with this bottle of pills, was taking root in his heart.

“You must be tired today. Go back and get some rest. Tomorrow’s competition is the key to whether you can make it onto the list of successful candidates. Get yourself in the right mindset, and do your best regardless of the outcome,” Sun Yong said.

Yang Jing nodded, carefully tucked the porcelain bottle containing the Qi-Nourishing Pill into his bosom, and bowed deeply to Sun Yong: "This disciple takes his leave. Master, please rest early as well."

Sun Yong waved his hand, his gaze fixed on the man's straight back until the curtain fell and the figure completely disappeared into the night before he slowly withdrew his gaze.

The study fell silent again, with only the occasional crackling of the oil lamp flame casting his shadow on the bookshelf, flickering between light and shadow.

Sun Yong picked up the slightly cool tea on the table, took a sip, and the bitter taste spread across his tongue, but it cleared his muddled thoughts a little.

"It turns out I misjudged him before," he muttered to himself, his fingertips lightly tracing circles on the table.

"Fortunately, it's not too late to make amends now."

Sun Yong whispered.

Currently, the two most promising talents in the martial arts school are Lin Yue and Yang Jing.

Compared to other disciples with internal strength, these two were less important to Sun Yong.

However, Lin Yue and Yang Jing are different.

Lin Yue's path has been too smooth. His reputation as a genius is already well-known, and several prominent families in the county have already extended offers of employment. Today, he won first place in the examination, and he will probably become famous in Yuhe County once again.

Lin Yue has no shortage of resources and connections. What worries Sun Yong is that Lin Yue is still young and his temperament is unstable. He is afraid that this promising talent will go astray.

But Yang Jing is different.

In Sun Yong's view, the Sun family medical clinic where Yang Jing was temporarily assigned was nothing special and unlikely to offer Yang Jing much help.

"Without powerful backers or financial support, it's not easy to get this far," Sun Yong sighed, a pang of pity suddenly rising in his heart.

Then, he took out a yellowed ledger from the drawer, turned to the page recording pills, put a checkmark next to the "Qi-Nourishing Pill" column, and wrote in the margin: "Yang Jingyong, to be collected later."

After finishing these tasks, he closed the ledger, leaned back in his armchair, and gazed absently at the night view outside the window.

Perhaps investing more resources in Yang Jing wouldn't be a bad thing.

Lin Yue is like a sharp sword, radiant yet capable of wounding. Yang Jing, on the other hand, is like a sturdy shield, unassuming yet potentially a surprise at crucial moments.

Sun Yong smiled, picked up his teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

As night deepened, the oil lamp in the study remained lit, reflecting the expectation in his eyes.

Who knows, this wild grass that sprouted from the crack in the rock might grow into a big tree that shelters you from the wind and rain someday.

creak.

The curtain was gently lifted, and Sun Ningxiang walked in carrying a copper basin, her body still carrying a faint scent of herbs.

She first placed the basin in the corner, and then skillfully tidied up the tea set on the table: celadon teacups, purple clay teapot, and the cold tea that Yang Jing hadn't touched.

"Father, it's late, you should rest too."

Her voice was soft, like an evening breeze rippled across a lake, “I’ve taken these to wash. You should go to bed early and not ruin your health.”

Sun Yong watched his daughter's busy figure, the stray hairs at her temples swaying gently with her movements, and the plain-colored cloth dress made her eyebrows and eyes appear even softer.

Over the years, Ningxiang has not only managed her household in an orderly manner, but has also learned a lot about pharmacology. She is calm, meticulous, and truly a rare and wonderful girl.

At that moment, Yang Jing's calm and composed appearance suddenly popped into his mind again.

Although the child came from an ordinary background, he had a tenacious spirit, acted steadily, had a clear mind, and now it seems that he also had talent.

"If..." A thought popped into Sun Yong's head uncontrollably, startling him.

If it weren't for Lin Yue, if Lin Yue didn't have superior physical attributes, and if so much effort and expectation had been poured into Lin Yue, Yang Jing's steady and reliable nature would have made him a good match for Ningxiang.

This idea is like a seed; once it takes root, it can't help but want to sprout and grow.

He watched as his daughter carried the tray in her hands, turned to leave, her back slender yet upright, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

"Father?" Sun Ningxiang noticed her father's gaze, turned around, and looked at him with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Sun Yong quickly waved his hand, forcibly suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind, and smiled, "Go on, wash up and go to bed early, don't tire yourself out."

Sun Ningxiang nodded, turned around, lifted the curtain, and went out.

The room fell silent again, but Sun Yong was no longer sleepy.

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table, unable to suppress the thought that was nagging at him.

Lin Yue's talent was obvious, but Yang Jing's down-to-earth demeanor made him feel inexplicably at ease.

"Enough, enough." He sighed, trying to dispel these chaotic thoughts. "Since Lin Yue has already been chosen, let's not make things any more complicated. Yue'er still has feelings for Ningxiang."

In Tongyifang, when Yang Jing pushed open the wooden door of the courtyard, he saw his cousin Yang An practicing his "Surging Wave Kick" in the yard.

Wisps of white smoke were still rising from the kitchen, and the aroma of meat could be faintly smelled.

"Jingdi, you're back." Yang An looked up and saw him, his eyes lighting up. He walked over and said, "You must be tired today. I've prepared the food. Get ready and we'll eat right away."

Yang Jing smiled slightly and responded.

After tidying up and entering the main room, I sat down at the octagonal table.

Yang An carried in a clay pot, lifted the lid, and a rich aroma of meat instantly wafted out. The tiger meat in the pot was stewed until tender, and the broth had an amber sheen.

"I added some goji berries and angelica root. I heard from an old Chinese medicine doctor that this is the most nourishing way to stew it."

As Yang An spoke, he ladled a large bowl of food for Yang Jing, saying, "Eat it while it's hot, it'll get greasy when it's cold."

Just as Yang Jinggang picked up his chopsticks, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Who could it be at this hour?" Yang An wiped his hands and got up to open the door.

Yang Jing pressed down on his wrist and stood up himself: "Brother An, you eat first, I'll go take a look."

Yang Jing felt that if someone came at this time, it was most likely looking for him.

I reckon it might be Liu Maolin, who wants to talk to me about tomorrow's exam at the training ground.

Yang Jing walked to the back of the courtyard gate, unlatched the door, and was taken aback by the figure standing outside.

"Master, what brings you here?" Yang Jing asked in surprise.

Sun Yong was wearing a dark blue casual robe and holding several neatly folded papers in his hand. When he saw him open the door, he didn't even bother to come in, but simply threw the papers over to him: "Take these."

Yang Jing quickly reached out and caught it. His fingertips touched the rough edge of the paper. By the light of the lantern under the eaves, he saw that it was six sheets of Xuan paper covered with writing. Each sheet had a name on it, followed by a different arena number.

"Tomorrow is the training ground test. Here are the results for the top scorers from the other six arenas. Take a quick look."

Sun Yong said, "It's all written down who is good at palm techniques and who has a more yin-like internal strength. Take a look tonight, and I'll explain it to you in detail when we get to the training ground tomorrow."

Yang Jing nodded quickly, "Yes, Master, I understand."

Sun Yong gave a soft "hmm".

"Master, please come in and sit for a while?" Yang Jing quickly stepped aside to let him in. Seeing that his master had made a special trip to come to him so late at night, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

But he was also puzzled as to how his master knew where he was living.

However, Yang Jing did not ask aloud, thinking that given his master's status, it shouldn't be difficult for him to find out where he lived.

Sun Yong waved his hand, turned and left, the hem of his robe drawing a neat arc in the night: "No need, I'm going back. After you finish reading, get some rest and don't stay up too late. These are just supplementary; the key is your own strength. You have to be strong yourself to forge iron."

Before the words were even finished, the figure had already walked several feet away, the echo fading into the wind at the alley entrance.

Yang Jing stood at the door, holding the paper, watching his master's figure disappear around the corner, and couldn't help but smile.

The next day, early in the morning.

As dawn broke and the alleyways of Tongyifang were still damp with the chill of the night dew, Yang Jing had already gotten up from his bed.

He walked to the table and, using the dim light filtering through the window paper, took out the white porcelain bottle his master had given him the night before. Inside were ten Qi-Nourishing Pills. Yang Jing poured out a pill the size of a pigeon egg.

The pill was perfectly round, with a faint glow on its surface. When you brought it close, a refreshing medicinal fragrance filled your nostrils.

Yang Jing took a deep breath and put the pill into his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, transforming into a warm current that slid down the throat and into the stomach.

In a short while, the warm current surged like boiling water, flowing through the meridians to the limbs and bones.

As the energy flows through my arms, I feel a slight swelling in my fists, as if I could shatter a blue stone with a single punch. As it flows through my legs, it feels as if a thousand pounds of strength is gathered at the soles of my feet, and I can generate wind with every step I take.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, feeling the medicinal power slowly spreading through his body. His blood and qi, which had been somewhat sluggish due to yesterday's fierce battle, now surged like a tide, and his whole body was filled with inexhaustible energy.

PS:

Dear brothers and sisters, this chapter is a bit slower in pace, mainly because I wanted to write about some things, such as the master and the disciple.

To speed things up, I cut out the questions I had written about the relationship between Yang Jing and Yang An.

I might write more later, but that's for later. Adding that content here would feel like a drag.

What do you think?
(End of this chapter)