From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

"How ironic."

A faint, bitter smile flickered across Zhu Hong's lips.

I had just forgotten about Jiang Jingtang's "pig-like" appearance yesterday, and now I'm turning around to add some profit to Jiang's business.

Just like the competition among creatures in a pond:

The whale, not content with swallowing a boat whole, also wanted to completely encircle and occupy a pool of living water.

Want to save your life?

Want to gain even a little room for maneuver?

They still had to sift through the gaps between the fingers of that enormous creature to get a last drop of moisture.

"Not wanting to be devoured, it grew even sharper teeth and claws." With this thought in mind, his gaze sharpened, and he stepped inside.

Behind the counter sat a lean old man in a worn blue silk jacket. Hearing footsteps, he merely raised his droopy eyelids slightly, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Zhu Hong's official uniform. He said slowly, "Officer, are you here on official business, or to seek medical attention?" His tone was flat, showing no regard for the official's attire.

"To train our muscles and bones, we rented a precious spot for several days."

Zhu Hong took out four taels of silver from his sleeve and gently placed it on the rosewood cabinet. A soft "tap" sound rang out, clear and melodious.

"It needs to be a good, quiet room."

"The equipment used to train strength must be complete."

The old shopkeeper didn't ask any further questions. He placed his withered hand over the silver, and when he removed it, there was nothing there. "Number seven, grade C, one tael per day." He tossed over a small, dark iron token: "Meals and tea will be delivered secretly, and no one will dare to disturb your peace."

Finally, let me add one more sentence:

"There is wound powder and medicated liquor in the room; you may use them freely without any worries."

……

"Clang—"

The ironwood door slowly closed, shutting out all the sounds of the city and people outside.

The room was about three zhang square, with all four walls made of "black ink stone," a dense and impenetrable material. The dome was high and wide, with several holes through which rays of sunlight filtered down, allowing one to know the alternation of day and night.

The furnishings are simple and unpretentious.

A row of iron racks, filled with dark blue stone locks of varying strength and heavy bags of lead and mercury.

Several specially made bronze figures stood silently in the corner, their forms solemn and their acupoints and meridians clearly visible. In the center of the room hung a bulging cowhide bag filled with coarse iron sand. In the innermost part was a medicinal bath pool carved from a single piece of green jade. The water was lukewarm, and white steam rose from it. Beside the pool was only an old bamboo couch and a few bottles of coarse pottery liquor.

"That's enough."

Zhu Hong looked around, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He walked to the bamboo couch, but did not sit down. Instead, he positioned himself in front of the central iron sandbag, his feet slightly apart, his spine as slender as a pine tree, thus forming the most simple and unadorned "river-locking stake".

The breath fell silent, like a stone thrown into an ancient well, the ripples gradually subsiding.

Zhu Hong stood there, his figure like the gnarled roots of an old pine tree, completely still. For the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the only sound in the room was his breathing, long and low, almost inaudible.

"Your muscles and bones are relaxed; it's time to get to the main training."

Once his blood and qi had returned to normal, he slowly stopped his movements and solemnly took out the gilded and engraved tin box from his bosom.

【Blood and Marrow Strengthening Paste】

Upon opening the box, an extremely strong, sweet and pungent odor suddenly wafted out, hitting the nose directly.

Although the smell is different, it is not unpleasant.

The reverse effect caused a subtle restlessness in the body's Qi and blood. Inside the box—the ointment was a deep red, like frozen rosy clouds, with a thick, gelatinous texture.

"Three taels of pure gold can only buy three taels of rich meat."

Zhu Hong's eyes were piercing. "The precious medicine bestowed by Magistrate Shen must not disappoint."

He calmed his breath and, without further hesitation, scooped out a walnut-sized piece with his finger, removed his clothes, and carefully applied the ointment to the meridians and acupoints all over his body. From his chest and abdomen to his back, from his arms to his legs, especially at the key joints where he exerted force when practicing Taizu Long Fist and Crouching Tiger Fist, he repeatedly massaged it evenly.

The cream had barely touched the skin when it first came into contact with it.

At first, I only felt a refreshing coolness, like a piece of menthol ice.

However, only three breaths had passed.

boom--!

The coolness suddenly transformed into a scorching heat, like a red-hot iron pressing directly into the skin and flesh, penetrating the body. Immediately afterward, it felt as if thousands of tiny fire ants were burrowing into the pores, traveling along the fascia and blood vessels, and gnawing straight into the depths of the bone marrow.

That taste:

The five senses—sourness, distension, numbness, pain, and burning—are assaulted simultaneously, like scraping bone with a dull knife.

"snort……"

Even though Zhu Hong considered himself to be resolute, he couldn't help but let out suppressed groans from his throat, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"That's really powerful!"

Before long, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.

He felt the scorching current slowly dissipating, seeping into his bone marrow, and nourishing his vital energy.

A terrifying purplish-red color appeared on the surface of the skin.

not.

"We need to get moving."

"If we don't move, how can these poor bones fully absorb the medicine!"

He gritted his teeth, suddenly stood up, ignoring the churning pain inside his body, and with a pause in his steps, he set up a boxing stance right there in the small room.

"Tiger Leaps Over the Mountain Fist!"

Before the roar was uttered, the momentum had already arrived.

Zhu Hong was like a fully drawn bowstring suddenly snapped, crashing headfirst into the hanging iron sand sack.

"Bang—!"

The iron sandbag, weighing over 200 pounds, swung high into the air, almost touching the beam.

Come again!

The drug's effects surged wildly during the impact, stretching the muscles to their limit.

With each forceful impact, he felt the domineering medicinal power being forcefully "smashed" into the depths of his muscles, and his originally somewhat unstable foundation was being solidified in a brutal way.

"Tiger Leaps Over the Ravine!"

"Tiger Leaps Over the Ravine!!"

Sweat poured out like a thick liquid, mixed with a faint tinge of blood.

Zhu Hong chuckled softly:

"readily!"

This feeling of being exhausted yet gaining strength is far more exhilarating than superficial pleasure.

About an hour.

The iron sandbag fell back down, and the surging medicinal power in his body gradually settled.

Zhu Hong's legs gave way, and he fell straight backward, sprawling on the cool stone surface, his chest heaving violently, his breathing like a broken bellows.

The Crouching Tiger Fist is ultimately a killing martial art. If it weren't for the effects of the medicine, such reckless exertion would have already caused him to collapse from exhaustion.

but……

It was all worth it.

He struggled to raise his arm.

His arms, which were originally a little thin, have become fuller, the veins under his skin have disappeared, and they are covered with a tough texture like old cowhide.

He loosely clenched his fist, and his knuckles made a crisp "snap" sound.

This lasts for only one hour.

It's comparable to the effort others put in three months of arduous training!

"Not enough...not nearly enough."

The flame in Zhu Hong's eyes did not die down due to exhaustion; instead, it burned even brighter: "The path of martial arts is fraught with peril. The likes of Pei Lie are but a minor ailment. The real tigers and wolves are lurking all around us."

"I need to sharpen this knife even more."

He sat up abruptly, his gaze falling on the ointment box, which was still mostly empty.

"Four days."

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Hong's eyes. "Watch me devour every last drop of the essence of your Strengthening Tonic."

That night, the Jiang family's martial arts pavilion, "Chapter 7".

The thunderous sounds continued until dawn, never ceasing.

The candlelight on the table flickered, and the candle wax piled up and solidified, just like on the road of life, there are always people who collapse from exhaustion, and there are always people who shake off the dust and frost and silently continue on their way.

The night was as dark as ink.

Only those with strong bones and muscles can ignite their own fire and illuminate a corner of the road ahead.

……