Free Web NovelChapter 14: Chapter 8: Eighth Grade
’Add points to my Nourishing Body Skill!’
With a thought, Fang Rui tapped the [+] symbol after "Nourishing Body Skill."
Instantly.
A familiar, cool stream of energy surged forth. A small portion was intercepted by different parts of his body to compensate for his congenital deficiencies. The majority, however, coursed through the sinews of his entire body, strengthening and fine-tuning them to make them more suitable for exerting force.
Much like last time, the breakthrough was complete in about ten breaths.
Fang Rui looked at his panel.
[Name: Fang Rui]
[Tribulation Points: 79]
[Cultivation Technique: Nourishing Body Skill (Entering the Hall and Room)]
[Realm: Eighth Grade (Muscle Strengthening)]
[Skills: Fang’s Medical Skill (Skilled)]
[Divine Techniques: Immortality (Gray)]
...
’So, it took 100 Tribulation Points to go from Ninth Grade Skin Grinding to Eighth Grade Muscle Strengthening?’
’Just as I thought, the [+] after "Fang’s Medical Skill" has disappeared again. I’m guessing that raising it from the Skilled Level to the next one will also cost 100 Tribulation Points.’
Fang Rui nodded to himself and closed the panel.
’The Eighth Grade Muscle Strengthening Realm!’ He carefully sensed the changes brought by his breakthrough.
’My sinews are stronger, my skin is tougher, and my strength has increased significantly. I should be able to lift... at least three hundred jin now.’
This number shouldn’t be underestimated. In this world, one jin was nearly seven hundred grams. A strength of three hundred jin was the equivalent of 420 jin in his past life!
In an era where ninety-nine percent of the population was malnourished and couldn’t get enough to eat, he could already be considered a man of great strength.
’My strength now surpasses that of a typical Ninth Grade Martial Artist, but because of my congenital deficiencies, it’s still less than a normal Eighth Grade Martial Artist.’
’But not by much!’
When he broke through to Ninth Grade Skin Grinding and Eighth Grade Muscle Strengthening, a small portion of the energy stream had been absorbed by his body, compensating for some of Fang Rui’s congenital deficiencies.
Moreover, he had advanced using Tribulation Points, which was different from others. When he broke through to Ninth Grade Skin Grinding, his body was left flawless, with no weak points. Now, upon breaking through to the Eighth Grade, that mysterious stream of energy had attended to every last tiny sinew in his body.
All things considered, Fang Rui’s true combat strength was about the same as an ordinary Eighth Grade Martial Artist.
’But what about compared to Lord Hu?’
Fang Rui subconsciously compared himself to Lord Hu. ’My Realm is higher, I’m a bit stronger, and I have no weak points, but my disadvantages are also obvious.’
’Lord Hu might not be one of those ruthless fighters who constantly dance on the edge of life and death, but he has rich combat experience that I can’t hope to match. Plus, he has a weapon... and if I’m being cautious and factoring in any other hidden trump cards he might have...’
’Hiss... when I calculate it like that, I’m not sure I could actually take him down.’
’In fact, if I get tied up in a fight and Lord Hu calls for his friends... I’d be in serious danger!’
It came back to the same old truth: Lower Three Grade Martial Artists were just a bit tougher and stronger than average. Even ordinary, fearless men could take one down if seven or eight of them swarmed him with blades.
Of course, Fang Rui wasn’t planning on settling the score with Lord Hu right now.
He possessed the Immortality Divine Technique and had a limitless lifespan. There would be plenty of opportunities to settle accounts with Lord Hu in the future.
’I am an extremely patient man, and I’m in no hurry. If three years won’t do, I’ll wait five. If that’s not enough, ten... worst case, I can wait thirty or fifty years. Then I can go ’punch the North Sea Kindergarten and kick the Nanshan Nursing Home.’ That works too.’
’I’ll set the matter with Lord Hu aside for now. My biggest problem at the moment is... I’m out of money!’
That’s right. He was broke.
"Even a hero can be stumped by the lack of a single coin." Fang Rui had never understood that saying more deeply than he did at this very moment.
Caozhi Hall’s expenses were exceeding its income... market prices were skyrocketing... he needed to save money for grain... and after his breakthrough, his appetite had surged, meaning he ate even more...
In short, he was broke.
’Life is hard...’ he mused. ’Fortunately, I already have a plan.’
You live off the mountains if you live by the mountains, and you live off the water if you live by the water. The Fang Family’s legacy was their Medical Skill, so if Fang Rui wanted to make money, he would naturally have to rely on it.
His method was simple.
Pre-made medicine!
Pre-made medicine wasn’t some high-end, sophisticated concept. It was simply a breakthrough in thinking.
In this era, professional secrecy was paramount and knowledge was a precious commodity. The Medical School was no exception. You could say that anyone who knew even one or two folk remedies could become a Traveling Doctor, wandering from street to street.
Perhaps it was to protect the status of Physicians, or maybe it was just custom, but diagnoses were almost always done in person. Besides maintaining a certain prestige, this probably also served to increase the perceived value of their services.
In any case, Fang Rui had never heard of something like pre-made medicine being available.
’With my current Medical Skill, I can’t create any truly precious medicines. Of course, even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to hold onto them.’
This was why Fang Rui hadn’t upgraded his Fang’s Medical Skill earlier, focusing single-mindedly on his Nourishing Body Skill instead.
In a well-ordered world like the one in his past life, having an exquisite Medical Skill would be enough to rake in money and let your family live well. freeweɓnovel.cøm
But in this world, in this era, no matter how masterful your skills, in the eyes of the rich and powerful, you were nothing more than a disposable rag—to be summoned at their whim, used as they saw fit, and then tossed aside without a shred of respect.
’In this world, everything else is fleeting. The only hard truth is the size of your fist. That’s the only way to avoid being bullied!’
’That’s why I’ve been so determined in my pursuit of strength!’
Fang Rui sighed. ’My current strength is still far from the point where I can do as I please. I have to keep lying low for now.’
’Something as high-profile as pre-made medicine can’t be associated with Caozhi Hall. Otherwise, we’d definitely be targeted, and the trouble would never end.’
’Lord Hu’s covetous gaze, the threat of the Tiger Gang, even the envy and jealousy of our neighbors... they’re all potential dangers.’
’So, the best thing to do is sell it at the Black Market.’
...
He left the inner room.
Fang Ling had already been sent to bed. Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family had finished washing the dishes and was now sitting in the main hall, her face etched with worry.
"Mother, what’s wrong? Is something troubling you?" Fang Rui asked.
"What else could it be?"
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family wore a pained expression. "Our family doesn’t have much money left, and we can’t touch the emergency savings... We’ve stored up some grain, but we’re just eating through our reserves. What are we going to do?"
"Oh, I was wondering what was wrong... Mother, don’t worry. Just leave it to me."
Fang Rui explained his idea for pre-made medicine. "...two types. One is a ’Hemostatic Powder’ to stop bleeding. The other is a ’Nourishing Medicine’ that cools the body and reduces internal heat. If we sell them at the Black Market, we’ll have money to buy more grain."
"That’s a good idea."
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family mulled it over and agreed it was feasible. "Selling at the Black Market won’t make the neighbors green with envy, so that’s better. It’s just..."
"Brother Rui, you’re the one taking all the risks." As she said this, her voice was filled with guilt and self-reproach for her own inability to help.
"Mother, what are you talking about? Father went to serve in the army in my place. As the only man left in the family, it’s my duty to shoulder this responsibility."
"In any case, don’t you worry about the money. Just rest easy and wait for the good days ahead."
Beneath the flickering flame of the oil lamp, Fang Rui looked at the faint worry lines on his mother’s brow and spoke from the heart.
"Good days?"
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family smiled and shook her head, her eyes holding an emotion that Fang Rui couldn’t yet understand. "More than wanting good days for myself, I’ll be content just knowing that you and Ling’Er are living well."
Her simple, unadorned words touched Fang Rui’s heart. It felt as if he had a thousand things to say, but they all caught in his throat, leaving him speechless.
"Mother, it’s getting late. I should be going now."
He glanced out the window, shouldered the pouch of medicine he had prepared earlier, and said, "Mother, you don’t need to wait up for me. Go to bed early!"
"Alright," Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family agreed, rising to see him to the door.
But Fang Rui knew that even though she had agreed, she wouldn’t listen. She would wait right here until he returned.
The reason was simple: only when he was back home could she rest easy and finally fall asleep.
"I’m off, Mother!" Fang Rui waved and disappeared into the night.
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family watched until his figure vanished completely before pulling her gaze away. She closed and latched the door, then went to the window. There, she sat mending clothes by the light of the oil lamp, her head lifting from time to time to glance outside.
This was how she spent every night that Fang Rui went to the Black Market.
Not a single night was different.
...
