Free Web NovelChapter 3: Chapter 3: The Formula
"Really?"
Han Yuan looked at the medicinal wine recipe, a hint of pleasant surprise flashing in his eyes.
He had just been worrying about this very thing.
To continuously grind away at the Thousand Falcon Saber, his body had to be able to withstand the strain. Otherwise, he would cause himself great harm, perhaps even damaging his foundation.
"Of course. This is a twenty-year-old recipe. Its reputation is guaranteed."
"But it’s a bit expensive... so be prepared."
Wang Changbai reminded him.
Han Yuan nodded lightly. After thanking Wang Changbai, he left the County Yamen.
Afterward, he first returned home to grab his last few taels of silver and then went to an apothecary in the city.
An incense stick’s time later.
Han Yuan walked out of the apothecary with a pained expression, a few packets of medicinal herbs in his hands.
’Now I’ve only got one tael of silver to my name.’
’I still need to buy some strong liquor to soak the herbs in, and that’ll cost another two mace of silver.’
’That means... I’ll only have eight mace of silver left.’
Although Han Yuan’s heart ached at the expense, he still went to a liquor shop and bought several jars of wine.
After taking it all home, he steeped the herbs according to the medicinal wine recipe. It would be ready to use in three days.
In addition, Han Yuan had also bought a small box of medicinal ointment at the apothecary.
This ointment was said to also have the effect of relieving muscle fatigue.
Han Yuan had bought it specifically to get through the next few days.
He took out the ointment and carefully applied it to his body. It was cool and soothing, and the fatigue in his muscles seemed to dissipate quite a bit.
’Practicing Martial Arts really is expensive.’
After sighing with emotion, Han Yuan picked up his long saber and once again began cultivating the Thousand Falcon Saber.
He continued late into the night, only lying down to rest after he was completely exhausted.
...
After being transferred to guard the warehouse, his days became monotonous.
Once the medicinal wine was ready, Han Yuan tried it and found its effects to be even better than the ointment.
When applied to his body, it created a faint burning sensation that seemed to awaken his fatigued muscles.
Moreover, as he cultivated daily, his understanding of some of the power generation and moves of the Thousand Falcon Saber deepened, naturally increasing his cultivation efficiency.
On a given night, he could practice it about twelve times.
...
「Seven days later.」
「The Wang Mansion.」
"Wang Cheng, you’re a constable, for heaven’s sake."
"How can you not even get my brother a position?"
Mrs. Wu said, somewhat resentfully.
"My dear, just give me a few more days to think of something."
Wang Cheng said helplessly.
"Didn’t you say you were going to kick out that foolish brother of Han Jiudao’s?"
"What happened with that?"
Mrs. Wu asked, confused.
"That guy bribed that damn fatty Zhang Hu and got himself transferred to guard the warehouse."
"The men under me have either been with me for a long time or have powerful backers. I really can’t touch any of them."
Wang Cheng explained.
"I don’t care about that."
"Just hurry up and get my brother a job at the Government Office."
"You’re the one who made that grand promise."
Mrs. Wu snorted coldly.
"Let me think."
Wang Cheng rubbed his brow. The smug look on Han Yuan’s face as he’d waved at him that day came to mind, and his gaze gradually turned sinister.
"My dear... I have a plan."
Mrs. Wu’s eyes lit up. "What is it?"
"Don’t you worry about it. I’m going out to find someone."
Wang Cheng stood up.
He found a black face covering in his wardrobe, climbed over his own brick wall, and quietly disappeared into the night.
...
「Another day passed.」
After handing things over to Old Wang, Han Yuan rushed home. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Three boiled eggs, boiled green vegetables, and a large bowl of white rice.
This was Han Yuan’s dinner.
In these chaotic times, this was already considered a great luxury.
Han Yuan had no choice. Practicing Martial Arts consumed a huge amount of energy; he had to eat well.
’In another half a month... my last few mace of silver will be all gone.’
’Looks like I need to find a way to make money. Practicing Martial Arts is just too expensive.’
Han Yuan swallowed an egg in one bite.
He certainly couldn’t get by on his meager salary alone.
Guarding the warehouse was stable, but it offered no perks or extra income.
Han Yuan had to figure something out himself.
However, there was a more pressing matter for Han Yuan right now.
After eating his fill and taking a sip of cool tea, Han Yuan carried his saber to the center of the courtyard.
Thousand Falcon Saber: Uninitiated (98/100)
’I’m breaking through tonight!’
Han Yuan couldn’t wait to see what would happen after his breakthrough.
He immediately swung his saber and began to cultivate the Thousand Falcon Saber.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
His cultivation over the past several days had made his Blade Technique less clumsy than before; it could even be considered reasonably smooth.
As the blade flashed, it even produced a faint whistling sound.
After one round of practice.
Han Yuan was drenched in sweat and his muscles ached, but he didn’t stop. He swung his long saber and continued to cultivate.
The moment he executed the final strike...
Han Yuan felt all the muscles in his body twitch and spasm. A grinding sound came from his bones and fascia.
A dozen or so breaths later...
The twitching sensation finally faded, and Han Yuan regained control of his body.
’This feeling...’
Han Yuan moved his body.
CRACKLE! POP!
A sound like popping beans erupted from him.
He felt his muscles had become denser, especially in his arms, which felt much more powerful.
He casually swung the long saber, his movements as smooth as flowing water, as if he had been practicing the blade for years.
At the same time...
Han Yuan felt a great deal of understanding about the Thousand Falcons Blade Technique flood his mind.
Thousand Falcon Saber: Initiate (0/300)
’The gap between Uninitiated and Initiate might just seem like one step, but the difference is like heaven and earth.’
After the breakthrough, Han Yuan looked even more excited.
He went back inside to rub the medicinal wine all over his body. His muscles were activated by the wine’s Medicinal Power and began to grow slightly warm.
Just as he picked up his long saber and prepared to return to the courtyard to continue cultivating...
He suddenly heard several sets of soft footsteps outside.
’Thieves?’
Han Yuan’s expression shifted slightly.
Public order in Qingshui County was terrible. Every night, thieves would steal, and sometimes even murder occurred.
’Something’s not right... Ordinary thieves would have cased the joint beforehand.’
’I’m a Government Official, after all... What thief would be so blind as to target me?’
’Who could it be?!’
A chill went down Han Yuan’s spine.
No matter who they were, sneaking in at midnight definitely meant they had malicious intent.
With a flicker in his eyes, he quietly hid back inside the house.
Outside.
A few masked figures leaned against the wall, whispering to each other.
"The kid is in the room on the left."
"In a bit, we’ll go in, slaughter him, loot all his valuables, and for good measure, set the place on fire."
"Don’t worry, this Han Yuan is a total waste of space. He doesn’t know any Martial Arts."
A tall, thin man in black whispered.
"That Han Jiudao used to bully us so miserably."
"Now that he’s dead and without a complete corpse, we can only take our anger out on his brother."
A masked man sneered.
At the mention of Han Jiudao, a vicious light gleamed in all the masked men’s eyes.
Without another word.
The men quickly vaulted over the brick wall and crept toward the house on the left.
One of the masked men took out a piece of wire and silently picked the lock.
CREAK.
He gently pushed the wooden door open.
The room inside was pitch-black. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
The lead masked man gave a signal with his eyes.
A tall, burly masked man immediately stepped into the dark room.
SHING!
A figure had long been lying in wait by the side of the door.
The instant the masked man stepped inside, the long saber held in the figure’s right hand shot out in a fierce thrust.
Flying Falcon Strike!
The sharp blade was like a bird of prey streaking across the sky.
It gave the masked man no time to react as the cold steel plunged deep into his chest.
