Realm-Hopping Martial Master

"Brother Luo."

"Jiang... Brother Jiang."

Ever since he had caught Old Qiu's eye, successfully reached Qi Blood Transport, and obtained the Starving Tiger Secret Medicine,

Jiang Shu could always notice that Luo Yongcheng would glance at him during spare moments, his eyes filled with a complicated expression. *It was as if he wanted to say something, but kept forcing himself to hold back.*

"Another senior brother broke through to the full-body Qi Blood circulation this month. With one less strong opponent, Brother Luo, you should be almost certain to get the Starving Tiger Secret Medicine this time."

"Yeah, I hope so."

Luo Yongcheng's voice was low. Since his last defeat, and after Old Qiu's pointed comments, his spirit had dropped sharply in just a month. *He radiated the gloom of an old man, as if he had reached the end of his days.*

"Brother Jiang, do you think I should really keep practicing Martial Arts?"

"Brother Luo, do you have a choice?"

As his friend, Jiang Shu naturally knew Luo Yongcheng's real situation.

As the young master of the Luo Family's medicine shop, although he'd been born premature and lacked Qi by nature, he'd still grown up with enough to eat. His physical condition was much better than those refugees who could barely get by.

His grandfather had left Pingling County several times to gather herbs deep in the mountains for him.

Two years ago, he had finally created a medicinal meal—Blood Nourishing Herbal Cuisine.

With its nourishment, Luo Yongcheng had quickly become no different from an ordinary person.

The Luo Family's medicine shop had also made a quick name for itself in Pingling County thanks to that medicinal meal. Every month, the silver it earned was more than ten times that of before.

However, a man's wealth is his own downfall.

In less than half a year, the Luo Family's medicine shop caught the eye of the powerful Yao Family. Thugs from both the inner and outer city started showing up at the shop, blocking anyone trying to buy the herbal meal.

Anyone who bought the meal would be beaten up by the thugs that very day.

Even if someone reported it, the constables at the county office would just turn a blind eye.

The thugs only beat people, never stole the meal. They were locked up for a few days at most, and then quietly released.

After that, the medicine shop's business kept getting worse, and it survived only on old savings.

Luo Yongcheng, out of frustration, had joined the Starving Tiger Martial Arts Hall, hoping to become a Martial Artist and revive the family shop.

He trained night and day, never slacking for a year.

But he had started too late—no one knew how long before he could truly become a Martial Artist.

"Brother Luo, I heard that somewhere in the world, there's a kind of bird with no feet—it has only wings. In its whole life, it can only fly and never lands. It puts everything on the line; if it stops, it dies."

"Here in Pingling County, we're the same."

Jiang Shu's voice was very quiet. Out in the yard, some apprentices had already begun sparring.

"Big families in the inner city, gangs in the outer city—if you want to get past them, you can only fly, never stop."

After saying that, he stood there silently. In his first month at the Starving Tiger Hall, Luo Yongcheng had filled him in on all sorts of things about the county. *He felt even luckier for being cautious—he'd never risked pawning any modern items at Pingling County's pawnshops.*

Unlike the county towns of previous lives and dynasties, in this world that revolved around Martial Arts—

Aside from the county office, only those families with Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists were real rulers in Pingling County.

The vast majority of pawnshops, medicine shops, taverns, and even martial arts halls all had powerful families backing them.

Anything cheap wouldn't fetch a high price at the pawnshop.

And as for valuables, *he'd probably be targeted by big families the moment he left the place.*

In Pingling County—

Or rather, in this world—the only thing to do was practice Martial Arts.

Keep practicing Martial Arts.

Until reaching Bone Forging Realm or above.

"Next round, Jiang Shu, Yuan Chengcai!"

"It's my turn, Brother Luo. There's no other choice."

Jiang Shu took a deep breath and stepped into the center of the yard.

The more he understood this world, the luckier he felt to have been reborn on Xuanxing. In Xia Country, there was stable social order. Even as the world was changing, Xia Country still focused on stability and kept searching for talented Martial Artists.

*The Martial Arts system was already about as fair as it could get.*

As long as someone had talent, they could obtain Martial Arts resources at any university.

But in this world—in Pingling County—even the basic resource for Martial Artists, meat, was completely monopolized by the major families. Ordinary families might save for years to send a child to a martial arts hall, but even with supreme talent, most could only reach the Skin Grinding Realm.

Then what?

*Then, of course, you'd get recruited by the big families and become their retainer.*

*There was no such thing as a dragonslayer turning into a dragon.*

*It was the only path for ordinary people.*

An entire county was like this.

*What about a whole prefecture?*

*What about a whole province?*

*A glimpse of the leopard through a tube—it only took one look to see the whole picture.*

"Please."

"Please."

They exchanged polite bows, fists pressed to palms. Jiang Shu withdrew his distracted thoughts. His body subtly swayed, like a starving tiger about to leave its den. His eyes instantly became cold and focused.

It was as if the person before him was not a fellow apprentice—

But a prey waiting to be hunted.

"Ah!"

Yuan Chengcai let out a roar and leaped at Jiang Shu with a fierce pounce!

He had already reached Qi Blood Transport last month.

The first time he'd fought on stage, he'd been defeated in just a few moves. This time, facing Jiang Shu—who'd reached Qi Blood Transport even later than him—he was determined to win.

Starving Tiger Secret Medicine.

It should be his turn!

Jiang Shu twisted his body and pounced from the side.

He couldn't use lime in front of everyone, but his Small Achievement Level Tiger Form Three Styles were enough for the clearly entry-level Yuan Chengcai.

Yuan Chengcai hadn't expected Jiang Shu to pounce from the side, so he was caught completely off guard.

In an instant, Jiang Shu had him pinned down.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

After a few fierce exchanges, Yuan Chengcai was being driven back. Jiang Shu's fists and feet were ferocious; having killed before, he understood the Tiger Form Three Styles needed to carry a touch of murderous intent.

*The more timid you were with the Tiger Form Three Styles, the more you'd end up tying your own hands!*

In just a few heartbeats, Jiang Shu's violent punch had forced Yuan Chengcai back three steps, right out of the chalk circle.

"The winner, Jiang Shu."

...

Half an hour later,

The Martial Arts Hall's sparring matches ended.

Apparently, Jiang Shu's words had worked. After going on stage, Luo Yongcheng fought with more and more courage, finally winning his match and obtaining a dose of secret medicine.

"Thanks, Jiang."

After Old Qiu finished giving tips and went to his room to rest, Luo Yongcheng, as if he'd made a decision, approached Jiang Shu of his own accord.

"Jiang, would it be convenient for you to come outside..."

"Sure."

Missing a bit of practice time didn't matter. Jiang Shu nodded, stretched, and followed Luo Yongcheng out of the Martial Arts Hall.

The two of them walked quickly to the Luo Family's medicine shop.

The once-thriving shop was now deserted. Only a few thugs lounged outside as usual, keeping watch.

"Jiang, you've seen what things are like. If I want to keep my family's shop, the only chance I have is to become a Martial Artist."

"Last month, Old Qiu praised you. This month you won your match outright. I know you're practicing Martial Arts and urgently need the Starving Tiger Secret Medicine. But me... If I can get more than two doses a month, maybe I could reach full-body Qi Blood circulation within two months."

"By then, even if Old Qiu still doesn't take notice and I can't become an official Disciple, I'd still get one extra dose of the Starving Tiger Secret Medicine every month. My practice would progress much faster."

"I know it's kind of an insult to a Martial Artist like you to offer silver for the medicine. So I'm willing to give you my family's secret recipe in exchange for your help with the medicine for the next year."

Inside the shop,

Luo Yongcheng took out a writing brush, dipped it in ink, and quickly wrote on a piece of paper.

Soon, a secret recipe was finished.

At the top, four characters stood out, bold and clear,

Blood Nourishing Herbal Cuisine.