NOVEL WEB The Visit to Maternal Grandfather
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For the next month, Li Wei stuck to his routine, training with the same determination as always. He woke before dawn, moved through the ten familiar Tiger Boxing poses, and sharpened his form. His strength increased, his movements got faster, but the elusive 11th pose was still out of reach.
Li Wei didn't let it bother him too much. He wasn't the type to brood over what wasn't working. His real goal was to reach the peak of the 3rd-rate realm within a year. The 11th pose was nice, but it wasn't necessary for that. What he needed was patience and steady progress, not a magical breakthrough.
During his training, a dangerous thought kept creeping into his mind: the idea of living near the tiger habitat. It was risky—tigers were deadly, and the area 20 km northwest to that place was crawling with bandits—but if he could train near the beasts, he might get inspiration for 11 pose. It was tempting. Of course, that meant waiting until he hit the 2nd-rate realm. "I'll be fast enough to avoid being eaten, at least," he mused to himself. For now, though, he knew better than to get too ambitious. One wrong step, and he'd be tiger food.
After a week of steady training, Li Wei and his mother prepared for their trip to Chen Village. The roads were long and winding, but Li Wei didn't mind the journey. He had a mission in mind. His body had been pushed to its limits during training, and recovery was slowing down. He needed something more potent to keep up this pace.
That something was the Chen family's medicine—famous for speeding up recovery. It wasn't a miracle, but it would let him push himself harder without worrying about injuries. With that in mind, he made sure to pack light. He needed room to carry back as much medicine as he could get.
They arrived at his maternal grandfather's house by late afternoon. No grand welcome, no hugs—just a brief nod from his grandfather, who had never been one for sentimental displays.
Li Wei wasted no time. "Grandfather, I've come to ask for the Chen family's medicine. It'll help me recover faster during my training."
His grandfather raised an eyebrow but didn't say much. After a long silence, he simply nodded. "I figured you'd ask sooner or later. But you know the rules. I can't give you the formula."
Li Wei wasn't surprised. The Chen family guarded their medicinal recipes like a treasure trove. He had no intention of arguing. "I don't need the formula, just the medicine."
His grandfather stood and disappeared into the next room. After a moment, he returned with a small wooden box filled with vials. "This should last you a week. Use it wisely."
Li Wei nodded, grateful but practical. A week's supply was good, but it wasn't enough. He wasn't about to ask for more, though. Instead, he had a plan.
He already knew most of the ingredients—deer antlers, certain herbs, and rare plants. The mountains near the village had everything he needed. All he had to do was go out and get them himself.
The next few days were spent trekking through the mountains. Li Wei moved swiftly, gathering herbs and hunting deer for their antlers. "Not the most glamorous part of training, but someone's gotta do it," he muttered to himself. The herbs were tricky to find, but his sharp eyes helped him locate what he needed. It wasn't easy, but nothing ever was.
By the end of the week, Li Wei had gathered enough to make a large batch of the medicine. He returned to his grandfather, presenting the antlers, herbs, and his savings. "This should cover the rest," he said, handing everything over.
His grandfather gave a brief nod of approval, his version of high praise. "I'll make enough to last a year," he said, without any unnecessary fuss.
While the medicine was being prepared, Li Wei stayed in Chen Village. He spent his days observing his uncles train. Their martial arts style was fast and agile—quick strikes and rapid footwork. They weren't stronger than him, but they were definitely faster. Watching them, Li Wei couldn't help but think, Maybe I should steal a few moves. He didn't try to imitate them directly, but the agility and speed they used gave him ideas for refining his own technique.
After a week, his grandfather handed him a batch of medicine larger than expected. "This should last the year," he said simply.
Li Wei packed the vials carefully, knowing how crucial they were to his training. The Chen family's medicine wasn't magic, but it worked wonders for speeding up recovery. For someone like Li Wei, who constantly pushed his body to the limit, it was exactly what he needed.
Of course, that wasn't the only secret weapon in his arsenal. Back home in Li Village, his family had their own secret—a special soup made from rare bones and herbs. The soup didn't just help with recovery; it strengthened his bones and tendons, making his body more durable. "Between the Chen medicine and the Li family soup," Li Wei thought with a smirk, "I'll be unstoppable."
When it was time to leave, Li Wei thanked his grandfather, who simply gave him a stern look. "Don't waste it," was all he said.
Li Wei grinned. "I won't."
As he and his mother left Chen Village, Li Wei's mind was already turning over his next steps. With the medicine in hand and his training plan clear, the next year would be crucial. There was no rush, but there was no time to waste either. He had everything he needed to reach the 2nd-rate realm—he just had to put in the work.
As they traveled back, Li Wei glanced at the mountain in the distance. "Maybe I'll visit that tiger habitat sooner than I thought," he mused with a grin. "After all, what's life without a little danger?"