Chapter 5: The Lady

"Not many came this morning with any real desire to learn martial arts."

After sending away a gaunt, pale refugee, Jiang Ye leaned against the doorframe and sighed softly.

Yet this thread of annoyance was quickly diluted by another, more tangible anticipation.

Blood-Enriching Decoction.

Just thinking those three words, Jiang Ye felt a faint tremor stir deep within his dormant dantian.

It was the body’s instinctive craving for nourishment.

Time slipped away quietly as the sun rose higher.

A faint aroma of herbs and long-simmered bone and meat drifted faintly from within the martial academy.

"The Blood-Enriching Decoction is ready."

Catching the faint herbal scent, Jiang Ye perked up.

But he did not rush over to claim it; instead, he calculated the time in his mind.

About half a stick of incense later, the herbal fragrance seemed to peak, then began slowly fading.

"The time is right."

Jiang Ye judged internally—the inner disciples must have already finished their portions.

Only then did he rise slowly and head toward the inner courtyard’s small kitchen.

The inner courtyard was far quieter than the outer, and its space was more spacious and refined.

A dozen or so inner disciples gathered in small groups on the training ground or under the corridors, some quietly exchanging insights from their recent practice, others stretching their limbs.

The most striking figures in the yard were naturally the core disciples.

Liu Yiyi, clad in black training attire, stood alone beneath an old plum tree on the eastern side of the training ground, slowly concluding her stance.

Her posture was upright, her features cold and clear, as if surrounded by an invisible chill that barred all noise and scrutiny—like a solitary ice lotus blooming atop a snow-capped peak, solitary and dazzling.

In contrast, Su Yan and Zhang Xu’s circle was far livelier.

Su Yan had changed into a pale yellow martial suit today, her skin glowing like snow, laughing and chatting with two female disciples, her eyes smiling, her gaze radiant, drawing occasional furtive glances from nearby male disciples.

Zhang Xu wore luxurious brocade martial robes, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, listening to a few followers speak, occasionally nodding faintly, his demeanor haughty.

His covert gaze kept flickering toward Liu Yiyi not far away.

Another stood in the open center of the training ground—sturdy build, earnest face—the eldest among the inner disciples, Zhao Gang.

Ordinarily, an inner disciple who reached Dark Force could consider graduating, striking out on their own.

Yet Zhao Gang remained in the academy, seeking an opportunity to break through to Transformation Force.

He was kind-hearted, always willing to guide juniors; when Ming Force disciples encountered training difficulties, they mostly came to him for advice—he was universally recognized as the academy’s good-natured elder.

At this moment, he patiently explained a power-generation technique to a new inner disciple.

"Hey? Uncle Jiang."

A clear, slightly surprised voice rang out—it was Su Yan.

Almost simultaneously, Zhao Gang, who had been instructing the disciple, turned his head, saw Jiang Ye, and smiled warmly, nodding in greeting: "Uncle Jiang, you rarely come into the inner courtyard during the day."

The other disciples merely glanced casually, saw it was the old gatekeeper, and dismissed him with indifference.

Jiang Ye halted, nodded slightly toward Su Yan and Zhao Gang: "The academy master sent me to collect a bowl of medicinal decoction to restore my health."

Su Yan understood, her lips curving into a bright smile: "Ah, I see. Then Uncle Jiang, go ahead and get it."

Zhao Gang nodded gently: "Indeed, with this freezing weather, someone your age ought to replenish your primordial energy properly."

Both knew Academy Master Liu Qingshi treated this old gatekeeper with special care; seeing Jiang Ye arrive, they assumed it was merely routine kindness, and thought nothing more of it.

After brief pleasantries, Jiang Ye did not linger, stepping quickly into the dedicated medicinal kitchen.

Pushing open the door, a stronger wave of herbal steam rushed over him.

A plump, graceful woman in a black cotton dress stood facing the door, slightly bent over, holding a large palm fan, slowly fanning the stove’s entrance to regulate the heat.

The room was stuffy; beads of fragrant sweat glistened on her forehead.

This woman was Liu Qingshi’s wife, Huang Xiyu.

Hearing the door open, Huang Xiyu’s fan paused for a subtle moment, but she did not turn immediately.

Jiang Ye stepped lightly, approaching the stove’s side, bowing slightly to her back: "Madam."

Only then did Huang Xiyu seem to notice his presence; she slowly straightened and turned around.

She was around forty, with a lovely face and fair skin, but fine lines around her eyes and a tightly pressed mouth revealed a sharp, calculating nature honed by years of management.

Her gaze fell on Jiang Ye, scanning him once, then she offered a faint, puzzled smile:

"Old Jiang, what are you doing here?"

Her voice was soft, yet carried little warmth.

Hearing this, Jiang Ye sighed inwardly.

He knew full well: if Liu Qingshi had told him yesterday to come for the Blood-Enriching Decoction, he would not have forgotten to inform Huang Xiyu.

Her current act was merely resentment over this "extra" expense.

This woman—

Put kindly, she was frugal and meticulous, keeping the academy running smoothly.

Put bluntly, she was stingy, clinging tightly to every coin, especially when spent on those she deemed "not worth it."

To Huang Xiyu, Jiang Ye was merely an old man nearing death, contributing nothing to the academy; using a precious Blood-Enriching Decoction on him was like pouring it onto the ground.

Though her attitude made it clear she did not wish to give it, Jiang Ye understood: if he wished to continue practicing fistwork and break through to Ming Force, he must drink this decoction.

He was about to speak, weighing how to respond to this shrewd woman.

"Madam, last night the academy master..."

His words were cut off by steady footsteps.

"Ah, I knew you’d be like this."

Liu Qingshi entered, glancing at Huang Xiyu with mild exasperation: "I promised Old Jiang the Blood-Enriching Decoction—you 'forgot' again, didn’t you?"

"Hmph."

Seeing Liu Qingshi enter, Huang Xiyu let out a light huff and reluctantly handed Jiang Ye a bowl of the decoction.

"Academy Master..."

Jiang Ye took the bowl, glancing at Liu Qingshi with gratitude.

"Old Jiang, drink it while it’s hot."

Liu Qingshi waved slightly, signaling him not to thank him.

"Thank you, Academy Master. Thank you, Madam."

Jiang Ye bowed to both, then slowly drank the entire bowl of Blood-Enriching Decoction.

The warm liquid, slightly bitter and fishy, slid down his throat, and a distinct warmth spread through his chest and abdomen.

The depletion from yesterday’s intense training was gradually replenished by this warmth.

"Now I can resume fist practice."

Moments later, a glint of sharpness flashed in Jiang Ye’s eyes.

The Blood-Enriching Decoction’s effect was even better than he’d imagined.

"Good, Old Jiang—I was worried you’d be too weak to absorb it, so I came to check."

Liu Qingshi had been watching Jiang Ye’s reaction; seeing his complexion steady and his breath calm, with no signs of overstimulation, he nodded slightly, then added:

"From now on, one bowl a day. Come at your regular time. If Xiyu refuses you, come straight to me."

"Thank you for your concern, Academy Master."

Jiang Ye’s heart warmed.

In a world where human hearts grew cold, Liu Qingshi’s protection was especially precious.

When he caught Huang Xiyu’s increasingly displeased expression, he tactfully thanked them both again and quickly exited the kitchen.

"Hmph. You’ve fed him for decades, and now you give him this precious decoction? How generous of you."

As Jiang Ye departed, Huang Xiyu dropped the pretense, glaring coldly at her husband.

"An elder in the house is like a treasure."

Liu Qingshi walked beside his wife and spoke softly:

"Xiyu, don’t forget: if not for Old Jiang’s life-saving grace, I, Liu Qingshi, would have long been a pile of bones—how could I have met you, opened this academy, or achieved what I have today?"

"Compared to that debt, what is a few bowls of decoction?"

Hearing her husband’s gentle words, Huang Xiyu still wore a hint of pique, but her anger had clearly subsided; she pursed her lips and muttered:

"Hmph. You always get to be the good one."

"While the medicine’s effect is still being absorbed, practice a little."

Back at the gate, Jiang Ye felt the warmth within his body and immediately assumed the "Tiger Stance."