Chapter 78: Transformation

Liu Clan Martial Arts Hall.

In the backyard training ground, Luo Zijun was continuing to practice the Kaishan Fist.

The afternoon sun was still scorching.

After running through the fist techniques several times, he was already drenched in sweat.

The muscles and bones all over his body began to ache.

But at this time, he could not stop to rest.

Tempering the body means squeezing out the very last bit of strength from it, forcing the skin, muscles, and bones of the entire body to reach their limit of endurance.

During this time, Yang Kaiming had come by once.

Besides instructing him on the fist technique moves, he also taught him how to stand in a horse stance.

"Although it is a fist technique, only when the lower body is stable, the whole body is coordinated, and the muscles are taut like a bow, can you unleash the full power of your punch..."

After Luo Zijun finished practicing the fist techniques, he practiced the horse stance for a while longer.

Until the sun slanted to the west.

At this moment, his strength was completely exhausted, his body was aching terribly everywhere, his muscles were twitching with pain, and even walking hurt.

But he still insisted on taking a bath.

After bathing, he discovered that his skin seemed to have a bit more luster under the sunlight.

He did not know if it was just a psychological effect.

After leaving the Martial Arts Hall.

He dragged his exhausted and aching body to the Martial Artist Pharmacy.

He spent another ten taels of silver to buy the medicinal herbs for the Medicine Bath.

According to what that Yang Shixiong had said, the beginning of cultivation is actually the most expensive in terms of medicinal herbs, requiring fresh herbs for a Medicine Bath almost every day.

Because the body has just begun to accept tempering and is still very fragile.

If one does not diligently take Medicine Baths, the body certainly will not be able to hold up.

Therefore, this initial stage of cultivation truly burns money like flowing water, requiring the purchase of new herbs every day.

Returning to Bao'an Hall.

Su Qingling was sitting alone behind the counter, resting her chin on her hands and staring blankly.

Seeing him, she did not pay him any mind.

Luo Zijun took the initiative to greet her: "Hey, Senior Sister, how come I've noticed you getting prettier lately?"

There was no help for it; one who takes from others is at a disadvantage, and one who eats from others is soft-spoken.

Since he had to use their place for his Medicine Bath, his mouth naturally had to be a little sweeter.

Su Qingling rolled her eyes at him and ignored him.

Luo Zijun put down the herbs and went to boil water first.

Then, taking advantage of the time while the water was boiling, he fetched a basin of water and began to clean the shop.

Sweeping and mopping the floor, wiping the tables, chairs, and cabinets.

"Senior Sister, do you need me to clean upstairs?"

Although he was already very tired, the work that needed to be done still had to be done.

Su Dafang's voice came from upstairs: "No need, go take your bath."

Luo Zijun looked up and said: "Master, have you two eaten dinner? Do you want me to buy some for you? Or go to the kitchen and make it for you?"

"You brat know how to cook?"

Su Dafang asked in surprise.

Luo Zijun said: "No."

"If you don't know how, why are you saying that?"

"Disciple is just using your place for a bath, and I feel embarrassed, so I'm just saying some sweet words to coax you."

"Get lost! Hypocrite!"

"Alright!"

Luo Zijun immediately went to the woodshed in the back.

After a moment.

Su Qingling left the counter and went to the back.

When she arrived at the entrance of the woodshed and stood by the window looking inside, a voice suddenly came from behind her: "Senior Sister, what are you looking at?"

Su Qingling turned her head to look at him; there was not the slightest sense of shame on her face from being caught peeping, and instead, she coldly snorted and left as if nothing had happened.

"Little pervert!"

Luo Zijun muttered, entered the woodshed, locked the door, covered the window with his outer garment, then took off his clothes and pants and got into the wooden tub.

"Hiss..."

It hurt, but it felt good.

The warm medicinal water instantly enveloped his entire body; his strained muscles, exhausted bones, and skin seemed to be groaning at this moment.

He closed his eyes, feeling the strange pleasure of the medicinal juices soaking into his body.

Sometimes, pain is also a kind of pleasure.

Opening his eyes, the outer garment on the window had already been taken away, and a figure was standing outside the window, watching him.

"Senior Sister, if you want to watch, just come in; you can't see anything from outside."

Luo Zijun teased her on purpose.

He was currently soaked in the thick medicinal juice, entirely inside the tub, so even if he let her look, she wouldn't be able to see anything.

Who knew that Su Dafang's voice would suddenly come from outside: "Disciple, do you really want to let your Senior Sister come in and watch?"

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he hurriedly said: "Master, why is it you? Even you are learning from Senior Sister, becoming a peeping tom?"

Su Dafang said from outside the window: "I came over to tell you something; some things cannot be forced. For example, martial arts—you simply aren't cut out for martial arts, wasting time and money in vain."

Luo Zijun said: "It's fine, Master, I will earn my own money."

"Earn my ass!"

Su Dafang couldn't help but curse, then his tone softened: "Can't you just study properly? You are clearly cut out to be a top scholar, why bother with this?"

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, then asked: "Master, if a top scholar encounters a violent criminal, do they have the power to protect themselves?"

Su Dafang said: "Since they are a top scholar, they naturally have guards."

Luo Zijun said: "Guards cannot stay by one's side every single moment; this disciple wants to protect himself, and also protect his family."

Su Dafang didn't speak again, sighed, turned around, and left.

Luo Zijun closed his eyes and thought to himself: Master must be concerned about me, fearing that I will be distracted from my studies and injure my body by practicing martial arts, ending up with nothing to show for it.

After a while.

He opened his eyes again and looked outside the window.

This time, he saw clearly: standing outside the window was not Master, but Senior Sister.

"Senior Sister, stop watching; if you keep watching, you'll have to pay."

Luo Zijun said while rubbing his body.

The medicinal liquid in the barrel had already begun to cool, and his exhausted body had been refilled with strength.

The soreness had vanished, and his whole body felt light.

These days, it's good that there are no fake medicines; although it pained him to spend the silver, it was truly useful.

"Senior Sister, I'm going to get up."

Luo Zijun prepared to finish his bath.

Su Qingling stood outside the window and said: "Oh."

"What are you 'oh-ing' about? Why haven't you left yet?"

Luo Zijun was speechless.

Does this girl really have a special fetish? Being so beautiful, how could she have such a shameful fetish?

Su Qingling still stood outside the window and did not leave.

"Go away, quickly! If I get up, I'll scare you!"

Luo Zijun urged.

It was getting dark outside, and he had to hurry and pack up to go home.

Otherwise, his sister would be worried again.

Worrying about her husband every day, and having to worry about him too—it's exhausting enough to live like that.

Su Qingling said: "If you scare me, I'll let you touch my foot."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Senior Sister, can you not be so bored every day?"

"Cough, cough..."

Su Dafang's coughing sound suddenly appeared in the small courtyard.

Then he said: "The moon tonight is truly round."

Su Qingling glanced into the window one more time before turning to leave and going into the house.

"Master, I feel like Senior Sister is not right."

Luo Zijun got out of the bath barrel and, while putting on his clothes, said toward the outside.

Su Dafang said in the small courtyard: "Your reaction is a bit slow; hasn't she always been not right?"

Luo Zijun went over, opened the door, looked at him, and said: "What exactly is going on?"

Su Dafang was drawing water by the well and said indifferently: "Just like how you have a foot fetish—you tell me, what exactly is going on?"

Luo Zijun said: "I don't!"

Su Dafang said: "Mm, she doesn't either."

Luo Zijun had nothing to say and began to pack his things.

As he was leaving, he said again: "Master, thank you."

Su Dafang sat on the stone bench in the backyard blowing in the wind, squinted his eyes, and said: "Thanking me is useless; go thank your Senior Sister."

Luo Zijun entered the house and said to the young girl behind the counter: "Senior Sister, thank you."

Su Qingling was looking down, fiddling with an abacus; those proud twin peaks were finally proudly placed on the counter again, and a strand of black hair was still stuck to the corner of her mouth.

A plain white dress and black hair, snow-tender skin and pink cherry lips.

That cold yet suddenly alluring little appearance looked exceptionally tempting under the dim yellow light. It was as if a small white flower blooming in a dark Yougu, blossoming with charming fragrance all alone under the bright moonlight.

"Senior Sister, don't be like this..."

Luo Zijun didn't dare to look too much and prepared to leave.

This girl always likes to deliberately seduce him.

Just as he reached the door, Su Qingling suddenly spoke: "You gave me a Jade Hairpin, so I will also give you a gift."

Luo Zijun's footsteps paused, and he turned back to ask: "What gift?"

"Come here."

Su Qingling looked at him with a cold expression.

Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment, then turned and walked back.

"Hold out your hand."

Luo Zijun held out his hand, his face full of curiosity.

Su Qingling, expressionless, placed a soft object into his palm.

Luo Zijun took a close look and saw that it was actually a snow-white girl's silk sock.

"Senior Sister, you..."

"What about me?"

"You are insulting me! How is this giving me a gift?"

"Then do you like being insulted by me?"

"I... you... you're tiresome!"

"I just took it off, throw it away if you don't like it."

"Of course I'm going to throw it away!"

Luo Zijun gripped it in his palm, turned, and left. After stepping out the door, he walked to the side of the street, threw it away casually, and then walked off quickly.

Night fell, and the bright moon hung in the sky.

On the ground, apart from some grass clippings and fallen leaves, there was nothing at all.

"Clatter, clatter..."

In the Pharmacy, the sound of an abacus being manipulated rang out again.

"What is wrong with me?"

Walking in the small alley on the way home, Luo Zijun looked up at the bright moon in the night sky and muttered to himself.

That night, his brother-in-law did not return.

His sister did not sleep all night.

When dawn was approaching, his brother-in-law finally dragged his exhausted body back and said with a grave expression, "I still haven't found that person..."

When his brother-in-law went to bed, Luo Zijun got up.

After washing up, he practiced his punches in the backyard.

Now, when he performed the Kaishan Fist, it had more power and momentum than before; there was a sense of sudden enlightenment, like parting the dark clouds to see the sunrise, and he was practicing it with increasing proficiency.

After daybreak.

He ate breakfast and went out.

Before going to the Academy, he stopped by Bao'an Hall on his way.

Since the Pharmacy moved here, it was truly on his way.

He arrived at the entrance of the Pharmacy, looked at the cold, beautiful girl in a plain white dress behind the counter, and greeted her: "Senior Sister, I'm off to the Academy."

Su Qingling lowered her head to count money and ignored him.

Luo Zijun looked at her again, hesitated, but couldn't help himself, and reminded her: "Senior Sister, can you not tempt me in the future?"

Su Qingling then raised her head, her beautiful eyes looking at him coldly: "No."

"Sigh..."

Luo Zijun let out a sigh and turned to leave.

That tall, slender figure wearing a Confucian robe soon disappeared into the morning light in the distance.

"Ling'er, can you not touch your grandfather's coffin money in the future? There's only a tiny bit left."

In the shop, Su Dafang said pitifully. Su Qingling lowered her head to count money and said coldly: "No."

"Sigh..."

Su Dafang let out a long sigh, carried his Medicine Chest on his back, and went out the door; his desolate figure disappeared into the crowd in the distance.

This day.

After class, Luo Zijun left the Academy.

Not long after leaving West Lake, two figures, one white and one green, suddenly appeared on the Broken Bridge, their eyes looking at the tourists around them with curiosity.

"Bang!"

In the Martial Arts Hall, Luo Zijun tested his fist against a wooden stake.

The wooden stake cracked open a fissure.

And the back of his hand felt faintly painful, but it was much better than before.

Moreover, the pain in his arm also disappeared very quickly.

!

Sure enough, the Skin Refining had already had some effect.

Keep up the good work!

In the evening, he went to Bao'an Hall for a Medicine Bath as usual, spending another ten taels of silver.

When he returned home, it was already dark.

As he walked into the small alley at the entrance of his home, he vaguely felt that someone was following him, but after checking carefully, he did not find anyone.

"Is it that woman who vented her anger for Sun Yan'er again?"

If it was still her, then he would not be polite this time; he would definitely make her bleed!

Returning home, his brother-in-law still had not returned.

He continued to go to the backyard to practice his punches.

After the Medicine Bath, his body felt a sense of relief as if a long-suppressed power was suddenly released when he threw his punches.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

After finishing a set of fist techniques, his entire body's skin felt taut, his muscles twitched, his whole body felt slightly warm, and he felt refreshed.

At the same time, that Inner Strength Seed in his Dantian Sea was also flickering incessantly.

At this moment, he felt his whole body was filled with strength.

He looked at those few stones in the corner that were as large as rockeries, and unable to resist the itch in his hands, he walked over.

These were all tools his brother-in-law usually used for martial arts practice.

The smallest stone among them weighed at least five hundred kilograms.

"Rise!"

He hugged the smallest rock, his entire body's muscles taut, and suddenly exerted force to lift it upward.

However, the rock only moved slightly and did not rise from the ground.

"Hoo..."

He exhaled a long breath and loosened his hands.

As expected, it still wouldn't work.

The training time was too short; it was impossible for his strength to increase this quickly.

However, it was clearly much stronger than before.

Previously, when he saw his brother-in-law lift these rocks with such ease, he had tried it too, but the result was that it didn't budge at all.

Now, he could already shake it.

The progress was very obvious.

His brother-in-law returned very late, and after eating and bathing, he went to sleep.

It was clear he was exhausted.

Luo Zijun returned to his room, practiced the Inner Cultivation Method for another hour, and then lay down to sleep.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

The next afternoon, Luo Zijun continued to practice at the Martial Arts Hall.

After finishing the Kaishan Fist, he went to practice standing meditation.

Time flew by.

After more than ten consecutive days of high-intensity training, he felt the strength within his body had increased quite a bit, and the skin and muscles all over his body had become much firmer.

That evening, he came to the backyard again, prepared to try that stone.

He took a deep breath, squatted into a horse stance, and hugged the stone tightly with both arms.

Immediately, the muscles in his arms and legs, like thick ropes, twisted tightly together, causing the skin on the surface to bulge, and then, he exerted force suddenly!

"Rise!"

The stone, weighing over five hundred kilograms, immediately lifted off the ground!

"Bang!"

The stone fell back onto the ground.

Although it was only for a few short seconds, at this moment, Luo Zijun clearly felt his own progress and strength.

He was finally no longer just a weak scholar!

Under the moonlight, his skin was full of luster, his muscles had become more solid, and even his eyes had become more spirited; his whole body was filled with strength.

He had transformed.

Although he had not yet fully succeeded in Skin Refining, and although he was still far behind those formidable martial artists, he could now be considered to have truly stepped into the ranks of martial artists.

"Swish!"

He threw a punch, filled with explosive power and a sense of strength!

With this punch, who among ordinary people could withstand it?

Moreover, with these days of Skin Refining, the counter-force from his fist hitting the wooden post had also lessened significantly in terms of the damage it caused him.

His fist would still feel pain, but it had clearly dissipated much of the force.

He was very much looking forward to his performance after truly succeeding in Skin Refining!

However, what followed was the trouble of having no money.

The one hundred and sixty silver he had borrowed from Liu had been completely used up after these ten-plus days of rapid consumption.

Practicing martial arts was indeed like spending money like water.

But although it pained him, the effect was truly obvious, so it could be considered worth it.

As for the subsequent training, it naturally could not be delayed.

He planned to go to the Tianxian Pavilion tomorrow to ask if those two manuscripts had been sold.

He had been busy with training these past few days and hadn't gone over.

He wondered what that Liu would think.

Borrowed money, and then started playing hide-and-seek?

"Zijun, why hasn't your brother-in-law returned yet?"

Luo Jiaorong came to the backyard and asked with a face full of worry.

Recently, Li Zhengshan had been leaving early and returning late, and every day he returned exhausted; she was both worried and pained for him.

Luo Zijun looked at the sky and said, "Wait a little longer. If he still isn't back in a while, I will go to Uncle Datou's house to ask."

Ever since he started practicing martial arts, his personality seemed to have become much more steady.

Perhaps it was because she suddenly felt he had grown up.

Whenever his sister was at a loss, she would come to discuss things with him; in fact, she didn't expect him to help with anything, she probably just wanted to hear a few words of comfort from him.

After all, he could now be considered the man of the house.

"Sigh..."

Luo Jiaorong sighed, her face full of worry as she said, "Your brother-in-law's job is truly not meant for a human; he is busy and rushing about every day, and because he is honest, all sorts of miscellaneous tasks are dumped on him, yet he doesn't earn much silver each month. I have kept urging him to quit this job, but he just can't bear to."

Luo Zijun said, "Didn't brother-in-law say he would quit after the New Year this year?"

Luo Jiaorong rolled her eyes at him and said, "You listen to him? Can he bear to? Besides, there is still so long until the New Year, and look at him now, busy to death every day, and all sorts of dangerous tasks—it makes me worry and fear at home every day, unable to sleep well, and if..."

She did not continue, her eyes turning red.

Luo Zijun hurriedly comforted her: "Sister, no need to worry. Brother-in-law hasn't been doing this job for just a year or two; if there is danger, he will naturally avoid it."

Luo Jiaorong said bitterly, "You child, what do you know? Some dangers cannot be avoided."

Luo Zijun thought of his own past injuries and the harm that befell his parents; he wanted to ask, but fearing it would stir up her sorrow and fear, he had to hold back.

He would have to find a time to ask brother-in-law.

After about another hour, Li Zhengshan finally returned, dragging his exhausted body.

"There are quite a few thieves outside the city recently, and the jail is almost full."

"Don't wait for me for dinner tomorrow night; we have to go to Qingshi Town overnight to capture a gang of robbers. Several children were abducted, and one of them has some connection to a certain noble in the Inner City. The superiors ordered us all to set out, and I estimate we won't be back until dawn the next day..."

Li Zhengshan said this while wolfing down his food.

Luo Jiaorong wanted to complain a few words, but seeing his exhaustion, she had to hold back and went over to help him serve a large bowl of chicken soup.

"You two sleep early from now on, don't wait for me. Zijun, you still have to go to the Academy to study every day, so sleep early. Don't listen to your sister worrying about this and that all day; it won't be good if it delays your studies."

Seeing his sister unable to help but get angry, Luo Zijun hurriedly asked, "Brother-in-law, that fugitive you mentioned last time, was he caught?"

Li Zhengshan shook his head and said, "We searched every household in the city and didn't find him; he probably escaped the city."

Luo Zijun chatted with him for another moment before returning to his room.

Lying on the bed at night, he couldn't quite sleep.

Although he had been busy cultivating during this period, he kept his attention on Xu Xian at all times.

Every day when he went to the Academy, he would ask if the other had encountered any strange women recently, and sometimes when he came home after class, he would follow him for a stretch of the road.

Everything was calm and peaceful.

The White Snake had yet to appear.

Was the time not yet right, or was there some other reason?

Actually, this was also quite good.

This way, he would have more time and energy to strengthen himself.

Once he became strong, it would naturally be easier to stop them then.

After letting his thoughts run wild for a while, he prepared to sleep.

At this moment, the Young Maid crawled over from the quilt, her petite and exquisite body curling up in his arms, her face pressed against his neck as she said, "Young Master, have you had many worries lately?"

Luo Zijun stroked her head and said, "What person doesn't have worries?"

The Young Maid said, "This servant doesn't."

Luo Zijun said, "Are you sure?"

"Mm, this servant is sure. This servant lives here now, has food and drink, clothes and shelter, has the mistress doting on me, and has Young Master accompanying me; I am very happy every day, so how could I have worries?"

The Young Maid said with a face full of happiness.

Luo Zijun didn't speak again and reached his hand into her bodice.

"Young Master..."

The Young Maid's face turned red, her curved eyelashes blinking over her large eyes, shy and expectant.

"Young Master, this servant... this servant..."

A moment passed.

The Young Maid bit her pink lips, her body twisting involuntarily, her eyes brimming with water, unable to bear it any longer.

"Sleep."

Luo Zijun suddenly pulled his hand out and closed his eyes.

"Young Master..."

"Snore... snore..."

"Young Master, this servant..."

"Snore... snore..."

"Wuu..."

Now, the Young Maid finally had worries.

Outside the window, the night was deep and quiet.

At the same time.

In the deepest part of a small alley on South Street, an ordinary house was situated.

The house was pitch black.

But under the floorboards of a certain room, a faint light shone.

A bald man was sitting in front of a table, drinking wine and eating meat.

In a corner not far away, a woman and a young boy were tied up with ropes, lying there motionless, seemingly already asleep.

The dark space was filled with a pungent smell of mold and excrement.

But that bald man was eating meat in large chunks and drinking wine in large bowls, paying no mind.

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the wooden boards overhead.

Then, another man's somewhat trembling voice sounded: "Brother Nian, I have already found out clearly; that Head Constable Li is going out of the city tomorrow night to go to Qingshi Town to capture thieves... there is only his wife, his wife's younger brother, and a Young Maid in the house..."

The bald man hiding in the secret room eating meat and drinking wine tilted his head to finish the wine in his bowl, smacked his lips, and then spoke: "Are you sure?"

The man above said: "Confirmed."

Immediately, he trembled and pleaded: "Brother Nian, can you let me see my wife and my child?"

The bald man sneered and said: "Nothing to see, they are both doing fine. Rest assured, we were brothers after all; as long as you don't report to the authorities or tip anyone off, I guarantee I won't harm a single hair on your family's heads."

"I... I absolutely will not..."

"That's good. I'm leaving tomorrow night. By then, you can come down to pick up the mother and child and take them up."

The bald man in the dark room finished the last piece of meat, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, stood up, walked to the corner, took a leak in a bucket, and laughed: "Brother, are you not leaving yet?"

"I... I..."

"If you don't want to leave, that's fine too."

The bald man grinned, didn't pull up his pants, walked straight to the corner, and pulled open the woman's clothes.

The woman woke up from a nightmare, her eyes wide with terror, but she dared not struggle; she lay trembling on the ground, looking at her sleeping child through tear-blurred eyes, biting her lip hard...

The man above heard the sound, his body trembling violently.

The man in the dark room finished, chuckled, pulled up his pants, then walked to the table to sit down, drank another bowl of wine, and looked at the tear-stained woman: "Sister-in-law, don't be afraid, I'm leaving tomorrow night. By then, you and your child will both be safely taken up. Sigh, I can probably only live for two more days at most, but that's enough. After killing that Li Wenzheng and his family of three tomorrow night, and then killing a few more, it'll be worth it."

When he said this, his tone was calm.

As if he were talking about a very mundane, trivial matter.

The woman lying on the ground became even more terrified, not daring to make a sound even while crying; she buried her cheeks in the ground, her body trembling, her tears soaking the floor.

(End of chapter)