"This is..."
Li Guanyi could confirm that the previous bronze cauldron did not have this tail of the red dragon.
He reached out and gently pressed his hand on the bronze cauldron at his heart, clearly feeling the existence of the red dragon's mark, which seemed to contain a powerful and scorching force. When he placed his fingers on it, he could faintly hear the sound of dragon's roar, but this roar seemed to be separated by a layer, extremely weak.
The red dragon's mark was still very vague.
It was as if it had just been carved onto the bronze cauldron, not real enough, not clear enough.
Li Guanyi pondered, muttering to himself, "It seems that the marvelous use of this bronze cauldron is not just to absorb qi... The shadow of this red dragon is still not clear enough. If I deduce this, it requires multiple accumulations of jade liquid before the red dragon can become clearer."
"At that time, there should also be some changes."
"However, this is just a guess; it is not certain yet. I need to try again."
Li Guanyi organized his thoughts in his mind and attempted to meditate once more.
This time, he operated his qi slowly, but because his internal qi was much larger than before, the speed of his qi operation increased slightly. The internal qi of the twelfth layer of the Breaking Formation Melody, as it swept past his heart, was enough to feel the chilling sensation coiling around his heart.
This was the deadly poison that had tormented him for ten years, causing excruciating pain every time it flared up.
The twelfth layer of the Breaking Formation Melody seemed to be able to faintly touch the area where this poison was coiling, just as Yue Qianfeng had said: as one becomes stronger, the threat of the toxin would decrease.
With this heart at ease, he had a dreamless night.
The next day, when he went to the Rejuvenation Hall, Li Guanyi glanced at the Mountain God Temple from a distance. It was crowded with people, and there were armored cavalrymen holding swords. Amidst the noisy crowd, Li Guanyi operated his qi into his eyes but could not see the domineering figure of the red giant dragon.
Yue Qianfeng had already left.
This was not surprising.
Li Guanyi did not linger; he merely glanced like a commoner passing by to watch the commotion before hurriedly heading to the Rejuvenation Hall. Today, a carriage was parked in front of the Rejuvenation Hall, and several martial artists who had been injured by the cavalrymen were at the entrance. A young man in his twenties was chatting and laughing with these martial artists.
The martial artists, who had previously been very aloof and indifferent towards these workers, now had smiles plastered on their faces.
Li Guanyi recognized him as the young master of the Rejuvenation Hall.
When Li Guanyi changed into a green robe and approached the medicine cabinet, Old Doctor Chen looked at the young man and the three martial artists who had entered the backyard, shaking his head and saying, "The young master came early today to comfort these martial artists guarding the hall..."
"He said that these martial artists were injured while protecting the Rejuvenation Hall, and the hall cannot fail to show its appreciation."
"Not only did he provide medicinal materials and silver, but he also promised them higher salaries for the next few months."
"The young master didn't call you over?"
Li Guanyi shook his head. Old Doctor Chen was puzzled. The young man had already started to busy himself at the medicine cabinet, his feet firmly planted on the ground, breathing steadily. He felt the real sensation brought by the flow of the Breaking Formation Melody within him while contemplating his future plans.
He and his aunt were considered fugitives in Chen Kingdom. His aunt was clever, leading him through various twists and turns until they slowly arrived at Guan Yi City, which was not far from their destination, the eighteenth state of Jiangnan. However, a troublesome matter lay before Li Guanyi.
The pass.
Also known as the travel permit.
To cross the national border, one needed a pass issued by the court; to obtain a pass, one needed a household registration from the local government. Li Guanyi was considered a refugee, with only a scattered household; this was in Chen Kingdom. If it were in the northern Ying Kingdom, he would have been reduced to a lowly status by now.
If he worked at the Rejuvenation Hall for three years, he could obtain a household registration in Guan Yi City.
Then he could apply for a travel permit; otherwise, staying in Chen Kingdom would always be unsafe. At that time, he could use those gold and silver pearls as travel expenses. Money in Chen Kingdom might not be useful elsewhere; in chaotic times, gold was the hard currency.
He also practiced martial arts, hoping to gradually break through to the realm of entry mentioned by Yue Qianfeng.
He said that the wandering knights were all at this realm.
Li Guanyi thought seriously.
And today was not stable; to leave the country, one needed a pass, and it was best for him to have some martial strength for protection, which would require a significant amount of silver for bribes.
Currently, martial strength was promising, and he had already acquired some gold and silver. Li Guanyi mentally checked off these matters, feeling that he was slowly approaching a better life, with a small sense of satisfaction. At that time, he and his aunt could have a courtyard, without worrying about being caught by the Night Rider Cavalry.
Raising chickens and pigs, practicing martial arts, and doing some small business.
He wanted to live a stable life.
He looked up at the sky outside.
Warm and sunny.
He only had such a goal.
To live well, to live well.
...
"You few have stayed in my Rejuvenation Hall for these years. This time, the incident was also to protect my Rejuvenation Hall. Rest assured and stay here comfortably; your monthly salaries and medicinal materials will not be lacking."
In the back hall of the Rejuvenation Hall, the young master set down his tea cup, smiling as he said the last sentence.
The martial artists expressed their gratitude, their faces beaming with joy. Once the martial artists left, the young master turned to the shopkeeper standing beside him with his head bowed and said, "I heard that a young lad also got injured this time."
"Is he an Apothecary?"
The Old Shopkeeper lowered his head and replied softly, "He is still an apprentice, but his skills are quite good, and he works diligently."
"He only has a sick aunt at home, relying on this child to support the family."
"He is a good child."
The young man frowned slightly, picked up his tea cup, and swept the tea leaves with the lid, saying lightly:
"I see."
He thought for a moment and said:
"Then let him go."
The Old Shopkeeper paused. The young master used his fingertip to flick away a tea leaf stem casually: "Zhao Shopkeeper, you know that this time the Rejuvenation Hall suffered considerable losses; we need to cut expenses. This lad was injured and cannot do heavy work for three to five months, and we still need to provide him with medicine, which is a loss."
"I know you have a kind heart, but the hall also has its difficulties."
"Our family is large and prosperous, but the expenses are also high."
"Good steel must be used on the blade; he is just a small worker."
The Old Shopkeeper pondered for a moment, bowed his head slightly, and said softly:
"The young master is right, but there is much work in the hall; it won't run smoothly with one less person..."
The young man smiled and said, "Zhao Shopkeeper, you are being foolish."
"The remaining work can be done by the other few workers doing a bit more each day."
"What's so difficult about that?"
He placed the tea cup on the table, stood up, and walked out, having an appointment to drink at the Flourishing Tower.
By noon, Li Guanyi rolled up his sleeves, sat at the door, took out a flatbread, and grabbed a boiled egg. Originally, this was enough for him, but now his appetite was absurdly large. He finished eating in big bites and calculated that he would go buy something to eat.
In Chen Kingdom's Guan Yi City, a person could live on more than twenty wen a day without being picky.
However, this included food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
As he was thinking about buying some baked cakes to fill his stomach, a shadow fell in front of him.
The Old Shopkeeper stopped him and asked, "Li Guanyi, how is your injury?"
The other workers stopped to watch the excitement.
They were all sharp; when the young master had not called for Li Guanyi, they had already guessed something. Li Guanyi looked at the Old Shopkeeper and nodded, "It's fine."
The Old Shopkeeper nodded and said, "I have something to do today and won't be going back; I'll eat outside."
"Come sit with me, old man."
Li Guanyi had a premonition in his heart and nodded. The two of them walked one after the other to a restaurant on the street. Inside, there was a long bench and a jar of wine. Laborers came here to drink, one wen for a cup, only strong liquor, and they brought over a piece of marinated meat, eating happily.
Today, however, they had set up a table, and the Old Shopkeeper, familiar with the place, ordered several dishes.
There were both meat and vegetables, and two bowls of rice were served, along with a cup of strong liquor for one wen. The Old Shopkeeper said softly, "This time you were injured; it counts as a connection to the Rejuvenation Hall. Today, this meal is on me; eat more."
He watched Li Guanyi, who was focused on eating.
"The Rejuvenation Hall was robbed of medicine; who knows if this world is stable or not? Perhaps there will be more trouble in a few days. You are young; it is not good to always be like this."
Li Guanyi had sensed this before, but now he understood even more.
He had been 'optimized' away.
The Old Shopkeeper took out a letter from his bosom, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Li Guanyi, saying, "Your skills are quite good. I know the steward of the Liu Family Private School in Guan Yi City. I wrote you a recommendation letter; take it and see if you can find a job there."
"It can also be considered finding a new place."
Liu Family Private School?
That was much more prestigious than the Rejuvenation Hall, considered a better place than the Rejuvenation Hall.
The Old Shopkeeper finished his drink, placed the cup on the table, and said, "You eat; I have to go work."
"Old Zhou, today's meal for this child will be charged to my account."
"If you don't have enough to eat, order more."
As the Old Shopkeeper walked out, his gray long coat and slightly hunched back, Li Guanyi set the letter aside and devoured his food, finishing it in a whirlwind. The restaurant owner smiled and asked, "Would you like some more? Take something to go."
"Just what Old Zhao said, if you want to take something, feel free; don't worry about being polite and just leave."
The young man smiled and replied, "No, I'm full."
Then he stood by the shopkeeper, looked at the prices of the liquor on the table, and took out ten wen to place on the table.
The shopkeeper chuckled, saying, "Young man, just put it on the account."
"Yes, next time he comes, I'll treat Zhao Shopkeeper to a good drink."
The young man replied softly.
The shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright."
"Good, you are a person of taste."
"Old Zhao didn't misjudge you."
Zhao Shopkeeper walked back to the Rejuvenation Hall, took out the account book, and made a mark under Li Guanyi's name. Old Doctor Chen asked, "Guanyi was dismissed?"
The Old Shopkeeper nodded.
Old Doctor Chen saw the mark made by the Old Shopkeeper and said, "You even advanced a whole string of money? Hey, the young master isn't that kind-hearted, is he?"
The Old Shopkeeper spoke:
"We work for the young master; the young master's words are rules, and we must put in our heart and effort."
"However, we cannot do unjust and ruthless things; this is also a rule, a rule in our hearts."
"Rules are greater than heaven."
Zhao Shopkeeper rolled up the account book, lifted the door curtain, and walked in. The door curtains had couplets on either side.
Speed cannot surpass taboo.
Medicine must be practiced with benevolence.
The shopkeeper held his head high, his spine straight.
...
The sun passed noon and began to heat up.
Li Guanyi stood in front of the Liu Family Private School, which indeed looked grand. Half of the young masters from the wealthy families in the city studied here, and many carriages were parked outside. Just as he was about to enter, another carriage drove over, stopping steadily between Li Guanyi and the private school.
A fragrant breeze wafted up.
A clear, youthful voice rang out:
"Miss, we have arrived at Liu Family Private School."
(End of Chapter)