20. The Unique Prescription

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Upon hearing a glimmer of opportunity, Zhang Lin thought to himself that the old man was indeed perceptive and understood the ways of the martial world.

“If we consider the deputy steward as a candidate steward of the Tiger-Wolf Sect, then the steward is truly the junior steward of the Tiger-Wolf Sect itself. They are the focus of the sect’s cultivation efforts. The monthly salary is twenty taels. Each month, they can regularly receive a certain amount of medicinal supplements and resources. They can practice some of the basic Tiger-Wolf Sect techniques for free. Every year, they have the chance to visit the sect’s headquarters’ library. When purchasing medicinal supplements on the black market, prices are close to cost…”

Zhang Lin recited the benefits of being a steward as if listing precious treasures.

After listening, even Xie An couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.

Though both positions were stewards, the difference in treatment between the regular and deputy was like heaven and earth. This aligned perfectly with the structure of his previous life, where one hand held most of the power.

To be honest, Xie An felt tempted…

No other reason but that society was extremely unfriendly to fifty-year-olds, and joining the Tiger-Wolf Sect seemed the best path suited for him.

However, Xie An was not yet fully confident about his appointment as steward. He did not immediately respond but stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed in farewell.

“Many thanks to Steward Zhang for the kind invitation, but this old man is advanced in years and fears he may be unable to manage. Please allow me some time to ponder.”

Zhang Lin was patient. “I understand, after all, this is a major life decision. Let me escort you out.”

He accompanied Xie An out of the canyon, then stopped and watched him leave, lost in thought.

“Boss, this old man is really unappreciative. You’ve lowered yourself so much, yet he still refuses,” Zhou Xing approached, holding a knife, somewhat aggrieved.

Smack.

Zhang Lin raised his hand and lightly tapped Zhou Xing’s head. “What do you know? He’s just cautious. If he agreed immediately, I’d be suspicious. This man is deeply scheming and very cunning. If he joins us, he will surely help me remove Zhang Biao.”

Zhou Xing looked bewildered. “Huh? You didn’t even tell him about your grudge with Zhang Biao, and yet he didn’t agree?”

Zhang Lin said, “Smart people understand with just a hint. Do you think everyone else is as thick-headed as you?”

Zhou Xing hung his head, refraining from speaking, but inwardly he still thought it was all too mysterious and did not believe the masked old man possessed such skill and cunning.

“Boss… that’s an exaggeration.”

“Boss, should I tail him and investigate his identity?”

Zhang Lin quickly denied, “No need. Since he doesn’t want others to know his identity, we shouldn’t overreach. Respect others, and they will respect you.”

Zhou Xing scratched his head. “Understood.”

…

Xie An returned to the back courtyard hut late at night.

After performing a set of Five Animal Frolics to warm up and dispel the chill, he sat cross-legged and practiced the embryonic breathing technique, stabilizing his breathing and blood flow.

Alternating between the two health-preserving exercises, he immediately felt refreshed and free of fatigue.

“Zhang Lin’s meaning is clear: as long as Zhang Biao is eliminated, I can take his place and become steward.”

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“Joining the Tiger-Wolf Sect, I must secure a steward position. But Zhang Biao is still a steward, a martial artist who has passed the gate. I cannot be hasty…”

At over fifty, Xie An was steady, knowing that many matters need not be rushed.

Taking things slowly, watching as he goes, would be much safer.

“According to Zhang Lin, lifting four hundred jin is roughly the strength of a Bronze Skin level martial artist. That means my strength has reached Bronze Skin level, but my fighting style and actual combat power… still lag behind a true Bronze Skin warrior.”

“The urgent task now is to focus on improving strength. Once I gain sufficient power, not just a steward, even the position of incense master… is worth considering.”

Resolving to this, Xie An took out the unique medicinal recipe given by Tang Qingfeng, laid out all the collected herbs, and began weighing them precisely.

“One qian of honeysuckle, three qian of fleeceflower root, four qian of dried forest grass, one liang of bear heart meat…”

He matched eight or nine kinds of herbs according to certain weights, then crushed them into powder using a mortar.

According to the recipe, the crushed powder needed to be sun-dried for three days or smoked over a fire.

Since it was nighttime and there was no sun, Xie An lit a stove and smoked it for an hour. Feeling it met the recipe’s requirements, he brewed it with boiling water and swallowed it.

“The taste… bitter and fishy!”

Just smelling it made Xie An’s nose wrinkle; it was pungent and hard to swallow, even nauseating.

Thinking it was Tang Qingfeng’s exclusive recipe, Xie An pinched his nose and gulped it down to the last drop.

As the medicinal soup entered his body, he clearly felt a strong heat surge in his stomach.

Hot!

Very hot!

It felt as if his body was on fire.

This was an effect he had never experienced before, even after drinking copious amounts of Shengqi Soup.

Feeling the heat, Xie An immediately stripped off his outer jacket, leaving only his inner shirt. Even then, the heat was unbearable, so he removed the inner shirt as well, baring his upper body.

With nowhere to vent the internal heat, Xie An began wildly performing the Five Animal Frolics to release it.

Tiger hunting, deer running, bear shaking, ape picking fruit, crane flying…

Each move was performed with precision, and the heat inside finally found an outlet, flowing into his limbs and bones.

After more than half an hour, Xie An not only did not feel tired but became even more vigorous, as if endowed with inexhaustible strength.

“As expected of Master Tang’s exclusive recipe, the effect is incredible.”

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Xie An tasted the initial sweetness and became deeply engrossed.

Two hours later, drenched in sweat, he still felt unsatisfied. He sat cross-legged, dispelled the agitation in his heart, and began practicing the embryonic breathing technique.

“This exclusive recipe combined with the Five Animal Frolics is truly twice as effective for half the effort. I wonder how it pairs with embryonic breathing…”

“Dan Lü style…”

After practicing, Xie An was amazed to find that the recipe also had remarkable effects when combined with embryonic breathing. It could channel the internal heat into the life gate and circulate it throughout the body.

He vaguely felt as if he might no longer need to breathe through his mouth and nose…

“Truly a treasure medicine. Except for the price… everything else is perfect.”

The days that followed returned to their usual monotony.

He patrolled the pawnshop daily, spending the rest of his time on health cultivation exercises and archery practice…

Though dull and unexciting, Xie An felt progress every day and enjoyed it immensely.

As autumn faded into winter, the New Year’s Eve arrived.

After today, Xie An would be fifty-one.

Yet he felt no sign of aging; instead, he grew stronger and looked somewhat younger, with fewer wrinkles on his face. A third of his once white hair had turned black again.

What old man? In his former life, he would have been the mature middle-aged man most adored by women.

After winter set in, large snowflakes fell like goose feathers.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Xie An practiced health cultivation exercises shirtless inside the small hut.

Without a stove lit, the cold was biting, yet he did not feel cold at all, only sweating profusely.

His limbs swung with bursts of air crackling.

His muscles became more pronounced, embodying streamlined beauty.

Snap.

As Xie An launched a fierce tiger-hunting strike, the air hummed.

“My Five Animal Frolics have finally broken through…”