Chapter 14: I Can’t Trust Anyone Else

Not long after, Xu Shuangyi returned to the mansion. Her complexion was somewhat unsettled, and an indistinct agitation stirred within her.

Xu Shuangyi had done dirty and arduous work for the Xu family before; she was well aware of her position within the household.

Her foster father had always treated her as a sharp blade to be honed—someone to handle the unsavory tasks when the moment demanded.

She bore no resentment for this. As an orphan, her entire existence was owed to her foster father.

The debt of nurture outweighed the heavens.

Yet, even when her foster father commanded her to do things, his demeanor was never as overbearing as Xu Mu’s.

After every task, she would receive a certain reward.

She neither coveted wealth nor power, focusing solely on the refinement of her martial arts. Hence, her foster father always gave her precious medicines that aided her cultivation.

But Xu Mu’s attitude was far more domineering than even her foster father’s.

He treated her like a mere tool, not even uttering a half word of thanks.

It was as if she were nothing but a servant—something that rankled her deeply.

Xu Mu was resting with his eyes closed in the spirit hall when he heard movement and spoke calmly, “Have you cleaned everything up?”

“Yes.”

“Although Li Baofu has been dealt with, our approach wasn’t exactly graceful. However, the losses of Jin Hua Pavilion have been fully recovered, principal and interest,” Xu Mu said.

“From now on, Jin Hua Pavilion’s business will be hard to sustain,” Xu Shuangyi replied.

Xu Mu slowly opened his eyes and looked at her with a hint of disdain that made her entire body uncomfortable.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s just one Jin Hua Pavilion, with an annual profit of just a few thousand taels. I didn’t put much stock in it. The key is this money,” Xu Mu said.

From these words, Xu Shuangyi discerned the ambition burning within him.

“What do you intend to do?” she asked.

Though this man irritated her greatly, she found herself deeply intrigued by Xu Mu.

She had once thought this fragile young man least resembled her foster father, but now she realized Xu Mu was, in fact, the most like him.

“Learn literature, practice martial arts, lay low, and bide my time,” Xu Mu said quietly.

Those simple eight characters carried profound meaning to Xu Shuangyi’s ears.

In his previous life, Xu Mu had been a grandmaster of martial arts, but he was betrayed at a young age and fell tragically.

Though his past incarnation was a worthless wretch with no martial aptitude, Xu Mu possessed the experience of that life, and starting cultivation anew was no great problem.

Martial arts comprise seven realms; Xu Mu needed to first complete body refinement, stepping into the body-refining realm, which marks the threshold of martial arts.

Xu Mu took out a prescription and handed it to Xu Shuangyi.

She took it, immediately struck by the handwriting.

Her foster father had developed a more convenient script called regular script based on clerical script.

His handwriting was vigorous and powerful, each stroke distinct and solemn.

Xu Mu’s script, much like himself, was slender but no less forceful; the brushwork delicate yet lively, like a graceful young maiden.

Was this truly the handwriting of Xu Mu, who neither excelled in literature nor martial arts?

This penmanship was certainly on par with her foster father’s distinguished style!

Looking at the content, it was very simple—only six medicinal ingredients were listed.

It was clearly a formula for a body-refining medicinal bath, but with one extra ingredient: raw乌.

Furthermore, the dosage was ten times that of an ordinary body-refining medicinal bath.

A normal prescription cost twenty taels of silver; this one exceeded two hundred.

“Go to six different pharmacies to gather the herbs. After collecting them, prepare a medicinal bath. I want to soak within two hours,” Xu Mu instructed.

“What? Ten times the dosage for one bath? You...” she began.

“Just follow my orders without question. You must go yourself and brew it yourself. I don’t trust anyone else.”

Her words were cut off, and she said no more.

Two hours later, Xu Shuangyi had gathered the herbs and personally brewed the medicinal bath, pouring it into the tub.

She then summoned Xu Mu.

When Xu Mu was undressing, Xu Shuangyi was about to leave but was called back.

“Don’t go out. I fear this body can’t endure the medicine’s power. If I collapse in the bath, you’ll have to pull me out.”

Xu Shuangyi’s face flushed crimson.

Was he asking her to watch him bathe?

Martial aptitude varies, but not everyone is born able to cultivate.

All martial artists must use medicine to clear their meridians, purify impurities within the body, temper their physique, strengthen their flesh, and condense their vital energy.

This is the first realm of martial arts: the body-refining realm.

Talented prodigies usually take thirty sessions of medicinal refinement to condense vital energy and enter this realm, while those less gifted may require over a year.

The body-refining medicinal bath is harsh and overwhelming, like hammering iron repeatedly with medicinal force.

The pain is usually unbearable for most.

Many wealthy young masters with aptitude abandon the martial path because they cannot endure this torment.

Therefore, Xu Shuangyi was greatly surprised; even a normal dosage caused considerable pain.

Yet Xu Mu insisted on ten times the amount! Given his physical condition, his meridians might not withstand the assault of the medicine’s power; he could easily be harmed or even die from a backlash.

She understood why he wanted her to stay.

If Xu Mu didn’t trust her, he wouldn’t have her by his side as a protector.

After Xu Mu removed his clothes, his slender, pale back was exposed.

The moment his foot touched the medicinal bath, a sharp, needle-like pain shot through the sole.

The medicine was taking effect, forcibly invading his body.

Enduring the pain, Xu Mu submerged himself fully, leaving only his head above the water.

Despite adding raw乌 to ease the pain, his entire body was alternately pierced by needles, struck by thunder, and hammered by iron.

The excessive dosage rendered the pain relief almost useless.

Xu Mu’s complexion turned deathly pale the moment he entered the bath.

Clenching his teeth, his body trembled violently.

He had already chosen the most suitable cultivation method for this body: the Primordial Harmony Technique.

The Primordial Harmony Technique was the simplest method Xu Mu had learned in his previous life—balanced and flexible, the perfect entry for martial arts.

As the medicinal power flowed into his body, Xu Mu forced himself to endure the agony, slowly circulating the technique to absorb the medicine.

Standing beside the steaming bath, even just watching Xu Mu’s figure in the mist, Xu Shuangyi could feel the immense suffering he endured.

Time passed slowly. Watching Xu Mu, who seemed on the verge of collapse multiple times, she nearly stepped forward to support him.

But she knew the first body refinement had to be endured or all prior efforts would be wasted.

His perseverance far exceeded anything she had imagined.

She disliked Xu Mu’s personality but could not help but admire this resilience.

After a full two hours, Xu Mu finally spoke from within the bath.

“Help... help me up...”