Chapter Thirty-Six: Such Good Fortune, Strength Exceeds a Hundred Pounds

“This matter of yours is troublesome, but as long as you complete what it has entrusted to you, there won’t be any more issues… Here’s what we’ll do: finish the task it gave you today, and return here around dusk. I’ll summon it then, and you’ll lead the way for it. Once that’s done, the matter will be settled.”

Chen Yushu hesitated for a moment, unable to part with the precious fish worth thirty taels of silver, and finally agreed.

“Lead… the way?”

Shi Hao’s face turned pale.

...

Because of the incident with the drowned corpse, Chen Yushu had lost all mood for further cultivation. After bidding farewell to Shi Hao, he carried the treasured fish into the apothecary’s backyard.

The precious fish was a rare and highly nourishing item, not only for martial artists but equally so for those who walked the path of the underworld.

Yet, for someone in Chen Yushu’s current situation, such a luxury was simply too extravagant and wasteful.

Therefore, he brought the fish straight to Steward Zhou.

“A precious fish, a Red-Tailed White-Headed Carp? Did you catch this yourself? Where did you get it?”

When Chen Yushu placed the fish before Steward Zhou, the man was visibly shocked, his face full of disbelief.

“Yes. Right by the riverside behind the backyard. It was swimming near the edge, and I hit it on the head with a stone. It turned belly-up, and I scooped it out.”

Chen Yushu explained, saying no more to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“You truly have luck…”

Steward Zhou couldn’t help but marvel, and after a moment, as if to confirm, asked, “Are you looking to sell this fish?”

“That’s right. I’m just not sure if the apothecary will buy it. If not, I can only take it to the fish market…”

Before Chen Yushu could finish, Steward Zhou interjected, “We’ll buy it, of course. This is a fine specimen. You’re all still practicing basic stances, but for those cultivating both externally and internally, this is a tremendous tonic. Eating this fish can save two or three months of hard training. Even martial masters who have developed inner strength are willing to pay a premium for it. We have quite a few martial practitioners here in the apothecary. If you take it to the fish market, those fishmongers will surely try to drive the price down—at best, you’d get thirty taels of silver. Since you came to me first, I won’t let you suffer a loss. Fifty taels, and the fish is mine. How about it?”

“Fifty taels?”

Chen Yushu was stunned. He had thought thirty was already a generous price, never expecting the fish to be worth even more.

Any hesitation now would be disrespectful to such a sum, so he nodded in agreement at once.

“Very well. If you’re not in a hurry, I’ll get the silver for you shortly, how does that sound?”

...

Steward Zhou’s face broke into a smile.

“There’s no rush. Also, I’d like to buy some Nourishing Essence Decoction from the apothecary.”

Chen Yushu had planned this already. Now that he was cultivating both the way of Dao and martial arts, though there was no shortcut for the White Tiger Visualization method at the moment, he could not forget the effectiveness of the Nourishing Essence Decoction for martial progress.

Though a dose cost three taels—rather expensive—if he wanted to improve swiftly, he’d have to spend the money. There was no point in being frugal here.

“I knew you’d achieve something someday,” Steward Zhou praised. Most people, when suddenly enriched, would only indulge themselves, rarely spending money on medicine and training. “How many doses do you want? As an apothecary apprentice, I can give you a discount. Two taels and five qian per dose. How does that sound?”

“I’ll take ten doses for now.” Chen Yushu considered for a moment, then added, “Also, I’d like to move out of the apothecary’s dormitory. Do you know where I might find a suitable place?”

The crowded dormitory was too inconvenient for him. Previously he’d had no choice, but now, with some silver in hand, he naturally preferred not to stay there.

“Living with so many others can indeed be troublesome. Many apprentices who live outside usually rent in the East Street district, which is relatively cheap. You can get a single room with a courtyard, shared among three or four households, for only three to four hundred copper coins per month. If you have any specific requirements, I know a broker who can help you look.”

Steward Zhou was not surprised. After all, any apprentice with the means would move out. Having just come into a large sum, it was perfectly normal for Chen Yushu to want to do the same.

“No shared accommodation. I’d prefer somewhere quiet, even if a bit remote. Ideally, it should have a courtyard suitable for martial training.”

“That’s not too demanding, it should be easy enough to find. But the rent would be higher, likely over a tael of silver per month,” Steward Zhou replied.

“No matter. I’ll have to trouble you then.” Chen Yushu clasped his hands in gratitude.

...

There were hardly any secrets within the apothecary. News of Chen Yushu carrying the precious fish into the backyard early in the morning spread swiftly among the apprentices.

Many came to him in turn, eager to hear the story of how he caught the fish. Even Master Qian Qian, absent for some time, made a special trip back to ask him about it and lamented that he hadn’t had the chance to buy the fish himself.

Of course, these were just grievances in jest.

After all, Master Qian was rarely in the apothecary, often following physicians or stewards to procure medicinal herbs, sometimes being away for days. Since he didn’t live at the shop, Chen Yushu couldn’t have found him anyway.

“You’re a lucky one, you know that?” Xu San remarked for the third time as he looked at Chen Yushu.

“I’m just as surprised as you,” Chen Yushu replied for the third time as well.

Yet inwardly, he felt anything but at ease.

By accepting the precious fish, he had effectively agreed to Shi Hao’s commission, and that night he would have to go out and resolve the matter for him.

If all went smoothly, there would be nothing to worry about. But if it did not, things could get complicated.

Thus, as he busied himself around the apothecary all day, Chen Yushu was also turning over possible strategies in his mind, preparing himself thoroughly until he finally felt ready.

Since he dared to take on the task, he had some confidence in himself. At worst, he could always run.

After all, his current residence was the Liu Family Apothecary. Within its walls, there were skilled martial artists—more than one, in fact. And martial experts could also slay a drowned corpse.

Unlike ghosts, which are formless and intangible, a drowned corpse is, in essence, just a body. In water, its tricks might be formidable, but once it showed itself on land, no matter how swift or strong, it was no match for a seasoned martial artist.

...

Toward evening, as work drew to a close, Chen Yushu sought out Steward Zhou to collect his first dose of Nourishing Essence Decoction.

Having acquired his own understanding of decoction preparation, he didn’t trouble anyone else, but made it himself.

In less than half an hour, he finished the bowl of medicine and quickly drank it down. Then, finding an empty spot, he began to practice the King of Medicine Stance.

Once, twice, three times…

King of Medicine Stance +1

King of Medicine Stance +2

King of Medicine Stance +1

...

After nine rounds, Chen Yushu felt the medicinal effects dissipate and stopped.

King of Medicine Stance: Initiate (67/100)

“My stance skill has improved again, and the next stage is already within reach. More than that, the effect of a single dose of Nourishing Essence Decoction is not limited to this—my constitution has greatly improved, and for the first time, my arm strength has exceeded one hundred catties.”

After lifting a one-hundred-cattie stone and setting it down gently, Chen Yushu’s eyes shone with delight.