Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 77 - 71: Fellow Disciple Senior Brother, Bone Forging Formula
The late spring sun carried a hint of summer heat, and the midday market was bustling with noise.
"Young man, it’s been a few days since you last came by." The old woman with a face full of pimples lifted the lid off the steamer, and the sweetness of the pastries enveloped in white mist wafted over.
"We’re rushing work at the Forging Workshop.
A tall, thin hunchbacked old man brought over a tray of freshly baked pastries and chimed in.
"I passed by Golden Iron Long Street yesterday when delivering pastries. The hammering sounds at the Forging Workshop were as incessant as summer rain. Is it the usual box of osmanthus cake?"
"Yes, wrap me a box of date pastry and qingtuan as well."
Su Mu paid and waited a while. Soon, the old woman from Xinghua House wrapped the pastries in lotus leaves, handing over a lotus leaf package before he left.
"Inside are a few molten core mung bean cakes. Young man, take them home and try them."
"Alright, thank you."
Su Mu smiled, thanked them, and accepted the pastries. The two elderly folks watched Su Mu’s departing figure, and the old woman suddenly spoke melancholically, "If our grandson were still here... he’d probably be as tall as him by now."
The hunchbacked old man silently put down his work and came over to pat his wife’s back. She twitched her nose and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Don’t worry, I’m fine."
After buying the pastries, Su Mu didn’t go directly to the clinic but went home to wash up, changed his clothes, and only left satisfied when he was sure there was no blood smell lingering on him.
After noon, the sun was fiercely hot. A small bamboo sign hung outside the clinic: Master resting at noon.
Su Mu softly called for the little doctor, who soon arrived with her two braids bouncing excitedly.
"Young man, you’re here. Come in quickly."
Su Mu raised the pastries a bit, "Inside, there’s osmanthus cake, date pastry, and qingtuan."
"You’re so kind, young man!"
The medicine furnace’s clay pot bubbled with steam, blending the fragrance and bitterness of herbs. When he arrived at the pharmacy, Su Mu saw the pharmacist drinking medicine.
"Pharmacist, is your health unwell recently?"
"No, this is a new decoction I prepared a few days ago. I’m testing it." The pharmacist waved his hand and invited Su Mu to sit. "Little friend, have you taken the medicine these days? How’s the effect?"
Su Mu was startled, as he hadn’t started the medication yet, being busy with the Demon Slayer Bureau’s rewards.
The elderly pharmacist, cultivated in the Small Faceless Transformation Technique, was adept at observing subtle expressions. He immediately saw that Su Mu had probably not started taking the medicine yet, which was why he recognized Su Mu back in Qingshui Town.
"Just now, Xiaoyue finished preparing a pot, would you like a bowl, little friend?"
"Alright."
Su Mu had known the pharmacist and Xiaoyue for nearly a year. By now, Su Mu trusted them, so there was no need to refuse the medicine.
The pharmacist ladled out a bowl of dark medicine soup and handed it over. He noticed Su Mu slightly frowning as he accepted it, and a hint of surprise flashed in the pharmacist’s eyes.
Earlier, he hadn’t noticed this; could it be that Su Xiaoyou is actually afraid of taking medicine?
Once the medicine had cooled a bit, Su Mu raised his head and drank it all in one go. This time, the old pharmacist saw clearly and suddenly had a smile on his face; he confirmed that the martial prodigy in front of him was indeed afraid of drinking medicine.
For a moment, the pharmacist felt somewhat astonished; Su Mu had always shown more maturity than his peers, which was one reason the pharmacist called Su Mu "little friend."
Yet the pharmacist also noticed that this little friend was always watchful, maintaining a certain distance when interacting with others, and reluctant to form deep bonds.
But upon discovering this today, Su Mu seemed suddenly more approachable and lively in the pharmacist’s eyes.
With the medicine soup in his belly, it coursed through his bloodstream, and Su Mu felt his whole body heat up, especially in his chest, which seemed like a flame was burning fiercely.
"Little friend has a strong constitution!" The pharmacist touched his beard in astonishment, "This old man took nine portions throughout the morning to finish one bowl."
Upon hearing this, Su Mu frowned again. Drinking a bowl slowly in nine parts over a morning sounded torturous. He’d rather cultivate the Vajra Body or swing thousands of hammers at the Forging Workshop.
After finishing the medicine, the three moved to the study to chat and enjoy the pastries. Entering a state of introspection, Su Mu found that the poisonous blood accumulated in his chest had indeed been detoxified significantly.
Later, the pharmacist began checking Su Mu’s body. As soon as he started, he turned his head and called out.
"Xiaoyue, go check the stove in the pharmacy to see how the medicine’s boiling."
"Boiling medicine?"
The little doctor tilted her head, recalling that there wasn’t any medicine being brewed at the moment. Confused, she still agreed and left the room.
"Little friend, have you exchanged blows with someone recently?"
Su Mu clicked his tongue, unable to hide it from the pharmacist, "Fists and feet are blind; it was just a martial arts sparring session."
"Third row left, fifth in the medicine cabinet; little friend can take a Cyan Jade Discontinuity Ointment upon leaving and apply it on the wound. Avoid spicy food and alcohol these days."
"Alright, thank you, pharmacist."
Afterward, the little doctor pulled Su Mu to the bamboo grove in the clinic’s backyard, "Master’s Five Animals Qigong isn’t as efficient as yours. Some moves look awkward; you should teach me instead."
"Alright."
There are a few days left in May, so there’s no need to go to the Forging Workshop yet, as the three-day agreement with Director Li of the Demon Slayer Bureau hasn’t arrived.
The next day, Shi Feng visited first.
"Su, it’s me!"
Shi Feng still acted as familiar as ever; Su Mu opened the door and invited him into the courtyard. This time, upon entering, Su Mu suddenly noticed that Shi Feng and Shi Hong bore a certain resemblance in their eyebrows and eyes.
Shi Feng, Shi Hong?
Su Mu suddenly realized why, when the Cyan Cloud Army came for their routine inspection last year and Shi Feng showed up, those arrogant Cyan Cloud soldiers immediately became very respectful.
Shi Feng and Shi Hong most likely have a familial relationship, and the Shi Family in Qingyun City might be quite significant; otherwise, just Shi Feng as a Squad Commander wouldn’t warrant such respect from the Cyan Cloud soldiers.
"Haha, Su, your courtyard still remains unchanged."
Su Mu brewed a pot of tea; Shi Feng had an excellent memory, taking only a small sip before saying, "This tea still has the same old flavor."
After exchanging a few cordial words, Shi Feng suddenly spoke, "Su, I have two pieces of good news to share with you. Which one would you like to hear first?"
"Whichever Shi wants to talk about, I’ll listen."
"The first is that the Demon Slayer Bureau has a remarkable figure; rumor has it that he joined the Demon Slayer Bureau this year, but just two days ago, he killed a Banner Master of the Black Mountain Rebel Army."
At this point, Shi Feng gritted his teeth, "That Flame Banner Master Zhou Tiande... although he’s a traitor from the Cyan Cloud Army, his martial arts are exceptional. He ascended to the Seventh-Grade Yijin three years ago, yet he was killed by a hero from the Demon Slayer Bureau with the Eighth Grade Bone Forging Realm across realms, truly satisfying."
"I almost forgot to tell you his name; he’s called Li Feiyu. Now within the Cyan Cloud Army, it’s being said: Unparalleled Boxing and Stick Skills, Li Feiyu."
Unparalleled Boxing and Stick Skills, Li Feiyu!
The admiration on Shi Feng’s face was undeniable, his tone passionate and verbose, unaware that the subject of his admiration was far away, yet close at hand.
However, upon hearing the title "Unparalleled Boxing and Stick Skills," Su Mu’s expression became somewhat peculiar.
Su Mu practiced Spear Technique, not Staff Technique. On that day, he didn’t want to draw attention, so he didn’t use his spear, borrowing a dead guard’s Whistle Stick instead.
Additionally, his proficiency in Spear Technique couldn’t compare to his mastery of Fist Technique. Currently, his Torrential Rain Spear Technique has yet to reach perfection, but he has mastered three Entry Level fist techniques to perfection, not counting Five Animal Qigong.
"At least two spear techniques must be perfected to rival his Fist Technique," he thought, his mind active. "Spear techniques have remarkable power; I can continue refining them, and once I have the formula, I can try to exchange for a second spear technique at the Demon Slayer Bureau."
This respected figure, Su Mu, sipped tea while listening to Shi Feng’s praise, his old face slightly reddening, though the words were quite pleasant.
"As for the second news, it might be related to you," Shi Feng’s conversation shifted.
Related to me?
Su Mu’s eyes flickered slightly; he took a sip of tea before calmly speaking, "Oh, related to me?"
"It’s said that when Li Feiyu killed Zhou Tiande, the traitor, he used two martial arts from Vajra Temple, one of which was the Tiger Subduing Fist..." Shi Feng paused here, staring intently at Su Mu.
"Su, I’m always direct; you and Li Feiyu... could you be from the same school?"
Upon hearing this, Su Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It turns out Shi Feng wasn’t suspicious of him but rather sought to inquire about Li Feiyu.
Well, he sure came to the right person.
In response, Su Mu finished the tea in his cup and shook his head, "I’m hearing about Li Feiyu for the first time."
"Really?" Shi Feng’s hand holding the teacup paused, and disappointment flickered in his eyes at such a decisive answer.
The third day arrived in the blink of an eye.
Su Mu disguised himself as the Unparalleled Boxing and Stick Skills Li Feiyu and went to the Demon Slayer Bureau.
"Li’s here? Please, have a seat!"
This time, Li Zhihe was particularly enthusiastic, clearly having confirmed Zhou Tiande’s death. The two of them came to a secluded study, "Someone, fetch the items."
Soon, a constable arrived with a sandalwood tray, on which rested fifteen boxes of ointment. Additionally, a roll of the formula lay quietly.
Su Mu’s eyes glowed brightly, his heart aflame; the Bone Forging formula was finally within reach!
"Li, the items you requested have already been prepared by me, the Bone Forging formula and ten boxes of Bone Forging Ointment, with an additional five boxes as a small token of my appreciation."
Li Zhihe said, handing him the formula directly, "Li, please have a look."
"No need; I trust Director Li... Thank you for your generosity, Director."
Su Mu took the formula and slipped it into his clothes. The Demon Slayer Bureau wouldn’t resort to handing him a fake formula; it would benefit neither party.
"It’s just some external goods. Li removed Zhou Tiande, the scourge, benefiting the people of Qingyun County. Now, the citizens of Qingyun City are all praising you by the name ’Unparalleled Boxing and Stick Skills Li Feiyu,’ so I should express gratitude on behalf of the people."
After several rounds of tea, Su Mu suddenly put down his teacup, "Director Li, does the Demon Slayer Bureau have any Eighth-Grade Martial Arts for exchange?"
"Eighth-Grade Martial Arts?"
Li Zhihe’s gaze suddenly brightened, his fingertips lightly tapped the desk.
