"It's just a martial arts competition, sis. I'm not even participating."
"I know," Tang Tang replied sullenly as she picked up the Bone Chopping Knife and began chopping away at the donkey bones with a series of sharp cracks.
She practiced the Eight Section Brocade every day, and not long ago, Tang Wen had also taught her the Meditation Stance.
With ample food and sufficient nutrition, Tang Tang's strength was now comparable to that of an average adult man, and she had even grown a significant amount taller.
...
Zhou Bing went door to door to notify her team members.
Half an hour later, she entered the house with the six other team members besides Tang Wen.
"It smells amazing!"
"Captain, what are you treating us to?"
Treat?
Tang Tang's big eyes narrowed instantly as she looked at the group with suspicion.
A treat meant they were planning to eat and drink for free!
Zhou Bing shook her head. "This meat is for making Meat Buns."
Hearing this, Tang Tang breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Sister Bing wasn't a spendthrift like her brother.
Otherwise, how would they get by in the future?
Thanks to the young Martial Apprentices at the martial arts school spreading the word, everyone in the inner city now knew about a tasty snack called Meat Buns that had recently become popular.
Liu Su, the oldest member of the hunting squad, spoke up. "Captain, this is a pre-mission gathering, a team-building exercise. The camp can cover the cost."
"Right, right, right! It's a gathering, a gathering," Wu Tian, a tall and burly man, quickly chimed in.
Zhou Bing remained silent.
Liu Su hurriedly asked, "How much would a hundred Meat Buns cost?"
"334 coins, and I'll throw in 10 pounds of large bones. Consider it my brother's treat."
Liu Su chuckled and shook his head. "That won't do. A hundred Meat Buns, plus 20 pounds of bones, and three jars of Sweet Potato Wine. We'll pay the highest price for everything. We can expense it."
Highest price?
Expense?
What a pair of wonderful words.
Tang Tang smiled thoughtfully, as if she had just realized something.
If all of this could be expensed...
She glanced at the wild pheasants and Red-billed Finches that had been stored at home for a long time.
Tang Wen had hunted these during the depths of winter, and now that the weather was warming up, they would go to waste if not eaten soon.
Oh, and there were also some white radishes, sweet potatoes, and potatoes.
They needed to be used up too. She had originally planned to feed them to the last two Yellow Goats.
But now, with a group of Martial Apprentices and Martial Practitioners here, they should be able to finish it all, right?
Inside the house, eight people sat around a large square table.
Zhou Bing began explaining the situation. "This morning, Black Mountain Camp requested that the duel be moved up."
"Would our General agree?" Everyone had the same question in their minds.
It would be unwise to accept a challenge without proper preparation.
"Black Mountain Camp said that if we win this time, they'll let us mine the open-pit coal mine for two and a half years. If they win, it's still two years. But they insisted the duel must be moved up to three days from now."
"That's quite a concession!"
"Why?"
"Is there some kind of trick?"
Zhou Bing calmly replied, "The format of the duel is the same as before. Both sides will send their fighters, taking turns to compete. The first to win six out of eleven rounds wins."
"That Black Mountain Devil is definitely up to no good!"
"Something feels off. Team Zhou, you need to be careful!"
Zhou Bing raised her hand slightly, and everyone fell silent.
"There's one difference compared to before. After a fighter wins a round, they can choose to step down or continue fighting until they can't go on or die on the stage."
The room fell into a heavy silence, with a hint of worry hidden in everyone's eyes.
Tang Wen gnawed on the large bone his sister had cooked, his mind preoccupied with how to utilize the remaining three days to enhance his strength.
The team members drank and ate meat, steering the conversation elsewhere.
Zhou Bing quietly pulled Tang Wen into the courtyard: "Your probation period isn't over yet. I can claim you're sick and excuse you from this mission."
Tang Wen looked into her bright almond-shaped eyes, feeling tempted. But he knew better; avoiding challenges would only make him cowardly.
He trained hard to survive, but he didn't want to live like a rat, constantly hiding.
Feigning illness?
Tang Wen chuckled. Back in school, he occasionally pretended to be sick to skip morning exercises.
Thinking of this, he shook his head: "We're a team. I'll join this mission. But I want to quickly comprehend the 'Mountain-Cracking Cannon Fist Visualization Diagram.' Also, Sister Bing, do you know where I can find a clean and safe pond?"
A glint of curiosity flashed in Zhou Bing's eyes. She pondered: "Comprehending the Visualization Diagram shouldn't be a problem. As for the pond, if you want to bathe, we have a large bathtub at home."
She gestured its size.
It was an oval-shaped tub, big enough for two people of 185 cm to lie in together.
"The bathtub won't do. I need a pond deep enough to submerge me entirely. I might stay there for two days."
"There's a pond in a garden, and the water should be clean," Zhou Bing said after some thought.
"How about we check it out tonight?" With only three days left, Tang Wen was eager.
"Sure, now?"
"Alright!" Tang Wen went back inside, slung a bamboo basket on his back, grabbed the Tiger Head Steel Saber, bid farewell to his sister, and followed Zhou Bing out the door.
As they walked, he found the path somewhat familiar.
It seemed to be near the courtyard where the Silver Wolf had been held captive.
"Who goes there?"
A guard emerged from the darkness.
"Hunting Team One, Zhou Bing."
Zhou Bing stepped forward and exchanged a few words. The guard glanced at Tang Wen's badge.
After verifying their identities, he let them into the courtyard.
Inside, there was a pond the size of a small house, the water relatively clear.
"So it's used for growing lotus roots."
Zhou Bing directed the guard to bring a metal stove and some dry firewood.
Without hesitation, Tang Wen stretched, then stripped down to his shorts in front of her.
His robust physique kept him from feeling much cold.
But as he bent down, scooped up the pond water, and slowly poured it over himself, the icy flow rapidly sapped his warmth. Combined with the north wind, the sensation was intense.
Zhou Bing watched, almost shivering herself. She didn't leave, her eyes fixed on Tang Wen: Hmm, his physique is quite appealing.
After several enhancements, Tang Wen's body proportions were nearly perfect.
Even at night, even from the side, he exuded charm.
Zhou Bing couldn't look away: Hmm, maybe I drank too much earlier; I feel a bit warm.
Only when Tang Wen, shivering, stepped into the water with his saber, and his eight-pack abs disappeared from view, did she slowly turn and leave.
Soaking in icy water on a cold day was naturally for training.
This inspiration came from Old Man Jin.
Recently, he had been practicing saber techniques with a heavy iron blade weighing a hundred jin.
The progress bar for the Wind-splitting Saber was rising quickly.
As the water flowed, Tang Wen swung his saber, stirring up waves.
After one round, [Wind-splitting Saber, Proficient (2815→2826/3000)]
11 points.
The Wind-splitting Saber had only eight moves; practicing once took very little time.
He roughly estimated the time.
He felt there was hope for a breakthrough.
But even if he broke through, it would only make his sword skills a bit more formidable.
Clang.
He tossed the sword onto the shore and began practicing the Eight Section Brocade underwater.
[Eight Section Brocade, (5631→5652/6000)]
Hmm, 9 points of proficiency.
Tang Wen approached the edge of the pond and took out a weighted sand vest from his backpack.
The vest, weighing several dozen pounds, began to bubble and absorb water, becoming completely soaked in no time. The waterlogged vest now weighed over a hundred pounds.
Tang Wen felt much more grounded as a result.
He practiced the Eight Section Brocade once more.
This time, it was more challenging, but he felt it more deeply.
The resistance of the water allowed him to clearly feel the exertion of each muscle and the fluidity of every movement.
[Eight Sectio
n Brocade, Mastery (5652→5683/6000)]
His experience surged.
Tang Wen remained unaware.
He continued practicing, over and over again.
PS: Please keep reading and support with data! The author is starting to stockpile chapters, saving up for a big release when the book goes live!
(End of Chapter)