Holy body, start with the Five Animal Exercises

16: Long Yuesheng”Fox spirit! You encountered a Fox spirit?!”

The Old Doctor’s face showed a rare expression of shock, even a hint of panic.

”Yes, very strong. It took a lot of effort to kill her,” Qin Jiang replied.

”Dead?!” The Old Doctor sprang to his feet, his eyes filled with alarm.

Qin Jiang nodded slightly.

The Old Doctor’s face froze. A moment later, he sank weakly into his chair. ”Alas, alas, humans and spirits are not meant to be. I should have expected such an outcome long ago.”

Qin Jiang remained silent. He untied the scroll and spread it out on the table.

The Old Doctor looked at it, his eyes regaining some of their former light. His fingertips gently touched the scroll, a look of reminiscence in his eyes.

”She asked me to bring this back and to ask you why you haven’t visited her all these years. She also said to ask you to collect her body,” Qin Jiang said.

Sigh~

The Old Doctor sighed and carefully rolled up the scroll.

”Years ago, when I was traveling the world, I met several close friends. But later I discovered that they were not human, but Essence Spirits that had taken human form.

At the time, however, I didn’t show it and still treated them as close friends. Until later, due to some events, we went our separate ways.

After that, I returned here. When I went up the Dahei Mountain to gather herbs, I encountered the Fox spirit a few times. I knew it was her. But humans and spirits are not meant to be; we could never have a future.

Then, for many years, I never encountered her again. I thought she had left, and from then on, I stopped going to Dahei Mountain to gather herbs.

I never thought that after all these years, she would still be here...”

At this point, the Old Doctor’s eyes were filled with sorrow. ”Shuanger, I failed you.”

After a moment, he looked at Qin Jiang. ”Can you take me there tomorrow? Today, I need to prepare.”

Qin Jiang nodded. ”Of course.”

After speaking, he hesitated for a moment, then looked at the Old Doctor. ”Old Doctor, there’s something I should tell you. I’m going to learn boxing, so I probably won’t be going into the mountains to gather herbs anymore.”

The Old Doctor was stunned for a moment, then nodded slightly. ”That’s good. In troubled times, all other skills are ultimately not as good as practicing martial arts.”

After leaving Baiyun Clinic, Qin Jiang changed into a new black cloth outfit at a tailor shop on the street, then headed straight for Lius Blacksmith Shop.

The shop’s curtain was hung by the door. Before he even entered the blacksmith shop, he saw the same errand boy from the morning leaning idly by the shelves.

Yawn~

The errand boy tilted his head slightly, then saw Qin Jiang outside the door.

He immediately hurried over. ”Master Qin, is this...?”

Didn’t he just come this morning? Why is he here again? Could it be that he’s regretting it?

Tsk, well, Dahei Mountain is not a good place to go.

”Where’s your boss? I brought the Materials back,” Qin Jiang said.

The errand boy was stunned, blinked, and asked somewhat uncertainly: ”Are you referring to blood metal?”

Qin Jiang nodded. ”One hundred jin.”

The errand boy’s eyes widened slightly. ”Hey! Master, please wait a moment, I’ll go call him right away—”

Da da da! Da da da!

Urgent hoofbeats came from the end of the street, a mighty sound that directly interrupted the errand boy’s words.

Qin Jiang looked over. Armored soldiers rode warhorses at full speed. From the warhorses to the armor and weapons, everything was pitch black, like a black torrent, exuding a fierce Aura.

The leader had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and an extremely robust physique. The warhorse he rode was much larger than those behind him, and a black spear was strapped to his back.

Just looking at him gave one a heavy feeling, as if a mountain was pressing down.

Whoa—!

In just half a breath, the procession stopped at the blacksmith shop’s entrance. A rough estimate put their numbers at thirty to forty men.

”Is the Liu Family Head present!”

A soldier dismounted and walked in front of the errand boy.

Qin Jiang looked at the soldier, who was clad in black scale armor, his hand resting on the short knife at his waist. The armor plates were stained with still-wet blood, and his eyes were filled with Killing Intent. It was clear he had just returned from battle.

The errand boy was intimidated by this Killing Intent and stammered, ”He’s—he’s—he’s here. I’ll—I’ll go call him.”

With that, he trembled slightly, turned, and quickly ran towards the backyard.

The soldier glanced at Qin Jiang, said nothing, and turned directly to kneel on one knee before the robust man at the front of the procession, cupping his fists.

”Reporting, Lord! Someone has been sent to invite the Liu Family Head!”

”Mount up!”

A deep voice rang out, carrying a powerful resonance, like a great bell.

Qin Jiang’s eyes lit up slightly. This must be Magistrate Long, Long Yuesheng. He’s truly formidable!

Just a casual remark, and it naturally carried a vibrating force.

”Yes!” The soldier immediately swung himself onto his horse.

Thump-thump-thump!

Soon, footsteps sounded, and Liu Yize’s figure quickly emerged from the backyard, donning his robe as he walked.

Seeing Qin Jiang, he nodded slightly in greeting, then looked at Long Yuesheng and cupped his fists. ”Lord Long! Why have you come? I have already prepared tea in the inner courtyard.”

”No need, the matter is urgent today. I’m just passing by,” Long Yuesheng said, holding the reins.

”How is the Blood Flame Golden Spear coming along?” he asked.

Liu Yize raised an eyebrow, looked at Qin Jiang with an inquiring gaze, and Qin Jiang nodded slightly.

Liu Yize’s eyes showed a smile as he looked at Long Yuesheng. ”The Materials are all ready today. We can open the furnace this evening!”

Long Yuesheng looked at Qin Jiang with some surprise. ”Oh? That blood metal, did you bring it back?”

The appearance of the strange fog had become more frequent recently, and he had originally planned to go there himself in the next two days. His visit this time was to get the map to the blood metal mine from Liu Yize.

However, it seemed that it was no longer necessary.

Qin Jiang untied his satchel and opened it. Ten pieces of blood metal were neatly arranged, reflecting colorful light in the sunlight.

Long Yuesheng sized up Qin Jiang. He was full of energy and vigor, with abundant Qi and blood. A good young man!

He nodded slightly. ”You’re good. I’ll remember you. Whenever you want to move to the Inner City, just mention my name!”

With that, he looked at Liu Yize. ”I’ll come for the spear in half a month!”

Liu Yize cupped his hands. ”Lord, rest assured! With the help of my Brother Qin Jiang, there will be no problems!”

Long Yuesheng nodded, remembering Qin Jiang’s name. With a wave of his hand, he swung the reins. ”Go!”

The urgent hoofbeats vibrated through the street as the black-armored torrent quickly departed.

Liu Yize breathed a sigh of relief, then walked directly over and grasped Qin Jiang’s hand. ”Brother Qin, I really didn’t expect you to bring back the blood metal so quickly! You’ve truly helped a great deal!

Quick, quick! I’ve already prepared tea in the backyard! Let’s rest a bit!”

In the wing room of the backyard, Qin Jiang took a sip of tea and accepted the silver notes handed to him by Liu Yize.

”This is one hundred taels. After deducting the blood metal and the eleven taels I promised Brother Qin, the extra twenty-nine taels are my thanks to you, Brother. Don’t refuse; there will be many opportunities in the future,” Liu Yize said with a smile.

This time, it was all thanks to Qin Jiang bringing back the blood metal; otherwise, he would have had a difficult time explaining.

However, he truly hadn’t expected Qin Jiang’s speed to be so fast! He had brought back the blood metal in just half a day.

Moreover, this time he had also gained the appreciation of Magistrate Long. When he entered the Inner City in the future, he would have a powerful backer.

Not to say he could run rampant in the Inner City, but at least few people would dare to provoke him easily.

After all, Lord Long’s own strength ranked among the top five in Black Mountain City, not to mention he controlled the County Soldiers. He was definitely one of the strongest forces in Black Mountain City!

Qin Jiang looked at the ten silver notes in his hand, did not refuse, and put them away.

He had heard others say that Cultivating Iron Arm Fist required various medicinal liquids to temper the arms, which was a considerable expense.

”Thank you, Brother Liu.”

”Brother Qin, don’t be so polite! Feel free to visit often in your free time! Oh, come, come! Drink tea! Drink tea!”

After leaving the blacksmith shop, it was already getting dark. He didn’t linger and headed straight for the alley where the Old Martial Arts Master of Iron Arm Fist resided.

On the way, he passed his old home and glanced at it.

The white line was gone.

Showing no emotion, he pretended not to see it and left directly.

Soon, he arrived at the entrance of the Old Martial Arts Master’s alley. The ruffians he had seen the day before were also there, and a burly man with crossed arms still stood in front of the courtyard gate.

Ignoring the ruffians, he walked directly past them.

’Slap’

An arm blocked his path, pressing against the wall. ”I say, brother, you’re not treating us like people, are you? We brothers are here, do you really think we’re just idling?”