After midnight, Cyan Yang City had already fallen into darkness, and the Qin Mansion's carriage was slowly driving through the streets.
Qin Yuesheng sat inside the carriage, his face pale as he held his lower back.
The claws of that Skin Painting Demon definitely contained poison that ordinary people couldn't handle, so the Detoxification Pills given by the Celestial Immortal Pavilion's doctor were completely useless.
The pain, like ants biting, spread across the ten wounds on his lower back, and this sensation showed no signs of stopping.
"Daoist Qingfeng, I need to find Daoist Qingfeng. He definitely has a way to help me get rid of the demon poison." Qin Yuesheng pressed hard against the window frame of the carriage, and under his force, he left tiny lines on the surface of the wood.
Suddenly, an idea struck Qin Yuesheng as he recalled something.
The Nourishing Essence Technique he had stolen from Daoist Qingfeng.
The Nourishing Essence Technique has the effect of cleansing toxins, impurities, and filth from the body. If I can enhance the level of the Nourishing Essence Technique, could I use it to combat the demon poison on my back?
Whether it's trying various remedies in desperation or treating a dead horse like it's alive, Qin Yuesheng had to try for self-rescue.
He reached for the bottle of Dragon Tiger Frost Jade Dew that the shopkeeper of the Celestial Immortal Pavilion had given him, pulled out the red stopper, and drank it down.
All-Purpose Essence +230!
He had thought that one Small Rejuvenation Pill offering +5 points of All-Purpose Essence was already powerful, yet the effect of Dragon Tiger Frost Jade Dew was even stronger, irresistibly addictive.
Calling up the super-assistant tool, Qin Yuesheng wasted no time and added points directly to the Nourishing Essence Technique.
Nourishing Essence Technique +30, Entry-Level Realm.
Nourishing Essence Technique +60, Proficient Realm.
Nourishing Essence Technique +120, Minor Success Realm.
After consecutively improving three levels, only 20 points of All-Purpose Essence remained, which was not enough to advance another level.
[Residue]Nourishing Essence Technique (0/240) Minor Success
Passive ①[Cycle of Heaven and Earth]: Breathing speed +30%
Passive ②[Breath Recovery]: Breathing speed +20%, each breath refines a strand of True Qi stored in the Dantian.
Honestly, these two new passive abilities of the Nourishing Essence Technique didn't seem to help with his injuries.
But at this point, there was no time to worry about that, he had to try.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Yuesheng immediately settled his Qi in the Dantian, controlling this breath as it circulated back and forth through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians within his body.
Previously, he could only control one breath, but now he could control two, which meant his efficiency in expelling toxins and impurities had greatly improved.
The Nourishing Essence Technique at the Minor Success Realm was clearly different from before; previously, when Qin Yuesheng inhaled and exhaled, everything was completely expelled without any residue.
But now, every time Qin Yuesheng exhaled, a strand of refined True Qi remained in the Dantian, circulating strangely.
Spit!
He spat forcefully out the window, and immediately a mouthful of black phlegm spewed from his throat, landing on the ground, sticky and dense.
With this mouthful of black phlegm expelled, he instantly felt the pain in his back wound lessen.
"There's an effect!" Qin Yuesheng was overjoyed, quickly sticking his head out the window to continuously spit onto the ground.
On the quiet road, a young man openly spit profusely, one mouthful after another, so much that it left observers stunned.
...
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
Thanks to the Nourishing Essence Technique, Qin Yuesheng ultimately didn't seek help from Daoist Qingfeng and successfully eliminated the demon poison from his back without serious trouble.
Since the last experience, he truly lost interest in the brothel, obediently staying at home, practicing the Bear-Pri Step while persistently taking his medicine.
Although life was dull, it was peaceful and quiet; once he accumulated over a thousand points of All-Purpose Essence before venturing out, it would be much safer.
Moreover, Qin Yuesheng devoted himself entirely to martial arts practice, he was content with ways to pass his time.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
Just as Qin Yuesheng was sitting in the courtyard reading folklore novels, Cao Zhengchun suddenly walked in quickly from outside the yard.
Qin Yuesheng looked up: "What is it?"
"I just passed by the Guest Hall and happened to overhear something. The Mountain Guardian Escort Agency's caravan of the Qin family was robbed on Jingli Road."
"Robbed?" Qin Yuesheng put down the novel in his hand, "Tell me the details, explain them carefully."
"Young Master, I only heard your father and Chief Escort Qin Yu talking about it, I didn't dare eavesdrop, so I quickly left."
Although Qin Yuesheng had once been indulgent and uninterested in learning, he was somewhat familiar with the basic situation of the family's businesses.
The Qin family runs various businesses in Cyan Yang City, including embroidery workshops, silk and fabric shops, jewelry stores, gambling houses, inns, wineries, and pawnshops, but the most profitable among them is the escort agency.
Commerce is thriving in Cyan Yang City, and many merchants who come and go face the risk of robbery and attack by bandits along their routes. In these situations, they either rely on their own guards or hire an escort agency for protection.
In the whole Cyan Yang City, there are only three escort agencies, founded by the three major prestigious families: the Qin family, the Huangfu family, and the Yang family, each accounting for a third of the escort business in Cyan Yang City.
This situation has persisted for many years. Under the control of these three families, no fourth escort agency has been able to establish itself in Cyan Yang City. Usually, such attempts result in either poor business or inadequate protection, facing numerous obstacles, ultimately leading to losses rather than profits.
Even the five prominent families have repeatedly failed when attempting to enter the business, resulting in everyone gradually understanding this unwritten rule in Cyan Yang City: until the three major families grant permission, no one can partake in the fourth share of the escort industry in the city.
It's neither affordable nor safe to eat.
Outside Cyan Yang City, there is the Baoqing Official Road leading north, directly to Yangzhou Prefecture.
The Jingli Road extends westward, reaching Qinghua Town, famous for its porcelain.
To the south is Wangzhou Road, leading to Hengjiang City.
These three roads are divided among the three prominent families, with the Qin family controlling the Jingli Road.
The bandits in the mountains surrounding Jingli Road have always been a major threat to the Mountain Guardian Escort Agency, a Qin family business, significantly affecting the safety of their transport missions.
There have been previous incidents of the Mountain Guardian Escort Agency encountering robberies, but the agency's leaders have always managed to protect the cargo, with no precedent of losing goods.
Now, what is happening?
Robbery and lost cargo?
As the only direct descendant of the Qin family, Qin Yuesheng felt it necessary to understand the situation, and immediately ran towards the Guest Hall.
...
Guest Hall.
Qin Feng looked seriously at Qin Yu, sitting not far away. Qin Yu was a wandering swordsman whom Qin Feng had taken in. The first time he saw Qin Yu, it was a rainy day.
The storm was fierce, the raindrops heavy enough to hurt one's skin upon impact.
Qin Yu lay there, injured, at the corner of Qin Mansion's courtyard wall, blood mixing with rainwater spreading a few feet.
It took Doctor Hua three full days to rescue Qin Yu from the brink of death. Were it not for his extraordinary physique, he would have already died from his seventy-nine sword wounds.
When Qin Yu awoke, he inexplicably joined the Qin family as a guest, staying for five years, never revealing his real name or origins, instead letting Qin Feng give him a new name.
His appearance was plain, neither unattractive nor handsome, neither tall nor slim, yet he was very clean, carrying a sheathed sword's aura ready to spring out, making it impossible to overlook his presence.
"This time, Hulao Stronghold sent five external martial arts experts. I couldn't handle them all at once, hence losing the cargo."
"Five external martial arts experts?! Where did they find them? As far as I know, Hulao Stronghold only has the chief Shen Hunyuan and second-in-command Gao Haishen with external martial arts prowess."
"I am not sure about that. I request permission to take a few agency leaders to Hulao Stronghold to retrieve the cargo, so as not to damage the reputation of the Mountain Guardian Escort Agency."
"Alright, you can handle it completely. Be sure to fully retrieve the cargo."
At that moment, Qin Yuesheng suddenly ran in through the side door. Upon seeing Qin Feng, he asked, "Father, did something happen to our escort agency?"
The appearance of Qin Yuesheng abruptly halted Qin Feng and Qin Yu's conversation.
"It's Yuesheng, what's wrong, who told you something happened to the escort agency? It's perfectly fine, no need to worry." Qin Feng said while stroking his beard.
Qin Yu rose and cupped his hands, "Young Master."
"Don't pretend, Dad. If something's wrong, just tell me. Would saying it cause you any loss?" Qin Yuesheng found a seat and asked.
Having no choice, Qin Feng had to tell Qin Yuesheng the specific situation of the escort agency issue this time.
"External martial arts experts?" Qin Yuesheng immediately showed interest, "What constitutes an external martial arts expert? Is there a standard criterion?"
Seeing his son so curious and inquisitive, Qin Feng felt gratified and told Qin Yu, "Qin Leader, explain it to him in detail please."
"Yes." Qin Yu seriously explained, "Young Master, martial artists train inner True Qi and outer muscles, bones, and skin. Those who only know some martial techniques and fighting skills are nothing. Training muscles, bones, and skin, reaching the Outer Forging Realm, that's what makes one an expert."
"How does one train muscles, bones, and skin then?" Qin Yuesheng asked again.
"Find a martial art that tempers the muscles, bones, and skin, and train it. The Outer Forging Realm has three stages: muscle, bone, and skin. Upon reaching major success, one's body can withstand blades and swords, with muscles, bones, and skin as hard as iron."
Qin Yuesheng turned to Qin Feng and asked, "Father, do we have this stuff?"
"We should... have it." Qin Feng turned to Qin Yu and asked, "Qin Leader, do you have this?"
"Yes." Qin Yu nodded expressionlessly, "Iron Cloth and Arhat Golden Body, which one would Young Master like to learn? If there's another preference, I can buy it for you."
Qin Yuesheng thought for a moment, "Do we have Golden Bell Shield?"
Qin Yu was momentarily stunned, his expression somewhat peculiar, as if he had heard the world's most absurd thing.