The scorching sun set, and the tasks for Yang Chan and the other Servant Disciples were also complete. Drenched in sweat, they all left together.
"Yang Chan, stay behind."
As Yang Chan was leaving with the others, the Steward suddenly spoke.
Hearing this, Yang Chan froze for a moment. He glanced at the other Servant Disciples, equally unsure of what was going on.
Without overthinking it, he walked over to Steward Zhao Xingyun.
In the Medicine Hall, all the Servant Disciples were rather afraid of this Steward Zhao Xingyun. This was because if anyone made a small mistake, the Steward would berate them loudly. If they talked back, he would even become violent.
As Yang Chan walked over, he wondered, 'Did I make any mistakes with my duties today? Have I offended anyone lately?'
Within a few steps, Yang Chan confirmed that he hadn't. He just had no idea why Steward Zhao Xingyun wanted to see him.
"Greetings, Steward Zhao."
"May I ask why Steward Zhao has called for me?"
Yang Chan walked to Zhao Xingyun's side, bowed, and inquired.
This man was in charge of the Servant affairs in the Medicine Hall, making him the direct superior of Yang Chan and the others.
"Yang Chan, it's your lucky day."
"At noon today, the Hall Master saw you practicing the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist. He saw you were the best at it and said a few words of praise. At that, Steward Sikong offered to help you out by giving you a bowl of Qi Nourishing Soup."
"We hope that with the help of this medicinal soup, you'll be able to comprehend the Wild Ox Force within the month and become an Official Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect."
In just a few sentences, Zhao Xingyun explained the whole story, making sure to mention the important figures involved.
The Qi Nourishing Soup wasn't actually a particularly precious medicine; Official Disciples could have a bowl every three days. But for Servant Disciples like Yang Chan, it was something they could never hope to obtain.
"I am deeply grateful to Hall Master Gu, Steward Sikong, and Steward Zhao for this favor."
Yang Chan understood and quickly expressed his thanks.
Although he was surprised by this unexpected boon, it was a good thing for him. His complexion was already much better than the others' after the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill replenished his depleted Qi and Blood. A bowl of Qi Nourishing Soup would help him avoid some unnecessary trouble.
"Mm, good. You're a sharp one."
"Drink this bowl and then head back. Don't disappoint our expectations."
Steward Zhao nodded and took out a prepared bowl of Qi Nourishing Soup.
The Servant Disciples who hadn't left yet looked on with envy. As they watched Yang Chan drink the Qi Nourishing Soup, they couldn't help but gulp.
It wasn't the taste of the Qi Nourishing Soup they coveted, but its restorative function.
Drinking a bowl of Qi Nourishing Soup meant one could practice the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist several more times. It could even partially restore a body depleted of its Qi and Blood.
At the very least, they wouldn't have to worry about dying from the depletion of their Qi and Blood.
A bowl of medicine was as good as a life.
What made them even more envious, however, were Steward Zhao's words. They meant that Yang Chan now had a real chance of comprehending Power within a month.
At the same time, Yang Chan had now left an impression on Hall Master Gu and Steward Sikong.
As the bowl of Qi Nourishing Soup settled in his stomach, Yang Chan felt a Medicinal Power spreading through his body. He had been exhausted from a day of labor, but he instantly felt some of his energy return. The effect was clearly significant.
And this was before the medicinal effects had even fully kicked in.
When Yang Chan returned to the courtyard, some people came over to ask for his guidance on the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist. Wang Sheng and the others who dried herbs with him were among them, but Yang Chan fobbed them off with the excuse that he didn't understand it very well himself.
At a time like this, wasting his own time teaching others the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist would be idiotic.
Besides, even if he gave them well-intentioned guidance, there was no guarantee they would appreciate it.
After finishing two sets of the Fist Technique in the courtyard, Yang Chan went back to his room. The other Servant Disciples had been watching him practice the entire time.
He had no interest in being watched like a monkey in a cage.
"That Yang Chan is too selfish! We're all disciples about to be expelled, so why won't he guide us?"
Wang Sheng watched Yang Chan go back into his room, an indignant look on his face.
For days, he had been worried about being expelled from the Cyan Yuan Sect. He had seen a glimmer of hope in Yang Chan, but now he realized that this hope was not going to help him.
"That's right! Yang Chan should come out and give us some pointers."
Someone else nearby chimed in, sharing the same resentment.
Among them were a few who understood the situation, but they didn't dare to speak up at this moment.
A few of them gathered and walked up to Yang Chan's door. Before they could knock, Yang Chan opened it and stared coldly at them.
Although he had gone inside, he had heard their words clearly.
"Steward Zhao told me to focus on my Cultivation. If anyone has a problem with that, you can take it up with Steward Zhao or Steward Sikong."
Yang Chan didn't like being high-profile, but if anyone dared to bully him, he certainly wasn't going to let them.
He brought up Steward Zhao and the others to make them reconsider their own standing.
Sure enough, when Wang Sheng and the others heard Steward Zhao's name, they hastily retreated a few steps, trembling and not daring to move forward.
Steward Zhao's reputation among this group of Servant Disciples was formidable, and they were all terrified of him.
"If you have no business here, don't linger at my door. Otherwise, I might get the wrong idea and have a word with Steward Zhao."
Yang Chan swept his gaze over the Servant Disciples before shutting the door.
His attitude was firm. This was no time for gentle persuasion; he had neither the time nor any reason to be pleasant with them.
Sure enough, as Yang Chan's door closed, all of them backed away to avoid any 'misunderstanding' on his part.
After closing the door, Yang Chan slid the bolt home and then hung a wooden box on it.
Although these people didn't dare make a move now, there was no guarantee one of them wouldn't try something sneaky during the night. For Servant Disciples on the verge of being expelled, concepts like integrity were virtually meaningless.
It was even possible that someone, having nothing to lose, would try to drag him down with them.
After securing the door, Yang Chan's gaze turned to his panel.
At this time, his Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill proficiency had reached Tier One Initial Glimpse at 14%, and his Ox Demon's Mighty Fist proficiency had risen to Beginner 80%. During his Cultivation these past few days, he had felt the Wild Ox Force on one occasion. Although he hadn't fully grasped it or succeeded in cultivating it, that moment of insight had significantly boosted his proficiency in the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist.
His Potential Points had not yet reached 1, but they were already at 0.6. Under normal circumstances, he would need another four days. However, after drinking the free bowl of Qi Nourishing Soup today, he estimated the process would be somewhat faster.
He just had to wait for the day to end and for the Medicinal Power in his body to be absorbed, and then he would see the change in his Potential Points.
'Drinking the Qi Nourishing Soup today caused a bit of trouble, but it was a good thing overall. This gives me a chance to verify if the soup's power can generate Potential Points. It also provides a perfectly reasonable pretext for when I comprehend the Wild Ox Force.'
Yang Chan intended for his Lifespan to surpass that of Master Zhang, the creator of Tai Chi Boxing. To do so, he naturally had to act in a low-key manner, because those who keep a low profile tend to live longer.
However, being low-key didn't mean he was afraid of trouble. It just meant he needed to be more restrained in his conduct—not too arrogant, and not offending people without reason.