Chapter 19
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nSpirit Recovery Pill
nIn the end, the assessment of the few of them was not too surprising.
nApart from the female disciple named Le Ping and another disciple that Lin Yan didn’t know, who passed with an “ordinary pass” level, nobody passed.
nAfter all the disciples had finished their assessment, Pavilion Master Pang asked again, “Are there any disciples who want to take the assessment a month in advance?”
nNot all disciples had to wait for the assessment in two months. If they could pass the assessment in advance, they could enter Wei Yard according to the standards of geniuses.
n“Alright, since there aren’t any, the few of you, come with me.”
nPavilion Master Pang and the two people beside him stood up and led the three disciples who had passed the assessment away.
nThe surrounding disciples also dispersed.
n“Senior Brother Big Yan, let’s go and have some wine together.”
nLin Yan patted Xiaozhi and went out with the lonely Wei Yan.
nWei Yan did not speak, and Lin Yan did not know how to comfort him. He could only move forward silently.
nThinking back, out of the forty to fifty disciples who had participated in the monthly assessment, only three of them had passed. This passing rate was extremely low.
nHe had carefully observed them. Other than the three people who passed, the level of the others’ Five Animal Hands didn’t seem to be much different from his.
nThinking of this, he focused slightly as he walked and opened the Golden Bodhi Scripture.
nBasic information:
nSkills: Devour (100%), Five Animal Hands (56%)
nThe day before yesterday, his proficiency in the Five Animal Hands Technique had already reached 55%, but yesterday’s practice only increased his proficiency by 1%.
n55% seemed to be a bottleneck.
nJudging from today’s Monthly First Evaluation, most of the disciples of Wu Yard seemed to be stuck at this bottleneck.
nLin Yan was not worried about the progress. After all, he had only practiced for more than half a month and had been following the book. He was only familiar with the routine.
nWhat he was worried about was that the Emerald Wind Powder was almost gone!
nDuring this period of saturated training, the Emerald Wind Powder was quickly consumed. What was left could only last two days at most.
nThe poisonous mushrooms had not ripened either. Could it be that he had to go to the mountains outside the city to pick them?
nHe clenched his fists. After half a month of practice, his entire body had become much stronger, and his muscles and bones had also become stronger.
nHowever, the forest and wilderness were rife with danger. It was too dangerous to go into the mountains now.
nLin Yan carried Xiaozhi and gently brushed the eight or nine taels of silver sewn into his clothes with one hand. It was time to find a way to buy poison.
nThe three of them didn’t go far and directly chose the building opposite Dragon Gate Pavilion.
nIt was said that the main customers of Fu Building were the disciples of Dragon Gate Pavilion. Lin Yan had heard Yu Qian and the other disciples mention going to Fu Building to eat wine more than once.
nThe Fu Building was not big. It had two floors and was decorated simply.
nWhen Lin Yan and Wei Yan entered, they happened to see a group of Dragon Gate Pavilion disciples going up to the private room on the second floor. It seemed that a group of disciples was surrounding Tang Shi and Le Ping. Lin Yan also saw Yu Qian.
nLin Yan brought Xiaozhi and Wei Yan to a corner on the first floor. They ordered a few side dishes and a pot of wine. Wei Yan started to drink cup by cup.
n“Lin Yan, although my father is a martial artist, a Strength Realm martial artist is just a guard and a boxer. He looks impressive, but it’s actually dangerous. That’s why my father has given me high hopes since I was young, but I know that I can’t do it. I don’t have the talent or the perseverance. Sigh, my father spent 20 taels to send me to Dragon Gate Pavilion. Now…”
nAs Wei Yan drank more and more cups, he gradually became more talkative. He complained bitterly to Lin Yan, and his eyes gradually turned red.
nAfter becoming a martial artist, he could easily earn three to four taels a month. There was still a lot of room for improvement.
nAs for those who did not become martial artists, even if they were high-level skilled workers, they would at most earn a few hundred copper coins a month. They would be ordinary for the rest of their lives and eat and wait for death.
nIn this world, martial artists were high and mighty. There was no room for other industries to develop.
nWei Yan was crying not because he could not become a martial warrior, but because he could only live an ordinary life from now on.
nHowever, thinking about how he did not work hard every day and how lazy he was, it did not seem to be worth any special comfort.
nXiaozhi was full. Lin Yan was influenced by Wei Yan’s emotions and also drank two glasses. The wine was not good, but it could soothe the throat and clear the lungs.
nWhile he was enjoying himself, Wei Yan’s eyes were drowsy. He seemed to have sensed something and started talking about some things to take note of in the Dragon Gate Pavilion.
nIn the end, he said, “Brother Lin Yan, I can’t do it anymore, but you have talent, perseverance, and willpower. You will definitely become a martial artist. I don’t have anything to help you with. I’ll leave all these experiences to you…
n“Oh right, there’s one more thing. I almost forgot to mention it.”
nWei Yan burped and looked around. He leaned close to Lin Yan and said, “You have to be careful. It’s a guy called Pang Tong!”
n“Who is Pang Tong?”
n“This guy is an official disciple of the Wei Yard. It’s said that he’s related to Pavilion Master Pang. You have to be careful of him.”
nLin Yan asked in confusion, “What did he do?”
n“He’s doing business in the pavilion!”
n“What kind of business?”
n“Do you know Tiger Yard?”
nLin Yan nodded. “I heard that Tiger Yard is filled with people from Tiger Camp.”
n“Tiger Yard is participating in the Dingdeng Battle. They’re practicing a martial art called ‘Mountain Splitting Fist’. In order to speed up their practice, they have to take a pill called the Spirit Recovery Pill.
n“This Spirit Recovery Pill sounds great. In fact, it’s poison!”
nLin Yan frowned. “Isn’t it supposed to speed up practice? Why is it called poison?”
n“Because behind this pill’s great effects are its equally terrifying side effects. The Spirit Recovery Pill contains powerful poison. Every time it is consumed, it will greatly damage the functions of the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs. Not only will it be extremely painful, but it will also greatly reduce one’s lifespan. Tiger Camp will definitely die. It’s fine if they eat it, but it’s not worth it for us to eat it.”
nThe poisonous pill contained poison…
nLin Yan’s eyes lit up. If it was really a poisonous pill, it would be great for him.
n“Senior Brother Big Yan, what does this pill have to do with Pang Tong?”
n“The Spirit Recovery Pill was originally provided exclusively for Tiger Yard, but Pang Tong’s connections are extraordinary. He bought this medicine from the disciples of Tiger Yard and secretly sold it to the disciples of Wu Yard, especially those who had no hope of passing the assessment.”
n“The Pavilion Master doesn’t care?”
nWei Yan was already very drunk. His eyes were blurry. “Hehe, didn’t I say that Pang Tong is Pavilion Master Pang’s relative? Who would dare to control him?
n“You have to be careful. The Monthly First Evaluation has just ended today, and the disciples of Wu Yard are very restless. He will go to the disciples of Wu Yard tonight or tomorrow night to secretly sell them. I don’t know how he did it, but he knows where everyone lives…”
nLin Yan was deep in thought. Since Big Yan knew so much, Pang Tong must have looked for him after the Monthly First Evaluation last month!
nIf this Spirit Recovery Pill was really poisonous and the price was low, it was a good medicine that he could not miss!
n“Senior Brother Big Yan, how is Pang Tong’s reputation… Senior Brother Big Yan? Senior Brother Big Yan?”
nWei Yan’s face was red and he was already lying on the table, snoring loudly.
n“Xiaozhi, can you walk by yourself?”
n“Okay!”
nLin Yan endured the pain and paid the bill. He carried Wei Yan and walked out.
nAfter a few steps, a group of people walked past him noisily.
n“Eh? Lin Yan!”
nLin Yan turned around and realized that it was Tang Shi and the others who had gone up to the private room on the second floor. The person who called him was Yu Qian. Lin Yan nodded in greeting.
nTang Shi, who was surrounded by the crowd, was already blushing. His face was full of pride and he was quite drunk.
nHe was in high spirits. He glanced at Lin Yan and Wei Yan on his back, and the corners of his mouth curled into a disdainful smile.
nThe person beside him was also quite drunk. Under the influence of alcohol, he questioned Lin Yan, “Lin Yan! Didn’t you see Senior Brother Tang go upstairs just now? Why didn’t you come and offer a toast?!”
nLin Yan recognized this person. His surname seemed to be Lou and he was one of the newcomers.
n“That’s right!”
n“Senior Brother Tang is now a disciple of Wei Yard. How dare you neglect him!”
n“You pretended not to see Senior Brother Tang when you saw him. Where’s your brain?”
n“…”
nYu Qian said helplessly, “Alright, alright. Lin Yan might have forgotten. Senior Tang, let’s go.”
nTang Shi nodded. “We don’t have to argue with such a person. Let’s go.”
nA group of people passed by Lin Yan.
nLin Yan pressed Xiaozhi’s head and smiled. “Let’s go!”
nHe still had to rush to practice his technique again. How could he have the time to chat with them?
nWei Yan also lived in Wei Yard. The door was not closed and all the things in the room had been packed. Lin Yan threw him on the bed and pulled out a blanket from his bag to cover him.
nThe disciples who were eliminated could only stay for another day at most, so they would probably not be able to see him tomorrow.
nHe returned to his room and arranged for Xiaozhi to sleep first.
nLin Yan went to the martial arts arena to practice in the dark.
nHe thought of the Spirit Recovery Pill. If it was really as Wei Yan said, he could buy it and try it.
nMoreover, if Pang Tong really had influence, could Lin Yan use him to buy some poison similar to the Emerald Wind Powder?
nHe had asked Wei Yan, but Wei Yan did not know where to buy poison. It was obvious that poison was not easy to buy for ordinary people.
nAfter cultivating, his body was empty, but he did not eat the Emerald Wind Powder first.
nAfter returning to his room to take a shower, Lin Yan sat at the door and closed his eyes to rest. He wondered if Pang Tong would come tonight.
nThis continued until late at night. While Lin Yan was half-asleep, he suddenly heard a knock on the door next door.
nHe remembered that there was also a disciple from Wu Yard living next door. Half of the disciples who entered Wu Yard were not poor, so many of them rented single rooms in Wei Yard.
nNot long after, the room next door on the left opened.
nThere were two low voices conversing.
nLin Yan vaguely heard the words “… Spirit Recovery Pill…”
nHe immediately perked up. It really came!
nThe voices outside only chatted for a while before the door closed. It seemed that the disciple from Wu Yard next door on the left had rejected him.
nLow footsteps approached Lin Yan’s door from next door. Just as Lin Yan was about to open the door, the footsteps passed by his door and came to the next door on his right. The person started knocking.
nThis time, the conversation lasted for a long time. He wondered if the business had been completed.
nAfter the door closed, the footsteps approached Lin Yan’s door again.
n‘It’s time to knock on my door, isn’t it?’
nUnexpectedly, the footsteps still passed by his door!
nThere was another knock on the door of the next room on the left.
nLin Yan vaguely heard a voice of persuasion, and the disciple from Wu Yard next door seemed to hesitate.
nAfter a while, the door closed again.
nThe footsteps approached Lin Yan’s door again, but just as Lin Yan had expected, they still passed by his door!
nIt seemed that Pang Tong either did not know that he lived here or had never thought of looking for him!
nLin Yan was helpless. He immediately opened the door and whispered, “Wait!”
nOn the other end of the corridor, a person was walking quietly when he suddenly heard the door behind him creak open. He was shocked and turned around. “F*ck!”
nThis person was in his early twenties. He was not tall and was slightly chubby. The most obvious sign was his face. It was as round as a basketball. His two narrow eyes were squeezed into his round face, making him look like he had not opened his eyes.
nLin Yan whispered, “Pang Tong?”
nPang Tong raised his eyebrows slightly and did not open his eyes at all. “You are… Lin Yan?”
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