Chapter 6

Although every swing of the sword hit its mark, it was still not under complete control. I've heard that true masters move as if by instinct, with every move and technique ingrained in their hearts. It seems I still need some time to perfect my sword skills," Qin Xianyu thought to himself.

"The incense in the temple is running low; I should buy some more tomorrow. Also, the second step of the basic sword technique is to split a soybean, so I should buy some beans."

The first step of the basic sword technique is to be able to split the incense into two halves with every swing, meaning that one's eyesight, accuracy, and strength are all sufficient. Although Qin Xianyu had gained some extraordinary abilities due to the spiritual water, it was still a shortcut, but he had indeed passed this stage.

Qin Xianyu thought that if he practiced this step a bit more, he should be able to move on to splitting soybeans.

The second step of the basic sword technique is to split a soybean.

Throw the soybean into the air and cut it in half with one swing.

Soybeans are light, and when thrown into the air, it's hard to know where the sword will strike. Therefore, the blade must be sharp, and the person holding the sword must have excellent eyesight, precise movements, and be quick enough to split the soybean in half.

The most important point is that the soybean is already split into two halves, so to split it, one must cut along the seam in the middle.

A soybean is tiny, only slightly larger than a grain of rice. It's already difficult to hit it, let alone split it along the seam. "It doesn't seem easy at all."

Qin Xianyu originally thought this was a technique for cultivating energy, moving blood and qi, or even developing internal strength, but upon discovering it was just a basic training manual, he felt a bit disappointed. However, now he realized it wasn't as simple as he thought.

At least, even those accomplished young martial artists would find it challenging to split a soybean in half.

"If it weren't for the pale golden pearl and the spiritual water, I would have had to practice for many years to reach this level."

Qin Xianyu was very grateful. He took out the pale golden pearl from his pocket and noticed that after soaking in water, it had become translucent and looked like crystal in the dark.

"I wonder what this treasure is? Could it be a golden pill refined by immortals? Given its pale golden color, I'll call it a golden pill." Qin Xianyu tossed it and murmured, "It's so clear and smooth, it looks like jade. I'll call it a jade pill."

"I wonder how much water the jade pill can soak."

Qin Xianyu thought about the day when the jade pill would run out, feeling a bit down. He collected his thoughts and finally put the newly named jade pill back in his pocket.

After practicing the sword all day, although he wasn't tired, he could now split the incense with every swing. The last few sticks of incense were also split. Lighting more branches didn't seem very meaningful. He fell silent for a moment, took off his clothes, and lay down on the bed.

With the jade pill, his practice would surely progress rapidly. The basic sword technique would be mastered soon. At that time, even if he couldn't defeat those with internal strength, he could still defeat ordinary people.

At that time, with his skills perfected, most ordinary martial artists, who couldn't move blood and qi, would likely be unable to dodge his sword.

After all, he was still young and his thoughts were simple. He knew that even without internal strength or the ability to move blood and qi, most martial artists would still be better than him due to their skills and techniques. But now, with his sword skills and the jade pill, he felt more confident.

Lying in bed, he thought silently.

Once he had real skills, he could investigate his master and the mysterious illness that befell the Qin family, to see what it really was.

As for the Shangguan family, the look in the servant's eyes before he left suggested there was more to the story. The Shangguan family was no longer what it used to be, and he, a destitute youth, would indeed have a hard time dealing with them. But with his sword skills, he would have some means of self-protection.

Additionally, the Qin family's pharmacy had been taken over by some shameless uncles. Although he didn't value the business much, their faces were truly detestable. He had to endure them before, but now with his skills, he could teach them a lesson.

Thinking this, a smile appeared in Qin Xianyu's eyes.

"They say that martial artists break the law with their skills. Now it seems that having skills is indeed a very satisfying thing. In the past, I couldn't do much about the injustices, but now I can take a breath of fresh air."

"But this jade pill is extraordinary, and the basic sword technique is not an ordinary martial arts manual. That young martial artist, Zhao, kept it hidden in his clothes, so these two things must be special."

Qin Xianyu thought, "I heard they came to Yinghuang Mountain to seek immortals. Could it be... this is really an immortal pill?"

Thinking this, Qin Xianyu was startled, finding it too incredible, but he couldn't help but think along these lines.

"They came to Yinghuang Mountain because Zhao's ancestor left a note, so Zhao is indeed the most likely to gain immortality. Could the jade pill and the basic sword technique be what he obtained on Yinghuang Mountain?"

Qin Xianyu was stunned for a moment and muttered, "But in the end, he made the effort for me, and this fortune fell into my hands."

Even if it wasn't an immortal technique or pill, the jade pill was extraordinary, and mastering the basic sword technique would make him better than most martial artists. For Qin Xianyu, this was a great fortune.

There were still over a hundred taels of silver in his robe, enough to let him practice the basic sword technique for a long time without worrying about food and clothing.

Finally having a carefree life, but the immortal bird was no longer there.

"This is... really... great..."

He showed a hint of bitterness, muttered to himself, and slowly fell asleep.

...

Bang, bang, bang!!

A faint knocking sound woke Qin Xianyu. He quickly got up, grabbed his sword, and went to the door.

"Master Qin... Little Daoist Qin..."

The person knocking was nervous, speaking urgently, and knocking so hard and frequently that it seemed he might break the old temple door. The voice belonged to Li Ding, a woodcutter from a nearby village.

"He's too nervous..." Qin Xianyu shook his head, laughed at himself, put the sword and silver under the bed, and then went to open the door.

After leaving the back room, walking through the corridor, passing the screen wall, and the statue of the Daoist deity, Qin Xianyu opened the door. A middle-aged man grabbed him, looking anxious, sweating profusely, and pulling him out the door without saying a word.

Finally, a fisherman behind him spoke, "Young Master Qin, Li Ding's daughter, Xiaoqi, was bitten by a blood-marked snake. She was taken to the pharmacy, but Doctor Hu said that being bitten by a blood-marked snake is fatal. Your father, Doctor Qin, once cured someone bitten by a blood-marked snake. We have no choice but to come to you. Can you help?"

Qin Xianyu gasped.

A blood-marked snake is a highly venomous snake, unique to Yinghuang Mountain, with a very potent venom. Few medicines can cure it. His father once cured a blood-marked snake bite, partly due to his high acupuncture skills and partly because he had a rare medicine that could remove the venom.

But Qin Xianyu didn't have that medicine.

He knew Xiaoqi, Li Ding's daughter, a sweet and beautiful girl of twelve or thirteen, who always greeted him. Hearing that she was bitten by a blood-marked snake, he was very surprised.

"The acupuncture technique to treat a blood-marked snake bite is advanced, but I can勉强 use it, but that..."

Qin Xianyu was about to say he didn't have the medicine to remove the venom, but a thought flashed in his mind, and he said, "Wait here..."

He turned back, filled a pot with water, and was about to leave when he remembered that the temple had no lock, and there was a bag of silver and a sword inside, which he couldn't let be stolen.

So he went back to the bed, hid the silver under the stove, and took out a few taels.

Finally, he and Li Ding hurriedly left the temple and rushed to the pharmacy in the city.

Qin Xianyu knew where the pharmacy was, so he didn't need them to lead the way. Thanks to the spiritual water from the jade pill, he was full of energy and walked as fast as the wind, even faster than Li Ding, the strong and worried woodcutter.

The fisherman, surnamed Zhang, watched the young Daoist walk faster and faster, almost unable to keep up. He was puzzled and thought, "How can this frail-looking kid walk so fast? When Qin Xianyu was far ahead, Zhang whispered, "Brother Li, although Doctor Qin cured a blood-marked snake bite, this kid is still young and probably doesn't have much skill. Besides, Doctor Qin himself died of illness, and his reputation after death wasn't good. I think this kid is young and his medical skills are probably not high. Even Doctor Hu said the snake venom is incurable, so..."

He paused, not finishing his sentence, but Li Ding didn't interrupt him. In Li Ding's heart, he didn't have much hope either.

"Doctor Qin himself died of illness, and everyone says the Qin family's medical skills were just exaggerated. If this kid had high medical skills, he would have inherited the pharmacy and practiced medicine. But he can't even afford to eat, and he struggles to make a living by collecting herbs every day."

Li Ding didn't respond, but after hearing Zhang's words, his heart sank even more.

They thought Qin Xianyu was too far away to hear.

But after drinking the spiritual water, Qin Xianyu's senses were heightened, and he could hear Zhang's words clearly. His expression remained calm, but his eyes gradually lost their luster.

Zhang's thoughts were expected. People in the surrounding towns and villages probably talked about it the same way.

A doctor with a divine reputation died of illness, and his wife also couldn't escape.

No matter how high his medical skills were or how famous he was, after this incident, it all became a laughing matter.

People might have reservations and didn't let Qin Xianyu hear these words or mock him directly, but there were certainly many behind-the-scenes discussions.

Qin Xianyu had once wanted to clear his name, but after his father's incident, the reputation of the Qin family, a medical dynasty, was completely ruined. No one ever sought Qin Xianyu for medical treatment, and no one believed his medical skills were high.

Qin Xianyu was calm and didn't have much ambition, so he lived by collecting herbs, content and peaceful. But today, since someone came to seek his help, and it was a matter of life and death, he would do his best.

After this, he would clear the name of his family's medical legacy.

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