Gongyi Tianheng continued practicing martial arts for about fifteen minutes. Then, he stopped to face Gu Zuo and waved him over.
Gu Zuo was summoned like this, and as before, he rushed to his patron.
What he saw just now dazzled him. Because his patron's IQ was the highest, not only did he quickly advance through the paths of the martial realms — He already was a Meridian Condensing second stage martial artist. Compared to Dragon One, who'd been practicing martial arts for many more years, there was now only a single stage difference — The martial skills he mastered were also diverse. Every day he would see the variety of skills increasing. The current total was probably more than twenty.
The current situation was that not only did his patron practice martial arts, Gu Zuo also believed he could teach it.
As a matter of fact, after Gu Zuo approached Tianheng, he was told to get into a horse stance and practice punching.
…Whenever this point in time came, Gu Zuo always felt that it was a little like karmic retribution.
Before, he silently criticized his patron for that soft and unfocused fighting style being too disgraceful. However, the result was that now he followed along, practicing those soft punches. Thinking about it, his patron's stylish fighting looked a little ridiculous. He simply didn't have the heart to say that Tianheng's fighting was worth watching.
However, without a doubt, the results of this soft punching style wasn't bad.
Though the style was a little shameful, whenever Gu Zuo practiced, he could sense the true qi within him follow this fighting technique's directions and temper his body, limber his muscles, and improve coordination, just like Tianheng.
At that moment, his patron's instructions were that once the first twelve punches were completely mastered, he'd get a feel of the fighting technique afterwards. He didn't have any places where he felt uncomfortable wherever he punched. Once he felt uncomfortable, he immediately changed directions. [1]
Naturally, Gu Zuo followed his patron's instructions obediently. As a result, his soft punches and his patron's soft punches already had big discrepancies between them.
Perhaps, this was also a difference between pharmacists and martial artists?
However, Gu Zuo could only practice these soft punches.
— Although, Gongyi Tianheng had initially tried to teach Gu Zuo martial skills before.
Back then, it was originally just an attempt. After all, it was common knowledge on this continent: Pharmacists rarely inherited cultivation methods. There were very few pharmacists who could practice cultivation methods and reach the Xiantian realm in order to refine medicinal pills that suited Xiantian martial artists. It was only by extreme chance that peak Xiantian pharmacists could refine pills of the Immortal realm and so on.
Just forget about practicing martial skills.
He didn't know why, but pharmacists could store true qi to extend their lifespans. It was completely impossible for one to use martial skills to fight. Moreover, no one had ever seen an Immortal realm pharmacist.
Tianheng taught Gu Zuo because he seemed to have obtained an amazing inheritance. He appraised Gu Zuo's special cultivation method, which seemed to have been created particularly for pharmacists. So, he made an attempt, knowing Gu Zuo's circ.u.mstances, whether he could practice martial skills. Unfortunately, Gu Zuo was still no good at it.
…Maybe this was a pharmacist's innate limitation, or maybe they hadn't found the correct method. But, who could've imagined?
The ultimate solution might've been within that book <spirit>>.</spirit>
Still, it was a pity that Gongyi Tianheng had yet to thoroughly study the spirit piercing awl. And Gu Zuo still hadn't completely understood how to begin. In addition, Gu Zuo was very busy. The spirit piercing awl was shelved for the time being.
Getting back to the main point.
The nameless soft punches Tianheng created was a cultivation method he came up with before, which was used for strengthening the body in order to practice martial arts fighting techniques. He derived inspiration from the > for his own cultivation method, so Gu Zuo was able to learn from it with the preceding context. However, in the end, the bodies of a martial artist and a pharmacist weren't the same. The latter had medical beads, while the former did not. Thus, what fit the former didn't necessarily fit the latter.
It was because of this that only now did Gongyi Tianheng make Gu Zuo strike wherever it was comfortable. It made Gu Zuo explore what aspects were favorable for his body.
As such, after Gu Zuo trained for a time, his body was st.u.r.dier. Moreover, the true qi in his body was even more lively. Even condensing bone pearls went a bit faster.
So, even though it felt disgraceful, Gu Zuo also knew that this was for his patron's own good. He'd persevere through it every day.
After the two practiced for a round, Tianheng stopped. His entire body was covered in a thin layer of sweat, but his complexion was actually extremely handsome. It looked like an especially heroic disposition was in the making.
When Gu Zuo looked at him this time, he didn't just halt his gaze at his patron's face because he was embarra.s.sed.
Gu Zuo felt the warm sweat stop dripping down his body. His face was flushed red and he was in particularly good spirits.
He lifted his head: “Young master Tianheng, I'm going to go refine medicine.”
In response, Tianheng didn't agree like he used to every day like before. Instead, he rejected: “No, Ah Zuo, go pack some daily necessities. We're going on a trip.”
Gu Zuo blanked: “Go out? Pack what?”
Could it be that his patron wanted to take a stroll? But that didn't require packing… Maybe they were going to hang out at the Gongyi ancestral house for a bit? Did some mischief occur there?
Gongyi Tianheng smirked: “I've been practicing martial arts here at the villa for a long time, but I still haven't seen blood. So, first I want to go to the Stampeding Oxen Mountain Range [2], and fight wild beasts in hand-to-hand combat.”
Gu Zuo gave a helpless expression.
Patron, you can't just use this moon-like beauty and declare such b.l.o.o.d.y talk, okay? Even though the meaning in those words were pretty cool…
Afterwards, Gu Zuo was a little embarra.s.sed: “I'm also going?”
Tianheng lightly nodded: “My body can't be separated from Ah Zuo's care.”
Gu Zuo understood.
That's right. He'd rather be cooped up in the villa refining medicine every day, but he really wouldn't feel at ease if he made his patron go alone. Just in case his patron came across something while on the road, what would he do if his patron wasn't careful and ruined his body? He might just lose everything.
Thinking up to here, Gu Zuo was a little dismayed.
Going on this trip meant that he'd definitely see blood. He knew that he wouldn't be able to run away from a day like this.
Whatever. This was also good.
Accompanying his patron and taking it slowly was better than a sudden b.l.o.o.d.y encounter in the future.
Before it rains, bind it with silk [3]…
After thinking it through, Gu Zuo nodded: “I got it. I'll go pack at once.”
He paused, and lowered his voice: “If young master Tianheng has anything else, you can leave it to me.”
Gongyi Tianheng's gaze stirred slightly. His smile deepened: “Okay.”
______
The two were people who were straightforward. Gu Zuo also wasn't effeminate or fainthearted. In order to prevent a situation where he went out and couldn't find enough medicinal ingredients, he directly swept the secret room clean of its ingredients. Not only did he bring a pill cauldron, but he also brought two as backups. As for the rest of the refining implements used for cuisines and decoctions, he similarly took twice the stock.
For changing clean clothes, Gu Zuo had been living here for several months. Gongyi Tianheng had already set him up with a ton of them. He had a total of twenty to thirty sets of clothes. After he considered everything, he brought seven to eight sets with him. He took two that were very good at a glance, and the rest were as simple as possible.
Gongyi Tianheng over yonder mainly brought money.
After he gave ten sets of clothes of all kinds of qualities to Gu Zuo, he took out a stack of golden banknotes from his sleeves and put them directly into Gu Zuo's hand.
Gu Zuo's eyes widened.
Each golden banknote had a face value of ten thousand gold, and there were a total of twenty notes! Wasn't his patron taking two hundred thousand in golden banknotes out the door a little too ridiculous?! He still remembered that at the auction hall, some of the good stuff at the finale didn't cost this much money…
Tianheng smiled, and took out another stack, which he put on top of the other banknotes: “It'll be comparatively safe with you.”
Gu Zuo hastily grasped at straws: No! As a matter of fact, the problem's not about whether it's safe. Rather, patron, you're too rich and powerful, okay?
Perhaps it was because his facial expressions were really too honest. Tianheng couldn't help laughing: “We consider those things at the auction common goods. In no way would it go so far as to strain our wallets. Although I'm only a child of the Gongyi Clan, my personal wealth distantly outpaces these.”
Speaking up to here, his eyes glimmered with laughter, “To say nothing of the qi generating pills Ah Zuo has been refining for several months, the Tianlong Guard has been continuously injecting them into the black market for a million gold.”
Gu Zuo stared with his mouth open. “A mil-million gold?”
Tianheng's smile didn't wane: “At the time, the sixth batch of high grade qi generating pills was taken by the Helian Clan for twenty three thousand gold. It was only two hundred pills. Afterwards, I asked Ah Zuo to refine a thousand pills, which were divided into subsequent batches. Each batch of a hundred pills was priced at a hundred thousand on the black market. There were all sold within a few days, and after calculations it was a million gold.”
Gu Zuo ma.s.saged his temples.
That was just over twenty cauldrons of medicinal pills… He didn't know if he should say that his patron was fiercely underhanded or that medicinal pills were truly a goldmine.
Because this matter was such a shock, after Tianheng took out several more stacks of golden banknotes and gave them to Gu Zuo for safekeeping, Gu Zuo didn't make a fuss like before.
His mind was also relatively calm.
In any case, his patron was rich and powerful, and could maximize his benefits. Even if Gu Zuo saw that amount of money in the future, he wouldn't be so astonished. En, with his patron, he should also act a little more the part.
Thus, one of Gu Zuo's storage s.p.a.ces was filled up with what he designated as his patron's stuff.
Two chests of clothes, more than ten weapons, and fifteen million in golden banknotes…
Yup, this really wasn't strange at all.
After everything was settled, Gongyi Tianheng brought Gu Zuo along and left the villa.
There was a carriage already parked outside the villa. It seemed to be of mid to high quality, and in front were a pair of wild horses — They definitely weren't dragon-scaled horses. Those were too conspicuous. Rather, they were scarlet colored and were the kind of horse with matchless spirit. With a head and four hooves like a lion, they were flame lion horses [3].
It looked very majestic, but its temperament was already tamed, so it was relatively docile.
As Dragon One was the Tianlong Guard commander, it was necessary for him to stay behind to be responsible for some economic matters. And the Tianlong Guard had martial artists who were masters of disguise. By transforming their bodies into the likeness of Gongyi Tianheng, they could fool those at the villa.
Thus, another shadow took over the coachman's position and sat down cross-legged. He currently wore gray, common clothes, and his entire body seemed to flutter in the wind [5]. In actuality, it was Dragon Two.
Gongyi Tianheng got on the carriage, and extended his hand: “Ah Zuo, get on.”
The carriage's interior was lined with wild beast fur. The inside was completely comfy and s.p.a.cious.
Tianheng sat in the very middle, and Gu Zuo obediently sat right next to him.
And on the other side was an unremarkable, thin middle-aged man, with a very friendly appearance: “This one is Xu Wenhe [6]. I greet the young master. I greet Pharmacist Gu.”
Gu Zuo promptly greeted him in return, and looked back to his patron.
Tianheng faintly smiled: “Ah Zuo, this is our guide.”
The carriage set off. Dragon Two already urged the flame lion horses onward.
Gongyi Tianheng's smiling expression was peaceful, his tone placid: “However, before we leave, I'll have to ask Ah Zuo to watch a good show.”
______
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[1] It's worded a little strangely, but I think the author meant to say that each punch pushes the circulation of true qi in particular directions. When the flow becomes disruptive, Gu Zuo stops what he's doing and tries something different to re-direct the flow.
[2] ĺĄ”ç‰›ĺ˛ - Ben niu ling, direct translation.
[3] 未雨绸缪 - Wei yu chou mou, an idiom from the Book of Songs. To plan ahead, or prepare for a rainy day.