Chapter Three: Martial Arts Advancement

“What an insolent weirdo!”
“Does he think he can bully others just because he’s a martial artist?”
“I don’t know where this guy came from—he almost hurt the lady!”

The men in the convoy were indignant.
They had walked quite a distance, and the strange figure from earlier was already out of sight before they dared to voice their complaints.

Inside the carriage, Lu Tianxing remained silent.
He didn’t take the incident to heart.
Having traveled as a merchant for many years, he was seasoned and steady.
Since that martial artist hadn’t harmed his daughter, he could easily swallow his pride.
Moreover, as the head of the Lu family estate, he had far more pressing matters to consider.
The ongoing plague that had struck the estate was the gravest concern.
The immediate threat of the estate’s destruction weighed heavily on his mind.

But others couldn’t let it go.
Lu Qian, dressed in red, was retching while cursing:
“Father, with so many of us attacking together, we might have beaten that martial artist.”
“Why didn’t you say a word and just lead us away like that?”
At the thought of the dirty water she had drunk, she felt like vomiting again.

Lu Tianxing looked at his defiant daughter and shook his head helplessly.
If all of them were fearless fighters, taking down a ninth-rank martial artist wouldn’t be impossible.
But if a fight broke out and blood was shed, at least half of the villagers would lose their nerve.
If someone died, the rest would be even more frightened.
They weren’t trained warriors; they lacked both the fighting spirit and the will to kill.
Besides, with no deep-seated enmity between the sides, why resort to violence?
Better to avoid trouble altogether.

Lu Qian continued grumbling:
“And you say we’ll go back and beg him? Dream on!”
“Does he really think he’s some sort of immortal with perfect foresight?”

Lu Qian had only been grabbed briefly by the neck and was not injured.
The bowl of talisman water should be harmless too, as she had provided the ingredients herself.

Lu Tianxing gave a faint, bitter smile and was about to reason with his daughter again, but suddenly froze:
“Qian, your… your face!”

Lu Qian was puzzled, but the next moment she felt a sudden coolness spreading from her abdomen throughout her body, even to her face.
Her skin, dry and itchy from pustules, now felt an indescribable relief.

“Father, I feel... so light.”
“What’s happening to my face?”
“Please tell me! Don’t scare me!”

Not knowing what was happening, she anxiously asked.

Under Lu Tianxing’s horrified gaze, the pustules on her face shriveled and formed scabs.
In no time, the scabs fell off, revealing smooth skin beneath.
Within the time it took to burn an incense stick, Lu Qian’s face, once covered in pustules, had returned to its original beautiful and healthy state.

Seeing her father silent for a long while, Lu Qian climbed out of the carriage and asked the men in the convoy:
“What about my face?”

Though she already knew her face had become horribly disfigured by the pustules, she was still a young girl who cared deeply about her appearance.

The men looked at each other as if they’d seen a ghost:
“Miss, your face… your face… oh my god!”

Their astonishment only made Lu Qian more impatient.
She hurriedly pulled out a bronze mirror to inspect herself.
The mirror slipped from her hands the next moment.

Overwhelmed with joy, Lu Qian wept:
“My face is healed! It’s really healed!”
“And my illness—I don’t feel it anymore!”
“Am I… truly cured?”

The villagers were dumbfounded.
The plague had spread widely, and no cure had been found so far.
Yet their young lady had been completely healed.
Could it be…
Because of that bowl of water?!

A single bowl of talisman water could instantly cure their lady’s illness.
Could this really be the work of an immortal?

Lu Tianxing climbed out of the carriage, took a deep breath, and gave an excited order:
“Return!”
“Go back immediately!”

The convoy was thrown into chaos as they hurriedly turned around.
Each person’s heart pounded fiercely, as if struck by a drumstick.
There was hope!
Their illness could be cured!
The entire Lu family estate could be saved!

…

Under a tree, Liang Jin sat on a stone, leaning against the trunk with his eyes closed, waiting.
Before, he didn’t need to pretend to be an immortal.
But with the Daqian Empire on the verge of collapse, all order was about to crumble.
At such a time, individual power was so insignificant that one could vanish in an instant.
If a clone died, it didn’t matter.
But if his true body died, it would all be over.
Before that moment came, he needed to secure enough safety.
He also wished for greater strength to protect those who had cared for him over the years.

[Congratulations, host. Successfully using talisman water to cure your first patient grants a special reward: Martial Arts Upgrade.]
[“Imperial Guard Long Fist” (Tier 3) automatically upgrades to “Great Demon Subduing Fist” (Tier 3).]
[“Coiling Dragon Staff Technique” (Tier 2) automatically upgrades to “Northern Tyrant Six Harmonies Spear” (Tier 2).]
[“Taiyin Palm” (Unranked) automatically upgrades to “Bone-Melting Cotton Palm” (Unranked).]

In the next moment, three complete martial arts manuals appeared in Liang Jin’s mind.
These two sets of martial arts seemed to be imprinted deeply into his bones and muscle memory, ready to be performed skillfully at any time.

“Is this what advanced martial arts are like?”
“They are indeed far more exquisite than what I learned in the Imperial Guard.”

Liang Jin could not help but marvel.

Within the Imperial Guard, advanced martial arts were not lacking, but as a low-ranking soldier, he had no right to access them.
Now, having witnessed the profound secrets of advanced martial arts, his eyes were opened.

“Could it be that what I’ve obtained are… Xuan-level manuals?!”

He rejoiced, confident in his guess.
Martial arts manuals in this world were divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow.
Obtaining a Yellow-grade manual meant one could found a sect and teach disciples.
The one hundred thousand soldiers of the imperial capital’s Imperial Guard relied on the two Yellow-grade manuals “Imperial Guard Long Fist” and “Coiling Dragon Staff Technique.”
Xuan-level manuals were secret treasures of major sects, martial families, and powerful figures, forbidden to anyone but direct disciples or blood relatives.
Earth-level manuals were considered the ultimate treasures of the martial world.
Any Earth-level manual entering the martial world would spark bloody upheavals.
Liang Jin only knew of Earth-level manuals existing in the imperial palace and nothing more.
Heaven-level manuals were but a legend, elusive and uncertain in truth.

Now, having suddenly acquired three Xuan-level martial arts, it was like fortune falling from the heavens—how could he not be delighted?

His gaze then shifted to the distance:
“It seems they are returning soon.”

The green mountains remained the same.
The air was fresh with the scent of rain-soaked earth and grass.

Soon enough, the convoy returned.
Before the carriage had even stopped, Lu Tianxing eagerly jumped down and hurried over to Liang Jin.
This time, instead of just clasping his hands, he bowed deeply:
“Thank you, sir, for curing my young daughter’s plague.”
“I was ignorant and short-sighted before; I come to apologize sincerely.”
“By the way, may I ask your honorable name?”

Lu Qian also came to her father’s side, bowing respectfully with him.
She was no longer fiery but unusually gentle.
Looking carefully at Liang Jin, she was surprised by how handsome he was.

The villagers got off their carts and stood at a distance, gazing at Liang Jin with reverence.

Under the tree, Liang Jin finally opened his eyes:
“You may call me—Great Virtuous Teacher.”

Lu Tianxing was stunned.
What a grand title!
Only those of complete virtue and wisdom could claim such a name.
What merit or ability did this young man possess?

Liang Jin spoke again:
“In which country’s territory is this place located?”

This puzzled Lu Tianxing.
This man had come here but did not know where he was—could he truly be an immortal descended from the heavens?

Lu Tianxing naturally did not believe in ghosts or gods, but he hurried to answer:
“This place is called Juniu Village, under Taiyang County, Qingzhou, Daqian Empire.”

Liang Jin relaxed.
Being within Daqian’s borders was better than being abroad.

He stood up, passed by Lu Tianxing and his daughter, and headed straight for the carriage:
“I have received the teachings of the Taiyi of the Middle Yellow Heaven and come here to heal and save lives.”
“Take me to your Lu family estate.”