fynovel Chapter 24 A Dark and Windy Night
Chapter 24 A Dark and Windy Night
[Leaving Water] Job skill activated.
Ripples spread across the surface of the water in the bowl, as if invisible fingers were performing a precise separation.
Black cloud fruit, bear meat, red goji berries, and other main ingredients of the Eight Treasures, along with several auxiliary ingredients used to harmonize the medicinal properties, are gradually separated from the water.
Before long, ten small clumps of substances of different colors and textures separated at the bottom of the bowl.
"Black cloud fruit pulp... dried red goji berries... bear meat... fox nuts..."
During this period, he has learned a lot of pharmacology knowledge. Although he is not an expert, he has no problem identifying medicinal herbs and food ingredients.
Without exception, all the ingredients before me are excellent tonics, and there are no suspicious ingredients that could be considered poisons.
Jiang Qi looked at the separated soup ingredients and his brows slowly furrowed.
That chef... was it really just an investment?
He checked the ingredients several more times.
In the end, no foreign object was found.
"My knowledge of pharmacology is no match for that of Liu Ying, a seasoned chef who has spent many years in the kitchen."
"Regardless of whether there's a problem or not, this soup is not to be eaten."
Soup may be delicious, but caution is always the best policy.
I don't need this nourishing food myself.
To be on the safe side, it's best not to eat it.
Jiang Qi put the ingredients back into the small bowl, placed the bowl in the corner, and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink.
In the distance, the cries of a few night crows broke the silence.
His eyes were deep and unfathomable as he gazed silently outside, as if waiting for something.
I stood there for a long time until a cold draft crept in through the window cracks.
He shook his head slightly and muttered to himself, "Perhaps... I'm overthinking it. They probably won't come..."
"Let's practice martial arts first."
Jiang Qi closed the window, walked to the center of the room, assumed the stance of the Zhenyuan Body Tempering Technique, calmed his mind and guided the medicinal power of the Blood Nourishing Pill within his body, coordinating with the operation of the technique to accelerate its refining.
Several hours have passed since evening, and the second stream of qi and blood in my body has grown to the thickness of a thumb.
"With my current level of Qi and blood refinement, in terms of quantity alone, it is no less than the four strands of Qi and blood of an ordinary martial artist."
Jiang Qi was assessing the situation.
The purification effect brought by [Blood Absorption] makes his one stream of blood and qi comparable to two, and two streams are equivalent to four.
In other words, he is now at the mid-stage of the Blood Burning Realm!
"I wonder if I can condense a third stream of blood energy tonight..."
As night deepened, the water store became completely silent, with only the occasional long breaths coming from inside.
......
At the end of the midnight hour, Jiang Qi slowly finished his practice, his forehead covered with beads of sweat, but his eyes gleamed with inner strength.
After much arduous training, although he failed to successfully condense the third strand of Qi and Blood, he could already feel the "seed" of the third strand of Qi and Blood sprouting.
Tomorrow, it should be pretty much done.
He was a little tired and was about to rest.
Right now!
Swish!Swish!
Outside the window, two swift, whistling sounds, as fast as a cat leaping through the air, suddenly rang out.
Immediately afterwards—
Bang!
The wooden door to the water room was violently forced open from the outside!
The latch broke, and sawdust flew everywhere.
The night wind blew into the room, causing the lamplight to flicker and almost go out.
Two tall figures, their faces covered with black scarves, revealing only their fierce eyes, stepped in like savage beasts ready to devour their prey.
Jiang Qi paused for a moment, then slowly turned around to face the two uninvited guests.
He wasn't panicked, nor was he particularly surprised. He simply sighed softly, as if he felt both helpless and understanding.
"I thought I wouldn't be able to wait for the two of you."
The two masked men paused for a moment, then exchanged another glance.
The man on the left spoke coldly: "Boy, you're about to die, yet you still spout nonsense. If you know what's good for you, hand over the Blood Nourishing Pill. Perhaps, I'll be in a good mood and spare your life."
Jiang Qi slightly raised his eyes, his tone calm: "The Blood Nourishing Pill? I've already taken it. This afternoon, many people at the martial arts school saw it."
"You ate it?" The man on the right sneered, his tone full of disdain and greed. "Then you can only die."
Jiang Qi paused for a moment, seemingly in thought, before asking, "Is it really necessary to do this? Aren't you two afraid that your actions tonight will be exposed and lead to repercussions within the gang?"
Upon hearing this, a ruthless glint flashed in their eyes. The man on the left said in a sinister tone, "Kid, you're smart. But hasn't anyone told you that people who are too smart often die young?"
The man on the right sneered, "Let me tell you, what happened tonight is known only to heaven, earth, you, and me! Sweetwater Lane is secluded; you're just a nobody who's barely made a name for yourself. If you die, you die. Who'll bother to investigate?"
Jiang Qi breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, his tone remaining calm: "Nobody knows...that's good."
The man on the left revealed murderous intent in his eyes: "Enough nonsense! Don't say we didn't give you a chance. If you have any last words, say them now."
Jiang Qi seemed not to hear the threat. He glanced at the furnishings in the room, paused, and said in a consultative tone, "Could we... go somewhere else? This place is cramped, and it'll be hard to clean if it gets dirty."
The two masked men paused for a moment, then sneered.
"Even on your deathbed, you're still thinking about a run-down water room. Fine, since you're so sensible, I'll take pity on you and let you choose a burial place with good feng shui."
"How's the Li River? The scenery is nice, and it's convenient for feeding the fish!"
Jiang Qi shook his head and earnestly suggested, "The riverside is too troublesome. The burial ground in the west of the city is closer and quieter, which will save us from dumping the body there."
As soon as he finished speaking, he flashed out of the house.
"Trying to run away?"
"Chase!"
......
Dark as ink.
West City Burial Mound.
The rocks are jagged and the weeds are lush. The pale moonlight shines on the undulating mounds and crooked tombstones.
The night wind rustled the grass, and the distant hooting of owls added to the eerie atmosphere.
The air was filled with a faint earthy smell and an indescribable stench of decay.
Jiang Qi stopped in an open space.
Before long, Chang Song and Song Hai caught up.
"Run! Why aren't you running anymore?!" Song Hai shouted menacingly.
Jiang Qi merely glanced at the moonlight before looking straight ahead: "I'm ready. What about you?"
"You've certainly picked a good spot for yourself!" Song Hai drew his sword with a backhand motion, the blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
Then, he suddenly pushed off with his feet, sending dirt flying, and like a tiger bursting from its cage, he slashed at Jiang Qi with a fierce gust of wind.
The blade strike was ruthless, clearly intended to kill with a single blow!
Faced with this deadly strike, Jiang Qi neither dodged nor evaded, but slowly raised his hand, as if a cold glint flashed across it.
Clang!
A clear, resonant sound of metal clashing suddenly erupted, drowning out the howling of the night wind.
A dazzling, gleaming blade of light appeared, striking Song Hai's weapon with incredible angle and speed.
Click!
A piercing cracking sound.
The weapon in Song Hai's hand was actually severed!
The blade spun and flew out, embedding itself in the soil of a nearby grave.
Song Haiqian's momentum came to an abrupt halt. Under the black cloth, his eyes widened in disbelief, his expression one of utter horror.
He didn't even have time to make a next reaction.
The gleaming blade of light did not pause for a moment, tracing an arc in the air before slicing past his throat.
"Hmm..."
Song Hai clutched his neck, blood gushing from between his fingers.
He staggered back two steps, staring intently at Jiang Qi, as if he wanted to say something, but could only let out a weak, breathy sound.
He then collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing and struggling.