Chapter 13: Wiping the Long Sword

"Take one pill every morning, continuously for seven days. Crush and ignite this medicinal herb to help the injured recover faster," advised Song Miao, taking out the medicine.

"No need for that, Doctor. This is the consultation fee, please accept it!" The people around, seeing their elder brother's condition improving, felt relieved and all the dark killing intent from before disappeared. Song Miao didn't dare to accept the consultation fee and kept shaking his head.

In the end, Song Miao couldn't resist Jiang Liang's insistence and reluctantly accepted a small amount of silver. The others were even happier, and they didn't force Song Miao to accept the rest of the consultation fees.

Chen Fei watched from the side, feeling a chill in his heart. It was only because Song Miao understood the ways of the world that they managed to escape unscathed. If they had taken all the fees, their lives would probably have been in danger.

These people seemed generous, but they wouldn't casually hand over their money. Even the consultation fees were no exception.

Leaving the room and returning to the hall, they found that Pu Liao had already passed out on the ground.

"He tried to escape, but our brothers caught him and broke one of his legs," someone next to Jiang Liang said.

Jiang Liang's eyebrows twitched as he looked at Chen Fei and Song Miao with a smile that was not a smile. Finally, he cupped his hands and said, "We were a bit heavy-handed, hurting people like this. How about we give this brother some silver to get treatment and recover?"

"No need, no need!" Song Miao quickly shook his head and looked at Chen Fei. Chen Fei understood and stepped forward to lift Pu Liao's body and hurriedly left the courtyard.

"Should we chase after them and kill them?" someone suggested.

"Forget it, they did save quite a few of us. Our elder brother's condition has stabilized now, so let them go. Consider their lives as the consultation fees," Jiang Liang sneered and turned to walk toward the backyard.

With Pu Liao on his back, Chen Fei ran for a while and couldn't help but pant. Despite his continuous improvement in cultivation recently, his physical strength was still only slightly better than an average person's. Carrying a person on his back made it quite exhausting.

"Run faster, in case they change their minds," Song Miao gasped as well, not daring to stop and rest, fearing that those people might catch up.

Chen Fei nodded, feeling a sense of urgency to improve his own strength. They were lucky today; otherwise, they might have ended up in a terrible situation. Pu Liao's strength was not weak, but he was caught and brought back after trying to escape. This indicated that among those people, there were quite a few skilled individuals.

All the plans Chen Fei had considered earlier would have had little chance of success.

In less than fifteen minutes, the two of them had returned to the city wall. Zhang Si Nan and the others were surprised to see Chen Fei and especially Pu Liao's miserable state.

"What happened?" Zhang Si Nan frowned at Pu Liao's broken leg. Even if it was treated, he would never walk properly again.

"We encountered a group of bandits... Sigh." Arriving here, Song Miao finally breathed a sigh of relief and explained what had happened one by one. As he recounted the events, those around him were also frightened.

It was easy to imagine that if Song Miao's medical skills were just a bit lacking or if he didn't have the healing elixir, or even if he had been a bit greedy, they would probably have lost their lives.

"These bandits are so audacious! I will report this to the county government and have them hunted down!" Zhang Si Nan said sternly, turning to walk toward the county.

Jie Cie quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words to Zhang Si Nan. Zhang Si Nan's expression changed, and he didn't say anything but continued walking forward.

Chen Fei took a deep breath. This matter would probably end here. The county government wouldn't care about things outside of Pingyin County, and Zhang's family would likely treat this as if it never happened.

As long as no one died, everything would be fine, right?

As expected, things turned out just as Chen Fei had anticipated. Zhang's family didn't publicize the matter but compensated Chen Fei and the others with some silver as a consolation. Pu Liao received more compensation due to his broken leg.

Chen Fei received more than a dozen taels of silver and the news of his ability to refine healing elixirs spread in the medical hall.

Zeng De Fang tried to comfort him and even invited Chen Fei to his home for a few drinks.

He also inquired about the Elixir of Restoration, but Zeng De Fang shook his head. "Without permission from the Zhang family, it cannot be shared."

Chen Fei asked how to obtain permission from the Zhang family. Zeng De Fang replied, "By marrying into the family."

"But you don't have a chance anymore. The Zhang family's young ladies are already married. But aside from marrying in, there is another way, and that is to achieve a meritorious deed for the Zhang family."

"Please tell me more," Chen Fei said, cupping his hands.

"Your talent is not bad, and the Zhang family recognizes it. Tomorrow, I will ask for you and tell you then."

After drinking three cups, Zeng De Fang fell asleep on the table. Chen Fei returned to his courtyard, wiping his long sword.

Besides the Elixir of Restoration, Chen Fei also wanted to obtain more powerful martial arts techniques. But based on what he had learned from Zeng De Fang, the Qingfeng Sword and Feng Xuan Jing were the best martial arts techniques outsiders could get from the Zhang family.

More powerful techniques would only be passed down within the Zhang family or obtained through marrying into the family. Otherwise, even if one performed meritorious deeds, they wouldn't be able to obtain the Zhang family's secret techniques.

"Each prestigious family or schools like Ji Mountain Fist Hall would conceal their most advanced techniques. I am only at the Skin Training Realm now, and Feng Xuan Breathing Method's effects will likely diminish when I reach the Muscle Training Realm. Moreover, I won't be able to keep up with the opponents' Qingshan Sword technique in the future!"

Chen Fei murmured to himself, looking at his panel, and an idea gradually emerged in his mind.

The panel could simplify techniques, and once a technique reached the Grand Mastery Realm, it could even be merged. Since he couldn't obtain higher-level martial arts techniques, why not cultivate several basic techniques and merge them later on? It would inevitably cause a change when quantity reached quality. Why should he kneel down and beg others? Chen Fei could forge his own path in martial arts.

(End of this chapter)