Chapter 9: Recovery from Injury

Shi Hao and Lin Yuyue signed a contract, and then he handed over the formula. Lin Yuyue immediately took the formula back to Rejuvenate Hall, and before leaving, she instructed the store clerk that Shi Hao could choose whatever medicinal herbs he needed at will.

She was eager to prepare the Hemostatic Powder.

Shi Hao went downstairs, but Li Mingjun was no longer there, probably having followed Lin Yuyue.

He didn't mind and reported each of the required medicinal herbs, asking the store clerks to procure them.

Luckily, all the herbs he needed were available here.

Shi Hao showed a joyful expression and began to prepare the Dragon Tiger Balm right there in the pharmacy since all the necessary equipment was available, eliminating the need to rush back to the academy.

He prepared it carefully, but when his Soul Force had fully recovered, he naturally didn't forget to cultivate.

In the city, the energy was mixed and not as rich as in the mountains; this time, Shi Hao only increased his strength by a thousand pounds.

It was still astonishing.

He continued making medicine until midnight had passed, not even taking time for a meal.

But now, he had only one thought: to heal his injuries.

Shi Hao took some Dragon Tiger Balm and applied it to the wounded parts of his meridians. Immediately, a fiery sensation attacked him, as if he were in a furnace, but after a moment, this turned into a bone-chilling cold, making him shiver uncontrollably.

This alternation of cold and heat constantly challenged Shi Hao's endurance, nearly making him faint.

However, to allow the medicine's full effects to unfold, he had to stay conscious.

What he didn't lack was toughness; he gritted his teeth and persisted.

When the violent effects of the medicine finally subsided, the sun had risen; it was already the early morning of the next day.

Shi Hao got up, feeling an indescribable relief.

He tried throwing a punch with his right fist and, whoosh, the fist wind roared, yet he felt no pain.

Before this, his meridians had been damaged, and he could barely exert any force; any effort caused him to break out in a cold sweat from the pain.

He then kicked his leg, equally steady and strong.

The injuries were healed!

The healing effect was phenomenal, taking only less than half a day.

Shi Hao smiled; now, with his old injuries healed and his strength reaching the Primary Level martial master, his life was completely different.

The Song Family?

Heh.

He ate breakfast at the pharmacy, his monstrous appetite scaring everyone half to death; it was unimaginable that such a youth, who was not particularly burly, could have such a staggering appetite.

After eating, Shi Hao took some more medicinal herbs, not for making Dragon Tiger Balm but for a Medicinal Bath Bag.

Although he had acquired the Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture, the cultivation technique prioritized spiritual cultivation with Body Cultivation secondary, the two complementing each other.

And for Body Cultivation, immersing in medicinal baths was essential.

Because the intense training of Body Cultivation would put tremendous pressure on muscles, meridians, and bones, taking medicinal baths could wash away fatigue and protect the body; otherwise, training intensely every day would be overdoing it, likely causing injuries.

With the help of medicinal baths, he could undergo five sessions of intense training in ten days. Without the baths, he would only manage one or two such sessions—a significant difference.

The pharmacy sold Medicinal Bath Bags, but they were quite expensive, unaffordable for ordinary families.

The cost of Medicinal Bath Bags was largely due to the formula, but Shi Hao had at least ten different formulas in mind. As long as he gathered the herbs himself, he could save a lot of money.

—Of course, now he didn't really need to worry about money, but his own medicinal bath formulas were much more advanced than those sold outside; he definitely preferred making them himself.

Carrying the medicinal herbs, Shi Hao left the city and headed back to the academy.

As he walked, a cold smirk curled the corner of his mouth. Then he stopped and turned around.

Behind him, five men followed.

These five all had a thuggish look about them, clearly not the good type.

Shi Hao was well aware that these five had been following him ever since he left Rejuvenate Hall. They had been cautious while in the city, but once outside, they became increasingly reckless, not caring if he noticed them.

"What are you following me for?" he asked, his tone calm.

"We're here to discuss a matter with you," said a man with three braids, smiling.

"What matter?" Shi Hao asked again.

"Oh, someone has paid us to kill you," the man with the braids said. "How about it? Spare us some effort and slit your own throat?"

Shi Hao spread his hands. "But I don't have the tools."

"Here, I'll lend you one," another balding man laughed, pulling a dagger from his waist and tossing it toward Shi Hao.

The dagger thudded into the earth, leaving only the hilt exposed.

All five men were grinning, not worried at all that giving Shi Hao a weapon might make him harder to handle.

—After taking on this task, they had made some inquiries. This young man named Shi Hao was once a genius of Starwind Academy, but that was a year ago.

Killing a disciple of Starwind Academy was indeed troublesome, but who could resist the employer's generous offer?

Shi Hao also smiled, then suddenly kicked the hilt of the dagger. Instantly, the dagger flew out of the ground and shot toward the balding man.

The speed was astonishing.

Thump!

The balding man had no chance to prepare, and a dagger was buried in his chest, his smile still on his lips, a bizarre expression on his face.

Then, he looked down at the dagger, reached out as if to touch something, but the dagger had already pierced his heart, snuffing out his life. With a thud, he immediately collapsed to the ground.

"Baldy! Baldy!" the man with the braids and the other three shouted, but the balding man would never wake up again.

All four looked up at Shi Hao, their expressions indescribable.

This must be a fluke!

Yes, they had made sure of it. Just a few days ago, Shi Hao's annual test results showed only the strength to lift two thousand catties, and moreover, his meridians were ruined, known by everyone in Starwind Academy.

"Pretty boy, you could have died without pain, but now, I'm going to cut that handsome face of yours to shreds!" the man with the braids gritted his teeth and said.

Shi Hao smiled faintly. "You came to kill me, but I am stronger than you, so you die, I live. It's fair."

"Bullshit!" the man with braids roared and charged at Shi Hao.

The other three also rushed over, each pulling out a dagger from their waists.

It's not that they didn't want to use a more powerful weapon; other than daggers, all weapons were regulated, and while it was fine to keep them at home, taking them out… that would be suicidal.

Shi Hao stood with his hands behind his back, his current strength and vision far above what these four could manage together.

"Pretty boy, die!" The four of them charged in. The man with the braids, lacking a dagger, used a fist wrap which, if it hits, could be just as destructive as any dagger.

Shi Hao kicked out, thump, thump, thump. Three successive kicks sent three men flying through the air.

Dammit!

The eyes of the man with the braids bulged, his raised fist hesitating before striking down.