nagpurpolice Chapter 38 The Rogue's Professional Level Increase
Chapter 38 The Rogue's Professional Level Increase
The pharmacy was located not far from the martial arts gym.
Qin Chuan went inside.
At first glance, the layout of this pharmacy is quite unique.
Above the counter of an ordinary pharmacy should stand a plaque.
But right above the counter stood a tiger's head, as big as a millstone, its mouth wide open, revealing two rows of sharp, white teeth.
Although it was already dead, its aura as the king of beasts remained undiminished, and it looked somewhat terrifying.
On either side of the tiger's head, the claws and teeth of various wild animals are also hanging.
A black bear's paw, a leopard's skin, a wild boar's tusk...
Some were polished into ornaments, while others were simply left hanging as they were, exuding a fierce aura.
The shop assistant immediately greeted someone as they entered: "Young man, what would you like to buy?"
Qin Chuan looked away from the things on the wall and said, "I need to buy some medicine to strengthen my body and improve my blood circulation."
Upon hearing this, the servant looked Qin Chuan up and down, noticing his young age and slender build, and immediately understood, asking, "Young master, is this for practicing martial arts?"
Qin Chuan nodded.
"Then you've come to the right place." The servant said, turning around and taking out several packets of herbs from the medicine cabinet behind him, placing them on the counter. "This 'Strengthening Bone and Invigorating Blood Powder' we have here is an old formula from our school. It contains tiger bone, deer antler, angelica, astragalus, and some ginseng rootlets. It's excellent for replenishing qi and blood, and strengthening muscles and bones. All the apprentices at the martial arts school come here for this. They drink a dose before training to keep their bodies healthy."
Qin Chuan asked, "How much?"
"One tael of silver per dose." The servant held up his index finger, paused, and added, "Three doses constitute one course of treatment, to be completed within seven days. If this is your first time practicing martial arts, young man, try one course first; it's guaranteed to be much better than just eating."
Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan silently calculated in his mind.
Three sets of clothes cost three taels of silver, which would be enough for an ordinary family to live on for more than half a year.
And this is only the cost within seven days.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Sure enough, it was true that the poor were scholars and the rich were martial artists. Practicing martial arts not only required hard work, but also required the support of expensive medicines. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to achieve anything significant.
Qin Chuan was also eager to try the effects of this medicine, so he took out some silver from his pocket and obtained three doses.
The servant quickly wrapped it up for him and then added, "Young man, remember to simmer the medicine over a low flame, not a high flame. Boil three bowls of water down to one bowl."
Qin Chuan nodded, indicating that he understood, and turned to leave the store with the medicine.
Just as they reached the street corner, they saw an elaborately decorated carriage already parked in front of the martial arts school.
As soon as the carriage came to a stop, the driver nimbly jumped down, moved a stool over, and then the curtain moved, and a figure stepped out.
The man was tall and richly dressed.
Qin Chuan glanced at him and found his appearance somewhat familiar, then he remembered...
This man was none other than the wealthy young master whom Wu Laosi had greeted with a broad smile and warm invitation at the entrance of the martial arts school a couple of days ago.
Qin Chuan remembered that this person's surname should be "Wang".
After getting off the carriage, the young master of the Wang family did not linger and went straight into the martial arts school, clearly becoming one of its disciples.
Qin Chuan seemed to be deep in thought upon seeing this.
When I first saw Wu Laosi, his attire clearly indicated he was a low-level gangster, yet he dressed somewhat deliberately, as if trying to maintain appearances.
Combined with the incident involving Liu Ding, Qin Chuan had already vaguely discerned some clues.
Old Wu must be setting a trap for this young master of the Wang family.
Whether it's a warm invitation or a deliberate attempt to befriend someone, it's probably not out of good intentions.
Wu Laosi is probably after him for money or some other benefit.
Wu Laosi probably never expected that this young master of the Wang family was actually a member of the Moving Mountain Martial Arts School.
It's important to understand that in this area, gangs and martial arts schools have always been at odds. Gangs rely on territory, manpower, and shady businesses for their livelihood; they value unity, brute force, and prioritizing profit.
Martial arts schools, on the other hand, are legitimate martial arts institutions that emphasize rules and traditions. Although they also take on apprentices and make money, they fundamentally look down on the underhanded tactics of gangs.
On the surface, the two sides keep to themselves, but in private they are wary of each other and occasionally have some friction.
Wu Laosi, a gangster, harbored wicked intentions towards the martial arts school's disciples.
If the martial arts school disciple doesn't have any background, that's fine. But if he has someone backing him, then there's going to be a good show.
......
As evening approached,
Qin Chuan returned to the gambling den, and then led Xiao Wu and the others back to the gathering place.
After collecting today's monetary gifts,
The system notification sounded.
[Collecting money as a gift, Professional Experience +1]
[Experience maxed out, thug class level increased]
Occupation: Thug
[Level: lv1→lv2(0/200)]
[Professional Skill: Bullying]
With his career advancement, Qin Chuan felt a slight change within himself, a subtle sense of expansion emanating from his very bones.
He flexed his fingers, clenched his fist, and vaguely felt that he was a little stronger than before, and his body seemed to have become a bit more solid.
......
The next day,
Around noon,
Qin Chuan bid farewell to the old scholar and returned to his room with the book in his hand.
Midway through, he opened the panel and glanced at the information.
Occupation: Scholar
[Level: lv2 (53/200)]
[Professional Skill: Literacy]
My proficiency level has increased by 22 points compared to last time, but I'm still more than 100 points away from leveling up. I guess I'll have to grind for a few more days.
Qin Chuan silently calculated for a moment, closed the panel, and then quickened his pace to hurry into the house.
Back inside, I smelled a medicinal odor as soon as I entered.
Liu Dingzheng was squatting at the kitchen door, guarding a small stove, fanning himself idly with a tattered palm-leaf fan.
Seeing him come in, Liu Ding looked up with a "you're finally back" expression and said, "You're really carefree, leaving a note and asking me to brew medicine for you. Aren't you afraid that if I didn't come, the medicine would boil dry?"
Qin Chuan put the book away and replied, "Anyway, you're just here to freeload, and you're just idling around anyway, so I'll find you something to do."
Liu Ding was momentarily speechless at his words. He opened his mouth, but ultimately did not refute him.
"How's the medicine brewing going?" Qin Chuan wiped his hands, walked over, squatted down, and looked at the earthenware pot on the stove.
"Alright, alright, it's been simmering for almost half an hour." Liu Ding pointed to the earthenware pot with his palm-leaf fan. "According to what you wrote on your note, three bowls of water should be reduced to one bowl. I've been watching it, and the heat is just right."
Qin Chuan lifted the lid and glanced at it, then poured it out. He took a small bowl and poured some for Liu Ding, saying, "Try it, how is it different from the blood-nourishing powder and bone-strengthening soup you drank before?"
Liu Ding took a sip.
As soon as the medicine entered his mouth, his brows furrowed into a knot, and he pursed his lips repeatedly, as if he were savoring something extraordinary.
After a long pause, he finally spoke with a frown: "There are still some differences."
"What's the difference?" Qin Chuan asked hurriedly.
"This tastes... a bit more bitter than the one that martial arts master brewed back then." Liu Ding clicked his tongue, his face full of disdain. "To be honest, the recipe you found doesn't taste good. The Blood-Nourishing Powder was also bitter, but not this strong. Did you add Coptis chinensis to this medicine?"
Qin Chuan's expression froze instantly.
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to keep his tone calm: "The difference I asked you to talk about is the difference in efficacy, whether your blood and qi are strong after drinking it, and whether you feel anything in your body. I'm not asking you to talk about the taste."
Liu Ding blinked, paused for a moment, then said "Oh," as if suddenly realizing something, "Why didn't you say so earlier? I thought you were just asking about the taste!"