Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night

But Fang Shuwen didn’t answer, asking a question of his own instead:

"What’s the deal with all this strength you have?"

"It’s the foundation I’ve built for my martial arts training."

Shui Qianrou didn’t hide anything:

"Didn’t I tell you before? My mother forces me to build my foundation every day.

"I have to soak in a tub of medicinal herbs for a full six hours every day.

"Mother says they are all very rare medicinal ingredients that can widen my meridians, expel the impurities from my body, and continuously increase my strength.

"She said that when I finally start cultivating Inner Strength, my progress will be a thousand miles a day.

"In no time at all, I’ll become a peerless master!!"

"..."

Fang Shuwen had asked the little girl’s age before; she was exactly ten years old.

Normally, someone her age would have already started formal martial arts training. Many children begin practicing horse stance at five or six.

’Why hasn’t she cultivated any Inner Strength at her age?’

"So, your constitution is because of the medicinal baths?

"Is that why you were able to recover so quickly after being injured?"

Fang Shuwen recalled the spear thrust from Dongfang Wujiu.

Shui Qianrou nodded.

"Not only that, but my blood can also heal injuries and cure poisons.

"I’m immune to all poisons!"

Fang Shuwen’s head snapped up to look at Shui Qianrou.

"That’s also because of the medicinal baths?"

"Yep."

Shui Qianrou nodded repeatedly.

Fang Shuwen thought for a moment before saying:

"It’s best you don’t tell anyone else about this."

"Why not?"

"Your blood can heal and cure poisons. If someone with wicked intentions finds out, they might capture you, fatten you up, and then bleed you every day."

Hearing this, Shui Qianrou’s face instantly paled.

"Ah? Then... Big Brother... can you promise not to tell anyone?"

Fang Shuwen was amused by this and nodded.

"Don’t worry, I won’t tell. Otherwise, why would I have warned you?"

"Oh, right."

Shui Qianrou had a sudden realization.

Fang Shuwen found this even more amusing. ’Is there really any direct connection between the two?’

Although Fang Shuwen truly had no intention of telling anyone, he couldn’t help but think how gullible the little girl was.

Of course, Fang Shuwen didn’t completely believe that what he saw was the truth.

After all, there was the incident with Ye Feihua.

Many things in the Jianghu were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.

The words and actions of others, even facts that unfolded right before one’s eyes, could have another layer of meaning, another layer of truth.

It was just that some things, Fang Shuwen had no intention of digging into.

Ultimately, those things had little to do with him.

For example... did Wu Lingxiao truly step down from his position as City Lord because he was disheartened, wanting to find solace in nature?

Or was it all a facade, a way to escape the notice of everyone in the Jianghu to do something unknown?

And take Shui Qianrou, right here in front of him. Was she really so naive and worldly-unwise?

Or was this all just protective camouflage she had put on?

Fang Shuwen didn’t want to delve into those secrets. It was too much trouble... To him, this was just a transaction.

Delivering her to Shui Qianliu and completing the system’s mission was what would bring Fang Shuwen tangible, real benefits.

The sound of conversation gradually faded into silence.

The night slowly passed. At dawn the next day, the two of them ate some dry rations and continued on their journey by horse.

Shui Qianrou’s constitution was truly extraordinary. She had been in absolute agony yesterday, but today, there wasn’t a damn thing wrong with her.

She whooped and hollered all the way on horseback, only quieting down for a bit after Fang Shuwen told her to be quiet.

For the next three days, the two traveled by day and rested by night.

However, Fang Shuwen was unfamiliar with this road; this was his first time traveling the Jianghu.

As a result, they ended up sleeping in the wilderness for two of those three days.

Only on the third day did they find a town.

He had planned to ask the traveling merchants in town for directions to Pojun City.

But as luck would have it, they ran into a merchant caravan that was also heading to Pojun City.

The owner’s surname was Sun. He was a somewhat portly, middle-aged man who seemed quite friendly. Seeing that Fang Shuwen was so young and traveling with a half-grown child, he invited them to travel with his caravan.

He mentioned that the caravan had guards and that traveling with them would be safer.

Fang Shuwen, naturally, couldn’t agree.

Both he and Shui Qianrou were magnets for trouble.

This caravan wasn’t even that large; even if it were twice the size, there was no telling how many people would die if their troubles came knocking.

But just as Fang Shuwen was about to shake his head and refuse, someone he thought would absolutely never appear here suddenly showed up.

It was a girl... not very old, with a pair of large, round eyes.

She was currently walking over from a distance with a young man. The two of them rarely spoke, especially the young man; with his pair of dead fish-like eyes, he looked listless no matter what he was looking at.

The girl, on the other hand, was very lively. Her gaze wandered over their surroundings, and she greeted Shopkeeper Sun when she saw him:

"Shopkeeper Sun, we’re back."

"Haha, Miss Fang, did you have a good time?"

Shopkeeper Sun asked with a laugh.

"Mhm."

The girl nodded emphatically, her gaze instantly falling upon Fang Shuwen.

A flash of hesitation crossed her eyes first, followed by realization and delighted surprise:

"Bro... Brother Fang?

"It’s you, isn’t it? Brother Fang!?"

The person before him was none other than Fang Mingxuan’s daughter—and, by rights, Fang Shuwen’s own younger sister... Fang Lingxin!

But, what was this girl doing here instead of staying put at home in Guangning City?

Fang Shuwen didn’t respond to Fang Lingxin, instead turning his gaze to the young man beside her.

He was about the same age as him, with regular features, though you couldn’t call him handsome. A gloomy air lingered in his eyes, lending his entire disposition a rather sullen quality.

He carried a weapon wrapped in white cloth on his back, making it impossible to tell if it was a saber or a sword.

’Who is this kid?’

...

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