The Martial Doctor-Chapter 40: The Demoness Returns

After Lin Miao left, inside Qingyu Hall.

"Mr. Hu, how is it?" The young master anxiously asked Hu An, who had been diagnosing the injuries of the four wounded protectors.

Earlier, he was quite frightened, his face pale. If Lin Miao had targeted him, he might have ended up just like the protectors.

Hu An, in his forties, younger than Sun Simiao by quite a bit, had very thin lips, giving him a "mean and unkind" impression.

Furrowing his eyebrows as he examined everyone’s injuries, he said, "Young master, the one who injured Chen Qiang and the others was really just a young boy?"

"Yes, we all saw it with our own eyes."

"If he really was a young boy, then the technique and force he used were indeed extremely precise, allowing him to instantly incapacitate you while still showing mercy, not causing you any severe injuries, merely teaching you a lesson," Mr. Hu analyzed.

"How is that possible, Mr. Hu, are you joking with us?" Chen Qiang asked in shock.

"He was able to injure you all in an instant; apart from your arm, the injuries on the wrists of the other three were nearly identical. Doesn’t that indicate his precise control over his strength?" Hu An replied, "If he truly wanted to break your arms, do you think he couldn’t do it?"

Hearing this, Chen Qiang and the others instantly broke out in cold sweat.

The young master who instigated the trouble, Chen Zitao, also felt anxious. If that boy had targeted him in the end, he might now be in the same state as Chen Qiang and the others.

Why hadn’t he struck? 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Was he afraid of Qingyu Hall backing him? Yes, that must be it; after all, his grandfather is one of the ten famous physicians in Dongshan City. Offending a renowned physician—they’d have a hard time in Dongshan City in the future.

As for Lin Miao’s earlier mention of visiting Mr. Hu, he deliberately withheld that information. If his father and grandfather found out that he started it, he’d surely get punished at home...

...

Returning home, Lin Miao found Qin Yanran from Huaye Tower visiting again.

This woman had changed into a deep purple long dress, with a rainbow belt casually tied at the waist, the slightly open neckline revealing a swan-like snowy neck and a deep valley, far clearer than what he’d seen last night.

As his eyes glanced over, Lin Miao swiftly averted them, avoiding sensitive areas.

This woman was indeed beautiful, but also a ruthless demoness.

He couldn’t let her know that he had been at Huaye Tower last night.

His elder sister, Sun Youwei, had a calm demeanor and disliked luxurious and flamboyant clothes, so today she wore plain attire and a simple appearance.

The master had been strict with her since childhood, so in terms of posture and manners, she was no less than the noble ladies from wealthy families.

All she lacked was some self-confidence and the experience of time.

"Mrs. Qin, why have you come again? Are you worried about Miss Shi Yin recuperating here?" Lin Miao asked aloud as he entered the living room.

"Brother, you’re back?" Sun Youwei was already very nervous. Qin Yanran’s aura was too powerful. Although she bore no malice today, under such pressure, she felt more like a guest.

Until Lin Miao entered, breaking the calm and reclaiming the host’s authority.

"Oh, Miss Youwei calls Mr. Lin as ’brother’. Are you two not siblings?" Qin Yanran smiled bewitchingly, her gaze curiously sweeping over both their faces.

Lin Miao said openly, "Miss Youwei’s father is my master. Being younger, I am naturally the younger brother. Additionally, the master betrothed her to me since childhood, so Youwei is both my senior and my fiancée."

This was Lin Miao’s first time introducing Sun Youwei as his fiancée to outsiders.

Upon hearing this, Sun Youwei’s cheeks flushed with a layer of red, shyly lowering her head.

"So, that’s how it is. Congratulations to Mr. Lin. When will you two get married? Our tower master would love to attend your wedding?" Qin Yanran smiled.

"Mrs. Qin is too kind, and of course, Lin welcomes it," Lin Miao laughed.

"Great, it’s decided then. When the time comes, the tower master will certainly present Mr. Lin and Miss Youwei with a grand gift," Qin Yanran gave a deliberately enchanting glance, and upon leaving, she brushed Lin Miao’s shoulder pretending it was accidental.

To think she would attempt to seduce him right in front of his senior sister; this woman was truly no good.

After Qin Yanran left.

Lin Miao asked, "Senior sister, why did Qin Yanran come again?"

"She came to see Miss Shi Yin, bringing some tonics. They spoke alone in the room," Sun Youwei said, "I don’t know what exactly they discussed."

"Never mind, it’s their private matter, less for us to meddle. Once Miss Shi Yin recovers, she should return," Lin Miao thought for a moment.

"The tower master also gave us some things, saying Miss Shi Yin’s recuperation shouldn’t cost us," Sun Youwei continued, "I wanted to refuse, but she insisted, so I had to accept."

"Just accept it, it’s okay. To Huaye Tower, such things are nothing," Lin Miao said.

This female demon must be suspicious of me; Ding San’Er sneaking over my wall at night is surely out to find trouble with me.

A mere house guard harboring no personal grudges against me must have been instructed by Qin Yanran. Also, how could Ding San’Er dare to peek at me while I’m bathing?

She must have realized something was wrong and suspected that Ding San’Er didn’t act on his own, but as she found no one else, she thought Ding San’Er was set up...

It’s normal for her to come and test me again.

However, in this yard, apart from those hired from the agency, there are three people: Mrs. Yun and Sun Youwei don’t know martial arts.

I’m the only one who knows martial arts.

From Qin Yanran’s perspective, she should be able to see that my cultivation hasn’t advanced to the Bone Forging Realm, while Ding San’Er’s cultivation is at the mid-tier Bone Forging level.

So, she should assume that I’m not Ding San’Er’s match, meaning I probably didn’t set up Ding San’Er last night, and it might be someone else.

If this is the case, then today’s action of teaching those four guards a lesson at Qingyu Hall was somewhat reckless. If Qin Yanran knows about it, she might suspect me again.

Luckily, I didn’t leave my identity or address at Qingyu Hall.

So, for now, they probably don’t know who I am, even Hu An probably can’t guess.

He certainly wouldn’t believe Sun Simiao taught a disciple more formidable than himself.

Therefore, as long as I don’t revisit Qingyu Hall, this identity shouldn’t get exposed in the short term, and after participating in the "Physician" examination, I’ll have another layer of identity and perhaps won’t fear Qin Yanran anymore.

Of course, cultivation cannot stop; I need to have the ability to protect myself.

Initially, I wasn’t very urgent about practicing martial arts, but now that danger is near, I must improve my cultivation.

At least, I need legitimate self-defense capabilities in front of Qin Yanran, the female demon.

Today, I’ve already purchased the medicinal herbs; as long as I follow the prescription I prepared, making a medicinal bath to soak once every three days, each session lasting at least half an hour.

In less than half a month, I should be able to completely advance to the Bone Forging Realm.

The Bone Forging Realm, by its name, means forging bones, which essentially is a method of strengthening bones.

There are two methods: external and internal cultivation. Usually, a combination of both is the quickest.

External forces involve medicinal baths and self-pounding, while internal cultivation involves guiding Dantian energy through the meridians to strengthen the bones.

Typically, bone forging focuses on major limbs and primary bones; no one has ever heard of someone who cultivated all their bones.

Once all bones are refined to a "hard as jade" state, the Bone Forging Realm is considered complete.

Lin Miao spent a considerable amount of time in the Muscle Refining stage, seriously perfecting his state; though Sun Simiao wasn’t an ideal teacher, and his martial arts talent wasn’t great, he laid a solid foundation for Lin Miao’s body.

This body indeed gave Lin Miao a great advantage; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to quickly advance and avoid an unstable foundation.

This set of medicine costs ten taels of silver; the decoction can be used for two medicinal baths, though the third time’s effect should diminish significantly.

But it wouldn’t be wasted as it can also be used for Sun Youwei; the effect may not be as good, but at least it can enhance health.

According to the prescription Sun Simiao provided Lin Miao for bone forging, each set of medicine costs at least a hundred taels of silver, and even when buying in bulk, it costs at least eighty taels per set.

After modifying the prescription, the price dropped to a tenth, and according to his estimation, the medicinal effect shouldn’t differ much.

A set of medicine costing a hundred taels of silver is unaffordable for me now; ten taels per set is barely acceptable, but daily soaking would also be unbearable.

Practicing martial arts truly is a costly affair, without money, even if you practice, it’s hard to go far unless one has exceptional talent.

A huge vat of medicinal decoction prepared, poured into a large wooden tub, surrounded by insulating materials to ensure the water temperature doesn’t quickly dissipate.

He also considered placing the wooden tub directly over a stove, with a small fire underneath for warmth, but doing so requires building a dedicated medicinal bath room.

This takes time and would be too noisy.

When judging the water temperature to be suitable for entry, Lin Miao stripped down to his underwear and jumped in, sitting cross-legged; a cover perfectly placed over his head.

A medicinal bath isn’t just passive soaking; one must exercise energy and breathe to quickly absorb the medicinal power and achieve rapid bone forging.

If it’s just soaking, there would be effects, but as the body absorbs passively, it’s extremely limited, at most strengthening bones and physique.

According to the "Dragon and Tiger Prajna Power" breathing technique, Lin Miao quickly felt an internal breath almost thumb-sized arise from the Dantian in his abdomen; as the inner breath circulated, traversing the meridians, the medicinal power also began to take effect, entering the body through the opened acupoints, starting as a tingling sensation, soon like ants gnawing, very painful, but bearable...

Gradually, he entered a state of complete forgetfulness.