"Have you been here before?"

Little Qing led the way ahead, winding around a long corridor, and suddenly asked.

"It's my first time." Li Xian replied truthfully.

"It seems you don't know many of the rules yet." Little Qing smiled, "I have time today, so I'll tell you about them along the way."

Li Xian said solemnly, "Thank you!"

Having someone willing to speak out and offer guidance about these rules is naturally a good thing.

Little Qing waved it off, simply because Li Xian looked handsome and was quite polite.

Bored and looking for a topic, aren't we? So she began talking about the rules of the Leisure Pill Pavilion, such as not touching the elixirs, no bargaining... and so on.

Some details, if not paid attention to, might lead to being forced to buy elixirs one doesn't want.

Moreover, not all elixirs in this Leisure Pill Pavilion are fully effective; among them are many failures, defective products, with low efficacy but high toxicity.

If you don't want to buy such elixirs, you need to discern for yourself. Afterward, you can't come to the Pavilion to cause trouble, otherwise, you would violate the manor's regulations and meet a tragic end.

...

"Generally speaking, a D-class Nursing Home can only purchase elixir once every three months."

"While a C-class Nursing Home can do so once a month, and a B-class three times a month. An A-class five times a month."

"You only have one opportunity to purchase an elixir, so you must think carefully."

She stopped walking, in front of a wooden shelf with many wooden boxes placed on it.

The elixirs are in there, but the variety greatly differs.

"Is that so…" Li Xian didn't expect there to be so many restrictions.

"Of course, if you have the ability, you can always find a way to buy a few more elixirs." Little Qing reminded him.

"Oh?"

Li Xian, quick-witted, immediately understood the implication of "finding a way," which means entrusting a C-class or B-class Nursing Home to help purchase elixirs.

"It seems you've figured it out, so it's beneficial to maintain good relationships with other guards, especially those who are a level higher." Little Qing kindly suggested.

For D-class Nursing Homes, the three-month interval is really too long. As a result, when they urgently need elixirs, they can only entrust a C-class Nursing Home.

C-class Nursing Homes, of course, require compensation.

Thus, a profit chain is formed, and a C-class Nursing Home can steadily earn several hundred Wen Coins more income each month.

Li Xian concentrated his attention on the wooden shelf, with over a hundred pieces, of various types and different styles; sometimes, even the same kind of elixir varied greatly.

Like Li Xian saw a kind of "Deer Breath Pill." One piece was pitch black, exuding a faint, foul smell, and not even taking shape.

Another piece was light green, with a round appearance and a faint fragrance.

Yet his intuition told him that the pitch-black Deer Breath Pill was closer to a mature pill.

"Deer Breath Pill," "Leopard Bone Pill," "Deer Blood Pill," "Cow Rhinoceros Pill," "Strengthening Pill," "Qi Replenishing Pill," "Tough Tendon Pill"…

D-class Nursing Homes can only purchase these elixirs.

These elixirs are all the most basic ones. Hence, their names and effects are straightforward.

Those names containing the word "Beast" are usually refined from beasts. Their functions are invariably about strengthening the body, strengthening bones, revitalizing energy, and replenishing essence.

"The Strengthening Pill, consuming it can energize the flesh and strengthen the muscles."

Li Xian carefully selected.

The last time he consumed the "Tiger Blood Pill," it was a B-class elixir and constantly in demand.

To buy it again is akin to a pipe dream.

"I have a thousand five hundred Wen Coins, try to buy the most expensive ones. Among them, the Leopard Bone Pill is the most expensive, with effects of strengthening the bone membrane, replenishing qi-blood, and increasing foot strength."

Li Xian quickly narrowed down his choices.

On the wooden shelf, there were seven Leopard Bone Pills, each differing in color and texture.

And there's a rule, you can only observe from a distance, not pick them up to inspect, if you touch the elixir, you must purchase it.

"Have you decided?" Little Qing urged.

"I'll take that one." Li Xian pointed to the Leopard Bone Pill in the upper right corner.

Little Qing nodded gently, judging by her expression, this elixir shouldn't be bad.

This elixir cost one thousand two hundred and eighty-nine Wen Coins, equivalent to one tael plus a few hundred Wen Coins.

With Li Xian's money bag emptied, he realized even more the importance of being promoted to a C-class Nursing Home.

A C-class Nursing Home can get a 10% discount.

Calculating back and forth, it could save over a hundred Wen Coins.

"There are still four days left! In the days to come, we should seize every moment to practice boxing!"

"Otherwise, the next martial arts book would have to wait until a year later, too slow, too long."

...

...

The following day.

During Li Xian's morning training, he consumed the "Leopard Bone Pill," the effect gradually began to take place, feeling a slight warmth in his leg bones.

［Skill: Consumption］

［Skill Level: 12/500 Beginner］

This skill grows extremely slowly, but Li Xian was surprised to find that even regular food consumption could increase the [Consumption] skill level.

But it's far less than taking elixirs.

The medicinal power circulated throughout his body, blood and energy became more vigorous.

Li Xian practiced boxing silently, accumulating inner strength, building momentum. Snowflakes flying, his determination remained steadfast.

With the Four Directions Fist increasing approximately ［70］ skill level per day, although it couldn't break through to Great Success, the daily progress was remarkable.

Getting closer to the target, bit by bit.

The feeling was very solid.

The only blemish was that the "Patrol Shift" consumed too much time, often being called up in the middle of the night, braving the cold wind, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

During these days, Li Xian had numerous patrol duties, too busy to show his face.

...

Three days before the guard competition, a board suddenly stood in the boxing courtyard where everyone practiced.

There was a list in the announcement. It contained the names of those participating in this guard competition.

"All A, B, and C-class Nursing Homes must participate. Forty-nine D-class Nursing Homes signed up to participate."

"The list of participants is as follows, feel free to check, in three days, the guard competition officially begins."

Pang Long said a few words simply and left.

The guards gathered around, looking at the participant list and discussing.

"Purple Face Chun, how come your name isn't up there? A month ago, didn't you proclaim you wanted to become a C-class Nursing Home?"

"Hahaha, with your appearance, you should stay honestly in the D-class Nursing Home, a disgraceful thing."

A burst of laughter came from the crowd.

Wang Chun, who used to love joining in the fun, recently became much colder due to past events. When he saw the board being set up, he subconsciously wanted to check but touched his cheek and acted as if he hadn't seen it, bypassing it.

But who would have thought the palm prints on his face were so pronounced they'd give others a reason to mock him?

"Yo!"

"You guess who I saw. That Li Xian is on the list too."

"Purple Face Chun, Blue Face Table, Black Face Zhao, rest assured. If I meet that Li Xian during the guard competition, I'll be sure to slap him and vent your anger."

The taunting voices rang out.

Stirring up fits of laughter again.

Wang Chun ran away in anger. Li Xian watched his retreating figure, shaking his head silently, "Idle rumors don't need much attention."

Immersed in his own world, throwing punches again and again.

After the crowd dispersed, he approached the board to check his opponents' names.

"The true opponents are usually just a few people."

"Unfortunately, one can't gain more information just from names, still, we can take it as it comes during the time."

Soon it was the day of the competition.

The weather became increasingly cold, with fierce snow. Several hills outside the manor were already sealed by heavy snow.

Yihetang Manor was some distance from Qingning County. Aside from the manor, the surrounding ten miles or so, could be said to have no life.

Li Xian's [Four Directions Fist] skill level had reached [1157/1500 Minor Achievement].

He centered himself to feel, a warm flow in his abdomen, the Inner Qi in his dantian was now the size of four fists.

Moving qi through his flesh, a hot stream exuded from within his skin, melting the snowflakes that fell on it.

"To withstand the cold so well, this clay embryo of mine is no longer what it used to be."

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