Chapter 62 - 61: A Lucky Find

Chapter 62: Chapter 61: A Lucky Find

Lu Jing’an looked at the Martial Cultivator, who seemed to have fried his brain from training.

A trace of pity even appeared in his eyes.

[Refinable/Repairable Divine Soul detected. Absorb?]

Seven Divine Souls. Lu Jing’an absorbed them one by one.

He didn’t expect to extract any valuable entries from these Low Tier Martial Cultivators.

His own Martial Arts entries were already quite comprehensive, and their levels were very high.

Unless they were of a rare type or one that could fuse and upgrade his existing entries,

the Divine Souls of these people

would most likely only condense into Memory Pearls,

and contribute a few Energy Points.

He casually selected a Divine Soul for Refining.

[Refining in progress. Estimated time to completion: 30 minutes.]

’The Refining time has gotten shorter. It seems to be related to the improvement of my own Cultivation.’

Lu Jing’an mused to himself,

’Before, it took an hour, but now it only takes half an hour.

When I get back, I can try it out with that Centennial Ginseng.’

While Lu Jing’an was absorbing the Divine Souls, Chen Xuan went to check the seven men’s bodies.

He was looking for any special identifying marks.

After a thorough check, he found that the seven men had no special background; they were just hot-headed fools who had decided to become highwaymen.

To Lu Jing’an, this little roadside incident didn’t even qualify as a disturbance.

He couldn’t even be bothered to mention it to anyone, simply leading the iron-tower-like Black Bear onward toward the Lu Mansion.

「The Lu Mansion Entrance.」

When Lu Jing’an led Black Bear through the main gate,

the man’s terrifying, nearly two-and-a-half-meter-tall frame

blocked out most of the light in the entryway.

Several maids and servants who were sweeping screamed and stumbled back,

nearly dropping the tools in their hands.

Black Bear was used to this, merely standing silently behind Lu Jing’an like a dust-covered stone statue.

"You,"

Lu Jing’an said, pointing to a male servant who had remained relatively calm,

"take him for a bath. Wash him inside and out, thoroughly.

Scrub him several times with plenty of soap until there’s no trace of a smell, then bring him to see me."

Heaven knew how he had endured the smell on the way back—a mixture of sweat, blood, and some kind of feral beastly odor.

The male servant looked at Black Bear’s gnarled, muscular arms and beast-like gaze. His Adam’s apple bobbed before he answered with a trembling voice, "Yes... Young Master."

"Go with him," Lu Jing’an ordered Black Bear.

Black Bear rumbled, "Yes," and followed the weak-kneed servant away.

Lu Jing’an returned to his own courtyard and instructed Orchid, who was waiting there:

"Go and fetch Medical Cultivator Cui."

Orchid quickly brought Cui Jieyi over.

Today, Cui Jieyi was dressed in a Moon White Cross-Collar Shirt and Skirt, with a Light Cyan Armor worn over it.

Her hair was tied in a simple hair bun, and she had a serene temperament.

She nodded slightly to Lu Jing’an in greeting. "Young Master Lu."

Lu Jing’an invited her to sit and briefly explained Black Bear’s situation.

This included his Barbarian Race identity, how his power had been forcibly boosted with a Secret Skill, and the suspected damage to his lifespan.

Cui Jieyi listened intently, her pale fingers tapping unconsciously on the tabletop.

After a moment of contemplation, she spoke slowly:

"According to what the Young Master has said, a reversal is not impossible, but it would require a great deal of rare medicinal ingredients for conditioning, and..."

She paused briefly and looked up at Lu Jing’an. "I’m afraid his Cultivation will likely suffer some damage."

Lu Jing’an’s brow furrowed slightly as he tapped his fingertips on the armrest of the zitan wood chair.

"Is there a way to preserve his Cultivation while also resolving the hidden dangers? As for silver coins, there is no need for concern."

What he valued was Black Bear’s brutish combat strength; if his Cultivation dropped, it would be pointless.

Cui Jieyi fell into thought once more.

A moment later, she looked up and said, "If we spare no expense, a method of ’Nourishing the Root and Strengthening the Foundation, while also Guiding and Relieving’ should be feasible."

"No matter. Use whatever is necessary," Lu Jing’an said decisively.

「About an hour later.」

The male servant, along with four or five equally breathless helpers,

finally led Black Bear to Lu Jing’an’s courtyard.

Before the man even arrived, a thick, clean scent of soap wafted in.

"Young Master, you have no idea how much effort it took to wash this big fellow!"

The male servant wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face showing both the exhaustion and a hint of pride from completing a difficult task.

"The five of us scrubbed for a whole hour.

We used a full seven bars of soap just to make him look human!

We even had to change the water seven or eight times!"

Lu Jing’an looked up.

The now clean Black Bear had skin the color of bronze from years of exposure to the wind and sun.

His hair, though hastily combed, still stuck up defiantly.

He had changed into the largest set of coarse cloth garments they could find,

which were still stretched taut over his bulging muscles.

But at least the overpowering odor was gone,

and he looked much more spirited,

Only his eyes still held a beast-like confusion and dullness.

Lu Jing’an nodded in satisfaction and said to the male servant, "Well done. You lot, go to the accounts office and each collect five silver coins."

"Thank you for the reward, Young Master!" The servants beamed with joy, bowed, and withdrew.

Black Bear walked up to Lu Jing’an and awkwardly cupped his fists.

His voice was still rough and hoarse, like grinding stones. "Master."

"From now on, just call me ’Young Master’ like they do."

Lu Jing’an waved his hand dismissively.

It wasn’t that he was a stickler for such things.

It was just that being called "Master" by such a giant, tower-like man sounded truly awkward.

If it were Cui Jieyi, Orchid, or Wen Ling, it would sound much more natural.

"Yes, Young Master." Black Bear was readily compliant.

Lu Jing’an nodded, then said to Black Bear,

"This is Medical Cultivator Cui. From now on, you will listen to her. She will be in charge of conditioning your body.

Once your body is conditioned, I will assign you tasks."

Black Bear replied, "Yes, Young Master."

Lu Jing’an slowly skimmed the foam from his tea with the lid, his gaze falling on Black Bear’s hesitant face. "If you have something to say, say it."

Black Bear scratched his coarse hair and began to speak:

"Young Master, my clan has a Secret Skill.

I only used the first half of it before, which is why I ended up like this.

If I had the second half to go with it, it wouldn’t just solve my body’s problems.

My Cultivation should be able to advance further, truly breaking through to the Skin Refining Realm."

Lu Jing’an raised an eyebrow. This was a pleasant surprise.

"Can you read?"

Black Bear shook his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Medical Cultivator Cui, I’ll trouble you to record it," Lu Jing’an said to Cui Jieyi.

For the next half an hour, Black Bear used his limited vocabulary and gestures,

struggling to describe the incantations and key points of the Secret Skill’s second half, while Cui Jieyi wrote quickly with a brush.

She would occasionally ask questions for confirmation, organizing the scattered information into clear, orderly text.

After she finished writing, Cui Jieyi reviewed it carefully once more before saying to Lu Jing’an:

"Young Master Lu, what he says should be true.

This second half of the Secret Skill does indeed correspond to the condition of his body that you described earlier, Young Master.

It’s more like a form of ’completion’ and ’harmonization.’

If we can really gather the necessary medicines and have him operate according to its Technique,

not only can he resolve the hidden injuries and overdraft left by the previous Secret Skill,

but it can also guide his immense qi and blood back to the proper path.

Breaking through to the Skin Refining Realm should be a natural result."

Lu Jing’an nodded, then turned to Black Bear and asked in a flat tone:

"Did you mention this to that Smiling Tiger?"

Black Bear nodded honestly.

"I did. He said the things needed for the second half were very expensive, and that I had to win a hundred arena matches for him to have enough money to get them for me."

"Oh?" A playful curve formed on Lu Jing’an’s lips. "And how many matches have you won for him?"

Black Bear shook his head blankly. "I didn’t count. He said he was keeping track for me."

"How long were you with him?"

Black Bear counted on his thick fingers, saying with some uncertainty:

"Five years... maybe more? I can’t remember clearly."

"Heh." Lu Jing’an almost laughed out loud.

’Five years?’

’Forget five years; winning a hundred matches in a single year probably wouldn’t be surprising for him.’

That Smiling Tiger had clearly just been dangling a carrot he had no intention of ever giving, planning only to squeeze every last drop of value out of this big simpleton.

"Medical Cultivator Cui, I’ll trouble you to handle the preparation of the Secret Medicine for the second half.

Once everything is ready, help him break through."

Lu Jing’an ordered.

Cui Jieyi gathered her skirts and assented, her voice clear and gentle, "Yes, Young Master. I will draft the formula as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Black Bear grew excited.

With a THUD, he dropped to one knee, the impact making the ground tremble slightly, and said loudly:

"Thank you, Young Master! Black Bear will definitely fight well in the arena for you to repay you, Young Master!"

Lu Jing’an made a gesture of lifting his hand. "I don’t need you to fight in arenas.

From now on, when I need to go out, you will follow me.

When there’s nothing else, you can act as a Mansion Guard in the estate."

"Yes! Young Master!" Black Bear stood up, his voice booming.

Listening to that hoarse voice, like sandpaper on iron,

and comparing it to Cui Jieyi’s tone, which was like a clear spring striking jade,

Lu Jing’an felt his ears were being tormented again.

He rubbed his temples and said to a servant waiting nearby, "Take him to the side room next to my courtyard and settle him in. He will live there from now on."

"Yes, Young Master."

Only when the heavy footsteps had faded away did Lu Jing’an breathe a sigh of relief.

He beckoned to Cui Jieyi and Orchid, who had remained:

"Come, you two. Call me ’Young Master’ a few times. Let this young master wash out his ears."

Cui Jieyi was taken aback for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Orchid, however, giggled aloud, gave a playful curtsy, and drew out her words:

"Yeees—Youuung—Maaasteer—"

The two women took turns, their clear and delicate calls of "Young Master" echoing in the room.

Like pearls dropping onto a jade plate, the sound finally dispelled the discomfort caused by the gruff man’s voice.

After hearing it a dozen times, Lu Jing’an satisfyingly raised a hand to stop them, smiling. "Alright, that’s enough of a washing. A reward: ten silver coins for each of you."

"Thank you, Young Master!" the two women chimed in unison, their voices full of mirth.

Cui Jieyi composed her smile and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Young Master, this member of the Barbarian Race, may I ask how many silver coins you spent to bring him back?"

"Technically, it was three thousand silver coins,"

Lu Jing’an said, taking a sip of tea,

"but I only paid fifteen hundred."

He then asked, "Medical Cultivator Cui, what do you think of my deal?"

A flash of surprise appeared in Cui Jieyi’s eyes as she praised,

"Whether it was three thousand or fifteen hundred, Young Master, you’ve made a huge profit on this deal."

"When I examined him just now, I probed his qi, blood, and meridians.

I discovered a large amount of residual power from the Secret Medicine stagnating in his body, unrefined.

There is also a faint sound of thunder between his Tendons and Bones, a sign that his potential is far from exhausted.

If his potential is guided and stimulated with the complete Secret Skill, supplemented with the correct Spirit Medicine for conditioning,

not only can his hidden dangers be eliminated, but his Cultivation will also be far beyond the Skin Refining Entry Level.

It would be the Peak of Skin Refining, at the very least.

Coupled with his naturally thick and solid bones, which are different from ordinary people,

his true combat strength is comparable to an ordinary Bone Refining Realm Martial Cultivator."

She paused before continuing her analysis. "As for his lifespan, Young Master, you have even less reason to worry.

Even without a breakthrough, given his current, immense life force,

maintaining a decade of peak condition would be no issue.

To buy out ten years of service from someone comparable to a Bone Refining expert for three thousand silver coins is already an extremely cost-effective deal.

What’s more, Young Master, you actually only spent fifteen hundred.

Even including the subsequent costs of preparing the Secret Medicine, the total won’t exceed two thousand silver coins.

And on the current market, if one wanted to hire a true Bone Refining Realm Martial Cultivator for the long term,

the annual commission alone would be more than this amount."

After hearing her explanation, a delighted smile finally appeared on Lu Jing’an’s face. He gently placed his teacup on the table.

"Hearing you put it that way, Medical Cultivator Cui, it seems I’ve really picked up quite a bargain this time."