"No... Uncle-Master, you?" Zhao Liuyun's heart thumped anxiously in his chest.
"What is that expression on your face?"
"If I'm not mistaken... it's pity, isn't it?"
Was a medicinal bath some kind of monstrous beast?
How could it make you, Uncle-Master, show such an expression?
With his inner turmoil churning like the tide, Zhao Liuyun actually entertained a thought of retreat.
The instant the notion arose, he forcefully suppressed it—
He couldn't retreat!
His Uncle-Master had not hesitated to spend five hundred gold spirit coins to help him last time; how could he possibly mean him harm?
Moreover, a weak physique was bound to affect the absorption of his next spirit ring.
Even if he wanted to consume an immortal herb, his frail body would struggle to bear the herb's dominant medicinal power.
If he were to die because of that, wouldn't it become a colossal joke?
Leveling up was imminent, and the medicinal bath was within reach.
Even if what lay ahead was a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, he had no choice but to take the plunge!
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Liuyun eased the pressure in his heart.
"Ugh—!"
A pungent, foul stench suddenly shot up his nasal cavity!
He felt like throwing up.
He shouldn't have breathed in deeply; he should have waited for [Calm Mind] to take effect.
...
The preparations for the medicinal bath were not easy.
It wasn't until Zhao Liuyun kneaded the medicinal powder in the wooden basin into a cake shape, watching it transition from a dark black to a pale red, that Huang Xin came over.
"Pale red is the sign of success. Place it on this wooden board, smooth it out, and once it's air-dried, it can be taken to sell."
Zhao Liuyun followed the instructions, meticulously using a small shovel to complete the task.
Then—
"Come with me."
Huang Xin beckoned to him.
The two walked one after another into a wooden cabin that had been set up beforehand.
In the center of the cabin sat a large wooden tub filled with a liquid as vivid red as blood, steaming hot, an eye-catching crimson scene.
If not for the rich, heavy medicinal fragrance that greeted him instead of a腥腥臭, bloody stench, Zhao Liuyun would have almost mistaken it for fresh blood just drawn from some powerful spirit beast.
Zhao Liuyun couldn't help but ask, "Uncle-Master, what is this?"
Huang Xin stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of recollection flashing in his eyes: "A medicinal bath formulated primarily with the heart of a ten-year Dragon Blood Tree."
"Long-term immersion, combined with appropriate exercise, can effectively enhance one's physique."
His tone was very earnest:
"Nephew-Disciple, your Spirit Master talent is exceptional, but your constitution is too weak. Absorbing the next spirit ring will likely be difficult. You should be aware of this yourself."
"Mhm." Zhao Liuyun nodded.
It was true that he could continue cultivating without absorbing a spirit ring.
However, the capacity of a person's body and spirit ultimately had its limit.
Without a spirit ring to boost his innate aptitude, how could his cultivation speed be compared to what it would be after absorbing one?
For this very reason, he had never entertained the idea of deliberately suppressing his cultivation and not absorbing a spirit ring.
He was just repeatedly contemplating his Uncle-Master's words.
By specifically explaining the necessity of the medicinal bath and laying the groundwork in advance, this bath was surely characterized by some difficult-to-accept flaw.
Zhao Liuyun tentatively asked, "Is it harmful to my future physical growth? Or will it make me grow into a bulky guy like you, Uncle-Master?"
Huang Xin closed the door, casually dragged a chair to sit by the entrance, and shook his head: "No, my height and physique are related to genetics."
"The Dragon Blood Tree medicinal bath is harmless to future growth. Its only drawback is pain."
"Extreme pain!"
Zhao Liuyun did not respond, merely listening quietly.
A complex emotion flashed in Huang Xin's eyes as he slowly said, "The medicinal bath was passed down from my father. The first time I soaked, my Senior Brother had to forcibly hold me down inside."
"An agonizing, bone-deep pain! I will never forget that taste as long as I live!"
"Every inch of skin feels like it's being relentlessly gnawed by ten thousand ants. The toxins seep in, corroding the tissues, until eventually, the whole body goes numb, and you can't even feel if your body is your own."
"..." Zhao Liuyun unconsciously gulped.
That sounded terrifying.
No wonder someone was needed to forcefully hold the person down.
"Is there a difference between cold water and hot water?" [Calm Mind] helped him steady himself, and Zhao Liuyun calmly inquired.
Temperature was an important factor; the preparation of many medicinal ingredients was influenced by it.
Seeing his keen observation, a hint of praise flashed in Huang Xin's eyes, yet also a touch of schadenfreude:
"Hot water leads to higher absorption efficiency. One piece of tree heart can exert more than double its original efficacy."
"We aren't some esteemed family, so we should save wherever we can."
"If you're scared, you can wait for it to cool down before soaking." His Uncle-Master's tone was solicitous but contained a hidden provocation.
"I'll try it first." Zhao Liuyun heard the goad, but he had no intention of backing down. "I think I can handle it."
Without a profession bonus, everything had to be done gradually.
To achieve a strong, resilient body, one must undergo a thousand trials.
Pain?
Pain could only forge his tough and unyielding will!
In a few quick moves, Zhao Liuyun stripped off his clothes and slipped naked into the water, clinging to the edge of the wooden tub.
Since he knew the agony, he couldn't test the water temperature with his toes like one would before swimming.
The more he hesitated, the more cowardly he would become.
Better to jump straight in and find out!
Once seated in the tub, the medicinal water reached just over his chest, with a temperature slightly higher than a regular bath.
"That wasn't painful at all!"
Zhao Liuyun was about to show off his fortitude with a boastful comment.
But before the words could leave his mouth, his body issued an immediate warning.
An unprecedented pain exploded from the soles of his feet like a thunderclap, shooting from his toes all the way to the crown of his head.
He thought it was a metaphor, but to his surprise, his Uncle-Master's words were literal!
It was as if ten thousand poisonous ants were gnawing at his skin, and corrosive medicinal power was seeping into his limbs and bones.
Every inch of skin felt as though it had been violently peeled back, exposing his vulnerable nerves to the scalding medicinal liquid.
The fierce energy of the Dragon Blood Tree surged within him, like being consumed by fire.
In an instant, Zhao Liuyun's body went rigid, his teeth clenched, and his eyes widened, yet he could not utter a single sound.
"So painful!"
His eyes were wide and bloodshot, his jaw clamped shut, unable to speak even a single word.
Every cell screamed out the command to flee—
Jump out!
Otherwise, he would surely perish here!
Just as he was about to act, Zhao Liuyun, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, grabbed the custom-made handles inside the tub.
His Uncle-Master had prepared in advance; the wooden tub was custom-made.
It was designed to force the person undergoing the medicinal bath to actively resist the urge to escape.
With both hands gripping the handles, his knuckles white from excessive force, Zhao Liuyun arduously endured the torment-like medicinal bath.
This was pain, but more importantly, it was a trial.
Endure it, and prove himself!
He couldn't get out; he had to hold on!
[Calm Mind] continually calmed his violently fluctuating mind, but against the relentless incoming waves, it was somewhat insufficient.
Sweat poured down Zhao Liuyun's head, his teeth bit down harder, and his consciousness was on the brink of collapse.
He couldn't hold on.
[Hypnosis]!
He hypnotized himself, and his body reacted passively, instantly abandoning all thoughts of escape.
He admitted that his will wasn't strong enough.
But even if he was being forced into it, he had to complete this ordeal!
Huang Xin had been ready to hold his nephew-disciple down, but his hand stopped halfway.
His nephew-disciple's muscles were soft and his build was slender, like a young girl.
Yet, to be able to tough out the baptism of the Dragon Blood Tree medicinal bath, his willpower was truly commendable...
Huang Xin fetched a new towel and draped it over the edge of the tub:
"The clear water is in the barrel beside you. This room was specially built for you. Rest well after the medicinal bath."
He had to get busy with the affairs of the shop.
This place was both a medical clinic and an apothecary, selling various insect repellents, snake repellents, hemostatic medicine, and antidotes when there were no patients.
"Nephew-Disciple, you are very impressive." He turned back before leaving.
"I truly admire you!"
Zhao Liuyun remained expressionless, offering no reply.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to speak, but he genuinely couldn't utter a single word.
He admired himself, too, for being cold-hearted enough to use [Hypnosis] to forcibly endure this bone-corroding pain.
He only hoped that after enduring such hardship and suffering such pain, the final physical growth would not be disappointing.