Chapter 17: Money Is Never Spent in Vain

Hiss!
So comfortable!
I never imagined that a medicinal bath could be so relaxing.
I have to admit, the price of one silver coin for the medicinal bath is truly worth it!

The water in the wooden tub was slightly hot, even warm enough to feel almost scalding to the touch.
However, a higher temperature during the medicinal bath actually aids the body's absorption.
As long as it doesn't cause burns, a bath warmer than body temperature opens the pores, increasing absorption efficiency.

Chen Jie submerged his entire body in the tub to calm himself.
Then, he reluctantly closed his eyes slightly, focusing his attention.
At this moment, he could feel the medicinal effects beginning to take hold within his body.

He had been training hard all this time.
Although Thirteenth Aunt had helped him perform the “Tendon and Bone Realignment” technique twice, long hours of training had left his muscles stiff.
His tendons and bones had been under constant strain, causing soreness.

Yet, as he soaked in the medicinal bath, Chen Jie distinctly felt his muscles, bones, and meridians growing warm and tingling.
There was even a faint itch, as if ants were crawling along his bones.

Gradually, as the medicine was absorbed, a soothing warmth spread throughout his body.
This feeling was indescribably pleasant.

The medicinal effects penetrated and permeated his body.
Chen Jie sensed his muscles and bones relaxing, with the damage from training slowly healing.
His muscles softened, no longer stiff.
Even his skin felt more delicate, his senses sharper, as the medicine spread.

Unnoticed, Chen Jie began to feel drowsy, craving a good sleep.
But he forced himself to open his eyes and take deep breaths to keep his mind alert.
It was best not to fall asleep during the bath, as doing so would reduce its effectiveness and waste the medicine.

As time passed, the water cooled, so Chen Jie added hot water from a nearby small tub.
The medicinal potency continued to activate and spread, and the bath’s color gradually faded.

You get what you pay for!
Money was never spent in vain!

After one medicinal bath, all the negative effects on his body from long training vanished in an instant.

——

At dusk, Liu Qi and Liu Ba Mei returned.
They had already found a new house, costing a total of twelve silver coins.

Originally, Liu Qi planned to have Chen Jie confirm it, and once Chen Jie approved, they would buy it immediately.
The house was much larger than expected, with high surrounding walls and a training ground in the yard.
It was said that a wealthy family had lived there before, but after their decline, the house was left empty.

But Chen Jie was allowed to decide for himself.
Liu Qi intended to pay for it the next day and finalize the purchase.
In the following days, he would arrange for the house to be cleaned, so they could move in three days later.

Liu Ba Mei was overjoyed, beaming and calling Chen Jie “Brother Chen” with such affection that it made his bones melt.
The siblings had grown up with Thirteenth Aunt, accustomed to hardship.
Now, suddenly having such a large house to live in, how could they not be happy?

Of course, Chen Jie was most concerned about Thirteenth Aunt helping him perform the “Tendon and Bone Realignment.”
Knowing the tenfold time difference between the two worlds, he was in no hurry to return.
When he had come over, it was 8 p.m. there, which meant twelve hours until 8 a.m. the next day.
But here, that corresponded to 120 hours, or about five days!

He took a medicinal bath once daily, then Thirteenth Aunt assisted with “Tendon and Bone Realignment,” followed by ten hours of intense training.
In this way, he gained nearly 100 points of Martial Merit every day.

——

Five days later,
the day after moving into the new house.

Chen Jie finally had a good night’s sleep the previous night.
The house was large, with many empty rooms and plenty of open space.

After morning training and breakfast, the sun rose in the east.
Chen Jie sat on a lounge chair beside the new training ground, with a coal stove boiling water nearby.

Outside the big house’s door, a stray dog lay dozing, eyes half-closed.

After five days of grueling training and daily “Tendon and Bone Realignment” by Thirteenth Aunt,
Chen Jie still hadn’t stepped into the “Strong Muscle” threshold, which troubled him.

“Strong Muscle” was the foundational realm for martial artists, and the process of increasing strength.
If one’s power wasn’t properly cultivated, exertion would be clumsy force.
Like bodybuilders, their muscles might look huge, but they appeared stiff and awkward, lacking agility and explosive power.

In contrast, those who practiced combat sports rarely had bulky muscles.
Yet each punch they threw could cause lethal damage, unleashing incredible explosive strength.

That was the hallmark of entering the strong muscle state, where muscles converted force efficiently.

Chen Jie prepared a large bundle containing wild ginseng and other ingredients.
It was about time to return.

As he stepped out the front gate, he accidentally stepped on the stray dog’s tail.

“Woof! Woof!”

The dog howled miserably, baring its teeth and barking fiercely at Chen Jie.
Its body hunched, fur bristling, tail drooping.

At that moment, Chen Jie clearly felt the dog’s body tense, its spine arching like a drawn bow.
Its fur stood on end, ready to pounce and bite.

Watching the dog’s arched body, a sudden insight flashed through Chen Jie’s mind.

In an instant, from the dog’s spine arching, he sensed a powerful explosive force.

“Huh? Could this be the explosive power of the strong muscle state?”

Reflecting on his recent intense training, Chen Jie felt enlightened.

The dog’s furious barking made it clear that stepping on its tail had hurt it.
Its eyes burned with anger, yet it dared not leap forward to bite.

“I see now! Clumsy force is the body’s raw strength; stiff posture is brute force, similar to weightlifting strength!”

“Brute force depends on muscle mass. To unleash tremendous brute force, muscles must be large, but they easily degrade with age!”

“This kind of strength is entirely different from the ‘Jin’ force in martial arts!”

“‘Jin’ force pursues bodily coordination, the combined explosive power of muscles, centered in the waist, unleashing an instantaneous peak force!”

“The momentum is like breaking bamboo—fierce, decisive, and swift beyond perception, erupting suddenly!”

Bang!

Chen Jie stomped his foot sharply.

In the next moment, his body bent forward, arching like a giant bow.
His spine tightened, arms relaxed downward naturally, his stance poised between a kick and a step.

Instantly, he felt his blood surge, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.

Sensing the change in Chen Jie’s aura, the stray dog tucked its tail and fled in panic.