“I want to, but my finances won’t allow it!” Ning Yue grumbled inwardly, then asked about his confusion regarding the saber technique.
Xue Ren couldn’t help but laugh again, saying, “Practicing saber techniques is not something achieved overnight.
You’ve only flipped through a few pages of a book, and you already want to be the top scholar?
Moreover, the Night Battle Eight Desolations saber technique is exquisite; many soldiers in the army have practiced it for over a decade, and quite a few still haven’t grasped its true meaning.
How long have you been practicing? You’re still far from a breakthrough.”
Ning Yue thought to himself, “Give me a hundred taels, and I’ll break through for you right now!”
Then he heard Xue Ren continue, “This saber technique was created by General Yinghuo when he encountered an ambush in a field battle.
Surrounded on all sides, he broke through his limitations to create this technique.”
“When wielding the saber, you must have the intent to break through like a bamboo, a keen desire to advance.
Slay gods if you meet them, slay demons if you meet them.
Kill true gods until they become false gods, kill true demons until they become evil demons, and then you’re pretty close.”
A true teaching is a single sentence; a false teaching fills a thousand books.
Xue Ren’s few words gave Ning Yue a feeling of clarity, like the clouds parting to reveal the mist.
The gods and demons mentioned here were not actual legendary enemies, but rather the distracting thoughts in one’s mind.
Simply put, it meant cutting off inner distractions to become an invincible self!
Xue Ren added, “Of course, if you want to master this saber technique, you’ll need a bit of spirit.”
“What?”
Xue Ren’s expression grew solemn, and he slowly uttered eight words: “Mutual destruction, burning to ashes!”
Ning Yue nodded silently, quietly contemplating.
After a long while, Xue Ren saw the eagerness in Ning Yue’s eyes, as if he had understood something, and asked, “How is it? Have you gained anything?”
Ning Yue nodded, “I understand, Xue Ge, lend me some money first.”
“Scram!”
Walking straight out, Ning Yue stepped through the gate of the guard station and headed west.
Half a month ago, during the bandit suppression at Bald Mountain, Baihu Han Yu, despite being over forty, still bravely fought the enemy, being the first to breach the mountain stronghold.
He earned two first-class military merits for 'breaking the formation' and 'first to ascend', and finally accumulated enough years and merits to be promoted to Qianhu.
Tonight, he would host a grand banquet at Lucky Restaurant to thank his colleagues and subordinates.
Ning Yue didn’t want to go; he suspected Baihu Han Yu wanted to seize the opportunity to collect gifts.
But Xue Ren unequivocally rejected Ning Yue’s refusal.
He was afraid that if Ning Yue continued to practice his saber all night, he would damage his brain.
So Ning Yue hurried to buy a gift.
He thought the pastries from Furong Pavilion were quite good.
Xue Ren, as a Zongqi in the army, had ten Xiaoqi under him, and each Xiaoqi commanded ten men.
Among the many Xiaoqi, Xue Ren valued his distant cousin, Xue Youwei, the most, followed by Ning Yue.
In terms of strength alone, neither of them was particularly outstanding.
However, most soldiers in the army were rough men, crude in character; either they were introverted and taciturn, or they were too ugly, like twisted melons and cracked dates, and not presentable.
Thus, Ning Yue successfully stood out.
In Xue Ren’s eyes, Ning Yue was young, somewhat educated but not excessively so, a bit greedy for money but not lustful.
Among the Xiaoqi officers, such a character was already considered top-notch.
Especially after the Bald Mountain expedition a few days ago, Ning Yue had indeed made achievements.
Xue Ren knew very well that some people might be glib, but when it came to life and death, few possessed true courage.
So tonight, he planned to bring this junior to see the world; serving in the army, going solo wouldn’t work, one also needed to know how to leverage influence.
The streets of Gu City were extremely wide, even in the outer city, wide enough for three carriages to travel side by side.
This was for the convenience of the army’s expeditions, but now it also benefited the common people.
The hawkers on the roadside continuously called out, and pedestrians bustled about.
Ning Yue simply kept walking forward.
After crossing three streets and entering the inner city gate, the crowd gradually thinned.
Most pedestrians wore long robes and carried jade pendants at their waists, dressed much more elegantly.
The taverns and houses on both sides were also more exquisite, with overhanging eaves and glazed tiles, glittering brilliantly in the sunlight.
It wasn’t Ning Yue’s first time entering the city, so he wasn’t surprised.
He crossed three more blocks before finally reaching his destination—the Knife Brush Pavilion next to Furong Pavilion.
A small Guanshan inkstone cost five taels, making Ning Yue’s mouth taste bitter from the heartache, but this was already the cheapest item in the shop.
Leaving the shop, Ning Yue wasn’t in a hurry to return.
Instead, he took a turn and headed straight for Tongji Pharmacy, which wasn’t far away.
The herbal bath ingredients needed for body cultivation were running low, so he decided to buy them all at once.
Moreover, as a Xiaoqi officer, he could get an 80% discount on medicinal herbs in the city.
Ning Yue, who wished he could split a single coin in half to spend, naturally wouldn’t miss such a discount.
Tongji Pharmacy was considered the largest herbal shop in Gu City, an industry of the City Lord Zhao family.
The prices of herbs were not low, even a bit more expensive than many small shops, but they excelled in quality.
The entrance was bustling with people, men in luxurious clothes, women in splendid silks, making it unclear whether they were truly buying medicine or feigning a visit to offer gifts.
Upon entering the shop, Ning Yue immediately rattled off over a dozen herb names: “Give me three catties of winter mallow, six taels of ze lan… two catties of autumn mulberry bamboo leaves, and four taels of Hanbing Grass.”
Most of the dozen or so herbs were common, but the autumn mulberry bamboo leaves and Hanbing Grass were local specialties of Gu City, difficult to harvest, and rarely sold in ordinary shops.
Upon hearing that so many medicinal materials were to be purchased, and seeing that the customer was dressed in official attire, the attendant immediately approached with a smile and replied, “Officer, please have a seat; it will be ready shortly.”
Before long, the attendant rushed back to report: “Officer, thank you for waiting.
All other medicinal materials are available, but as for the Hanbing Grass, due to the recent warming weather, it’s not growing easily, so… so…”
Ning Yue frowned and said, “Speak plainly.”
“So, I’m afraid we can’t give you the original discount, and we’ll only have it when the herb gatherers return this afternoon.
If you don’t believe me, you can inquire at other pharmacies.” The attendant answered nervously, afraid of offending the officer, and added, “Even for this reservation, you are the last one.
If you buy any more, you might have to wait five days.”
Hanbing Grass thrives in dark, damp conditions and requires growth near water rich in spiritual energy.
Its conditions are harsh, but Tongji Pharmacy wasn’t without stock.
It just happened that every year when spring brought warmer weather, the price would be adjusted upwards.
Ning Yue was just a Xiaoqi officer, seemingly wearing official attire but without rank or grade.
Gu City had a garrison of thirty thousand soldiers, with no fewer than three thousand Xiaoqi officers.
Tongji Pharmacy, backed by the Zhao family, naturally wasn’t afraid of offending him.
Moreover, the attendant’s reply was airtight; even if Ning Yue went to other shops, he wouldn’t get a different answer.
Ning Yue had some understanding of this, so he didn’t waste any more words.
He promptly paid the deposit, thinking that after the banquet tonight, it would be convenient to pick up the medicine on the way back.
With everything registered correctly, Ning Yue was about to return when he heard a gentle and soft voice from the entrance of the pharmacy, “How much Hanbing Grass is left? I’ll take all of it.”
Ning Yue looked up.
The young woman had delicate features, unadorned by makeup, with shoulders like carved jade and a slender waist.
Her beauty was originally captivating, but the silver-white Flying Fish Robe she wore added a touch of heroism.
Ning Yue recognized her; it was Zhao Silu, the City Lord’s daughter, who served as the Zongqi for military supplies.
However, the other party evidently did not recognize Ning Yue, the 'Double Paragon' and rising star of the army, not even sparing him a glance.
“Oh! Young Mistress, why did you come in person? What medicine do you need? I can send someone to deliver it to you.”
Zhao Silu was naturally recognized by everyone in Tongji Pharmacy.
As the attendant spoke, his head subtly tilted towards Ning Yue’s side.
He had just said they were out of stock and couldn’t go back on his word in front of a customer.
Ning Yue immediately decided not to leave.
Seeing Ning Yue’s intention to stay put, the attendant naturally understood what was happening.
He gave a sly smile and respectfully led the Young Mistress towards the VIP reception room.
But to his surprise, a warm, clear voice came from behind him: “Your subordinate, Ning Yue, greets Zongqi Adult!”
