Chapter 14: Tiger Bone Soup!
Just as the two siblings were at a loss, Thirteenth Aunt approached.
After all, neither of them was even twenty years old. Though highly skilled in martial arts, they had never seen so much money before.
Despite “Ghost Foot Seven” being the head rickshaw puller at the Ximen Rickshaw Company, during the day he toiled hard pulling rickshaws just to earn a few copper coins barely enough to eat.
A head rickshaw puller was still just a puller. Although the other pullers called him boss, he was still just a rickshaw man!
Even though the Ximen Rickshaw Company owned twenty rickshaws, the rent was low, and they barely made any profit.
The two siblings stood there speechless, holding thirty silver dollars between them.
Thirteenth Aunt looked at their expressions, sighed helplessly, and said calmly, “What are you two standing there for? Didn’t I always teach you not to take what isn’t yours?”
Then she turned to Chen Jie with a hint of embarrassment on her face: “Young Master Chen, these two are still immature. Sorry for the embarrassment. I only taught you some basic skills; you don’t need to pay so much!”
As she spoke, she took the silver coins from Liu Bamei and Liu Qi’s hands and returned them to Chen Jie.
She was worldly-wise. Though her family had fallen on hard times, she still adhered to her principles.
If the money wasn’t theirs, she would not be greedy.
Thus, even knowing the Ximen Rickshaw Company was desperately short of funds, she refused to accept such a large sum from Chen Jie.
A name must be proper, and words must be just.
Taking so much money without cause was unacceptable to her.
Liu Bamei’s eyes reddened as she watched the silver coins being taken away.
Still, she understood that the money truly shouldn’t be taken—it was far too much.
Thirteenth Aunt lectured the siblings: “Poverty is not to be feared, but one must have dignity and maintain one’s principles!”
“We can’t resort to cheating, deception, or robbery. If you break the code of martial artists, do you know what fate awaits? You should understand this very well!”
“I don’t care if you fool around, but you are grown now and must know what is right and what is not.”
Chen Jie watched Thirteenth Aunt with great interest.
No greed, excellent martial arts, good figure, top-tier beauty, from a wealthy family, and a strong-willed personality—
In every way, this woman was perfect!
He just wondered if she had ever been married.
His mind wandered as Thirteenth Aunt returned the silver coins to him.
Chen Jie quickly said, “No need to give it back, Thirteenth Aunt. This money is not a gift, but my tuition for learning martial arts and my investment in the Ximen Rickshaw Company!”
“You wouldn’t want to keep living in this rundown house forever, right? Let Liu Qi buy a new place so we can all live more comfortably.”
Liu Bamei leaned close to Thirteenth Aunt’s ear and whispered:
“Thirteenth Aunt, you and Brother Qi have both reached the Bronze Skin realm and have mastered the Ming Qi strike. Next, you need medicinal baths to temper your body to break through to the Dark Qi Iron Bone realm!”
“A single medicinal bath’s herb cost is about one silver dollar, and a full cycle requires fourteen silver dollars. With our family’s current situation, how long will it take to afford this?”
“Furthermore, to comprehend the Dark Qi strike, one must temper the body, refine the Qi into spirit, and take medicinal tonics—all of which require money!”
Poverty in literature, wealth in martial arts!
This was no empty saying.
To cultivate martial arts well, besides diligent practice, one must use medicinal tonics to strengthen the body and medicinal baths to remove internal injuries caused by training while reinforcing muscles and bones.
Medicinal baths and tonics!
These are indispensable for any martial artist wishing to advance their skills.
Thirteenth Aunt had been at the Bronze Skin Ming Qi Master level for five years but had not yet broken through to the Iron Bone Dark Qi realm.
A crucial reason was the lack of medicinal baths and tonics.
Liu Qi seemed to be in the same predicament. He had been at the Bronze Skin level for two years and had grasped the Ming Qi strike.
With his talent, he would reach the Ming Qi Master level in three years.
But without medicinal baths and tonics, the long accumulation of internal injuries might cause irreversible damage, preventing him from breaking through to the Dark Qi Iron Bone realm.
All of this required one thing—money!
Sigh—
Upon hearing this, Thirteenth Aunt sighed deeply and fell silent.
Suddenly, a sharp sound came from the kitchen.
The water boiled!
Steam hissed sharply from the edges of the clay pot.
Then a pungent, fishy smell spread around.
Thirteenth Aunt nodded at Chen Jie and said, “Alright, since Young Master Chen is sincere, we will accept this money! From now on, you shall be in charge of the Ximen Rickshaw Company!”
Chen Jie laughed and hurried to say, “I can’t be in charge. I’m no good at managing business!”
“By the way, just call me Chen Jie from now on. Don’t call me ‘Young Master’—it feels strange!”
“As long as Thirteenth Aunt can perform the ‘Tendon Rending and Bone Shifting’ technique on me once a day, I’ll be completely satisfied.”
Thirteenth Aunt was straightforward and didn’t bother with formalities.
She told Liu Bamei to put away the silver coins and said, “Bamei, the tiger bone soup is ready. Serve it out and give a bowl to Chen—Chen Jie!”
After putting away the silver coins, Liu Bamei’s face blossomed like a flower.
She called to Liu Qi and ran toward the kitchen, saying, “Right away!”
Chen Jie caught the pungent smell and exclaimed, “Tiger bone soup?!”
Then Chen Jie followed Thirteenth Aunt into the main room.
It wasn’t much of a hall—just a larger dining area with an old wooden table.
The pungent fishy smell lingered heavily, unpleasant and strong.
Liu Bamei ladled the tiger bone soup from the pot into four small bowls.
Perhaps because there was originally only enough for three bowls, each bowl was a little less than full.
Liu Qi eagerly lifted his bowl and drank it down in one gulp, looking as if he wanted to lick the bowl clean.
Seeing Chen Jie’s curious expression, Thirteenth Aunt smiled and explained, “Chen Jie, as martial artists, we must constantly temper our tendons and bones to strengthen our bodies. Medicinal tonics are essential!”
“Our resources are limited, so we can’t get all the ingredients for full tonics. We use tiger bone powder soup as a substitute!”
“Though single-ingredient tiger bone powder soup isn’t very potent, it’s better than nothing.”
“This stuff is good for the body!”
Chen Jie sniffed the bowl.
Ugh—
He nearly vomited up his last meal.
It smelled terrible!
This stuff was incredibly foul. He couldn’t understand how Liu Qi could drink it so happily.
“Drink it quickly! Once it cools, its medicinal effect diminishes significantly,” Thirteenth Aunt smiled.
Chen Jie pinched his nose and without further hesitation poured the tiger bone soup down his throat.
Boom!
The moment the soup hit his stomach, a hot wave spread rapidly throughout his body.
It was like drinking a shot of strong liquor, instantly igniting his entire frame.
At the same time, his blood surged, and his skin flushed bright red, burning hot in an instant.
Thirteenth Aunt smiled faintly and grabbed Chen Jie’s arm.
Bang, bang, bang!
Tendon Rending and Bone Shifting!
Unlike the last time, this time she performed the technique three times in a row, each strike heavier than the last!
Chen Jie gritted his teeth against the intense pain in his tendons, veins, and joints, not uttering a sound.
Ten minutes later—
Phew!
Chen Jie exhaled deeply, feeling his entire body’s energy flow smoothly and comfortably, as if he wanted to sing aloud with joy!
His [Martial Merit Points] in his mind surged dramatically by 125, skyrocketing from 31 to 156.