Chapter 1: Savant Wit!

Host: Lu Changsheng

Perception: 98 (Mediocre)

Lu Changsheng stared at the attribute panel before him, his expression peculiar.

A perception value of 98, yet deemed "mediocre"—this could only mean the standard was 100.

Perception, Lu Changsheng roughly understood its meaning.

But what use was this attribute panel?

After careful thought, he had been in this world for over a month.

At first, Lu Changsheng was a beggar clinging to the brink of death. Over a month ago, Miaoshou Garden recruited many apprentices en masse, and by his wits and vigor, he was admitted as an apprentice.

Miaoshou Garden was a lineage of physicians, with numerous pharmacies scattered across Nanyang City.

Even in the surrounding towns near Nanyang City, their pharmacies were present.

As an apprentice, though exhausting and busy all day, he could ensure three meals a day.

However, apprentices received no wages.

Only upon graduating or transferring to other positions in Miaoshou Garden would they earn wages.

But having experienced hunger, Lu Changsheng was content with his current life.

Only this attribute panel remained a mystery to him.

It seemed he had not found the correct method, and the panel had shown no changes.

"Dong dong dong."

"Rise, rise."

The steward's shouts echoed within Miaoshou Garden.

Lu Changsheng snapped his eyes open, quickly rose, dressed, and hurried to the garden's plaza to gather.

It was the witching hour, nearly five in the morning.

Yet in Miaoshou Garden, all apprentices had to rise at the witching hour and begin their day's toil until evening.

An hour later, all apprentices had gathered on the plaza.

The steward called each by name.

"Chen Zhao, Chen Zhao."

The steward called Chen Zhao's name repeatedly, but no one responded.

After a while, a young man arrived late, his face flushed, and said, "Steward, I... I'm here."

The steward glanced at him and coldly said, "Name."

"Chen Zhao."

"Unexcused lateness, ten boards, and no meals today."

Chen Zhao's face turned ashen, then was dragged aside by two burly men and beaten mercilessly before the crowd.

"Ah..."

Chen Zhao's anguished cries sent shivers through the apprentices.

Miaoshou Garden was excellent, but its rules were too strict.

Tardiness, slacking, and such would be severely punished.

Repeated offenses could even result in death.

Chen Zhao was left barely alive, dragged back to the rear courtyard, and the plaza fell silent.

The steward swept his gaze and spoke, "You've been in Miaoshou Garden for over a month, and your health has improved. Today, you begin formal martial training."

"My Miaoshou Garden is a lineage of medicine and martial arts. Since ancient times, physicians and warriors have been inseparable. Martial arts strengthen the body and spirit. To be a good doctor, a robust body is essential."

"For the next month, the Miaoshou Garden's guard corps will teach you martial arts under Liu Lao."

"Remember, study diligently—this may be your chance to change your fate!"

The steward, though stern-faced, had a kind heart.

He even explained the "importance" of this martial training to all apprentices.

Lu Changsheng's expression stirred.

"Martial arts?"

"I've heard Miaoshou Garden has warriors, especially the guard corps—all are martial artists."

"Never thought we apprentices could learn martial arts too?"

"This is an opportunity, must seize it..."

Like Lu Changsheng, those admitted as apprentices were not fools. They immediately grasped the importance of martial training, all focusing intently on Liu Lao.

Liu Lao was in his sixties but appeared youthful, with vibrant energy.

"Heh, Steward Zhang has already explained clearly—medicine and martial arts are inseparable. If you master martial arts, whether joining the guard corps or becoming a future physician, it will benefit you greatly."

"Enough talk. First, I'll teach you the Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique..."

As Liu Lao began demonstrating the martial art, the apprentices followed suit.

Lu Changsheng mimicked Liu Lao's movements precisely.

The movements were awkward and required calm focus. Yet, for some reason, the more he practiced, the more agitated he felt.

Finally, Lu Changsheng completed the full set of the Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique.

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the attribute panel appeared before him.

Host: Lu Changsheng

Perception: 98 (Mediocre)

Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique: Not Yet Entered

After practicing the Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique, it seemed effective.

Though awkward, Lu Changsheng felt warmth throughout his body and a surge of vitality.

Moreover, the attribute panel now displayed the Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique, though marked as "Not Yet Entered."

"You are physically weak now, so you can only practice the Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique for one hour daily. More than that, and your body cannot endure."

"To master the Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique, you must sense your qi and blood. Once you sense them, you can actively circulate qi and blood without these cumbersome movements."

"These movements merely help beginners better sense qi and blood. Within a month, whoever senses their qi and blood, come find me immediately."

"Enough, continue practicing."

Liu Lao finished and sat on a chair, supervising the apprentices.

Soon, an hour passed.

Lu Changsheng still had not mastered the Dah River Strengthening Blood Technique, and after an hour of practice, he indeed felt a dull ache throughout his body—this martial art could not be overpracticed.

After an hour of cultivation practice ended, the apprentices began their work.

The tasks at Miaoshou Garden were not heavy, yet intricate.

Each day, the apprentices had to identify various herbs, plant them, dry them, and refine them.

In short, from dawn till dusk, they had scarcely a moment’s rest.

At night, Lu Changsheng lay on the large communal bed.

The apprentice beside him was Zhou Sheng.

Zhou Sheng was somewhat slick-tongued, fond of prying into all manner of gossip, and given to showing off.

The room was pitch black, and the apprentices had all prepared to sleep, yet Zhou Sheng suddenly spoke up: “Do you know why Liu Lao told us to master the basics of martial arts within a month?”

“Swish.”

The apprentices were no longer sleepy.

It concerned “martial arts,” so naturally they were intrigued.

Especially since it seemed tied to their futures.

“Zhou Sheng, have you heard something?”

“Zhou Sheng, what’s really going on?”

“I saved a piece of pork for you at noon.”

“Yeah, I also saved a bone for you.”

“I still have a piece of candy I kept from a few days ago, too.”

The apprentices all pulled out their hidden treats, mostly food items.

After all, the apprentices had no wages, so they could only secretly save scraps from their meals.

Zhou Sheng beamed with pride and said, “Alright, hand over your stuff, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Liu Lao isn’t ordinary—he’s an instructor for the guard corps. Rumor has it many warriors in the guard were taught by him.”

“The reason Liu Lao set a one-month limit is to sift out apprentices with martial talent. If you master the Great River Strengthening Blood Technique within a month, he’ll take you into the guard corps for training.”

“That’s a leap to the top. The guard corps—even apprentices get paid monthly, and they’re fed all sorts of nourishing meals. They’re all tall and strong. I hear their food is excellent, with plenty of meat every day. Mmm, that flavor…”

At the mention of “meat,” the apprentices all swallowed hard.

Though Miaoshou Garden provided meals, meat was scarce.

Clearly, once chosen for the guard corps, their treatment would far surpass that of other apprentices.

“So that’s how it is.”

“We’d better practice the Great River Strengthening Blood Technique diligently.”

“Joining the guard corps is the best path. Otherwise, we’d have to go from menial apprentice to herb apprentice, then to herbalist—at least ten years, and maybe we’d never make it, ending up stuck as menial apprentices forever…”

Though the apprentices had only recently arrived at Miaoshou Garden, rivalry had already begun among them.

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng too wished to practice the Great River Strengthening Blood Technique, but when he tried, his whole body ached.

He understood that haste made waste.

Liu Lao had said to practice for one hour daily, and so he could only manage that.

Too much would harm the body, and prove counterproductive.

“There must be a way to accelerate the progress of the Great River Strengthening Blood Technique…”

Lu Changsheng mused inwardly.