boyutpedia Chapter 24 Carrying a Sharp Blade, a Seafarer from Southeast Asia
Chapter 24 Carrying a Sharp Blade, a Seafarer from Southeast Asia
The alley was narrow and dimly lit.
The group of thugs, their eyes gleaming with greed, stared intently at the black vehicle at the end of the alley, shouting and laughing amongst themselves as they approached step by step.
The leader was a tall, thin man with a large mole on his left cheek. He held a rusty iron pipe in his hand and tapped it repeatedly in his palm, making a dull "bang bang" sound.
The young people behind him spread out slightly, following his steps closely, like a pack of wolves led by their alpha male, slowly closing in on the sheep.
"Young Master!"
The driver's expression turned slightly cold as he placed his hand on the door handle, preparing to get out of the car.
Afu's face turned pale, but he didn't back down. He swallowed hard and followed suit, getting off the bus as well.
"Sit down," Zhou Tong said calmly.
The two men turned around and saw Zhou Tong looking calm and relaxed. They paused for a moment, then said in unison, "Yes, young master."
The thugs outside the car window drew closer and closer, their footsteps hurried, and the weapons in their hands gleamed coldly.
Zhou Tong peered through the windshield, quietly watching the group of thugs approaching.
His steps were unsteady, his stance was disorganized, and the way he gripped his weapon was full of flaws; he was clearly a street thug who had gotten his start through thuggery.
A fierce glint suddenly flashed in his eyes.
Now, after practicing the fighting style for some time, although he has not yet fully mastered the first twelve moves of the Dragon Tiger Ruyi Blade, he has already begun to have combat power.
Dealing with this kind of stuff...
As the saying goes, "He who possesses a sharp blade will naturally harbor murderous intent." Having honed his skills, it's time to put them to the test...
Zhou Tong thought to himself.
His expression was indifferent. He slightly raised his hand and unhurriedly unbuttoned the coat one button at a time.
"Sir, it's almost Chinese New Year, give us some money to spend so we can have a good time..."
The tall, thin man who was leading the group looked at the car seven or eight steps away, and chuckled coldly in a high-pitched voice.
call!
Zhou Tong suddenly stuck one hand out of the car window.
"Heh...heh..."
The tall, thin man leading the group froze mid-sentence, his smile instantly turning into a grotesque expression, like a goose being choked.
The laughter behind him seemed to be cut off abruptly.
"grandfather……"
The tall, thin man stared intently at Zhou Tong's hand sticking out of the car window, at the shiny black pistol in that hand, and at the dark, menacing muzzle. He almost lost his mind.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and the iron pipe in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.
His lips trembled, and the fierceness on his face had long since vanished, leaving only a deathly pallor: "Let's talk this out... I was blind and offended you..."
As he spoke, he slowly backed away, raising his hands in front of his chest with his palms facing outwards, making a gesture of complete submission.
The young men behind him also hurriedly threw down their weapons, and wooden sticks, table legs, and bricks fell to the ground with a clatter.
They all shrank back, their eyes darting away, not daring to look at the dark muzzle of the gun.
Zhou Tong glanced at the gun in his hand, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.
During his years working for the Chamber of Commerce, Zhou Chengzong traveled all over the country. In those chaotic times, how could he not have a few guns for self-defense?
After the number of vagrants in the city increased and gangs began to emerge, Zhou Chengzong gave him this Browning and told him to carry it with him at all times, just in case.
"Jade doesn't collide with rubble. Don't even mention I haven't fully mastered my fighting style; even if I had... having a gun and not using it to fight people? Swords have no eyes, and hidden arrows are hard to defend against. Isn't that just being a bit dim-witted?"
As Zhou Tong pondered this, he turned his gaze away from the gun and back to the thugs.
"Sir, I deserve to die! Please...please don't shoot! I'll atone for my sins..."
The tall, thin man slowly backed away, raising his hand to slap himself in the face.
"Snapped!"
He used all his strength on the first slap, and his cheek swelled up at a visible speed, completely different from the pretentious slap from the pharmacy clerk earlier.
The hooligans behind him hurriedly followed suit, each slap loud and crisp.
Zhou Tong watched the hooligans slowly retreating with a cold expression.
boom!
A sharp gunshot suddenly rang out.
"ah--"
The tall, thin man trembled with fear, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
The hooligans behind him immediately erupted in chaos, running haphazardly out of the alley.
The tall, thin man was drenched in sweat, his face deathly pale. He frantically patted himself down, his voice trembling: "I've been shot! I'm going to die! I'm going to..."
He touched his chest, stomach, and thighs, but couldn't find a hole, nor did he feel any pain.
boom!boom!
Two more gunshots rang out. This time, the tall, thin man heard them clearly and realized that the gunshots were coming from the street.
He scrambled to his feet and stumbled as he ran out of the alley, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Zhou Tong slowly withdrew his arm, the gun muzzle pointing downwards, but he didn't put it away.
Through the car window, he saw figures running frantically past the alley entrance, screams, curses, and heart-wrenching cries. Black smoke rose in the distance, and a faint smell of gunpowder drifted through the air.
Inside the car, Afu's face was deathly pale: "Young...Young Master, we..."
"Wait." Zhou Tong uttered only one word, leaning back slightly.
He glanced down at the Browning M1900 in his hand.
The gun was cool to the touch, and the anti-slip texture on the grip felt rough against the palm; it was considered a fine self-defense weapon in the city.
Zhou Tong had been intentionally gathering information about firearms and martial arts during this period.
The consensus is that firearms remain a deadly threat to those below the Grand Master level, but they are not insurmountable.
At the Flesh Training Realm, the skin membrane is initially formed, and the blood and qi are vigorous, resulting in reaction speed and explosive power far exceeding that of ordinary people. In open areas, when facing a single armed person, as long as vigilance is maintained, one can often dodge or rush forward the instant the opponent raises their gun to aim, seeking cover to maneuver.
Upon reaching the Bone Forging Realm, one's muscles and bones become strong, and one's movements become swift and agile, making it difficult for ordinary gunmen to lock onto them from the front. Unless surrounded or sniped from a distance by a long-range rifle.
The same applies to those in the Refining Realm. Their five internal organs are strengthened, their stamina is extended, and their senses are sharpened. Unless they are caught in a barrage of fire from an army formation or targeted by heavy weapons, they can move freely.
As for Grand Martial Masters... that's another world entirely. Their blood and qi are like mercury, their internal strength arises spontaneously, and they can withstand ordinary bullets; they are already superhuman beings.
Zhou Tong stroked the gun barrel.
Although he practiced martial arts, he did not reject this item.
Martial arts are the foundation of oneself, the basis for survival in chaotic times.
But a gun is a tool, an external object that can most quickly bridge the gap in power.
The difference between humans and animals lies in their ability to use tools.
The chaos outside the alley lasted for about half an hour before gradually subsiding.
The cries faded into the distance, leaving only sporadic rebukes and the groans of the injured.
"Let's go." Zhou Tong put his gun away.
Afu, still shaken, asked, "Young Master, shall we go home?"
"Let's go to Zhengyang Old Street."
The situation is getting increasingly chaotic, and we must become stronger as soon as possible... Zhou Tong looked out the window and said calmly, "Drive slowly and avoid the main street."
"Yes."
The car slowly drove out of the alley.
The scene on the main street was shocking.
The bluestone pavement was stained with blood and smelled pungent.
Seven or eight corpses lay sprawled on the road, while some wounded people lay on the ground groaning loudly.
Police officers were cleaning up the scene. The officers, dressed in black, were ashen-faced as they roughly carried the body onto a cart.
The air was filled with the smells of blood, gunpowder, and a strange, cloying, and nauseating odor from spilled roasted nuts and sugar syrup.
Zhou Tong watched all this in silence, and the bizarre scene of the Wuyou Sect manipulating the people involuntarily reappeared before his eyes, and his heart gradually sank.
Originally, with the gang crisis resolved, the family business gradually started to develop in cooperation with Senior Brother Ji, and his own strength was also constantly improving. Everything was developing in a positive direction.
It finally gave him a sense of security, but after today's experience, that sense of security collapsed instantly.
In times of chaos, how can one speak of safety when caught in the midst of it?
Zhou Tong stared silently at the chaotic scene outside the window until the car turned a corner, at which point he turned away.
……
Upon arriving at Zhengyang Old Street, the car stopped, and Afu got out and grabbed a passerby, quickly finding out the exact location of Huichuntang.
Zhengyang Old Street is an old alley, lined with shops selling antiques, old books, and general merchandise. The shops are small and have an old-fashioned feel.
The signboard of Huichuntang is inconspicuous; it is a faded wooden plaque with blurred characters, hanging above two mottled wooden doors.
The vehicle stopped, Zhou Tong got out, and went inside.
The pharmacy was dimly lit and filled with the smell of stale medicine.
Behind the counter sat an old man with gray hair and unremarkable appearance. A dark red scar on his left cheek added a touch of ferocity to his otherwise ordinary face.
He was wearing a faded indigo short jacket with a tattered cotton-padded coat over it, and he was slowly filing a piece of some kind of animal horn with a small file in his hand.
Hearing the door open, the old man raised his eyelids slightly, glanced at Zhou Tong, and then looked away without even saying hello, continuing to focus his gaze on the animal horn in his hand.
Zhou Tong remained expressionless, but the moment he saw the old man, his heart skipped a beat.
The other person looked relaxed and lazy, like a decrepit old man you could see anywhere on the street.
However, Zhou Tong could tell at a glance that although the other party's posture seemed relaxed and casual, it was as solid as a mountain rock, with his feet rooted to the ground like tree roots, ready to suddenly attack and hurt people at any time.
Especially when the other person's gaze swept over him and landed on him, it gave him an instinctive sense of danger.
Practicing martial arts at the martial arts school every day and interacting with martial artists for a long time will naturally cultivate your discernment.
This shopkeeper is clearly a martial artist, and his skill level is probably quite high...
Zhou Tong's mind raced, and considering the other party's identity as a sea traveler, he wasn't surprised.
These days, anyone who dares to go to Southeast Asia is a ruthless person, and those veteran seafarers who can escape unscathed are the ruthless of the ruthless.
Seeing that the old man ignored him, Zhou Tong was not in a hurry. He wandered around the shop for a while, looked around, and then went back to the counter. He didn't beat around the bush: "I heard that your shop has recipes from Southeast Asia. I would like to take a look."
"My medicine is for male enhancement."
The old man put down his file, his cloudy eyes fixed on Zhou Tong, sizing him up before revealing a half-smile:
"Young master, your vitality is vigorous, and your eyes shine brightly. In my opinion, you don't need anything like that to enhance the occasion, do you?"
If he could see the other party's unusual nature, the other party would naturally be able to see his own background. Zhou Tong was not surprised. He clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, performing a standard martial arts salute: "Senior has discerning eyes."
The old man waved his hand: "What senior? I'm just a medicine seller."
Zhou Tong said, half-jokingly, "I want to prepare some prescriptions to replenish qi and blood and strengthen the body to aid in cultivation. I've heard that some medicinal herbs in Southeast Asia are unique or more effective than ordinary ones, so I'd like to find some samples for my family's pharmacist to try."
The old man grunted in response, but didn't press further. He bent down and pulled a paper packet from under the counter, tossing it onto the counter casually. "I only have aphrodisiacs here. They're made with herbs from Southeast Asia. One packet costs two silver dollars. Want some?"
Zhou Tong readily paid, picked up the paper package, and then asked, "If I find that any of the herbs are compatible, can I buy them separately?"
"Just pay me." The old man didn't even lift his eyelids, and picked up the broken corner again to continue filing.
"Thank you." Zhou Tong nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
After Zhou Tong left, the old man stopped what he was doing, looked outside, a strange glint in his eyes, and murmured:
"A rounded nose indicates benevolence, eyebrows subtly raised and sharp, and the bridge of the nose connecting to the forehead resembles a crouching rhinoceros. Tsk tsk, gentle on the outside, resolute on the inside, truly a remarkable person."
……
Upon returning home, Zhou Tong went straight to his room, bolted the door, and eagerly opened the oil paper package.
It contained a mixture of seven or eight kinds of medicinal herbs, with mottled colors and a strong, pungent odor, carrying a strange smell of sea and wood.
He carefully picked up a medicinal herb with his fingers, coating it with a little powder.
Following the previous method, test each one by placing it under the tongue.
The first few responses from the panel were all invalid.
Until he tried a brownish-red medicinal herb—
[Unknown medicinal material detected. It is warm in nature and has a pungent and astringent taste. It has a strong effect of stimulating qi and blood, and warming and nourishing muscles and bones. Its compatibility with the host's current constitution is high.]
[Note: This herb can be combined with the original improved formula (Eucommia ulmoides, Achyranthes bidentata, Dipsacus asper, Drynaria fortunei, Aconitum carmichaelii) to produce a synergistic effect. The new formula is expected to further shorten the breakthrough time of "Stone Muscle".]
[Should we begin working out the new compatibility scheme? Estimated time: 3 hours.]
it works!
Zhou Tong's heart skipped a beat, and a look of joy flashed in his eyes.
"Deduction!" he thought to himself without hesitation.
The text on the panel changes, indicating that the simulation has begun.
Three hours, which is a full twenty hours faster than the first time the prescription was deduced.
It should be an improvement on the original optimization scheme, because the amount of computation is small.
Next, he tested the remaining medicinal herbs, but unfortunately, there were no further changes.
Zhou Tong wasn't disappointed; finding even one useful ingredient was already quite good.
Time passed slowly as Zhou Tong busied himself with his own affairs until the panel refreshed.
[Deduction complete. New formulation: Based on the original formula, add 5 qian of this unknown medicinal powder, and reduce the dosage of Eucommia ulmoides powder to 2 qian.]
[Usage: Take with warm water half an hour before exercising daily.]
[Expected Results: When used in conjunction with the perfected version of the Dragon-Tiger Muscle Training Posture, the time to break through to the 'Stone Muscle' stage will be shortened to 47 days.]
Forty-seven days!
It was five days shorter than the previous fifty-two days.
Zhou Tong nodded slightly.
Although the time reduction may seem small, it represents an additional 10% increase in efficiency on top of the already enhanced drug effects, which is already quite good.
More importantly, this proves that the path of collecting exotic medicinal herbs is indeed very promising.
Three days later, Zhou Tong had almost finished using the herb in the aphrodisiac and returned to Huichuntang.
"Oh, snake scale grass."
The old man nodded slightly and chuckled, "Your pharmacist certainly knows how to pick; he specifically chose the most expensive one."
Zhou Tong then asked, "Senior, may I ask what this snake scale grass is? Where does it grow?"
"My surname is Hu, just call me Manager Hu, no need to call me senior, I don't deserve it."
The old man glanced at him, not hiding anything: "This thing grows in the crevices of the reefs, in the very places where sea snakes are found, which is why the locals gave it this name."
The old man leaned back in his chair and said slowly, "Sea snakes are highly venomous; a bite can be fatal. They're difficult to collect, hence their high price. The natives of Southeast Asia use them to enhance male virility and also to treat chronic leg injuries caused by cold."
Zhou Tong nodded slightly: "Understood."
At this moment, the old man glanced at him and said, "Changing a prescription isn't something that can be done in a day or two. Your pharmacist is quite fast, but don't be fooled, kid. If you have any problems after taking it, I won't be responsible."
Zhou Tong replied with a smile, "Thank you for the reminder, senior. This is just the beginning. The pharmacist has only tested the medicinal properties of this medicine and said it might be effective. We don't know how long it will take to prepare it."
Zhou Tong then inquired about the price of snake scale grass.
Based on his current usage, it costs five silver dollars a month, which is more expensive than the previous five kinds of medicinal herbs combined. After all, these herbs are transported from Southeast Asia over long distances, and they are difficult to collect, so it is normal for them to be more expensive.
However, he can afford it.
In the past two days, Zhou Tong also asked his father if he knew anyone who did business with medicinal herbs from Southeast Asia. His father said that there were very few people who did this kind of niche business, and he didn't know anyone either.
Zhou Tong then asked, "Senior, I want more medicinal herbs from Southeast Asia—anything that replenishes qi and blood, strengthens muscles and bones, nourishes the five internal organs…anything good for the body is fine. Do you have any channels for that?"
The old man didn't even look up and said, "I'll ask around for you after the New Year. You'll need to pay a deposit then."
"That's for sure," Zhou Tong said with a smile.
Then, he bought only a week's supply, then sat down on a stool and tried to talk to the other person, but the other person barely paid any attention to him.
Zhou Tong didn't mind, and chatted with the other person casually for about half an hour before leaving.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a month has passed, and it's Chinese New Year.