Chapter Forty-Two: Strengthening the Muscles and Bones

Across the vast expanse of the sea, islands dotted the surface like stars. Fleets moved through the waters, transporting wealth and lives like lines of ants. Young Master Wolf stood at the dock, his expression cold and unyielding as he surveyed all before him.

All this wealth was amassed for the Water Dragon Gang’s next expansion—laying the foundations, sharpening their fangs, preparing to bite and tear apart anything in their path.

“Master, we’ve found him.”

Laid before Young Master Wolf were three paintings. The first depicted a young man in azure robes, seated in an inn, gazing pensively out the window. The second showed a gaunt ‘refugee’ standing at a city gate. The third captured a disheveled figure aboard a gambling ship, his eyes fierce and resolute.

“The same person?”

“Yes. He’s the one who stole, killed the Soul-chasing Wolf, and caused havoc on the gambling ship. He’s now training as a registered disciple at the Burning Body Martial Hall.”

“Burning Body Martial Hall—Master Lin Xian, that old fox. It’s time to take them all down. And weren’t some friends from the sea waiting for an introduction? Let’s go.”

Young Master Wolf gazed at the countless islands in the distance, his ambition swelling as if to swallow the entire sea. Soon, very soon, you will all witness our methods—and our goals.

“He’s from Clear Water Village in White Horse County, Jiangning Prefecture. A scholar of the twelfth year of Delong. It truly is him,” said Young Mistress Huang, with a stack of official documents before her. Each city’s checkpoint registration was gradually pieced together by her subordinates.

In this way, Kou Li’s movements over the past three years were meticulously traced.

“Old Wei, tell me, do immortals really exist?”

The elderly man beside her, face pale as paper, bowed deeply and replied respectfully, “Miss, I cannot say whether immortals exist, but we have seen those who wield magic.”

Seeing the small scars marring the goddess-like beauty of Young Mistress Huang’s face, Old Wei’s eyes filled with sorrow. “Miss, shall I bring him here for you to vent your anger?”

“Not for now. He’s at the Burning Body Martial Hall—strange, I’ve seen that name in the palace. With that hall master’s skill, you’re no match. Besides, the three months aren’t up yet.”

Young Mistress Huang’s cold smile bloomed like winter plum blossoms. “Something so interesting must be savored last.”

…

In their room, Zheng Bao’er wore a troubled expression. “Brother Kou, must I eat this?”

“You must.”

Kou Li, his face impassive, swallowed the meat—several times larger than what his companion had—with a single gulp. The fiery warmth soon wrapped around his body.

Within his meditative vision, the small stream surged with waves, and the vortex of energy in the sky seemed ready to explode.

He immediately assumed the Foundation Strengthening Stance, absorbing not medicinal power but boiling blood and qi.

The catalyst was the copper leopard heart he’d obtained—a priceless treasure for any martial artist. After much deliberation, Kou Li decided not to waste a single drop of its essence, consuming it raw.

If he could weather the violent agitation, his blood, energy, and spirit would multiply in strength. His muscles writhed beneath his skin; the amount he’d taken was ten times Zheng Bao’er’s, and so was the turmoil.

At the brink of collapse, a croaking sound echoed from Kou Li’s abdomen.

He drew breath through his nose, his diaphragm lowering, waist straightening, chest drawing in, back arching. Qi pressed against his life gate—the so-called ‘qi surges through the waist and spine, gathering in the sea of qi and the life gate.’ His exhalation came out hard; though not yet a thread, it had condensed to the thickness of a finger. Each breath opened and closed the paper window two yards away, creaking as it moved.

The advanced techniques of the Qi Penetration Method—holding, vertical, and pressing the dantian—far surpassed mere dantian exertion, which only knits muscle and bone together. But this method involved the precise manipulation of qi and blood throughout the body, all without throwing a single punch.

To be able to unleash the unique force of martial arts in mere gestures—that was the mark of mastery.

The interplay of breath and blood within, under meticulous control, produced a singular effect.

With repeated tempering of breath and blood, Kou Li’s skin began to show dark lumps, while his chest, armpits, and other blood-rich areas bore red streaks. Even his face was not spared.

He looked like a man afflicted by a terrible skin disease.

Zheng Bao’er shivered, chilled to the bone—Brother Kou was truly frightening now!

These lumps and blood clots gathered at the intersections of muscles, tendons, and bones—all the body’s residual waste.

Medicinal treatment would refine these impurities, much like the internal conditioning of Chinese medicine. But the Qi Penetration Method expelled them forcibly, akin to surgery without anesthesia—difficult and painful.

Kou Li’s eye twitched, but he remained unmoved until the heart’s effect wore off, standing amidst a puddle of sweat.

“Bao’er, apply the medicine,” Kou Li croaked.

Obeying, Zheng Bao’er swiftly brought out the Tenfold Jade Ointment and the Hundred Bone Soup provided by the martial hall, enduring her disgust as she smeared ointment over the lumps and handed Kou Li the soup to drink in one gulp.

The tempering of blood and qi consumed far more than mere medicinal supplementation—it was a battle within the body. For most, it would mean months bedridden. Thankfully, Kou Li’s meticulous abilities, combined with external and internal remedies, allowed him to recover quickly.

Within his meditation, the stream—once half dry—was now replenished, while the vortex overhead had grown several times larger.

…

Who knew how much time had passed. When Kou Li finally opened his weary eyes, the horrifying blood clots had vanished, leaving only faint marks.

He flexed his arm—veins bulged, skin darkened—not from sunburn, but from compressed blood beneath the surface, a unique phenomenon.

This forged strength was at least half again what he’d possessed before, especially his resilience, now approaching the limits of his body. The sand at the bottom of his stream had almost disappeared.

In his current state, he could withstand the senior brother’s Northern Fist. Since the martial heart had proven so effective, he resolved to purge all impurities from his body—organs, limbs, bones—hoping for miraculous results.

Drowsy, he finally succumbed to sleep, leaving Zheng Bao’er staring with wide eyes, wondering, “Why doesn’t Brother Kou have anything growing from his head?”

At dawn, Kou Li awoke, expecting to sleep well past sunrise after yesterday’s exhaustion, perhaps weak and feeble. Yet, to his surprise, he was brimming with energy.

‘It seems this transformation has strengthened my stamina and endurance. Perhaps from now on, two hours of sleep will suffice, leaving more time for training.’

Resolving to double his regimen lest he waste his newfound potential, he stepped outside and found Luo Dunzi, brow furrowed, speaking with the seldom-seen Lu Zhixiong.

With his keen hearing, Kou Li quickly understood why even the honest Lu was angry.

“Sixth brother, why are we short three tenths of the deep-sea shark bones? Some are clearly already boiled. You know how vital these herbs are to the hall.”

“Senior brother, I can’t help it. You don’t know—several groups of merchants from the capital have arrived, offering five, ten times the price. Even as the headman, I can’t force my people to turn down such profits. Besides, brothers can’t train in the hall now, tempers are running high—you must understand…”

In debate, Luo Dunzi was no match for the clan headman, and soon he was red-faced and tongue-tied.

Lu Zhixiong spotted Kou Li and greeted him with a broad smile. “Eighth brother, I hear your stance is strong, but you can’t pass yet. Keep working!”

“Indeed, senior brother. I’ll strive at the hall. It’s a pity some apprentices don’t even have the chance to train, such a shame.”

Lu Zhixiong’s face darkened, coldly eyeing Kou Li. “Then you should treasure this opportunity, brother. After all, whether you’re one of us in three years is still uncertain.”

Kou Li regarded him calmly. Was that a threat? No, Lu Zhixiong wasn’t so petty—he must have something planned.

The Tidewatch had a Wolf’s Head Hollow, its shape like a wolf’s open mouth, hence the name. The place was infamous for its thorns and serpents—a notorious danger zone.

Half an hour later, Kou Li appeared there, as if searching for someone. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a bloody handprint on a nearby tree.

“At last, it appears,” he murmured.