"Very strong."

Cao Tian said solemnly, "If the Elder Gang Leader were still alive, he would probably only need one move to beat me now."

"That powerful?"

"The Elder Gang Leader was just one step away from breaking through the Blood Barrier, and he’d practiced his Tongbei for nearly twenty years.

On the entire Luan River Pier, only a handful of people could match him in a fistfight..."

Cao Tian continued, "Back when I was first promoted to a Red Stick, I crossed hands with the Elder Gang Leader once. He used only one hand and forced me to my knees, unable to get up..."

As Fu Juemin listened to Cao Tian’s account, his eyes showed surprise, but his brow slowly furrowed.

He was well aware of Cao Tian’s strength. Even during his time in the Bone Forging Realm, he was an absolute expert.

’To force him to his knees with one hand, his arm strength must be at least several hundred pounds.’

’And that was Wu Xiaoyun *before* breaking through the Blood Barrier. Li Tong once told me that a martial artist from a Martial Family who has broken the Blood Barrier could easily have an arm strength of three to five hundred pounds. It seems he was deliberately understating it.’

’Yet, such a formidable man was killed so unceremoniously by the Luan River Pier’s Water Demon after just a few exchanges. By that logic, just how terrifyingly powerful is that Water Demon?’

Fu Juemin pushed the thoughts aside and asked, "Is there anything on the schedule for this afternoon?"

"Are you planning to go out, Young Master?"

"Yes."

Fu Juemin nodded lightly. "I’ve been cooped up at home for over half a month. It’s time to get some fresh air."

Cao Tian nodded, then walked silently to the weapon rack, selected a pair of handy short blades, and carefully concealed them under his clothes....

’He’s certainly dutiful,’ Fu Juemin thought.

Fu Juemin paid him no mind. He left the training room and instructed a servant to draw him a bath in his bedroom. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Ten minutes later, Fu Juemin was lying alone in a tub filled for his Medicated Bath, and he called up his character panel—

[Fu Juemin]

[Attack—10 | Defense—7 | Life—3 | Mana—0]

[Cultivation Technique: Mixed Element Stance (Mastery: Life +1), Ming Fist (Entry Level: Attack +1), Eight Extremes Bone Forging Skill (Mastery: Attack +3, Defense +3), Five Elements Tongbei Fist (Entry Level: Attack +2)]

[Talent: Soft Bone]

After more than half a month of arduous training, the only visible improvement was a single point to his [Defense] Attribute.

This one point of Defense came from practicing Bone Forging and the Iron Armor Technique concurrently, and perhaps also from the effects of the "Pharmacist Master Purification Diagram."

Although half a month wasn’t enough for Fu Juemin to reach the Entry Level of the Iron Armor Technique, he could already feel his skin and flesh becoming firmer and his bones harder.

’The effects of Skin Polishing are gradually deepening. It seems the so-called "Great Success" in realms like Skin Polishing and Bone Forging... they’re just milestones.’

Fu Juemin gently tugged at the skin on his arm, which was clearly much tougher than before. ’The true upper limit varies from person to person, from time to time, and from technique to technique...’ he mused.

Although the growth of his panel Attributes was minimal, Fu Juemin’s actual combat prowess had increased significantly.

The Living Stake Body Technique of the Mixed Element Stance, along with simulated combat with various weapons and fist techniques, had made his application and integration of the Martial Arts he mastered increasingly fluid and seamless, allowing him to act as he pleased.

In terms of adaptability and tactical experience, he was like a completely different person compared to over half a month ago.

’Over half a month’s accumulation... I have one more available Attribute Point...’

Fu Juemin glanced at the panel. Seeing the faint blue "+" sign next to the three Basic Attributes, he didn’t hesitate and directly put the point into [Life].

The sensation was the same as the last time he added a point to [Life], only more pronounced.

In an instant, Fu Juemin felt his body sink, and then his heart gave a powerful throb, followed by a long, drawn-out exhale.

In the bathtub, ripples spread across the light brown water. Fu Juemin could feel an unprecedented sense of stability and composure in his own breathing.

His eyes seem to have become a bit clearer, and his skin took on a healthier, more ruddy glow.

After a moment’s thought, Fu Juemin immediately began performing the movements from the "Pharmacist Master Purification Diagram" right there in the bathtub.

Five diagrams, five movements. Fu Juemin had already been practicing the third one.

Now, after going through the practice session, he managed to almost perfectly complete the third movement in one go.

’As expected, increasing the [Life] Attribute improves my overall constitution, which is also a great boon for cultivating the *Pharmacist Buddha’s Glazed Body*...’

After testing it, Fu Juemin relaxed his stance, a faint look of satisfaction on his face.

At this rate, he estimated it would only take about another month to master all five movements.

The pharmacy and the trading company had nearly gathered all the necessary medicinal herbs, and they were currently in transit.

All that was left was to thoroughly study the Pharmacist Buddha Sutra. Then, he could successfully reach the Entry Level of the *Pharmacist Buddha’s Glazed Body*, and the Skill Points he had been saving would finally have a real purpose.

Everything was developing just as Fu Juemin had hoped.

After soaking in the bath until the water was completely cold, Fu Juemin stepped out of the tub, dried himself off, and changed into a well-fitting, tailored suit.

Just last week, Fu Guoping had sent someone to deliver the gift he had long promised Fu Juemin.

Fu Juemin had been wondering what it was. When he received it, he discovered it was a suit vest.

The belly hide of the Black-Scaled Snake Demon from Taohuang Village had been sewn into the vest’s lining. The person who delivered it said that Fu Guoping had tested it; the snake-hide-lined vest could stop a pistol bullet fired from fifteen meters away.

’Well, I’ll be damned.’

’Isn’t this just a Republic-era version of a bulletproof vest?’

’It was quite thoughtful of his second uncle to use the Demon Hide to make this body armor. Fearing he wouldn’t wear it, he even had it specially made in the style of a suit vest. From the outside, you couldn’t tell there was a lining at all. Aside from being slightly thicker, it looked no different from a regular suit vest.’

Having witnessed his second uncle’s ingenious idea, Fu Juemin didn’t stand on ceremony. He immediately sent a messenger back to Fu Guoping, asking if there was any leftover snake hide to make him a pair of gloves.

He planned to use these gloves to catch blades.

Dressed smartly, Fu Juemin strolled out of his room. When he reached the second floor, he went to the balcony and looked out toward the garden on the south side of his home.

In the garden, two little girls dressed like dolls were on the swings, while his "little mother," Lin Wanrong, and Xu Xinyi sat to the side, talking and laughing.

"Young Master. Should I call for Miss Xu?"

The butler, Uncle Chen, asked softly from the side.

Fu Juemin shook his head.

Ever since he told his father, Fu Guosheng, about Xu Leyi secretly negotiating business with the foreign merchant Lawrence, and had tactfully expressed his desire to break off the engagement with the Xu Family, Xu Leyi had stopped visiting. Xu Xinyi, however, came over almost every day.

The moment she saw him, she would call him "Brother Lingjun." She was well-behaved, knew he was obsessed with martial arts practice, and didn’t bother him, choosing instead to spend her time with Lin Wanrong.

Sometimes a whole day would pass without her even seeing Fu Juemin, yet she never seemed to tire of it.

On the rare occasion Fu Juemin was in a good mood and invited her to watch him practice with his spear, she would be overjoyed for a long time.

Even though he knew she might have ulterior motives, Fu Juemin couldn’t bring himself to be so rude as to turn such a girl away. So, he just let her be.

"Oh, right. Is my father home?"

Fu Juemin asked suddenly after staring at the garden for a while.

Uncle Chen shook his head. "The Master has gone out."

"Did Uncle Tong go with him?"

"Yes."

Fu Juemin became pensive as he listened to Uncle Chen’s reply.

He had rarely seen Li Tong lately; the man was sticking to Fu Guosheng like a shadow.

Fu Juemin had heard a rumor that Fu Guosheng had been attacked, which was why Li Tong was now serving as such a close bodyguard.

’It’s not the first time something like this has happened.’

Fu Juemin thought for a moment, then asked, "Any news from Director Zhou?"

This time, Uncle Chen nodded. "He called the day before yesterday. Said they caught a few who fit the description. They’re being held at the police department, just waiting for you, Young Master, to go and identify them."

A glint flashed in Fu Juemin’s eyes.

"In that case, have the car prepared. I’m going to the police department right now."

"Yes, Young Master."

.....