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De Ming jolted awake
His mind was foggy, and the last thing he remembered was stumbling out of the "ring" after his second fight at the dilapidated temple. He habitually tried to lift himself up.
"Arghhhh," he screamed in pain as he felt his broken forearm bones compressed under his weight before his torso fell back down, his back two layers of rags from the floor
"Don't work yourself up, kid, just rest."
Lao Jiu's voice rang out from above. De Ming looked up to see him lying on his hammock, staring at the ceiling.
"Where's Bu Li?" De Ming asked, trying to make sense of the situation
"He's been out for a while now, he said he'll be getting you medicine,"
De Ming nodded and looked at his left arm, which was thoroughly bandaged and secured with a wooden stick. It seemed that Lao Jiu was experienced with these types of injuries
"Thanks. Lao Jiu,"
"Quit that sappy shit, kiddo" Lao Jiu sneered
He leaped down from his hammock and stood over De Ming
"You won't be able to fight next round, kid, not with these injuries."
"When's next round?"
"Two days, you're out of luck." Lao Jiu said bluntly
"I'll fight."
De Ming spoke with resolve and locked eyes with Lao Jiu
"You can't be serious—" he paused, sighed, and continued" —There really isn't negotiating with you, huh?"
Lao Jiu stood there and pondered for a moment, then he went to get something from his stash before returning
"Sit up," Lao Jiu said flatly.
De Ming used his right arm and pulled himself up. His body was very sore, but other than some residual stinging in his eyes and a broken arm, the rest wasn't anything unfamiliar
"Listen here, kid, what I'm about to teach you, you keep improving it, alright? It's still unfinished, but it's my life's project nonetheless."
Lao Jiu spoke mysteriously as he handed De Ming a worn wooden scroll, labeled "Sturdy Bone Infusion Technique."
"This is it, the reason I was able to fight nonstop in Gu battles, this half-ass technique kept me durable, because we as Third-Rate cultivators have minimal Qi reserves, our ability to recover is akin to non-cultivators, but with this technique, a High-Bronze cultivation technique that infuses the bones with Qi over time, strengthening it and enhancing its healing functions, changes that."
Lao Jiu stated proudly, then his face darkened
"But alas, it is naught but the incomplete vision of an old man, unable to progress his cultivation further. Kid, because I only possess the weak Qi of a third-rate cultivator, I am unable to further this technique; it is only able to infuse the outermost layer of bones. Your arm will be healed in a week at the earliest. Fighting would still be impossible, even with this."
"I'll manage."
"Stubborn one, aren't ya? Don't haunt me when you get yourself killed, lad."
Lao Jiu chuckled and started to teach De Ming in-depth about his technique, even its mantra "A warrior's strength comes from foundation, the foremost foundation is the bone."
De Ming started to slowly release his Qi under Lao Jiu's guidance, only enough not to let its volatility overwhelm him, just shy of its chaotic surge. It seeped through his muscles, then the outer layer of his bones. According to Lao Jiu's scripture, it should've stopped there, but it didn't
De Ming's chaotic Qi, while unpredictable, was very potent. It continued to dig and was soon infused with De Ming's bone marrow, nourishing his body directly.
"Lao Jiu, the Qi went into my marrow. Is that a problem?" De Ming asked calmly, unaware of the implications of his words
"It what?!? You're joking, right? Kid?" Lao Jiu's tone was a pleasant mix of disbelief, franticness, and joy
A single tear of relief ran down his old, wrinkled face
"20 years… It took damn 20 years, my technique… works." Lao Jiu spoke emotionally, all these years of efforts he thought he wasted finally paid off. Even if he couldn't use it, the fact that it would be of useful to someone else was enough
"Thanks, kid."
"For what?"
"You saved this old man from years of regret," Lao Jiu spoke enigmatically and returned to his hammock, leaving De Ming with more confusion.
"You're welcome, I guess?" De Ming answered awkwardly before he continued to cultivate, the Qi infusing in his marrow slowly healed his sores and aches.
When he had managed to gather enough strength, he stood up and left, returning to the Drifting Cloud Pavilion, walking unevenly and stumbling on the way
He encountered Bu Li on his way back, Bu Li handed him some medicine, valuable medicine he most likely stole, rare herbs a beggar like him couldn't possibly afford. But De Ming appreciated the gesture, so he didn't pry
"Let me help ya, staggering like that ain't a good look," Bu Li joked before he put his arm around De Ming's back to support him. He helped him back in the middle of the night.
"Thanks, Bu Li," De Ming said earnestly
"No probs, I'm you're friend," Bu Li smiled cheekily
"Friend, huh? I guess you are." De Ming muttered under his breath, for the first time in a long time, De Ming made a friend.
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They arrive in front of the Drifting Cloud Pavilion, they bid farewell, and then Bu Li leaves
De Ming pushed in the door and slowly staggered inside. The lights were still on despite it being midnight
He looked around and saw Zhu Lian asleep, her torso sprawled on a wooden table, she was waiting for his return.
De Ming smiled gently, then walked to her
He used his right hand and poked her peaceful sleeping face, her squishy and warm cheek, which got him carried away
"Lian~, it's not good to sleep here."
"Huh? Ming?" Her eye slid open lazily to De Ming giggling while mushing her cheek
Suddenly, she jolted upright in her chair, her face twisted in anger and embarrassment
"Where were you?!?! I've been waiting the whole night–" She stopped the moment she noticed bandages and a wooden stick around his left arm, and other injuries on his body
"Ming!?! Your arm!" Zhu Lian panicked
"I got into a fight… I won, by the way, if that makes you feel better?" De Ming tried to defuse the situation.
Zhu Lian went silent, stood up, and instantly helped him upstairs
"Lian?"
She didn't respond, and they stopped in front of the room numbered 003, Zhu Lian's room
She opened the door and dragged him in
"Umm? Lian?! This isn't my room," De Ming laughed awkwardly, thinking that she must have mistaken
"I know it isn't, this is MY room." She paused and stared him in the eyes. "And I'm not letting you out of my sight until you recover!"
She sat him down on a cushioned stool, her death stare silenced all protest from De Ming.
She started to take out salves and herbs to further treat and disinfect his wounds. Lao Jiu's treatment wasn't sloppy, but Zhu Lian knew De Ming's body best; she had patched him up countless times after all
She masterfully rebandaged him and realigned the wooden stick, setting his left hand up for a perfect recovery
"Thanks. Lian, as always." De Ming uttered sweetly, laced with appreciation
She smiled, acknowledging De Ming's earnestness before eyeing his bruises
"You wouldn't survive without me, brawn for brains," Zhu Lian chuckled, lightly jabbing De Ming's reckless nature
"Good thing you'll always be here for me, right?" De Ming chuckled
Zhu Lian blushed and turned away, hiding her flame-red face
When she finished his treatment, she lay him down on her bed and told him to rest
"What about you, Lian?"
"I'm also sleeping here, dummy," She pouted cutely and lay down next to him
"You always worry me," She muttered softly
"I'm sorry, Lian, I really am."
"Hmph. You better be."
Zhu Lian chuckled and moved in closer; she reached forward and pulled him in for a hug
"As punishment, you'll be my body pillow tonight."
She whispered as she dug her head into De Ming's chest
De Ming's face flushed red, he was too embarrassed to talk, so he left her be and slept. The two slept soundly in each other's embrace, their breathing rhythmic and uniform as they drifted into the night.