"Alright!"
After a moment, Elder Liu sighed and removed the silver needles from the man one by one.
"Boss, how is it?" The remaining three quickly gathered around.
The man clenched his fist, feeling carefully, a smile on his face, "It's better!"
"That's great, second brother, you're up!"
Then another man sat himself down in front of Elder Liu, removing his clothes without a word.
As Elder Liu began the needle treatment again, Lu Zheng sensed a lingering chill from the puncture points on the first man's body.
Elder Liu hadn't fully removed it.
But that's normal; this is medical skill, not immortal technique. Even modern colds require a course of medication, let alone ancient acupuncture?
However, it was clear these people weren't on the right path. Elder Liu had to act because of the circumstances, but he certainly only focused on the immediate problem, aimed to send them away.
Should he remind them to come back tomorrow for more treatment?
"What are you looking at, pretty boy!" Another man glared viciously at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng smiled and shifted his gaze.
These guys were human, not ghosts, and there were occasionally citizens passing by outside. Lu Zheng didn't want to make a move in public, causing legal trouble, especially since he didn't have proper documentation.
"Humph!"
Seeing Lu Zheng move his gaze away, the man snorted triumphantly and then turned lustfully towards Liu Qingyan, "Young lady, where are you from? What's your name?"
Liu Qingyan shrank away, Elder Liu also glanced over.
"Third!" The leader of the group gave the lustful man a glare.
"Hehe, I was just asking, don't mean anything else." The man's voice trailed off sheepishly.
...
It took Elder Liu a full hour to remove the chill from the bodies of the four men, at least they felt it was removed.
"Thank you, doctor, eternally grateful," the leader of the group said with a smile, cupping his hands.
"You're welcome, it's the benevolence of a physician. However, gentlemen, it is better not to visit such cold places anymore. If the chill gets into your body again, it will only become more troublesome," Elder Liu hurriedly returned the courtesy.
"Thank you for the reminder, doctor. We won't go to such places anymore."
The leader muttered a word, glancing at his brothers. All of them chuckled merrily.
Now that the treatment was over, the third brother seemed to want to harass Liu Qingyan again, but the leader pulled him back, and the group left reluctantly.
"Alright, it's late, let's hurry home," Elder Liu stretched his old back.
"Those people, what kind of deal are they involved in?" Lu Zheng frowned and asked.
"Grave robbers," Elder Liu replied casually, "I've practiced medicine for decades. That kind of chill mixed with the feeling of death, I would never mistake it."
"Lu Lang, these people are not simple; their bodies are full of blood energy. Although they haven't cultivated martial artist's blood qi, they aren't easily handled by ordinary people. You have cultivated Daoist True Qi, but if faced in a direct confrontation, you probably wouldn't be their match!"
Elder Liu looked deeply at Lu Zheng, then hurriedly advised, "Avoid trouble when possible. They probably aren't from Tonglin County, and now with their bodies well, they should leave overnight, let's not stir up any trouble."
Everyone in the Liu Family knew Lu Zheng had obtained a cultivation technique for the martial dao. However, they had never thought that Lu Zheng had cultivated martial artist's blood qi in just a few days, even before achieving Daoist True Qi.
"Rest assured, I won't act impulsively."
They arranged the shop together, then the three returned to Tongyi Lane.
As usual, Lu Zheng was invited for a meal, and Aunt Liu teasingly remarked when he returned home, "Why does it feel like home is just a place to sleep? Master, when will you sleep at the Liu Family?"
Returning home, Lu Zheng did not travel back to the modern world. Instead, he sensed for a moment and then augmented himself with a strand of constitution of the light of fortune, a strand of spirit, two strands of blood qi, and a strand of true qi.
There were four strands of light of fortune left in the Jade Seal.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that spirit is a body attribute Lu Zheng recently discovered could be independently enhanced, having consumed a strand at the time.
Similar to constitution, spirit is overall an enhancement for Lu Zheng's spiritual power, including features like being energetic, focused, having enhanced memory, not easily confused, etc.
Though comprehensive, a single strand of fortune doesn't add much strength, but it aligns precisely with Lu Zheng's desire for all-round development like a hexagonal warrior.
Changing into a suitable outfit for combat, Lu Zheng picked up the Brocade Spring Saber and sat beneath the persimmon tree in the courtyard.
Just as he turned into Tongyi Lane, he looked back and caught a glimpse of the fourth person in the group, slyly trailing them from afar under the cover of the crowd.
Home invasion is unlike killing someone on the street, with solid evidence, similar to the day Lu Zheng brought the flower thief to the officials. Even if he killed them, he wouldn't worry about prosecution.
...
"Boss, found the place. There's a total of four family members with two old servants. Apart from the pretty young lady, there's also a kid, and the old man's wife is a mature woman, still quite charming!"
"Hehehe!"
"I like youngsters!"
"Leave the old one to me!"
"Why talk rubbish, of course, brothers will share and enjoy!"
"Hahaha!"
"Act quickly, have fun for half the night, then leave overnight."
"Where's the stuff?"
"Send it out of town first!"
"Got it!"
...
The sky darkened, the moon was bright with sparse stars, making it a rare fine night.
Lu Zheng leaped and landed on the persimmon tree in the backyard. Vaguely, he could see the back courtyard of the Liu Family lit with lamps and hear Liu Qingquan shouting about something.
...
An hour later.
Tonglin County gradually quieted down, each household extinguishing lights to rest.
The Liu Family did likewise, having been shrouded in darkness a quarter of an hour back.
At this moment, Lu Zheng's eyes sharpened, watching as four figures silently entered the Liu Family's front courtyard.
Lu Zheng observed clearly; these four were indeed highly skilled. If not for cultivating martial artist's blood qi, relying solely on proficient sword technique, it would have been uncertain that he could win.
But now...
"Third and fourth, deal with the two old servants first, then we'll act separately. Be sure not to let them make even the slightest sound."
"Rest assured, big brother, tonight we'll have a good time!"
Third and fourth crouched down, moving stealthily towards the side rooms in the front courtyard.
Just as they approached within five feet of the side rooms...
"Swish!"
Lu Zheng, who had quietly climbed onto the Liu Family's front courtyard eaves, had drawn his saber hidden behind him to prevent reflection, and suddenly struck down.
In the moonlight, the blade glinted like a sudden streak of cloth.
"Ah!"
Third brother screamed in misery, clenching his hands as he rolled to the side, blood splattering along the way.
In an instant, Lu Zheng moved like a thunderclap, slashing three times in succession, severing third brother's hand tendons and right foot tendon in a blink.