Realm-Hopping Martial Master

Black Mountain County, outer city.

Wan Jingxing's expression shifted from shock to delight!

He had made full preparations. Still, he believed that someone who could take a task from the Danxia Chamber of Commerce after arriving in Black Mountain County, and then nonchalantly discuss terms with him, must definitely outmatch Zuo Dechun—a man who had reached the Refining Internal Realm by sheer luck.

But when the moment truly arrived, and Jiang Shu stood before him, confirming his willingness, Wan Jingxing's hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

Forcibly suppressing his inner excitement, he invited Jiang Shu inside.

Then, he fetched a pill from the room and soaked it in hot water. Within a few breaths, he rubbed the pill and evenly smeared it over his own face, as well as the faces of his wife and son.

"This is a low-grade Disguise Pill. After application, it can change one's appearance for a short time."

As Wan Jingxing packed their luggage, he explained. By this time, he had already transformed from a slightly aged Alchemist into an unremarkable middle-aged merchant. He shouldered his carrying pole with goods. Beside him, his wife's skin, under the effects of the Disguise Pill, had also become coarse and dark. Her originally delicate face now appeared somewhat plump. An unknown amount of cotton was stuffed underneath the coarse cloth, transforming her graceful figure into a bulky and stout one.

His son, on the other hand, hadn't changed much. He just changed out of his silk clothes and dirtied his face and hands.

The death of the Qin Family's retainer couldn't be hidden for long. Taking advantage of the fact that they hadn't been discovered yet, they naturally had to leave as soon as possible.

Seeing that Wan Jingxing wasn't packing any large items, the entire family left the small courtyard directly. Jiang Shu's bones also cracked as his physique shifted, and he followed Wan Jingxing.

Only when they were outside the outer city did Wan Jingxing allow himself to breathe a sigh of relief. He patted his obedient son's head and glanced at his wife, who had followed him all this way without a single complaint. Gritting his teeth, he turned to Jiang Shu beside him and said, "Senior, could you please escort us to Yongning County?"

Before him, endless, rolling mountains stretched onward.

Being in Black Mountain County, how could Wan Jingxing not know about the horrors lurking within these mountains? Even experts at the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm could potentially never make it out if they weren't careful. Not to mention himself, whose combat power in the Bone Forging Realm was only mediocre. Compared to other Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists, his only advantage was his knowledge of Alchemy. He was familiar with various medicinal herbs and the habits of Mutant Beasts. With extra caution, they should be able to avoid danger. That was what he had initially thought when planning their departure; he'd figured there was an eighty to ninety percent chance they could escape safely. But now, his wife and child were with him. He dared not gamble.

"I know I have nothing to offer now. Middle Grade Martial Arts and Middle Grade Elixirs wouldn't impress you, Senior. However, they might still be of some use. Besides these, I, Wan Jingxing, am also willing to sign an agreement with you. Once I become a Middle Grade Alchemist, as long as you provide the medicinal herbs, I, Wan Jingxing, will definitely refine Middle Grade Elixirs for you free of charge."

"The three most important things for an Alchemist are refining techniques, Elixir Recipes, and a Pill Furnace. If Senior has any requests, I, Wan Jingxing, will impart all the techniques and Elixir Recipes I know."

"These can all be written into the agreement. And Senior, you've met my wife and son, so you should know that people like me are sentimental. I won't go back on my word."

Feeling his wife's tense breathing beside him, Wan Jingxing looked at Jiang Shu, his heart filled with trepidation.

This was the highest price he could offer. It was almost like signing a contract of indenture to a Middle Grade Alchemist.

"Just bring the silver notes and leave everything else. They're just burdens."

"You carry your wife; I'll take your child. We need to move quickly."

After a few seconds of careful thought, Jiang Shu nodded.

Having been in contact with Wan Jingxing for a month, Jiang Shu could clearly feel that Wan Jingxing's foundation in Alchemy was actually very solid. It was probably because his Realm was insufficient that every attempt to refine Middle Grade Elixirs had ended in failure. Once they reached the provincial city, with sufficient resources, becoming a Middle Grade Alchemist should not be a problem. This was like making an early investment. Besides, a Middle Grade Alchemist held a very high status in the county. Even if their standing was ordinary in the provincial city, the information they could access was far more than what ordinary Martial Artists in the Refining Internal Realm could obtain. He would eventually have to step into that sphere. Helping out wouldn't hurt.

「Day and night alternated.」

Their pace was swift.

Jiang Shu carried Wan Jingxing's son as if he were lifting a little chick.

Behind him, Wan Jingxing carried his wife on his back, keeping up at his fastest pace, sweat streamed down his forehead.

The wife on his back wasn't idle either; every half hour, she would take a Blood Strengthening Pill from the sachet in her hand and feed it to her husband.

Earlier, she had been puzzled as to why her husband had signed such an indenture agreement, but now, she completely understood.

When that terrifying Mutant Beast attacked, her husband, carrying her on his back, had no attention to spare for anything else.

Meanwhile, this young man carrying their son merely swung his saber in a backhand motion.

That Mutant Beast, charging with the force of a mountain gale and howling as it came, collapsed, never to rise again.

Afterward, the young man's surging qi and blood protected them as they charged straight through the mountain range.

Upon seeing this, some Mutant Beasts fled faster than they ever had before.

The mountains that once seemed so difficult to traverse now appeared remarkably easy to pass.

In just half a month, they had journeyed from Black Mountain County to Yongning County.

Sanling Town gradually came into Jiang Shu's view.

"It's much safer here. You should settle down for a while. I will return, in a month at the longest, or half a month at the shortest."

He briefly gave his instructions.