Chapter 14: Medicinal Bath Is Important For Body

Hearing her say those words so naturally, with such simple, profound devotion, my heart warmed up considerably.

"Smart girl," I laughed, patting her hip lightly before stepping to her side. "Then let’s do it properly."

This time, I guided her through each transition with genuine care, combining physical corrections with the core wisdom of the technique. I explained how to breathe in rhythm with the strain, how to disperse the crushing pressure into the soles of her feet, and how to let the body’s natural blood flow act as a hammer to knock away the deep impurities in her marrow.

Under the falling dusk, the courtyard was filled with the sound of her heavy breathing and the steady rustle of cloth. Shen Qingxue was relentless, even when her muscles burned like molten lead and her legs shook like dry leaves in a storm, she refused to drop her arms.

Two full hours passed in the blink of an eye.

By the time I called a halt, the girl was drenched from head to toe in sweat. Her damp raven hair clung to her pale neck and temples, her chest heaving heavily under her soaked white robe, outlining the delicate, developing curves of her frame.

Yet, in that single grueling session, she had successfully mastered and linked five full forms out of the eighteen.

Five forms in two hours. Even the so-called genius disciples on Sword Peak would need two weeks of grueling practice just to stabilize three. Her work ethic was terrifying, her comprehension was monstrous, and more importantly, she looked at me after finishing with eyes full of pure, glittering adoration.

She was, without a shadow of a doubt, the most perfect target a man could ever dream of showering with gifts.

Right on cue, a familiar, crisp chime rang out in my mind.

[Ding! Host has unconditionally imparted the peak’s foundational body-tempering art to Target Shen Qingxue!]

[Target’s Affection remains high: 95/100 (Tier 3: Unwavering Devotion)!]

[Investment Multiplier triggered: 10x Max Rate applied!]

[Eighteen Forms of Mountain-Cleansing Body Art (High Mortal Grade) has undergone a 10x Critical Mutation!]

[Reward mutating... Mutation successful!]

[You have acquired: Heaven-Grade Body-Refining Art - Nine Revolutions Indestructible Asura Physique!]

[System Storage: Technique deposited safely into inventory. Host may assimilate it at any time to temper flesh, sinews, and organs into an unyielding, indestructible vessel.]

A Heaven-Grade body-refining art.

I glanced at the System log and grinned inwardly. With this technique running through my newly acquired Heaven-Grade Spiritual Root, my physical defenses would soon become tough as hell, durable enough to ignore ordinary spirit blades and shrug off blunt impacts like gentle breezes.

Still, as eager as I was to study the new technique, I kept my hands behind my back and turned my attention back to the exhausted girl standing before me.

Shen Qingxue was swaying on her feet, leaning forward with her hands resting on her knees, struggling to catch her breath while wiping the sweat from her eyes.

"Alright, that’s enough for your first day," I said with a warm smile, walking over and brushing a damp strand of hair away from her face. "You did exceptionally well. But pushing further right now will only damage your muscle fibers. What you need most right now is rest and a proper bath."

Qingxue looked up, a weary but radiant smile lighting up her face. "Yes, Master... Disciple will go draw some well water to wash off."

"Who said anything about cold well water?" I chuckled, tapping her forehead playfully. "You are the first disciple of Lonely Cloud Peak, and my future wife. Do you think I’d let you soak in ordinary well water after such grueling training?"

She blinked, confused. "Master...?"

"Go sit in the courtyard pavilion and rest for a few minutes," I said with an enigmatic wink, turning toward the mountain’s rear storage shed. "Wait here. Your Master is going to prepare a bath that will make your bones sing."

...

I walked around to the back of the pavilion toward the natural cavern carved into the mountain wall. Deep inside, a pure underground spring welled up through the bedrock, its crystal-clear water bubbling with faint, azure wisps of spiritual vapor. Because Lonely Cloud Peak sat directly above a rich second-grade spirit vein, this spring water was saturated with pure essence.

I filled a large cedar barrel with the warm spring water, then reached into my space ring and pulled out several bundles of medicinal herbs and a few basic restorative elixirs.

I tossed in dried Blood-Nourishing Grass, bruised stems of Iron-Skin Vine, and a few drops of Jade-Marrow Liquid. As the herbs dissolved into the steaming water, the bath turned a deep, milky jade color, releasing a thick, earthy fragrance that cleared my sinuses with a single breath.

In a way, this entire process wasn’t all that different from hitting the gym back on Earth.

The eighteen movements of the mountain-cleansing technique were essentially brutal strength training, straining the muscles to their absolute limit, putting immense mechanical load on the skeletal frame, and forcing the body to recover stronger.

But you couldn’t build a divine physique on hard work alone; muscle growth required nourishment, and the medicinal bath was basically the ultimate post-workout protein shake.

The herbs would be absorbed through the pores, repairing microscopic damage, flushing out residual muscle fatigue, and reinforcing the bones. The only real difference was that instead of simply packing on mass, these techniques and celestial herbs strengthened every aspect of the human vessel, from skin to marrow.

Satisfied with the mixture, I carried the heavy tub into the pavilion’s bathing chamber and sealed the wind-warding talisman on the doorframe.

Stepping back into the courtyard, I found Shen Qingxue sitting obediently by the stone bench, her hands resting on her lap, trying her best not to fall asleep from exhaustion.

"The water is ready." I said, walking towards her. "Go ahead and soak in the medicinal bath. It should help your body recover from the strain of the training."

Shen Qingxue nodded obediently. "Thank you, Master. You went through all this trouble just for me."