In the world of martial arts, I can invest in countless realms.

Chapter 22 Worry-Free Pill

"Flying Eagle Stronghold!"

He took out a map and carefully checked the location. This was the target Shen Che had chosen for himself, the closest to him and one of the easiest hills to bully.

Before leaving Hidden Sword Manor, Shen Tong gave him a general overview of the strength distribution of various sects and factions in the martial arts world, as well as the major masters in the martial arts world.

Specifically, they can be mainly divided into four types: easy to bully, not easy to bully, not easy to mess with, and not easy to mess with.

Flying Eagle Village is the kind of place that's easy to bully.

Historically, when successors of various factions ventured out, these mountain bandits and outlaws were always their first choice.

Such easy targets are the best choice, as they allow you to gain reputation without much danger. If you go too late, other hot-blooded young heroes might pick on you.

After a short rest in Linshui City and purchasing some food supplies, Shen Che continued his journey.

As he rode his horse into the distance, he kept an eye on Liu Zhan's direction.

After a night, Liu Zhan had stabilized the situation by using Feng Qi as a breakthrough point.

With half of Shen Che's power added to his strength, he had almost no rivals in that remote town. In just one month, the frail scholar had almost transformed into a violent one.

"Help! Help!"

After traveling for most of the day, Shen Che was about to stop and rest when he suddenly heard a series of urgent cries for help, accompanied by the creaking and rubbing sounds of the carriage speeding along.

Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man on horseback escorting a carriage, speeding towards him.

The middle-aged man appeared to be injured; blood was still seeping from between his fingers as he clutched his chest.

Behind these people were a group of burly men who looked like bandits, relentlessly pursuing them.

"Young hero!" The middleman of the guards in front seemed to have seen him and shouted loudly to him from afar.

"Please, young hero, lend a helping hand and quickly save my young lady."

As the carriage approached him, the horses pulling it seemed to give out and collapsed to the ground, nearly causing the carriage to overturn and fall apart.

While they were waiting, the bandits behind them caught up and surrounded them.

"Run! I'll let you run! What are you yelling for help for? This is the middle of nowhere, you can scream your lungs out..."

"Brother, look over there!" Pointing in Shen Che's direction, one of the bandits had already spotted him. "There's someone there!"

"Hmm? Someone's here?" The leader of the bandits turned his head and looked over, then sized up Shen Che.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, her clothes were not bright or luxurious, but there seemed to be subtle patterns.

Based on his years of experience in robbery and plunder, it was definitely top-quality goods.

My eyes lit up immediately—what an unexpected windfall!

"Come on, kill that old bastard! Leave the young lady in the carriage, but drag out the maids and let the brothers have some fun!"

"As for that kid!" The bandit leader said coldly, pointing in Shen Che's direction, "Take him down and bring him away too!"

"Brother, we want the men too! Didn't we just kill them all before?"

"Nonsense! Look at his clothes, he's definitely a rich kid. They've kidnapped him for ransom. If they don't get the ransom, they'll find a way to sell him!"

"Sold? Bro, it was a man!"

"You don't know anything! These days, tender, smooth-skinned women like him cost much more. You don't understand the tastes of the rich. Just go for it!"

"Kid, you're out of luck. Who told you to take this route today!"

"Troublesome!" Reaching for the sword at his waist, Shen Che's figure leaped into the air in the next instant, flashing past like a flying goose, and arrived in front of the bandits in the blink of an eye.

The soft sword at his waist became indestructible with the support of his inner energy, its light streaking across the sky like a silver river, as if bursting forth with the most dazzling brilliance in an instant.

When navigating the world, Shen Che always kept one thing in mind: no matter who he faced, he never resorted to empty talk. Like a lion hunting a rabbit, he went all out.

Under the terrifying sword energy, the group of bandits couldn't even withstand a single blow and were easily torn apart by the sword light.

"Such a fast sword, such a terrifying aura!" The moment the sword light appeared, the pupils of the middle-aged man who was seriously injured next to him shrank sharply.

"With such poor martial arts skills, you still try to rob and plunder!"

After wiping the blood off his sword, Shen Che sheathed it and prepared to leave.

"Young hero!" A clear voice rang out from inside the carriage, trembling with the relief of someone who had just survived a close call.

"Thank you very much, young hero. If it weren't for your help, we really wouldn't know what to do."

The carriage curtain was drawn back, and the woman inside slowly leaned out half of her body.

As the curtains were drawn back, a delicate fragrance, like an evening breeze in the forest, wafted out, fresh and subtle without being overpowering.

Sunlight fell on that fair face, causing Shen Che to pause slightly in surprise.

The woman possessed a gentle and graceful demeanor, with eyes that sparkled with spring. She seemed to combine the dignified elegance of a lady from a prominent family with a touch of lively charm.

A gentle smile, like a hundred flowers in full bloom.

"I am Mu Qingyin from the Mu Family Manor. Thank you so much for your help, young hero. If it weren't for you, we would probably have been robbed by bandits."

The woman was extremely beautiful, and her voice was clear and melodious, making it very pleasant to listen to.

For some reason, Shen Che felt a sense of unreality, a feeling that was too perfect in terms of aesthetics.

It's like those exquisitely produced pictures you used to see while scrolling through videos, even more refined, so beautiful it's almost unreal, so beautiful it seems to make your heart flutter at first glance.

"Miss Mu, you're too kind. I was just trying to help someone in need. Now that you're all settled, I'll take my leave!"

He turned his gaze away; the more beautiful something was, the more trouble it would cause, and he didn't particularly like facing trouble head-on.

"Young hero, wait!" Seeing that Shen Che was about to leave, Mu Qingyin immediately stopped him, then reached for her chest and said very sincerely.

"Young hero, you saved our lives! We have no way to repay you!"

"There's no need for that!" Seeing the other party's little gesture, Shen Che immediately waved his hand.

He knew this routine well, so he started taking off his clothes. Is this how people in the martial arts world are these days?

"Young hero, this is the Worry-Free Pill!" He took out a personal wax pill from his bosom, crushed it, and revealed a pill with a faint fragrance inside.

He dismounted and personally handed the pill to Shen Che. As their fingers touched, Shen Che felt a tingling sensation.

"Miss!" The middle-aged man beside her raised his voice considerably after seeing Mu Qingyin take out the pills, as if reminding her of something.

"Uncle An, I don't think you're a bad person, especially since you just saved us. How can we not repay this life-saving grace?"

"My father often taught us that we should repay even the smallest kindness with the greatest gratitude. This Worry-Free Pill is too little of a reward for saving our lives."

"This medicine is extraordinary!" Holding the pill in his hand, even without bringing it close to his nose to smell it, Shen Che could still detect its mysterious fragrance.

Just the smell wafting into the nasal cavity seems to instantly improve one's mood.

"Is this medicine very precious?"

"It's more than just precious!" The middle-aged man looked heartbroken as he saw the waist in Shen Che's hands.

"Young hero, this Worry-Free Pill can only be produced once every few years. After taking it, it can enhance your internal strength and has a miraculous effect on improving your physical constitution."

"The young lady only received one as a gift from the master last year, the year she passed the imperial examination!"

"Uncle An!" Mu Qingyin called out to the middle-aged man, signaling him to stop talking. Then, Mu Qingyin spoke gently to Shen Che, "Young hero, please don't refuse. As you travel the world, the Worry-Free Pill may be of great help."

"Can it really enhance one's skills and improve one's aptitude?" Holding the pill, Shen Che couldn't help but doubt its effectiveness. If it were true, each of its effects would be enough to make people fight tooth and nail for it.

Mu Family Village, I've never heard Uncle Tong mention such a powerful force before, how could they possibly hide such a good thing?

Indeed, people should get out and about more often; you never know when something might just fall into your lap.

"How could I possibly accept this!" He tucked it into his robes, thinking that such a valuable item to enhance his skills was too good to pass up.

"In that case, I'll accept it. The journey through life is long; may we meet again someday!"

After getting his hands on the good stuff, Shen Che didn't even think about admiring the beautiful women; his real priority was to run away quickly, just in case they changed their minds.

"etc!"

"Young hero, I have another favor to ask. My Mu family's guards have been scattered, and Uncle An is seriously injured. I really have important business to attend to at the manor and cannot delay."

"If you are willing to escort us back to the manor, I can persuade my father to give you another one after we get back."

"This...isn't that inappropriate?"

"Please grant my request, young hero!"