The next day, Merin and Asuna stare at each other, their mind in turmoil.
The villagers who went to Mugenkai all returned from the gate of Mugenkai.
They were not allowed to enter Mugenkai.
Not for them but for everyone, Mugenkai's gate has been closed for the past week.
The reason is that a rebellion occurred in the north of the Mugen prefecture.
The rebels are the Snow Mountain Tribes living at the northern edge of the Mugen prefecture and in the valleys in the south of the Snow Mountain range.
The reason is still unknown.
But the imperial court dispatched armies to suppress the rebellion.
So, this is the reason the villagers came back empty-handed. But the villagers met a merchant caravan at Mugenkai's gate.
And the caravan followed them to this village for trade. So, Merin would be able to acquire the medical material for the two potions.
If the caravan has the medical material.
But the rebellion caused a dangerous situation for them.
Merin is still not healed, and if the rebellion spread to the village then their life would be dangerous.
Merin breaks the silence." Shall we return along the path we travelled?"
Asuna didn't answer Merin first, but muttered," Can't the rebellion take place after we enter Mugenkai. And we would inside Mugenkai because of somebody."
Merin smiles embarrassedly." It had already happened; no need to waste our minds on it. We should think of a solution where he enters Seiko prefecture unscathed."
Asuna rolls her eyes at him." It is good to say no need to waste on a mistake. But because you are responsible for the mistake."
She continues." What can we do other than stay here and understand the situation?"
" Returning will be dangerous. As the danger is still not cleared."
Merin nodded in agreement with Asuna. " To stay updated on all the information around the village. We have to send a scout."
Asuna frowns and says," Yes, but they are not our people. We cannot command them."
Merin closed his eyes to think about how to heal his injuries.
He would have to think of an alternative way to heal his injuries.
The merchant convoy may not contain medical materials for the two potions.
He would need all the medical materials for the two potions otherwise. He would have to wait to refine the potion.
He would have to wait before refining the potion.
Circulating his inner energy helps repair the veins.
But it is slow to repair his energy vein with the inner energy, and it would take him years.
Merin opens his eyes as he hears his doorbell.
He walks to open the door and come face to face one of the villagers. The villager informs him that the merchant caravan is setting camp outside the village.
Merin thanks the villager, and the villager walks away.
From the doorway, he sees villagers stepping out of their houses. Children shriek in joy, Women whisper and giggle among themselves, and Men in anticipation of the goods in the caravan.
Merin turns to look toward Asuna." Are you going?"
Asuna nods and joins him, and they walk toward the caravan outside the village.
Outside in the open field, Carriages and tents spread around and near the camp.
Merin observes and finds some carriages with an open side, so the goods in the carriage can be observed.
Merin looks at Asuna." We should separate."
Looking around the camp, Asuna." Yes, and do you need money?"
Merin didn't shy away. " I will inform you if required."
Merin calls a person working for the camp." Where are medical materials are sold in the camp?"
The person points him in a direction, and he follows. Before he even spot the place where the medical materials are sole, he smell the scent of the medical materials.
There, he says the name of the medical materials one by one that he need, but they don't have all the medical materials he need.
With even one missing medical material, he wouldn't be able to refine either of the two potions.
Therefore, he didn't buy any of the medical materials.
Then, he stands there thinking about how to heal his injuries. He looks at the medical materials in the carriage and in his mind he starts a calculation.
The calculation is to derive a potion that will be able to heal from the existing medical materials in the carriage.
After some time, he sighs in disappointment, having failed to derive a potion.
The reason behind this is two reasons. The medical materials present in the caravan cannot be refine into a potion that will be able to heal his injuries.
Or, his knowledge is not enough for him to derive such a potion that will be able to heal him.
He sighs again and looks at the woman. He asks," Does your caravan sell medical books?"
He hears yes, and the woman points toward the carriage where such books are sold.
He mentioned to the man managing the carriage where books are sold." Show me all the medical books you have."
While the man retrieves all the medical books. Merin looks at all the other books in the carriage, and he finds a book written on the book cover- Stone Body Refining Technique.
There are more books behind it. He guesses the books behind are also the Samurai Cultivation technique, and on the first book's cover is written Body Refining.
That makes the Stone Body Refining Technique a Low-Level Samurai technique. He doesn't know if the books behind them are also Low-Level Samurai techniques, but he can guess that all of them are Low-Level Samurai techniques.
Such a small caravan cannot sell cultivation techniques higher than Low-Level techniques.
Merin starts browsing the medical books that the man placed in front of him.
Among them, he comes across three books he has never read.
One of them is about medical materials found in the Yao Region.
The Second is about how to achieve harmony between the internal organs.
The Third is about basic medical knowledge, but is written by another healer.
He decides to buy all three of them.
Knowledge of the Yao region would be valuable for his future incursion into the Yao region.
There is nothing to say about the book- internal organs.
The third book will help him understand the perspective of another healer.
The manager doesn't open the lock but hands over a small book containing the names and introductions of all the Samurai Cultivation Techniques the carriage has.
Merin browses the pages and carefully reads the introduction of each Samurai Cultivation technique.
Halfway through the book, he halts as he hears Asuna. " What are you doing?"
Merin glances at her and down at the packages she is carrying. " What did you buy?"
Asuna says," Clothes, some necessities, some fruits, vegetables and spices."
Merin nods, and then he thinks he has to buy some clothes for himself. The clothes he is now wearing are from villagers in the village, and the two clothes he has are also from the villagers.
He says," I will also have to buy some clothes."
Asuna doesn't reply to him but peeks into the book he is holding. With disapproval, she says only for him to hear, " Are you still thinking about creating a Middle-Level cultivating technique by merging the Low-Level techniques?"
Merin shakes his head." I am not. I didn't find all the materials for the potions. So, I am checking for any technique with healing properties."
He pays 15 circle coins for the three books.
While the manager packs the books, Merin mentions the Samurai Cultivation technique books.
While packing, the manager says, "They only have Low-Level techniques."
Merin mentions his wish to buy a few of the techniques.
Asuna joins him. After reading the whole book, they select three techniques from them.
Snake Technique, Yang Technique, and Water Technique.
They are only the healing techniques he found, but he is still unsatisfied.
He says aloud," You have only this technique with healing properties."
The man stops, his eyes clouding over as if he is thinking about something.
Merin notices and asks," Is there any other technique with healing properties?"
The man looks at Merin and says," I have one, but it is said to be the worst cultivation technique."
Merin repeats," The worst cultivation technique." And asks," Why?"
The man says," Because the technique doesn't increase a bit of combat power."
Merin wonders what kind of technique doesn't increase any combat power.
Asuna is aware of the technique the man mentions." Are you talking about the Life Qi technique?"
Merin raises his eyebrow when he hears the technique's name. " Life Qi technique. Is it a middle-level technique? How can a middle-level technique not increase combat power?"
Asuna says," I can't say it doesn't increase, but the lowest increase than any technique. An outstanding Low-Level Samurai will be able to defeat a Middle-Level Samurai who cultivates the Life Qi technique."
Merin gets curious and asks the man," Can you show me the technique?"
The man nods and starts searching. After a few minutes, he finds the book under a pile.
The book is covered in dust.
He pats the book to remove the dust.
The man hands the book over to Merin.
Merin starts reading the book. After he has fully read the book, he understands why they say the technique doesn't increase a bit of combat power.
As the first part of the Low-Ranking Samurai stage, the technique refines and harmonises the internal organs.
While other techniques, refine skin, muscles, and bones to increase the strength or defense of the body.
He decides he wants the technique. So, he asks," How much is this with the other technique I selected?"
The man says," The Life Qi technique, nobody buys it. Think of it as a gift with the other three techniques and the medical books. Then it will be 90 circle coins."
Merin hands over the money and leaves with them. He doesn't go to buy clothes but goes to buy some medical materials.
He decides that he will abolish the Bear Body technique's internal energy and cultivate the Life Qi technique.
He feels for him to heal his injuries, he is left with no way other than the Life Qi technique.
He doesn't know the speed at which the inner energy of the Life Qi technique would heal his injuries.
But now he doesn't have any choice.
He buys medical materials for refining the golden spring potion.
After he abolishes the Bear Body technique's inner energy, his cultivation realm would fall back to the realm of ordinary people.
To climb back up to the Middle-Ranking Samurai realm as quickly as possible, he needs to open the energy veins mentioned in the Life Qi techniques.
He would also need a potion that restores his energy. And the golden spring potion is that potion.
This time, he finds all the material for refining the golden spring potion.
He buys back medical materials for refining 10 golden spring potions.
After he buys three sets of clothes.
Both of them return home.
After returning, he washes the three new sets of clothes and then cooks food.
After he had eaten the food.
He starts carefully reading the Life Qi technique.
After reading three times and memorising each energy vein, he needs to open the circulation route.
He closes the book and finds Asuna staring at him. " What?"
Asuna looks at him and solemnly says," Are you sure changing the technique would not aggravate your injuries? And of cultivating this technique. You can wait for the rebellion to end, and then you can get all the medical materials from Mugenkai."
He says," How can you be sure the rebellion would spread near here? And our pursuers will not find us."
Asuna frowns." I can't say anything about the rebellion, but if we parted, then the pursuers may not come for you."
He scoffs." How can the pursuers know that the blood pearl is not with me?"
Asuna sighs and falls silent.
Merin closes his eyes and, with no hesitation, abolishes his inner energy.