Blood Like Mercury

Night.

Jia Yanyong's eyes were swollen and bloodshot.

After the doctor's treatment, his eyes had still been saved.

It was just that they were now red and swollen, his vision blurred, making it difficult for him to see clearly.

"Guild Leader, I specifically went to invite Lin Zheyu, but he refused to come," Jia Yanyong said.

"What did he say?"

Xu Jingwu took a sip of tea and gave the woman beside him a squeeze around the waist.

He looked to be around forty and had maintained himself well. He did not carry Jia Yanyong's heavy bandit-like air; he even seemed somewhat refined.

"He said he had no time tomorrow morning. If Guild Leader wishes to hear storytelling, you may go to Bi Dan Teahouse tomorrow afternoon."

Jia Yanyong spoke with blunt honesty.

Anyone with a dirtier heart would have simply badmouthed Lin Zheyu.

But Xu Jingwu valued Jia Yanyong precisely because of that trait, placing great trust in him and cultivating him.

"When I told you to invite him, did you threaten him with force?"

Xu Jingwu glanced at Jia Yanyong.

He knew Jia Yanyong's temperament. The man was nothing but a brute; if something could be settled with fists, he would never use his brain.

"No... well, I only gave him a little threat."

Jia Yanyong had just been about to argue when he saw the guild leader looking sideways at him, and he said awkwardly.

"Forget it, forget it. I forgot to remind you to be more polite."

"But this scholar has some nerve. Not only did he refuse in the face of your threat, he even dared to strike first. Interesting."

"I'll personally go to Bi Dan Teahouse tomorrow to invite him. I'll listen to some storytelling while I'm at it, and see whether this fellow is truly so unyielding."

Xu Jingwu chuckled, then looked at Jia Yanyong. "Your eyes are injured. Rest properly for the next few days."

"Luo Tian, take out five taels of silver for Jia Yanyong to see a doctor."

"Thank you, Guild Leader."

Watching Jia Yanyong's departing figure, a trace of amusement appeared on Xu Jingwu's face.

"An interesting fellow, with some courage. No wonder he could write such a thrilling story as The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

He had no interest in the love stories of scholars, seductive fox spirits, demons, and ghosts.

As a martial artist, Xu Jingwu preferred stories like The Legend of the Condor Heroes, tales brimming with the hot blood of the martial world.

The story was wonderfully told. A few days ago, he had heard several guild members discussing it. Curious, he had asked around, and had been drawn into it as well.

But only one installment was told each day, which was far from satisfying. That was why he had thought of inviting Lin Zheyu to his home to tell the story.

By the time he returned home, the night was already deep.

Lin Zheyu's whole body ached, and fresh bruises covered him.

Master Liang had struck far too heavily and had not held back at all. Lin Zheyu's face felt like it was on fire.

"My handsome face has been ruined."

As he applied medicine to himself before the bronze mirror, Lin Zheyu could not help crying out in pain.

After washing up,

he climbed into bed in exhaustion.

The several hours of sparring drills with Master Liang had drained his physical strength, energy, and focus enormously.

Yet Master Liang had seemed completely unaffected. When Lin Zheyu left, he was still full of vigor.

Lin Zheyu could not help wondering what level of expert Master Liang truly was.

I'll ask tomorrow morning, and ask about the later realms of martial arts as well.

Lin Zheyu muttered to himself and sank deeply into sleep.

The sky had only just begun to brighten.

Lin Zheyu arrived at Liang Song's home early.

The medicine Liang Shi had given him was miraculous. After applying it last night, the pain was gone when he woke this morning, and even the bruises on his face had vanished.

"Master, what realm comes after Viscera Refining?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

"Very well, I'll tell you."

"On Martial Path Road, Muscle Training, Bone Forging, and Viscera Refining are merely the foundation, meant to lay the groundwork for martial arts. Only after completing Viscera Refining can one begin deeper levels of training."

"After Viscera Refining come Qi and Blood, Marrow Training, Transformation Force, Grandmaster, and Martial Dao Innate."

"On Martial Path Road, Viscera Refining is a threshold. Beyond it, each realm is a separate heaven. A difference of one layer in realm means a difference between heaven and earth in strength."

Liang Song spoke with a hint of melancholy in his voice.

Because of certain events in his early years, his right foot had become lame, and his martial path had stagnated.

"Then, Master, what realm are you at now?"

Lin Zheyu was immensely curious. He felt that his master should be exceptionally powerful.

"Heh, I am currently in the Qi and Blood Realm. But because age has weakened me, my martial realm has declined somewhat." Liang Song shook his head, filled with wistful regret.

Grandmaster, Martial Dao Innate...

Lin Zheyu murmured, his heart full of yearning.

The strength of a Martial Dao Innate expert was probably unfathomable, like gods and ghosts, wasn't it?

Liang Song looked at Lin Zheyu. Seeing the longing on his face, he could not help smiling faintly.

"Don't aim too high. Keep your feet on the ground."

"The martial path is incomparably difficult. Even those in the Viscera Refining Realm can already be considered skilled fighters in Songyi City," Liang Song said.

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu came back to himself.

He took off his outer robe, dressed in a fitted sleeveless shirt, and went to the center of the courtyard to begin practicing his fists.

After he had practiced his fist techniques for half an hour, Liang Song examined him carefully and nodded in satisfaction.

"That will do."

"Next, I'll teach you another Cultivation Method."

"Wild Bull Fist is only a third-rate Cultivation Method. Even at its peak, it can only reach the Viscera Refining Realm."

"The Cultivation Method I'll teach you next can be considered second-rate. If you can fully comprehend it and cultivate it to the limit, your strength can reach the peak of the Qi and Blood Realm!"

Liang Song spoke with utmost seriousness.

In his view, only Cultivation Methods of the second rank and above could be considered true Martial Arts Techniques.

Third-rate martial arts like Wild Bull Fist could only be considered beneath notice.

The things he had taught others in the past had all been third-rate martial arts as well.

Only after seeing Lin Zheyu's astonishing comprehension and talent had Liang Song developed a fondness for talent and decided to teach him another Cultivation Method.

"Master, is there a great difference in strength between Viscera Refining and Qi and Blood?"

Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

Wild Bull Fist could be cultivated to Peak Viscera Refining, yet Liang Song's tone carried some disdain for it.

But when speaking of a Cultivation Method that could lead directly to the peak of the Qi and Blood Realm, he had been extremely serious.

"Of course."

"Muscle Training, Bone Forging, and Viscera Refining are only the process of laying the foundation, building the groundwork for Martial Path Road. Cultivating to Peak Viscera Refining means one's physique has reached the limits of an ordinary person."

"Upon reaching the Qi and Blood Realm, one's strength will undergo a tremendous leap."

"What is most important to a martial artist?"

Without waiting for Lin Zheyu to answer, Liang Song continued, "Qi and blood!"

"Qi and blood are the foundation of the body, the root of martial arts."

"To set foot on the road of Grandmasters, or even break through into Martial Dao Innate, qi and blood are of vital importance."

"Please guide me, Master."

Lin Zheyu asked respectfully as he poured his master a cup of tea.

Liang Song picked up the teacup in satisfaction and took a sip.

He continued, "Qi and blood are exceedingly important to Martial Path Road. After extensive research, the seniors divided the Qi and Blood Realm into nine minor levels."

"These nine minor levels are also called the Nine Transformations of Qi and Blood."

"If one can complete the Nine Transformations of Qi and Blood within the Qi and Blood Realm, achieving Blood Like Mercury and condensing Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke, then one will have a great chance of stepping into the Grandmaster realm!"

Liang Song explained, his tone filled with longing.

He shook his head. "But completing the Nine Transformations of Qi and Blood is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. Most martial artists can only reach Qi and Blood First Change."

"At my peak, I only cultivated my qi and blood to Qi and Blood Three Transformations."

Liang Song said.

He removed his robe, revealing a fitted sleeveless martial outfit, and walked to the center of the courtyard.

"What I'm about to teach you is the Cultivation Method I primarily cultivate, called the Golden Goose Skill."

"The Golden Goose Skill focuses on leg techniques, primarily cultivating the arts of attacking with the legs."

"Among the many parts of the body, our legs possess the greatest strength and the strongest explosive power."

"The Golden Goose Skill cultivates the legs, excels in speed, and is extremely nimble. It can attack when advancing and defend when retreating."

"But it has one weakness. Limited by the fact that the legs are less flexible than the arms, its attacks may have great explosive power, but they lack the dexterity of fists and palms."

"..."

Liang Song spoke slowly.

After introducing the Golden Goose Skill, he began explaining it to Lin Zheyu move by move.

Lin Zheyu studied with great seriousness, and his comprehension was good.

Liang Song was indeed rather mediocre at teaching disciples, but fortunately, Lin Zheyu's comprehension and talent were excellent, allowing him to quickly understand Liang Song's meaning.

The more Liang Song taught, the more satisfied he became.

Encountering a disciple with such good comprehension gave him an excellent teaching experience, making him mistakenly feel as though he was remarkably gifted at teaching disciples as well.