Apology, Huge Sum

After leaving the training ground.

Xu Yuan entered the quiet room, then took out a packet of Meridian Nourishing Powder and a Blood Activating Pill. After consuming a small portion, he spread his stance and began practicing.

After half an hour had passed, the medicinal effects of the two precious medicines gradually ran dry.

Only then did Xu Yuan slowly draw in his stance, standing where he was as he exhaled a mouthful of foul air.

With a thought, he opened the System Panel in his mind.

[Skills: Tai Chi Exercise (Major Accomplishment 3%) Stone Platform Stance Practice (Major Accomplishment 2%) Thunderclap Fist (Minor Accomplishment 4%)]

[Talent: 11 (Exceptional Bones)]

"Should I continue raising my cultivation, or strengthen my martial techniques?"

Xu Yuan stared at the data, pondering for a moment before quickly reaching a decision.

"For now, I should keep my focus on cultivation. As for Thunderclap Fist and Tai Chi Exercise, an extra bit of practice each night will be enough."

Moreover, if he encountered anything obscure, the two could inspire each other and draw inferences from one instance to another.

"Cultivation first, martial techniques second." Xu Yuan made this plan according to his own circumstances.

Cultivation could increase strength and reaction speed, bringing tangible improvements. Although the power of martial techniques was certainly important in clashes between opponents of the same realm, Xu Yuan was not yet at the point of discussing such matters.

After all, the force of Minor Accomplishment required at least the Four-Vein Realm to sustain it. No matter how much he trained, it would be useless.

"As for cultivation..."

Judging from Xu Yuan's current progress, he would probably break through to the Third Meridian around the middle of next month.

"It's just that the consumption of precious medicine is getting more intense. If I increase the dosage a little, the monthly expense will come to around ten taels of silver. The cost is enormous."

"If only that Precious Meat weren't limited in supply. Otherwise, I could increase my speed a little more."

Xu Yuan recalled the Precious Meat he had eaten before. After consuming it, his blood and qi had surged, and his cultivation speed could increase by ten or twenty percent.

"But I should be content. At this rate, I have hope of breaking through to the Four-Vein Realm in around four or five months!"

At the thought of this, Xu Yuan could not help feeling somewhat excited.

Once he entered the Four-Vein Realm, he would be able to bring his force to Minor Accomplishment and project it three inches beyond his body. Not only would its power increase, but he could also be promoted to head servant in the Shangyang Family.

As the name implied, it meant the head who managed the servants. Compared with ordinary household guards, his status would be as different as cloud and mud. No matter where he went, he would count as a person of standing.

"Uncle Zhao has been stuck at this realm for a long time, unable to enter it despite years of effort. That shows just how difficult it is."

Xu Yuan shook his head. Fortunately, he had no upper limit on his talent. He only needed to keep grinding upward.

Having set his goal, Xu Yuan became even more driven. Apart from his fixed hours teaching the students each day, he could devote all his remaining time to cultivation.

Even though he had now become a Two-Meridian martial artist, he did not slacken because of it. Instead, just as before, he carefully planned his time and worked diligently without rest.

At around two in the afternoon, after Xu Yuan finished teaching the students, the Meridian Nourishing Soup beside Ye Qing'er and Li Hua had also sold out. They greeted him, then left on their own.

That evening, when Xu Yuan returned to his residence, laborers had already brought over a basin of hot water to wait on him as he washed his feet and hands. They then tidied the room before respectfully departing.

Xu Yuan could not help sighing over it. "No wonder so many masters enjoy being waited upon. It really is much more comfortable."

The next morning, the skies had cleared after the rain.

Xu Yuan still arrived at the training ground early, practicing stance work by himself.

Quite a few martial students caught on and began imitating him, but in the end, they only learned a smattering of it.

Before long, Ye Qing'er and Li Hua approached with medicine soup in hand, greeting Xu Yuan with smiles. "Good morning, Martial Master Xu!"

"Good morning." Xu Yuan nodded.

The two chatted with him for a while longer. Seeing that it was nearly time, Ye Qing'er finally walked briskly toward the duty station.

Xu Yuan first went to the rear courtyard. After teaching the laborers, he came to the center of the martial field, swept his gaze over the crowd, and asked:

"Do you all remember the stance work I taught yesterday?"

"Who would like to come up and demonstrate it?"

As soon as his words fell, the martial students immediately raised their hands in unison.

After yesterday, they had gradually realized that the opportunity to receive personal guidance from a martial master was extremely rare. Naturally, they did not wish to miss it now.

Xu Yuan could not be bothered to see who had raised a hand first. He casually picked a few pleasing to the eye, gave them pointers, and then had everyone practice on their own.

Naturally, Xu Yuan ignored all those expectant, even resentful gazes.

Guiding the first few had merely been a whim. As far as he was concerned, it was enough to muddle through this job at the bare minimum. After all, he still needed to reserve time to improve himself.

That afternoon.

After Xu Yuan finished teaching everyone, just as he was about to return to the quiet room and continue practicing, a servant hurried over and said that Manager Zhao Qiusheng wanted to see him.

When he entered the Personnel Hall, Zhao Qiusheng was writing at his desk. The busiest peak had passed, and he had some spare time now.

"Uncle Zhao, did you call for me because something happened?" Xu Yuan asked.

"Listen to you. Can't I call you over for a chat if there's nothing wrong?"

Zhao Qiusheng set down his brush and exchanged a few pleasantries with a smile. Then he brought over an exquisite little box from the side and said:

"This also counts as a private matter. That Quan Xiong from the Wild Wolf Gang—didn't he have a conflict with you?"

"Today, Manager Liu Yue from the Internal Affairs Office came looking for me and wanted me to mediate. He said Quan Xiong was willing to apologize for what happened before and sent over one hundred taels of silver. He also specifically asked me to pass along a message: Li Daqiang offended you, so his death was no great loss. Quan Xiong has already confiscated his household."

After saying this, as if afraid Xu Yuan would misunderstand, Zhao Qiusheng waved a hand. "I owed Liu Yue a favor before, so I agreed to pass on his message. You don't need to consider me when deciding what to do."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan sneered inwardly. What a Quan Xiong. He certainly has quite the airs—he won't even come apologize in person?

But he could also understand it. The other party was at the same Two-Meridian level as him, and apologizing face-to-face would inevitably cost him face. Having someone mediate now could be considered a display of sincerity.

Xu Yuan had crossed over midway. Apart from his elder brother and sister-in-law, he truly had little feeling for anyone else.

However, this man still bore the name of the one who had caused his parents' deaths. By both sentiment and reason, Xu Yuan should not accept.

Thus, Xu Yuan had two choices before him, which could lead to three possibilities.

First, he could refuse reconciliation and fight Quan Xiong to the bitter end. Liu Yue likely would not compromise either, and the two sides would completely tear off their masks. An established manager and a Three-stripe Household Guard would still be rather troublesome for him.

Second, he could refuse reconciliation, and Liu Yue could compromise by abandoning Quan Xiong. But that did not mean Xu Yuan could simply control Quan Xiong. A dog driven to desperation would leap over a wall, making him difficult to control... and Liu Yue would certainly be displeased as well. Given the chance, he might secretly bite Xu Yuan.

Finally, he could accept reconciliation and temporarily placate both men. Once he broke through to the Third Meridian or even the Four-Vein Realm, he could settle accounts at leisure.

Moreover, at Xu Yuan's current speed, breaking through in cultivation likely would not take long.

With that thought, he immediately made his decision. Taking the box, he said, "Thank you, Uncle Zhao. Please tell Manager Liu that I agree to reconcile."

"As for what comes later, we can talk about it later."

As everyone knew, taking your money did not mean accepting your apology. He would take the money, but he would still take their lives.

As for deceiving the two of them and breaking his word?

Hey, could matters between martial artists be called deception?

This was called tactical misdirection, nothing more than a little wind and frost along the road.

"Mm, I'll convey the first sentence to Manager Liu."

The moment Zhao Qiusheng saw the look on Xu Yuan's face, he roughly understood his thoughts. He nodded approvingly.

The other party had just broken through to the Second Meridian and was at the height of high spirits, yet he could still control his emotions and clearly discern the situation. Such a state of mind was truly rare!

However, if Xu Yuan knew what he was thinking, he would definitely burst out laughing.

It was simply because he was unfamiliar with the original owner's parents. That was all.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, then Xu Yuan took his leave.

Returning to his residence, he opened the little box. Inside lay a sheet of silver ingots, its gleam beneath the candlelight making his eyes swim.

A full one hundred taels of silver!

"Quan Xiong is quite generous. This money is exactly what I need right now. It came at just the right time."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow and put it away.

He then went to the quiet room and once again began practicing his stance work.