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"Everything will be arranged by Teacher," Wei He said hurriedly.

"Good." Zheng Fugui nodded in satisfaction.

With that, he began teaching him the subsequent methods for Stone Hide, explaining them one by one.

"Stone Hide is practiced by doubling the intensity on top of the previous foundation!"

"But simply doubling the intensity will not let you reach the next stage. You must also change the medicinal broth, and use an Internal Cultivation Method."

"An Internal Cultivation Method?" Wei He's spirits rose. He had heard of Internal Cultivation Methods long ago and knew that this was the true foundation for setting foot upon the path to becoming an expert.

"So-called Internal Cultivation Methods are actually quite simple once you lay them bare." Zheng Fugui smiled and glanced around, making sure no one was eavesdropping or watching.

Only then did he continue.

"We martial artists temper our bodies and train our strength every day. It seems our essence, qi, and spirit all grow alongside them. Yet over time, the mind is constantly influenced by the body's instincts, making one impulsive and quick to anger, with a violent temper.

"At such times, an Internal Cultivation Method is needed to balance it out."

He fumbled around on his person and, before long, pulled a yellowed sheet of thick folded paper from an inner pocket close to his chest.

He gently unfolded the paper.

A painted landscape of towering peaks was drawn upon it in colored ink.

Small green and red flowers dotted the blue-black mountains in scattered layers. At a glance, it was exquisitely detailed.

"This diagram is the Fundamental Diagram of our Huishan Fist. Internal cultivation requires a Fundamental Diagram that fully embodies the core of one's essence, qi, and spirit.

"For Huishan Fist, this Green Peak Tri-Color Diagram is our internal cultivation. If you can thoroughly comprehend this diagram and hold its artistic conception in your heart during daily practice, you will surely have hope of entering the next level."

"The Fundamental Diagram..." Wei He's heart stirred. He knew that he had finally begun to truly come into contact with the most mysterious path of martial arts.

"Martial artists refine essence, regulate qi, and temper the spirit. Rumor has it that profound techniques contain extremely detailed steps for the latter two stages. Unfortunately, our Huishan Fist is still too low-level."

Zheng Fugui sighed.

"Still, it is already remarkable. Among those ordinary martial arts masters outside, many have probably never even heard of a Fundamental Diagram. They can only rely on vague and dubious mnemonics and mental techniques, fantasizing about some so-called artistic conception."

"Old Zheng, then is our Huishan Fist Fundamental Diagram used to train qi and spirit?" Wei He asked curiously.

"You are overthinking it. It has a little effect, but it is used to break through to a deeper stage of External Martial Arts. First, you must understand one thing."

Zheng Fugui turned solemn.

"Training qi and tempering spirit are both ultimately meant to strengthen the body—to make the body grow more complete, step by step, and stronger."

"This disciple understands." Wei He nodded solemnly.

"Good." Zheng Fugui's expression sharpened.

"From today onward, you will comprehend the Fundamental Diagram with me. When practicing your fists and grinding your skin, keep this diagram in your heart. Let your heart be like mountain peaks, your intent like flowers—emerald buds blooming ninefold into crimson clouds!"

"When you can cultivate Nine Crimson Cloud Flowers upon both arms, your Iron Hide will have reached great completion!"

"Yes!"

In the blink of an eye, winter passed and spring arrived, and there was unexpectedly a light rain.

Though the weather might still return to clear skies afterward, this drizzle seemed to breathe a little life back into the parched earth.

Cheng Estate.

Under the endless fine rain.

Cheng Shaojiu and Wei He stood in the courtyard, letting the threads of rain drift down and leave tiny pale droplets on their shoulders.

Cheng Shaojiu did not know where to put his hands. One moment he raised them, the next he lowered them; then he clasped them behind his back and paced back and forth.

His gaze constantly turned toward the inner room.

Under the candlelight, all they could see from outside were several figures hurrying busily back and forth within.

"Push! Breathe in! Take a deep breath!"

"Push harder!! Don't stop! You must not stop!"

"Madam, quickly, quickly, quickly!!"

"Ah!" A woman's anguished cries continuously came from the room.

Cheng Shaojiu seemed to feel her pain as though it were his own. Though he was soaked by rain and chilled by the wind, cold sweat had already begun to seep across his forehead.

He had never expected his beloved second concubine to become pregnant again half a year ago.

Now, after ten months of pregnancy, the time had come for her to give birth. Though he was fickle in love, he treated his concubines extremely well.

He also doted greatly on his several children.

Wei He had met several of his children, but Cheng Shaojiu seemed to value this one more than any of the others.

"If anything happens to Yun'er this time..." Cheng Shaojiu gritted his teeth.

"Don't worry. Sister-in-law's cries are strong, and her breath is steady. She should be able to give birth safely," Wei He reassured him.

"I hope so..." Cheng Shaojiu nodded, though his face remained full of worry.

Just as he was about to say something else, a cry of alarm suddenly rang out from the inner room.

"She's out, she's out!"

"Scissors, quickly!"

"Sew the wound immediately! Bring hot water and towels!"

"Pat her butt!"

"Waaah!!"

At last, a miserable wail resounded like thunder.

Cheng Shaojiu's entire body relaxed, and he hurriedly prepared to rush inside.

Just then, the door opened. The midwife stood at the entrance, holding a tiny infant wrapped in layer after layer of swaddling cloth.

"Congratulations, Master Cheng. It is a daughter!"

Cheng Shaojiu gave his daughter a hurried glance, then immediately rushed in to see his concubine.

Wei He smiled faintly. This alone showed how genuinely well Cheng Shaojiu treated his women.

Ever since breaking through to Stone Hide, another three months had passed. While pairing his training with the Internal Cultivation Method, he had begun cultivating the new stage and advancing toward Iron Hide.

This stage differed from the previous ones. It was a true water-grinding barrier.

Senior Disciple Brother Zhao Hong had been stuck for five years without budging an inch. Cheng Shaojiu had spent four years on it, likewise without moving.

Over these past months, besides his grueling training and skin grinding, Wei He had also been testing the Boundary-Breaking Pearl.

The Boundary-Breaking Pearl's ability to accumulate qi and blood was clearly related to the nutrition and calories contained in food.

He had tried many foods with different caloric content and discovered that the Boundary-Breaking Pearl's progress varied noticeably.

Moreover, after he rose to the Stone Hide level, his body's total capacity for qi and blood had increased again, and the Boundary-Breaking Pearl accumulated it noticeably more slowly.

He could understand why. Before, gathering one bucket of water was enough for a breakthrough. Now he needed two buckets, yet the water flowing from the tap had not increased.

Naturally, it was slower.

Wei He recalled the Boundary-Breaking Pearl's progress that he had checked that morning. It had only just passed one-tenth.

That was to say, only a tiny bit.

His qi and blood had only strengthened by a small measure as well. As for the so-called Nine-Cloud Flowers blooming, he had only condensed the faintest red mark of the first flower.

Wei He came back to himself and saw Cheng Shaojiu walking toward him happily while carrying the child.

A servant walked alongside him holding an umbrella, while two more used fox fur pelts to block the wind.

"Little He, look! Hahaha! This is my fourth child, my third daughter! What name do you think I should give her?"

Cheng Shaojiu's face was filled with joy.

"Didn't you already think of several names? Just pick one from them," Wei He said with a smile.

"Look at her. Why does this little girl seem to resemble you so much?" Cheng Shaojiu suddenly said something shocking.

Wei He was startled and quickly looked over.

Sure enough, though the infant's little face was wrinkled like an old man's, upon closer inspection, she really did resemble him somewhat.

"Senior Brother, you cannot say such things carelessly!" Wei He hurriedly warned.

"Hahaha, just a joke, just a joke." Cheng Shaojiu laughed loudly.

"It would be better not to make jokes like that." Wei He shook his head.

"But she really does look a little like you. Why not acknowledge her as your goddaughter?" Cheng Shaojiu laughed. "Since you two are so fated, let's simply name the child Cheng He!"

"..." Senior Brother, this...

Wei He was speechless.

Was naming a child really this careless?

"Alright, alright, Cheng He it is. He as in lotus leaf. From now on, you must take good care of your goddaughter!" Cheng Shaojiu declared decisively.

Among his many friends, Wei He was now the closest to him, so such an arrangement was only natural.

After a bout of joyous commotion, the child cried herself tired and fell deeply asleep. Cheng Shaojiu needed to go comfort his wife.

Wei He therefore took his leave early.

After leaving Cheng Estate, he boarded the Cheng Family carriage sent to take him home. He watched the slanting rain drift past the window in silence.

Cheng Shaojiu's fourth child had been born, yet she had acknowledged him as her godfather.

He had once had only Second Sister left in this world, but now he inexplicably had a goddaughter.

Wei He could not help feeling that it was strange.

"That makes sense. After all, I am only eighteen and already a godfather. In the blink of an eye, I have been here for a year and a half."

From waking up, to entering Huishan Fist Academy, to now, a full year and a half had passed.

He had grown step by step from a frail and ordinary commoner, relying on his own efforts to reach where he was today.

It truly had not been easy.

Just as he was sighing with emotion, the driver suddenly turned the carriage and pulled it over to the side of the road.

"Young Master Wei, there is a cavalry procession ahead. They are from the Inner City, so we should step aside first."

The driver was an experienced middle-aged man who had driven for the Cheng Family for twenty years. Everyone called him Old Huang.

Wei He called him the same.

"The Inner City... a cavalry procession?"

He swiftly pulled open the carriage curtain to his left and looked outside.

The carriage had stopped on the right side of the road. Quite a few pedestrians and carriages on Shiqiao Town's streets had also halted, waiting as waves of hoofbeats came from the main road ahead.

The dense clatter of hooves quickly drew near, then galloped wildly past along the street to the left.

Wei He looked at them at once.

There were thirteen riders in this cavalry procession. The horses' flanks, as well as the garments worn by the riders, bore a large character for seven—the mark of the Seven Families Alliance.

He had seen that mark once on the street before, and Cheng Shaojiu had explained it to him. He knew it was the symbol of the Seven Families Alliance.

The thirteen riders raced onward at great speed. They appeared normal on the surface, but Wei He's eyesight, enhanced by his second qi-and-blood breakthrough at the Stone Hide level, was far beyond that of ordinary people. He immediately saw that something was wrong with them.

The horses were fine, completely normal, but the riders on their backs all had weakened qi and blood. Several also breathed erratically, sometimes heavy and sometimes light, as though gritting their teeth to endure something.

"There is a smell of blood!" Wei He narrowed his eyes, his nose twitching as he caught a faint scent.

The thirteen riders quickly galloped through the street and vanished in the direction of the Inner City.

Wei He withdrew his gaze and had Old Huang continue onward.

These riders do not seem ordinary. Their qi and blood may be weak, but from their presence and bearing at a distance, they all seem to have undergone long-term training. They have likely practiced martial arts, he guessed inwardly.

Threads of rain slanted down.

Wei He lowered the curtain.

"Let's go."

Old Huang answered.

"When those Inner City masters went out some time ago, they were all wearing black cloaks. Now that they have returned, ah..."