Master of Both Pen and Sword

Before dawn had broken, at the first crow of the rooster, Meng Yuan opened his eyes.

He had not slept all night. He had opened another Opening Acupoint as well, located in the flesh and skin around the spine beneath the back of his neck.

True Qi surged within his three acupoints. Though he had gone the entire night without sleep, he remained spirited and vigorous, showing not the slightest sign of fatigue; instead, he seemed capable of holding up the heavens.

He went out to draw well water, washed himself clean, and after dispelling the heat in his body, Meng Yuan began practicing again.

Sure enough, breakfast included three extra eggs. Meng Yuan gave one to Tie Niu, but Tie Niu refused it.

"This is the preferential treatment you get after entering the ranks. I can't take it." Tie Niu was remarkably sensible.

"Who taught you to say that?" Meng Yuan knew Tie Niu would never have considered such a thing on his own. Someone must have instructed him, so he asked with a smile.

"No one taught me." Tie Niu answered honestly enough, but he was poor at lying, and his eyes unconsciously flicked toward Wu Changsheng.

"Senior Brother, I just casually said some nonsense to Tie Niu last night." Wu Changsheng gave an embarrassed smile.

"It's fine." Meng Yuan nodded at Wu Changsheng, then said to Tie Niu, "I asked your father to look after Old Man Jiang, so naturally I need to look after you. I'll give you one of these three eggs. Once you enter the ranks in the future, you can give me one instead."

"You're so good to me, Brother!" Tie Niu was simple and honest by nature, without too many tangled thoughts.

Meng Yuan needed to nourish his Essence Fire now, but he was not short of one egg. Besides, Tie Niu was no outsider. His father, Zhao Datou, had not treated Meng Yuan like an outsider either—the matter of wiping his hands with donkey dung was still vivid in his mind.

"But I won't be sharing the meat at noon with you," Meng Yuan said with a smile.

"I understand." As Tie Niu peeled his egg, he said, "Brother needs to eat more, build up strength, and open more acupoints so he can bring back the Jiang family's little girl."

Meng Yuan patted Tie Niu on the shoulder and said nothing more.

After breakfast came another stretch of grueling training. It was nearly midmorning before Nie Yannian finally arrived, fashionably late.

"Come with me." Nie Yannian beckoned Meng Yuan over.

Meng Yuan hurried after him, but did not mention that he had opened another acupoint.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Nie Yannian went to the Training Field's storeroom, unlocked it, and rummaged through its contents. At last, he pulled out a longbow and two old quivers.

At the archery range of the Training Field, Nie Yannian taught him the basics of shooting.

Meng Yuan fired five trial arrows, then listened as Nie Yannian corrected a few details regarding his breathing and posture. That was considered enough.

This was a Two-Stone Bow, weighing around sixty catties. It was quite easy for Meng Yuan to handle. Still, archery practice was chiefly meant to hone skill and bodily coordination.

"The great sects and powerful clans have their children practice breathing techniques from a young age, but they also make them walk single logs, carry water, shoot arrows, and learn blades and swords. First, it teaches them ways to protect themselves early on. Second, it helps open acupoints. When the body is coordinated, acupoints become easier to open. That is the verdict of experience."

Nie Yannian gave a brief explanation, then grew impatient. "I have things to do, so I'm leaving. Nothing's happened with these brats, right?"

"No." Seeing Nie Yannian about to leave, Meng Yuan quickly caught him and asked, "Master Nie, can I leave the Training Field?"

"What are you going out for?" Nie Yannian looked Meng Yuan over and grinned strangely. "Got too much strength to burn, and want to go outside to find something soft to play with?"

Why did this man start spouting lewd nonsense the moment he opened his mouth?

"I want to see Mei-jie," Meng Yuan said.

"Oh my, you're already calling her Elder Sister. Go on, then!" Nie Yannian laughed and patted Meng Yuan on the shoulder. "Xun Mei is a trusted confidante of our Princess Consort. You'd better curry favor with her properly! Don't go empty-handed!"

What curry favor? This was called strengthening their bond!

"Yes." Meng Yuan agreed.

Once Nie Yannian had left, Meng Yuan began shooting arrows.

He stood with his feet level and shoulder-width apart. His left hand held the bow, its tip lowered toward his feet, while he drew an arrow and nocked it to the string.

His right index, middle, and ring fingers hooked the bowstring.

He raised the bow, drew the string to the corner of his mouth, breathed steadily, and fixed his aim upon the target butt.

His mind was tranquil as still water, and he loosed the arrow.

After every ten arrows, he rested for a few breaths. Only after firing a full hundred did he stop.

After training for another morning and eating lunch, Meng Yuan explained his reason to Hu Qian. Following her directions, he first took a cold bath before leaving the Training Field.

Following Hu Qian's guidance, he found a little maid and asked her to seek out Xun Mei, saving himself the two copper coins it would have cost to pass along a message.

Before long, Xun Mei emerged.

"Mei-jie!" Meng Yuan's gaze was clear, and a smile rested on his face.

"What brought you out here to find me?" Xun Mei looked unchanged, and she too wore a smile. She gave Meng Yuan a once-over, feeling that after just over a month apart, the young man's vigor had changed greatly. His clothes were clean and neat, his complexion rosy and bright, making him appear even more handsome and refined.

"I came to ask Mei-jie for a favor." Meng Yuan did not waste words and went straight to the point.

"What is it? Has someone bullied you?" Xun Mei smiled. "I heard that you got into a fight on your first day at the Training Field. Steward Liu even came to me, wanting to throw you out."

Meng Yuan bowed to Xun Mei. He did not explain much, only saying, "I've caused you trouble, Sister."

"That is nothing. You've entered the ranks now, which shows you truly have talent for martial arts. Work harder in the future and win back some face for me." Xun Mei folded her hands together and asked with a smile, "What do you want me to help you with?"

"I've been practicing martial arts lately, yet I still have quite a bit of spare time. Time is the most precious thing, and I've heard that reading history makes one wise. So I would like to borrow some books from you, Sister." Meng Yuan had already thought it through during his morning practice. His martial progress was so swift now, yet he still had idle time. He ought to find something else to do.

He still did not know enough about this world. If he wished to explore its deeper mysteries and more of its laws, then he should read history.

Besides, this would strengthen his connection with Xun Mei. She was the Princess Consort's favored maid, wanting for neither food, clothing, nor wealth. Nor did she have the temperament of some young girl. Gifts would therefore be useless, and he had no time to tease her with flirtatious nonsense, so he might as well ask directly.

If he had her help him with a few minor favors, then as they went back and forth, their relationship would deepen. In time, he could make more excessive requests.

Moreover, the first time Meng Yuan had met Xun Mei, he had sensed that she regarded literate people somewhat differently. He had been able to bring down Manor Head Li partly because she had thought more highly of him after learning that he could read.

Now that he was asking to borrow books, Meng Yuan was certain Xun Mei would help him.

Sure enough, a strange light appeared in Xun Mei's eyes. She studied Meng Yuan curiously again before smiling. "I never expected you to take the path of being accomplished in both letters and martial arts."

"Please don't laugh at me, Sister." Meng Yuan smiled.

"Go back and wait. I'll have someone deliver them to you later." Xun Mei's smile was gentle.

After parting from her, Meng Yuan left the Prince's Estate again and bought a packet of sesame candy outside.

Sesame candy was made from glutinous rice, sesame seeds, and malt sugar. It was fragrant, sweet, and crisp.

"Here." After returning to the Training Field, he gave the sesame candy to Hu Qian.

Hu Qian had shown Meng Yuan the way to find Xun Mei, saving him the cost of relaying a message. Naturally, he had to thank her.

"..." Hu Qian accepted it and asked, "How did you know I like sweets?"

Did that even need asking? Sweet foods were scarce in this day and age. Eight out of ten people loved them! If you did not know what to give someone, sweets could never go wrong!

"Sister Qian loves helping others and is cheerful and open-minded. I guessed you probably liked sweet things," Meng Yuan casually made up a statement with no connection between cause and effect.

"You're diligent and attentive. No wonder you were the first to enter the ranks," Hu Qian praised.

What did that have to do with anything? Meng Yuan merely smiled and thanked her.

Not long afterward, a little maid indeed came to deliver books. Meng Yuan accepted them with delight.

In the days that followed, Meng Yuan trained diligently, shooting two hundred arrows each morning and evening, and reading history books whenever he had spare time.

At the same time, he did not stop trying to break through to more acupoints.

By early February, all sixteen acupoints on Meng Yuan's torso had been opened. At that point, more than half of the Lower Thirty-Three Heavens had been opened.

Yet Meng Yuan also faced two problems: first, his Essence Fire was growing ever more slowly; second, it was time to raise the matter of bringing back Old Man Jiang and his granddaughter.