Task

Today is the second day of the second lunar month, the day of the Dragon Head Raising.

All things are recovering, and the spring breeze is warming up.

Getting up early this morning, Meng Yuan drew well water and, after washing up, went to the training field to practice diligently.

Half a month had passed since he entered the ranks, but none of the young men and women had yet opened their acupoints and entered the ranks. Meng Yuan also hadn't told them that more than half of his acupoints were already open.

After the Essence Flame reached its first perfection, its growth slowed down considerably. Although he had eggs and a pound of meat every day, it was still much slower than before.

However, Meng Yuan also noticed that this time the Essence Flame was more condensed than before. The external manifestation was that he was less afraid of the cold, his physical strength was more abundant, and his energy and spirit were very sufficient. He didn't feel tired even when practicing boxing late at night.

Because of this, Meng Yuan diligently trained his strength and nurtured his True Qi during the day, and only attacked his acupoints at night when he was in his single room.

When the Essence Flame reached its first perfection, it had cleansed his body, and many acupoints had already loosened. Therefore, Meng Yuan basically opened one acupoint each night.

With such effectiveness from just one perfection, Meng Yuan was even more looking forward to the second perfection of the Essence Flame.

"I need to eat meat, lots of meat, and a child bride..." While eating breakfast after his morning practice, Meng Yuan began to ponder.

Master Nie's guidance was based on his own ability, and Xun Mei's favor was because of his pure and kind nature.

But Meng Yuan knew that all human relationships and social niceties were like flowers in a mirror or the moon in water. Only when his realm improved would human relationships and social niceties be useful. Otherwise, their support would not last long!

Martial arts realm was the foundation, and the growth of the Essence Flame was his own foundation.

Therefore, he had to eat meat, and he had to find every possible way to eat meat.

After half the morning passed, Meng Yuan finally waited for Nie Yannian to arrive.

"Scholar Meng, come, come, come." Nie Yannian had a saber hanging from his waist and was holding another one in his hand, which he immediately threw to Meng Yuan.

Ever since he borrowed the book, Meng Yuan would pick it up and read a few pages during his rest time. After Nie Yannian saw him, he didn't stop him, but just gave him a nickname.

"You are a fake scholar now. If you go to a restaurant, the girls will definitely expose you. When you learn the saber technique, and they expose you, you can get angry and cut them down with your saber." Nie Yannian was very reasonable.

This person always spoke loosely, and Meng Yuan was already used to it.

Nie Yannian didn't say anything else and immediately assumed a stance, slowly demonstrating the technique once.

Meng Yuan watched carefully, but felt that Nie Yannian's saber technique was awkward, as if something was missing.

"You try it," Nie Yannian said.

Meng Yuan already had an excellent memory, and his top acupoint was open. Following the moves Nie Yannian demonstrated, he slowly circulated it once.

"Scholar Meng is really not bad," Nie Yannian praised him in a sarcastic tone, and then said, "However, this is a fast saber technique, called the Gale Wind Saber Technique. It requires the saber to be fast and the person to be fast, and the cuts must be steady and ruthless. It is a killing technique!"

As he spoke, Nie Yannian demonstrated again, but this time it was as fast as a gale and a sudden downpour. For a moment, the long saber could not be seen, only a flash of white light.

Meng Yuan watched in fascination, feeling that he could never achieve such a level.

After demonstrating once, Nie Yannian sheathed his saber and stepped forward, putting his arm around Meng Yuan's neck. "This saber technique is not just about using the strength of your hands and waist, but your whole body. When you open the acupoints in your torso and arms, the power will change; when all the acupoints are open, the power will change again; and even when you enter the eighth rank, the power will change again. Do you understand?"

"Master Nie means that this saber technique can be used by ordinary people. But if a person who has entered the ranks uses it with the method of circulating True Qi within their body, the power will increase even more?" Meng Yuan asked.

"A scholar is a scholar, you understand with just a hint," Nie Yannian was very pleased. "Alright, go practice first. Get familiar with the movement technique, and then teach it to the kids. Tomorrow I will teach you the method of circulating True Qi."

Seeing that Nie Yannian was about to leave again, Meng Yuan quickly grabbed him.

Meng Yuan pulled Nie Yannian to a distance and shamelessly said, "Master Nie, lend me ten taels of silver."

Over the past few days, Meng Yuan had also figured out Nie Yannian's temperament. This person had no filter on his mouth and would say vulgar things, but he was actually not bad. He didn't care about hierarchy and didn't act like a teacher. If you had something to say, you could just say it directly.

"Lend you ten taels? I'm so poor I can't even eat! Why don't you chop me up and sell me!" Nie Yannian immediately said.

How could such a person not have ten taels of silver? Meng Yuan looked at Nie Yannian and saw that he indeed looked helpless and poor, so he said, "Then forget it."

Meng Yuan was about to leave, thinking of borrowing some from Sister Hu Qian, when Nie Yannian put his hand on Meng Yuan's shoulder. "Hey, wait!"

Nie Yannian looked at Meng Yuan and asked, "What do you want to borrow money for, kid?"

"The food isn't enough, I want to eat meat," Meng Yuan said truthfully.

"That doesn't mean you can eat it every day." Nie Yannian took out a silver ingot and threw it over. "Here."

Meng Yuan quickly took it and asked, "Master Nie, didn't you say you didn't have money?"

"Alas, I'm used to crying poverty," Nie Yannian said casually.

So, as soon as I asked to borrow money, you cried poverty without even thinking? You're quite good at acting! Meng Yuan carefully considered Master Nie's expression and felt that since the early achiever is the teacher, he could learn a thing or two!

"Master Nie, how about giving me another ten taels, so I don't have to borrow again later," Meng Yuan said.

"You little brat are pushing your luck, aren't you?" Nie Yannian twisted Meng Yuan's ear. "Come with me!"

Leaving the training field, Meng Yuan followed behind Nie Yannian and asked curiously, "Master Nie, where are we going?"

"To get your wages," Nie Yannian said.

"You never told me I had wages!"

"You didn't ask!"

After walking for a while, they arrived at a small courtyard. Entering the room, they saw an old man.

"Gou Accountant!" Nie Yannian was not at all polite. He pointed at Meng Yuan and said, "This kid is a new guard, here to get an advance on his wages."

That Gou Accountant looked at Meng Yuan and asked, "What's your name?"

Meng Yuan reported his name.

"Yes, there is such a person," Gou Accountant said, flipping through the ledger. "But you're from Pasture Manor and haven't been a guard for even a month yet. You can't get a salary advance."

Meng Yuan remained silent and looked at Nie Yannian.

"He was introduced by Xun Mei," Nie Yannian said.

"Our Princess Consort is the most considerate person. Advancing one month's salary is nothing. You are the lowest-ranked guard, with a monthly salary of ten taels of silver, not including holiday bonuses." He fiddled with his abacus and took out ten taels of silver.

Meng Yuan took the silver and looked at Nie Yannian with dissatisfaction.

"Advance three months," Nie Yannian said.

Gou Accountant said, "Teacher Nie, if you were the one getting the advance, I wouldn't say anything, but this child is new. There's no reason for this."

Nie Yannian said, "He's Xun Mei's sweetheart."

Gou Accountant rubbed his eyes and then carefully examined Meng Yuan. Seeing the young man's tall and straight figure, sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, handsome appearance, and masculine aura, he said, "Who doesn't have difficulties? It's understandable for young people to have higher expenses. As the saying goes, 'help in urgent need, not in chronic poverty.' I, the old accountant, will take responsibility for this!"

Meng Yuan took the silver and felt even more strongly that rank was very important. Otherwise, no one would believe him even if he lied.

Leaving the courtyard, Meng Yuan thanked Nie Yannian repeatedly and even said some polite words about treating him to a meal another day.

"You've already received your monthly salary, shouldn't you return the ten taels of silver I lent you?" Nie Yannian immediately pressed for repayment.

You lent me money less than a quarter of an hour ago, right? And you're already asking for it back? Meng Yuan borrowed the money based on his ability; it hadn't even warmed up yet. How could he possibly return it?

"Master Nie, I have many places where I need money," Meng Yuan said seriously.

Nie Yannian pointed at Meng Yuan twice with his finger and then said, "I forgot to tell you, there's a job. Do you want to do it? You'll get a reward if you succeed."

"What kind of job?" Meng Yuan was very wary.

Nie Yannian didn't say directly, only saying, "Let's go eat first, and we can talk while we eat."