Tiger Fist's Uniqueness: Methods Not Lightly Taught

"What's there to not talk about?"

Qian Laosan basked in the respect shown to him by the young prodigy, opening his mouth wide and launching into an explanation:

"Blood Essence, Muscle and Tendon, and Viscera – these are the three realms of cultivating martial arts."

"Us escorts, we're in the Blood Essence Realm. The more skilled veteran escorts have reached Blood Qi Perfection."

"And those like the Chief Escort's inner disciples, and the Escort Leaders above the escorts, they are in the Muscle and Tendon Realm."

"First Escort Chief Cui and Second Escort Chief Cui, along with Chief Escort Zhang, they are in the Viscera Realm. I've heard that the experts in the inner city only reach this level at most."

Qian Laosan spoke incessantly. His years of experience had indeed made him knowledgeable, but when it came to realms beyond Blood Qi, his explanations became vague and unclear.

I wonder what's so special about the Muscle and Tendon and Viscera realms?

"Now that you've mastered Blood Essence, the next step is to learn an Internal Cultivation Method and achieve the Blood Qi Heavenly Cycle Circulation. The Minor Circulation signifies great accomplishment, and the Major Circulation signifies perfection. For example, I've been cultivating for seven or eight years, and I've achieved the Minor Circulation in Blood Qi. If it were Brother Li, he would definitely be much faster."

"It's a shame you can't learn the Internal Cultivation Method yet."

Li Cunxiao's heart skipped a beat.

He knew the escort agency was strict about martial arts inheritance, but after breaking through two minor bottlenecks in less than a month, was such talent not enough to warrant an exception?

"Why? Haven't I already mastered Blood Essence?"

Qian Laosan seemed to recall something, his expression subtle. After a moment, he shook his head, as if to comfort him, and said:

"Brother Li, I can see that Second Escort Chief Cui really appreciates you, but the one who teaches the Internal Cultivation Method is First Escort Chief Cui."

"That guy..."

"Is it really impossible to make an exception just once?"

Cui Yao frowned, looking at the middle-aged man before him, who bore a striking resemblance to him.

Compared to Cui Yao, whose face was scarred, Cui Wei, though also burly, had a somewhat fair and plump appearance, looking more like a wealthy landowner than a martial artist.

"Why should we make an exception?"

Cui Wei stood at the entrance of the courtyard, looking at the young masters in fine clothes inside, speaking dismissively:

"For the two of them to join the escort agency was already a tremendous favor, granted by the Chief Escort himself. Otherwise, a mere errand boy from a restaurant wouldn't be able to save up a hundred taels in his entire life."

"But look at the young masters and ladies in the inner city. They receive not only a thousand taels of silver a year, but also gifts of silk brocade, jade, and precious jewels during festivals."

"Their parents are either shopkeepers of this establishment or owners of that trade guild. When the escort agency takes in their children, and when it's time to get things done, a word is enough, and everything is settled perfectly."

"What does that Li Cunxiao have? Nothing. So, he follows the rules."

"New escorts must complete three escort missions without any errors before they can be taught the Internal Cultivation Method."

"Or," Cui Wei said, looking at his younger brother with a teasing glint in his eye, "you could go and beg the Chief Escort. As long as he gives his word, I won't say another thing."

"Go to hell," Cui Yao said with a laugh, and Cui Wei immediately glared at him.

"What are you saying! Aren't we from the same womb?"

"Forget it. I just saw the Li brothers and it reminded me of our days back then, so I mentioned it casually."

As for begging the Chief Escort for this, Li Cunxiao didn't hold that much weight in his heart.

"Don't worry too much. The escort agency won't deliberately send him to his death."

"New escorts are assigned easy missions when they first start. It's just that our Flying Tiger Escort Agency has a reputation, and those who seek us out are usually tough customers. There aren't many of these easy missions, so we'll have to wait a bit."

"After completing three escort missions, I reckon it'll take at most two or three months?"

Cui Yao couldn't be bothered to continue the banter with his elder brother and went straight back to the training grounds. From a distance, he saw Li Cunxiao dressed in new clothes.

Seeing the latter with a waistband cinched at his waist, black leather boots on his feet, and that imposing appearance with a leopard head and ring eyes, Cui Yao couldn't help but recall his days with his elder brother in the military governorate.

The Cui brothers also came from impoverished backgrounds; otherwise, they wouldn't have joined the army to live a life on the edge of a blade.

He would never forget how, under the indulgence of the military governor, the elite guards of the Wei Bo military governorate became so arrogant that after the governor's unexpected death, these proud and fierce soldiers became uncontrollable, often turning on their masters.

The root cause was the frequent warfare at the time. The military governor, in order to protect himself, had to relax the restrictions on cultivating martial arts and, to set an example, lived and ate with the elite guards.

This move was effective at the time. The Wei Bo military governorate became invincible for a period, leading some to proclaim, "The Emperor of the Capital, the elite guards of Wei Bo."

But the consequence was continuous mutinies. As soon as the newly appointed military governor made the slightest mistake, those warriors would draw their swords. The Cui brothers could no longer tolerate such unstable times, which is why they went south to Song Prefecture, leading to their acquaintance with Zhang Lishi.

Things obtained too easily do not earn gratitude. Examining and tempering disciples is a natural part of managing a force.

If one doesn't go on a few escort missions, how can one truly understand a person's character and conduct? A subordinate who hasn't even been with the escort agency for a month is given the Internal Cultivation Method so easily – how would the other veterans feel about that?

While waiting for Cui Yao, Li Cunxiao had slowly come to understand these matters.

To say the least, Gao Cheng, who was an apprentice chef at the restaurant, had only learned two dishes in four or five years, and at other times, he could only do pastry work.

With the slightest mistake, the head chef would scold and beat him.

The tall, strong man would be scolded without any temper, and he'd still have to offer tea to appease the master.

Li Cunxiao had even heard Gao Cheng say that the apprentice of the head chef at Deyue Tower, two streets away from East Arrival Restaurant, had it even worse – for every dish he learned, he had to endure his master's advances.

"Have you received your things? Now that you're an escort, you won't be training here with them, and you won't have to wake up at the fifth watch or do chores."

"After this, you'll practice staff with Qian Laosan and the others. When there's a suitable escort mission, you'll join. Otherwise, arrange your own time."

"After completing the three escort missions, I'll teach you the internal cultivation method."

Cui Yao didn't mention Cui Wei, and Li Cunxiao understood without a word, showing no sign of displeasure.

However, as he was leaving, Cui Yao couldn't help but call out to him:

"Kid, seeing your diligence and solid foundation, and your patience, let me give you a few pointers."

"Those people in the courtyard are different from you."

Li Cunxiao thought that saying more would be impolite, but Cui Yao seemed to read his mind:

"I'm not talking about differences in wealth or status, but internal and external differences."

"Those people in the courtyard, to put it bluntly, are just business. How many of them are truly appreciated by the Chief Escort? Taken as disciples? The escort agency and the wealthy families are just taking what they need."

"As for you fellows, your family backgrounds may not be great, but we've watched you grow step by step. You are our own people."

"In the future, we'll be brothers in arms who face danger together. Without observation and tempering, who would dare entrust their back to you?"

"You're still young, be patient. After you finish the escort missions and receive the internal cultivation method, if you reach Blood Qi Perfection before the age of twenty, you'll definitely be valued by the Chief Escort and have a chance to enter the Muscle and Tendon Realm."

Li Cunxiao pondered this, but didn't fully believe it.

Regardless, the fact that the other party was willing to spend so much time talking was a sign of their regard.

"Also, why do so many young men from inner-city families go to such lengths and spend so much money just to learn the Tiger Form Fist at our escort agency? Do you think their families have no martial arts heritage?"

Meeting Li Cunxiao's questioning gaze, Cui Yao lowered his voice.

"Between Blood Qi Perfection and the Muscle and Tendon Realm is a difficult hurdle. One wrong step, and a person can be ruined."

"People can die?" Li Cunxiao's pupils contracted.

"Better to be dead than alive," Cui Yao gave Li Cunxiao a deep look, his eyes seeming to encourage and admonish at the same time.

"The Chief Escort's method is unique in Chuqiu County."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Li Cunxiao standing silently. After a moment, he too turned and departed.

Overthinking was pointless.

Rather than racking his brain with the meager information he had, it was better to do something practical.

Gao Cheng had taken good care of his brothers, and now that he was an escort, it was time to repay some of that kindness.