Blood Qi Circulation

"You must have seen the Heavenly King tattooed on that scoundrel."

Li Cunxiao nodded upon hearing this.

Before meeting Zhao Xiaoyi, he had never imagined that a mere hoodlum could have so many tricks up his sleeve.

The Heavenly King tattooed on his back, silver hidden in his crotch... ultimately, these were just petty clevernesses. Without sufficient skill in his hands, they would only serve to add to the amusement.

"That fellow did the same thing ten years ago, but Murong Bai had him beaten with several dozen planks. The Heavenly King on his back was already ruined."

Ruined? Then Zhao Xiaoyi's chest and back were re-tattooed?

Li Cunxiao was momentarily confused. Did the other party's tattoos have some special significance?

Zhang Lishi seemed to guess what Li Cunxiao was thinking and said meaningfully:

"At that time, Zhao Xiaoyi was bedridden for half a month after the beating. But after his wounds healed, he bared his chest and back, going door-to-door asking for merit money, claiming it was to repair the Heavenly King statue."

After Zhang Lishi finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and took a sip. Li Cunxiao, however, had already understood the hint. He cupped his fists and left with the Cui brothers.

'A scoundrel, beating him won't hurt him.'

'The Chief Escort is reminding me to cut the grass and remove the roots.'

'But to cut the grass and remove the roots, Xie Donglai is unavoidable.'

Li Cunxiao followed the two Cui brothers out of the hall and headed towards the training grounds. Along the way, Cui Yao, with his wide, bell-like eyes, sized Li Cunxiao up from side to side, making smacking sounds with his mouth.

"Instructor Cui," Li Cunxiao said, feeling a bit helpless, and finally spoke up to remind him.

"Hahahaha, kid, do you know how fortunate you are? To be valued by the Chief Escort, and what's even rarer is that Third Lady spoke for you. Perhaps in the future..."

Seeing his younger brother making faces and speaking without restraint, Cui Wei couldn't help but kick him, but the other dodged.

"Third Lady has her own opinions. Her affairs don't require anyone else's concern, Li Sanlang. What did you hear just now?"

Li Cunxiao found the interaction between the brothers quite amusing and suppressed a smile.

"I heard the bell for the You hour. It's getting late. If you two Escort Chiefs don't mind, I'll treat you to a meal at a restaurant. How about it?"

Cui Wei looked at Li Cunxiao with increased admiration.

He had no objections to the Chief Escort teaching the Internal Cultivation Method.

Regarding Li Cunxiao, he felt the young man had some talent and was willing to work hard. At most, after today, he could add another person who dared to fight and dare to strive.

As for what Zhang Yuelu said about filial piety, loyalty, and righteousness, he just took it as background noise.

Unlike the boisterous Cui Yao, as the elder brother, he was more cautious and suspicious. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to lead his brother to survive the brutal military governorates and even escape in the end.

Hearing is false, seeing is believing. At least from the conversation just now, he could tell that Li Cunxiao was a sensible person and quite adept at handling things, no wonder Cui Yao had developed a fondness for his talent.

However, in the days to come, it wouldn't be the single-minded Cui Yao training Li Cunxiao, but him, Cui Wei.

"You're just a small escort, how much silver do you earn a month? If I eat your wine, I, Cui Da, won't be able to stand straight anymore."

"Let's go. Since the Chief Escort has given the word, tonight I'll first explain to you what the Internal Cultivation Method is."

"Yue'er, you've always been meticulous. Recommending Li Cunxiao, it must be more than just buying a horse with a thousand gold pieces, right?"

After the three left, Zhang Lishi and Zhang Yuelu walked towards the Escort Agency one after another.

The Zhang family residence was built next to the Escort Agency, connected by a small path. Zhang Que'er had been quite frightened by the fight earlier and had already scampered away.

In the corridor, there were only father and daughter for a moment.

Zhang Yuelu heard this and quickened her steps, going forward to take her father's arm and said softly:

"Father, don't you think there are too many disciples from large families in the Inner Courtyard?"

Zhang Lishi fell silent upon hearing this and, after a long time, sighed.

The so-called Inner Courtyard was initially just a place where Zhang Lishi selected outstanding youths. In other words, it was a reserve for inner disciples.

In the early years, the Inner Courtyard had produced figures like Shi Tie, who could cultivate to the third realm of the Viscera. Shi Tie respected Zhang Lishi like a father and was loyal to him. Later, he married Zhang Lishi's eldest daughter and had a good relationship with the entire Zhang family.

But in recent years, such figures had become increasingly rare. To the point where the Inner Courtyard, where Cui Wei taught martial arts, had now become a small courtyard for disciples of Inner City families.

It wasn't that Zhang Lishi had any intention of hating the rich and helping the poor. It was just that disciples with family ties, while having money and influence behind them and providing convenience to the Escort Agency in various aspects, also had complex relationships behind them.

Compared to those without roots and from ordinary backgrounds, disciples from large families were less likely to remain loyal to the Escort Agency.

Of course, absolute loyalty was rare in the world.

If it were peaceful times, with such mutual benefit, the Escort Agency could have prospered for several more generations.

If it were peaceful times, the eldest disciple Shi Tie, although simple-minded, would have been enough to be a guardian.

If it were peaceful times, even if his descendants were unworthy, with his martial prowess, Zhang Lishi could have established the Escort Agency in Chuqiu County.

But the turmoil that could overturn the world was fast approaching.

Murong Bai's ambition was almost on full display. In recent years, he had not only trained a private army but also formed alliances with several major families in the Inner City.

His proposal for a marriage alliance today was self-evident.

One mountain cannot tolerate two tigers.

"Yue'er's thoughts are profound; I am not your equal. It remains to be seen if this Li Sanlang can continue to advance bravely. Let's not talk about this anymore."

"How are your preparations for breaking through to the Muscle Realm?"

Zhang Yuelu knew her father was troubled, so she didn't say much more. When discussing martial arts cultivation, her tone became a bit more lively.

"My Blood Essence has been perfect for several months, and I've also practiced the Demon Seduction Method a few times in advance. I estimate I have about seventy percent certainty."

"Oh?"

Zhang Lishi's face lit up with joy.

The transition from Blood Essence Perfection to the Muscle Realm was quite perilous, so a seventy percent chance was already quite high.

His eldest and second daughters had also practiced martial arts, but both found it too difficult, giving up halfway through just manipulating their Blood Essence.

It was his third daughter, Zhang Yuelu, who, after three years of cultivation at only nineteen years old, would basically be stable in breaking through to the Muscle Realm if he were there to watch over her.

Thinking of this, he felt even more regret.

If his third child had been a son, why would he have so many worries?

Daughters eventually get married… or perhaps, take in a son-in-law?

"Father, I've also read many of your collected books during this time to prepare for my breakthrough."

"Compared to other Demon Seduction Methods, the Tiger Demon Fist seems to be quite upright and peaceful?"

"Does this martial art have some kind of origin?"

From the way the young masters of wealthy families had eagerly sought to learn it before, Zhang Yuelu could glimpse its significance. But it wasn't until she reached this crucial point herself that she could truly appreciate it.

As father and daughter, she didn't have many reservations and asked what she was thinking.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lishi's eyes showed a hint of nostalgia. After a moment of thought, he said:

"The origin of the Tiger Demon Fist is indeed significant. In fact, I'd say it carries more weight than my other technique, the Minor Yaksha Saber Art..."

Zhang Yuelu was startled.

Others only knew Chief Escort Zhang for his Tiger-Eyed Mad Saber, believing his saber techniques were his true hidden skills.

Even the senior disciples in the inner courtyard coveted the Minor Yaksha Saber Art.

Yet, they never expected that the Tiger Demon Fist, which seemed to have no special advantages other than safety, would have such a greater origin?

Zhang Yuelu, rarely showing curiosity, tugged on her father's arm and pleaded.

"Daddy~~~"

Zhang Lishi immediately showed the smile of a doting father:

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you..."

"Back then, when I was traveling the jianghu, I happened to meet an old Daoist priest. He claimed to be from a major Daoist sect..."

"...Chief Escort likes the roasted lamb from East Arrival Restaurant, while I prefer the beef from Deyue Tower."

"Look, this sinewy meat needs to be simmered over a low heat for several hours to become tender. Slurp~"

Cui Yao said, taking a big slurp. The dozen pieces of beef in the bowl disappeared into his mouth like candy. He then took a sip of the warmed yellow wine, a look of contentment on his face.

"Ah, refreshing!"

Cui Wei was already accustomed to his brother eating and drinking without regard for others. Li Cunxiao, however, hadn't expected that the other party would just start eating without any social niceties.

But his mind wasn't on that.

"...When it comes to the Blood Qi Realm, no matter how you talk about Sensing Qi, Controlling Qi, or Strengthening Qi, it all boils down to increasing your Blood Essence and filling your entire body."

"More Blood Essence means greater strength, faster running, harder hits, and better defense against blows."

Cui Wei spoke in plain, easy-to-understand language.

"You are currently in the Sensing Qi Realm, and you fought someone today. You must know that fighting with or without Blood Essence support is not the same thing, right?"

Li Cunxiao nodded in agreement.

Although he could now manipulate Blood Essence, the quantity wasn't sufficient, and it took about one breath's delay to mobilize it.

When his fist was about to unleash its full power, his leg speed couldn't be maximized; if his leg support was maximized, the power of his fist would be insufficient.

If his opponent today hadn't been Zhao Xiaoyi, who had been out of practice for a long time, and if those runners hadn't been so careless, it was truly uncertain who would have won or lost.

"First Escort Chief Cui, then could you explain the difference between Blood Qi Circulation and manipulating Blood Essence?"

Li Cunxiao, with good timing, poured him a cup of wine. Cui Wei didn't say anything, but he appreciated it.

"To put it plainly, a person's body is like a container. The total amount of Blood Essence is fixed. It's just that some people have a bucket, and others have a vat."

"No matter how skillfully you manipulate Blood Essence, its upper limit is fixed."

"The so-called Blood Qi Circulation is divided into major and minor."

"The Minor Circulation is about expanding the heart and lungs, which serve as the palace of Blood Essence."

"The heart is the official of Blood, and the lungs are the master of Qi."

"By using special breathing techniques and medicines, Blood Essence is strengthened to enhance the heart and lungs. Over time, the heart and lungs will become like water pumps. With a single thought, Blood Essence surges throughout the body, arriving in an instant. Every punch and kick will be empowered by Blood Essence."

"In this state, even weaker martial artists can wrestle with a wild bull, while stronger ones can be as fast as a galloping horse and tear tigers and wolves apart with their bare hands. This is the Great Accomplishment of Blood Qi."

"However, from what I know, only Chief Escort achieved such a feat back then when he mastered the Tiger Form Fist. Even Shi Tie was a bit short, and the rest, well, cough cough."

Perhaps due to drinking too much, Cui Wei almost couldn't control his mouth, but Li Cunxiao didn't mind. He merely noticed another issue in the other man's words:

"Under the Minor Circulation of Blood Qi, the state of explosive Blood Qi cannot be sustained?"

"Of course!"

Cui Yao had drunk nearly a pound of wine, yet his face wasn't flushed and his eyes weren't dazed. Hearing this, he said mischievously:

"Martial Artists in the Blood Qi Realm are like a man's private parts; they can only be hard for a while and need a time to vent."

"If it stays hard all the time, that's a problem! The longer you stay hard, the longer you'll be soft! Hahahaha!!!"

Cui Yao laughed heartily as he spoke.

Cui Wei couldn't help but curse with a laugh:

"You're absolutely right. Li Sanlang, what Cui Er said is exactly the point."

"If you want to stay hard, you need to circulate Blood Qi through the meridians, and finally have Blood Qi enter the brain, achieving a complete body circulation."

"At that point, with Blood Qi filling your entire body, you won't need to deliberately control it. When others attack you, the Blood Qi under your skin will naturally rebound with force, like wearing a layer of leather armor."

"A martial artist at this level is not considered a common soldier even in a military governorate; at least a squad leader. In Chuqiu County, you wouldn't be an unknown person anymore."

"In those martial arts schools in the outer city, achieving Blood Qi Perfection is considered quite an accomplishment for the lesser ones."

"In short, tomorrow you come to the courtyard, and I'll teach you the breathing method and the meridian chart."

As Li Cunxiao was about to raise his cup to express his gratitude, Cui Wei reached out and covered the opening of his cup.

"Don't thank me, thank Chief Escort. You kid,"

A hint of complex emotion suddenly appeared in his eyes, and his voice inexplicably deepened:

"Don't resent the Escort Agency's many rules. Compared to the brutality of the army, you've already gotten lucky."

Cui Yao, who was beside them, also fell silent, which made Li Cunxiao even more curious. What kind of experiences did the Cui brothers have in the military governorate's army?

Where... where am I?

What happened to me?

Zhao Xiaoyi opened his eyes, looking blankly at the unfamiliar room. It wasn't until he caught a familiar figure in the lamplight.

"Second Uncle... Second Uncle, right, that damned couple, that Li Nezha, I... my..."

Panic suddenly surged into his heart. Zhao Xiaoyi ignored the pain in his body and reached down to feel.

Xie Donglai, seeing his nephew awake, quickly grabbed his hands.

"Xiaoyi..."

A bad premonition suddenly arose in Zhao Xiaoyi's heart. When he was beaten yesterday, at least he felt pain, but now, he felt an emptiness below.

After all, he was a martial artist who could manipulate Blood Qi. In a moment of impulse, he channeled his Blood Qi downwards. Xie Donglai, being of a higher realm, noticed something was wrong the moment he saw his nephew's expression. Just as he lifted the blanket, he saw a gush of blood spurt out, staining the embroidered silk bedsheet a deep crimson.

"Xiaoyi!"

Zhao Xiaoyi's eyes rolled back, and he fainted again. When he woke up again, he felt groggy and utterly weak.

The lamplight in the room had already been extinguished, and the dawn faintly peeked through the outside. He vaguely heard his uncle talking to someone:

"...Firstly, your son has practiced martial arts, and secondly, the County Lieutenant was generous with good medicine, otherwise he wouldn't have woken up so quickly. But you must never channel your Blood Qi erratically like last night. This Agarwood Pill is harmless to the body; it only suppresses Blood Qi, which can actually alleviate the injury."

"Is there really no other way?"

"...The County Lieutenant's martial arts are far superior to mine. You should be asking yourself that question."

The conversation stopped, and footsteps gradually approached. A moment later, the door opened, but Zhao Xiaoyi could only see a blurry mass of darkness.

"Xiaoyi, for this period, just focus on recuperating..."

"Recuperate?"

Zhao Xiaoyi's expression instantly turned ferocious and crazed, as if a wound had been reopened:

"I can't even be a man anymore, how can I recuperate! How can I heal!"

"Uncle, didn't you say that the Muscle Realm has many marvels, and that demonic and monstrous powers have unfathomable abilities? There must be a way, Uncle."

Seeing his nephew on the verge of collapse, Xie Donglai felt both pity and anger, unable to control himself:

"What were you doing earlier! All you knew was bullying the weak and dominating others. Did you ever put any effort into practicing martial arts?"

"If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn't have ended up in this state!"

However, thinking of his sister in the underworld, Xie Donglai's tone finally softened.

"The Xiao Family of the Inner City specializes in secret arts related to the bedroom. Perhaps they might have a solution. I'll inquire about it first before making any plans."

Zhao Xiaoyi's heart filled with a sliver of hope upon hearing this, but he then gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse:

"Uncle, that guy named Li has tormented me to this extent..."

"Not yet," Xie Donglai frowned. Although he also hated Li Cunxiao for causing his family to lose face, the County Governor Murong Bai had specifically instructed him, so he could only endure it for now.

"It's not time to settle the score yet. You focus on recuperating, and there will be opportunities later."

Zhao Xiaoyi could only remain silent upon hearing this. Soon, the medicine took effect, and he drifted off to sleep once more.

"Achoo!"

Li Cunxiao sneezed, thinking to himself that someone must be talking about him, and strode towards the inner courtyard.

However, halfway there, a familiar voice suddenly called out to him.

"Brother Li!"

He Bi approached, still sweating from his morning training.

"Brother Li, isn't today a rest day after completing your escort duty? Why are you here so early?"

"Oh, this..."

Li Cunxiao pointed towards the small courtyard at the end of the path.

"I'm going to see Instructor Cui to learn the Internal Cultivation Method."

Thanks to readers Wuchang Jun and Fu Le Mei Ming Zi Le for their rewards.

This is the new book period. It's not that the author doesn't want to update more, but to secure recommendations, traffic, and exposure, it's not good to update too much. If the word count increases too much, we won't get recommendations and will have to go on sale with no support. However, the author is also saving manuscripts, and the updates after going on sale will be very satisfying for everyone.

Monday and Tuesday are crucial for readership data. If possible, please use your fingers to scroll to the last page of the latest chapter. Thank you!