23 Blood Qi Circulation (4,000-Word Two-in-One)

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

Li Cunxiao nodded at this.

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

A Heavenly King tattooed across his back, silver hidden in his crotch. In the end, they were merely petty tricks. Without real skill in his hands, he could only make himself a laughingstock.

"That man did this ten years ago too, but Murong Bai had someone give him dozens of heavy strokes. The Heavenly King on his back was beaten to ruin long ago."

Beaten to ruin? So the tattoos on Zhao Xiaoyi's chest and back had been redone?

Li Cunxiao was briefly confused. Could there be something special about the man's tattoos?

Zhang Lishi seemed to have guessed what Li Cunxiao was thinking and said pointedly,

"Back then, Zhao Xiaoyi was beaten so badly that he could not get out of bed for half a month. Yet once his wounds healed, he bared his chest and back again, going door to door begging for merit money, claiming it was to repair the Heavenly King statue."

After saying this, Zhang Lishi lifted his teacup and took a sip. Yet Li Cunxiao had already understood the hint. He cupped his hands, then left with the Cui brothers.

Scoundrels and rogues cannot be beaten into submission.

Chief Escort Zhang is reminding me to pull out the weeds by the roots.

But to pull out the weeds by the roots, I cannot avoid Xie Donglai.

Li Cunxiao followed the Cui brothers out of the main hall toward the training grounds. Along the way, Cui Yao stared at him with a pair of bronze bells-sized eyes, looking him up and down while clicking his tongue.

"Instructor Cui," Li Cunxiao finally said helplessly.

"Hahahaha! Boy, do you know what a great blessing this is for you? To win the chief escort's favor—and rarer still, Third Lady even spoke up for you. Perhaps in the future..."

Seeing his younger brother wiggle his brows and speak without restraint, Cui Wei could not help kicking at him. Cui Yao twisted aside and dodged it.

"Third Lady has her own mind. No one else needs to worry about her affairs. Li Sanlang, what did you hear just now?"

Li Cunxiao found the brothers' interaction rather amusing and forcefully suppressed the corners of his mouth.

"I heard the evening bell at the hour of the Rooster. It is getting late. If you two escort chiefs do not mind, how about this junior treating you to a meal at a restaurant?"

There was a little more appreciation in Cui Wei's gaze as he looked at Li Cunxiao.

He had no objection to the chief escort teaching Li Cunxiao an Internal Cultivation Method.

As for Li Cunxiao, Cui Wei thought the young man had some talent and was willing to work hard. At worst, after today, he could add daring and a willingness to fight to his list of merits.

As for Zhang Yuelu's talk of filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, and righteousness, he took it as nothing more than noise.

Unlike the broad and careless Cui Yao, Cui Wei, as the elder brother, was more cautious and suspicious. Otherwise, he could not have led his brother through the cruelty of the military provinces and ultimately escaped.

Hearing was false; seeing was truth. At least from their conversation just now, he could tell that Li Cunxiao was a sensible man and quite adept at handling people. No wonder Cui Yao had developed an eye for his talent.

But in the days ahead, the one training Li Cunxiao would no longer be the single-minded Cui Yao. It would be Cui Wei.

"You are only a junior escort master. How much silver do you earn in a month? If I eat your food and drink, Cui Da will never be able to straighten his back again."

"Come on. Since the chief escort has spoken, tonight I will first explain to you what an Internal Cultivation Method is."

"Yue'er, you have always been thoughtful. Recommending Li Cunxiao cannot have been merely a matter of buying a horse's bones for a thousand gold, can it?"

After the three left, Zhang Lishi and Zhang Yuelu walked one behind the other toward the escort agency.

The Zhang Family residence had been built beside the escort agency, with a small path connecting them. Que'er had been badly frightened by watching the fight today and had already scampered off first.

For a time, only the father and daughter remained in the corridor.

At his words, Zhang Yuelu hurried forward, took her father's arm, and said softly,

"Father, do you not think there are rather too many children of great lineages in the inner court?"

Zhang Lishi fell silent at that. Only after a long while did he let out a deep sigh.

The so-called inner court had originally only been a place where Zhang Lishi selected outstanding youths. Put another way, it was a reserve pool for personal disciples.

In the early years, the inner court had even produced someone like Shi Tie, who had cultivated to the Third Realm, the Viscera Realm. Shi Tie revered Zhang Lishi as if he were his birth father and was fiercely loyal. Later, he even married Zhang Lishi's eldest daughter and became close to everyone in the Zhang Family.

But in recent years, such people had become fewer and fewer. By now, the inner court where Cui Wei taught boxing had become a small courtyard for the children of Inner City lineages.

It was not that Zhang Lishi held any notion of robbing the rich to aid the poor. Disciples burdened by lineages did indeed have money and influence behind them, allowing them to provide conveniences to the escort agency in all respects. Yet at the same time, the relationships behind them were tangled and complex.

Compared to those without roots and of ordinary birth, children of great lineages found it harder to remain loyal to the escort agency.

Of course, absolute loyalty had always been difficult to find in this world.

If these were peaceful times, such mutual gain would allow the escort agency to prosper for several more generations.

If these were peaceful times, although his eldest disciple Shi Tie was simple and honest, he would still be enough to preserve what had been built.

If these were peaceful times, even if his descendants proved unworthy, Zhang Lishi's martial strength would still let the escort agency establish itself in Chuqiu County.

But upheaval capable of overturning the world was coming soon.

Murong Bai's ambitions were practically laid out on the table. Over the past few years, he had not only trained a private army, but also formed alliances and played the field among the great Inner City lineages.

His proposal of a Marriage Alliance today made his intentions plain.

One mountain could not contain two tigers.

"Yue'er sees far ahead. Your father falls short. Whether Li Sanlang can continue to advance bravely is another matter. Let us not speak of that."

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

Knowing that her father was troubled, Zhang Yuelu did not say more. When the subject turned to martial cultivation, a touch of liveliness entered her voice.

"Your daughter has reached Blood Qi Perfection for several months, and I have also rehearsed the Demon Seduction Method several times beforehand. I estimate... a seventy percent chance."

"Oh?"

Zhang Lishi was overjoyed.

The step from Blood Qi Perfection to the Muscle Realm was extremely dangerous. A seventy percent chance was already no small thing.

His eldest and second daughters had not never practiced martial arts, but neither could endure such hardship. They had given up halfway through merely manipulating Blood Essence.

Yet his third daughter, Zhang Yuelu, had trained for three years and was only nineteen this year. If he stood guard beside her during the breakthrough, then breaking through to the Muscle Realm would basically be certain.

Thinking of this, regret filled his heart even more.

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

A daughter would eventually have to marry out. Otherwise... should he take in a live-in son-in-law?

"Father, to prepare for my breakthrough, I have read quite a few of the books in your collection lately."

"Compared with other Demon Seduction Methods, Tiger Demon Fist actually seems rather upright and peaceful?"

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

Previously, when those children of wealthy households had competed to study it, Zhang Yuelu had already glimpsed a little of it. But it had never been as deeply felt as now, when she herself had reached this threshold.

She and Zhang Lishi were father and daughter, so they had no such reservations. The question came to her mind, and she asked it.

At her words, a trace of nostalgia appeared in Zhang Lishi's eyes. After thinking for a moment, he said,

"The origins of this Tiger Demon Fist are indeed no small matter. One could say that it carries even more weight than your father's other art, the Minor Yaksha Saber Art."

Zhang Yuelu was startled.

Others only knew Chief Escort Zhang as the Tiger-Eyed Mad Saber, believing his saber art to be the skill he kept at the bottom of his chest.

Several senior brothers in the inner court also deeply coveted this Minor Yaksha Saber Art.

Yet who would have thought that this Tiger Demon Fist, which seemed to have no merit besides safety, actually had an even greater origin?

Rare curiosity arose in Zhang Yuelu. Tugging on her father's arm, she pleaded,

"Father~~~"

Zhang Lishi immediately revealed an old father's smile.

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

"Back when I traveled the martial world, I happened to encounter an old Daoist priest. He claimed to come from a great Daoist sect."

".The chief escort likes the roast lamb at East Arrival Restaurant. As for me, I favor a bite of beef from Deyue Tower."

"Look at these tendons and scraps. They need to be simmered over a low flame for several hours before becoming soft and tender. Slurp~"

As Cui Yao spoke, he took a huge breath. More than a dozen chunks of beef in his bowl went down his stomach like candy beans. Then he took a mouthful of warmed yellow wine, a contented expression appearing on his face.

"Comfortable!"

Cui Wei had long grown used to his brother eating and drinking as if no one else were present. Li Cunxiao, however, had not expected that when the man said they would eat, he truly meant nothing but eating, without the slightest concern for social niceties.

But Li Cunxiao's thoughts were not here anyway.

".The Blood Qi Realm, whether you call it Sensing Qi, Subduing Qi, or Strengthening Qi, boils down to making your Blood Qi increase until it fills the entire body from top to bottom."

"The more Blood Qi you have, the greater your strength, the faster you run, the harder you hit, and the steadier you are when hit."

The moment Cui Wei opened his mouth, he spoke entirely in plain language, simple and easy to understand.

"You are now at the Sensing Qi stage, and you fought people today. You surely know that fighting with Blood Qi reinforcement is not the same as fighting without it, right?"

Li Cunxiao nodded in strong agreement.

Although he could now manipulate blood essence, the amount was not particularly great, and mobilizing it still came with roughly a breath's delay.

When he put full force into his fists, he could not bring his leg speed to its utmost; when he reinforced his legs to the maximum, the force delivered by his fists was not as strong.

Had today's opponent not been Zhao Xiaoyi, long out of practice, and had those constables not been so careless, who won and who lost truly might not have been certain.

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

Li Cunxiao perceptively poured him a cup of wine. Cui Wei said nothing, but he was pleased inside.

"To put it bluntly, the human body is like a container. The total amount of Blood Qi is fixed there. Some people have buckets, while some people have vats."

"No matter how well you manipulate blood essence or how exquisite your control is, the upper limit remains there."

"So-called Blood Qi Circulation is divided into greater and lesser."

"The Minor Circulation is about expanding the heart and lungs, making them the palace of Blood Qi."

"The heart is the official of blood, while the lungs are the master of qi."

"Using special breathing together with medicine, you let Blood Qi strengthen the heart and lungs. Over time, the heart and lungs become like water pumps. With a thought, Blood Qi rushes through the entire body, arriving in an instant. Every punch and kick carries Blood Qi reinforcement."

"At this stage, weaker martial artists can wrestle with savage oxen, while stronger ones can outrun galloping horses and tear tigers and wolves apart with their bare hands. This is Great Accomplishment of Blood Qi."

"However, as far as I know, only the chief escort achieved such feats back when his Tiger Form Fist reached great accomplishment. Shi Tie fell just short, and as for the rest... ahem."

Perhaps he had drunk too much, for Cui Wei almost failed to control his mouth. But Li Cunxiao did not mind. He had merely noticed another issue in Cui Wei's words.

"At the Minor Circulation stage, the state of erupting Blood Qi cannot be sustained?"

"Of course!"

Cui Yao had drunk nearly a jin of wine from beginning to end, yet his face was still not red and his mind not muddled. Hearing this, he said with a lewd grin,

"A martial man in the Blood Qi Realm is like that thing of a man's. It can only stay hard for a little while, and it has to let out eventually."

"If the damn thing stays hard the whole time, that's a problem! For every ten more breaths you stay hard, you have to go limp for another half hour! Hahahahahahaha!!!"

As Cui Yao spoke, he laughed so hard that he rocked back and forth.

Cui Wei could not help laughing and cursing.

"You damned fool, that really is the principle. Li Sanlang, what Cui Er said is exactly right."

"If you want to stay hard all the time, you must use Blood Qi to pass through the meridians of the entire body, until finally Blood Qi enters the brain and completes a Major Circulation throughout the body."

"At that time, Blood Essence Fullness fills the entire body. You need not deliberately control it. If someone strikes you, the Blood Qi beneath your skin naturally exerts force and rebounds, as though you were wearing a layer of leather armor."

"A martial man at this realm would not count as a mere common soldier even in the military provinces. At the very least, he would be a squad leader. Here in Chuqiu County, he would no longer be an unknown nobody."

"Among those martial schools in the Outer City, the poorer ones treat Blood Qi Perfection as the face of their school."

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

Hearing this, Li Cunxiao was about to raise his cup in thanks, but Cui Wei reached out and covered the mouth of his cup.

"Do not thank me. If you must thank someone, thank the chief escort. You, boy..."

A complicated emotion suddenly surfaced in his eyes, and his voice inexplicably lowered.

".Do not resent the escort agency for having too many rules. Compared to the cruelty of the army, you have already stumbled upon tremendous fortune."

At these words, Cui Yao beside them also fell silent, a rare sight. It made Li Cunxiao even more curious about what the Cui brothers had experienced in the armies of the military provinces.

I... where am I?

What happened to me?

Zhao Xiaoyi opened his eyes and blankly looked around the unfamiliar room, until he caught sight of 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. Ignoring the pain in his body, Zhao Xiaoyi reached down to feel below.

Seeing his nephew awake, Xie Donglai reacted swiftly and grabbed both of his hands.

"Xiaoyi."

A bad premonition suddenly arose in Zhao Xiaoyi's heart. When he had been beaten yesterday, he had at least still felt pain. Yet now, he felt nothing but emptiness below.

He was, after all, a martial man capable of manipulating Blood Essence. In his agitation, he actually controlled his Blood Qi to surge downward. Xie Donglai's realm was higher; one look at his nephew's complexion told him something was wrong. But just as he lifted the blanket, a fountain of blood shot out, staining the embroidered silk bedsheets crimson.

"Xiaoyi!"

Zhao Xiaoyi rolled his eyes and fainted again. When he awoke once more, he felt muddled and weak all over, unable to summon strength anywhere in his body.

By then, the lamps in the room had been extinguished, while faint dawn light seeped in from outside. He vaguely heard his uncle speaking with someone.

".First, your son has practiced martial arts. Second, the county lieutenant was willing to use good medicine. Otherwise, he would not have awakened so quickly. But he absolutely must not recklessly circulate his Blood Qi like last night again. This Agarwood Pill does no harm to the body; it merely suppresses Blood Qi, which instead eases his injuries."

"Is there truly no other way?"

".The county lieutenant's martial arts are far beyond mine. That question ought to be asked of yourself."

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

"Xiaoyi, during this time, focus on healing your injuries."

"Focus on healing?"

It was as though his wound had been torn open. Zhao Xiaoyi's expression instantly became savage and crazed.

"I cannot even be a man anymore! How am I supposed to heal peacefully? How am I supposed to recover?"

"Uncle, did you not say that the Muscle Realm possesses many wonders, and that demonic powers have even more unfathomable abilities? There must be a way, Uncle!"

Seeing his nephew on the verge of collapse, Xie Donglai felt both pity and anger, and for a moment could not restrain himself.

"What were you doing earlier? You only knew how to bully men and tyrannize women. Did you ever put even a little care into martial practice?"

"If you had listened to my advice, you would not have fallen into this state!"

Yet when he thought of his sister beneath the Yellow Springs, Xie Donglai's tone ultimately softened.

"The Xiao Family of the Inner City is skilled in secret arts of the bedchamber. They may perhaps have a way. I will inquire first, then make plans."

At this, a little hope rose in Zhao Xiaoyi's heart. But he immediately gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse.

"Uncle, that Li fellow turned me into this..."

"Not for now." Xie Donglai frowned. He certainly hated Li Cunxiao for disgracing his family, but County Governor Murong Bai had specifically instructed him otherwise, leaving him no choice but to endure for the moment.

"Now is not the time to settle accounts. Heal your injuries first. There will be opportunities later."

Zhao Xiaoyi could only fall silent. Before long, the medicine took effect, and he drifted back into a groggy sleep.

"Achoo!"

Li Cunxiao sneezed. Thinking to himself that some petty man must be thinking of him, he strode toward the inner courtyard.

But halfway there, an acquaintance suddenly called out to him.

"Brother Li!"

He Bi walked over. Having just finished his morning training, he was still sweating.

"Brother Li, shouldn't you be resting after finishing your escort job? Why are you here so early?"

"Oh, this?"

Li Cunxiao raised a hand and pointed toward the small courtyard at the end of the road.

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

Thanks to book friends Wuchang Jun and NoNameLeft for their rewards.

It is currently the new book period. It is not that the author does not want to update more, but to secure recommendation slots and strive for traffic and exposure, it is not good to update too much. If the word count shoots up too quickly and the book cannot get recommendations, it can only go premium without any promotion. But the author is also stockpiling chapters, and once it goes premium, everyone will be able to read to their heart's content.

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