A Cone in a Bag, Its Tip Visible

Did Ye Chengxiao's hand get taken off?

"Was it broken or snapped off?"

Mucha tilted his small head and hummed a few times:

"I'm not too sure about that, but I saw Chief Escort Zhang send someone to bring him medicine, telling him to rest for a few days and that breakthroughs aren't something to rush."

Li Cunxiao's heart immediately settled. He then changed his approach, asking a few more questions from different angles, and managed to get the full picture of the incident from his younger brother's mouth.

It turned out that yesterday, Shen He had invited his fellow disciples to his home for a banquet. Third Lady Zhang Yuelu returned at dusk, but the others stayed until the second watch of the evening.

Ye Chengxiao left with Xiao Mei in a carriage but didn't return home immediately. Instead, they went to another place for a few more drinks.

It's hard to say if anything happened in between, but when Ye Chengxiao returned home alone at the second watch, he was ambushed by a few drunken gang gamblers. In the ensuing brawl, his arm was broken.

"Blood Essence Warriors, while invincible against ordinary people, are still mortals. Unlike martial artists like Shen He, who have reached the second realm of Muscle, possessing extraordinary power."

"No matter how talented one is, being surrounded and attacked, getting injured is inevitable."

"However, this fracture will at most delay Ye Chengxiao's recovery by four or five days. After that, he can still attempt to break through to the Muscle realm."

"What a shame, why wasn't it broken or crippled? Then there would be no one to compete with me."

As he thought this, he inadvertently glanced at Mucha. Seeing his elder brother lost in thought, the latter didn't disturb him, merely resting his chin on his hands, his gaze full of affection and admiration.

Li Cunxiao's heart suddenly jolted.

When did I become like this?

He subconsciously closed his eyes, sensing the Vajra Scepter in his mind.

A faint golden light emanated from the single-pronged Vajra Scepter, its throne and lotus flowers shining brilliantly, like a sacred artifact held in the hands of a divine Buddha.

The Demon Subduing Pestle could expel outer demons but not inner ones.

What kind of person to be, what kind of thing to accomplish, ultimately depended on oneself. Even a golden finger was merely an aid.

Li Cunxiao had a sudden realization, but couldn't articulate it clearly.

"Regardless, I need to break through first."

"Once I become an inner disciple of the Chief Escort and break through to the Muscle realm, I'll have a place here. Only then can I talk about the future."

With this thought, Li Cunxiao asked his brother to play in the courtyard for a while, stating he needed to practice in his room and asking him to wait.

Mucha nodded like a little adult, closed the door, picked up a broom, and strutted around the courtyard like a general, looking left and right.

I'll guard my elder brother!

"Silly boy."

Li Cunxiao chuckled, closed the window, then stood with his legs spread wide, forming a Tiger Claw with his hands, adopting a stance.

Blood Qi Perfection meant achieving the Major Circulation of Blood Qi, controlling Blood Essence to flow through the meridians of the entire body, and finally passing through the head before descending, forming a circular Blood Essence net that enveloped the whole body.

Of course, the saying "where there is flow, there is no pain; where there is no flow, there is pain" applied. Blood Essence was stored within the Blood, and Blood naturally flowed throughout the body, including the brain.

In other words, Blood Essence already passed through the brain. However, with its natural amount, it would take an unknown amount of time to achieve the Major Circulation. Therefore, the difficulty of this stage lay in the quantity of Blood Essence entering the brain:

Too little or too weak would not provide protection;

Too much or too strong would lead to what was commonly known as "going berserk." Mild cases would result in mania, slightly worse would cause a concussion, and severe cases could damage the brainstem.

Thus, for safety's sake, even a genius like Ye Chengxiao could only progress slowly. However, those with good roots could withstand more and attempt it more frequently each day, naturally progressing faster.

But Li Cunxiao didn't need to go through such trouble.

"Vajra Scepter!"

He uttered a low command in his mind, and the single-pronged Vajra Scepter immediately radiated light, transforming into a gentle energy that enveloped his brain.

In an instant, the Blood Essence throughout his body surged like a river in flood during summer, boiling and churning in his limbs and torso. The Blood Essence in countless meridians and flesh naturally became full and permeated.

Li Cunxiao could clearly feel his muscles and fascia becoming tougher and more powerful, his bones growing sturdier and thicker, and even beneath his skin, a new "layer" seemed to be rapidly weaving itself like a spiderweb.

As his entire body below the neck became saturated, the Blood Essence naturally entered his head.

Hoo~

There was no sensation of being struck or a great mental shock. Everything felt natural, as if a jigsaw puzzle had finally found its last missing piece, leaving him feeling completely at ease.

Wherever the Blood Essence flowed, it was natural and swift.

With a mere thought, his arms, thighs, and calves thickened. His trapezius muscles bulged, and his thick fingers clenched into fists, striking his chest.

In an instant, a subtle rebound force was transmitted, and he heard a muffled drumbeat in his ears.

A smile spread across Li Cunxiao's purplish-red face, veins bulging. His lips curled, revealing rows of white teeth from which visible streams of heat emerged.

It's done.

Those in the Minor Circulation of Blood Qi could only enter an explosive state for a short time, exerting a force of seven to eight hundred catties. However, those in the Major Circulation had solidified this explosive state into their normal condition, controlling their strength with utmost precision.

Not only would any attack that landed on him be automatically defended by Blood Essence, like an extra layer beneath the skin, but with this foundation, his physical body could also unleash greater strength and faster speed.

His strength reached a thousand catties, and his speed rivaled that of a galloping horse. Converted, this was close to the human limits of strength and speed in his previous life.

And this was merely the foundation of martial arts in this world.

With a creak, the door opened. Mucha turned his head, and before him stood Li Cunxiao, who had returned to his normal state.

"Big Brother, why do I feel like you've gotten taller? And bigger?"

Li Cunxiao had a large frame to begin with. Before joining the escort agency, he was already around 1.7 meters tall.

After his meals improved and he started cultivating martial arts, he shot up in height. In just one month, he had grown to over 1.8 meters after his breakthrough.

His physique was so tall and strong that his original round-collared robe was now a bit short. Fortunately, ancient clothing was made with plenty of extra fabric, so it didn't become a tight-fitting garment.

But perhaps the biggest change was his face. Due to a lack of food and clothing in the past, his face was gaunt, and Li Cunxiao's bone structure was very prominent, making him look like a fierce character.

Now, with a bit more flesh on his face, he didn't look as much like a "Leopard Head" anymore, but more like... a tiger?

"When you cultivate martial arts, your body is supposed to grow quickly,"

Li Cunxiao offered a brief explanation before crouching down in front of his younger brother, his expression turning serious.

"Little brother, Big Brother can't take you out to play today, but there's something important I need to ask of you."

Mucha was a little disappointed at first, but when he heard it was important, his small face immediately became serious.

"Is it something very important?"

"Very, very important. More important than us brothers joining the escort agency."

"If this succeeds, you'll be able to study with Zhang Que'er and see Big Brother often."

"But I'm already studying with Que'er."

"It's different," Li Cunxiao's gaze deepened.

It wouldn't be as a book boy, but as Li Cunxiao's brother.

It would be a proactive gesture of goodwill and alliance, not a handout that could be withdrawn at any moment.

Before today, Mucha was, at best, considered a family dependent of the Zhang family, a servant in another sense.

Although he called himself an escort, he was actually burdened by the immense chain of "gratitude to the Chief Escort."

Until he repaid the escort leader's kindness, he would always be that lucky restaurant worker. But if he became a sought-after genius, a once-in-a-thousand-years talent, everything would fundamentally change!

Mucha was only ten years old and didn't have many complex thoughts. Studying with Zhang Que'er was fun, but if he had to choose, he would rather stay by his big brother's side.

Whatever Big Brother asked, Mucha wouldn't question why. He would simply fulfill the request without any compromise.

Li Cunxiao trusted Mucha, just as Mucha trusted him. Seeing the look in his brother's eyes, he no longer hesitated. He took out a letter from his bosom and solemnly entrusted it to him.

"Deliver this letter to Third Lady Zhang Yuelu personally. Don't let anyone else know."

"Remember, anyone."

Mucha took the letter, placed it close to his chest, and nodded firmly.

"I understand. I won't even tell Zhang Que'er!"

Watching his brother disappear in a flash outside the door, Li Cunxiao's heart was also filled with anxiety.

Even the usually calm him couldn't help but feel his thoughts scatter on matters so personal.

Having Mucha deliver the letter to Zhang Yuelu, who would then inform Zhang Lishi, was the most secure method he could think of.

Ye Chengxiao's attack had served as a wake-up call – geniuses stand taller, but they also face greater dangers.

In the days since returning to the escort agency, he had paid close attention to potential rivals and Zhang Lishi's disciples, gathering information.

Although Ye Chengxiao possessed outstanding talent, he was merely from a collateral branch of the Ye Family. Throughout history, it was common for weaker branches to be replaced by stronger ones, and for minor lineages to supersede major ones.

While the eldest son of the Ye Family was renowned, would he truly tolerate someone who could be both an asset and a threat?

Even if he could tolerate it, could the legitimate matriarch of the Ye Family? Could his wife's maternal uncle?

A random attack by street thugs?

Li Cunxiao didn't believe it for a second.

Ye Chengxiao, with the support of his parents, still couldn't avoid being targeted. How could Li Cunxiao, with no one to rely on at the escort agency, not proceed with extreme caution?

The more people who knew about his breakthrough to Blood Qi Perfection, the greater the danger.

If it weren't for his brother's low status as a mere book boy, it would have been best to inform Zhang Lishi directly.

However, given his high position and busy schedule, it would be difficult for him to take a child's words seriously, making that path impossible.

In short, his plan was to only let the Zhang father and daughter know about his cultivation progress. He would also keep quiet about obtaining cultivation resources and the Demon Seduction Method.

This way, he could ensure his safety and avoid hindering his cultivation progress. Without the burden of being labeled a genius, he could calmly handle more things.

And when Li Cunxiao once again stood in the public eye, he would undoubtedly have already reached the second realm of Muscle, with strong backing.

At that time, he would claim everything a genius deserved without hesitation.

The sky was growing dim, and the great sun was setting in the west.

Zhang Yuelu stood in her courtyard, quietly admiring the clusters of chrysanthemums.

"Around my home, chrysanthemums bloom like in Tao Yuanming's garden, encircling the fence as the sun sets. It's not that I particularly love chrysanthemums among flowers, but rather that once these flowers have bloomed, there are no others."

The maid, Qiuju, heard this and didn't think Third Lady was teasing her.

"Who are you thinking about, Third Lady?"

"I'm thinking about whether Ye Chengxiao, after this blow, can still bloom defiantly in the frost like this Qiuju."

Zhang Yuelu casually plucked a golden-thread chrysanthemum, her expression absentminded.

While scions of great clans certainly had many advantages in cultivating martial arts, at most it only gave them a faster start than ordinary people. To go further, they needed renowned teachers, potent medicines, and most importantly, personal willpower.

Benefiting from family resources inevitably meant being trapped by internal family strife. Many scions of great clans ended up being neither here nor there in their martial arts pursuits. In contrast, people like her Senior Disciple Brother, Shi Tie, who came from humble beginnings, had fewer resources to rely on, but also fewer entanglements.

When Zhang Lishi taught him martial arts, Shi Tie focused wholeheartedly on his training, grabbing onto that rope leading upwards and desperately climbing. Feng Sheng, who came from a similarly modest background, was much the same.

For someone at Blood Qi Perfection, a fractured bone was merely a minor injury, something that could heal in three to five days at most.

More important were the identity of the attacker and Ye Chengxiao's subsequent response.

Was it the Ye Family's eldest son? The Ye Family's legitimate mother? Or perhaps the Murong Family, or the Xiao Family?

Would he be timid and hesitant, his thoughts scattered, or would he be unyielding in the face of adversity, striving to catch up?

"Sigh, they're all just dogs biting dogs."

Zhang Yuelu sighed, then saw Mucha in the distance, holding a tray and trotting over.

"Sister Yuelu, I brought you osmanthus cakes! Sister Qiuju, why are you here too?"

Seeing Mucha's eyes darting around, Qiuju was both annoyed and amused.

"You ungrateful little thing! Where else should I be if not by Third Lady's side?"

As she spoke, she crouched down and vigorously rubbed the boy's delicate face, making his already rosy cheeks even redder.

"I was wrong, Sister Qiuju, I was wrong."

Mucha pulled a long face, lamenting his miscalculation.

He had finally managed to exchange the chance to deliver the pastries with another young maid. And it had cost him his last small bag of preserved fruits.

Sister Qiuju is such a nuisance. How can I get rid of her?

"Alright Qiuju, go see if Que'er has finished her lessons for today."

"Coincidentally, I'll go call Father for dinner. Mucha, aren't you coming along?"

Qiuju gave Mucha's face one last vigorous rub before leaving with a smile.

Zhang Yuelu led Mucha a few steps, and when they reached the deserted path between the Zhang Manor and the Escort Agency, she looked at the boy beside her and said teasingly, "Is there something you want to tell me, Mucha?"

"Huh? How did you know?!"

Mucha was startled. Zhang Yuelu looked at the confused expression on his small face and found it incredibly amusing.

Yet, she also felt a pang of emotion. Such a cute and clever boy, if only he were her own brother.

Perhaps when he's older, if he shows talent in martial arts, she could ask her father to take Mucha as his adopted son?

Que'er doted on this little fellow. Then, Li Cunxiao could also benefit from her brother's good fortune. Even if he didn't get resources for martial arts, he could at least get a job as a bookkeeper, avoiding Escort Missions and living life with his head on the line.

The more Zhang Yuelu thought about it, the more suitable it seemed. Just as she was about to probe Mucha for information, she saw him carefully take out a folded letter. As he handed it over, he kept looking around furtively, his movements shifty.

"What is this?"

Zhang Yuelu took the letter but didn't open it immediately. The smile on her face faded slightly.

Who had asked this child to deliver a letter to her?

What was their request?

Could it be Shen He?

Or perhaps the recently renowned Li Cunxiao?

Did they want to claim credit from her, or had they gotten carried away with some misguided idea?

Mucha was a smart child. Seeing her expression change, he quickly explained, "My elder brother said this letter can only be seen by Third Lady and Chief Escort, and no one else."

Only for me and Father to see?

Zhang Yuelu's gaze softened. From what she knew, Li Sanlang disliked socializing and never missed the escort agency's martial arts drills.

Since Mucha entered the Zhang Manor, he had never asked for anything by leveraging his brother.

Now, with this discreet message, what important matter could it be?

Out of trust in Li Cunxiao's past reputation, she finally opened the letter under Mucha's nervous gaze. The first sentence she read, and the only one on the entire page, made her heart skip a beat:

"To Third Lady, greetings. I have cultivated to the realm of Blood Qi Perfection and wish to request a matter from Chief Escort. Please convey my regards. Apologies for the intrusion."

Zhang Yuelu's expression shifted rapidly, a smile appearing one moment, a frown the next. Mucha instinctively took a step back, but before he could move further, she grabbed his small hand and strode off, "Let's go! Come with me to see Father!"