Breathing Technique

Back in their cozy little home, Gu Xinlan was bent over a table, sewing clothes stitch by stitch.

Seeing him return, she immediately dropped her work and came to greet him.

"I'm hungry."

As soon as Chen Sanshi said this, Lan Jie'er bustled around in the kitchen.

He, meanwhile, sat down and began to flip through the books he had obtained from Xu Wencai.

The book was titled "Great Sheng," a history book detailing the major events since the founding of Great Sheng.

Before Great Sheng, there was a chaotic era similar to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

The current Emperor, Grand Ancestor Cao Xie, was originally a household slave, but he fought his way through the turbulent times and reunified the empire that had been divided for over a hundred years.

It was worth noting.

Cao Xie was also a Sword God.

Legend had it that he once killed people with a flying sword from ten miles away, and that he once broke through an army of two thousand three hundred men alone.

"This has already gone beyond the scope of martial arts, hasn't it?"

Chen Sanshi sped up his reading.

As expected, the Grand Ancestor of Sheng represented the pinnacle of martial arts; no one with such exaggerated individual combat power had appeared since.

For the next three hundred years, successive emperors pursued the same level as the Grand Ancestor in martial arts, but none succeeded.

Upon Emperor Longqing's ascension, he abandoned martial arts entirely and turned to cultivation.

He was even willing to use one-tenth of the country's land to grow Spirit Grain to worship the Immortals.

"Did Emperor Longqing really meet an immortal?"

"Otherwise, he's not an idiot, how could he be willing to give up one-tenth of his tax revenue for worship?"

"He worships Immortals, and makes the common people pay for it."

Skill: Reading (Minor Accomplishment)

Progress: (18/800)

Effects: Seven Orifices Exquisite, Spirit Revitalized, Eidetic Memory. Chen Sanshi was getting angry as he read, so he simply closed the book. The food was also ready.

Half a bucket of rice, stir-fried beef, salted duck eggs, and a bowl of fish soup.

He devoured it all in a flash, leaving nothing behind.

Chen Sanshi didn't rest for a moment. After slightly recovering his strength, he went outside.

"I must finish learning all the posture training tonight!"

A deep country night, a full moon, an old house, two figures.

One was outside, agile and tall, practicing martial arts intently under the frosty moonlight.

The other was inside, graceful and charming, sewing under the flickering candlelight.

"Hoo--"

"Thirty-six forms of posture training, finished!"

Finally, after practicing all the posture training movements, Chen Sanshi collapsed on the ground, exhausted.

With the posture training complete, he would officially begin practicing spear techniques and breathing techniques tomorrow. He couldn't forget.

After eating the pre-prepared late-night snack, he rested briefly and prepared to practice archery.

Gu Xinlan followed him out, her almond-shaped eyes filled with a hint of resentment, and chided him playfully, "Are you trying to kill yourself?"

"Don't worry, practicing archery isn't as tiring as martial arts. I know what I'm doing."

Chen Sanshi said this and raised his long bow, only to have it pulled back.

"You're not allowed to practice anymore. If you don't care about yourself, I do. We're not starving, why are you working yourself to death like this?"

"Come on, let's go inside and sleep."

The next day.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, with a faint glow breaking through the mist.

Chen Sanshi woke up early to practice archery.

Skill: Archery (Proficient)

Progress: (350/500)

Pulling the two-stone bow was tiring, but the improvement was faster. His sweat had not been shed in vain.

Chen Sanshi was very satisfied.

He checked the time, and when it was almost time, he packed his things and went out. Before leaving, he didn't forget to take eight taels of Silver Flakes from the chest.

"Damn, it's so expensive!"

After deducting his expenses for food, drink, and the cloth for new clothes during this period, he was left with only twelve taels of silver. This one expenditure had basically emptied his savings.

"After this busy period, I still need to go hunting. I can't lose my livelihood."

Taking the silver, Chen Sanshi put on his armor and headed to the military camp to report.

As soon as he stepped out, someone called out to him.

Zhao Qiao and Wu Da ran over, one after the other.

"Uncle Zhao?"

Chen Sanshi asked, "What's this about?"

"We need to discuss something with you!"

Zhao Qiao glanced at the armor on Chen Sanshi's body and didn't ask further. He probably had heard about it already.

"That's right."

Wu Da chimed in, "Brother Shi, do you know about the black bear on Tiger Head Mountain?"

Chen Sanshi nodded slightly.

He had heard long ago that there was a black bear on Tiger Head Mountain, and that hunters met their demise there every year.

"That beast killed someone again!"

Zhao Qiao said through gritted teeth, "San Lizi from the neighboring Stone Village went up the mountain a few days ago and never came back. It wasn't until last night that his father found him. The black bear had eaten him, leaving only his head!

"Plus, there's really no game to hunt lately. A few of us were thinking, if we could take care of the black bear, we could earn some silver to get through the winter. But we can't do it alone, so we need you too. Whoever contributes more will get a bigger share of the money."

"Hunting a bear..."

Chen Sanshi didn't answer immediately.

It seemed the surrounding hunters were desperate enough to start targeting black bears.

Their hunting bows wouldn't be enough.

He had a heavy bow, but there was still considerable risk involved.

"In a couple of days."

Chen Sanshi agreed, and after a brief discussion about the timing, they parted ways.

As soon as he arrived at the military camp, he saw Zhu Tong cursing.

"Damn it, eight taels of silver! Why don't they just rob us?!"

Since he was in the military camp, he naturally had to try his best.

However, the garrison was too corrupt.

To learn martial arts, you had to pay first. How many talented people would be missed?

"This is nothing."

Xu Wencai was very philosophical. "Do you know why we weren't exiled to do corvée labor after we got into trouble, but were sent to the military colony instead? It's because the higher-ups have been investigating ghost soldiers in recent years, and they're trying to fill the numbers. If they don't skim some money off the top, they feel like they're losing out."

"Stone!"

After Zhu Tong and the two became familiar, their address became more intimate. He said enthusiastically, "Do you want to learn the breathing technique? I'll teach you! Seriously, after learning the breathing technique, practicing posture training isn't as tiring, and it's much faster."

Xu Wencai grabbed him. "Old Zhu, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I appreciate Old Zhu's good intentions, but I'll have to pass."

Chen Sanshi shook his head.

This Zhu Tong really had no foresight. If subordinates were allowed to teach each other privately, how would the superiors make money?

Looking around.

About five or six people had learned the breathing technique.

He also didn't intend to save money. After clarifying the process, he took his silver and found Commander Liu at the Thousand Household Office.

The Lord Hundred Households glanced at him. After asking his name, he immediately refused, "No time."

"Commander Zheng, could you..."

"I still have to teach others."

"Commander Zhang..."

"Not teaching."

"Commander Xiong."

"I don't know how."

"..."

Chen Sanshi approached several commanders, but none of them were willing to teach him.

The price was the same!

He sensed something was wrong and, on a whim, entered a tent for the last time.

Commander Wang, who had taught them spear techniques yesterday, was lying on a chair, idly eating peanuts, with shells scattered all over the floor at his feet.

Chen Sanshi cupped his fists and said, "Greetings, Commander Wang."

Wang Zhi glanced at him sideways, and after a while, slowly sat up. "What, you want to learn the breathing technique?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Sanshi said respectfully, "Please, Commander Wang, do not hesitate to impart your knowledge!"

"Easy, easy."

Wang Zhi spat out the peanut shells from his mouth, spread out a large hand, and beckoned him closer. "Hand it over."

So straightforward?

Chen Sanshi had almost given up and hadn't expected this at all.

Could it be that these Hundred Household Commanders had planned ahead and were distributing the teaching assignments evenly?

It was a bit strange...

But as things stood, if he wanted to learn the breathing technique, he had to pay.

Respectfully, he handed over eight taels of silver, and Chen Sanshi stood there waiting quietly.

"Why are you standing there like an idiot?"

Commander Wang unceremoniously pocketed the money and then waved him away.

"Sir, what about...?"

"I'm tired today. I'll teach you in a couple of days."

Chen Sanshi's heart sank.