Chapter 49

The wisps of purple qi vanished the instant sunlight touched them, dissolving into heaven and earth. The silver glow on the Lotus Pattern in Ning Chang'an's palms immediately went out, and the burning current within his body circulated several times before gradually fading.

Ning Chang'an clenched both fists. Crack! Crack! Explosions of qi rang out, and his strength had almost risen by an entire level. Excitement flooded his face, impossible to hide, as he repeatedly sighed, "This is the true path. This is the true path..."

Grass-eaters were good walkers but foolish; meat-eaters were brave and fierce; grain-eaters were wise and clever; Qi Eaters were divine and long-lived; those who ate nothing were deathless and godlike.

Qi was innate. It circulated between flesh, body, and soul, connecting life and nature, linking yin and yang. Yet qi was also nature itself, existing everywhere between heaven and earth. With every breath, people drew natural qi into their bodies, but could not obtain its essence, for they could not connect with nature and lacked the proper method. People ate the five grains and thus gained wisdom because they absorbed the refined qi of those grains, transforming it within their organs into Innate Qi. That was why people possessed great wisdom. Though they lacked the ferocity of savage birds and beasts, they could become the spirit of all creation. All of it was the work of qi.

There were countless kinds of natural qi, but not all were beneficial. Yin Fiend Qi and Vicious Qi, for instance—if drawn into the body, they would certainly cause harm. Yet Eastern Purple Qi, Wood Spirit Qi, Houtu Qi, Profound Water Qi, and the like were all beneficial. Ning Chang'an had drawn Eastern Purple Qi into his body; this was equivalent to using a method to connect with nature and transform natural qi into Innate Qi. He could be called a Qi Eater.

Anyone who achieved success in martial arts possessed vigorous qi and blood, often with abilities beyond ordinary people. This was precisely because training made the Innate Qi within their bodies richer than that of common folk, altering their constitutions, stirring their potential, and nourishing their bones. External arts, internal arts, qi, essence, spirit—the ultimate essence of every martial art and cultivation method lay in making people accord with nature, drawing out their potential, changing their life and nature, increasing their lifespan, and reaching the realm of immortality, where one's years matched those of heaven. Thus there were all manner of cultivation methods, each miraculous in its own way, yet all pursued communion with nature's creation, sought unity between heaven and man, developed one's own potential, and strengthened Innate Qi.

Simply practicing martial techniques and hard-body external arts had the weakest effect on the growth of qi. Worse still, it caused a certain degree of harm to the practitioner. Take the famed Iron Sand Palm of the martial world. Long-term practice would damage several meridians and nerves in the hands, injure the lungs, and over time inevitably lead to consumption, greatly shortening one's lifespan.

Thus, while pursuing the wonders of martial techniques, martial artists also sought the path of qi cultivation.

Martial arts had originally been used for conquest, slaughter, and plunder. Yet with the evolution of history and the advancement of human wisdom, they had changed from tools of war into a road for seeking unity between heaven and man. The meaning of martial arts no longer lay in force and killing, nor did it remain within the bounds of strengthening the body. It had become a Dao Path.

An ancient saying went: "Martial means establishing merit and sheathing weapons. Thus, to halt the spear is martial."

Thus, the essence of the martial Dao lay in qi, in cultivating one's life and nature. Qi was both the energy of the flesh and the primal force of the spirit. Therefore, practicing martial arts was seeking the Dao: tempering the body and cultivating the soul. This was especially evident in the Three Pure Ones and Nine Nethers Wondrous Dharma Lotus Heart Sutra. By cultivating this scripture, one could Consume Mist and Eat Qi, strengthen the body's power, and constantly hone the soul. One had to cut down one's inner demons and make one's will firm as a boulder before one could advance step by step.

Ning Chang'an stood by the window, his hands still clenched into fists. Scenes of Yang Taiyi explaining the path of martial arts to him years ago flashed through his mind. At this moment, principles that had once been hazy and muddled suddenly struck him like enlightenment poured over his head, becoming somewhat clearer.

A thought flickered through his mind, and Ning Chang'an could not help shaking his head. He sighed, "Unfortunately, if I had not taken advantage of another, I could never have drawn purple qi into the Lotus Pattern in my palms and transformed qi into qi. It seems I am still far from even entering the Wondrous Dharma Heart Sutra... There are too many entanglements in the martial world, too many injustices, too many principles, too many rules, too many grudges and loves and hatreds. How can I seek the ultimate realm of martial arts amid all this chaos and turmoil?!"

Three hundred years ago, Daoist Jade Purity secluded himself atop Mount Dragon-Tiger for three hundred years. On the day he emerged, nine-colored rosy clouds descended from the heavens, and he rode the clouds away like an immortal.

Seven hundred years ago, Old Man Heavenly Mystery climbed straight into the azure sky on a single Heaven-Piercing Rope, drifting away into immortality.

Twelve hundred years ago, countless colorful butterflies gathered atop Tianmu Peak and formed a bridge to heaven. Fang Tianyu, master of Tianmu Peak, crossed that butterfly bridge and reached the Heavenly Court.

Two thousand years ago, the great swordsman Yan Wujiu danced with his sword for thirty-six months. With the sword in his palm, he shattered the void, sliced through the one hundred and eight thousand steps of the heavenly staircase, and climbed upward, straight into an immortal palace.

These mysterious and unfathomable legends flashed one by one through Ning Chang'an's mind. Every figure who ascended in broad daylight and reached the celestial palaces and immortal realms had altered their life and nature, comprehended the transformations of heaven and earth, ascended by day, and set foot upon the summit of immortality.

Looking across all of ancient and modern times, there had only been a scant few such beings.

How many people could possess such a heavenly fate?!

Without a heart of utter sincerity and an unparalleled figure wholly focused on pursuing the extreme of martial arts, it could not be achieved.

Ning Chang'an longed for it in his heart.

Creak. Lin Ying suddenly pushed open the door, carrying an exquisite wooden box in her hands. At a glance, she saw Ning Chang'an standing blankly before the window. Though there had been a sound, he did not react at all. Curiosity immediately rose in her heart. She edged closer to him, and her delicate nose instantly wrinkled as disgust filled her face. She cried out at once, "It stinks to death...!" She hugged the box with one hand and kept fanning the air before her nose with the other, retreating all the way to the door.

Only then did Ning Chang'an come back to himself. He immediately noticed a fishy, foul stench covering his entire body. Turning at the feeling, he saw Lin Ying's deeply disgusted expression and instantly understood why. Embarrassed, he said, "I happened upon an inspiration and became engrossed in my cultivation. I sweated out a whole body of stink. Miss Lin, please do not laugh at me. May I ask where I can bathe?"

Lin Ying snorted. "What kind of cultivation is so impressive? I was gone for only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and you managed to sweat out such a stench... Also, call me Miss. From now on, your identity is Lin Manor's old steward. You are my servant!" Lin Ying lifted her chin so high that her nostrils were practically aimed at Ning Chang'an, displaying her willful and overbearing temperament.

Ning Chang'an felt sticky all over and reeked of foul sweat. How could he listen to what Lin Ying was saying? He asked again, "Miss Lin, where can I bathe?"

Lin Ying stamped her foot in anger and huffed, "A child beyond teaching... Hmph. Go out, third room on the right..."

Before her words had even fallen, Ning Chang'an had already rushed out the door.

Lin Ying gently set down the wooden box in her hands, walked around the room once, then stopped before the window as well. She stared blankly at a streak of crimson clouds in the east.

"Did that old monster over there cultivate this morning?"

Lin Ying suddenly asked.

"Yes, Miss. At dawn this morning, the sky was clear and bright. That old monster Ma cultivated for a while." Granny Hua had appeared behind Lin Ying at some unknown time and spoke slowly.

"What about him?"

Lin Ying asked unhurriedly.

Granny Hua's cloudy eyes shifted as she said, "Not simple. He Consumed Mist and Ate Qi! But it seemed to be his first time, and his technique was still unskilled. He benefited from old monster Ma and absorbed much Eastern Purple Qi. This old woman could not see through his method at all. I only saw threads of silver light gleaming from his palms, while streams of purple qi gathered into them like ten thousand rivers returning to the sea."

Lin Ying said lightly, "Ning Shengdao's son ought to have something extraordinary about him. Don't you think so, Granny Hua?"

Granny Hua nodded. "That is true. A tiger father has no dog son. If he were useless, the master would not have told Miss to pay him more attention."

Lin Ying waved her hand. "Go on, Granny. Daybreak is near. I need to prepare for today's gathering and gather some information while I'm at it. Yongan Prefecture is far too complicated. If we let this calf run wild, he may lose his little life. Hmph, and this Miss still has to protect a grown man..."

A kindly smile appeared on Granny Hua's aged face. She withdrew, vanishing like a ghost.

Just then, Ning Chang'an finished bathing and finally felt refreshed all over. He strode in from outside.

Lin Ying looked Ning Chang'an up and down several times, her brows drawing together slightly. "You've gotten thinner!"

Ning Chang'an gave a chuckle. "Miss Lin, your eyes are truly sharp!" Indeed, after that bout of cultivation, the fat on his body had diminished ever so slightly. It was nearly invisible to the naked eye, yet Lin Ying had unexpectedly seen through it at a glance.

Lin Ying's expression turned stern. "Call me Miss! I am the Miss, and you are the servant. Must I say it a hundred times before you remember?"

Ning Chang'an complained, "How did I end up becoming a servant? Wasn't I supposed to be your guard? Servant is only a false identity, a cover! Are you really going to treat me like a servant?!" Ning Chang'an felt aggrieved. Who would willingly become a slave or servant and endure being ordered about at every turn?!

Lin Ying was immediately displeased. She glared at Ning Chang'an without saying a word, glaring at him for the full time it took an incense stick to burn. At last, Ning Chang'an admitted defeat and sighed, "You demon! Fine, servant it is!"

Lin Ying said coldly, "Your name is Laifu."

Ning Chang'an cried out, "Laifu? Could you not pick such a vulgar, unbearably common name?" He vaguely remembered that among all the stewards he had encountered, those called Laifu were mostly wretched, sleazy, and vile-looking sorts. Thus, he deeply detested the name.

Lin Ying asked in return, "Isn't Ning Family's Chang'an just as vulgar and unbearably common? If not Laifu, then what? Lijing? Wangcai? Hmph, choose for yourself!"

At this, Ning Chang'an's face turned green. Thoroughly defeated, he said, "Laifu. Heavens, my name is Laifu!" If he were called Lijing, would people not laugh themselves to death? As for Wangcai, one of his good brothers seemed to have a dog named Wangcai, making that even less acceptable.

Lin Ying gave a soft snort. "That's more like it!" Then she casually waved a hand and ordered, "Laifu, come here!" The way she summoned and dismissed him at will instantly filled Ning Chang'an with pent-up anger. Ning Chang'an finally understood: this woman was deliberately making things difficult for him. Yet he had nothing to say, for he was a dignified man, and his word had to carry the weight of nine tripods.

Ning Chang'an obediently walked before Lin Ying. Lin Ying carefully examined his face. After silently scrutinizing him for a long while, she slowly rose to her feet, opened the box on the table, and cautiously removed a semitransparent membrane, spreading it lightly across her palm.

Ning Chang'an swept his gaze over it and was immediately astonished. "A Human Skin Mask?!"

A Human Skin Mask was, of course, a mask made from human facial skin. The skin of healthy, handsome young men and women was generally best. It had to be stripped within the time it took an incense stick to burn after their death, then soaked in specially prepared medicinal liquid and subjected to an extraordinarily complicated process, creating a thin, featureless mask. Once worn, it clung tightly to the face like a layer of skin, leaving almost no trace of a flaw. With superb disguise techniques added to it, one mask could take on a thousand forms.