Tiger Wolf Gate

Anyone else here?

How did I not notice them just now?

Xie An's heart leaped in surprise. He instinctively tightened his grip on the dagger hidden in his sleeve and slowly turned to look.

The newcomer was a man in his forties, dressed in dark red, tight-fitting clothes, with a broad saber hanging at his waist. He walked with the imposing stride of a dragon. Even from ten meters away, Xie An could feel the powerful aura emanating from the man, clearly indicating he wouldn't be easy to deal with.

Xie An recognized the clothing… it was similar to the patrolling swordsmen in the Blood Ridge Black Market, though a bit more refined.

Xie An judged that this man was likely a patrol captain or a similar figure in the black market.

"Do you require something, sir?"

The man in his forties walked over to the corpses of the deceased Zhang Wei and Lu Wei, briefly examined them, then contemptuously kicked the bodies twice. "I detest scoundrels who rob merchants and travelers near the black market. They ruin our reputation and scare people away from doing business here. It's good that you killed them, old brother."

With that, the man stopped about three meters in front of Xie An and cupped his hands slightly. "I am Zhang Lin, an enforcement officer of the Blood Ridge Black Market. Recently, the Incense Master issued a strict order to clear out the rampant robbery in the vicinity. I see that your martial arts are superb, old brother. Are you perhaps interested in joining us in a grand endeavor?"

Xie An understood.

This Zhang Lin was trying to recruit him.

"Who do you represent?"

"Tiger Wolf Gate."

Hearing those three words, Xie An's heart skipped a beat.

Having lived in Wuqiao Town for thirty years, Xie An had naturally heard of the Tiger Wolf Gate's reputation.

It was a large sect spanning dozens of towns, far exceeding the scope of a mere gang. It was a genuine martial arts sect, and one of the two major martial arts sects in Qingwu County.

Although 'gang' and 'sect' differ by only one character, there is a world of difference between them.

Gangs were mostly temporary associations of ruffians banding together for common interests, whether for plunder, revenge, or other purposes. They were often frowned upon by the authorities.

Sects, however, were different. They emphasized teaching martial arts, master-disciple succession, and valued etiquette and continuity, actively promoting martial arts. They were proper, established sects, not only recognized by the authorities but also, in the case of powerful sects, cultivating numerous disciples who entered officialdom, creating deeply entrenched influence. They played a crucial role in maintaining local stability.

There were also powerful martial arts sects known as 'Sects' (Zongmen), which were truly formidable existences. Even court officials and nobles showed them deference and sought their favor.

And then there were some extraordinary Sects, rumored to be so powerful that even the Emperor himself paid them homage…

Xie An never would have imagined that the backing of the Blood Ridge Black Market… was the renowned Tiger Wolf Gate of Qingwu County.

Although this sect had only been established for thirty years, it had quickly gained a firm foothold in Qingwu County, standing in direct opposition to the other major sect, the Heavenly Saber Society, with neither gaining a clear advantage.

It was said that every new magistrate appointed to Qingwu County had to pay a visit to both major sects.

It was truly remarkable for a martial arts sect to develop to this extent.

If Xie An were thirty years younger, he might have had a chance to participate in the martial arts examinations or compete for selection into other sects. Those were the proper channels. But now, at fifty, most conventional avenues for advancement were effectively closed off.

Joining a martial arts sect might be a viable path. After all, some newly established martial arts sects were eager for talent and less concerned about age.

However, Xie An felt he didn't know this Zhang Lin well, and they were in a desolate area. It was best to proceed cautiously.

"Thank you for your kind invitation, Brother Zhang, but I am old and fear I may not be up to the task."

Zhang Lin didn't press the issue. He took out a wooden token, about the size of a baby's palm, and tossed it to Xie An. "If you come here again, old brother, you won't need to pay an entrance fee or a stall fee. If you ever change your mind, the doors of our Tiger Wolf Gate are always open to you."

Xie An accepted the wooden token, thanked him, and left in a hurry.

"Boss, he's just an old man with white hair. Why are you trying so hard to recruit him?"

After Xie An left, a swordsman walked up to Zhang Lin, looking quite puzzled.

Zhang Lin said, "Zhou Xing, where were your eyes? Just now, the old man drew a stone bow and shot two arrows consecutively with a single finger. Roughly estimating, his one-handed lifting strength is close to four hundred jin, which is comparable to the strength of a warrior who has passed the frontier! Besides, the way he killed those two ruffians was fluid and seamless. Can you do that?"

The swordsman, Zhou Xing, immediately drooped his head, feeling inferior.

Zhang Lin waved his hand. "This old man is not simple. Our Tiger Wolf Gate is currently in need of skilled individuals. If he comes to the black market in the future, you need to give him preferential treatment and be respectful."

Zhou Xing said, "Your subordinate understands."

Xie An returned to his small cabin at the first quarter of the Hour of the Ox.

"This trip to the black market was quite fruitful. Not only is the latter half of the Five Animal Play memorized, but I also obtained the complete Fetal Breathing Technique and a heavy bow. Most importantly… the chamber pot."

"I even managed to get rid of Lu Wei, that thorn in my side. Now I can finally have a few peaceful and comfortable days. In these chaotic times, one truly needs strength…"

After a quick bath, Xie An fell asleep.

The next day, Xie An woke up early to inspect the pawnshop. Seeing that He Chunli was managing the business smoothly, he slipped back to the small cabin in the backyard. First, he practiced archery.

Archery, above all, requires accuracy.

It's not easy for ordinary people to get started.

But Xie An had long mastered his foundational stance, allowing him to stand steadily and breathe evenly. With the boost from the Five Animal Play, his limbs were even more steady, and his senses had greatly improved. Practicing archery felt like having divine assistance.

After several hours of intensive repetitive training, he found his rhythm. While he couldn't hit the bullseye every time within a hundred meters, he could consistently hit the fifth or sixth ring.

Xie An wasn't aiming to become an archery master; he just wanted to be able to protect himself with the bow. He would take it one step at a time.

Putting away the bow and arrows, Xie An locked his room door, opened the Fetal Breathing Technique, and began to read it word by word.

Although it was also a beginner's health cultivation technique, its content differed significantly from the Five Animal Play.

"Those who achieve fetal breathing can forgo breathing through their nose and mouth, as if they were in the womb..."

After reading through it, Xie An finally had a detailed understanding of the Fetal Breathing Technique:

Normal breathing is achieved through the lungs, but by practicing the Fetal Breathing Technique, one can gradually stop the function of the lungs and breathe through the skin, navel, and Dantian.

Once the Fetal Breathing Technique reaches a certain level of proficiency, external respiration can be converted into internal respiration, entering a fetal breathing state, spontaneously falling asleep, and cultivating internal energy.

"Spontaneously falling asleep and cultivating internal energy... doesn't that mean I can practice the Fetal Breathing Technique even while sleeping?"

Xie An showed intense interest.

While the Five Animal Play was good, it couldn't be practiced during sleep.

However, the Fetal Breathing Technique could be practiced spontaneously during sleep, perfectly compensating for the shortcomings of the Five Animal Play.

Five Animals during the day, Fetal Breathing when asleep. How could he fail to become a martial artist?

Furthermore, another sentence in the book greatly piqued Xie An's interest: "If a person can return to the breathing state of infancy, they can achieve immortality."

This coincidentally aligned with what was mentioned in medicine from his previous life – that fertilized eggs possess infinite splitting capabilities and are immortal.

It was just that it was a cell back then, and now it was a living person...

Could it really be the same...

"The Five Animal Play cultivates the body externally, while the Fetal Breathing Technique cultivates the breath internally. Practicing both simultaneously will undoubtedly have a much better effect on extending lifespan."

Xie An calmed his excited emotions, sat down cross-legged, and began to practice the mental cultivation method of the Fetal Breathing Technique as described in the book.

"According to the book, the Fetal Breathing Technique is divided into the beginner stage (Three Forms Method), intermediate stage (Yin-Yang Convergence), and advanced stage (Divine Light Manifestation)."

"The first form of the Three Forms Method is the Dantian-Lü Form. When exhaling, imagine the Tailbone Gate heating up; when inhaling, imagine the Dantian pressing against the Mingmen or the Tailbone Gate..."

Although the instructions were simple, the actual execution proved to be surprisingly difficult.

Dantian?

Xie An didn't even know where his Dantian was. Nor did he know which was the Mingmen...

How could he imagine "the Dantian pressing against the Mingmen?"

Fortunately, Xie An wasn't in a hurry. He failed repeatedly but kept trying again according to the book.

He practiced from dawn until dusk—

Ding!

The data panel before his eyes changed.

[Fetal Breathing Technique successfully recorded.]

[Fetal Breathing Technique: Three Forms Method (1/100)]