The Redemption Money Was Returned

"I will definitely follow you to the death, my lord."

Liang Zhi prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing deeply. His words were half true and half false.

Half was out of helplessness, and half was genuine.

Xie An said, "Go about your business. If there's anything later, you can report to me anytime."

"Yes."

Liang Zhi rose and bid farewell. As he walked out of the hall, he felt eyes on his back, as if an icy chill was pouring down from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. The cold sweat that broke out had already soaked the lining of his clothes.

After interacting with this new steward, he had lost in every aspect, and the pressure on his shoulders was immense.

Not far after exiting the door, Wang Xiang, along with more than a dozen disciples, surrounded him.

"Brother Liang, what did that old man say? If he insulted you, just say the word, and we'll go demand an explanation from him. We absolutely cannot let an old man push us around... Ah!"

Before Wang Xiang could finish speaking, he received a resounding slap from Liang Zhi.

Liang Zhi said fiercely, "What old man? Call him 'Steward.' From now on, everyone should learn to keep a low profile. Honestly obey the steward's orders. If anyone dares to disobey the steward's commands, don't blame me for turning my back on you. I've said all I need to say today. If I turn my back on you later, don't blame me for not warning you."

Leaving behind these words, Liang Zhi turned and left.

Half of it was a genuinely stern warning to these people not to mess around; he himself had been easily controlled by the steward. As for these subordinates... if they dared to offend the steward, how miserable their fate would be... there was no need to even say it.

The other half was Liang Zhi venting his frustration from Xie An, having nowhere to release it. After slapping Wang Xiang, he felt much better.

"Brother Wang, you..."

Slap.

A subordinate who tried to show concern and curry favor with Wang Xiang, as expected, received a big slap from Wang Xiang. "Stop the bullshit, listen to Brother Liang."

He vented his anger in turn...

In the end, it was the lowest-ranking subordinates who suffered the most.

After Wang Xiang left, that subordinate ran to a small grass by the roadside and stomped on it twice fiercely. "Did you hear that? Stop the bullshit, and listen to Brother Liang from now on."

The reception hall.

After initially intimidating his subordinates, Xie An felt that things were progressing smoothly. The black market's upcoming business should get off to a good start. He could make his subordinates obey orders without question and act at his beck and call.

He had, in a way, initially established a foothold in the Tiger Wolf Gate.

Clearing his mind, Xie An began to practice the Five Animal Play.

At times he embodied the fierce tiger descending the mountain, at times he resembled the deer's long run, the bear's swaying movement, the ape plucking fruit, and the crane soaring...

Each move and stance appeared naturally in Xie An's hands.

He moved with the power of a tiger.

After practicing until his whole body was drenched in sweat and his muscles and bones were heated, Xie An stopped. He sat down in meditation and began to cultivate the Fetal Breathing Technique.

Since Xie An's Fetal Breathing Technique had entered the second stage, Yin-Yang Convergence, he hadn't seriously practiced it yet. This time, after entering meditation, he closed his nose and mouth and breathed only through his navel.

At the same time, various mental cultivation methods and incantations for the Fetal Breathing Technique appeared in his mind.

According to the incantations, the beginner stage of the Fetal Breathing Technique was the Three Styles Method, which involved three breathing techniques that progressed step by step. The sign of great mastery was breathing through the navel.

This was something Xie An had already achieved.

The next stage, Yin-Yang Convergence, was also divided into three phases: Eye Convergence, Heart-Kidney Convergence, and Internal-External Convergence.

The so-called Eye Convergence was based on the Fetal Breathing Technique's belief that the left eye belonged to Yang and the right eye belonged to Yin. By making the two eyes gaze at each other, divine light was produced. This divine light shone on the qi acupoints, primarily transforming Yin into Yang, much like the sun in the sky illuminating all things on earth, without which nothing could grow.

Just understanding this was very difficult for Xie An.

The only thing Xie An could do was to forcefully operate according to the incantations. As for how successful he would be, he left it all to the Lifelong Legacy.

After a full half-hour, Xie An felt very uncomfortable within his body. His left and right eyes could not converge, and even if he forced it... it just wouldn't converge.

He had no choice but to stop and open his data panel.

[Current Lifelong Legacy: Level 1!]
[Five Animal Play: Strengthening the Five Viscera (8/100)]
[Fetal Breathing Technique: Yin-Yang Convergence (1/100)]
[Remaining Lifespan: 30 years]

Seeing that the progress of the Five Animal Play had increased by one point was gratifying.

But the progress of the Fetal Breathing Technique had not improved, which made Xie An feel very disappointed.

"The second stage of the Fetal Breathing Technique is truly difficult to cultivate. Even with the Lifelong Legacy's enhancement, the improvement speed is very slow."

Xie An told himself not to rush, to take it slowly.

Thirty years of lifespan was enough for him to use for a long time. There was no need to be anxious at all. Moreover, the improvement in the Five Animal Play was still visible. Once he mastered Strengthening the Five Viscera, his lifespan would increase again.

Since the difficulty was high, he would just endure it.

"If I want to increase my combat power in a short period, I still need to practice martial arts. Once the black market business is stable, I'll have Zhang Lin take me to White Feather Hall to find a martial art to practice. There will also be free medicinal supplements and free instructors..."

With that thought, Xie An let out a sigh of relief. The future was still promising.

However, Xie An also knew very well that the medicinal supplements provided by White Feather Hall were very basic and certainly wouldn't meet all the needs of martial arts practice.

To practice martial arts smoothly, he would have to spend extra money.

Moreover, he had run out of the unique medicinal prescription for the Health Cultivation Technique and was in urgent need of money.

Currently, all his possessions amounted to only four taels of silver.

"Still so poor..."

If it weren't for Li Ru's exorbitant demands, Xie An wouldn't have ended up in such a predicament.

"I can only hope that Night Pot Lad shows up tonight..."

Just as Xie An was worrying about money, a knock came from the door.

The courtyard gate wasn't locked, but his subordinates, out of respect, would knock first. They would only enter after receiving Xie An's permission.

"Enter."

The door opened.

It was Liang Zhi who hurried in. He walked across the courtyard into the living room and bowed to Xie An.

After the previous whipping, Liang Zhi's attitude had become quite proper.

Xie An sat at the head of the table, fully displaying his authority as an officer. "Liang Zhi, what is it?"

Liang Zhi said, "There's a nominal deputy officer at the gate. He says he's here to report to you, sir. This person is quite sensible and has brought a gift for you."

As he spoke, Liang Zhi took out a money bag and placed it on the table next to Xie An.

Xie An opened it and looked.

It was about one hundred and eighty taels.

Who would send such a generous gift?

He looked closer.

There were marks and indentations from several silver ingots, all very familiar.

Good heavens... Isn't this the redemption money I gave to Li Ru a few days ago?

It's come back to me after all this circling?