Late Bloomer

Xie An had sharp eyes and realized that today was Tang Qingfeng's last day teaching. If Tang Qingfeng had summoned him at the last minute, he probably had something to tell him.

And... it was most likely good news.

Chen He, who had not been called, wore a deeply disappointed expression.

To avoid awkwardness, Chen He rubbed his nose and said, "Brother Xie, what are you spacing out for? Master Tang is the renowned Health Cultivation Master of Qingwu County. Even my older cousin admires him greatly. Don't keep Master Tang waiting."

Over the past month or so, Xie An had privately helped Chen He appraise several antiques, earning Chen He quite a bit of money. Chen He had gotten very smooth with calling him "Brother Xie" at every turn.

Xie An nodded and turned to enter the room.

The room was not large, but its furnishings were luxurious, all made from top-quality sandalwood. In the center stood an Eight Immortals table with four high-backed chairs. At the head was an incense altar, with incense burning before it.

Tang Qingfeng took out a medicinal prescription and handed it to Xie An. "I'll be leaving Chen Martial Arts School in a couple of days. I'm giving these two things to you."

Xie An accepted the prescription curiously. "Master Tang, what is this?"

Tang Qingfeng explained, "This is my Unique Medicinal Prescription. It can be used alongside the Health Cultivation Technique. The medicinal ingredients are not cheap, but its effects are far better than Qi Generating Soup."

"Thank you, Master Tang."

After spending a month together, Xie An felt that Tang Qingfeng was refined and kind. He had never looked down on Xie An for his age; instead, he had patiently guided him in every way. Now he was even giving him a valuable prescription for free. Gratitude filled Xie An's heart.

Tang Qingfeng shook his head and sighed. "In this day and age, the Health Cultivation Technique has declined and fallen into obscurity, and hardly anyone is willing to practice it. I only saw that you were diligent and eager to learn. Consider it fate. The Health Cultivation Technique requires years of perseverance before it can produce remarkable results. If you ever develop Qi Sensation, come to Tang Family Fort in the county seat and look for me. You may find an opportunity there."

Qi Sensation?

This was the first time Xie An had heard the term, and he found it profound and bewildering.

Seeing that Tang Qingfeng had no intention of continuing, Xie An did not ask further. He clasped his hands and bade him farewell.

Two days later, Tang Qingfeng left Wuqiao Town.

Xie An had even bought some local specialties from Wuqiao Town, along with a jar of Bamboo Leaf Green he had treasured for many years. He went to the town entrance to see Tang Qingfeng off, grateful for Master Tang's month of guidance.

Tang Qingfeng had initially intended to refuse, but he could not withstand the old man's heartfelt gratitude. Thinking that his trip to Wuqiao Town to promote the Health Cultivation Technique had at least achieved something, he ultimately accepted the gifts with satisfaction.

Watching Xie An's lonely, white-haired figure as he departed, Tang Qingfeng could not help feeling moved.

"Though advanced in years, he remains vigorous; even a late bloomer can achieve greatness!"

Xie An's days grew peaceful once more. He buried himself in the small room in the rear courtyard, tediously practicing the Health Cultivation Technique.

Though he was still practicing, his circumstances were vastly different from a month ago.

Before, Xie An had been feeling his way forward alone, brutally grinding away without understanding the essence or principles of the Health Cultivation Technique. After Tang Qingfeng's guidance, he had mastered its methods and essential principles. His practice now proceeded smoothly, producing twice the results with half the effort.

"According to Tang Qingfeng, the Five Animal Play can strengthen the five organs and cultivate inner qi. The Qi Sensation he mentioned should be the cultivation of inner qi. But I still don't know what cultivating inner qi actually means..."

"Strengthening the five organs... The Five Animal Play manual did mention it. Tiger Play governs the liver and can replenish essence and nourish the marrow; Deer Play governs the kidneys and can boost qi and strengthen the kidneys; Bear Play governs the spleen and can regulate the spleen and stomach; Ape Play governs the heart and can open the mind and enhance intelligence; Bird Play governs the lungs and can nourish the lungs and broaden the chest. It sounds quite incredible, but I'm still far from that realm. I'll have to work harder."

By noon, Xie An was already drenched in sweat from practicing, yet his breathing remained even and unhurried. He did not feel exhausted. Instead, his inner breath flowed long and steadily, endlessly renewing itself.

Every gesture he made brimmed with inexhaustible strength.

Huff!

Xie An let out a long breath, stopped practicing, and summoned the panel before him.

Five Animal Play: Integration of Movement and Stillness (97/100)

Tip: Complete the cultivation of combining motion and stillness to gain ten years of lifespan.

Remaining Lifespan: Fifteen Years.

"After a month of hard work, I've finally almost maxed out Integration of Movement and Stillness. Fifteen years of remaining lifespan... That's enough to live for a long time." Xie An revealed a satisfied smile.

Integration of Movement and Stillness was the second stage of the Five Animal Play, and its difficulty increased greatly. If not for Tang Qingfeng's guidance, Xie An estimated that it would have taken him at least a year or two to reach his current progress.

Though the master led one through the door, cultivation depended on the individual.

But being led through the door was equally crucial.

"Today, I'm no longer that dying old man from three months ago."

Xie An walked over to the stone lock and exerted a little strength. He easily lifted the four-hundred-pound stone lock with one hand. For someone who had never practiced martial arts, lifting four hundred pounds with one hand... was already utterly monstrous.

After setting down the stone lock, Xie An suddenly punched the flagstone floor. In an instant, there was a loud bang. Though his fist hurt terribly, the flagstone had also been smashed apart.

Xie An touched the scraped skin and began calculating in his mind.

With his current strength, killing an adult man with one punch would no longer be difficult. Even a large water buffalo could be beaten to death with three or five punches.

Below the level of martial artists, he should have few rivals.

"The only problem is that I don't know any martial arts meant for killing. If I run into a vicious brute skilled in martial techniques, my clumsy hands and feet may leave me unable to defend myself. I should find a martial art to practice. Besides, I've only practiced half of the Five Animal Play. One way or another, I need to buy a complete version."

Buying martial arts manuals was not difficult. Some apprentices and instructors from Chen Martial Arts School, driven by the desire for money, took risks by secretly copying martial arts manuals and selling them on the black market. Some bandits and wandering martial arts experts also sold the martial arts they had collected on the black market for profit.

Xie An took out all the savings tucked beneath the head of his bed and carefully counted them.

"Only twenty taels left?"

Over the past three months, Xie An's expenses for medicinal support had been enormous. Adding in the cost of nutritional supplements, his money had flowed away like water. He had earned no monthly wages while recuperating, and his purse had quickly run dry.

The three great hardships of old age.

You still had money, but no life left to spend it.

You still had your life, but no money left.

Your young girlfriend wanted you, but your body no longer worked.

"No rush. I'll wait a little longer. Everything will come..."

After making some mental preparations, Xie An stuffed the purse into his inner pocket and planned to go to the black market the next day.

Knock, knock, knock.

A hurried knocking sounded from outside the door.

"Coming."

When he opened the door, he found the maid Chunlan visiting him with a bamboo basket. Inside were meat dishes, nourishing soup, and a thick padded cotton jacket.

"Master Xie, Master Li said..."

She had only gotten halfway through her sentence when Chunlan froze, staring at the old man before her in disbelief.

Compared with three months ago, Xie An was not only more spirited but also sturdier. Even his appearance had grown younger.

As Xie An invited Chunlan in to have tea, he asked, "What did Master Li say?"

Chunlan excitedly changed her wording. "Your wind illness has recovered?"

Wind illness meant a stroke. However, in this era, a stroke usually referred to internal injury from evil wind that numbed the brain's vessels, whereas modern strokes mostly referred to cerebrovascular accidents. The definitions were somewhat different.

Simply put, strokes in ancient times were not as serious as modern strokes.

A modern elderly person suffering a stroke really was a brush with death.

Xie An did not beat around the bush. "Yes, I've been recuperating well lately. What were you about to say?"

Chunlan waved her hands repeatedly in delight. "Master Li told me to notify you to move out. He was preparing to have Zhang Bing take over the Appraisal Master position at the pawnshop. I never expected you to recover so well... I'll go tell Master Li right away."

"Oh, right. I brought you these clothes and nourishing soup. Hurry and eat them while they're hot."

After putting down the soup and clothes, Chunlan excitedly rushed out the door.

The moment she reached the pawnshop's main hall, someone called out to her.

"Miss Chunlan, is Master willing to move out?"

It was Zhang Bing, seated behind the counter with the bearing of a seasoned master. "If Master stubbornly refuses to leave, I can help persuade him."

As he spoke, Zhang Bing's expression was full of smugness.

"I'm afraid your wish is going to fall through. Not only has Master Xie recovered, he's even younger than before. I'm going to tell Master Li right now." Chunlan knew how Zhang Bing had looked down on Old Xie, so she had little goodwill toward him. After leaving him with that sentence, she walked away.

"Master has recovered... How is that possible!?"

Zhang Bing was instantly dumbfounded.

For more than four months, Zhang Bing had devoted himself to managing the pawnshop, filling the position of Appraisal Master. The only thing he had worried about was Xie An recovering and taking away everything that had already fallen into his hands.

He had waited far too long for the day he could finally rise above the rest...