A Petty Person

The Qi Family's guard training grounds.

Surname Sun Guard pushed open the side door and returned.

A familiar guard was lifting an iron lock and called from afar, "How did the practice session with the young master go?"

Surname Sun Guard said somewhat blankly, "The young master..."

He hesitated, seemingly unable to continue.

He was completely certain that the young master was Ninth Rank, because the young master could not unleash blood.

But why was the force behind the young master's attacks so ferocious?

During their practice session, he had even needed to stay focused to cope.

Secret medicine.

It had to be the effect of secret medicine.

Surname Sun Guard found an answer in his heart, then casually replied, "Not bad," and went to train as well.

The young master would need him to practice with him again tomorrow.

He was happy to practice with him.

Practicing with the young master was still better than going out with Brother Ding.

He glanced at a row of sturdy garments hanging to dry not far from the training grounds. One oversized garment was still hanging beside the well, like an empty skin sack—and its owner... had already disappeared.

Just yesterday!

Brother Ding was searching for a newcomer to fill the team.

As for what they were going to do, that would only be known after joining the team.

Qi Yu lay facedown on the couch, bare-chested, with unmistakable red fist marks across his back.

A Bi had shed her heavy padded coat and wore only a moon-white silk blouse. Half-kneeling beside the couch, she dipped her fingertip into ointment and gently rubbed it over his bruises. Her little mouth chattered on and on, sometimes complaining that Sun Da Yun "had no sense of restraint," and sometimes asking worriedly, "Young master, does it hurt?"

Qi Yu answered casually, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

The results of his battle with that Eighth Rank martial artist had indeed been quite good.

Battle was like being placed inside a forging furnace.

Every clash of force was like a hammer striking iron.

Yet after only one battle, he felt that his qi and blood had actually become much more refined.

As expected... battle techniques required battle.

After applying the medicine, he propped himself up and stretched his limbs.

Now that he had entered Ninth Rank, injuries this minor would heal quickly. With medicine, they would recover in a day or two.

He was bare-chested, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and clearly defined muscles.

A Bi stole a glance at him, then suddenly felt a scorching gaze settle on her.

Her ears immediately grew hot. She took half a step back, recalled the outrageous events of that night, and stammered, "Y-Young master, Madam brought people over today. She may well be your future mother-in-law. This servant... this servant will always belong to you, but right now... it wouldn't really be appropriate..."

"Future mother-in-law? How do you know?"

"I... I guessed."

A Bi lowered her little head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Sometimes... this servant's intuition is quite accurate."

The room fell silent for a while.

Seeing that there was no response, A Bi cautiously raised her head and sneaked a glance at the young master.

But the moment she saw Qi Yu's strong body, she hurriedly lowered her head again in bashful embarrassment.

Qi Yu glanced outside the window. It was still early; indulging himself now would indeed be inappropriate.

However, martial artists had vigorous qi and blood. Ever since he had shared intimacy with A Bi last time, he had felt that his muscles and bones were looser and his movements smoother whenever he practiced martial arts.

He reached out and pinched A Bi's oval face. The girl's skin was like silk, soft and warm beneath his fingers.

"I'm leaving."

He withdrew his hand and strode outside.

He was going to find Ding Yi, the guard commander.

When he had exchanged blows with Sun Da Yun earlier, he had already learned that Ding Yi had not gone out today.

Ding Yi sat with an ashen expression in the darkness beside the window.

His fists were clenched tightly, his expression tense. Only after a voice came from outside announcing, "Brother Ding, the young master is here," did he take a deep breath, swallow, and then calm his expression before rising and walking out of the darkness.

This Seventh Rank guard commander of the Qi Family was somewhat curious.

He and the young master almost never interacted in their daily lives.

He was Third Master's trusted aide and acted with prudence, whereas the young master spent his entire day wandering among brothels, living a dissolute life.

Perhaps because the young master feared Third Master's authority, he would sometimes show a hint of timidity whenever he saw Ding Yi.

Why had the young master taken the initiative to come looking for him today?

Qi Yu soon met Commander Ding and got straight to the point. "Commander Ding, I want to read more martial arts manuals."

Ding Yi was genuinely stunned. He instinctively asked, "Young master, you've been practicing the Spirit Serpent Skill quite well. What do you need other martial arts manuals for?"

Qi Yu said, "I'd like to read more."

Ding Yi said solemnly, "Young master, you absolutely must not practice martial arts recklessly. Some techniques have opposing characteristics. If you practice them together, you may instead cripple yourself."

Qi Yu asked, "If I only want basic techniques such as stance methods and nurturing methods, would that be possible?"

Ding Yi said, "But even if you obtained those basic techniques, they wouldn't be of much use to you. You'd be better off focusing on mastering a single technique."

Qi Yu's expression was resolute.

Seeing that the young master was so insistent, Ding Yi pondered for a moment before saying, "How about this? Among our Qi Family guards are disciples of local martial halls, but they cannot privately pass on those techniques.

"I'll have someone compile the basic techniques practiced by guards who learned unorthodox methods, inherited family techniques, or came from other cities, and hand the collection to you. If you encounter anything you don't understand while studying it, you can ask the corresponding guard directly.

"However, I'll only compile stance methods and nurturing methods... Battle techniques are absolutely out of the question. I hope you can understand.

"Two different battle techniques and two different skin-tempering methods—in simple terms, your qi and blood will fight each other.

"The principle is very simple. Skin-tempering changes the skin, making it completely different from other parts of the body.

"Different techniques change it in different ways.

"If two different skin-tempering methods become connected, then... you yourself may very well be injured. They could even cause flesh and blood to tear at the boundary between the two methods, and in severe cases, you could be crippled outright.

"As for determining whether two techniques are compatible, I'm afraid only experts with profound cultivation and broad experience can do so. It's just... just... never mind."

Ding Yi had wanted to say, "Physicians are especially well versed in the principles of qi and blood and the formulas for secret medicine, so their judgments can be more accurate..." But when the words reached his lips, he forcibly swallowed them back.

As Third Master's trusted aide, he naturally knew that there was a "physician" in the household. But he also knew perfectly well that person's identity could never be exposed.

A naive, green young master with barely any hair on his lips naturally could not be allowed to know this secret.

"Thank you, Commander Ding." Qi Yu cupped his hands in thanks.

"Young master, there's no need to be so polite." Ding Yi smiled and returned the salute.

He had served in the Qi Residence for many years and had long regarded himself as a member of the Qi Family after receiving the master's great kindness.

Around Pin Hai Restaurant.

An elegant residence.

Even the martial arts room was quite refined.

Soft carpeting covered the floor, a weapon rack stood in the corner, and a painting of a fish leaping through emerald waters hung on the wall. It was so lifelike that it had clearly come from a master artist...

Inside, a slender, rather attractive young woman wore light training clothes and lay seductively on soft fur.

At her side, two handsome, powerfully built young men were stretching her limbs.

One young man knelt by her feet, gently pressing her calves with both hands. It would be more accurate to call it caressing than massaging.

The other straddled her hips, both hands resting on her shoulders as he pressed down rhythmically. Although his movements appeared proper, the rise and fall still brought extremely suggestive contact.

The young woman seemed utterly unconcerned, contentedly enjoying the two youths' service.

Her gaze shifted toward a young man not far away. Suddenly, she ordered coquettishly, "Chu Xiao, come over and stretch me."

Chu Xiao's brows knitted slightly, and a concealed look of disdain flashed through his eyes.

He stood tall and proud and said flatly, "Miss Qian, I was hired by Pin Hai Restaurant. My only duty is to watch the place. I'm afraid I'm not suited for this sort of thing."

The young woman pursed her lips and gave a light snort. "Then... there's a portrait on the table. They say it's someone from your Spirit Serpent Martial Hall. Take a look and see if you recognize him."

With a haughty expression, Chu Xiao shifted his body and walked to the table. He picked up the portrait and slowly unfolded it.

The instant his eyes touched the portrait, he froze.

Qian Fu said, "This is the marriage candidate my mother found for me, Young Master Qi, Qi Yu. They say he's a martial arts prodigy. Take a look and tell me—what kind of person is he?"

After his brief astonishment, Chu Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "Senior Brother Qi is indeed a martial arts prodigy. He has extensive connections outside the hall and once even offered me some guidance."

In his heart, a worthless, spoiled young master like Qi Yu was exactly the sort of man who ought to be paired with this dissolute Miss Qian.

That way, at least one more scourge would be kept away from Senior Sister Song Xue.

Senior Sister Song Xue was a good woman. She should not suffer humiliation at the hands of that wastrel.

As long as this pair of shameless lovers met, Senior Sister Song Xue would surely see through that wastrel's true nature.

He could count it as having done a good deed.