Bitter Cultivation

Two days later...

The morning mist had yet to fully dissipate, mingling with the sunlight to create a dim, golden hue.

Inside the room, A Bi was styling the young master's hair.

Her red lips were pressed together lightly, her eyes as tender as water, every movement exuding exceptional gentleness. Once the styling was smooth, her fingertips glided through the raven-black strands, skillfully tying a simple topknot.

Qi Yu, while being attended to by the maid, lowered his head to flip through the martial arts manual in his hands, his expression focused.

The manor's guards consisted of one Seventh Rank, nine Eighth Rank, and forty-three Ninth Rank individuals. However, the cultivation techniques that could be organized and taught numbered only three sets. The rest were either not allowed to be taught outside the martial hall or were skills he had only half-learned and couldn't accurately describe.

In the path of martial arts, a slight deviation could lead to a thousand-mile error. Even a shred of uncertainty made it impossible to commit to paper.

These three sets...

One set: Five Plum Blossom Fist.

The stance training was special, requiring the establishment of "Five Stance Posts" and "Plum Blossom Posts" for diligent practice of footwork. The footwork incorporated a degree of illusory movement. The cultivation moves had four main forms: "Two Wings Pierce the Forest," "Great Wind Stream," "Small Wind Stream," and "No Obstruction."

One set: Rooster Fist.

This was provided by Old Gu. Compared to the evasive, flanking style of Spirit Serpent Fist, this set of fist techniques focused more on consecutive attacks. If one didn't strike, it was fine, but once an attack was launched, it was a storm of consecutive blows. The saying goes, "Hands grip like a rooster's claws, husband advances, wife follows. Most techniques are short-range strikes; if hands fail, use elbows. If elbows fail, use fists." As for the footwork, it was characterized by quick advances and retreats.

One set: Mystic Tiger Fist.

This was provided by Commander Ding. This cultivation method was quite unique. Even the stance requirements differed from others. While other stances demanded a straight posture, this one required the spine to be relaxed and drooped, entering a state of exceptional comfort. Only with comfort could the internal force flow freely, hence the saying, "Tiger walks as if ill."

Cultivation moves: Cat Walk and Cauldron Lift.

The former involved light steps, with the body in a state where internal force could erupt at any moment.

The latter was a method of channeling force. It's said, "Rise like lifting a cauldron." This means lifting a cauldron is not done with brute strength, but with the spine upright, the force originating from the ground, flowing through each segment, all the way to the arms. It's a kind of surging upward force.

Qi Yu mused inwardly.

These cultivation methods each had their own focus: Spirit Serpent Fist for startling evasions, Five Plum Blossom Fist for illusory footwork, Rooster Fist for rapid consecutive attacks, and Mystic Tiger Fist for surging force through the spine.

"As long as I don't use battle techniques to mobilize Blood Essence and temper my skin, it'll be fine. I'll only cultivate the basic cultivation methods to earn Skill Points."

Qi Yu made up his mind.

In the morning, he would practice the stances and cultivation methods of these three techniques.

He would rest briefly at noon and continue to study Spirit Serpent Technique.

In the afternoon, he would spar with Sun Dayun, an Eighth Rank guard.

Sun Dayun was a disciple of the Azure Bear Martial Hall in Mount Wei City, but his aptitude was mediocre. He felt he had no chance of reaching Seventh Rank and was recruited by a steward of the manor during a martial arts competition. He hadn't returned to the Azure Bear Martial Hall since.

He flipped through the pages, carefully comprehending.

With his Ninth Rank peak cultivation, he could now sense the cultivation methods in reverse, making the process significantly faster than before.

Outside the window, the sound of chopping wood could be heard incessantly.

Before dawn, the household servants were already sweating profusely, beginning their busy work, driving thick wooden posts deep into the ground to replace the ornamental rockeries that had previously occupied the courtyard.

At this moment, the Five Stance Posts and Plum Blossom Posts stood interspersed, their wooden shadows slanting, already taking shape.

"Young master, it's done."

A Bi's voice came from behind him.

Qi Yu stood up and glanced at his reflection in the mirror.

The young man's expression was calm, his eyes shining.

Seeing that the stakes were still being driven outside, he strolled to the armchair by the window and sank lazily into the spread sable fur, his spine relaxed, experiencing the sensation described in Mystic Tiger Fist.

Only when a servant came to inform him that "the posts are firmly in place, please try the steps, young master" did Qi Yu suddenly rise, like a cat stretching.

He strode quickly into the courtyard and carefully reviewed the footwork diagrams for Five Plum Blossom Fist, then leaped onto the wooden posts.

One step at a time, his robes fluttering...

After a long while, sweat quietly trickled down his face, gradually soaking his training clothes. He paid no mind, his gaze firm, focusing his entire mind on the inches beneath his feet and the precision of his movements.

Several days later...

A silk painting was presented to Qi Yu.

In the painting, the young lady had her hair adorned with flowers, her smile charming, her demeanor exuding a hint of a lady's reserve.

Madam Liu said, "This is the young lady from the Second Madam Qian's family, her given name is Fu. It was her mother who came to inquire outside the manor a few days ago."

Qi Yu's gaze lingered on the painting for a moment, then he suddenly asked, "Mother doesn't like Miss Song?"

Madam Liu shook her head. "Miss Song Xue is too competitive. With her, Er'er... you would be very tired."

Qi Yu chuckled. "Mother fears I won't be able to handle that spirited mare?"

Madam Liu's palm trembled slightly.

Her son had instantly understood her meaning.

Previously, she hadn't wanted to hurt his pride, so she hadn't said it directly.

Song Xue is a pure martial artist. Her first requirement for a man is that he must be stronger than her.

Of course, a woman like Song Xue is also loyal and righteous. She and Yu'er grew up together and truly have feelings for each other. So, if their son continues to train like this, their chances of getting together are not small.

However... getting together is one thing.

After they are together, the son's married life might be very difficult.

Marriage is not just about two people, but about two families, two forces.

The son can't suppress Song Xue.

Third Master Qi's manor and the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall are unlikely to get along either...

It was fine before when that Hall Master Song had no successor. Now... it is heard that he has gained a genius disciple, so things are different.

She remembered her husband's words, "Don't you know what kind of person our son is?" and her heart grew even more dejected.

Her son's rapid progress through secret medicine is ultimately like Kyōka Suigetsu.

Now, all she hopes for is for him to achieve some renown as a martial student; she no longer dares to dream.

Many thoughts raced through her mind...

Madam Liu said gently, "Mother naturally believes you, but... marriage is ultimately about matching social status. Miss Song comes from a martial family, and Yu'er, you..."

She paused, ultimately not saying the words "you are not."

She collected her thoughts, put on a warm smile again, and pushed the scroll further towards Qi Yu: "Of course, it's just for you to see Miss Qian's appearance first. If you find her pleasing to the eye, Mother will have someone thoroughly investigate her character. If she is knowledgeable, refined, gentle, and virtuous, then we will discuss it further."

Qi Yu wanted to refuse outright.

It wasn't that he was completely infatuated with Song Xue and couldn't extricate himself.

It was just that, in his opinion, the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall would offer him much more help than the Qian Family.

The help the Qian Family could provide, the Qi Family could also provide, but the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall was different.

Uncle Song is very strong.

Others might not see it, but he could.

Uncle Song is not only strong but also low-key.

Without even using a weapon, his combat power has reached "55~110," while the captain of his own guards, who is also a Seventh Rank, only has "47~72" with a saber.

To others, Song Qinghong and Ding Yi are both Seventh Rank, and there might be a gap between them, but you wouldn't know without fighting.

However, the vast difference was crystal clear in Qi Yu's eyes.

In such a dangerous world, he could not afford to give up such a powerful father-in-law as Uncle Song.

But when he saw the worry on Madam Liu's brow, he couldn't bear to directly defy her. So, he closed the scroll, walked around behind his mother, gently massaged her shoulders, and smiled, saying, "Mother, please don't worry. Your son will definitely prove himself and live up to your expectations. As for Miss Qian... why don't you investigate her first, and we can discuss it at length later, alright?"

Madam Liu felt her son's closeness and the tact in his tone, and her heart warmed. She smiled and said, "Good, good, good. My Yu'er has truly grown up."