Genius

Early the next morning, Qi Yu rode to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall.

His identity was special, so the martial hall disciples did not dare slight him. They respectfully led him toward the Skill Transmission Chamber.

Before he even stepped into the courtyard, he heard Song Qinghong's hearty laughter from afar.

"Good, good, good! Chu Xiao! However, martial cultivation requires you to guard against arrogance and impatience, and calm your mind.

"From today onward, your tuition is waived.

"Also, I heard that you and your elder sister depend on each other for survival. The outer city is a mixed bag of fish and dragons, so why not have her come work in my residence? The kitchen is still short-handed. The monthly pay is six hundred copper coins. How does that sound?"

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

The youth's voice trembled, and his gratitude was plain to see.

"If you can enter the Eighth Rank sooner, that will be the best repayment you can give your master."

Qi Yu approached the courtyard gate and saw a young man bowing deeply to Song Qinghong.

The young man was lean yet straight as a pine, his face sallow but his features as steadfast as stone.

Song Qinghong glanced up, spotted Qi Yu, and said with a smile, "Young Master Qi has arrived."

Qi Yu stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled. "Uncle Song, you always call me Young Master. Doesn't that make us seem distant? You and my father are of the same generation. You can just call me nephew."

With that, he gave a solemn bow, both showing respect and giving Song Qinghong ample face.

Then his gaze shifted slightly toward Chu Xiao, and he said amicably, "Uncle Song, this young brother is..."

Song Qinghong stroked his beard and smiled, his voice carrying a trace of pride. "This is my newly accepted disciple, Chu Xiao."

Then he added, "Chu Xiao, this is the son of Third Master Qi from the inner city."

Chu Xiao jerked his head up. When his eyes touched Qi Yu's brocade robe and golden sash, his pupils contracted slightly.

A smile rapidly piled onto his face, even carrying a hint of ingratiating eagerness. He said repeatedly, "Chu Xiao greets Young Master Qi! I... I've never spoken with a nobleman from the inner city before!"

His voice tightened slightly, and his eyes flickered with undisguised envy.

Qi Yu smiled. "What nobleman? If you ever come to the inner city, feel free to look for me."

"Yes! Yes!"

Chu Xiao hurriedly replied.

Song Qinghong's brows drew together slightly. He waved his hand. "Go practice!"

Chu Xiao quickly bowed again. Even as he withdrew, he could not help sneaking another glance at Qi Yu. He smiled and said, "Young Master Qi, I'll be off."

Qi Yu laughed boldly. "Brother Chu, there's no need to be so polite. You're Uncle Song's favored disciple, so we're practically family. Just call me Brother Qi."

"Yes, Brother Qi." Chu Xiao answered again, then hurried away. Only after leaving the courtyard did he suddenly feel a surge of shame—shame at his own abject manner just now.

He subconsciously clenched his fists, drew a deep breath, and strode forward.

Meanwhile, Song Qinghong was in high spirits. He raised a hand and gestured inward. "Nephew Qi, come inside."

A moment later, Qi Yu began practicing the Spirit Serpent Posture's cultivation method.

Song Qinghong's gaze sharpened slightly. At a glance, he could tell that Qi Yu had not merely mastered it—his proficiency was already considerable.

A trace of astonishment flashed through his eyes.

Despite having spent years indulging himself, Qi Yu had actually mastered the Spirit Serpent Posture in only six days. His original physical foundation must have been fairly good.

What a pity...

This child had never awakened before, living wantonly and squandering much of his potential. Otherwise, he truly would have been a fine martial arts seed. Though he might not match a prodigy like Chu Xiao, he could perhaps have barely touched the threshold of the Seventh Rank. If he fought a little harder, he might even have broken into the Seventh Rank.

But after giving it some thought, Song Qinghong felt that this might not be a bad thing after all.

If Qi Yu truly became an expert, he would inevitably be drawn into the storms of the martial world. Learning martial arts now merely to strengthen his body was safer.

Dressed in a black robe and standing with his hands behind his back, Song Qinghong said, "Nephew, your cultivation method is coming along nicely. Today, I'll teach you the practice method—the Spirit Serpent Fist. Your body should be as supple as a snake, your hands as hard as iron. The practice consists of two moves. Watch closely."

With that, he shifted his feet lightly. His body glided like a snake, while his fists flashed at times swiftly and at times slowly.

Though it was not yet a combat art, it already displayed a keen and fierce quality.

After a brief moment, Song Qinghong finished practicing and explained, "The first move is called Serpent Coiling Body; the second is called Serpent's Tongue Flick. I'll explain the key points to you."

A short while later...

Qi Yu carefully committed the key points to memory, then imitated the example and began practicing.

But after finishing the two moves, even he had no idea what he had actually practiced...

He understood the principles well enough. For example, the key to Serpent Coiling Body was that instant of alarm when encountering an enemy. That alarm had to be like a blade at one's throat or flames scorching one's body: contract suddenly, gathering momentum and force.

Just as a venomous snake, when threatened, would swiftly coil its body into a ball, shrinking the area exposed to attack while shielding its most lethal head as much as possible.

And then there was Serpent's Tongue Flick. It was a stance that combined offense and defense, containing both motion and stillness. It imitated a venomous snake hissing and flicking its tongue as it observed its enemy—its next move either to attack or flee.

This form was equally suited to offense and defense. When moving, it was like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, force gathering at the fist's edge for a killing strike; when retreating, it was like a spirit serpent gliding away, both feet driving off as it vanished into the distance in an instant.

But understanding something was one matter; actually practicing it was another.

Qi Yu felt that when practicing Serpent Coiling Body, he looked like a startled monkey leaping wildly. When practicing Serpent's Tongue Flick, he looked like a clumsy, wooden dullard.

He awkwardly lowered his fists and said, "Uncle Song, I..."

Song Qinghong encouraged him. "Your comprehension... is fairly normal, I suppose. Come, I'll teach you some more."

Next, Song Qinghong patiently broke down the two Spirit Serpent Fist moves in exhaustive detail, teaching Qi Yu step by step how to circulate his blood and qi and sense his force flowing and gathering. Whenever the slightest movement was improper, he corrected it immediately, until it was flawless.

Such meticulous instruction took several times longer than teaching the standing posture.

With ordinary disciples, even inner disciples, Song Qinghong had never gone to such lengths. If their comprehension was lacking, he would have told them to go home and study the fist manual themselves, then come back after ten days or half a month.

The two of them practiced for a full hour.

After hurriedly eating a simple meal, they continued their arduous cultivation.

It was not until the hour of Wei that Qi Yu could barely remember the key points of the two moves. Though his movements were slow, he no longer made mistakes.

"Practice the standing posture every day, and diligently train these two moves. Once you've mastered them, you'll have entered the first minor realm of the Ninth Rank—Invigorate Blood and Nourish the Body. Your blood and qi will be twice that of an ordinary young adult.

"From now on, cultivate on your own at home. Don't skimp on Essence Replenishing Soup. Come back to me after half a month if you've made some progress."

"Thank you, Uncle Song."

"No need to be polite."

Afterward, Song Qinghong escorted Qi Yu to the entrance once more.

Qi Yu rode away.

Song Qinghong watched the carriage recede. Turning his head slightly, he happened to see Song Xue returning with a long spear slung over her shoulder, so he asked, "How did you find the Warm Serpent Training this time?"

Song Xue's eyes brightened slightly. "I benefited greatly. My killing method is almost complete as well."

Song Qinghong said, "After reaching perfection, temper yourself more. Perhaps... you too may touch the threshold of the Seventh Rank."

As he spoke, he let out a soft sigh.

Clearly, breaking through to the Seventh Rank was truly no easy matter.

Even for his own daughter, he did not dare hold out too much hope.

Song Xue nodded, then looked into the distance. "Young Master Qi came again?"

Song Qinghong recounted Qi Yu's performance.

Song Xue was quite astonished. "With that physique of his, he managed to master the Spirit Serpent Posture in six days?"

Song Qinghong smiled without answering. Instead, he said, "When you have time, help arrange things for your Junior Brother Chu. Bring his elder sister to the martial hall. That way, you can get a little closer to your Junior Brother Chu and give him a stronger sense of belonging to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall."

"Chu Xiao?"

"He broke through to the Ninth Rank in three days. His comprehension and physical foundation are both considerably stronger than your Eldest Brother's. He is truly a young prodigy."

Song Qinghong stood with his hands behind his back and gazed into the distance, satisfaction shining in his eyes.

Even if the Qi Family marriage fell through, with a disciple like Chu Xiao, how could the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall fail to flourish?