Full Moon Banquet

Dragon soars, elephant treads, dividing yin and yang,

Water and fire in harmony, refining true gang.

Three gates and nine apertures connect heaven and earth,

In every breath, the mysteries of heaven and earth are revealed.

Xu Chuan recited the core principles of the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique, finding them obscure and difficult to understand.

Fortunately, it came with matching breathing mnemonics and twelve forms.

The breathing mnemonic was: Nasal Inhale, Dragon Ascends to Baihui Point; Mouth Exhale, Elephant Sinks into Yongquan Point. Triple Burner Like a Furnace, Refining True Fire; One Qi Circulates the Lesser Heavenly Cycle.

Xu Chuan began practicing according to the movements described above.

First form: Young Dragon Awakens the Spine.

Feet shoulder-width apart. When inhaling, raise both arms like Dragon Horns (middle fingers aimed at Baihui); when exhaling, sink the elbows and press down with the palms (Laogong Points aimed at Yongquan Points

As the saying went.

When the dragon raised its head, it drew in purple qi; its Weilü hung toward the earth, suppressing all eight directions.

Second form: Elephant Trunk Rolls Water.

Horse Stance. When inhaling, the right arm spiraled upward like an elephant's trunk (palm facing the face); when exhaling, slash downward to the left with the palm.

Third form: Fire Dragon Wags its Tail.

Several days passed, but his progress was unremarkable.

The only difference was that his appetite had grown larger.

Xu Chuan possessed the talent [Dragon's Vigor, Tiger's Might]. In terms of physical fitness, qi, blood, and vigor, he was absolutely no inferior to a Martial Artist.

Yet he also vaguely felt that this Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique was far from simple. Perhaps it would take years of steady practice before he saw results.

In the blink of an eye, the day of Xu Mingxuan's Full Moon Banquet arrived.

Xu Chuan got busy early, setting a large round table in the courtyard.

If it was not enough, he would borrow one from next door.

There was also a square table and benches specially for the children, all made by Xu Chuan himself.

Evening came.

The husband and wife were both busy in the kitchen when they suddenly heard familiar voices.

"It's Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."

"Husband, go on. The dishes are all prepared and only need to be put in the wok. I can handle the rest."

Xu Chuan nodded and went outside to welcome the guests.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law."

Xu Chuan began hosting them. The two little fellows had been looking after their little brother in the main hall, but upon hearing the voices, they ran out as well.

"Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother," the little fellows said cheerfully.

"Shitou, come, let Maternal Grandfather hold you."

"Oh my, you've gotten quite a bit heavier. You're becoming a grown-up."

"Maternal Grandfather, A Yuan wants to be held too."

Bai Fu laughed and lifted Xu Mingyuan as well.

"Where's Jing'er?" Mother-in-law looked around.

"She's in the kitchen."

"Then I'll go help Jing'er. You father and son can chat." Mother-in-law walked toward the kitchen with a light smile.

Bai Fu and Xu Chuan went to the main hall to look at the sleeping Xu Mingxuan, gently rocking the cradle.

"This thing is quite convenient. Sanshu, your craftsmanship really is excellent."

Xu Chuan merely smiled faintly.

"Now that you have another Tantou, have you made any plans for the future?" Bai Fu asked.

"After the Full Moon Banquet, I plan to expand the house first. After that, I'll consider reading, writing, and martial arts."

"Food, clothing, shelter, and travel are the most important things for us common folk. Only afterward should one consider reading and martial arts. Since you have such plans, I can rest assured."

"I'll still need Father-in-law to give me guidance from time to time."

"You really are..."

Xu Chuan gave him a small bit of flattery, and Bai Fu was thoroughly pleased by it.

Not long after, his little brother-in-law Bai Hua, his little sister-in-law Bai Fang and her family, as well as Uncle Chen and his wife, and Chen Ergou's family, all arrived with congratulatory gifts.

The courtyard became lively at once, filled with festive cheer.

Four or five children frolicked and ran about shouting, while the adults sat and chatted.

Everyone in the courtyard was among Xu Chuan's closest relatives and friends.

Once the feast began.

Xu Chuan rose with his wine cup in hand and said loudly, "Thank you all for honoring me with your presence at my son Tantou's Full Moon Banquet. I'll drink first as a toast to you all!"

With that, he tilted back his head and drained the wine in his cup.

He wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and continued, "Everyone here is a relative or friend of mine, Xu Chuan. There is no need for empty courtesies. Tonight, I only ask that you all enjoy yourselves to the fullest."

"Brother-in-law, just don't be stingy with your family's wine today."

"Bai Hua, since you've said that, none of us shall go home sober tonight!"

At those words, everyone burst into laughter.

Chen Ergou and his little brother-in-law promptly offered toasts, clearly intent on getting Xu Chuan drunk, while Uncle Chen and Father-in-law Bai Fu merely drank token amounts.

Xu Yan and Bai Fang asked after Bai Jing's health. The women ate and chatted, talking about everyday family matters.

The banquet did not end until the bright moon hung high in the sky.

When Bai Hua and Chen Ergou returned home, their legs were weak. Had their wives not supported them, they likely would have collapsed straight onto the ground and begun snoring away.

Bai Jing cleaned up in the kitchen.

Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan had exhausted themselves playing and returned to their room, going to sleep early.

Xu Chuan entered the main hall and walked to the cradle.

After a moment of silence, he flipped his hand, and a book with a black cover appeared in it.

This was the Bloodline Genealogy. At present, it was only two thin pages long.

He turned to the second page, then found a needle and pricked Xu Mingxuan's fingertip. A drop of blood fell onto the genealogy.

At once.

A line of words appeared out of thin air on the second page.

[Name: Xu Mingxuan: Xu Family Second Generation]

[Spiritual Root: Incomplete Five Elements, no Cultivation Aptitude]

[Talent: None]

[Bloodline: None]

Above were the Family Genealogy records for Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan, and they were no different.

Among ordinary common folk, the chance of producing someone with Cultivation Aptitude, a special talent, or a Bloodline was almost one in ten thousand.

Xu Chuan did not feel disappointed.

Xu Mingxuan had been pricked and began wailing, drawing Bai Jing over.

The genealogy slipped into Xu Chuan's body and vanished.

"What happened?" Bai Jing asked.

"Perhaps he's hungry. You feed him; I'll clean up the kitchen."

"Then I'll trouble Husband with it."

After they had each finished their work, Xu Chuan and Bai Jing finally went to bed as well.

Bai Jing rested her head on Xu Chuan's arm, turning sideways to hug him.

"Husband, today's gifts from each family were mostly worth twenty or thirty copper coins, but Ergou Family gave one tael in gift money. This concubine thinks that is rather unusual. Do you know what happened?"

"One tael?"

Xu Chuan was surprised as well, then smiled. "I know. Just accept it without worry."

"Earlier, I made a deal with Chen Daming. I traded the Green Jade Pear cultivation notes for a superior Inner Strength Manual and ten Qi and Blood Pills."

"Ergou Family must have copied down the notes as well. Perhaps they felt somewhat indebted, which is why they did this."

"You sold the Green Jade Pear cultivation notes?!"

Bai Jing was so shocked that she pressed a hand to Xu Chuan's chest and pushed herself upright, staring at him.

"Husband, you were muddleheaded! That is something that could be passed down through the family. How could you sell it?"

"An Inner Strength Manual isn't worth much either! Whether it can even be cultivated successfully is another question!"

Xu Chuan raised a hand and lightly scraped her delicate nose, smiling faintly. "Don't worry. Have you ever seen your husband suffer a loss?"

"The cultivation notes are certainly useful, but that depends on who is doing the planting. Besides, the more tightly we hide them away, the more people will covet them. One day, our family might suffer disaster because of them."

"Do you remember what I told you about the Xu Family not long ago?"

"Now, with Uncle Chen's family serving as a cover, no one will entertain such thoughts for the time being."

"They will likely wait to see the results of the Chen Family's planting. If they fail to grow them, they will give up. If they succeed, then should they want the notes, I can simply sell them again."

"So that's how it is. Husband is truly clever."

Whether it was because he had drunk too much that night or because soft, fragrant jade was in his arms, he only felt unbearably hot.

"Wife, your husband worked hard all day. Shouldn't you reward him a little?"

Xu Chuan held her soft hand and drew it across his chest.