Martial Dao Body

Chapter 5: Martial Dao Body

After lunch.

Chen Yi moved a lounge chair over, had Xiao Die prepare the tea set, and sat in the small pavilion sipping tea while letting the free wind blow over him.

The early summer sunlight wasn't harsh, and the gentle breeze brushed past, making him feel immensely comfortable and content.

"Mountains, water, flowers, grass—beautiful scenery and tea on top of that. This is what life should be."

Thinking this, a smile spread across Chen Yi's face.

That carefree, sunlit profile even made Xiao Die steal a few extra glances.

In her eyes, the son-in-law's appearance was exceptionally striking—a pure white scholar's robe, long black hair tied back at the waist, two strands of hair falling over his forehead, framing a face with delicate features that radiated refinement and warmth.

In short, he was very, very special, unlike any talented scholar she had ever seen before.

Perhaps this was what the Eldest Miss meant by a "learned man."

"Son-in-law, the Eldest Miss said just now that the master who will teach you martial cultivation will arrive this afternoon."

Chen Yi didn't turn his head. "That urgent?"

He was staring at a patch of purple bamboo by the pond, mentally figuring out how to make a fishing rod from it. A few clueless goldfish had splashed him with water while jumping earlier, and he couldn't rest easy until he caught them.

Xiao Die recalled what Xiao Wan'er had said and lowered her head. "Son-in-law, this... this is all Xiao Die's fault..."

Chen Yi turned to look at her and asked with a smile, "Your fault for what?"

"A few days ago, the Eldest Miss asked me about your recent situation, and I... I told her everything."

"I see," Chen Yi said, turning his gaze back to the bamboo grove, still smiling. "Telling her is fine. No problem."

Now that he was inside Xiao Manor, every word and action would be reported to the few power-holders within the estate.

Even if Xiao Die didn't speak, someone else would tell them.

"But the Eldest Miss said that the Old Master arranged for you to study martial arts only after hearing about the poem you wrote."

Originally, Xiao Die hadn't thought she'd done anything wrong; she was merely following orders from the Eldest Miss to keep an eye on the son-in-law.

But after learning she had become Chen Yi's personal maidservant, a sense of guilt inexplicably welled up in her heart.

If not for her, the son-in-law could be resting right now.

"It doesn't matter."

"Son-in-law, you're not angry?" Xiao Die lifted her head slightly, her eyes peering through the stray strands of hair at his profile.

Chen Yi said indifferently, "Think of it as exercise."

"Don't dwell on it. While the man hasn't arrived yet, help me find some tools."

"What tools does the son-in-law want?" Xiao Die let out a sigh of relief, a small smile appearing on her face.

"A small knife, some string, and an iron nail."

"This..."

Seeing Chen Yi's mysterious expression, Xiao Die was baffled, but she eventually fetched them for him.

Soon, she figured out what Chen Yi was planning.

"A fishing rod?"

"That's right."

Chen Yi looked at the rod in his hands, which couldn't even be described as "rudimentary." "Xiao Die, don't judge it by its looks. Do you believe I can clear out every fish in this pond with it?"

With limited resources, he had to make do with what was available.

The rod was made from a thin bamboo shoot by the pond, the fishing line from knitting yarn carefully rolled into a ball, and the hook from a small iron nail bent and sharpened.

In less than half an hour, this crude fishing rod was freshly made.

"Son-in-law, those fish were specially brought from Guangyue Prefecture by the Second Miss. They're said to be a very rare breed." Xiao Die reminded him in a low voice.

Chen Yi stroked the rod like a treasure. "Don't worry, don't worry. I'm only fishing; I don't plan to eat them."

For a fisherman, the joy lies in the sense of accomplishment from catching the fish and the envious stares from others when parading them through the streets.

That immense satisfaction is something outsiders simply can't understand.

Not eat them? Xiao Die first felt relieved, then puzzled: If you're not eating them, why fish at all?

Clearly, she was one of the "outsiders" in Chen Yi's mind, unable to grasp a fisherman's happiness.

But before Chen Yi could even cast a line to test the waters, a rumbling sound like rolling wheels came from outside the garden.

He looked toward the sound.

There, the towering Wang Lixing was carefully pushing a middle-aged man seated in a wheelchair toward him.

The man had a proper appearance, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, exuding the resolute toughness of a military man.

But perhaps because of his disability, an unshakable melancholy lingered between his brows.

Xiao Die glanced over and quickly whispered a reminder: "Son-in-law, that's the Second Miss's second uncle, Xiao Xuanshuo."

After speaking, she stepped to the edge of the pavilion and bowed respectfully.

Chen Yi nodded slightly, handed the fishing rod to Xiao Die, and before the two could approach, he stepped forward and bowed lightly. "Chen Yi greets Second Uncle."

He had heard Xiao Die mention Xiao Xuanshuo before—apparently, a few years ago while inspecting a military garrison, he had been ambushed by the Barbarian Tribe, and only through the desperate fighting of several hundred personal guards had he managed to escape.

But Xiao Xuanshuo had also been severely injured in that incident, and since then, he could only move about in a wheelchair.

Xiao Xuanshuo lifted his head slightly, caught sight of the fishing rod in Xiao Die's hand, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes. He said flatly:

"Per the old master's orders, I am to teach you the Martial Dao."

"But let me be clear from the start: you are merely the Xiao family's son-in-law, so what you learn and practice will only be the fundamentals of martial arts."

"If in the future you achieve some success, or render meritorious service to the Xiao family, someone will naturally pass on more profound cultivation techniques to you."

Before Chen Yi could speak, Xiao Xuanshuo's tone grew heavier:

"I don't care how things were in the Chen Family before, and I can let bygones be bygones regarding the marriage evasion. But if you ever do anything to damage the Xiao family's reputation again, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

Chen Yi nodded calmly. "I will follow Second Uncle's arrangements."

He could hear Xiao Xuanshuo's displeasure and knew full well that this was the same man who had earlier proposed in the Disciplinary Hall to expel him from the family, but...

So be it.

He had food and clothing now, and being a stable son-in-law in the Marquis's mansion was fine.

Xiao Die, long before Xiao Xuanshuo finished speaking, had already quietly withdrawn from Chunhe Garden and was now standing guard outside the corridor leading to Jiaxing Garden.

The Xiao family treated their servants well, but when it came to martial arts techniques and the like, ordinary maidservants and servants were not qualified to observe.

Not long after.

The three found a spacious open area by the pond.

Xiao Xuanshuo glanced at Chen Yi, then instructed Wang Lixing, "Stance training. The great spear."

Wang Lixing acknowledged loudly, stepped in front of Chen Yi, and said seriously, "All martial arts in the world share the same origin—they all begin with tempering the body, refining the sinews, bones, and skin..."

As he spoke, he slowly demonstrated.

In his starting stance, he stood straight as a pole, like a spear planted upright. Then he pushed both hands forward flat, took a deep breath, and his chest bulged as if a stone had been stuffed inside, expanding two sizes in an instant.

After several repetitions, Wang Lixing exhaled that breath and said:

"Great Spear Stance Training requires coordination with specific breathing techniques, gradually tempering the body and strengthening the physique."

"Once the sinews, bones, and skin are thoroughly refined and Qi is generated within the body, the next step is to use the Dantian's Qi to refine the five organs and meridians, until four main channels are opened, reaching the peak of the Martial Dao Ninth Rank Realm..."

Though Wang Lixing looked like a rough man, he was meticulous when teaching.

After demonstrating several times, he had Chen Yi assume the Great Spear Stance.

Without even needing to pretend, Chen Yi knew his performance was terrible—his posture was slack and weak, lacking any power, and even his movements were not standard.

Wang Lixing seemed to have expected this. His palm, as large as a winnowing basket, slapped down several times, each strike landing precisely on Chen Yi's mistakes.

"Waist, tighten it."

"Chest out, stomach in."

"Left leg, half a step forward... Hold this position. Inhale... Exhale..."

Chen Yi endured the pain in his body and the soreness in his limbs' meridians, following Wang Lixing's rhythm as he inhaled and exhaled.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of heat from somewhere, making his body burn up. Even the blood in his veins seemed to boil, driving his heart to thump and pound rapidly.

Successfully practiced Great Spear Stance Training (Xuan Rank), Level: Initial Glimpse

Martial Dao Body: Not Yet Initiated 0/1 (Can Add Points)