Dezhou Has No Use for Idlers

That night, youths with no idea where their futures lay drifted into Lu Ming's backyard one after another, then strode out with their heads held high, all confusion swept away. They looked as invigorated as if they had been enlightened.

If anyone asked, it was because the instructor had shown them the way, living up to the name of a distinguished disciple of Great Awakening Temple.

A dozen or so youths also stayed for the time it took to drink a cup of tea and got nothing. Lu Ming had not granted them the "true teachings." It was not because they lacked talent for martial arts or could not learn superior techniques, but because they had loose tongues and could not be trusted with secrets.

Two years was enough for Lu Ming to figure out these youths' characters. He had his own measure for who was worth investing in and who was not, who was taciturn and who had a big mouth.

Of course, something similar had happened once before the Six Doors and other agencies arrived.

Two days later, several carriages arrived and collected people according to a list. One carriage headed for the local county yamen, while the rest scattered in different directions toward Dezhou's six subordinate counties.

Dezhou was governed from Luo County. Its other six counties were Yinhua County, Fushan County, Youfeng County, Fengqi County, Yongchuan County, and Fengxian County.

To be fair, because of the Southern Border, public security in all seven counties under Dezhou was fairly poor. They were all much the same, with no real distinction between good and bad. If one had to pick the richest and most chaotic, it was undoubtedly Fengxian County.

The county had a trade route connecting to the Southern Border, drawing people from all corners of the world. Both the underworld and respectable folk lived there together, and banditry remained impossible to stamp out.

That trade route only made matters worse in already fierce Dezhou. Martial arts schools lined the streets and alleys, and nearly every household had someone who practiced martial arts.

There was no helping it. If you did not learn martial arts, your neighbors would treat your home like a granary.

Over time, Dezhou's overall martial strength was forcibly driven higher.

Back to the point: because Fengxian County was both the richest and the most chaotic, it had great influence in matters of public security. Before Luo County could act, it snatched away the best batch of pups, including the overlooked gem Xiang Yuan.

After a dusty journey and a night spent at a postal station along the official road, Xiang Yuan's group arrived at Fengxian County Yamen the following afternoon.

The carriage stopped on East Street outside the yamen. Servants who had been waiting for some time led away the five dazed youths. They passed through the main gate, entered a passageway, crossed a row of large trees, and arrived at an open area paved with brick and stone.

The five youths remained where they were to wait while the servant hurried through a doorway in the courtyard wall ahead.

Xiang Yuan secretly clicked his tongue. Fengxian County Yamen was many times larger than he had imagined, nowhere near as simple or slapdash as the ones in costume dramas.

Looking around, he saw open spaces and courtyard walls on both sides of the passageway, with rows of buildings behind those walls. At the end of the passageway stood the ceremonial gate of the county yamen. Beyond it, to either side, were the offices of the Six Departments: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Punishment, and Works. Only after passing through there would one reach the main hall seen in costume dramas.

"Who below dares bring a case against this official?" referred to that very hall.

And that was not the end of it. The main hall was barely halfway through the county yamen. Further back were the second hall, the County Assistant's office, the county commandant's office, the silver vault, the tax vault, and more. Beyond the third hall stood the residences of the County Magistrate and County Assistant, separated by high walls, along with a garden.

There had to be at least three hundred rooms.

Blocked by high walls, Xiang Yuan could not see any of this. He knew only because Lu Ming had told them beforehand. Lu Ming had explained some of the county yamen's rules to the youths so they would not be caned on their first day for failing to observe proper etiquette.

Soon, the servant returned the way he had come and told the five youths that the squad leader would arrive shortly. They were to wait obediently and not wander around.

They waited for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Xiang Yuan understood that the squad leader was establishing authority, so he stood honestly in place, closed his eyes, and silently recited the words written on five thin sheets of paper.

The sheets bore the title "Six-Character Breathing Technique." Its six-character core was Xu, He, Hu, Xi, Chui, and Xi. Each character had a corresponding breathing method, making it the ideal way to cultivate inner strength.

Having only just arrived, Xiang Yuan had no understanding of martial cultivation. He understood even less how practicing martial arts could somehow lead to becoming an immortal or god. He only knew that "he" had entered the Martial Path and was at the Qi Refining Stage of the Lesser Three Realms.

The Lesser Three Realms were Qi Refining, Acupoint Opening, and Foundation Establishment.

Anyone who reached Foundation Establishment could be called an expert. Those who achieved Great Accomplishment would be impervious to blades and spears, untouched by water and fire.

Like Lu Ming. After drinking, he had let slip that in his youth, he had been an expert at the half-step peak of Foundation Establishment, with Gang Qi protecting his body—a lethal weapon in human form.

These were the pieces of common knowledge Xiang Yuan could access. Beyond that, he was completely in the dark.

The Qi Refining Stage he was in was divided into four steps: Blood Supplementation, Qi Nourishment, Qi Accumulation, and Qi Circulation. Blood Supplementation and Qi Nourishment were not difficult. As long as one was born between heaven and earth, anyone could accomplish them.

Qi Accumulation required tempering through external techniques. The most common method was practicing fist techniques. It was said that qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting could also accumulate qi, but Lu Ming knew nothing of such refined pursuits, and a lowborn mudleg like Xiang Yuan had no access to them.

The final step was Qi Circulation.

Blood Supplementation produced a sense of qi, while Qi Nourishment accumulated qi in the Lower Dantian. The first three steps all paved the way for Qi Circulation.

Only upon reaching Qi Circulation could one truly be considered to have entered the Martial Path.

The first step after entering was the exceedingly difficult Meridian Opening: using the qi of the Lower Dantian to open the Ren Meridian among the Ren and Du Meridians.

The book said that the Lower Dantian was one of the most vital parts of the human body. Not only did it store Vital Energy and Kidney Essence, it also housed crucial acupoints such as the Sea of Qi and Gate of Life. Sinking qi into the dantian could strengthen the body, improve health, and increase one's strength, allowing even a frail young woman to pin a burly man down with one hand.

Furthermore, the Lower Dantian was the starting point for circulating qi through the Ren Meridian, Du Meridian, and Chong Meridian. It was the source of vital qi and the origin of yin and yang.

After sinking qi into the dantian, a cultivator would practice tirelessly day and night. The qi in the dantian would naturally overflow, and by guiding qi with intent, they could open the Ren Meridian and lay a solid foundation for the Acupoint Opening to come.

"Xiang Yuan" had trained day and night. His slow, steady work had long since reached the proper level, and the qi in his dantian was overflowing. His attempts to break through the Ren Meridian had already achieved minor success.

Of the Ren Meridian's twenty-four acupoints, he had opened seven. He was currently stuck at Shenque. Because his momentum for breakthrough was insufficient, he had never been able to achieve his goal.

After searching for the reason, he decided that he simply was not working hard enough, so he trained even more diligently.

Then he worked himself to death.

It was not that "Xiang Yuan" could not do it because he lacked effort. He lacked a proper breathing method. If Lu Ming had taught him earlier, even by only three to five days, there would not have been the later Xiang Yuan.

The moment Xiang Yuan received the Six-Character Breathing Technique, he understood its principles. He did not blame Lu Ming on behalf of "himself." True teachings could not be imparted lightly. Lu Ming was merely an instructor paid to do a job, not a doting father.

With the Six-Character Breathing Technique, Xiang Yuan's efficiency at drawing qi far surpassed what it had been before. Though he had started midway, he was performing even better than "himself."

First, he benefited from the technique. Second, he had the strong foundation laid before.

The grind king had truly worked hard!

But...

If even the breathing technique Lu Ming had taught was this powerful, then would the methods passed down generation after generation by Noble Families and Sect Gates not be heaven-defying?

If he could earn the favor of any one of them, his cultivation would yield twice the result with half the effort. He would certainly take far fewer detours and save a great deal of time.

At that thought, Xiang Yuan, eyes still closed, faintly shook his head. I cannot be too greedy. I have already received the true teachings, and my starting point is ahead of the other four youths here. I should be content.

That was right. I cannot be too greedy. x5

In the open area, all five youths sat with their eyes closed and circulated qi. Not one wandered around. Each secretly warned himself that, having received the true teachings, he absolutely could not lose to the other four.

Another half stick of incense passed. The other four youths grew somewhat tired and stopped circulating qi one after another, instead closing their eyes to rest.

Xiang Yuan's foundation was solid, and he had not grown tired. The sound of footsteps ahead startled him awake. He stopped circulating qi and looked over.

There were six of them, all dressed in dark blue constable uniforms with long sabers at their waists. Their steps were steady, and there was a faint sound of wind as they walked. All were skilled fighters who had opened the Ren Meridian.

The leading man had a resolute face, eyebrows like brushstrokes of ink, and tiger eyes that shone. He possessed considerable authority. The youths could not help catching their breath after meeting his gaze, as though a fierce gust had swept over them.

This man's attire was clearly different from that of the other constables. His dark uniform bore a simple cloud pattern, and the long saber at his waist was not standard issue. Every sign showed that he was an elite constable.

"Standing around without even looking like you're standing properly! What kind of behavior is this!"

The five constables formed a row, with the man standing in front. At his rebuke, the youths' already straight backs became even straighter.

The man gave a slight nod and swept his gaze over the five youths one by one. He had secretly observed them just now and had roughly grasped their abilities, knowing who among them was the best fighter and who was the worst.

At their first meeting, he had already arranged where each of the five youths would go.

"My name is Liu Jingsheng. I am the head constable of this county's patrol division, as well as the head constable of Third Squad. From now on, you will work under me."

After introducing himself, Liu Jingsheng took out a roster from his clothes and called out names. "Xiang Yuan, starting today, you will work with Old Liu. He will teach you the county yamen's rules."

Xiang Yuan stepped forward and looked at the five constables, unsure which one was his job-change mentor.

At that moment, the smallest and thinnest of the five constables stepped out. Besides his saber, he also had a dry tobacco pipe hanging from his waist. He was around thirty, with lively eyes and a rather crafty appearance at first glance.

Xiang Yuan did not dare judge by appearances. Dezhou had no use for idlers, and Fengxian County was chaos among chaos. Not a single constable here was someone to be taken lightly.

Crafty was good. Following someone like that around would let him learn how to stay alive.

"You're Xiang Yuan, right? You're quite a handsome lad. Come with me!"

Old Liu grinned, revealing two rows of black teeth, then turned and led Xiang Yuan toward the Third Squad Dormitory behind the high wall.

"Ma Zhengdao, starting today, you will work with Old Wang..."

"Liu Neng, you will work with..."

After passing through the doorway in the high wall, the voices behind them gradually became indistinct. Xiang Yuan followed Old Liu without a word and discovered that the Third Squad Dormitory occupied a larger area than he had imagined.

By that measure, Third Squad could not have been small.

"Newcomer, the county yamen is not some ordinary martial arts school. There are many people here, and even more rules. The waters run deep. From now on, do whatever I tell you. Speak less and do more. If there's anything you do not understand, ask after we leave the yamen. Got it?" Old Liu said as they walked.

Xiang Yuan nodded in agreement, looking obedient.

Old Liu turned around and said with satisfaction, "The head constable has a good eye. You're a clever lad, so you've saved me quite a bit of trouble."

Xiang Yuan looked ashamed at those words and replied honestly, "I have always followed rules since I was young. Please... uh, how should I address you?"

"Do not call me randomly. Just call me Old Liu."

Old Liu gave a half-smile, looking even more satisfied. "This is Fengxian County. Having no sense of rules is bad, but being too rule-bound is bad too. Either way, you'll die early."

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand before Xiang Yuan, spread his five fingers, gave them a shake, and then withdrew his hand.

"This is...?"

Xiang Yuan understood it, yet felt as though he did not.

"You're new here. Since I'm leading you through the door, naturally I need to charge you an entrance fee. It's the rule. I also know your pockets are cleaner than your face, and there's no oil to squeeze out of you, so you owe me five taels of silver."

"..."

Xiang Yuan showed a bitter expression, but inwardly he was delighted. Old Liu was an experienced and excellent constable. By following him, Xiang Yuan could not only learn how to stay alive, but also how to make money.

And as expected, Dezhou truly had no use for idlers.

For a moment, he began to feel a trace of anticipation toward this job of wearing a human face while drawing a beast's pay.