Watching his younger brother's cheerful back disappear through the Academy gates, Li Bufan turned and headed toward the market.
Li Bufan bought some fine tea leaves and pastries at the market, carefully wrapped them in oiled paper, and carried the gifts toward the residence of Uncle Fu, Lin Manor's chief steward. Visiting an elder who had offered him guidance was only proper.
Outside the small courtyard where Uncle Fu lived, Li Bufan straightened his clothes and lightly knocked the door knocker.
A moment later, the door creaked open. Uncle Fu wore a plain cotton robe. When he saw Li Bufan standing outside, he was first slightly stunned, then a flash of amazement crossed his eyes. Stroking his beard, he laughed. "Well now, what handsome young gentleman is this? This old man almost didn't recognize you."
Li Bufan respectfully bowed. "You jest, Uncle Fu. This junior is Li Bufan, and I have come especially to thank you for your earlier guidance."
"Come in, come in." Smiling, Uncle Fu ushered Li Bufan into the courtyard. His gaze swept over Li Bufan's brand-new guard uniform, and he nodded repeatedly. "Good, good! Clothes make the man, as gold adorns the Buddha. Dressed like this, you really do look spirited!"
Once inside, Li Bufan presented the gifts. "A small token of my regard. Please accept it, Uncle Fu."
Uncle Fu did not refuse, merely accepting them with a smile. "You brat, you do know your manners. Sit."
The two sat as host and guest. Uncle Fu brewed a pot of tea before carefully studying Li Bufan, his eyes full of approval. "I heard about it. You skipped the assessment and became a Second-Class Guard outright, and you even hunted several Snow Foxes? Fine skills! Looks like this old man spoke out of turn before. With your abilities, passing the assessment would have been as easy as turning over one's hand."
Li Bufan hurriedly replied modestly, "What are you saying, Uncle Fu? If not for your guidance that day, this junior would still be completely in the dark, not knowing how to advance. I will forever remember this kindness in my heart."
At that, Uncle Fu's smile became even more genial. Clearly, he was very pleased with Li Bufan's attitude. He took a sip of tea, and his tone grew more solemn. "Now that you are wearing this uniform, there are a few more things this old man must tell you."
"Please instruct me, Uncle Fu," Li Bufan said seriously.
"Becoming a guard is not like before," Uncle Fu said slowly. "Practicing martial arts inside the manor is one thing, but when you are outside, you must watch every word and deed. Dress properly, and do not bring shame upon Lin Manor. More importantly, do not become complacent."
He paused, watching Li Bufan listen intently, then continued, "You should know that Second-Class Guard is only the beginning. Above that are First-Class Guards, the true elite of Lin Manor. Every First-Class Guard is an expert of the Tendon Tempering Realm!"
"The Tendon Tempering Realm?" Li Bufan's heart stirred. This was precisely the next major realm after Muscle Tempering. He hurriedly asked, "Uncle Fu, what is the difference between the Tendon Tempering Realm and Skin Tempering or Muscle Tempering?"
Uncle Fu laughed heartily and waved a hand. "How would I know such details? I'm just a worn-out old man. I've long since forgotten most of those martial matters. But..."
He lowered his voice, a shrewd gleam flickering in his eyes. "This old man has spent most of his life in Lin Manor and has seen plenty. I only know one thing—only upon reaching the Tendon Tempering Realm can one truly be called an expert! It is a great threshold. Once you cross it, a whole different world opens before you. As for exactly how it differs, you will naturally understand once you reach that step."
Li Bufan knew that although Uncle Fu's words were vague, he was sincerely offering him guidance. He immediately thanked him solemnly. "Thank you for your instruction, Uncle Fu. This junior will certainly cultivate diligently and never dare slacken."
"Mm, it is good that you have such determination." Uncle Fu nodded in satisfaction. "I heard that the young miss thinks highly of you as well. That is your good fortune, so grasp it well. When doing things in the manor, you must show your capabilities, but you must also understand restraint. More than that... be careful of certain people."
Uncle Fu's final words carried deep meaning. Li Bufan immediately understood. He was warning him to beware of those who might resent his exceptional promotion.
"This junior understands. Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Fu." Li Bufan thanked him again.
After chatting a while longer about everyday matters and asking after Ping'an, Li Bufan saw that it was getting late and rose to take his leave.
Uncle Fu walked him to the door. Before they parted, he added another reminder. "Remember, in this world, no matter where you are, if you want to stand firm, what you ultimately rely on is strength. Everything else is empty."
"This junior will remember." Li Bufan gave him a deep bow before turning to leave.
After leaving Uncle Fu's residence, Li Bufan changed direction and headed toward the training ground for the newly recruited guards. Wearing his brand-new blue-black guard outfit, a steel saber at his waist and his hair bound with a blue ribbon, he cut a striking figure utterly at odds with his surroundings.
The instant he stepped onto that familiar training ground, the shouts of martial practice, as though strangled by the throat, abruptly fell silent. Every newly recruited guard on the field could not help focusing on him.
Those gazes were exceedingly complicated.
There was undisguised envy—envy that he had broken through to the Muscle Tempering Realm at such a young age, and even more envy that he had hunted several Snow Foxes and rendered great service, bypassing the assessment to become a coveted Second-Class Guard. That meant higher status, better treatment, and a brighter future.
There was also impossible-to-hide jealousy—why him? A newcomer who had only been here a month or two, yet he had such luck and strength?
More than that, there was deep fear and unease—especially among those who had secretly tripped Li Bufan up or openly mocked him before. Their faces were pale and their eyes evasive, terrified that now he had risen to power, he would turn back and settle old scores.
Li Bufan turned a blind eye to all those looks. Their envy and fear no longer meant anything to him. His gaze passed directly over the crowd and landed on Coach Qin, who stood like an iron tower.
Coach Qin had naturally seen him as well. His bell-like eyes widened, and he first let out a thunderous roar at the stunned group of newly recruited guards. "You little bastards! What are you staring at? Still daring to slack off? Want to imitate Li Bufan and soar to the heavens in a single step? Then go hunting in the mountains this season too! Bring back five Snow Foxes, and I'll recommend you as well! You spineless trash, hurry up and train!"
The roar made everyone shudder. They hurriedly withdrew their gazes and pretended to train with all their might, though their peripheral vision still could not help sneaking glances in that direction.
Only then did Coach Qin turn around and look Li Bufan up and down. A teasing smile appeared on his face as his palm-leaf-fan-sized hand rubbed his chin. "Well, well! I was wondering who was showing off so shamelessly—it's you, brat! Dressed so prim and proper, every hair slicked down smooth as oil, and even wearing such a flashy ribbon. What, heading to some wealthy household in the county town to become their live-in son-in-law?"
Li Bufan stepped forward a few paces and respectfully cupped his fists in salute, though his expression was exceedingly serious. "You jest, Coach. This junior has not yet come of age, and my martial path is not yet accomplished. How could I dare let my mind wander elsewhere? How could I have the heart to concern myself with such other matters now? I came today because there is something I do not understand, and I have come especially to seek your guidance."
"Oh? What is it?" Seeing his proper attitude, Coach Qin put away his joking expression.
"Earlier, this junior visited Uncle Fu and heard him say that only upon reaching the Tendon Tempering Realm could one truly be called an 'expert.' This junior is slow-witted and does not understand what essential difference there is between Tendon Tempering and the earlier realms of Skin Tempering and Muscle Tempering. I hope Coach will not begrudge me your instruction." Li Bufan asked humbly.
Coach Qin's eyes lit up, and he clicked his tongue in amazement. "Well now! Not bad, brat! You only just entered the Muscle Tempering Realm, and you are already thinking about Tendon Tempering? You've got ambition! Fine, seeing how driven you are, I'll explain it properly to you!"
He cleared his throat. His voice was loud, meant not only for Li Bufan, but also for those newly recruited guards on the field who were secretly straining their ears to listen.
"The martial path advances step by step. The initial Body Nourishment Realm, to put it bluntly, is simply nurturing the body. Eat well, drink well, practice some basic fist techniques to loosen the sinews and bones, and you can naturally enter it."
"After that come Skin Tempering and Muscle Tempering." Coach Qin pointed at the newly recruited guards who were honing their strength. "At their root, they are still about tempering one's qi and blood, making one's fists and feet more agile, one's force more precise, and one's sinews and bones stronger. Even when cultivated to the utmost, such as Muscle Tempering Completion, one possesses at most several hundred, nearly a thousand jin of strength. In the end, it still lies within the mortal realm, relying on brute force and thick skin and tough flesh."
Then his tone shifted, growing grave. "But the Tendon Tempering Realm is entirely different!"
"So-called Tendon Tempering means guiding one's qi and blood to deeply nourish and temper the major sinews throughout the body! Long tendons bring great strength; resilient tendons produce ingenious force! Once you enter this realm, your body's agility and explosive speed will far surpass those of the Muscle Tempering Realm! Leaping two or three zhang in a single bound will be nothing difficult! Your strength will increase again as well!"
A sharp glint flashed through Coach Qin's eyes, and he stressed his words. "More importantly, only upon reaching the Tendon Tempering Realm, once your control over your body has reached a certain level and your hands, feet, waist, and eyesight work together seamlessly, can you truly bring out a weapon's killing power! Otherwise, even if I gave you a treasured saber, you would only hack about wildly, full of openings. The Tendon Tempering Realm is when you truly possess the capital to fight and kill in this world!"
Li Bufan's mind shook as he listened. So that was it! The Tendon Tempering Realm was a qualitative leap, concerning agility, explosive force, and the use of weapons!
Coach Qin seemed to be getting carried away and continued, "As for the Bone Tempering Realm that comes after, it means qi and blood entering deep into the bones, transforming the marrow and renewing the blood, causing one's strength to surge! Those at Bone Tempering Perfection can lift cauldrons with their strength; raising objects weighing five or six thousand jin is no empty claim! Sinews and bones cry out in unison, and every movement is like rushing thunder!"
"And the final Blood Tempering Realm," Coach Qin said, his tone easing, "is when the entire body is complete, qi and blood flow like mercury, and endurance is inexhaustible! At that level, the whole body becomes one, with sinews, bones, skin, flesh, and internal organs refined into a single whole. It is said that even the force of five horses tearing one apart cannot harm the body! That is a true master!"
Those words were like pushing open a new door before Li Bufan, giving him a clearer understanding of the martial path ahead. Tendon Tempering, Bone Tempering, Blood Tempering—each realm possessed its own mysteries and power.
"Thank you, Coach, for clearing away my confusion!" Li Bufan gave a deep bow, his heart full of gratitude and longing.
"Enough, quit with these empty formalities." Coach Qin waved his hand. "I've told you the principles, but you still have to walk the road one step at a time. Train hard, brat. I think highly of you! Now hurry back to your own place. Don't loiter here and disturb these little bastards until they have no mind left for training!"
Li Bufan smiled, saluted once more, then turned and left beneath that sea of complicated gazes.
After hearing Coach Qin's description of the higher realms, Li Bufan was deeply shaken. An unprecedented longing and hot-blooded fervor surged through his chest.
Lifting objects weighing five or six thousand jin! Withstanding the force of five horses tearing one apart! This had already surpassed his understanding of "strength," approaching the transcendent realm of legends! The martial path was indeed vast and boundless. The deeper one ventured, the more one witnessed its earth-shaking might!
He drew a deep breath and pressed down that shock and longing, turning them into firmer motivation. The road had to be walked step by step. His current goal was to thoroughly stabilize his Minor Mastery of Muscle Tempering.
He did not immediately return to the Second-Class Guards' residence or home. Instead, he turned once more toward the Official Road beyond the city. Though the brand-new guard uniform looked crisp and capable, it was unlike the loose old clothes he was used to wearing. It gave him a slight sense of restraint around his shoulders, back, waist, and legs.
When I stand watch, carry out missions, or even fight others in the future, I will have to wear this uniform. Li Bufan understood clearly. I must adapt as quickly as possible to moving and exerting force in these clothes. Otherwise, when the crucial moment comes, even the slightest awkwardness could become a fatal opening.
He arrived once again at that secluded fork along the Official Road. The cold wind still blew, and there was no one in the wilderness around him.
Li Bufan slowly drew the Hundred Refinements Steel Saber from his waist. The cold blade glimmered faintly beneath the winter sunlight. It felt satisfyingly weighty in his hand, far superior to the hunting knife he had used before and Wu Hai's saber.
He first practiced the Nameless Fist Technique once, carefully sensing how the clothing affected his movements, especially the tugging of the fabric when he extended his arms or exerted strength through his waist and abdomen. He continuously made minute adjustments to the angles and range of his exertion, gradually adapting to unleash his greatest strength even under such "restraint."
Next, he began practicing the Spirit Monkey Three Leaps footwork. He leaped, shifted, dodged, and turned... ensuring that he could still tread as if on level ground in complicated environments.
Finally, he focused on saber practice. He had never learned any profound saber technique and could only rely on the force-generation methods of the Mighty Ox Fist and the Nameless Fist Technique's control over power to perform the most basic chops, cleaves, upward cuts, and sweeps. Yet even those simplest movements, driven by the enormous strength of Minor Mastery in Muscle Tempering, raised fierce sounds of air tearing apart. Saber light flashed, and a chilling aura pressed forth.
He needed to become familiar with this new weapon's length, weight, and center of balance until it moved like an extension of his arm. More than that, he had to become accustomed to ensuring his clothing would not hinder the swing of his arms while wielding the saber.
Once, twice, three times...
Sweat once again soaked through his inner shirt, but the outer guard uniform remained crisp. Li Bufan's movements, slightly sluggish at first, gradually became smooth and natural. He began to adapt to this attire and could even use the slight tautness of the clothes to better feel the exertion and transmission of power through his muscles.
Only when the setting sun once again slanted westward, and he felt he had initially adapted to both the outfit and the new saber, did Li Bufan sheath his blade and slowly exhale a long breath of white mist.
Before you continue