Stance Technique

"Each of you lend me One Liang of Silver."

Jiang Ping did not ask for much, only One Liang of Silver from each person.

He knew that the silver on the three of them was likely their entire fortune.

"When I have more money on hand, I'll pay you back," he said, but the three of them shook their heads, saying there was no need.

"The help Brother Jiang has given me in Blade Art is worth far more than One Liang of Silver," Sun Qi said earnestly.

"I definitely have to repay you. Martial Dao is a Money Pit; One Liang of Silver can buy some Lingxi Meat too..."

Before Jiang Ping could finish, a commotion suddenly erupted from the Training Ground, drawing all four of them to turn their heads.

Very soon, they learned that Fang Yong had improved again. His Nourishing Life Technique had broken through to the Sixth Layer, leaving him only one step away from becoming a Ninth Grade Martial Artist!

"This person truly has remarkable talent. Even if you refuse to accept it, you have to," Liu Wensheng exclaimed repeatedly. How long had it been? The other man had broken through again. He was about to leave all of them completely behind.

"Too bad his character doesn't sit well with me." Sun Qi merely snorted and shook his head, though shock still flickered in his eyes.

Fang Yong stood amid the crowd, surrounded by stars like the moon, incomparably dazzling. He cast Jiang Ping a meaningful glance.

It seemed to say: What right do you have to compare yourself to me?

Yet Jiang Ping seemed utterly unmoved. He even smiled and nodded in greeting.

Because no one understood better than he did what talent was!!

"See you."

Afterward, Jiang Ping bid the three farewell and turned toward the Residential Area.

That afternoon, gentle sunshine blanketed the earth.

Dressed in a Cyan Robe, Jiang Ping carried a jug of wine to the grandest Residential Area in the Inner Courtyard.

This was where the Escort Agency's escorts with the strength of Martial Artists and above lived. The buildings had carved railings and jade-like masonry, antique and elegant.

Before long.

Jiang Ping arrived at the residence where Huang Youren lived and saw Escort Huang, whose face was somewhat pale.

Jiang Ping first asked about his injuries. Learning that they were not serious and that he would recover after resting for a few days, Jiang Ping felt slightly relieved.

Although Jiang Ping's strength had long surpassed his, Escort Huang had spent many years deeply rooted in the Escort Agency and possessed ample experience in escort missions. At present, he was a reliable patron worth depending on; he could not fall.

Only then did Escort Huang notice the jug of wine in the young man's hand. At first, he felt gratified, but when he saw the mark of a certain restaurant on the jug, he reproached him.

"You were already short on money, and you've only just become an escort. You haven't even gone on an escort mission to earn silver yet. Any old jug of wine would have done—why buy something this expensive? You've spent too much!"

He meant it sincerely. It was precisely because he valued Jiang Ping that he said this. If their relationship had been ordinary, the more someone gave him, the more lavishly they spent, the more face he would feel he had!

"I'll still be working under Escort Huang in the future. Please consider this wine a token of filial respect from the younger generation." Jiang Ping smiled.

Escort Huang shrugged and said nothing more, merely telling his wife to stir-fry half a jin of Lingxi Meat.

"Lingxi Meat?" Jiang Ping's eyes lit up. He had only heard the Head Escort mention it before and had never truly tasted it. He did not know whether this meat would be effective at his current Martial Dao realm.

Moreover, Escort Huang had directly ordered half a jin to be stir-fried, which showed just how highly he regarded Jiang Ping.

Next, the two chatted for a while. Huang Youren asked about Jiang Ping's cultivation progress and was somewhat surprised to hear that Fang Yong had broken through again.

"He has switched to cultivating the Stance Technique. With such progress, it is only natural," Escort Huang said, without much surprise on his face.

"Switched to the Stance Technique?" Jiang Ping was startled.

Fang Yong was a pauper just like him. Where had he gotten the silver to buy a Stance Technique?

He quickly understood, and Escort Huang confirmed his thoughts. "Yes. After Head Escort Liang returned, he called Fang Yong over and gave him a Stance Technique. Fang Yong's cultivation speed should improve quite a bit from now on. Don't get impatient; don't compare yourself with that sort of genius."

"Master Huang is right." Jiang Ping agreed aloud, but an odd feeling inevitably arose within him.

It was not because of Fang Yong's breakthrough. Rather, he wondered whether, if he had displayed exceptional talent from the beginning, he too would have received a Stance Technique long ago.

At that thought, Jiang Ping felt somewhat annoyed.

Just then, Escort Huang suddenly rose and went into his room. When he came back out, there was a booklet in his hand.

When he placed the booklet on the table, Jiang Ping finally saw the two words on its cover.

"Stance Technique!"

His eyes instantly shone with a sharp gleam. All his earlier annoyance vanished, replaced only by the feeling of a path winding through mountains and rivers before suddenly opening into bright flowers and another village.

This was the cultivation method Jiang Ping had yearned for six years!

Escort Huang pushed the Stance Technique before Jiang Ping's chest and said, "With your talent, though you are not Fang Yong's equal, you can still become a Martial Artist through the Nourishing Life Technique. But if you truly do that, you would instead waste your Golden Age. If you cultivate this Stance Technique, you can still make greater progress during the Golden Age."

"Oh, right." Escort Huang took out Ten Liang of Silver from his clothes and placed it on the table. "Take this silver as well."

"Master Huang, this is far too much, far too valuable."

Though Jiang Ping spoke words of refusal, both hands had already tightly hugged the Stance Technique to his chest.

He had made so many plans before, never expecting to obtain it this way. It was an unexpected delight.

Right, he had not taken the silver yet.

"Take the silver too."

"Elders' gifts must not be declined." Jiang Ping hurriedly accepted the silver as well, without the slightest hesitation.

At that moment, his white teeth showed as his face brimmed with smiles.

This was the benefit of having a patron. The missing Stance Technique had been directly supplied, and for the time being, he no longer needed to worry about silver.

"The Stance Technique and the Nourishing Life Technique share common ground, so switching over is rather easy. But if there is anything you do not understand, you may come ask me." Escort Huang pointed at the Stance Technique and added another sentence.

"Alright." Jiang Ping nodded.

At that moment, an incomparably enticing fragrance drifted over. Madam Shi had finished stir-frying the dishes and was carrying them over.

There was not only Lingxi Meat, but other dishes to go with the wine as well. Everything was served.

Jiang Ping first poured Escort Huang a bowl of wine, then filled one for himself.

Only after Escort Huang picked up his Chopsticks first and took two pieces of Lingxi Meat did Jiang Ping pick up a piece and put it into his mouth. It was exceptionally fresh and delicious.

Once the Lingxi Meat entered his stomach, he quickly felt something similar to the sensation after cultivating the Nourishing Life Technique and condensing his qi and blood. An immense flow of qi and blood spread through his body, leaving him warm all over, like the first rays of Winter Sun, indescribably comforting.

"How does it taste?" Huang Youren asked with a smile.

"Excellent." Jiang Ping nodded, then picked up several more pieces and swallowed them.

"This is your first time eating it, so you only think it tastes good. Once you finish eating and return to practice, you will understand the difference between Lingxi Meat and ordinary nutritious food."

"Then I should eat more, so I can properly experience it when I return."

With that, Jiang Ping stuffed several more pieces of meat into his mouth, his cheeks bulging.

This meat was not only delicious, but seemed to melt as it entered his mouth, so it did not require much chewing.

Before long, the two of them had eaten the entire plate of meat clean.

Jiang Ping then drank another half bowl of fine wine. With wine and meat in his belly, he let out a burp, showing some satisfaction.

At that moment, Jiang Ping recalled the doubts he had harbored these past two days and could not help asking, "Escort Huang, are escort missions classified according to their degree of danger?"

Escort Huang smiled. "You got it right, youngster."

"After the Escort Agency accepts an escort assignment, it first evaluates its difficulty, then negotiates the price. Once everything is settled, the Escort Agency's escorts deliver it."

"And the difficulty of escort assignments is generally divided into four categories: copper, iron, silver, and gold."