Pay Attention

A new servant stood outside the main room. Seeing the bloodstains on Li Tui's clothes that he couldn't quite hide, the servant frowned.

"Attendant Wang? The young master hasn't risen yet; come back later if you have business."

Li Tui lowered his eyes: "The matter in the West Suburbs is settled, I have come specifically to report."

The lad scanned him from head to toe, and a maid's voice drifted from inside: "Who is speaking out there?"

"It is Attendant Wang, saying the matter in the West Suburbs is finished."

There was a moment of silence.

Zhao Yuanchong's languid voice drifted out: "Let him in."

The incense inside was cleaner, yet still heavy. Zhao Yuanchong was draped in a moon-white brocade robe with cloud patterns, his feet bare in slippers, sitting before a mirror while a maid combed his hair.

The bronze mirror reflected Li Tui's figure.

Zhao Yuanchong raised an eyebrow and turned around.

"Oh? You actually came back?" He scanned Li Tui from head to toe, the corners of his mouth curling up, "Are you badly hurt?"

His tone was filled with concern, but his eyes held a careless, playful glint.

Li Tui bowed, presenting a cloth bundle with both hands: "Thanks to the young master's great fortune, the demon has been eliminated. This is the proof."

The maid took it and unwrapped it. A pitch-black demon claw lay in her fair palm, the dark red bloodstains on the tips striking under the morning light.

Zhao Yuanchong reached out to pinch the claw, turning it between his fingertips, and let out a scoff.

"Earth Lizard Demon..." He lifted his eyes to stare at Li Tui's face, "This thing's claws are poisonous; they rot skin on contact. You managed to hack its claw off, yet you only suffered some flesh wounds?"

He leaned forward, the collar of his brocade robe hanging loose, revealing delicate collarbones.

"Wang Yuan, how did you do it?"

The maid combing his hair paused.

Li Tui lowered his eyes: "I was not struck by the claw tips. When the demon lunged, I luckily avoided the vital points and was only grazed by the wind of its strike. The fatal blow was the wooden stake driven into the side of its neck."

"A wooden stake?"

"Yes. I carry a piece of hardwood for self-defense. The demon had a curled scale on the side of its neck, so I seized the chance to drive the stake in, piercing straight to the neck bone. Only when the demon struggled in pain did I find the opportunity to slit its belly."

He spoke in a flat, narrative tone. Zhao Yuanchong stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good! A fine 'luck' indeed!" He tossed the demon claw back into the maid's hands and clapped. "I was worried you were just a block of wood who only knew how to train to death; I didn't expect you to actually have some ability."

He seemed to be in an excellent mood, rising to pace a few steps.

"Speak, what reward do you want?"

Li Tui bowed: "Serving the young master is my duty; I dare not ask for a reward."

"Duty?" Zhao Yuanchong stopped and turned back, the smile on his lips deepening, "Then you nearly losing your life in the West Suburbs last night—was that also just duty?"

The question was asked lightly, but every word was barbed.

Li Tui lowered his head further: "It was my own lack of skill that caused the young master concern."

"Concern?" Zhao Yuanchong giggled, "What concern of mine? You living to return is your own capability; if you had died out there..."

He paused, the laughter in his voice suddenly fading.

"...that would have been your fate."

The room was so quiet one could hear the faint crackle of the burning incense.

Li Tui maintained his bowed posture, silent as stone.

After a long while, Zhao Yuanchong spoke again: "Forget it. Since you finished the errand, this young master cannot be stingy. Go to the accounting office to collect three months' worth of spirit rice rations, and have someone find you a side room to recover in."

He waved his hand: "Go on. Rest well; there will be uses for you in the future."

"Thank you, young master."

Li Tui bowed, took the silver and medicine bottle handed over by the maid, and turned to exit the room.

The door closed.

The morning light was bright under the veranda. He weighed the items in his hand: ten taels of pure silver, a bottle of golden sore powder, and three months of spirit rice rations.

A "generous" reward bought with a life.

His mouth twitched, and he tucked the items into his robes, walking toward the West Courtyard.

The bolt of the side room door slid shut.

Li Tui did not treat his wounds first, but instead took out the coarse cloth pouch. The outer mud shell had dried completely; he carefully peeled it away to reveal the dark red tumor inside.

It was warm to the touch, its pulse steady. Under the sunlight, the fine patterns flowed with a faint glow. He stared at it for a moment, wrapped it back up in a clean cloth, and tucked it into a hidden compartment under his pillow.

Only then did he remove his upper garment. The three claw marks on his left arm were deep but had not damaged bone or tendon; after applying the golden sore powder, the bleeding had stopped. The trouble was the patch of dark purple bruising on his shoulder blade, which throbbed painfully with the slightest movement.

He gritted his teeth while applying medicine and bandaging. Fine, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Outside the window, the sun had climbed higher.

Li Tui sat cross-legged back on the bed, closing his eyes to regulate his breath.

True qi rose from the Dantian, traveling along the meridians. It remained sluggish when reaching the injured area, but it was much better than it had been that morning. Although the coarse cloth pouch had been removed from his chest, a trace of warmth seemed to linger there, slowly nourishing the damaged tissue.

He did not know how much time had passed.

A knocking sound came from outside the door.

Three light taps followed by one heavy one. It was Huang Bao.

Li Tui opened his eyes and silently pulled the door ajar.

Huang Bao stood in the dim, yellow light of the corridor. He had grown thinner after not seeing him for a few months; his complexion was sallow, and the dark circles under his eyes were thick and heavy. His coarse cloth clothes hung loosely on his frame, the cuffs frayed and worn. He clutched a small gray cloth bundle tightly in his hand, his knuckles white.

Seeing the door open, Huang Bao's eyes brightened for a fleeting moment before dimming again: "...Big Brother."

Li Tui stepped aside: "Come in and talk."

The door closed, and the room grew darker. Huang Bao stood there, not daring to sit, his Adam's apple bobbing: "Big Brother... I, I don't think I can hold on much longer."

Li Tui walked to the table, poured a bowl of cold water, and pushed it over without saying a word.

Huang Bao didn't touch the bowl, his voice trembling: "Instructor Zhao came to see me yesterday... He said if I still can't guide qi into my body by the end of the month, there's no need to waste the manor's spiritual rice on me anymore." He looked up, his eyes bloodshot: "Big Brother, you know, if I get kicked out, the fields at my home..."

Li Tui looked at him with a calm gaze: "So you came to me because you want me to teach you again?"

"I..." Huang Bao gritted his teeth and fell to his knees with a thud: "Big Brother, only you can help me! I can do anything—serve tea, run errands, keep watch... As long as you are willing to guide me, my life is yours!"

Li Tui didn't help him up, only looking down at him. The young man's back, kneeling on the floor, was thin and shivering.

The room was silent for a moment.

"Get up." Li Tui finally spoke: "I don't take lives here."

Huang Bao was stunned, hesitating before standing up.

Li Tui walked back to the side of the bed and sat down. Instead of discussing terms immediately, he asked: "How many cycles do you run during your Lianjing practice now? Where is the blockage the worst?"

Huang Bao hurriedly said: "I feel the qi dissipate after at most three cycles. The most blocked part is three inches below the Danzhong; it feels like a stone is weighing it down, and the qi can't get through."

Li Tui nodded.

"Sit cross-legged and run it once using your usual method."

Huang Bao obeyed, sitting down and closing his eyes to focus. A moment later, sweat appeared on his temples, and his breathing grew rapid.

"Stop." Li Tui withdrew his hand: "It's not that your meridians are blocked; it's that your heart is too impatient. If your intent rushes ahead before the qi arrives, the qi will scatter when your intent is chaotic." He paused: "From today on, practice once at the end of the You hour and once at the beginning of the Hai hour. Run only one cycle each time; don't seek speed, seek stability. When the qi reaches the Danzhong, visualize it as a mountain stream seeping into stone, soaking in drop by drop. Do not force it."

Huang Bao was stunned: "This... is it too slow? Instructor Zhao said I need to practice more to..."

"Do as I say." Li Tui interrupted him: "Your spiritual roots are weak; forcing it will only exhaust your essence and qi. Water dripping through stone is your only path."

Huang Bao gritted his teeth and nodded heavily: "I will do it!"

Only then did Li Tui say slowly: "Since that is the case, I need you to do something for me."

Huang Bao's expression turned solemn: "Big Brother, just give the order."

"I need you to help me keep an eye on some people."

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