Qi-Guiding Technique

As dusk deepened, Li Tui returned to the guest room in the West Courtyard.

Bamboo shadows swayed beyond the window. He did not light a lamp. Using the last of the daylight, he walked to the window and looked toward Moxiang Pavilion.

Zhao Hao's eyes surfaced in his mind once more.

Hatred like that would not fade. It would only lie dormant, like a venomous snake hibernating through winter, waiting for the moment to bare its fangs.

Li Tui stood by the window for a while, then turned and walked to the bed. From beneath the pillow, he took out that rudimentary Qi-guiding manual.

He opened it, his gaze falling on the careless handwriting.

He circulated the Qi-guiding method, slowly gathering his essence and energy.

After circulating it through three cycles according to the Zhao Family's method, Li Tui opened his eyes and furrowed his brow slightly.

With such a crude method, I'm afraid my earlier estimate was still too optimistic.

The night watchman's wooden clapper sounded outside. It was already the third watch.

Li Tui snuffed out the oil lamp and sat cross-legged in the dark. He did not continue cultivating, but quietly listened to the sounds beyond the courtyard. There was still lamplight in Zhao Yuanchong's room; faintly, he heard the crisp clack of a chess piece landing on the board, along with a woman's soft moans.

The next morning, Li Tui waited outside Zhao Yuanchong's room as usual.

At a quarter past five, the door opened.

The person who came out was not Zhao Yuanchong, but another woman he had never seen before. Weariness lingered in her eyes, and her hair was loosely pinned up. She casually smoothed her hair at the temples before looking at Li Tui.

"The young master went to bed late last night. He won't be going to the academy today." Her voice was quiet, her tone calm. "Go inform the instructor."

Li Tui lowered his eyes. "Yes."

The woman acknowledged him and turned to go back inside, but then she stopped and glanced over her shoulder.

Her gaze traveled from Li Tui's faded collar to his respectfully straight back, inspecting him closely, before finally settling on his face.

"Are you the new study companion?"

"Yes. This lowly one is Wang Yuan."

The woman nodded without saying more. She left him with only a "Serve him well," then closed the door.

Li Tui stood where he was, watching the carved wooden door shut.

Halfway there, he ran into someone coming toward him.

It was Zhao Minglai.

He wore a dark blue martial outfit and was walking from the direction of the Martial Arts Arena. There was a light sheen of sweat on his brow, and his breathing was steady and even. Clearly, he had just finished training. Seeing Li Tui hurrying over, he raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Li Tui bowed and reported that Zhao Yuanchong would not be going to the academy today.

Zhao Minglai nodded when he heard this. His gaze fell on Li Tui's face, studying him from head to toe. "How is your Qi-guiding practice?"

"Teacher, I feel that I've gradually begun to grasp the basics these past few days."

"Mm." Zhao Minglai took a jade slip from his robes. It was pure white and about an inch long. "Yesterday, while taking inventory in the storeroom, we found several Qi-guiding manuals copied years ago. Most were used by clan disciples to build a foundation before beginning Qi cultivation. I thought that since you're serving the Third Young Master, you ought to make some progress."

He paused, his tone still calm. "This Wood Essence Qi-Guiding Technique is fairly good. It isn't top-tier, but it's still better than the crude method you're practicing now. Take it and study it."

Li Tui accepted the jade slip in both hands. The jade was smooth and warm, cool to the touch, with faint spiritual energy flowing within it.

"Thank you for bestowing this technique, Teacher."

Zhao Minglai waved a hand. "Cultivate well. Don't let down..." He spoke vaguely, then changed the subject. "Pay more attention to the Third Young Master. His temperament is a little unruly, but he is still a direct-line descendant. While you're by his side, make sure you know where to draw the line."

"This disciple understands."

Zhao Minglai said nothing more and turned to leave.

Li Tui stood where he was, looking at the pure white jade slip in his hand.

The technique seemed to have come to him on a whim. But Li Tui knew there was no such thing as charity without reason. Zhao Minglai was casting a stone to sound the waters, testing just how far this "promising talent" could go.

If he progressed quickly, it would prove that the investment was worthwhile, and perhaps more would follow. If he failed to advance, this jade slip would be the last favor he received.

As for the Wood Essence Qi-Guiding Technique...

Li Tui tucked the jade slip into his robes and hurried back to his guest room.

He bolted the door and sat cross-legged on the bed. Taking out the jade slip, he pressed it to his forehead. His spiritual sense probed inside, and a stream of information poured into his mind.

The Wood Essence Qi-Guiding Technique contained over three thousand characters, accompanied by diagrams showing the circulation of energy. It explained in detail how to draw the essence of plants and trees into the body, nourish the spiritual root, and speed up the process of guiding Qi through the meridians.

Compared with the crude method he was practicing now, this technique was indeed far more subtle. The method of "gathering wood essence" in particular could draw in the scattered essence of nearby plants and trees and transform it into his own. If he mastered it, his cultivation speed could increase by at least thirty percent.

Li Tui set down the jade slip and closed his eyes in thought.

This technique was enough to sustain his cultivation until his spiritual root awakened. Once he entered the Qi Refining stage, he might be able to obtain an even more advanced technique from the Zhao Family.

This was the resources of an Aristocratic Clan. Even the smallest scrap could benefit him for a long time.

But Li Tui wanted more than that.

He opened his eyes, their depths as still as a deep pool. The jade slip was only the beginning. He still needed more.

And he would have to wring it all from the Zhao Family, little by little.

Suddenly, Zhao Yuanchong's impatient shout came from outside the window. "Wang Yuan! Where the hell have you gone?"

Li Tui stood up, straightened his collar, and once more wore an expression of respectful obedience as he pushed open the door.

"Young Master, this lowly one is here."

He bowed as he answered, his voice calm. But as he turned toward the main house, he saw a horrifying sight...