Blood Like Mercury

Night.

Jia Yanyong's eyes were swollen and red.

After the doctor treated him, his eyes had been saved.

But they were still swollen and red, and his vision was blurry. He could barely make out anything.

"Boss, I went out of my way to invite Lin Zheyu, but he refused to come," Jia Yanyong said.

"What did he say?"

Xu Jingwu took a sip of tea and gave the woman beside him a pinch on the waist.

He looked to be around forty and was exceptionally well-preserved. He didn't have nearly as much of a bandit's air as Jia Yanyong; he even seemed rather refined.

"He said he wasn't free tomorrow morning. If you want to listen to a story, you can go to Bidan Tea House tomorrow afternoon."

Jia Yanyong spoke bluntly.

Someone with a more devious mind would have simply badmouthed Lin Zheyu.

But Xu Jingwu knew Jia Yanyong was like this. That was precisely why he'd taken a liking to him, given him important responsibilities, and nurtured him.

"When I sent you to invite him, did you threaten him with force?"

Xu Jingwu glanced at Jia Yanyong.

He knew Jia Yanyong's temperament: a brute who never used his head when he could solve a problem with his fists.

"I... well, I only threatened him a little."

Jia Yanyong was about to protest, but when he saw the boss looking at him sidelong, he answered sheepishly.

"Forget it, forget it. I forgot to remind you to be polite."

"But the scholar does have some nerve. Not only did he refuse your threat, he even dared to strike first. That's interesting."

Xu Jingwu chuckled and looked at Jia Yanyong. "Your eyes are injured, so take it easy and rest for the next few days."

"Luo Tian, give Jia Yanyong five taels of silver to see the doctor."

"Thank you, Boss."

As he watched Jia Yanyong leave, an amused glimmer appeared in Xu Jingwu's eyes.

"What an interesting fellow. He's got some nerve. No wonder he could write such a wonderful story as Legend of the Condor Heroes."

He wasn't interested in love stories about scholars and fox spirits, demons, and ghosts.

As a martial artist, Xu Jingwu preferred stories like Legend of the Condor Heroes, which recounted the passionate world of the jianghu.

The story was wonderfully told. A few days ago, he'd overheard some of his men discussing it. Curious, he'd asked about it and gotten hooked himself.

But with only one installment told each day, he couldn't get enough. So he'd gotten the idea to invite Lin Zheyu over to tell the story.

By the time he got home, night had fallen.

Lin Zheyu ached all over, with bruises scattered across his body.

Master Liang had hit him too hard, holding nothing back. Lin Zheyu's face was burning.

"My handsome face is ruined."

Lin Zheyu applied medicine to himself in front of the bronze mirror and couldn't help crying out in pain.

He washed up.

Exhausted, he climbed into bed.

The several hours of sparring with Master Liang had drained his strength, energy, and spirit.

Master Liang, however, had seemed completely unaffected. He'd still looked full of vigor when Lin Zheyu left.

Lin Zheyu couldn't help wondering what level of expert Master Liang was.

I'll ask him tomorrow morning, and ask about the martial arts realms that come after this, too.

Lin Zheyu thought to himself, then sank into a deep sleep.

Dawn had barely broken.

Lin Zheyu arrived at Liang Song's home early.

The medicine Master Liang had given him was miraculous. After applying it the previous night, he woke up without any pain, and even the bruises on his face had disappeared.

"Master, what realm comes after Organ Refining?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

"All right, I'll tell you."

"On the path of martial arts, Muscle Refining, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining are only the foundation, meant to lay the groundwork for martial arts. Only after completing Organ Refining can you begin training at a deeper level."

"After Organ Refining come Blood Energy, Marrow Refining, Force Transformation, Grandmaster, and Innate Martial Dao."

"Organ Refining is a threshold on the martial path. After that, each realm is a world apart from the last. Even a single level's difference can mean a gulf in strength."

Liang Song spoke with a wistful note in his voice.

Because of something that had happened in his youth, his right foot had been crippled, and his progress in martial arts had stalled.

"Then, Master, what realm are you at now?"

Lin Zheyu was extremely curious. He felt his master must be incredibly powerful.

"Heh, I'm currently in the Blood Energy Realm. But I'm old and frail now, and my martial arts realm has slipped a little." Liang Song shook his head, full of regret.

"Grandmaster, Innate Martial Dao..."

Lin Zheyu murmured, his heart yearning for those heights.

An expert of the Innate Martial Dao must have unfathomable strength, right?

Liang Song looked at Lin Zheyu's longing expression and smiled faintly.

"Don't aim too high. Keep your feet on the ground."

"The martial path is exceedingly difficult. Even reaching Organ Refining would make you a skilled fighter in Songyi City," Liang Song said.

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu came back to his senses.

He took off his outer clothes, leaving on a tight-fitting undershirt, and went to the middle of the courtyard to begin practicing his punches.

After half an hour, Liang Song watched him closely and nodded with satisfaction.

"That's enough."

"Now I'll teach you another technique."

"Bull Fist is only a third-rate technique. Even if you train it to the limit, you'll only reach Organ Refining."

"The technique I'll teach you next is considered second-rate. If you can fully master it and train it to its limits, your strength can reach the peak of the Blood Energy Realm!"

Liang Song spoke with utmost seriousness.

In his view, only techniques of second-rate quality or above could be considered true martial arts techniques.

Third-rate martial arts like Bull Fist could only be considered beneath notice.

The techniques he'd taught others in the past had all been third-rate.

But after seeing Lin Zheyu's astonishing talent and aptitude, Liang Song had taken a liking to him and decided to teach him another technique.

"Master, is there a huge difference in strength between Organ Refining and Blood Energy?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

Bull Fist could be cultivated to the peak of Organ Refining, but from Liang Song's tone, he seemed to look down on it.

Yet when he spoke of a technique that could take someone straight to the peak of the Blood Energy Realm, his tone had turned extremely serious.

"Of course."

"Muscle Refining, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining are only the process of laying a foundation for the martial path. Reaching the peak of Organ Refining means your physique has reached the limits of an ordinary person."

"Once you reach the Blood Energy Realm, your strength will make a tremendous leap."

"What's most important to a martial artist?"

Without waiting for Lin Zheyu to answer, Liang Song continued, "Blood Energy!"

"Blood Energy is the body's foundation, the cornerstone of martial arts."

"Whether you want to embark on the path to becoming a Grandmaster or even break through to the Innate Martial Dao, Blood Energy is essential."

"Please enlighten me, Master."

Lin Zheyu asked respectfully, pouring his master a cup of tea.

Liang Song picked up the teacup with satisfaction and took a sip.

He continued, "Blood Energy is immensely important on the martial path. After studying it in depth, our predecessors divided the Blood Energy Realm into nine minor levels."

"These nine levels are also known as the Nine Transformations of Blood Energy."

"If you can complete the Nine Transformations of Blood Energy within the Blood Energy Realm, reach Blood Like Mercury, and condense a Blood Energy Beacon, you'll have a very good chance of becoming a Grandmaster!"

Liang Song explained, his voice full of longing.

He shook his head. "But completing the Nine Transformations of Blood Energy is harder than ascending to the heavens. Most martial artists can only reach the first transformation."

"At the peak of my condition, I only managed to cultivate my Blood Energy to the third transformation."

Liang Song finished speaking.

He took off his robe, revealing a fitted martial vest, and walked to the center of the courtyard.

"Now I'll teach you the technique I cultivate myself. It's called the Golden Goose Technique."

"The Golden Goose Technique focuses on legwork and specializes in attacking with the legs."

"Of all the parts of our bodies, our legs have the greatest strength and the strongest explosive power."

"The Golden Goose Technique focuses on the legs. It's fast, extremely agile, and suited to both offense and defense."

"But it has one weakness: since the legs aren't as nimble as the arms, its attacks may have great explosive power, but they aren't as dexterous as punches and palm strikes."

"..."

Liang Song spoke slowly.

After explaining the Golden Goose Technique, he began demonstrating each move for Lin Zheyu.

Lin Zheyu studied with great focus and had good comprehension.

Liang Song wasn't particularly skilled at teaching disciples, but fortunately, Lin Zheyu was talented and quick to grasp what Liang Song meant.

The more Liang Song taught, the more satisfied he became.

To have a disciple with such excellent comprehension gave him a wonderful teaching experience, and made him feel as though he was remarkably gifted at teaching after all.