Making a Move

Han Che didn't bother with pleasantries—inwardly, he was startled by Feng Xiu's progress, but he quickly calmed down.

In less than half a month, to have such strength, Feng Xiu had the backing of his clan's resources piled on him. Even a fool could be force-fed into a top expert.

Before his words faded, a familiar, hearty laugh came from the doorway. "Looks like I've returned just in time."

Zhou Gang pushed the door open, strode in briskly, his eyes sweeping over Feng Xiu like lightning, a look of approval surfacing on his face.

"Vital energy full, essence and spirit stored within, gaze steady and holding light. Wen Zheng, in just a few days, you've laid your foundation so solidly—truly rare."

He walked up and reached out to pat Feng Xiu's shoulder.

The touch felt firm muscles, tight and taut with vital energy, and he felt even more satisfied inside.

"Uncle Zhou is back." Feng Xiu then performed a disciple's salute and asked with a smile.

These past few days, aside from teaching some daily cultivation essentials, Zhou Gang had let Feng Xiu figure things out on his own.

As the head of the escort team, Zhou Gang had worldly affairs to attend to.

Finding a base was only one part; to gain a foothold in Green Rock City, relying solely on the Feng Clan was far from enough.

All sorts of gray-area powers, gangs, and factions needed to be visited in advance.

Otherwise, barging in like a river-crossing dragon would easily invite hostility.

Zhou Gang, being a man of the martial world, was naturally familiar with these rules.

"Xiao Han, what do you think?"

At this point, Zhou Gang didn't ask Feng Xiu but turned to Han Che instead. When he pushed the door open, the spar between the two had already reached its end.

Feng Xiu's aura was now full, his eyesight beginning to take on the sharpness of an eagle or jackal, but how he truly fared still needed a proper assessment.

"Young Master Feng has achieved initial success in body refinement, with astonishing strength, but he still lacks adaptability." Han Che nodded, thought for a moment, and said.

In truth, Han Che had reminded Feng Xiu many times: when striking, always leave some reserve power to prepare for subsequent transitions.

Many times, Feng Xiu didn't realize he seemed a bit reckless.

"Brother Han, what you say, don't I know it? But isn't this a bit too difficult?" Feng Xiu said helplessly.

What Han Che meant by adaptability was splitting his focus—no, multitasking.

To put it simply, his hands couldn't keep up with his eyes, and his eyes couldn't keep up with the frequency of changing moves.

The adaptability between techniques and the adaptability in combat were two completely different concepts.

Han Che's breathing quickened; his next strike would likely be heavy. His left hand had a starting motion—he was going for the eyes. No, no, that was a throat slash!

Many times, a martial artist's moves and feints were all preparation for the final blow.

And you had to discern which move was real and which was fake.

Feng Xiu also felt frustrated. Logically, an increase in mental strength should feed back into martial arts.

But that wasn't how it worked. His thoughts were too scattered, his mind racing too much, unable to make effective judgments.

"Ah, no matter. Spar more often, and you'll understand in time." Zhou Gang, however, was very satisfied with Feng Xiu and waved his hand.

Then his expression turned serious. "Your foundation is solid, your breathing has some rhythm. Today, I'll teach you the Five-Strength Internal Breath Method—the true secret of using inner breath to move your vital energy!"

Feng Xiu's spirit jolted, overjoyed.

Vital energy stored power, vital energy housed the spirit—this was the core foundation of this supernatural strength!

His current method of moving vital energy was still too weak, merely forcing a change in breathing rhythm.

Just as a person never notices their own heartbeat, the same went for martial arts.

The Five-Strength Breath Method forcibly altered the rhythm of nasal breathing. Many times, Feng Xiu could feel the accelerated flow of vital energy in his body while breathing, but he couldn't grasp the key.

Then, Zhou Gang gestured for Feng Xiu to sit cross-legged and slowly explained, "The Five-Strength Internal Breath uses breathing rhythm and mental visualization to open up more refined meridian pathways within the body."

"Refine the sensation of tempered vital energy into a condensed method. The fist technique is the furnace, vital energy is the fuel. Where the mind goes, the energy follows. Vital energy and blood flow together, sensing the flow of meridian energy."

Zhou Gang paused, then decided to drop the overly flowery explanations. "The Internal Breath Method, in simple terms, is using your breathing to learn how to command your own vital energy."

From the sixteen forms of the Five Force Fist, to the resonance of the five organs, the coordination of inner breath and techniques, and so on.

Feng Xiu focused intently, not daring to miss a single word.

Half an hour later, after Zhou Gang finished explaining, he nodded and asked, "Wen Zheng, is there anything you still don't understand?"

Feng Xiu shook his head. "I need to digest this a bit more."

Involving profound terms like meridians, acupoints, and the minor circulation of inner breath, it was still somewhat difficult to grasp.

"Wen Zheng, give it a try. I'll protect you."

Seeing the eagerness on Feng Xiu's face, Zhou Gang immediately vouched for him.

He began guiding his inner breath according to the method Zhou Gang had taught him.

Feng Xiu nodded. In his first few attempts, his mind struggled to precisely grasp the complex flow of the qi channels; his breathing and inner breath circulation were always out of sync, leading to repeated failures.

Feng Xiu gradually quieted his thoughts. After more than twenty attempts, he finally caught a subtle rhythm.

He successfully completed a small Heavenly Cycle.

In an instant, the qi in his dantian suddenly contracted, and then a more rapid surge of blood and qi refined itself even purer within his inner breath.

A comfortable sensation, blending coolness and warmth, coursed through his entire body. His limbs and bones felt as if they had been washed clean, and his sense of strength became sharper and more focused.

It became as easy as moving his own arm; with a slight stir of intent, power could swiftly converge on a single point.

"The Five Force Fist is the skin, the inner breath method is the bones—so that's how it is~"

A look of delight spread across Feng Xiu's face. He stood up and eagerly performed the Five Force Fist again, and the difference was immediately apparent.

His fists shot out like the wind, his feet striking the ground with a dull thud. His body turned with fluid ease.

With each move, not only did his bones and sinews ring in unison, but there was also a faint, low tremor of air currents.

"Not bad. For your inner breath and fist technique to initially merge and produce such an effect, if you train hard like this, you'll be able to dominate within the Body Refining Realm!" Zhou Gang commented with a smile, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"But Wen Zheng, your inner breath has just taken shape, and your blood and qi are surging faster. Remember to proceed step by step, nourishing yourself steadily with medicinal baths and meals. Don't be greedy for quick gains, or you'll easily damage your newly formed meridians."

At the end, Zhou Gang added a reminder.

At that moment, Feng Xiu slowly withdrew his technique. Heat steamed from his body, and he felt an extraordinary smoothness in his blood and qi. He stood still for a while, savoring the feeling.

[Health: 11]

[Spirit: 5]

[Strength: 6]

[Agility: 2]

[Skill Record: Eight Sections Vajra Skill (Perfected: Health +2, Spirit +2) Cannot be improved]

[Five Force Fist (Proficient: Strength +3, Health +1, Spirit +2)]

[Fusion: Not yet at Perfected stage, cannot be obtained]

As expected, after learning and mastering the inner breath method, Feng Xiu's strength had surged once again.

The Five Force Fist, now at the Proficient stage, instantly brought him a sense of clarity.

The images of his earlier fight with Han Che flashed through his mind frame by frame. The shortcomings caused by those dazzling moves—where his hands couldn't keep up with his eyes, and his eyes couldn't keep up with his mind—had vanished without a trace. His thoughts flowed freely, incredibly smooth, and he could even recall the flaws in every move Han Che had made.

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Zhou." Feng Xiu clasped his fists.

Steadying his thoughts, Feng Xiu took the opportunity to inform Zhou Gang about entrusting Fan Ling to find a suitable location for a escort agency.

As early as the afternoon after their three-way meeting, Fan Ling had already sent word.

The spot was in the west of the city, a standard three-courtyard compound, and the price was reasonable.

Zhou Gang was momentarily stunned, a flicker of emotion crossing his face. He gave Feng Xiu a deep look.

He placed a heavy hand on Feng Xiu's shoulder. "Wen Zheng, you've put thought into this."

Feng Xiu lacked neither ability nor means.

Now that the Sweet Dew Grand Festival in Green Rock City was stirring up a commotion, with the Fan Lin and Feng families stepping forward, it went without saying that Feng Xiu had a hand in it too.

Even so, he still remembered these small matters. "Brother Feng really knows how to raise a son~"

"Ah, Uncle Zhou, I'm not helping for nothing. There's something else I'd like to ask you to handle."

Feng Xiu smiled again, recalling Su Wantang's matter, and directly voiced the doubts in his heart.

"Master Black has gone to Yulin Prefecture, and I'm short on people to handle Jianghu affairs. About my second brother's matter, I suspect it's not a simple romantic entanglement. It might be a carefully set-up Thousand Gates Plucking the Gourd. If you have time, you could go take a look for me."

"Thousand Gates Plucking the Gourd?" Zhou Gang paused at the words, a glint of interest flashing in his tiger-like eyes.

Zhou Gang chuckled, a hint of nostalgia in his smile. "When I was young, I passed through Qing Province and saw it once. That group targeted the richest man in a small county town, set up a scheme for half a year, and ended up winning even his ancestral home."

"This matter with your brother—the method is very similar. Quite interesting." Zhou Gang grinned. "It's been a long time since I've seen such a refined trick."

"Alright, I'll take some men to check out the compound first. Then I'll bring a few sharp brothers to help you take a look at this setup and see which deity laid it out."

His words carried the characteristic fierceness of a Jianghu man.

The Eight Generals of the Thousand Gates were hardly rare in the Jianghu. Zhou Gang had traveled far and wide, so he was naturally well-versed.

"Don't worry. If it really is a fat sheep, I might even be able to turn the tables on them and fleece them instead. When that happens, you get seventy percent, I get thirty."

"In that case, thank you, Uncle Zhou." Feng Xiu smiled faintly. This was settled.

I don't care about your Eight Generals of the Thousand Gates or ten generals.

If I don't twist Su Wantang's head off, I'll take your surname!