The Inner City.
The government office's second hall.
Two figures sat facing each other. One wore a military uniform and had a rugged face, his whole bearing radiating an imposing authority. The other wore armor and a cloak, his brows sharp with intensity.
"Those beasts are slippery indeed."
"They even understand the need to divide and attack. When things went badly, they fled in different directions into Songshan. It would be impossible for them to act without someone pulling the strings behind the scenes. But as for who that person is, this subordinate still hasn't the slightest clue..."
"I've received word that the Wei Army beyond the passes has already begun moving south."
At Fu Hanchuan's words,
the man spoke calmly. "If they want to enter through the pass, they'll have to travel through Songshan into Ning'an Prefecture, then drive straight into the heart of Great Zhou. In that case, it's obvious who's behind the demons laying siege to the city."
"But those three demons aren't what concern me."
"In fact..."
"The reason I stopped the investigation last night was that I sensed a threat. There is a great demon—or perhaps a person—hidden within Songshan."
"What?!"
Fu Hanchuan's pupils contracted slightly.
The man was about to nod, but suddenly his gaze sharpened, and he sprang to his feet.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort laden with terrifying force
exploded through the hall in an instant.
Qin Mansion.
The reception hall.
Qin Jiu's face was faintly pale. When he opened his eyes, he couldn't help letting out a long breath.
"What powerful perception."
"Even that was enough to make him sense something."
"This Ghost Illumination talent isn't as omnipotent as I'd imagined. If the gap between two people's realms is too great, it's easy to be detected."
He tipped a Rejuvenation Pill into his mouth.
As he recovered from the mental strain, he pondered the conversation he'd overheard earlier.
Although the other man had sensed something,
under Ghost Illumination, Qin Jiu hadn't detected any malice from either of them toward him or the Qin Family.
That was good news, at least.
"But the demons laying siege to the city are connected to the Wei Army..."
Qin Jiu furrowed his brows.
They were the remnants of Great Zhou's former dynasty.
Great Zhou had been founded more than sixteen hundred years ago. Since the reign of its founding emperor, the court had continually hunted down those remnants. Yet a centipede may die, but it never falls apart completely. No matter how thoroughly they were suppressed, after some time they always returned.
Now, Great Zhou's strength was waning.
Those people clearly weren't going to let this opportunity pass.
"What will the authorities do?"
His expression shifted uncertainly.
As he pondered,
Wang Yue had already returned.
"Young Master, I've withdrawn eight thousand taels in banknotes from the accounts. But as for the people the estate needs to send out, you'll have to decide who to assign."
"People..."
Qin Jiu gathered his thoughts.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Send the guards who aren't members of the Qin Family first."
"By the way."
"Ask the collateral branches. Explain the pros and cons clearly. If anyone is willing, let them go along too."
He didn't trust Feng Yuan's word.
No matter how many benefits were promised, they would be worthless if he didn't survive.
And when it came to demons,
who could say for certain that they would come through unscathed?
Qin Jiu didn't want to send the Qin Family's people into the Demon Suppression Bureau rashly.
"One more thing."
"How much ready cash does the estate have now?"
Just as Wang Yue was leaving,
Qin Jiu called him back.
With the Wei Army moving south, they would inevitably pass through Songshan on their way to the border. And if the demons truly had some connection to the Wei Army, he had no choice but to prepare in advance—whether that meant moving the entire family away from Songshan County or relying on that deputy hall master.
Either way, it was better to stay far from the whirlpool.
At least until he had the strength to face it head-on,
Qin Jiu had no intention of defending the county seat to the death.
"To answer Young Master,"
Wang Yue replied after considering it. "If we're only counting ready cash, the estate has about a hundred and fifty thousand taels, including the gold. If we also count the spirit beasts in the Hundred Beasts Garden, along with the weapons, materials, precious medicines, and pills in the storerooms, it's about two hundred thousand taels in total."
"Two hundred thousand taels..."
Qin Jiu nodded slightly.
This was the wealth Qin Guihong had accumulated.
It might not seem like much, but it was what remained after the Qin Mansion's yearly expenses. In truth, their wealth far exceeded that of an industrial family like the Qian Family. After all, the spirit beasts were raised by the family itself, and with several taverns in the city, their profits were practically exorbitant.
"Uncle Wang, go give the accounts office an order."
"Double the monthly pill allowance for every Qin Family martial artist. Also, starting today, any Qin Family descendant who breaks through the first gate and enters First Refining will receive twenty taels of silver; anyone who reaches Second Refining will receive a hundred taels; anyone who reaches Three Refinements will receive a thousand taels; and anyone who reaches Internal Strengthening will be granted a weapon of the entry rank."
"Our Qin Family needs to start preparing as soon as possible."
After sending Wang Yue away,
Qin Jiu returned to the East Wing.
He needed to focus on improving his strength and didn't want to waste time on trivial matters.
"After breaking through the gates three times, I need to guide my blood and qi to forge my bones."
"Until inner force emerges..."
"That's when I'll enter Second Refining."
In the courtyard,
Qin Jiu slowly worked through the blade stance.
Without Wang Yue's blade aura to support it, this stance training didn't advance quickly, but he could still make steady progress. So he hadn't practiced the Dragon-Tiger Health-Nurturing Stake.
More than half an hour passed.
When Wang Yue returned,
Qin Jiu had him drive his blade aura once more, using it to temper his physique.
"Young Master, blood and qi are not only the foundation of martial arts; they're also the essence of the human body. That's why, at the very beginning of martial arts training, one must temper one's blood and qi and harden the skin. Each time one breaks through a gate is a tangible manifestation of condensed blood and qi. Only after breaking through three gates and completing Skin Polishing can a martial artist seal in their vital essence and prevent it from leaking away."
Suddenly,
Wang Yue spoke without warning. "Once Skin Polishing is complete, a martial artist must use a breathing technique to guide their blood and qi, forming a cycle within the body. This tempers the limbs and bones and brings them to Second Refining, where the bones are forged and inner force is born."
"A cycle of blood and qi?"
Qin Jiu had just finished running through the stance training once.
At this, he was startled.
Then he immediately understood.
"Did he figure out that I've broken through three gates?"
He looked at Wang Yue suspiciously.
Wang Yue was staring down at his nose, his nose at his heart. After saying those two sentences, he seemed to have drifted off into his own world.
Qin Jiu felt his guess was probably right.
Wang Yue wasn't just an Internal Strengthening martial artist; he was old enough that not a single hair on his head was hollow. It would've been strange if he couldn't tell from such close contact.
Sure enough,
when Qin Jiu sat down to eat at noon,
Wang Yue brought out a thick book and placed it on the stone table in the pavilion. "This is the martial arts manual for the Tyrant Blade. You can look through it when you have time to rest, Young Master. It also records the route for forming a cycle of blood and qi."
"I understand."
Qin Jiu nodded slightly.
He didn't bring up the fact that he'd broken through three gates.
After finishing the spirit beast meat on the table,
he picked up the manual and read for half an hour, then went back outside and resumed the stance training.
He continued until nightfall,
then finally stopped practicing.
"Uncle Wang, prepare a carriage. Come with me to the Four Seasons Pharmacy in a while."
"You're going to the Four Seasons Pharmacy?"
"That's right."
After wiping the sweat from his face, Qin Jiu nodded. "The demons are laying siege to the city, and people in both the Inner and Outer Cities are panicking. What Li Yuan said that day has been on my mind."
"Tonight, I'm going to meet that man again."
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