Martial Arts

The archive repository deep within the county yamen was filled with the pungent smell of aged paper and insect-repelling herbs.

Xia Dong sat behind a pile of dust-covered case files, rapidly flipping through records of "strange occurrences" in Pingyang County over the past century by the flickering candlelight. Lord He had entrusted him with compiling the Volume of Strange Tales, granting him the legitimate privilege of consulting the county yamen's secret archives.

The information-retrieval skills from his previous life allowed him to swiftly extract valuable intelligence from a vast sea of useless drivel.

He discovered that those case files concerning so-called "demons causing havoc" or "immortals battling with magic" often contained strange descriptions of ordinary martial artists. For instance, a rebel leader from the previous dynasty had been "Blade-Proof, with Skin Like Bluestone," while a bandit chief was said to have Rumbling Thunder Within When Exerting Force.

This was far more than mere physical conditioning.

Beneath a pile of moldy miscellaneous files, Xia Dong found a notebook without a cover. Its pages had yellowed and become brittle. Judging by the signature, it was a collection of notes left behind by a retired old constable from Pingyang County more than eighty years ago.

This old constable had dealt with cultivators in his youth.

The notebook opened with a sentence steeped in resentment and ferocity:

"They say demons eat men. But in this world, are cultivators not demons as well? Martial arts are doomed!"

Xia Dong's expression turned solemn upon reading those words.

He immediately adjusted the candlewick and continued reading with bated breath.

The following contents of the notebook divided martial arts cultivation into the "Five Mortal Passes" and "Shedding the Mortal Body and Exchanging the Bones."

The first pass was the "Qi and Blood Realm."

"Use stance work and fist techniques to regulate the body, consuming vast quantities of meat and blood foods and medicinal herbs. Ordinary people will suffer from being unable to bear such nourishment if they consume too much, but those who endure this pass will see their strength greatly increase and their qi channels become deep and enduring."

Xia Dong touched his abdomen and thought, This is the stage I'm currently at. No wonder consuming those fifty taels of silver and that old ginseng caused such an astonishing transformation in my body.

The second pass was called the "Skin Grinding Realm."

The notebook described it thus: "This realm greatly tests one's will. One must use coarse sand, iron filings, and even highly poisonous medicinal liquids to pound and rub the skin day and night, causing the outer skin to die and be reborn. Those who achieve mastery become impervious to blades and spears, their Skin Like Bluestone clad in iron armor. Yet a moment's carelessness may leave hidden injuries and bring lifelong regret."

The third pass: the "Bone Forging Realm."

"Qi and blood enter the marrow, and special methods of exerting force are used to shake every bone in the body. The bones become like lead and mercury; when exerting force, muffled thunder sounds emerge from within, known as the Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound. This pass is the most perilous. The slightest mistake can result in broken bones and paralysis, reducing one to a cripple. But upon mastery, one can strike with Hidden Strength that penetrates the body, ignoring ordinary iron armor."

The fourth pass: the "Internal Strengthening Realm."

"Externally train the sinews, bones, and skin; internally train a single breath. Qi and blood nourish the five viscera and six bowels in return, making the organs as tough as leather. One becomes immune to ordinary strange poisons, can hold one's breath for a long time, and possesses inexhaustible stamina, as though a furnace is hidden within the body."

The fifth pass was the pinnacle of mortal martial arts—the "Mortal Transformation Realm."

At this point, the old constable's handwriting became wild yet reverent: "Break through the limits of the human body, and the flesh transforms, like a horned dragon descending into the world. When one erupts with full force, all the qi and blood throughout the body burst out through the flesh, shooting straight into the heavens and becoming a Qi and Blood Smoke Signal! This smoke signal is supremely yang and unyielding. Ordinary cultivators' illusions, low-level spells, and yin entities collapse at the slightest touch, burned to ashes! This is the foundation that allows martial artists to contend against the immortal path!"

Above the Five Mortal Passes, only a few sparse words remained at the end of the notebook, mentioning a transcendent stage called the "True Intent Realm." It said that once the flesh could advance no further, one had to condense Martial Dao True Intent and merge it into the divine soul. A martial artist possessing true intent had a divine soul as steadfast as bedrock; even a great Foundation Establishment cultivator could neither search their soul nor seize their body.

Huff.

Xia Dong closed the notebook and let out a long breath of turbid air.

So this was the true face of martial arts in this world!

It appeared to be a bloody road strewn with thorns, one that required endlessly tempering one's will and relentlessly squeezing out one's own potential.

"Ordinary people cultivating Skin Grinding and Bone Forging must tread as though walking on thin ice, fearing hidden injuries, fearing disability, and fearing even more that their weak points will be broken..."

Xia Dong understood his own advantages, and this only confirmed that without a Spirit Root, martial arts were currently the cultivation path best suited to him.

Yet the opening words of the notebook's owner seemed to be warning those who came after.

Demons ate people. To martial artists, were cultivators demons as well?

Xia Dong vaguely sensed that martial artists themselves might be of tremendous benefit to cultivators.

No wonder he had never heard of any formidable martial artists in Pingyang County.

Could it be that all the powerful martial artists had been captured by cultivators?

Fortunately, the Crane Stance he cultivated leaned toward preserving health. He did not look so broad-shouldered and burly on the outside, and his qi and blood were comparatively restrained.

Still, such a disguise certainly would not be enough to fool cultivators.

"It seems that unless necessary, I should avoid displaying my martial arts before others in the future." Xia Dong was deeply wary of this.

Afterward, Xia Dong became even more cautious when practicing at home. Moreover, through Lord He's connections, it became much more convenient for him to buy medicinal herbs.

However, many rare nourishing herbs were kept by wealthy households in the city for their own use. Even when they occasionally appeared on the market, they were snapped up at once, never reaching Xia Dong.

This only made the old ginseng given by the Qin Family as compensation for breaking off the engagement seem all the more sincere.

Without precious nourishing medicines, Xia Dong's cultivation of Crane Shadow Step slowed considerably.

Still, he could feel that during this period, his qi and blood had already surpassed that of ordinary people by far. He was qualified to attempt a breakthrough into the "Skin Grinding Realm."

But he lacked the relevant experience and cultivation methods, so he did not dare to attempt it rashly.

Besides, the money he earned from compiling the county gazetteer was neither much nor little.

If Xia Dong wanted to travel further along the martial path, compiling the county gazetteer alone would not be enough.

Yet he could also see that Pingyang County's fiction market was simply too small. To make more money this way, Xia Dong needed to open up a broader market.

Xia Dong already had an idea.

He planned to continue contacting the Qin Family.

For now, the Qin Family had treated him well.

Compared with Lord He's inexplicable goodwill, the Qin Family's kindness was perhaps more sincere. After all, it was a bond carried on from the previous generation.

Xia Dong had also sent a letter to the Prefecture City several days ago. Counting the days, there should have been a reply by now.

Just as he was thinking about this matter, a knock sounded outside the courtyard gate.

"Scholar Xia, this old man has come to trouble you again."

The courtyard gate opened, revealing the old steward of the Qin Estate, still dressed in a neat silk long robe.

But this time, a young woman with lowered eyes and a submissive manner followed behind him.

The young woman was around sixteen or seventeen. She wore a simple jade-green half-sleeved ruqun, with delicate features and a slender figure. She clutched a small bundle nervously in her hands.

After welcoming the old steward into the reception hall and serving tea, the old steward smilingly took a thick letter from his sleeve and offered it with both hands. "Master received Scholar Xia's letter and was greatly pleased. This letter contains Master's personal reply. Also... this girl is called Xiao Hong. Master specially selected her from a broker. Her background is clean, and her contract of lifelong servitude has been brought along as well. Master instructed that Scholar Xia is now living alone in the county town. How could you manage without someone at your side to care for you properly? This girl is quick and capable. From now on, she will look after your food, clothing, and daily needs."

Upon hearing this, Xia Dong swept his gaze over the maid named Xiao Hong. Xiao Hong immediately lowered her blushing face and curtsied deeply to Xia Dong, timidly saying, "This servant greets Young Master."

Xia Dong revealed nothing on his face, but inwardly, he was greatly surprised.

He then opened the letter and began reading it carefully.

In the first half of the letter, Master Qin's tone was exceedingly familiar and warm. Besides explaining that Xiao Hong had been purchased to attend to Xia Dong's daily life, he unexpectedly began earnestly urging Xia Dong to "settle down early and spread branches and leaves."

Master Qin even stated frankly in the letter that if Xia Dong had a woman he fancied, regardless of her family status, the Qin Family would be willing to step forward and arrange the betrothal gifts for him. If he did not, Master Qin could take charge of the matter and find several respectable young women in the Prefecture City whose birth characters matched his.

"Miss Qin urged me to marry and have children soon in her previous letter. Now Uncle Qin's reply is also so eager to press me into producing descendants, even going so far as to send over a bedchamber maid..."

A faint, chilling sense of unease rose within Xia Dong.

This was too abnormal. The Qin father and daughter's attitude toward him had already far surpassed the scope of "compensation for breaking off the engagement."

If giving him money after breaking off the engagement had been out of guilt and a desire to sever karmic ties, then what was the purpose of their current manner, as if they could not wait to see him produce a fat son immediately?

Suppressing his doubts, Xia Dong continued reading.

The latter half of the letter mentioned Xia Dong's plan to write novels for money. Master Qin expressed his support.

He even promised in the letter that as long as Xia Dong had a good manuscript, he could send it directly to the Prefecture City. The Qin Family would use its connections to have it submitted to the Linyuan Prefecture Official Bookstore for carving and publication.

In the Great You Dynasty, although there were many unlicensed Bookstores on the market, most could only conduct small local business. Official Bookstores were different. Not only did they gather the finest block-carving craftsmen, more importantly, they had official backing, and no one dared privately pirate their prints.

Moreover, the manuscript fees offered by official Bookstores were often exceptionally generous.

This was because such Bookstores were often covert benefit institutions through which high officials and gentry in the Prefecture City could legitimately "use public funds to subsidize their own people." So long as one had the right connections, the manuscript fee for a single book could often be inflated severalfold or even more than tenfold! With the Qin Family connection, Xia Dong did not need to worry about being underpaid at all.

As for the final part of the letter, it surprised Xia Dong even more.

Master Qin unexpectedly stated in earnest terms that if Xia Dong felt the imperial examination path was too difficult and no longer wished to take the examinations in the future, that would be fine. The Qin Family could secure him a clerical post in the Prefecture City yamen. Or even, if Xia Dong was willing, the Qin Family could pull strings both above and below to directly "buy him a genuine vacancy as a military officer"!

After reading the entire letter, Xia Dong slowly folded the paper and tucked it into his sleeve.

Was this how one treated a down-and-out nephew of an old friend whose engagement had been broken? This was more attentive than a biological father treating his own son!

Paving his way, giving him money, sending him a woman, urging him to have children, even arranging his fallback options with perfect clarity.

"Uncle Qin's generous favor leaves this junior deeply overwhelmed. Please ask the old steward to convey my gratitude to Uncle Qin. Tell him that Xia Dong will remember his kindness in his heart. As for the manuscript, I will hasten its writing shortly." Xia Dong gathered his thoughts and respectfully cupped his hands toward the old steward in thanks.

Seeing that Xia Dong had accepted both the letter and Xiao Hong, the old steward's smile deepened. He nodded repeatedly. "Scholar Xia is a perceptive man. If Master learns that Scholar Xia is so diligent and ambitious, he will certainly be delighted. Since that is so, this old man will not linger. I must return to the Prefecture City to report."

After seeing the old steward out of the alley, Xia Dong turned and returned to the courtyard.

In the cramped little courtyard, Xiao Hong was nimbly fetching water to wash the stone table. When she saw Xia Dong return, she froze like a startled rabbit, nervously pinching the hem of her clothes.

Xia Dong closed the courtyard gate and carefully examined this maid sent by the Qin Family.

His qi and blood now far surpassed that of ordinary people, and his senses had become extraordinarily keen. Under his gaze, Xiao Hong's breathing was slightly hurried, her steps unsteady, and thin calluses from years of hard labor covered her palms. On the surface, she truly appeared to be an ordinary person.

After a simple round of questioning, Xia Dong confirmed that Xiao Hong was indeed merely an ordinary farm girl from a poor background, sold to a broker.

The Qin Family had purchased her over seemingly for the sole purpose of caring for Xia Dong's food and daily life, and... satisfying his physical needs whenever necessary, so that he could have a child as quickly as possible?

"The east wing will be yours. From now on, you'll handle the courtyard cleaning and three meals a day. Without my permission, do not enter my main room."

"Yes, Young Master." Xiao Hong seemed to want to speak, but ultimately said nothing more.

Master Qin had said that if she could bear Young Master a child early, he would buy her family ten mu of fine paddy fields.

Of course she was tempted, but Young Master seemed to dislike her somewhat?

Naturally, Xiao Hong did not dare anger Xia Dong, so she still decided to obediently follow Young Master's instructions. He was a Scholar, after all. If he later passed the provincial examination and became a juren, he would be like a heavenly star descending to earth—even the village head would have to treat him with utmost respect.

That night, Xiao Hong had a dream. Young Master passed the provincial examination, she bore him a big, plump son, and she no longer had to worry about being sold away.

That night, Xiao Hong slept exceptionally sweetly.

Xia Dong turned and walked back into his room, closing the door behind him.

After considering it carefully, he felt that Master Qin's conduct was likely related to Miss Qin entering an immortal sect.

But Xia Dong could not infer the exact reason at all.

Still, Miss Qin could not possibly be "coveting" his body. With the Qin Family's resources, it would not be difficult for them to cultivate martial artists. Besides, the Qin Family probably knew little about his martial arts training.

Thinking of how they wanted him to have children as soon as possible, it was likely related to the bloodline in his body.

"I don't have a Spirit Root, but if the children I have possess Spirit Roots, could that be of help to cultivators?"

For the moment, Xia Dong could only speculate in this direction, but he still could not make sense of it.

At present, he lacked the strength to contend with the Qin Family, not to mention that Miss Qin herself was a cultivator.

He needed more power to take control of his own fate.

Since the Qin Family seemed to be seeking something from him, he might as well take the opportunity to ask for more benefits.

Xia Dong thought of the "Spirit Stone" absorbed by the Bronze Ancient Bell. Clearly, this Spirit Stone was tremendously beneficial to his martial arts cultivation.

"If I ask Miss Qin for another Spirit Stone, would she give it to me?" A bold thought arose in Xia Dong's mind.

However, if Miss Qin truly gave him one, Xia Dong would inevitably become even more afraid.

After wrestling with the matter for a while, he temporarily suppressed the thought.

The time was not right yet.

His Crane Shadow Step had not yet been cultivated to "perfection," and he had not reached the point where he needed to continue "breaking limits."

For now, the Bronze Ancient Bell would certainly be of great help to Xia Dong's martial arts cultivation. It simply required Spirit Stones to help him break limits—that was, to break through bottlenecks.

"Bronze Ancient Bell, where exactly is your limit?"

Xia Dong pondered this quietly in his heart.