Observing Qi and Stealing Skills

"Uncle Liu was a One-Blood martial arts expert who had undergone one blood exchange; above his head hovered a faint, barely visible wisp of gray mist about an inch tall."

"And Fairy Bai, honored as a Two-Blood martial arts powerhouse who had undergone two blood exchanges, actually had a full three inches of dazzling white radiance above her head?"

As he watched the beautiful woman in the white dress draw closer and closer, Yang Xiao's mouth went dry, his heart pounding wildly. Just as he was about to study that white radiance carefully, he suddenly felt the world spin.

Before Yang Xiao could react, he was already sprawled on the ground, not a shred of strength left in his body.

So I can only observe martial qi once a day. If I rashly observe it a second time, my essence, qi, and spirit will wither—maybe even lead to death?

Yang Xiao was not stupid. He quickly figured everything out and was just about to get up when he abruptly sensed an icy gaze looking coldly toward him.

Damn it. Just now I was staring fixedly at Fairy Bai. She must be displeased. If she gets angry, I'm afraid I'll end up missing an arm or a leg...

Yang Xiao's heart gave a thump.

If it had been any other waiter in Vermilion Bird Tower encountering such an unexpected situation, he naturally would have been at a loss and very likely would have offended the guest.

But Yang Xiao had lived two lives. What a shrewd old fox he was. He reacted in an instant and did not hurry to rise. Instead, he hastily knocked his head to the floor, his voice full of flattery.

"Today is this lowly one's first day at work. I respectfully welcome Fairy to the Ding 527 private room. Fairy, your beauty is like that of a celestial being. This lowly one could only suspect an immortal maiden had descended from the heavens, and for a moment I was struck dumb from staring. I beg Fairy's forgiveness, forgiveness."

So he was a complete greenhorn?

Seeing Yang Xiao so "terrified and sincere," and hearing him speak so pleasantly—and, crucially, seeing that he was handsome—Fairy Bai's expression eased slightly at last.

"Keep watch over the main door properly. Later, aside from Young Master Song Yu, no one else is to be allowed inside."

After lightly tossing down those words, Fairy Bai moved with lotus steps, graceful and willowy, into the private room.

"Yes, yes, yes. With this lowly one handling matters, Fairy Sister may rest assured. Fairy Sister, please go inside."

Yang Xiao secretly let out a breath of relief, quickly rose and bowed, his face covered in a professional fake smile.

"Fairy Sister?"

Fairy Bai froze, then immediately found it amusing.

She was a full thirty years older than Yang Xiao; she had merely achieved success in martial arts and maintained herself well.

Although she knew Yang Xiao was deliberately currying favor, and was being a little shameless about it, Fairy Bai was still in a good mood. With a light wave of her jade hand, a heavy piece of silver instantly flew over from a distance with perfect accuracy and drifted lightly into Yang Xiao's hand.

"Thank you for the reward, Fairy Sister."

Yang Xiao nimbly put away the silver, watched Fairy Bai step into the private room, and considerately closed the bronze doors.

"A Two-Blood martial arts powerhouse is actually this rich. She casually rewarded me with ten taels of fine silver. That's equal to half a month of my wages."

Weighing the silver in his sleeve, Yang Xiao could not help sighing with feeling.

The reigning Emperor Ming had sat on the throne for many years, his heart set on seeking immortals and inquiring after the Dao, with no interest in government affairs. He heavily employed eunuchs, persecuted loyal and upright officials, and also loved collecting all kinds of precious flowers, birds, strange stones, and rare rocks. As a result, the people had no way to live, uprisings never ceased, and prices everywhere soared.

Even so, the purchasing power of ten taels of silver was still strong. It could buy three hundred sheng of rice, which was already a year's worth of rations for an ordinary family of three in the outer city.

However, Yang Xiao knew that two hundred years ago, when Great Yan's founding emperor had still been alive, the nation had been wealthy, the people strong, and all under heaven at peace. Ten taels of silver could buy a thousand sheng of rice.

Compared with today's prices and the current state of affairs, the Great Yan Dynasty had clearly entered its final stage. It was not very far from falling apart and breaking into pieces.

"Forget it. I'm just a tiny waiter. Why think so much?"

"Even if the Great Yan Dynasty really does fall, that won't happen overnight. It'll be at least several years later. As for me, I'll just hide in the safest place in the inner city, Vermilion Bird Tower, and slowly develop while keeping a low profile."

Shaking his head, Yang Xiao stopped thinking about it and closed his eyes to begin breathing and circulating his qi.

Through observing Uncle Liu's martial qi, Yang Xiao had not only learned the Nine Cicada Hearing Technique, but had also obtained all of Uncle Liu's thirty years of martial training experience. Among it was the art of breathing, regulating, and adjusting the breath.

After standing in place and breathing for a long while, Yang Xiao finally felt a little of his spirit recover. Yet his body was still hollow, his steps weak and heavy.

"Uncle Liu came from a poor background. Relying on diligence plus luck, he managed to learn the Nine Cicada Hearing Technique, then used it as his foundation to join Vermilion Bird Tower, make achievements, and save up merit points to exchange for an extremely precious blood-exchange secret medicine. That was how he succeeded in his first blood exchange. But this breathing method of his—is really far too crude."

Yang Xiao sighed softly and was just about to continue breathing when his heart suddenly chilled. He abruptly looked ahead.

Ahead, a handsome and carefree young nobleman walked over, folding fan in hand.

"Young Master, might you be Young Master Song Yu?"

Yang Xiao hurriedly went up to greet him, his face piled with smiles.

"I am indeed unworthy me. Is the guest in the private room ahead Fairy Bai?"

Young Master Song gave a slight nod. With a snap, his folding fan opened in a dashing flourish. His tone was gentle; he did not look down on Yang Xiao because of his lowly status, but neither did he regard him highly.

"Young Master Song, you truly have keen eyes. Fairy Bai has been in the private room for quite some time. This way, please."

Yang Xiao's eyes held "admiration," while the bright professional fake smile still hung on his face. He attentively led the way ahead.

However, right up until Young Master Song stepped into the private room and Yang Xiao closed the door, Young Master Song showed no intention of giving a tip, nor any other sign.

Yang Xiao was not disappointed by this. Generous honored guests like Fairy Bai were, after all, only a minority.

"Both are Two-Blood martial arts powerhouses. The qi above Young Master Song's head was also white radiance, but it was only one inch, while Fairy Bai's was three inches."

"It seems that even among martial artists of the same realm, I can judge the difference in their strength by observing the length of the qi above their heads."

Standing in place, continuing to breathe and slack off, Yang Xiao gained a clearer understanding of his secret of "observing qi to steal a teacher's skills."

In the blink of an eye, half an hour passed. Yang Xiao stopped his breathing exercises and felt that his essence, energy, and spirit had not only been replenished, but their "capacity" had also increased by quite a bit.

Yang Xiao's heart stirred, and he tried stretching his muscles and bones again. Sure enough, he no longer coughed, though his body remained very weak.

"The Nine Cicada Hearing Technique really is powerful. This is only the 'First Hearing.' I wonder what sort of scene the later 'Second Hearing' will bring?"

Yang Xiao could not help but feel some anticipation.

Uncle Liu only knew the "First Hearing" as well, but in the "Scripture Pavilion" of Vermilion Bird Tower, the complete Nine Cicada Hearing Technique was kept and could be exchanged for with "contribution points."

However, with Yang Xiao's status as an ordinary waiter, wanting to take on tasks to earn contribution points, then use those points to exchange for the "Second Hearing" of the Nine Cicada Hearing Technique, was no different from an astronomical figure. At least for now, it was not realistic, and there was no need to consider it for the time being.

"Although it's only the First Hearing, it still lets me hear the slightest stir of wind or grass within a hundred zhang. Logically speaking, in terms of hearing alone, I'm already no worse than a 'Second Blood' martial expert."

"Uncle Liu once said that even through this bronze door, a Second Blood expert can hear the movements outside the room."

"Then if I stand outside the door, can I also hear what's happening inside the private room?"

Yang Xiao's heart stirred. He circulated the Nine Cicada Hearing Technique, and his ears began to tremble.

Sure enough!

It was just as Yang Xiao had expected. He really could hear the sounds inside the private room.

Only, the conversation inside the private room made Yang Xiao's pupils shrink, and cold sweat instantly broke out across his forehead...