33: The Boy's Valiant Spirit, His Younger Brother Seeks Him Out

The warm current in the Dantian was known among martial artists as "Inner Force," "Inner Qi," or "Inner Qi."

It was something martial artists produced deep within their flesh and blood by tempering their martial arts.

When applied to martial techniques, it could bring about a qualitative change.

With Qi protecting the body, it could also ward off the bitter cold and external evils, boost one's vigor, and serve many other purposes. Li Xian was still in the Initial Martial Realm and was still exploring its uses.

Li Xian circulated his Inner Qi and paired it with his Four Directions Fist at Major Accomplishment. His punch carried a rich martial intent.

It even held the meaning of returning to simplicity.

"L-Lord Li?"

Someone suddenly approached him, bowing and scraping with a fawning smile.

The man was named Shi Xiaodong, an ordinary Grade-D House Guard. He was twenty-five, while Li Xian had only just turned fifteen.

Yet now he hunched his back, wearing a servile grin, his manner humble and respectful. He took the initiative to address Li Xian as "Lord."

"What is it?"

Li Xian lowered his guard. He had made progress with today's hard practice: his Four Directions Fist had reached Major Accomplishment, and his Clearwind Leg proficiency had increased by over [40] points. He was just about to rest.

"I heard you... became a Grade-C House Guard?" Shi Xiaodong asked with a smile.

Li Xian nodded. Shi Xiaodong immediately smiled and clasped his hands. "Congratulations, Lord Li! My congratulations! That's incredible. Everyone's been talking about you these past two days, saying you're handsome and heroic, dashing and extraordinary..."

After a long bout of praise, he finally got to the point.

"Well, I have a small favor to ask. I'd like you to help me."

"Go on." Li Xian bent down to pick up the saber on the ground and tightened his wrist guards. Though young, he already had a remarkable bearing.

He was handsome and refined.

He looked less like a household servant and House Guard, and more like a dazzling, spirited young hero, clad in fine clothes and riding a fine horse.

Shi Xiaodong was momentarily dazzled. It wasn't that he had never seen a young hero like this. Outsiders often came to the manor, and among them were no shortage of young people from distinguished backgrounds.

To them, those people were like immortals. They had this same heroic spirit about them.

But this was the first time he had seen it in a House Guard.

Although Grade-C House Guards were already of no low rank, there were plenty of people above them, and plenty more besides. But bearing was a mysterious thing: it came from within. If you had it, you had it; if you didn't, you didn't. It couldn't be learned.

"You haven't bought any pills this month, have you?" Shi Xiaodong rubbed his hands together. "I'd like to ask you to buy a 'Grade-C Elixir' for me."

Li Xian understood. He rubbed his sore shoulders and worked the joints throughout his body. These were small details of caring for his meridians.

They helped Qi and Blood circulate and cleared and softened the blood vessels.

"Tell me all about it."

Li Xian exhaled and spoke as he walked. He had a patrol shift later.

"Heh, I've had my eye on a Jadeite Pill and have been saving up for half a year."

"Lord Li, if you agree, please buy it for me from the Leisure Pill Pavilion. Don't worry, I understand how things work. Apart from the cost of the pill, everything else here is yours."

Shi Xiaodong smiled and took out a pouch, presenting it with both hands.

Li Xian didn't take it. Instead, he asked, "A Jadeite Pill?"

"The Jadeite Pill sells for one tael and seven hundred coins at the Leisure Pill Pavilion. It increases Inner Qi. My martial arts have been stuck for ages, so I thought I'd use a pill to make some more progress."

Shi Xiaodong smiled sheepishly, not daring to hide anything.

"This is the first time I've heard of this pill." Li Xian was short on money, and helping with this small favor was no trouble.

He took the pouch and weighed it in his hand. It was all broken silver and copper coins, clinking together. He opened it and estimated the amount. The broken silver and copper coins inside added up to...

About two taels. Shi Xiaodong certainly knew how to handle things.

"Fine. I'll go now," Li Xian said.

"R-Right now?" Shi Xiaodong froze, then showed delight. But right after, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

He followed Li Xian all the way and watched him enter the Leisure Pill Pavilion. Outside, Shi Xiaodong paced back and forth, muttering to himself:

"Lord Li sure is straightforward. He said he'd help, and he went right away."

"But what if he gets greedy and tries to pocket my money? What am I supposed to do then?"

He couldn't help thinking that way.

Generally speaking, when a Grade-D House Guard asked a Grade-C House Guard to buy pills, there were all sorts of rules and tricks involved.

Usually, they placed their orders during the first few days of the month.

But Grade-C House Guards wouldn't buy the pills right away, because they weren't sure whether they would need to buy any that month.

They would keep putting it off until the end of the month, when they were sure they didn't need pills themselves. Only then would they buy them for the Grade-D House Guards.

And that was the best-case scenario.

Once people had power, they would find ways to make life difficult for those without power, just so they could feel that power.

This was even more true when it came to buying pills.

"Could he have... taken more than half a year's savings from me just like that?"

"Oh dear, what should I do? What should I do?"

Shi Xiaodong paced in a panic, almost in tears.

This sort of thing wasn't uncommon. After all, he was asking someone for a favor, and all he could do was swallow his bitterness.

If a Grade-C House Guard really wanted to pocket his money... he could only treat it as a bribe. Lost was lost.

After all, if he started a quarrel, he would suffer even greater losses.

"I should've gone to Yan Yang instead. He's an established Grade-C House Guard. Sure, he charges a high price and often takes months to hand over the pill."

"But at least... he's never been known to keep the pill."

"Shi Xiaodong, Shi Xiaodong, look at you, trying to be clever. Now you've suffered a huge loss, haven't you?"

Shi Xiaodong's eyes reddened. He was truly close to tears, his heart full of frustration.

"Here."

After who knew how long, Li Xian walked out of the building and tossed him a brocade box.

Shi Xiaodong froze.

He hurriedly caught the brocade box and stared at Li Xian in astonishment.

"What? You asked me to buy a pill for you. Why are you making that face?" Li Xian frowned.

"Ah... oh, oh." Shi Xiaodong hurriedly opened the brocade box.

A burst of medicinal fragrance wafted out. Inside lay a pale green pill: the Jadeite Pill. Its color, shape, and fragrance were all excellent.

"Transaction complete. The remaining three hundred and ninety coins are all mine." Li Xian rubbed his nose.

He felt a little embarrassed.

In one round trip, he had earned two months of the man's wages. Even Grade-D House Guards had plenty of ways to earn extra money and increase their income.

But three hundred and ninety coins was truly no small sum. In this world, it was enough to buy a life!

"If there's nothing else, I'll be off."

With a wave of his hand, Li Xian left with easy grace.

"This..."

Shi Xiaodong stared at Li Xian's back, dumbstruck.

He'd paid that very day, and received the pill that very day.

No pointless talk, no bullying, no cheating, no throwing his weight around... In the five or six years he had spent at the manor, he had never heard of or seen anything like this. This was the first time.

Vaguely, he seemed to understand how that boyish heroic spirit had come about.

"Lord Li... you really are a true lord." Shi Xiaodong raised his thumb, sincerely won over.

He had been among those spreading idle talk about Li Xian before. Thinking back on it now, he was so ashamed he wanted the ground to swallow him.

A biting wind howled.

It seemed ready to flay the flesh from a person, allowing no one to live.

Li Xiaofan's Winter Examination was approaching. He was about to join the examination party and head to neighboring Huangtian County to officially begin the Winter Examination.

The Great Martial Dynasty valued both martial and literary pursuits. Martial artists sought Bone Recasting, while scholars used Literary Qi to seize Fortune.

Those who carried Fortune were held in high esteem.

The so-called scholarly examinations were tests to seize Fortune.

Li Xiaofan had listened closely to his big brother. He had used the money to eat some pork neck, and his nutrition had improved a little.

He was about to leave Qingning County, and he really wanted to see his big brother one more time.

Braving the cold wind, he wore a filthy, stinking hemp robe. His little face was set with determination.

His snot had frozen solid against his skin. Pulling it off would hurt.

In the distance, he saw a manor.

"Is this the manor where big brother lives?" Li Xiaofan silently thought. "I hope I can see him."