Low-Grade Movement Technique, Carefree Steps

At dawn, the sky was faintly bright.

After resting for the night, Lu Yuan arrived at Heavenly Fragrance Tower early.

He wanted to find Mr. Yan and sell his Demon Cores.

The moment he entered.

The waiter recognized Lu Yuan.

Upon learning why Lu Yuan had come.

He told him that Mr. Yan was not at the restaurant today.

She was at the Sandalwood Palace Auction House in the center of town.

Lu Yuan said nothing more and followed the waiter's directions.

He soon arrived before a building that occupied quite a large area.

Yet looked exceedingly plain.

A blackwood plaque hung above its entrance, engraved with the words Sandalwood Palace.

"It's quite lively."

Lu Yuan had assumed that those entering and leaving the Sandalwood Palace Auction House would all be nobles, high officials, martial arts experts, and the like.

To his surprise, people from every walk of life were present.

Peddlers and porters, martial artists and dignitaries.

Rough hemp clothes and splendid finery.

It seemed that here, they were all the same.

They entered Sandalwood Palace only for the things they needed to exchange for.

"With so many people, how long would I have to wait?"

After giving it some thought, Lu Yuan walked straight to the counter.

He displayed his jade token.

Before long, a delicate-looking maid in a green ruqun came forward to greet him.

"A guest of Mr. Yan, please follow this servant."

"Mr. Yan is waiting for you in the inner hall."

"This servant is Le Qing, Mr. Yan's personal maid."

Even when facing Lu Yuan in his worn old clothes.

The maid showed him the utmost respect.

Le Qing soon led Lu Yuan into the inner hall.

Sandalwood incense curled through the air.

Yan Nishang reclined sideways on a soft couch.

In a moon-white gown, she was somewhat less enchanting than when Lu Yuan had first met her, yet carried more nobility and splendor.

"Mr. Yan."

Lu Yuan cupped his hands.

"Sir Lu, please sit."

Yan Nishang's eyes rippled as she gave a soft laugh.

Her words made Lu Yuan feel somewhat ashamed.

He was merely a lowly constable.

How could he bear the title of "sir"?

But Lu Yuan was straightforward. After sitting down.

He took out two Demon Cores.

"A First-Order Mid-Grade Bristle-Haired Boar Demon, and a First-Order High-Grade Azure-Scaled Fish Demon."

Yan Nishang lightly lifted them with her slender fingers, a flicker of surprise passing through her beautiful eyes.

Lu Yuan gave her the impression that he possessed little inner force.

He did not even count as a Grade Entry martial artist.

Yet he had been capable of killing even a high-grade Azure-Scaled Fish Demon.

However, Yan Nishang did not ask further questions.

Every martial artist had their own secrets.

Prying into another person's secrets was hardly a good habit.

"These two Demon Cores are of excellent quality. If Sir Lu is not in urgent need of money."

"You could put them up for auction. Their final price could be three times higher than it is now."

Yan Nishang held up three fingers.

"I can't wait that long. I need to exchange them for money now."

"Or for a movement technique."

Lu Yuan refused.

He was to carry out an escort mission today.

He had no time to wait for the Demon Cores to be auctioned.

The more martial arts he learned now, the more means he would have to preserve his life.

Seeing Lu Yuan's resolute attitude, Yan Nishang did not force the matter. "For the two Demon Cores, I can offer you ten taels of silver. That amount can only be exchanged for one low-grade martial art."

"The grade doesn't matter. As long as it's a movement technique."

Lu Yuan did not particularly care.

His words left Yan Nishang somewhat puzzled again. "Sir Lu, you have no requirements for the grade of the martial art?"

In every martial artist's mind, the higher the grade of a martial art.

The more appealing it was to a martial artist.

The power it could unleash was worlds apart.

"I have no use for anything better at the moment. With my talent, a low-grade martial art is enough."

Under Yan Nishang's gaze, Lu Yuan felt a little unable to bear it.

Lu Yuan quickly explained.

Naturally, he would not say that with the accumulation of experience points.

A low-grade martial art could reach the Perfection Realm in his hands, making it no worse than a mid-grade martial art.

"Our Sandalwood Palace collection happens to contain a low-grade movement technique called Carefree Steps."

As she spoke, Yan Nishang gave an instruction to the maid.

The imperial court, the major martial arts families, and the powerful sects all exercised extremely strict control over martial arts.

At present, Lu Yuan's rank at the Sandalwood Palace Auction House was not high enough.

Naturally, many martial arts could not be sold to him.

If not for Yan Nishang's connection.

Lu Yuan might not even have been able to buy such a commonly available martial art.

"Thank you."

Lu Yuan naturally understood this.

He thanked Yan Nishang with another bow.

Soon after, the maid Le Qing immediately came forward carrying a purple sandalwood box.

When it was opened, an aged thread-bound book lay quietly inside.

After receiving the box, Lu Yuan prepared to bid Yan Nishang farewell.

"Sir Lu." Yan Nishang suddenly spoke, her words carrying a profound undertone. "Pingyang County has not been peaceful lately. Demon troubles have occurred frequently. You can kill demons, but demons can also seek revenge. It would be best to stay alert. More terrifying still, sometimes demons eat people, and people... eat people too."

"Thank you for the warning, Mr. Yan."

Lu Yuan gave Yan Nishang a deep look.

Then turned and strode away.

"Miss, was he worth saying so much to?"

"He barely has any martial artist's aura on him."

Watching Lu Yuan's departing back.

Le Qing could not help asking.

"It is precisely because he has so little martial artist's aura, yet can still kill demons of this caliber."

"That is why I, Yan Nishang, chose to forge this good connection with him."

A curve touched Yan Nishang's lips. She lay on her side, outlining her alluring figure.

In this tiny Pingyang County, there were not many things that interested Yan Nishang.

Lu Yuan counted as half of one.

After leaving Sandalwood Palace, Lu Yuan set off for the yamen to report in.

On the road, when Lu Yuan opened the box and prepared to look through Carefree Steps, he discovered that there were also three taels of silver inside.

"This woman truly leaves not the slightest flaw in either her words or her actions."

Lu Yuan shook his head.

Yan Nishang's favor had been handled in a way that truly made one feel comfortable.

He carefully put away the silver, then began reading Carefree Steps.

This was a low-grade movement technique.

According to the records in the book.

This footwork emphasized sinking one's qi to the Yongquan points while letting one's intent flow lightly and nimbly.

When practicing, one had to sink one's qi and blood into both legs, coordinate it with a particular breathing method, and step through the Eight Trigrams positions within a tiny space.

Upon reaching minor accomplishment, one's body would become as light as a swallow. Upon reaching major accomplishment, one would be as elusive as a ghost in every shift, dodge, and turn.

A whole load of rambling.

Lu Yuan could not really understand it, but he still memorized it word for word.

The instant he closed the manual, a phantom flickered before his eyes, and the system panel automatically appeared.

[Host: Lu Yuan]

[Realm: Mortal Realm (Not Grade Entry)]

[Lifespan: 28 days]

[Techniques: Basic Demon-Slaying Saber Technique (Perfection Realm 0/1000), Wild Bull Force (Major Accomplishment 20/300), Carefree Steps (Not Initiated 0/50)]

[Experience Points: 960]

With this movement technique, whether in close-quarters combat or when fleeing for his life at a critical moment.

It would be a fine trump card.

"Should I level it up?"

Lu Yuan considered it for a moment.

Then abandoned the thought.

If he saved another forty experience points, he could further improve the Perfection Realm Basic Demon-Slaying Saber Technique.

That was more tempting.

Before long, Lu Yuan arrived beside the stables at the rear gate of the county yamen.

Two flatbed carts for escorting prisoners were already parked in the courtyard.

Their compartments were cages made from hard round logs.

One of them was wrapped in oilcloth, its shape impossible to discern.

Lu Yuan guessed that it contained a demon beast's corpse.

The other prison cart was covered with black cloth.

He had heard that it held two female prisoners.

There was no need for Lu Yuan to inspect it, so he paid it no mind.