Sacrifice

After finishing his medicinal bath, Xie An dressed in a green robe with Qiu Lan's assistance. The moment he stepped out of his room, he had Zhao Hu continue feeding him moves.

Zhao Hu swallowed and forced a smile. "Young Master, aren't you going to rest?"

Xie An assumed his stance. "No rest. Come!"

Zhao Hu's limbs were somewhat stiff, but he still gritted his teeth and fed him moves.

They trained from morning until noon. After hurriedly finishing lunch, Xie An had Zhao Hu continue sparring with him.

Before they knew it, the day had reached the end of the shen hour.

Xie An was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through, yet he did not feel tired in the slightest. Instead, he felt an inexhaustible stream of strength flowing through his body.

Zhao Hu, on the other hand, repeatedly raised his hands in surrender, his smile stiff. "I can't fight anymore, I really can't. Young Master, you were born with divine strength. Even a Bone-Tempering Warrior like me can't endure your fist force for long."

Though Xie An still wanted more, he saw Zhao Hu gasping for breath with that stiff expression and did not force him. "We'll stop here for today. Qiu Lan, withdraw ten taels of silver from the treasury for Zhao Hu."

Zhao Hu clasped his hands and declined. "Young Master already gives me twenty taels a month and covers my medicine costs. Back then, when my wife suddenly fell gravely ill, Young Master was the one who invited a physician to cure her. I, Zhao Hu, have always remembered Young Master's great kindness. How could I dare accept more?"

Xie An said, "Feeding moves is no easy work. Don't refuse!"

Only then did Zhao Hu accept. "Yes."

Not long afterward, Qiu Lan hurried back and stuffed a small silver ingot into Zhao Hu's hand. She also said, "You must remember the kindness Young Master has shown you. One day, you must think of repaying it."

"Of course. My wife is already nine months pregnant. Once she gives birth to a big, healthy boy, I'd even like to ask Young Master to bestow a name upon the child." Zhao Hu stiffly accepted the silver, then changed the subject. "Young Master, there's no one to attend to my wife during her pregnancy, and she often feels unwell at night. Over the next few days, I would like to request leave at night, so I can return home each evening to keep her company."

Xie An nodded slightly. "Pregnancy is not easy for your wife. That is only proper. Just come to the residence early each day to train with me."

"Many thanks for Young Master's great kindness!" Zhao Hu gave a deep bow before turning to leave.

After watching Zhao Hu depart, Xie An lost his own interest in training. He had Qiu Lan fill the bathing tub in his room with hot water, then pour in the Tiger-Skin Essence Decoction. Once the medicine had dissolved, he removed his clothes and began another medicinal bath.

Qiu Lan stood outside behind a screen and muttered, "No wonder Zhao Hu had been getting up late these past few mornings and going out to buy medicine every day. I thought he was slacking off. Turns out his wife is about to give birth."

Feeling the tingling sensation as the essence decoction condensed and tempered his skin membrane, Xie An replied, "Zhao Hu has been in the residence for six years. He has always been diligent and was never the lazy sort. Now that he is about to become a father, it is not easy for him either. From now on, withdraw his medicine money from the residence treasury as well."

"Zhao Hu was lucky to meet such a great benevolent man as Young Master," Qiu Lan muttered. "No wonder he has been wearing Storax Pills lately. He must be using them to ward off evil for his wife in preparation for the birth."

Storax Pills were a type of fragrance used to ward off evil. Among common folk, people would apply some during the New Year, festivals, weddings, and funerals.

Xie An smiled. "When you find your ideal husband someday, I'll give you a respectable dowry too. I'll make sure you marry in grand style."

Fourteen-year-old Qiu Lan stuck out her tongue. "I don't want to marry anyone. I only want to stay by Young Master's side and serve you."

Xie An shook his head and said no more.

By the time he finished his medicinal bath, it was the beginning of the xu hour. Xie An changed into fresh clothes and left the room.

Goose-feather snow was still drifting through the sky, yet Xie An felt as though he had strength to burn throughout his body.

Zhao Hu had taken leave again, and there was no one to spar with him.

It left Xie An feeling thoroughly unsatisfied.

Leaving the West Courtyard, Xie An made his way to the martial training ground.

The training ground at night was nowhere near as lively as it was during the day. It was empty all around, with only a dark-skinned young man in gray short clothes practicing his saber in the snow.

Perhaps because he had trained for a long time, a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the young man's hair.

Training desperately late into the night even in such heavy snow—he was a ruthless one.

Xie An watched him for a while. "What is your name?"

The dark-skinned young man suddenly turned at the call. Seeing Xie An, he hurried over and clasped his hands, neither servile nor overbearing. "In reply to Eldest Young Master, my name is Zhou Ji."

Xie An could see that Zhou Ji was not as fawning as the other guards, and he could not help viewing him more highly.

"Where do you live? What do your parents do?"

Zhou Ji straightened his back as he answered, "I live in Wuqiao Town. My father was an escort master in town, while my mother earns a living weaving cloth."

Wuqiao Town?

Wasn't Li Family Village under Wuqiao Town?

Xie An asked again, "Why did you come to my Xie Residence to work as a guard?"

Zhou Ji said, "My father was slashed in the leg by bandits while escorting a shipment, and he lost his livelihood. Relying on my mother's weaving alone, our family could barely survive."

Xie An asked, "How much monthly pay does the Xie Residence give you?"

Zhou Ji said, "I have just entered the Bone Tempering Realm. According to the residence's rules, I receive twenty taels a month."

His background was clear, and it would be reassuring to keep him nearby... Xie An nodded. "From now on, come to my West Courtyard at night and train with me. I'll add another twenty taels to your monthly reward. Are you willing?"

Zhou Ji trained late every night at the martial training ground, hoping to break through the Four Barriers and reach Organ Tempering as soon as possible. He had not expected to catch the young master's eye and receive a windfall of such staggering fortune for nothing...

"I am willing."

"Then we'll start tonight."

Xie An brought Zhou Ji to the West Courtyard, removed his fox-fur cloak, and began throwing punches.

After only one exchanged blow, Xie An was struck back several steps, both arms numb. He was greatly alarmed.

Something's wrong...

Zhao Hu was also a Bone-Tempering Warrior at the third barrier, but his power had been nowhere near this great. His movements were also far less swift and fluid than Zhou Ji's.

Even if Zhao Hu had been holding back, his body and limbs... should not have been so stiff. Was it because caring for his wife these past days had exhausted him?

Seeing Xie An spacing out, Zhou Ji said, "Young Master, did I strike too heavily?"

"This is good. Again."

In the days that followed, Xie An did not leave the Xie Residence at all.

During the day, Zhao Hu fed him moves. At night, Zhou Ji sparred with him.

Though the days were monotonous and boring, Xie An immersed himself in them. Every moment, he could feel his body flourishing and growing stronger.

In the blink of an eye, four days passed.

That morning, after finishing his medicinal bath, Xie An sat cross-legged in his room.

He opened the panel.

[Ten-Thousand Questions Martial Arts Model Lv1]

[Blood and Qi: 1.4]

[Spirit: 1.4]

[Martial Arts Realm: Skin Tempering]

[Talent: None]

[Taishan Fist: Mountain-Suppressing Stance (Perfected), Mountain-Taming Fist (Perfected)]

"Both my Blood and Qi and Spirit have reached 1.4. My martial arts realm has finally reached Skin Tempering."

Previously, Uncle Shui had estimated that Xie An would need six or seven days before successfully reaching Skin Tempering.

Yet only four days had passed, and Xie An had entered the Skin-Tempering Realm.

Though Ten Thousand Questions deserved credit, it was also inseparable from Xie An's own hard work.

After adapting over this period, Xie An had also discovered Ten Thousand Questions' limitation.

It could only break down, analyze, and transplant martial arts. It could not directly transplant a martial arts realm.

Xie An had perfected Mountain-Taming Fist four days ago, but his martial arts realm had still been nonexistent. In the end, he had needed medicinal assistance and sparring to temper himself through this final step.

Even so, it was already extraordinarily outrageous.

After all, even newcomers with excellent martial arts talent outside needed a year to achieve Skin Tempering.

Xie An had taken only seven days to complete this step!

Yet he could not bring himself to feel happy.

Once he encountered ghosts or sinister entities, a Skin-Tempering Warrior was no different from an ordinary person... both would simply be giving away their lives.

At the very least, he needed to reach Dark Force before he would possess even a sliver of self-preservation ability.

Just then, Qiu Lan rushed in. "Young Master, a Daoist from Returning Dragon Abbey has come to the residence today. Master has even arranged a guard convoy at the martial training ground, saying they will follow the Daoist out of the city for a sacrificial rite. What a grand display."

Returning Dragon Abbey, a Daoist priest, a sacrificial rite outside the city...

And counting the days...

Wasn't this Daoist Li Yunfeng, the one Father had invited?

According to the agreement, Li Yunfeng would be going to the entrance of Li Family Village today to conduct rites and offer sacrifices, soothing the dead souls of the tenant farmers and averting disaster for the Xie Residence.

It could also be considered a perfect conclusion to his previous encounter with ghosts at Li Family Village.

Xie An could not help recalling what the county records said: whenever strange incidents occurred in Qingwu County, Daoists from Returning Dragon Abbey would be invited to conduct rites and sacrifices. From then on, that place would remain peaceful and free of trouble.

It was clear that Returning Dragon Abbey possessed methods for dealing with ghosts and sinister entities while preserving themselves.

This was a rare opportunity to observe the ceremony.

Xie An sprang from the bed. "Is Uncle Shui going?"

Qiu Lan said excitedly, "I heard from Cai Xia that Uncle Shui is going. He is in charge of the convoy."

"You stay in the residence. I'll go take a look." Xie An threw on his fox-fur cloak and rushed out the door. He did not see Zhao Hu, but Zhou Ji was training in the courtyard.

"Zhou Ji, go to the stables and bring out a horse. Come with me out of the city."