The Hired Fist Business

Duan Escort Chief's taking on a disciple had not been deliberately concealed. Over the past few days, it had spread throughout the escort agency. Aside from those who were away on assignments and had yet to return, even the servants who swept the floors knew about it.

At the same time, word had also spread that Jiang Jingnian had broken through the Blood Tempering Aperture and advanced to Martial Master.

Blood Tempering Stage Martial Masters were not uncommon in the escort agency.

Most of the official escorts were Blood Tempering Stage Martial Masters, and there were even a few Bone Tempering Stage Martial Masters.

But an eighteen-year-old Blood Tempering Stage Martial Master had been a rare sight over the past decade of the escort agency's history. The last person to become a Blood Tempering Martial Master at seventeen or eighteen had been the young master of the escort agency.

In the past.

For such good news, they would have had to reserve seven or eight tables at a restaurant, invite everyone from the escort agency as well as some of Peace City's renowned senior masters to bear witness, paving the way for Jiang Jingnian, this rising talent.

However, these were troubled times.

There was too much to handle within the escort agency, and Duan Escort Chief was extremely busy every day. He had no time for such empty, cumbersome formalities.

The apprenticeship ceremony could be held later, once they had some free time.

Whenever Duan Escort Chief had a spare moment lately, he came to the training grounds to instruct Jiang Jingnian.

Jiang Jingnian was diligent as well. Every day, apart from eating, sleeping, and learning to read and write, he immersed himself in the training grounds, practicing his fundamentals and refining his blood qi. From time to time, he also sparred with several escorts to polish his fists and kicks.

Seeing Duan Deshun approach, Jiang Jingnian stopped his practice, stood still where he was, and cupped his hands in salute. "Master!"

Duan Escort Chief nodded, then carefully inspected the marks on the wooden post. At first, he studied them with great interest, but when he noticed several new dents, his expression tightened.

Yesterday afternoon.

When Jiang Jingnian threw punches and kicks at this specially made wooden post, he had left dents of varying depths.

The deepest had been a little over an inch, while the shallowest had been less than half an inch.

But now.

Every dent was two inches deep, controlled at precisely that depth with remarkable uniformity.

This meant.

He had already entered the beginner stage of the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique. He saw his enemy as though looking into a mirror, as though seeing himself—observing every detail and striking with precise measure.

The Iron Garment Technique was indeed a widely circulated common art.

But a variant lineage like the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique was no common commodity. It first emphasized "seeing oneself in the copper mirror," gaining insight into oneself and one's enemy, before speaking of "tempering the body into iron garments."

This was not something one relied on physical talent for, but on one's own comprehension.

"You've already entered the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique?"

Duan Deshun looked at the handsome young man before him, his face carrying a trace of uncertainty.

"Yes."

Jiang Jingnian nodded. There was nothing to hide about that.

Lately, he had spent his free time after meals wandering through the shops of Miqiao District, picking through their wares. At last, he had bought an earring ornament containing Copper Essence, then used [Taotie] to devour it and add points, forcibly bringing the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique to the beginner stage.

It was just that the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique.

Had a certain conflict with the Taiji Vajra Art, which he primarily cultivated.

Mixing different cultivation arts was still manageable during the Blood Tempering and Bone Tempering Stages, but once one reached the Marrow Tempering Stage, there would inevitably be backlash.

This was because the Bone Marrow Essence refined by Marrow Tempering Stage practitioners through ingesting and applying secret medicines had to be compatible with their ultimate techniques.

Ultimate techniques were both the greatest difference between the Marrow Tempering Stage and the Blood Tempering and Bone Tempering Stages, as well as the watershed on the path to advancement.

In other words, below the Marrow Tempering Stage, one could still switch arts and cultivate anew, at most damaging some of one's blood qi foundation.

But upon reaching the Marrow Tempering Stage, if one wished to change cultivation arts, one could only discard one's existing art and fall back to the Bone Tempering Stage. Yet that would damage one's foundation too severely and even carry a risk to life, so ordinary martial artists would not do such a thing.

However.

Jiang Jingnian naturally did not wish to abandon the Taiji Vajra Art, and he also coveted the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique's subtle art of perceiving every detail.

Thus, after several experiments, he found a solution. He discovered that as long as he devoured two more special items containing Metal Essence and refined a certain amount of Metal Essence, he could merge the two arts.

After receiving confirmation, Duan Deshun looked at the somewhat pockmarked wooden post, then at Jiang Jingnian. Even the hands behind his back trembled slightly.

Yet on the surface, he wore a calm and unruffled expression. "Entering the beginner stage in three days is not bad. Your comprehension is better than your master's was when I was young. Back then, it seemed I also took over a week to get started."

It had actually been over two months.

And he had become the Duan Household's little genius, second only to his elder brother.

But he absolutely could not say that and expose his own shortcomings.

"Still, you must not grow arrogant and complacent. On the martial path, you may be full of youthful vigor, you may settle grudges with swift delight, but you must never be arrogant and prejudiced, standing still and shutting yourself away."

"Yes, Master. There are always greater people beyond people, and higher mountains beyond mountains. I will certainly seek knowledge with humility."

"Good, good, good! To possess such a disposition at your age, you will not remain a thing in the pond forever!"

Duan Escort Chief stroked his beard with a smile, then made a gesture. "Come, exchange a few moves with me. Let me see your current level."

"Yes, Master."

Jiang Jingnian nodded repeatedly. Ever since he had entered Duan Escort Chief's tutelage, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

With his master feeding him moves and guiding him, his experience and skill in every aspect could no longer be compared to the novice state he had been in only days ago.

If he used Psychic Whip, even a Martial Master at Marrow Tempering Perfection like Duan Escort Chief might truly be unable to guard against his sneak attack.

Yet in a direct fight, he understood the gap between the Blood Tempering Stage and the Marrow Tempering Stage.

Especially since Duan Escort Chief's Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique was exceptionally profound, representing a level of subtlety in responding to and dismantling moves that far surpassed ordinary Marrow Tempering Martial Masters.

"Master, I'm coming."

Jiang Jingnian cupped his hands in salute. After giving his warning, he shot forward, throwing a proper Iron Garment Fist straight at Duan Deshun's face.

Before the fist arrived, its fierce wind had already brushed past.

"Good!"

Duan Deshun moved as his will commanded. Blood qi erupted throughout his body as he sidestepped and turned, then exerted force through his back. Muscles brimming with blood qi bulged high, knocking Jiang Jingnian's fist aside.

Then his right forearm swept horizontally. Force suddenly rose with a crisp crack, and he drove a turning elbow into Jiang Jingnian's abdomen.

Yet Jiang Jingnian merely took one step back without even furrowing his brow, then sent another hook toward Duan Deshun's raised armpit.

Ever since entering the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique and gaining the ability to observe every detail, he too could spot flaws in an opponent's posture during battle.

Duan Deshun dropped his arm and violently clamped Jiang Jingnian's fist, using the momentum to press his entire body downward. His body was like an "iron garment" as he attempted to dislocate Jiang Jingnian's arm.

But Jiang Jingnian's eyes flashed. His other hand suddenly exerted force, and a hook shot toward Duan Deshun's chin. Feeling a stabbing pain on his face, Duan Deshun continued changing moves. Their fists met, producing a dull impact.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Afterward, the two exchanged and dismantled moves for eight or nine rounds. On the surface, Jiang Jingnian was being suppressed, for only one or two of his punches could land on Duan Deshun. And Duan Deshun, who also cultivated hard-body arts, could continue fighting even after being struck.

The air around them shook, and their figures had already blurred together.

In the final exchange, Duan Deshun planted his palm against Jiang Jingnian's chest and pushed him back several steps.

Jiang Jingnian staggered back three consecutive steps, each one leaving a shallow crater in the ground.

"Enough, enough. Your improvement is indeed remarkable! As expected of such fine material for cultivating hard-body arts. As your master, I will certainly spare no effort to help you advance to the Marrow Tempering Stage in the future."

Duan Deshun kept his slightly trembling hands behind his back, wearing an expression that said, "The child can be taught."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

After the brief spar with his master, Jiang Jingnian had also verified some of his own combat insights. He hurriedly cupped his hands in salute.

When he had first exchanged blows with Master Duan days ago, he had found it difficult to keep up with his movements, because every move of his was dismantled. But now, only a few days later, after gaining subtle perception, he could follow along in dismantling and changing moves as well.

Duan Deshun nodded, then said, "I came to find you today because there is something else I need to discuss with you."

"Please speak, Master. Is it about the Black Flood Dragon Army?"

Jiang Jingnian's expression froze, and he hurriedly pressed for an answer.

What worried him most during this time was the Tao Family's retaliation. Although he had destroyed Huo Qi's and the maid's bodies out in the wilderness, leaving no trace behind, he still felt somewhat uneasy.

Duan Deshun merely waved his hand, his eyes carrying a touch of speechless exasperation. "What does the Black Flood Dragon Army have to do with you, brat? If we have to put it that way, we are victims too. Wei Yu and the others have yet to return. I fear they have already met with misfortune."

He sighed a few times, then continued, "And I heard from the chief escort that the Tao Family's Sixth Young Master seems to have gotten trapped near Hongfeng Mountain as well. Whether he is dead or alive remains unknown. The Tao Family sent some experts to investigate two days ago, but they all returned empty-handed."

"I don't know much more than that."

"And Jingnian, I know what you're worried about. It's the compensation for that batch of huanghuali furniture, isn't it? Don't worry. This accident is far beyond your level. The escort agency will not make you compensate much. Even if there is a payment, I will cover it for you."

"This..."

"Enough, enough, Jingnian. Don't think too much. Some matters are simply too far beyond you. What I want to discuss with you now is the Su Family's hired-fist business."