Yuanchu Sect

That night, Zhou Muzhi did not return to the Zhou Residence. He merely found someone to take a message home and spent the latter half of the night at one of Third Master's single-story hideouts.

After training for half the night on the communal sleeping platform inside, Zhou Muzhi slowly brought his movements to a halt.

He breathed out a plume of white vapor.

Looking up toward the window beside the platform, he saw pale light shining in.

"Daybreak."

Despite a sleepless night, he remained full of vigor.

A little while later, Third Master came through the door, his face weary. At his age, staying up all night really was too much, and he was not in very good spirits when he entered.

Having changed into an unremarkable set of patched cloth clothes, Third Master looked even more like an old farmer.

He closed the door behind him and said to Zhou Muzhi, "Young Master Zhou, it's done."

"Good." After a word of praise, Zhou Muzhi pointed at the bow and arrows on the sleeping platform. "I'll leave these for you to handle. I need you to gather a group of men as soon as possible. Trust doesn't matter. What I want is men willing to risk their lives for silver."

The order immediately brought something to Third Master's mind, but all he could do was agree.

"Understood. Rest assured, just send word when the time comes, and I'll bring the men over."

Zhou Muzhi nodded in satisfaction, then strode out.

He had stayed here to wait for Third Master. Now that the man had arrived and their conversation was over, it was time to leave.

When he next appeared, he had reached the Li Residence.

His blood and qi training had now reached a point where no further progress was possible.

He was about to face Qian Zhenming, and his current strength still did not offer enough assurance.

He stood before the vermilion doors and knocked. Lao Xu opened them from inside.

Seeing Lao Xu there set Zhou Muzhi's mind at ease. It meant nothing had gone wrong last night.

The man's presence here was his arrangement; he had told Lao Xu to come to the Li Residence once the job was done.

"Fourth Young Master."

Lao Xu took out a key, an old-fashioned copper one with a square shaft, used to open a large lock.

Zhou Muzhi raised a hand. "Keep it with you. Did you learn anything over there?"

At this, Lao Xu put away the key and shook his head. With his Blood Gate Realm cultivation, he had encountered no resistance when killing last night, but when he tried questioning his target, the man had bitten off his tongue and killed himself.

Ma Jin had died too quickly, so naturally, nothing useful could be learned from him.

"No matter. Go to my second brother. He has no Blood Gate martial artist with him and needs your protection."

Zhou Muzhi gave him another assignment. His second brother had a talent only for commerce and was very skilled at business. With no aptitude for martial arts, he was naturally an ordinary man.

In the coming confrontation with Qian Zhen, he still needed another layer of insurance.

The information obtained so far all pointed toward the Covered Rain Gambling House, and Qian Zhen had also ordered men to move against the Zhou Family.

Their feud was now firmly knotted. All that remained was the moment they tore away every pretense.

What Zhou Muzhi needed to do was grow strong enough to tear every danger to shreds before that day arrived.

"I'll go right away." Lao Xu left the Li Residence.

Zhou Muzhi continued into the courtyard, closing the doors behind him. After walking another few dozen paces, he saw his master's grandson playing with butterflies in the front courtyard.

He left the boy alone, merely calling out a greeting as usual before heading to the rear courtyard to find Li Jingfei.

He had come not only because his blood and qi had reached the point where no further progress was possible, but also to learn more about martial arts.

When he reached the rear courtyard, Li Jingfei was still drinking. He quickly finished the liquor in his old wineskin, then looked at the approaching Zhou Muzhi with a trace of drunkenness.

"You're here, my disciple."

Zhou Muzhi bowed. "Master."

Li Jingfei grunted in acknowledgment. Swaying slightly, he walked into the rear courtyard's only pavilion, found a stone stool, and sat down.

Seeing Zhou Muzhi find a seat as well, he smiled.

"Good, you're quick on the uptake. If only I'd been that quick-witted back when I was in the sect."

Zhou Muzhi listened quietly until Li Jingfei came to the main point.

"I see that your blood and qi are utterly complete. You've come seeking a method to ascend to the next realm, correct?"

Zhou Muzhi nodded in acknowledgment. "Please teach me the method, Master."

"Very well. Your aptitude is certainly no issue, but let me make this clear first: the cultivation method I possess can only take you as far as I've reached. If you want to go higher, you'll have to join the sect. Once you commit to my path, there will be no changing it."

With that, he waited for Zhou Muzhi's response.

Zhou Muzhi hesitated a moment, then asked, "Is our sect very weak?"

At that, Li Jingfei's confidence rose, his expression full of pride. "Our Yuanchu Sect is one of the Song Kingdom's Four Sects, a holy land of martial arts! Its experts are as numerous as the hairs on an ox. How could it possibly be weak?"

Having his answer, Zhou Muzhi asked in return, "Then what would I have to regret, Master?"

Li Jingfei came back to himself, his face wearing an expression that said, You certainly have a good eye.

"Not bad at all. Indeed, with your aptitude, you're bound to go farther than I have. Now, let me explain the realms ahead and the cultivation method you need to learn."

Zhou Muzhi settled in to listen. "Please instruct me, Master."

"The beginnings of martial arts, including what you call Gate Knocking, are merely skin-deep. The greater realm encompassing all of this is the lincheng great realm.

"Blood Gate, qi gathering, and blood fusion-these are the lincheng minor gates.

"After Blood Gate, gathering the five qi grants manifold wonders: light body, steady mountain, heavy bone, spirit pivot, and sustained force. These are five wondrous kinds of qi. Obtain just one, and you can run rampant in this little city."

His head swaying slightly, Li Jingfei paused and looked at his disciple.

Zhou Muzhi waited for him to continue.

"My cultivation stands at the third qi-heavy bone! That is also the limit of what I can teach you. Once you've learned it all, you'll have to go to the Yuanchu Sect to pursue your studies."

Li Jingfei placed particular emphasis on "pursue your studies," seemingly recalling his own days in the sect.

Zhou Muzhi understood. From the looks of it, the martial path was long, which meant ample room for improvement. That was a good thing for him.

Li Jingfei then began explaining in detail how to cultivate the first qi. Once Zhou Muzhi had memorized the key points of circulating his power, he handed him a thick volume containing the complete cultivation method and all his insights into martial arts.

"This book contains the cultivation method and my insights from practicing it. Read it in your spare time, and ask me if there's anything you don't understand."

Zhou Muzhi accepted it respectfully. His master was truly holding nothing back.

Just as he was about to leave and try cultivating back home, Li Jingfei suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.

"My disciple, have you gotten yourself into some sort of trouble?"

The question came so abruptly that Zhou Muzhi had no idea where he could have heard the news.

He had killed Qian Zhen's men, and even Qian Zhen himself had yet to receive definite news. There was no reason his master should know.

As Zhou Muzhi remained silent, Li Jingfei sighed.

"I was only testing you, but it turns out it's true. That guard of yours came here reeking so heavily of killing intent and blood. Do you really think I've grown old?"

Zhou Muzhi smiled awkwardly, his hand resting on the book, unsure what to say. Who knew these old hands were so sharp that a single turn of their minds told them everything?

"Master, I..."

Li Jingfei raised a hand, signaling him to stop, then said earnestly, "When you can turn to your elders in a situation like this, do so whenever possible. If even your elders can't handle it, there'll still be time to explain. Now tell your master, whom have you offended?"

"And how did you know your master would stand by with his hands tucked into his sleeves? We disciples of the sect rely on helping one another-the strong helping the weak, reason supporting our own, and the greater helping the lesser. Only then can we remain strong and never decline. Tell me, how could a sect that abandons even its own disciples continue to grow strong?"