That night, Lu Ming’s backyard saw a steady stream of comings and goings. One by one, young men who had been confused about their future prospects entered in a trance, then strode out with their heads held high, all their confusion swept away and their spirits soaring as if they had been enlightened.
If anyone asked, it was because the coach had pointed out the path to enlightenment, proving himself worthy of the title of Great Awakening Temple’s Talented Disciple.
There were also around ten young men who waited for The time it takes to drink a cup of tea yet gained nothing. Lu Ming did not grant them the True Transmission. It was not because their talent for martial arts was too poor to learn superior martial arts, but because they could not keep their mouths shut. No one could expect them to keep secrets.
Two years was enough time for Lu Ming to understand these young men’s backgrounds: who was worth investing in, who was not, who was taciturn, and who was loose-lipped. He had a clear measure of them in his heart.
Of course, similar comings and goings had also occurred once before the arrival of the Six Doors and the other institutions.
Two days later, several carriages arrived. They took people according to the List. One carriage headed for the local County Yamen, while the others went their separate ways toward the six counties under Dezhou.
Dezhou governed Luo County, while the remaining six counties were Yinhua County, Fushan County, Youfeng County, Fengqi County, Yongchuan County, and Fengxian County.
To be fair, because of the Southern Border, the Public Security of all seven counties under Dezhou was average. Everywhere was the same, with no real distinction between good and bad. If one had to choose the richest and most chaotic county, it was undoubtedly Fengxian County.
This county had a Trade Route connecting to the Southern Border, drawing people from All Corners of the World. The black and white factions lived side by side, and banditry could never be eradicated.
Because of this Trade Route, Dezhou’s already Fierce local customs were made even worse. Martial arts schools filled the streets and alleys, and almost every family had someone who Practice Cultivation.
There was no Method. If you did not Practice martial arts, your neighbors would treat your home as a Granary.
Over time, Dezhou’s Combat power was forcibly driven higher and higher.
Returning to the subject, because Fengxian County was both the most chaotic and the richest, it held extremely great authority in matters concerning Public Security. It had snatched away the best batch of recruits before Luo County could act, including Xiang Yuan, this hidden gem.
After a long and arduous journey, including spending a night at a roadside station along the Official road, Xiang Yuan and the others finally reached Fengxian County Yamen the following afternoon.
The Carriage stopped on the eastern street outside the Yamen. Servants had already been waiting for a long time. They led away the five dizzy young men, through the Main Gate and into a passageway, past a row of large trees, and into a brick-paved open area.
The five young men remained where they were and waited while the servant hurried through the Gate in the courtyard wall ahead.
Xiang Yuan clicked his tongue inwardly. Fengxian County Yamen was many times larger than he had imagined, far from being as simple and slapdash as those depicted in costume dramas.
Looking around, he saw open courtyards and walls on both sides of the passageway, with rows of Housing behind the walls. At the end of the passageway was the County Yamen’s ceremonial gate. Behind it, the offices of the clerks, household affairs, rites, military affairs, criminal affairs, and public works divisions occupied the areas on the left and right. Only after passing through this area did one reach the main hall seen in costume dramas.
“Who is beneath the hall, bringing a case against this magistrate?” referred to this very main hall.
And that was not the end of it. Reaching the main hall meant they had barely arrived halfway through the County Yamen. Farther back were the second hall, the Assistant County Magistrate’s Yamen, the County Lieutenant’s Yamen, the silver treasury, the tax treasury, and so on. Beyond the third hall were the residences of the County Magistrate and Assistant County Magistrate, separated by high walls, as well as a garden.
There were at least more than three hundred rooms.
The high walls blocked Xiang Yuan’s view of all this. He knew about it only because Lu Ming had informed him beforehand. The latter had explained some of the County Yamen’s Rules to the young men, lest they be beaten with boards on their very first day for failing to observe proper etiquette.
Soon, the servant Returned the same way and told the five young men that the squad leader would arrive shortly. They were to wait Honestly and not wander around.
The wait lasted The time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Xiang Yuan knew what was happening and understood that the squad leader was establishing his authority. He stood obediently in place and silently recited the words written on the five thin sheets of paper with his eyes closed.
The thin sheets contained the “Six-Character Breathing Technique.” Its six essential formulas were Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui, and Xi. Each character had its corresponding breathing technique, making it the essential Method for Practicing internal energy.
As a newcomer, Xiang Yuan had no Concept of martial arts or Cultivation at all. He could not understand how Practicing martial arts could eventually turn someone into Immortals and Gods. He only knew that “he” had entered the Dao of Martial Arts and was at the Qi Refining Stage of the Minor Three Realms.
The Minor Three Realms were Qi Refining, Opening Apertures, and Foundation Establishment.
Anyone who achieved Foundation Establishment could be called an expert. With Great Perfection, one would become Invulnerable to Swords and Spears and immune to water and fire.
Take Lu Ming, for example. After drinking, he had revealed the truth: in his youth, he had been an expert at the Half-step Peak Great Perfection level of Foundation Establishment. With Protective Qi surrounding his body, he had been a lethal weapon in the Mortal World.
These were the common facts within Xiang Yuan’s reach. Anything beyond that was completely shrouded in darkness to him.
The Qi Refining Stage he was in was Divided into four steps: Blood Supplementation, Qi Nourishment, Qi Accumulation, and Qi Circulation. Blood Supplementation and Qi Nourishment were not difficult. As long as one was born beneath Heaven and Earth, anyone could accomplish them.
Qi Accumulation required tempering through external exercises. The most Ordinary method was Practicing fist techniques. It was said that Practicing Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting could also accumulate qi, but such refined activities were beyond Lu Ming’s understanding, and a Bottom Mud-legged person like Xiang Yuan had no access to them either.
The final step was Qi Circulation.
Blood Supplementation and Qi Nourishment cultivated a sense of qi, while Qi Accumulation stored it in the Lower Dantian. The first three steps all paved the way for Qi Circulation.
Only upon reaching the Qi Circulation stage could one truly be considered to have entered the Dao of Martial Arts.
The first step after entering was the exceedingly difficult opening of the meridians: circulating the qi of the Lower Dantian to open the Ren Meridian among the Ren and Du Meridians.
The book stated that the Lower Dantian was of paramount importance to the Human Body. It was not only where Primordial Qi and kidney essence were stored, but also where vital Acupoints such as the sea of qi and the Gate of Life were located. Sinking qi into the dantian could strengthen the body and increase one’s strength, allowing even a delicate girl who seemed too frail to withstand the wind to crush a strong man with one hand.
In addition, the Lower Dantian was the starting point for the circulation of qi through the Ren Meridian, Governing Vessel, and Thoroughfare Vessel. It was the source of vitality and the starting point of Yin Yang.
After sinking qi into the Lower Dantian, a practitioner would Practice Cultivation day and night without rest. The qi in the dantian would overflow, and by circulating qi with the mind, one could open the Ren Meridian and Consolidate the foundation for the subsequent Opening Apertures.
“Xiang Yuan” had Practiced diligently day and night. His Slow and painstaking effort had long since paid off. His dantian was overflowing with qi, and he had achieved Minor success in breaking through the Ren Meridian.
There were twenty-four Acupoints along the Ren Meridian, and he had already opened seven. He was currently stuck at the Shenque Acupoint. Because the momentum of his assault was insufficient, he had never managed to achieve his goal.
After searching for the cause within himself, he decided that he probably had not worked hard enough, so he became even more Diligent in his martial arts Practice.
And then he worked himself to death.
“Xiang Yuan” had not failed because he had not worked hard enough, but because he Lacked a breathing Method for Qi Nourishment. If Lu Ming had imparted it earlier—even just three to five days earlier—there would not have been the Xiang Yuan who came later.
After obtaining the “Six-Character Breathing Technique,” Xiang Yuan immediately attained Enlightenment regarding its principles. He did not blame Lu Ming on behalf of “himself.” True Transmission could not be lightly imparted. Lu Ming was merely a coach paid to Handle affairs, not a devoted biological father.
With the “Six-Character Breathing Technique,” Xiang Yuan’s efficiency in drawing qi far exceeded his former level. Even as a halfway beginner, his performance was better than “his own.”
Firstly, he benefited from the Cultivation Method. Secondly, he had Originally laid a solid Foundation.
The king of overwork had truly worked hard!
But…
The Six-Character Breathing Technique imparted by Lu Ming was already this powerful. Wouldn’t the Methods passed down through the generations by Noble Families and Mountain Gates be heaven-defying?
If he could win the favor of any one of them, his Cultivation would be Twice the Result with Half the Effort. He would certainly take many fewer wrong turns and save a great deal of time.
Thinking of this, Xiang Yuan, with his eyes closed, gave a slight shake of his head. One could not be too greedy. Having obtained the True Transmission, his starting path already surpassed that of the other four young men present. He ought to be satisfied.
That was right. One could not be too greedy. x5
In the courtyard, all five young men closed their eyes and circulated their qi together. Not one of them moved around. Each secretly admonished himself that, having obtained the True Transmission, he absolutely could not lose to the other four.
Another half an incense stick’s time passed. The four young men were all somewhat fatigued. One after another, they stopped circulating their qi and instead closed their eyes to rest.
Xiang Yuan’s Foundation was solid, and he was not tired. He was awakened by the Sound of footsteps ahead, stopped circulating his qi, and looked over.
A group of six people approached, all dressed in dark-blue Black Robes with long sabers hanging from their waists. Their steps were Steady as they walked, accompanied by a faint Sound of wind. Every one of them was an expert who had opened the Ren Meridian.
The man at the head had a Stern face, eyebrows like strokes of black lacquer, and Tiger-like eyes that shone with light. He possessed considerable Majesty. When the young men met his gaze, their breathing involuntarily caught, As if they had been suddenly swept by a fierce gust of wind.
This man’s attire was Obvious different from that of the other Constables. His Black Robe bore a simple Cloud Pattern, and the long saber at his waist was not standard issue. Every sign indicated that he was an elite Constable.
“None of you know how to stand properly. What kind of conduct is that?”
The five Constables formed a line, with the man standing in front. A single reprimand from him made the young men straighten their already rigid Waists even further.
The man Nodded slightly. His Gaze swept across the faces of the five young men One by one. He had Secretly observed them just now and probably figured out some of their backgrounds, learning who among the five had the best skills and who had the worst.
At their first Meet, he had already arranged the destinations of all five young men.
“My name is Liu Jingsheng, the Fast Squad Squad Leader of this county, as well as the Third Squad Squad Leader. From now on, you will work under me.”
Liu Jingsheng announced his name, then took a register from his Embrace and called out the names: “Xiang Yuan, from today onward, you will work under Old Liu. He will teach you the County Yamen’s Rules.”
Xiang Yuan stepped forward and looked at the five Constables, not knowing which one would be his mentor after being transferred.
At that moment, the most diminutive man among the five Constables stepped out. Besides the Saber at his waist, he also carried a Dried Tobacco pipe. He appeared to be in his thirties, with lively eyes and a rather sly appearance at first glance.
Xiang Yuan did not dare Judge by appearance. Dezhou did not support Idle people, and Fengxian County was the most chaotic of all. Not a single Constable here was a Fuel-efficient Lamp.
It was good for him to be sly. Following such a person around would allow him to learn the Ability to survive a long time.
“You’re Xiang Yuan, right? You’re quite handsome, boy. Come with me!”
Old Liu grinned, revealing two rows of black teeth. He turned around and led Xiang Yuan toward the Three shifts barracks behind the high wall.
“Ma Zhengdao, from today onward, you will work under Old Wang…”
“Liu Neng, you will follow…”
After passing through the Gate in the high wall, the voices behind them gradually became indistinct. Xiang Yuan followed Old Liu without a word and discovered that the Three shifts barracks also occupied a much larger area than he had imagined.
From this, he Speculated that the Third Squad had a considerable number of people.
“Newcomer, the County Yamen is nothing like an Ordinary Martial arts school. There are many people here, and even more Rules. The ins and outs are incredibly deep. From now on, whatever I tell you to do, you do it. Speak less and work more. If there’s anything you Don’t understand, ask after we leave the Yamen. Do you understand?” Old Liu said as he walked.
Xiang Yuan nodded in agreement, wearing a well-behaved expression.
Old Liu turned his head and said with satisfaction, “The squad leader has a good eye. You’re quite clever too, boy. You’ve saved me a lot of effort.”
Hearing this, Xiang Yuan put on an ashamed expression and said honestly, “I’ve always followed the Rules since I was little. May I… uh, how should I address you?”
“Don’t call me anything foolish. Just call me Old Liu.”
Old Liu wore a half-smile and appeared even more satisfied. “This is Fengxian County. Having no Rules is bad, but being too rule-abiding is bad too. Either way, you’ll die young.”
Saying this, he spread his Five fingers before Xiang Yuan’s face, waved them, and then withdrew his hand.
“This is…”
Xiang Yuan understood what he meant, yet also felt that he did not understand it.
“You’re a Newcomer, so naturally I have to collect a Stroke of guide money for bringing you into the trade. That’s the Rules. I also know your pockets are cleaner than your face, so there’s no oil to squeeze out of you. Therefore, you owe me five taels of Silver.”
“…”
Xiang Yuan put on a bitter expression, secretly delighted in his heart. Old Liu was an experienced and excellent Constable. Following him would not only teach Xiang Yuan the Ability to survive a long time, but also the Ability To make money unscrupulously.
And Dezhou truly did not support Idle people.
For a moment, he developed a faint Expectation for this human-faced, beast-waged job as a Constable.