Purple Mansion Qi Circulation Art

"Thank you, Sir Ning." Xu Yao took the cup and drank it down in one gulp. He felt a wave of refreshing cool travel straight from his mouth into his belly. Even moments after swallowing, a thread of ice still lingered on his tongue, refusing to thaw. "How does it feel?" Ning Weiyu asked with a chuckle from the side. Xu Yao smacked his lips. "Sweet and bone-chillingly cold. A thread of ice that went right down to my stomach." "That's how spiritual water seeping from earthly spiritual energy is." Ning Weiyu smiled, turning to Chen Chong and Liu Zhen. "Captains, whenever you encounter mountain demons or wood demons in the future, if you find hollows like this in the cliff rock or damp ground like this, don't let it go to waste. You can treat it as an extra perk for the men. "What's more, this water has to be drunk on the spot. If you try to carry it back, the spiritual energy will dissipate completely before you get anywhere, so no one else can lay hands on it. "There's only one taboo: women cannot drink it during their monthly cycle." Chen Chong and Liu Zhen slapped their thighs in sheer regret. "Ah... To think we wasted all those chances before! We simply had no idea!" Even a veteran like Chen Chong wore an expression of bitter remorse. In the past, they truly hadn't known. After slaying so many mountain demons, they had only known the fruit was edible, never imagining how many other benefits they had let slip through their fingers. As for the taboo, neither of them cared in the least—where would they find any women doing this sort of work? And as for the requirement that the wooden cup couldn't be touched by metal, that was even simpler. Any bone knife or stone blade would do. For that matter, hollowing out a hole in old locust wood with his bare hands was child's play for Chen Chong. He was already calculating where to track down an old locust tree. "It isn't too late to know now," Ning Weiyu said with a light laugh. "This involves earthly ley lines, and if word gets around too widely, certain people would chisel into the stone to search for it, damaging the ley lines in the process. So... haha, of course Captain Chen and Big Fatty aren't outsiders." Chen Chong sighed and nodded. "I understand. Rest assured, Young Master Ning." He turned to Liu Zhen. "Only you squad captains need to know about this. You're down there every time anyway, so you can handle things flexibly when the moment comes." "Understood," Liu Zhen agreed at once. Xu Yao held out the cup, offering it back to Ning Weiyu. Ning Weiyu said, "I just told you I was giving it to you." "I cannot accept a reward without merit," Xu Yao insisted. "Then how about when I need a favor, I come ask you for help, Big Fatty?" Ning Weiyu probed. "I can't promise in advance," Xu Yao answered earnestly. "Especially when it comes to an important figure like you, sir—I wouldn't dare make promises ahead of time." It was the first time Ning Weiyu had encountered someone like this. Here he was, a superior officer and a prominent figure, yet he couldn't even give a trinket away. He cast a helpless look toward Chen Chong. Chen Chong sighed. "This boy... is afraid he won't be able to repay the debt." Ning Weiyu understood immediately. When a poor person received a favor from an important figure, if they couldn't repay it, what did they pay with? With their life! Standing to the side, Ning Wuxia looked at Xu Yao with her dark eyes, showing a flicker of admiration. When Brigade Captain Chen had called him 'clearheaded' earlier, he hadn't been exaggerating in the slightest. This fellow truly had a sharp, sensible mind. Ning Weiyu laughed heartily. "Tell you what, I'll be straight with you: I truly do want something from you, Big Fatty. The heritage of our sect's divine court will definitely require the help of eyes like yours. Once I return and explain things to our elders, if the need arises, I'll come ask you to help us take a look. How does that sound?" "In that case..." Xu Yao carefully stowed the thousand-year locust wood cup away. "That works. Thank you for bestowing the cup, Sir Ning." "..." Ning Wuxia couldn't hold back a laugh. "Big Fatty, you really are cautious to a fault." "He's clearheaded—clearheaded and composed. That is not the same thing as being merely cautious. Someone who is only cautious might not even dare to speak his mind. You must choose your words precisely." Ning Weiyu seized the chance as usual to lecture his younger sister. Seeing her face crumple into a scowl, he chuckled, looking at Xu Yao with immense appreciation. "Very good. Big Fatty, keep that clearheadedness of yours." Chen Chong chuckled as well, casually tossing the demon peach he had received over to Xu Yao. "Take it. That makes three for you—just enough for one each for you and your parents. Take them home to your mother and father." "Alright, thank you, Brigade Captain!" Xu Yao tucked it away without the slightest hesitation. Liu Zhen, who had been gleefully waiting to see Xu Yao decline, instantly blew his top. He pointed at Xu Yao and cursed, "You damn bastard, Big Fatty! When I offer you something, you refuse, but when the brigade captain gives it to you, you snap it right up! You little wretch actually play favorites!" Xu Yao grinned sheepishly. "It's different. He's my uncle." Xu Yao remembered everything Chen Chong had ever done for him. He was clearheaded and wouldn't take things from just anyone. But whatever Chen Chong offered, he dared to accept. Because in his heart, an uncle like this was worth doing anything for. Ning Weiyu clearly recognized this as well, and said to Chen Chong, "Congratulations, Brigade Captain. Your sincere intentions have found the right person; good will has met true caliber." Chen Chong roared with laughter, overflowing with joy. Even his three brows twitched with merriment. "Naturally! Hahaha, naturally!" Ning Wuxia stared longingly at the peaches. *He has two! Two! And he hasn't even looked at me!* *Look at me, will you!* *Just dare glance over here, and I'll give you my sweetest smile for that peach!* Yet Xu Yao never once looked her way. When he finally seemed about to turn his face toward her, Ning Wuxia quickly plastered on an eager, drooling smile—only to see Xu Yao stop halfway and turn his head right back. Her smile froze on her face, and her lower lip pouted out enough to hang an oil jar on. She was furious. He was doing it on purpose! He had to be doing it on purpose! Of course Xu Yao wasn't looking; he truly couldn't bear to part with them. Even though he knew he looked petty, his parents were both in their forties, worn down by years of toil and plagued with old ailments. These two peaches represented his parents' health. His parents' health was heavier than a mountain in Xu Yao's heart. Let alone Ning Wuxia, he wouldn't hand these peaches over even if the Emperor of Great Qin himself demanded them. He could only resolve silently: *When the time comes to go help out at your sect, I'll examine everything with all my heart and might.* Ning Wuxia marched over to throw a tantrum at Ning Weiyu, convinced he had given Xu Yao the locust wood cup just to trade for a peach for her. Discovering that wasn't the case left her sorely disappointed. Ning Weiyu was utterly speechless. *What kind of status do I hold? Would I give away a gift just to trade for a peach for you? Have you lost your mind, girl?* *Besides, Xu Yao is of great use! Those eyes of his can be of tremendous help to our sect! Would I neglect proper business and cozy up to him just for a fruit? You look like a peach yourself!* *And your gluttonous temperament is such a glaring weakness—don't you realize how dangerous it is? I've been trying to break you of it for years, and you expect me to indulge you?* And so, Ning Wuxia, who had come looking to vent her grievances, received two sharp raps on the skull from her elder brother, leaving her eyes brimming with tears. On the journey back, Ning Weiyu began teaching Xu Yao the Purple Mansion Qi Circulation Art. He had originally agreed to teach it 'after finding the relics, before departing,' but for some reason he had changed his mind. His reasoning was solid enough: since he had already promised, why drag it out? Stalling would run contrary to the ways of friendship. It was an unassailable excuse. Xu Yao had never intended to refuse in the first place, and with that reasoning, he couldn't possibly decline. The first layer of the Purple Mansion Qi Circulation Art totaled over two thousand words, and with Ning Weiyu's annotations, the count grew even higher. The original text was obscure, difficult to grasp, and filled with twisted, archaic phrasing. Only after stumbling through it more than a dozen times did Xu Yao barely manage to memorize it. Ning Weiyu then had him write it out from memory, correcting his understanding of each character's meaning—by which time they had already returned to the compound. Next, Ning Weiyu had his sister take Xu Yao out running to 'disrupt the mind and scatter the spirit, thereby coalescing the true self.' Xu Yao seized the opportunity to sprint home at full speed and deliver the two peaches to his parents. His mother's shout echoed behind him: "Eat before you go!" "You and Dad eat them! I don't have time!" By the time Xu Yao shouted those words, he was already dozens of zhang past the doorway. His mother sighed, looking down at the two peaches. These things would spoil if left too long; they couldn't be kept... The boy's filial heart was plain to see. A warm, soothing glow spread through her chest. "I still remember back in my childhood, pounding my father's legs. I clearly had no strength at all, and it didn't do a thing, yet Father wore an expression of sheer bliss, as though it were the greatest pleasure under heaven... "Only now do I understand that Father must have felt back then just as I do today. "I only feel a little sorry toward the child... For such a good boy, we as parents simply lack the ability to give him more." ... After dropping off the peaches, Xu Yao sprinted madly back. While still gasping for air, he was hauled over to recite. Out of breath, he got stuck halfway, so he had to start the recitation all over again. Once it was verified that he could recite and write it out from memory, Ning Wuxia relentlessly chased him around the compound for over a dozen laps, after which he had to recite and write it out once more. Xu Yao discovered that he had forgotten thirty to fifty percent of it again. He had to begin from scratch once more, after which Ning Wuxia drove him out to run with a leather whip in hand. After running came meals, and after meals came sleep. It had to be said that Ning Wuxia had suddenly developed a passionate enthusiasm for tormenting Xu Yao, throwing herself into it with a bit too much vigor—carrying the distinct aura of someone working out pent-up rage. He woke near dawn, and the moment he finished washing up, Ning Weiyu tested him once again. This time Xu Yao made only three mistakes. Another round of drills carried them through until after the midday meal, when Ning Weiyu tested his recitation and written recall during that drowsiest slump right after eating. This time, it was completely correct. Only after five consecutive rounds of varied torment with perfect scores—ensuring he would never forget it—did Ning Weiyu finally begin teaching him how to circulate qi according to the manual. Bit by bit, he pointed out Xu Yao's meridians, the subtleties of circulating qi through them, and the muscles and bones through which the meridians traveled. Although Xu Yao had a foundation from the martial arts school, he only knew the general names of the bones and muscles. He had never imagined that beyond that basic framework lay so many intricate details. Dizzied and bewildered, he began taking notes, memorizing, and familiarizing himself, after which everything was combined for further testing and evaluation. This process consumed several more days, during which he was deployed on two more missions. Only then did Xu Yao barely qualify as passable in Ning Weiyu's eyes. Yet he remained far, far beneath the standard of excellence. "He really is a bit slow." Ning Weiyu and his sister let out a quiet sigh in unison.