Shen Xiuhan crossed the front courtyard, walked around the corridor, and headed toward the back courtyard.
The back courtyard was quiet and secluded, a world away from the clamor of the front courtyard.
Several clumps of emerald bamboo grew against the wall, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze.
Before he could even knock on the door of the hall, Mei Shuangfeng's voice drifted out.
“Come in.”
Shen Xiuhan pushed the door open and entered.
Sandalwood incense curled in the air inside the hall.
Mei Shuangfeng sat in a chair, dressed in a moon-white gown with a slate-gray overcoat. Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she held a handwritten manuscript in her hands.
It was the "Golden Eagle Soaring Technique"!
She was completely engrossed in it, her brow slightly furrowed, her fingertips tracing the pages as if analyzing every single word and sentence.
Shen Xiuhan's eyes flickered. He took a few steps forward, stood still, assumed a respectful posture, and then proceeded to push his luck:
“Master, is there anything you do not understand? Your humble disciple is willing to explain it to you.”
Mei Shuangfeng paused, slowly lowered the manuscript, and looked up at him with a deadpan expression.
Shen Xiuhan tried to keep a straight face at first.
But meeting his master's cool, slightly helpless eyes, he ultimately couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
Mei Shuangfeng rolled her eyes and grumbled under her breath, “Rebelling against your master, are we?”
With a snap, she shut the manuscript, sat up straight, adjusted her sleeves, and regained her usual composure.
“Although this stance work is profound, its core shares the same origin and pathways as the Mystic Eagle Stance. After contemplating it for several days, I have basically mastered it.”
At this, she paused, a look of solemnity rising in her eyes.
“Han'er, I plan to regulate my breath for a period of time, and then...”
She took a deep breath, enunciating each word:
“...break through to the Huajin Rank!”
The Huajin Rank!
Hearing those words, Shen Xiuhan's expression instantly turned solemn.
Transitioning from Anjin to Huajin was easily ten times more dangerous than moving from Mingjin to Anjin.
The Anjin Rank was about condensing blood qi into the acupoints to unleash a terrifying piercing force far exceeding that of the Mingjin Rank, like steel needles piercing bone, or surging undercurrents.
The Huajin Rank, however, required refining the force within the nine acupoints into qi, spreading it throughout the internal organs to reach a state of perfect harmony—one where "not even a feather can be added, nor a fly alight."
The danger involved was no different from detonating a barrel of gunpowder inside one's body.
A single misstep would cause the blood qi to flow backward and shatter the meridians. At best, one would be crippled; at worst, killed on the spot!
Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath and got straight to the point:
“Master, what are your chances?”
“Originally, I had no confidence at all.”
Mei Shuangfeng caressed the "Golden Eagle Soaring Technique," her tone calm yet tinged with emotion as she spoke slowly, “I have been stuck at the Great Perfection of the Anjin Rank for several years. With no follow-up cultivation technique to practice, I could make no further progress and have wasted my time until now.”
She paused, raising her head as a sharp light glinted deep within her eyes.
“But with this heart method... I have a sixty percent chance!”
Shen Xiuhan frowned. “Sixty percent... That is a bit low.”
“It is enough.”
Mei Shuangfeng's voice was firm. She pulled a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and placed it solemnly on the table.
“Because Shuying also lent me this elixir.”
“This pill is called the Five Elements Qi-Refining Pill. It is a treasure among pills, worth a thousand taels. It is of immense benefit to a martial artist transitioning from Anjin to Huajin, as it can refine the qi of the five internal organs and harmonize any backflow in the meridians... With this pill's help, I have an eighty percent chance!”
The Five Elements Qi-Refining Pill!
Shen Xiuhan's eyes flickered, and everything suddenly clicked.
He remembered!
This was the very pill the Ji family had hidden on Ji Xue when he escorted her and Ji Yao.
According to the intelligence, Qu Wu, a first-class Sea Patrol Guard from the Zhenhai Marquis Mansion, had coveted this pill, which had nearly caused a major incident.
To think that...
Ji Shuying had actually given this pill to his master!
This was an incredibly profound gesture of friendship.
“Han'er, my secluded cultivation may take two to three months...”
Mei Shuangfeng carefully put the pill away, tucking it into her robes. Her tone grew heavy, and a trace of worry appeared in her eyes.
“After the martial feast, the reputation of the Mei Courtyard has spread across the neighboring counties, and there has been an endless stream of prospective disciples. With only Qinghong managing everything, I worry she won't be able to keep order. I am even more afraid that people with ulterior motives might take advantage of my absence to ruin our foundation.”
“You do not need to worry about this, Master. Just focus on your breakthrough.”
Hearing this, Shen Xiuhan simply smiled and shook his head.
Then, under Mei Shuangfeng's slightly puzzled gaze, Shen Xiuhan rested his hand on the hilt of Hanlin at his waist, his fingers tightening slightly.
Within his Taichong acupoint,
Anjin force surged violently!
The needle-like force instantly rushed up his right arm, gathered in his palm, and poured into the sword's hilt.
The scabbard trembled with a low hum, as if in response.
“Hmm?”
Mei Shuangfeng's gaze froze, her pupils contracting. She rose abruptly, her armchair sliding back half an inch with a harsh screech.
She stared intently at Shen Xiuhan's right hand resting on his sword, her voice trembling slightly:
“Is this... Anjin!?”
The corners of Shen Xiuhan's mouth curved upward, his eyes filled with calm confidence.
“Yes.”
In the next moment, the force receded, and the scabbard returned to silence.
Mei Shuangfeng was stunned for a moment. Then, she slowly sat back down, a look of deep relief and pride washing over her beautiful eyes like a gentle spring breeze.
She let out a long breath and leaned back in her chair, her voice softening significantly:
“Excellent! Truly excellent!”
“I thought that after entering the essence pool, you would be able to refine your Yangqiao meridian and achieve the Great Perfection of the Mingjin Rank, which would have been more than satisfying.”
“I never expected... Han'er's progress to be so rapid!”
Looking at the youth in green robes before her, Mei Shuangfeng was filled with a torrent of emotions.
In just a few months since joining the academy, he had gone from a complete novice to his current level. It was so fast it felt surreal.
“Since that is the case, with Qinghong managing the surface and Han'er holding the fort in the shadows... I can rest easy.”
Mei Shuangfeng exhaled deeply, her worries finally dispelled.
Just then, Jiang Qinghong's cheerful voice drifted in from outside:
“Mother, lunch is here! The Blanket Noodles from Junior Brother's family shop are...”
Hearing this, Shen Xiuhan and Mei Shuangfeng exchanged a look and smiled.
...
In the evening, Yeci Ward, Erfu Street.
The walls on both sides of the street were mottled, and the bases of the walls were overgrown with moss and wild weeds.
The road was potholed and filled with stagnant, dirty water that had not dried for days, emitting a pungent, foul stench.
In the corners of the walls, a row of ragged beggars huddled together, either dozing against the walls or muttering pleas for alms.
But in a place like this, let alone wealthy families, even ordinary citizens would not wander around without good reason.
As a result, the broken bowls before them were completely empty. Barring any surprises, it was bound to be another day of hunger.
Just then, a young man in his twenties walked into the alley.
He had an ordinary face, an ordinary build, and an ordinary aura. Walking with his hands behind his back, his steps were neither hurried nor slow.
His gaze slowly swept over every corner of the street, every broken window, and every crack, as if trying to identify something, or perhaps remembering.
In the corner of the wall,
several beggars looked up, a glimmer of light flashing in their murky eyes.
They struggled to stand and beg, hoping to get a few copper coins from the young man to fill their bellies.
But before they could even get up...
The young man paused and stopped in front of the fifth house in the alley.
Then, he looked up at the dilapidated wooden door.
The paint on the door had peeled away completely, revealing the raw wood underneath. Faint chop marks were visible on the lintel.
The young man stared at it for a moment, then reached out and pushed open the wooden door.
Rate on N.U.
