Chapter 195: Martial Path Flourishes, Scholar Ma Checks Accounts
Especially since it used small red dots to mark various different qi circulation routes.
They were somewhat similar to known martial arts principles, yet ingeniously original.
Fist techniques, movement techniques, hardening techniques, sabers, spears, swords, and halberds weapons techniques…
It seemed that references and models for qi circulation routes could all be found within them.
Bai Manlou’s gaze gradually began to tremble, his throat dry, realizing the precious value of this meridian diagram.
The two treated it with utmost seriousness, eagerly flipping through the subsequent pages.
It was as if the two were not true intent masters who had practiced martial arts for many years, but young children new to the martial path, who had chanced upon profound truths, feeling a sense of their own insignificance.
“I once had a friend who discussed the way of martial arts at the Second Meat Shop, gaining much insight. Upon later reflection, I realized that the so-called three realms of the martial path cannot escape the three words: gathering, dispersing, true.”
“Gathering refers to how rivers surging together form abysses, and flowing sands gathering form towers. The momentum of the human body is not hidden in the surging of blood, but in the clustered strength of muscles and fascia. In initial practice, condense the muscles of one arm; in further practice, gather the fascia of the waist and back; ultimately, all the muscles of the body unify.”
“Dispersing means that even if the flesh and blood body has a thousand jin of strength, it is hard to resist the hardness of metal and stone or the charge of carriages and horses; clashing head-on will surely cause damage. Even with a treasure robe like the jade tree, the bone joints fit together like mortise and tenon, able to receive and deflect.”
“True means that muscles need nourishment, bones need sustenance, all relying on the internal organs to transform qi and blood. But a single breath of miscellaneous turbid qi will corrupt the blood, causing muscles to wither and bone marrow to dry, thus requiring visualization of true intent.”
Line by line, word by word.
The content in the commentary was accessible yet profound, revealing thunderous insights in ordinary matters.
It often directly pointed to the essence of martial arts.
Moreover, it encompassed everything,
By the end, the recorded content had even transcended martial arts.
Instead, it was various ethereal insights involving communion with heaven and earth spirit.
It seemed the author highly revered… enlightenment!
To seek enlightenment.
Enlighten on clear skies and moons, grass growing and orioles flying.
Enlighten on insect chirps and bird calls, water bowls and mustard seeds.
Enlighten on spring’s departure and autumn’s arrival, life and death, parting and separation.
Bai Manlou and Xiao Qingchou grew increasingly baffled the further they read, as if looking at ghost script.
It felt much like vulgar fools racking their brains, yet unable to understand even the casually explained formulas of the other.
The two exchanged a glance, somewhat shuddering.
Such insights, such understanding, could only come from a martial dao heavenly pride or grandmaster seed!
Moreover…
Some of the recorded thoughts and insights on sword techniques, fist techniques, saber techniques—why were they so familiar?
Bai Manlou’s 《Zhou Tian Liu Qi Sword》
Xiao Qingchou’s 《Scissor Tail Rainbow Step》
Red Fifth Master’s 《Hundred Rending Startling Waves Fist》
Zhou Yongyi’s 《Chaotic Twelve Startling Heaven Hammer Technique》
Even including that of Nie Zheng, who died unexpectedly and whose killer remains unfound, his 《Falling Form Eight Extremes Fist》…
Traces and similar martial arts lineages could all be found in this commentary.
It seemed the original owner of this book had day after day silently spied on everyone’s studies and practices…
“Li Dongyang, where did you buy this book from?”
Xiao Qingchou’s face flushed red, striding out the door, his voice carrying irrepressible urgency.
Bai Manlou followed closely behind.
“Ah?”
Li Dongyang in the courtyard had just finished his fists, panting and rubbing his hands. Seeing his two masters like this, he retreated half a step in a daze, saying softly:
“It wasn’t… it wasn’t bought, it was given by someone else.”
“Who?”
“Old Master Chen… Chen Shun’an.”
Li Dongyang’s voice grew even lower, shrinking his neck, clearly not understanding why the commentary had his masters so agitated.
Li Dongyang had read that commentary.
He seemed to understand some of it, yet also not, but it was far more interesting than the storybooks he had bought before.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Two afterimages instantly shot out of Chaodou Hutong, instinctively chasing after that person, that carriage team.
But once on the street, the two simultaneously stopped.
Then, with tacit understanding, they silently turned back to the Chaodou Martial Arts School and entered the room.
It was as if what had just happened was an illusion.
“Is it him?”
In the room, Bai Manlou’s voice trembled somewhat.
“Whether it is or isn’t, does it matter?”
Xiao Qingchou seemed to have thought of some key point, his tone carrying a hint of relief.
Since that person had chosen to use Li Dongyang’s hand to deliver this commentary to the two.
In a certain sense, the two sides had reached a tacit understanding.
Mutual reliance, one in the open, one in the shadows.
It was just that, from that person’s attitude, he did not seem to want deep involvement with the Guo Lu Society, or even to join it.
He only wanted to maintain a distant yet close relationship.
The two were silent for a moment.
Xiao Qingchou picked up the commentary, his fingertip lightly brushing over the words on the page, his gaze gradually firming,
“But no matter what, even if this trip to the capital ultimately fails… with this commentary, the Guo Lu Society will have successors, and the martial path shall prosper unendingly!”
“So, let’s cast it aside and proceed!”
…
Moving to a new residence naturally involved visiting new neighbors and holding a beam-raising banquet to entertain old friends.
Chen Shun’an had prepared early, having sent out invitations in advance and prepared four kinds of water gifts—tea, pastries, dried fruit, alcoholic beverages, etc.—to gift to the neighboring households.
After all, the Nine Great Families were places of wealth, where even some grand courtyards had second-rate martial artists as gatekeepers.
Some etiquettes had to be done properly.
To facilitate future actions.
The horse-drawn carriage stopped at the gate of Mianyi Residence, the ‘Moving Joy’ lanterns hanging on either side of the vermilion gate swaying lightly in the cold wind.
Mother Liu led three or four young maidservants waiting at the entrance.
Chen Shun’an dismounted, looking around.
A faint foul stench wafted in the air.
Chen Shun’an frowned, walking a few steps along the wall base, then saw behind the alley on the side of Mianyi Residence a small cart with a bronze bell stopped there.
A mute was dumping onto the cart some soupy garbage piled on the ground—stinking fish and rotten shrimp, broken intestines and rotten elbows, leftover rancid rice.
Seeing Chen Shun’an, this mute was unafraid, instead squinting and bowing with a foolish grin, his foolish demeanor revealing simple honesty.
“This is…” Chen Shun’an’s gaze sharpened.
Mother Liu gave an unnatural smile,
“Master, this is Jiang the Fool who does garbage disposal. As for those things, they’re temporarily placed here and usually collected before dawn.”
At this time in the capital region, recycling and handling of household waste was a perennial thorny issue.
Ordinary families were fine; they had no leftovers, and even rats wouldn’t come out alive if they entered.
But influential families had vast daily consumption; spoiled alcohol and meat piled up endlessly.
Thus, this ‘garbage disposal’ trade emerged.
They entered the city before dawn, going alley to alley, collecting the filth piled at the doors of great and small households.
Those in this trade had lowly status, living in broken tiled cold kilns, wearing ragged clothes, all poor wretches.
They were not allowed into courtyards, not even allowed to see the faces of clients.
And since Mianyi Residence had been vacant for many years without a constant master, and Guanghui Money House only occasionally sent people stealthily without making a fuss.
It led to many mansions in the Nine Great Families habitually piling their garbage temporarily at the side door of Mianyi Residence.
Anyway, it was collected before dawn, and over time it became habitual, even seen as proper.
Seeing Chen Shun’an expressionless, Mother Liu’s heart skipped, and she hurriedly moved to drive away Jiang the Fool.
Chen Shun’an shook his head, turning toward the main gate, casually saying,
“Give him a share of four kinds of water gifts, no need to say much.”
Mother Liu was stunned, then suddenly reacted, quickly having a maidservant fetch and wrap tea and pastries, handing them to Jiang the Fool.
The fool took them, grinned, and pushed the cart away with a clanging jingle.
Moments later, a cart full of fine household goods was moved in, and the group of water carriers who helped left laughing with their reward money, without even drinking tea.
Thus, when all the maidservants, led by Mother Liu, called out to Wan Niang as ‘Madam’ in unison.
Wan Niang was still somewhat unresponsive, her cheeks flushing faintly, at a loss.
Such a spacious and grand three-courtyard residence was now her home?
And just as Wan Niang was dazed.
She saw a stunning woman in a Daoist robe, unhurriedly approaching the door, with her usual cool detachment, bowing to Chen Shun’an,
“Noble Consort Chen.”
As a woman’s intuition, Wan Niang’s gaze shifted from initial doubt to certainty.
This was another vixen.
Wan Niang immediately understood.
With the two women meeting, Chen Shun’an was utterly frank, even open, proactively pulling Wan Niang’s waist and introducing,
“Qingchen, this is Wan Niang, call her elder sister. Wan Niang, this woman is called Qingchen, from Fujian, parents long dead, no sisters; from now on, you must take good care of her…”
In his words, Chen Shun’an had already implied who was senior and junior, setting the tone for the rear courtyard!
Chen Shun’an was not lecherous; it was just that with flowers in full bloom, not appreciating them would seem unromantic.
Thus, peace in the rear courtyard must be ensured!
Wan Niang was exceedingly clever, immediately blooming with a smile, proactively taking Qingchen’s hand,
“So you’re Qingchen little sister; last night Shun’an mentioned you to me, indeed a delicate beauty.”
Brother handles myriad state affairs daily, so I manage this myriad of beauties for him.
Qingchen was silent for a moment, then bowed to Wan Niang, saying softly,
“Poor Daoist… this little woman Qingchen pays respects to elder sister.”
…
“To this steward, I, Chen Shun’an, have newly resided in Mianyi Residence. I’ve long heard of Steward Wang’s fame as a great wealthy man… this meager gift is unworthy, please convey to Steward Wang to honor us by coming to the residence this evening for some light wine…”
“So it really is Shopkeeper Chen, long heard of your great name, I will certainly convey to Steward Wang!”
“Then Chen Mou takes his leave first.”
“Take care, take care!”
This steward accepted the four kinds of water gifts, smiling as he saw Chen Shun’an off, then closed the door.
“Who was knocking?”
A middle-aged man in a brownish satin straight robe with eight-character mustache brows walked out from the study, asking casually.
The steward recounted everything in detail, handing over the four kinds of water gifts with both hands.
“Chen Shun’an? Oh, that Crouching Tiger Well shopkeeper, the water carrier who made some waves recently?”
Steward Wang suddenly realized, then called his son,
“Dongya, you go to the evening banquet in father’s stead; father dislikes noise, too rowdy…”
“Father, this evening banquet might have quite a few big shots attending, even possibly that Zhao Guangxi. Why not seize the chance to build relations and forge good karma?”
“A mere water well shopkeeper’s beam-raising banquet—how many big shots could come? No matter how formidable Zhao Guangxi is, he’s just from the water station; can he reach over my head?”
Steward Wang waved his hand, frowning tightly as he said,
“You go in father’s stead… lately that Ma Liangcai has been wielding a chicken feather as an arrow, checking accounts everywhere, making father unable to eat or sleep in peace; where’s the time to bother with some Chen Shun’an or Li Shun’an…”
The title of steward wasn’t for just anyone who wanted it.
Most bought it with money, drawing court salary but without real power, counting as half-officials.
Steward Wang had once worked in the Wuqing County taxation department, calculating transit duties for over a decade, then retired early with internal retirement.
But recently, a ‘Qianning Envoy’ from the Hall of Translations, Ma Liangcai, emerged.
To prepare in advance for the Qianning Envoy Mission’s lodging, he demanded Wuqing County Yamen departments contribute money and labor for major construction of a guesthouse.
In the Sacred Dynasty, local taxes and miscellaneous levies were divided with the ‘transit’ portion going to the central court, while the ‘retained silver’ portion could be used locally for post stations, administration, education, livelihood, etc.
Crucially, Scholar Ma seemed to have heaven-shaking, earth-turning ghostly calculation skills, precisely figuring out the retained silver in Wuqing County that should have remained untouched over the years.
He wanted to use retained silver to build the guesthouse, pave roads, and build bridges.
Scattering white silver to the laborers below!
If no money, he would check accounts.
Check old accounts!
Can accounts be casually checked?
That could cost heads!
So lately, many officials like Steward Wang were flustered and exasperated, complaining endlessly.
Moreover, Ma Liangcai’s blockhead seemed to have opened its apertures.
Unknown who advised him, but he learned to borrow the tiger’s might, always wearing the ‘Qianning Envoy’ token at his waist, with phrases like ‘by imperial order, recommended by the county magistrate’ on his lips.
Truly unrestrained, no one dared provoke him.
Becoming a veritable officialdom ruffian!
Steward Wang stayed in place, instructing Wang Dongya a few more words, then returned to the study with him.
And from start to finish, the four kinds of water gifts in the butler’s hands went unnoticed.
Steward Wang didn’t even glance at them.
Seeing his master’s attitude, the butler also understood.
He casually tossed the four kinds of water gifts into the dusty storage room and locked the door as he left.
…
Gifts delivered, back to Mianyi Residence.
The other seven neighboring households all agreed to attend the banquet.
Cleaning and tidying the house were trivial matters that naturally needed no attention from Chen Shun’an.
He saw Wan Niang and Qingchen getting along harmoniously, even huddled together whispering intimately… of course, mostly Wan Niang chattering, Qingchen listening silently.
Chen Shun’an thus paid no more mind.
In the afternoon sun, Mianyi Residence basked warmly; the weeping willows by the pond still bore residual snow, and with a breeze, snowflakes rustled onto the water surface.
Swallowing a yellow sprout pill, Chen Shun’an practiced Flying Immortal Strength by the pond.
As for why he borrowed Li Dongyang’s hand to pass his authored commentary to Xiao Qingchou and the others.
Chen Shun’an had given it deep thought.
By now, Chen Shun’an vaguely realized his identity could no longer be concealed.
After all, there were countless heroes in the world, like carp crossing the river, not to mention the profoundly mysterious cultivators.
Chen Shun’an’s strength and past actions could fool for a time, but not forever.
Even Xiao Qingchou seemed to have noticed something off about him.
Better to seize an opportunity to hint and warn than cover his ears to steal a bell, letting the Guo Lu Society—this indirect ‘ally’—know his identity, lest they mistakenly harm their own in the future.
Moreover, the Sacred Dynasty had a long national fortune, with unfathomable foundations; relying solely on Chen Shun’an alone to shake its roots was a fool’s dream.
He could only mobilize all forces that could be united or utilized.
And if the Guo Lu Society could truly use the martial dao commentary left by Chen Shun’an to produce several true intent masters, even becoming soil to nurture a martial dao grandmaster.
Then Chen Shun’an’s actions would bless a hundred generations, establishing virtue and merit.
Of course, it could also serve as a long-term ‘money tree’ to harvest wishes…
One stone, three birds!
His footwork steady, mind sinking into the sea of consciousness.
Fierce winds brushed the pond water, rippling it, yet blocked by distant dense bamboo and vines, no sound transmitted.
At Chen Shun’an’s current realm, Flying Immortal Strength was nearly return to original purity; every move ethereal as dust, ghostly and hard to track, his whole body’s qi and blood piled almost to the limit of the true intent realm.
Six Sceneries Rotation, only one scenery left, and Flying Immortal Strength would be thoroughly perfected.
“《Flying Immortal Strength》, or rather every superior cultivation method, seems to have continuations. The Zhang family’s Six Sceneries Rotation visualization diagram is some kind of qualification, key… then above 《Flying Immortal Strength》, what is it? Secrets of the martial dao grandmaster, or even immortal cultivation methods?”
A thought arose in Chen Shun’an’s mind.
The Zhang family side was bitterly seeking heavenly prides who had comprehended the Six Sceneries Rotation visualization diagram to complete the main family’s examination.
The reason Chen Shun’an was unwilling to expose himself and admit his identity was uncertainty about how the Tongzhou Zhang Family would treat those who comprehended Six Sceneries Rotation.
To say they had no purpose, no exploitation of benefits, was impossible.
Especially as 《Meat Flying Immortal》 gradually reached great accomplishment, he was burdened by yin dregs and corpse qi, trending toward becoming a flesh ganoderma.
That Zhang family wouldn’t have a house full of purple ganoderma or running mountain ginseng, would they?
Under this premise, the Zhang family still so valued those who comprehended Six Sceneries Rotation surely had deep intentions.
Thus, Chen Shun’an played it safe—no rabbit, no hawk; he absolutely would not admit until he figured out the situation.
After a session of practice, sweating lightly all over, Chen Shun’an finally ceased and adjusted his breathing.
