Chapter 71: Six Sceneries Rotation True Cultivation Manual
Zhao Guangxi and Liu Ru Yue walked out of Zheng Mansion.
A maidservant dressed in green clothes quickly walked over and held an umbrella to shade Liu Ru Yue from the sun.
The hysterical roar of Zheng Shicheng from inside the mansion faintly shook the door knocker.
The green-clothed maidservant’s rolling eyes glanced at Zhao Guangxi once, and after paying respects, she covered her mouth and smiled,
“Did Landlord Zhao offend Zheng Shicheng again? He’s famously ruthless and very good at pretending…”
Liu Ru Yue glared fiercely at the green-clothed maidservant.
“Lu Jiao! Don’t be rude!”
Lu Jiao stuck out her tongue, drooped her little head, and closely followed behind Liu Ru Yue.
Two horse-drawn carriages were waiting not far away.
Liu Ru Yue brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and suddenly said,
“Zheng Shicheng suddenly wants to hold a Spirit Official Intercepting Meeting; contesting for interest is a pretense, he probably has other plans.”
Zhao Guangxi nodded and said: “Naturally. But no matter, meet water with earth and soldiers with generals; half a percent of interest is enough for us to exchange a few blows with him.”
All under heaven bustle for profit, all under heaven scramble for profit.
Zhao Guangxi naturally knew Zheng Shicheng had other ideas, but in his expectations, the worst was losing people and face, forfeiting this half percent of interest, with no concrete losses.
Liu Ru Yue nodded and said: “What do the people above say?”
Zhao Guangxi said: “The people above seem to have known about the Hibiscus Paste Fire Incident long ago, but they only said one sentence…”
“Oh, what sentence?”
“Cede major power, and minor profits can be contested.”
Liu Ru Yue’s gaze sharpened, her eyes revealing deep thought.
The people above surprisingly did not want to intervene or contest the Hibiscus Paste Fire trade routes and sales matters, instead handing over such massive interests.
They merely permitted the people below to contest for petty profits.
This did not seem like the Water Station’s way of doing things.
Unless the people above knew something or had compromised on something.
Liu Ru Yue’s face then showed a grave expression.
“Since Zheng Shicheng dares to intercept the meeting, he probably has considerable confidence; even if our two districts join forces, victory or defeat is uncertain.”
Although a few days ago, Zhao Guangxi took the opportunity to strike, leveling Wanlong Pounding House.
But Wanlong Pounding House’s elites remain, so it could only be considered a loss of face and some superficial wounds.
Just on the surface, Wanlong Pounding House had a full five first-rate experts.
In contrast, under Zhao Guangxi’s command, after Lu Jing left, their primal qi was greatly injured, with only two first-rate experts remaining.
Even adding the people from Liu Ru Yue’s side, it would just be even.
As for the second-rate experts and third-rate martial artists below, although overall slightly superior, there was no absolute crushing strength.
“No matter!”
Zhao Guangxi’s eyes showed decisive resolve, and he said gravely,
“The people under me are all crafty old foxes, hiding their abilities; who knows how many big fish are hidden in the rock crevices!
I’m prepared to open the warehouse and release grain, use a thousand gold to buy bones, directly advance them three months’ monthly salary, and take out gold and silver, high-grade precious weapons, superior cultivation methods, and even Five Wheels Eight Treasures Water as rewards…
I don’t believe these bastards won’t give their all!”
Liu Ru Yue’s eyes showed surprise, and she said,
“Where did you get so much money?”
The flowing debts at the old wellhead have not been cleared yet; the nine landlords are now as heavy as two pockets, all barely scraping by with a few copper coins squeezed from their fingers.
You, Zhao Guangxi, still have the spare capacity to live on borrowed time?
It’s just unknown why lately Zhao Guangxi seems to be walking quite closely with the old wellhead…
Zhao Guangxi’s tone was resolute: “No money? Then go borrow! Go loan! Pawnshops, money houses, small pawns—I, Zhao, still have some face in Wuqing County; can’t I borrow this money?!”
“This intercepting meeting can only be won, not lost!!!”
……
Until they got on the horse-drawn carriage.
Liu Ru Yue was still shocked by Zhao Guangxi’s ruthless ferocity, as if he had staked everything on Bao Ju, eyes red from gambling, determined to succeed or die trying.
In Liu Ru Yue’s view, Zhao Guangxi’s actions this time were naturally to gather money and buy the wellhead position.
“Miss, that Zhao Guangxi isn’t a good sort either; we can’t compete with him. Why don’t you come back home with me, listen to Master, and marry some rich, handsome young gentleman!”
Lu Jiao’s petite and delicate body pounced onto Liu Ru Yue, half aggrieved, half coquettish.
“And take me as your live-in maidservant while you’re at it; it’s better than being exposed to wind and sun at the well shed—I’ve even gotten tanned…”
Liu Ru Yue gave Lu Jiao a white-eyed glance, patted Lu Jiao’s restless hand, and pushed her away.
“You took benefits from the old master again?”
Lu Jiao stuck out her tongue, then took out a handkerchief from her bosom, and when spread open, it revealed various hairpins, pearls, jade stones, with treasure light in ten colors.
Lu Jiao handed all the items to Liu Ru Yue, then giggled,
“I was just pretending to go along, acting as a traitor to earn you some pocket money, Miss… I’ve said the words, given the advice, so I’ve done right by Master.”
“You ah…”
Liu Ru Yue shook her head, hesitated a bit, but in the end still accepted the items.
“He Zhao Guangxi has a whole family to drag along, yet still has such determination; though I Liu am but a woman, how can I be inferior to others?”
“Wuqing County’s wellhead position has never been impossible for the Liu family, even as a woman!”
……
“Master, Son-in-law Chen is seeking an audience outside, saying he’s here to celebrate Madam’s birthday.”
In Zhang Family Village, inside an ancient elegant pavilion amid the water pavilions and rockeries.
A gatekeeper lowered his eyebrows and eyes, quickly walked to the pavilion, and whispered softly into Master Zhang’s ear.
And here, besides Master Zhang, there were two others.
One had graying hair and beard, wore a black satin jacket, had a face full of amiability, and sat across the stone table slowly sipping tea.
Another was a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl who, like a feather, lightly walked on the pond surface, her toes lightly touching the water, leaving only spreading ripples without even wetting the tips of her shoes.
The girl’s cheeks were rosy with baby fat, her almond eyes immersed and focused, paying no attention to the outside conversation, seemingly a martial fanatic.
Chen Shun’an?
Upon hearing this name, Master Zhang subconsciously frowned tightly, a wave of irritation and disgust rising in his heart.
Even after many years, Master Zhang still could not let go of his daughter being whisked away by him.
“Bring him to me…”
The words ‘drive him out’ were still on the tip of his tongue, but Master Zhang swallowed them, his eyes showing contemplation.
Madam’s birthday, with many distinguished guests in the village.
If he clashed with Chen Shun’an now, or even if Chen Shun’an disregarded everything and caused a big fuss, offending all the guests.
That would be airing family scandals, losing the Zhang family’s face!
Perhaps faintly sensing the anger in Master Zhang’s words, the old man opposite set down his teacup and smiled lightly,
“If Brother Zhang has matters, feel free to attend to them; I’ll wait here for you…”
“No need, no need. Trivial matters aren’t worth troubling Senior Brother Zhang with.”
Master Zhang had held high positions for many years, yet now was extremely respectful to this old man before him who moved slowly, even blowing on his tea repeatedly before drinking.
He even personally stood up to refill his tea.
All because this old man was from Tongzhou Zhang Family!
His martial arts were extremely high, and his generation rank high; Master Zhang had checked the family records and should call him third uncle.
Unfortunately, nominally, the Zhang family had been expelled from the main house, so Master Zhang naturally could not address him that way and could only call him ‘Senior Brother Zhang’!
Master Zhang turned his head and said softly to the gatekeeper,
“Escort Chen Shun’an to Quiet Garden, prepare a table of wine and dishes, give some celebratory money, and hurry him away! There are many people and eyes in the village; don’t let him cause trouble!”
“Yes, Master!”
The gatekeeper hurriedly left.
The jacket-wearing old man’s smile remained unchanged as he reached out, grabbed the scalding teacup, and drained it in one gulp.
His magma-like qi and blood directly overwhelmed the water temperature, his teeth like guillotine blades chewing and swallowing even the tea leaves.
“Junior Brother Zhang’s pearl orchid clear tea is interesting; it must be made with fifty-year golden millet orchids, even adding superior green teas like maofeng, sun-dried, and dafang as the base… A masterful touch, tea more precious than gold.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly, savoring tea like a gourmet.
“If Senior Brother Zhang likes it, feel free to take some when you leave; we produced seven or eight jin this year, all gifted to Senior Brother Zhang.”
“Then thank you.” The old man did not refuse.
“It’s just, I wonder if Senior Brother Zhang could be flexible and lower the requirements a bit?”
Master Zhang then probed tentatively.
The old man’s smile gradually faded, his face expressionless, and he said flatly,
“Junior Brother Zhang, I’m just a messenger running errands and must follow the rules… Each Daoist Academy’s year-end grand celebration is one of the rare opportunities for us martial artists to enter the Dao through martial arts, open meridians, and cultivate immortality; even the ancestor values it highly.
But resources are limited; better to concentrate on nurturing a few than fishing needles from the sea.
You should think about how to pass the examination instead; otherwise, when the time comes, my Zhang Family will have to reclaim your mansion’s Ròufēi Xiān true cultivation manual, as well as the operating rights of the bank and money house.”
Upon hearing this, Master Zhang’s heart sank, his ruddy face instantly turning pale as he plopped back into his seat.
Though the Zhang family had nominally been expelled from the Zhang clan, their ancestors all worshiped in the same ancestral hall; break bones but tendons connect—how could ties be completely severed?
Ròufēi Xiān was originally one of the Zhang clan’s inherited martial arts, and even the bank and money house currently operated by Zhang Mansion had thousand threads and myriad links to Tongzhou Zhang family.
After all, the court would not sit idly by as a clan like Zhang family grew endlessly, so they had to split the family.
And the examination was what Master Zhang yearned for, the path to rejoining the Zhang clan.
Once every few years, with rises, falls, rewards, and punishments based on different performances.
This year was extremely strict; those failing the examination even had to hand over the true cultivation manual and all businesses related to Zhang family.
Born of the same root, why so urgently fry each other!
This year’s examination had three criteria, satisfying one counted as passing—
A young man with special talent and root bone, age under twelve;
A first-rate martial artist in the household mainly cultivating Ròufēi Xiān, under eighteen years old;
When observing the true cultivation manual, achieve full house brilliance, have merit descend upon the body, and practice Six Sceneries Rotation True Cultivation Manual, no age limit.
And these three criteria, each harder than the last!
Especially the third; not to mention Zhang Mansion—even Tongzhou Zhang family had few who could achieve it.
The Ròufēi Xiān true cultivation manual consists of six diagrams, namely—
Acupoint Golden Light True Cultivation Manual, where acupoint light shines down on the dantian, over time the eyes gain golden light, corresponding to eye thief;
Great Medicine Dragon Tiger True Cultivation Manual, where true qi in the essence is sufficient, with faint dragon’s roar and tiger’s howl at the ears, corresponding to ear thief;
Acquired One Qi True Cultivation Manual, where wondrous fetal breathing condenses one qi to circulate, blood water flows freely, a hundred cycles in an instant, corresponding to nose thief;
Precious Weapon Liquid Embracing True Cultivation Manual… corresponding to tongue thief;
Myriad Blazing True Cultivation Manual… corresponding to body thief.
Mind Monkey Intent Horse True Cultivation Manual… corresponding to mind thief.
The six true cultivation manuals have no superiority or sequence; comprehending entry into any one allows stepping into first-rate realm.
And the so-called full house brilliance, practicing Six Sceneries Rotation True Cultivation Manual, is simultaneously observing the six true cultivation manuals, handling multiple at once, mastering the six sceneries, making them rotate.
Though the difficulty is extreme and cultivation arduous.
But once the six sceneries manifest: eyes with golden light, right ear dragon’s roar, left ear tiger’s howl, one qi unobstructed, body surging nose twitching, spiritual platform penetrating.
A profound wonder arises, the aptitude of a human martial saint!
Master Zhang’s face showed bitterness as he subconsciously pulled his sleeve to cover the age spots on his arm.
Not to mention martial saint aptitude—even finding a first-rate martial artist under eighteen, searching through Zhang Mansion and all outer relatives and branches, was difficult.
The Zhang family now was a case of the old yellowing and the new not yet green, with descendants each more useless than the last.
He was over eighty yet still had to preside over affairs, holding the family head position consecutively.
“In the end, is the Zhang family to fall into ruin in my hands?”
Master Zhang’s heart was extremely heavy, with a touch of desolation.
“Actually, there is a fourth criterion; satisfying it also counts as passing your Zhang Mansion’s examination.”
Suddenly, a voice light and clear like spring water dripping came.
The girl who had been stepping on the pond practicing martial arts suddenly came to her senses, tilted her head, pursed her lips, and smiled,
“Someone of the same generation defeats me.”
“This…”
Master Zhang, who had been feeling dejected, upon hearing this, widened his eyes fiercely and immediately sat up straight.
Same generation means within twelve years left or right; even one wheel’s difference counts as same generation.
This girl was only seventeen or eighteen; theoretically, up to thirty counts!
Though Master Zhang guessed this girl was some extremely important heavenly pride of Tongzhou Zhang family, perhaps already first-rate realm.
But finding someone under thirty with first-rate strength from Zhang Mansion was still doable.
And there were quite a few!
Master Zhang looked inquiringly at the tea-drinking old man.
The old man smiled, lightly closed his teabowl, and nodded slightly, giving tacit approval.
“Go, gather the younger generation, those under thirty, to the academy!”
“And invite this young lady to give them some pointers.”
Seeing this, Master Zhang quickly instructed the servants.
Though he noticed the calm in the old man’s eyes and the confident eagerness on the girl’s face.
The fourth criterion was probably no easier than the first three.
But Master Zhang now was like a drowning man; even the last straw had to be grasped tightly!
The Zhang family cannot end in my hands!
……
“Son-in-law Chen, follow me.”
“Thank you.”
Chen Shun’an skillfully offered one tael of silver, but the gatekeeper shook his head and did not accept it.
The gatekeeper led Chen Shun’an in through the side door, then only bowed his head and led the way.
Chen Shun’an pocketed the silver, tied the dark red horse he had selected at the horse rental shop to a wooden post outside the village, hugged the woven fish basket bottle, and quickly followed.
The basket bottle swayed, water waves rippling.
The golden scaled perch was listless.
“So hot so hot, about to be boiled into fish soup. Is High God sending me to someone? Waa waa… Miserable miserable!”
Ignoring the golden scaled perch’s complaints.
Chen Shun’an paid attention to the surrounding scenery.
This Zhang Mansion was more like a village than a residence!
Backing against mountains, fronting a river, with weeping willows lining both banks, and a stretch of black wall in the tree shade.
Inside the village: seven or eight gate towers, dozens of buildings, sentry towers, water pavilions and ponds, even an iron smithy!
Trained village braves, hired village guests, and martial scholars teaching here, responsible for armor preservation drills and children’s muscle kneading.
The Zhang family members living here numbered in the hundreds!
Tomorrow was Madam’s birthday; outside the village by the bridge, luxurious horse-drawn carriages and sedan chairs were already parked, even mixed with a few official sedan chairs.
Chen Shun’an could even see some figures who in the past required him to hide by the roadside and turn away to let pass.
Extremely lively.
But as the gatekeeper led the way, Chen Shun’an went deeper into more remote areas, passing several screen walls and corridors, almost unable to hear the main courtyard’s clamor.
Chen Shun’an faintly understood something; the smile on his face gradually sank bit by bit, becoming expressionless.
Quiet Garden had a building, with the door open; the two entered the room.
“Son-in-law Chen, a feast has been prepared for you, but the village guest rooms are full, and the sun is not early; after eating, Young Master, please return to the county early.”
The gatekeeper dared not embellish and could only softly relay Master Zhang’s instructions word for word.
