Chapter 15: Cultivation
At this moment, within the Marshal's residence in Great Qing Pass City, Marshal Hong sat alone on a large wooden chair in the spacious main hall.
Leaning back against the chair, he stared up at the ceiling, his round eyes constantly shifting. One hand slowly stroked his chin, lost in deep thought.
"The guard reported that Li Yan was summoned into Ji Wenhe's room early this morning. He's most likely officially taken him as a disciple and will soon begin his cultivation."
A voice came from a corner of the hall. There was a thick pillar, as wide as a person, yet seemingly no one was there.
Upon closer inspection, one could make out a sturdy man standing in the shadow of the pillar, his body blending perfectly with its shadow.
He wasn't tall, dressed in a black robe, his broad frame appearing as solid and unmoving as the base of that pillar.
"I'm already surprised that the old man didn't have the boy take him as his master last night. Given how his body seems to be deteriorating more and more, it's remarkable he can still act with such calm deliberation."
Marshal Hong didn't glance at the man in the shadows; his eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.
"Senior brother, do you think he's truly unable to suppress the poison in his body anymore, or is he just putting on an act?"
The man in the black robe asked.
"It's very likely real. Based on the guards' daily observations and the way he's been searching for a disciple these past few years, it doesn't seem faked.
But even so, using force to take him down still isn't a viable option. Even if the two of us join forces, with his martial skill, even in his current condition we wouldn't be a match for him."
Marshal Hong continued.
"Senior brother, don't exaggerate. While it's true that his martial arts have reached the Transcendent Master realm, first, a good portion of his internal strength must be used to suppress the poison. Second, you and I have remained at the realm of Supreme Masters for over a decade now.
We are but one step away from entering the Transcendent Master relam ourselves. If we combine our strength, it's not certain we can't bring him down."
The man in the black robe responded in a deep, rumbling voice.
"Junior brother, that approach is our last resort. What I'm thinking about now is how to get to that boy.
His last disciple never left the Military Advisor's Mansion again after entering it, and within a month, he was dead.
Now I wonder, did he truly die from improper cultivation? Or is it, as the strategist claimed, that his cultivation method can only be practiced by those with a special physique?
If it's the latter, then all our efforts might end up being for nothing."
Marshal Hong still gazed at the ceiling, his brows deeply furrowed.
"Senior brother, in the martial world, there's no such thing as a cultivation method that can't be practiced. Even poisonous or demonic techniques, once you have them you can cultivate them. It's just a matter of how fast and how effective, not whether it's possible.
I've never heard of internal cultivation requiring special physiques. Just look at our sect's heart methods, from low to high, any disciple can learn them. The only difference is the rate of progress."
The man in the black robe also frowned as he spoke.
"What you say is exactly why I haven't given up. Even with the demonic techniques of evil sects, if we wanted to cultivate them, it wouldn't be impossible, only a question of whether it's worth it.
His excuse is likely just a cover to avoid passing it on. But then, what is it about Li Yan and that previous disciple that made him choose them?
Yesterday, I tested the boy's meridians using my internal energy at the training ground. They're very ordinary, even inferior to many of the soldiers in the army.
Yet he spent years searching among hundreds of thousands of soldiers before choosing this one. That's what I truly can't figure out."
The hall once again fell into silence.
A moment later, Marshal Hong finally turned to the man in the black robe and said:
"Junior brother, regardless of what criteria he uses to select disciples, or what he intends to do with them, one thing is certain, he will have to pass down his methods.
What we need to do is find a way to come into contact with Li Yan and obtain these techniques from him. With the eyes we have, we'll surely be able to glean something from the methods he's taught. Once we know more, we can make further plans."
After another pause in the corner of the hall, footsteps gradually sounded and then faded into the distance. Marshal Hong remained seated in the oversized chair, silent. The hall returned to a stillness where even a pin drop could be heard.
Evening, Great Qing Mountain.
Uncle Chang and his son Li Wei were returning from the fields, just like every other day. Although the locust plague had ruined much of the harvest, some crops still remained.
To farmers, grain was as dear as a mother is to a wandering child. Every grain was born of hardship, something the powerful and privileged could never understand.
Each day, villagers would still tend to their fields, preserving what little was left.
Uncle Chang would always return home before dark. Once back, his wife and four daughters would have already prepared a simple meal.
They always tried to eat before nightfall, better to avoid the expense of burning oil lamps. Life had been hard in recent years, and even lamp oil was a luxury they had to save.
Since Li Yan left yesterday, the house had felt gloomy and quiet.
"Old man, the village chief should be back today, right?"
Li Yan's mother looked at the others, all of whom were poking half-heartedly at their bowls of sweet potatoes. She herself hadn't even picked up her chopsticks, and now she turned to her husband with a face full of worry.
"You old woman, why are you so naggy? You've been asking this over and over since noon yesterday.
How many times have I told you? A round trip like that takes at least two days, and that's assuming things go smoothly. Just eat your meal in peace."
Uncle Chang looked up, clearly irritated and annoyed. He tapped the side of his bowl with his chopsticks, making a sharp clinking sound.
"You were out in the fields all day and only just got back. How can you say I've been asking non-stop?"
Li Yan's mother muttered under her breath.
Li Wei glanced at his sister Li Xiaozhu, who happened to look at him at the same time. They had both wanted to chime in, but after hearing their parents argue, they wisely kept quiet.
They knew their father wouldn't have an answer even if they asked. But somehow, just talking even if aimlessly made things feel a little more bearable.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside, followed by a loud, spirited voice.
"Uncle Chang! I'm back! I'm back! Hahaha!"
The moment they heard that voice, everyone inside the house perked up. It was Li Guoxin's voice. In an instant, chairs scraped, bowls clattered, and everyone inside rushed out.
Looking at the knocked-over stools and tossed chopsticks, Li Yan's mother spat with mock contempt.
"Didn't you say you weren't anxious? You're all acting like you reincarnated or something."
Still, she hurriedly stood and walked outside.
Outside, Li Guoxin was walking toward Li Yan's house, followed by a bunch of village children and a few villagers. He hadn't even reached the door when three figures came rushing out of the house, it was Uncle Chang, Li Wei, and Li Xiaozhu. Behind them came Li Yan's mother in just as much of a hurry.
Uncle Chang stopped in front of Li Guoxin, with Li Wei and Xiaozhu quickly gathering around. Uncle Chang took a deep breath, then smiled and said:
"Guoxin, you're back! Come in, have some water, tell us everything slowly."
Li Guoxin looked at Uncle Chang's face, who was trying hard to appear calm but couldn't hide the anxiety in his eyes, and burst into hearty laughter again.
"Hahaha… Uncle Chang, I won't go inside just yet. The cart's still at the village entrance, and I haven't even gone to Li Yu or Li Shan's homes. Yours is the first stop, because I have some very big news for you!"
Uncle Chang nodded repeatedly.
"Alright, alright!"
Then he, Li Wei, and Xiaozhu all looked at Li Guoxin with eager eyes.
Li Guoxin gently pushed away a few children circling around him.
"Go on, go home and tell your families to stop by my house later and pick up what I brought back from the city."
He wasn't just delivering news for Li Yan, he'd also picked up supplies for other families in the village.
The children let out cheerful shouts of "Oh! Oh!" before scattering, some ran toward home, while others ran to the nearby villagers.
Those few villagers, who had met Li Guoxin at the village entrance, stood nearby with their arms crossed or lightly patting their kids' heads, listening with curiosity to what news the village chief had brought back.
Once the children were gone, Li Guoxin turned to the Li family, whose eyes were filled with anxious expectation, though they dared not rush him.
Li Guoxin's expression turned serious.
"Uncle Chang, I didn't go to the other houses first because I have great news to tell you."
"Oh? Uncle Guoxin, what news?" Li Wei asked. The other three were equally nervous and hopeful. The villagers nearby quieted their children and moved closer, forming a small circle.
Seeing this, Li Guoxin no longer held back.
"Uncle Chang, it seems your family's ancestral graves truly have good feng shui! Li Yan went to the city to join the Imperial Guard, but guess what…"
Li Guoxin then told them everything that had happened in the city, adding in details about Strategist Ji's background so they could understand just how extraordinary the man Li Yan had apprenticed under was.
As he spoke, more villagers gathered around. At first, they were too stunned to make sense of what they were hearing. Then suddenly, the crowd exploded into noise, voices rising in excitement and disbelief.
Uncle Chang and his family stood frozen, unable to believe what they were hearing.
Li Yan had actually become the disciple of the famous Lord Ji, whose name echoed even louder than Marshal Hong's? Could Strategist Ji really be that powerful?
But seeing how confidently Li Guoxin spoke, the villagers chose to believe him.
Mountain folk were simple and honest. To them, the village chief was already the highest authority. When even minor officials from town passed through, they were treated like royalty. So they naturally trusted the words of their own chief.
"Oh, heavens… my heavens…"
Li Yan's mother murmured to herself in the crowd, as if in a dream. Uncle Chang stood frozen, tears streaming silently down his face…
At the Strategist's residence, Li Yan's door had been closed since lunch. A small black wooden plaque now hung on the handle.
He hadn't chosen the nearby vacant room as a cultivation space, he felt his own room was just fine.
After closing the door and hanging the plaque, he pulled out a chair, sat at the table, and picked up the small wooden figure. In his mind, he carefully reviewed the cultivation paths of the Breathing Guidance Technique.
He then used the wooden model to verify the paths, silently repeating the cultivation verses over and over. He had no intention of ending up like that unfortunate senior disciple.
Only after about the time it takes for one incense stick to burn did he put down the wooden figure, sit cross-legged on his wooden bed, and begin practicing according to the instructions.
However, he had already resolved in his heart: if anything felt wrong, he would stop immediately.
What Li Yan did not know was that this very first step in his cultivation had already altered the course of his life, from this point on, he would tread a long path of endless pursuit.
(Chapter End)