Chapter 29: Return

Surviving In A Martial Arts World To Become A Saint

The next morning.

After Chen Qing finished a complete set of through-arm boxing, heat radiated from his entire body, and his tendons and bones made subtle crackling sounds.

"Senior Brother Chen, wipe your sweat."

At this time, a disciple came running over carrying a water basin and towel.

"Thanks."

Chen Qing took the towel and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

This person was named Song Yufeng, who had joined Zhou's courtyard half a month ago. His father was a traveling doctor, his mother worked odd jobs at Sun's Wine House, and his family circumstances were poor.

According to Zhou courtyard tradition, he followed behind Chen Qing, this 'senior' disciple, to practice boxing.

Song Yufeng smiled honestly, "Senior Brother Chen is too polite."

"Reporting to Senior Brother, I've memorized all the moves, but..." Song Yufeng quickly replied, then scratched his head, "I feel something is not quite right, but I can't say what exactly."

Chen Qing said, "Practice it once for me to see."

Song Yufeng didn't dare to be negligent and immediately assumed stance to demonstrate.

The essence of through-arm boxing lay in the changes of force. Since he hadn't reached obvious strength yet, his current display of through-arm boxing appeared extremely soft.

Chen Qing watched carefully, then guided Song Yufeng hand by hand with a few pointers, "For this 'Ape Arm Reaching Heaven,' the shoulders should be relaxed, elbows should drop, intent should reach the fingertips not the fist surface. Also, this move 'Iron Chain Across River' generates force from the waist and back, not the arms."

"Your force is currently small and qi and blood insufficient, you should first accumulate qi and blood."

He spoke in great detail, just like Sun Shun had done for him initially.

Song Yufeng listened while nodding repeatedly, his face full of gratitude, "Thank you for Senior Brother Chen's guidance. I'll go practice stance work right away and won't disturb your training."

After speaking, he quickly returned to his corner and concentrated on standing stance.

Chen Qing rested for a moment, then continued practicing through-arm boxing.

[Through-arm Boxing: Minor Achievement (963/1000)]

If through-arm boxing reached great achievement, his strength would undoubtedly rise another level.

There were currently seven or eight hidden strength disciples in the courtyard, but not a single one had reached great achievement in through-arm boxing.

Reaching great achievement in through-arm boxing emphasized one form changing to multiple techniques, with force flowing from soft to hard.

One form changing to multiple techniques required extremely proficient mastery of through-arm boxing moves, forming muscle memory. This needed not only comprehension but also years of cultivation.

As for force flowing from soft to hard, this required mastery of force control.

Reaching the realm where steps and punches arrive together, force following steps.

Chen Qing practiced through-arm boxing two more times, then headed to the River Office.

River Office patrol guards sometimes made three rounds a day when busy, one round when not busy.

When he returned to Zhou's courtyard again, it was already afternoon.

Chen Qing had just entered Zhou's courtyard when he discovered it was very lively inside.

He saw Qin Lie surrounded by a group of disciples in the center, like stars surrounding the moon.

The usually serious Zhou Liang stood opposite him, corners of his mouth showing a smile.

Junior Brother Qin had returned from bandit suppression!?

Seeing this scene, Chen Qing's heart stirred.

Qin Lie took a deep breath and clasped his fists, "Master, disciple has returned."

"Good, very good."

Zhou Liang looked up and down at Qin Lie before him, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but show a trace of comfort.

He could see that Qin Lie was completely different from before, clearly having seen blood.

Sun Shun's mood was somewhat complex. When the two had made eye contact earlier, he clearly felt his hair standing on end.

He knew this Junior Brother Qin had made progress in strength through this bandit suppression, and he was probably no longer his match.

"Come inside, we'll talk slowly."

Zhou Liang patted Qin Lie's shoulder with a gentle tone, then turned and led him toward the back courtyard.

Anyone with eyes could see that Qin Lie's return had brought much more smile to Zhou Liang's face.

"Senior Brother Fang, tell us about this bandit suppression."

"Did Junior Brother Qin really kill three water bandits!?"

"Did the Colonel take action!?"

...

Seeing Qin Lie follow Zhou Liang into the back courtyard, everyone turned to look at the disciples who had also gone on bandit suppression.

"The Colonel's spear technique was truly ghostly! The chief of White Wave Lake, Shen Tong, couldn't even last three exchanges under the Colonel's hand! That scene... tsk tsk!"

A senior brother who had gone along said with a tone of shared glory, "This expedition had the Colonel and experts from the Five Major Families in charge. We just followed behind to clean up remnant bandits, gained experience, and got to know quite a few experts from other courtyards..."

Hearing this, quite a few disciples who had hesitated initially showed traces of regret on their faces, having missed an opportunity.

If they had known it would be like this, they would have signed up to participate back then.

Chen Qing didn't think much about it and calmly returned to his spot to continue practicing boxing.

Since master didn't have time now, he could only find another opportunity to report to master.

As night gradually deepened, the courtyard gradually became quiet, and discussions about bandit suppression also decreased significantly.

The disciples simply packed up and left one after another.

Zhou Yu saw Chen Qing still practicing boxing and couldn't help asking, "Junior Brother Chen, it's so late, aren't you going home?"

At this moment, she had already changed out of her practice clothes and wore a white short jacket and skirt, her eyes carrying a trace of gentleness and charm.

Chen Qing said, "Thank you for Senior Sister Zhou's concern, I'll practice a bit more then go home."

Zhou Yu smiled slightly, "Alright, don't stay too late."

After speaking, she returned to the back courtyard.

...

Night gradually deepened at Zhou's courtyard.

Zhou Liang saw Qin Lie off from the back door and muttered to himself, "Go to the kitchen to get something to eat."

He needed to supplement large amounts of grain and meat daily to maintain the slow decline of his qi and blood, preventing his strength from dropping too rapidly.

After all, once a person aged and couldn't reach the internal refinement level, qi and blood would ultimately decline.

Zhou Liang came to the kitchen door and suddenly heard a clear, crisp sound.

This sound was forceful and full of energy.

Zhou Liang frowned and muttered, "Who hasn't gone home yet this late at night?"

Inside Zhou's courtyard.

Chen Qing was practicing through-arm boxing. At this moment his entire body's qi and blood was boiling, and the through-arm boxing in his hands was performed to perfection.

Where his palm wind reached, dirt churned, with a terrifying momentum like a giant dragon splitting the earth.

This was precisely the mark of hidden strength!

"Hidden strength?"

Zhou Liang heard the sound and walked over. Seeing Chen Qing's boxing wind, his eyes lit up.

Having practiced through-arm stance work for decades, he naturally could tell at a glance what realm Chen Qing had reached.

Through-arm stance work at great achievement meant reaching hidden strength.

This was absolutely correct!

"Good lad!"

Zhou Liang said with great joy, "I didn't expect you to have reached hidden strength."

"Master!"

Chen Qing heard the voice and quickly stopped his movements to bow.

He had achieved his goal.

Zhou Liang quickly asked, "When did you reach hidden strength?"

Chen Qing replied, "Just yesterday."

"Yesterday..."

Zhou Liang calculated silently and nodded slightly, "You came to Zhou's courtyard in November last year, so it's been nearly a year, but not quite."

That Chen Qing could cultivate to hidden strength was truly beyond his expectations.

After all, he knew Chen Qing's family circumstances weren't good, and his bone structure wasn't outstanding among Zhou courtyard disciples.

So he was very surprised by Chen Qing's current performance.

Chen Qing nodded, "Yes!"

A decent prospect.

Coming to find him alone obviously didn't want to make a big show of it.

It was quite rare for a young person to be able to remain composed.

Qin Lie's biggest problem was impatience, inability to stay calm but this couldn't be considered Qin Lie's fault either. After all, being born poor and suddenly gaining wealth and status, few people could maintain complete composure.

"What a pity..."

Zhou Liang thought silently. If there wasn't Qin Lie in Zhou's courtyard, he would definitely focus on cultivating Chen Qing but Zhou's courtyard already had Qin Lie, so for now he could only ask Chen Qing to be patient.

Zhou Liang pondered for a long while, "For the next period, first consolidate your qi and blood, refine the hidden strength throughout your body, starting from the torso, then to the five organs and six bowels. Remember not to be discouraged."

"If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me again."

Chen Qing felt somewhat disappointed, "Disciple understands."

He had originally thought Zhou Liang would give him special attention like Qin Lie, providing him with some cultivation resources.

With resources, his cultivation speed could be much faster.

After all, reaching hidden strength in less than a year, though time-wise not comparable to Qin Lie, was still quite good.

However, thinking it over carefully, Chen Qing felt relieved. Qin Lie was master's final disciple, destined to inherit the legacy and provide for his old age.

"Since I'm not busy now, let me explain the techniques for refining hidden strength."

Zhou Liang explained in detail, then patted Chen Qing's shoulder encouragingly, "Cultivate well. You can participate in this martial examination. If unsuccessful, it can serve as experience."

Chen Qing nodded, "Yes!"

Zhou Liang called out, "Go home and rest early."

"Disciple takes leave."

Chen Qing clasped his fists, preparing to get up and leave.

"Wait a moment."

Zhou Liang looked at the disciple's departing figure, felt somewhat reluctant, and still called him back.

"Are you currently sponsored by any force?"

Chen Qing replied, "The Cheng family of Guilan Ward."

"Just a small household, a drop in the bucket. Achieving a second breakthrough is already not easy."

Zhou Liang thought silently, "Come with me."

Chen Qing followed Zhou Liang to the study, where the latter took out a small blue porcelain bottle from the cabinet.

"Inside are three 'Blood Congealing Pills.'"

Zhou Liang's voice was low and steady, "The medicinal effect is similar to the 'Blood Qi Pills' on the market, quite beneficial for stabilizing your hidden strength and tempering qi and blood. From now on, on the fifth of each month, come find me and I'll give you three more."

Qin Lie had sponsorship from the Luo family, so resources weren't lacking but Chen Qing was different. He would give him his own share.

Chen Qing bowed deeply, "Disciple thanks master greatly."

One blood qi pill cost three taels of silver on the market, three pills were nine taels, which was quite valuable for Chen Qing currently.

Zhou Liang waved his hand, "Go on."

Chen Qing nodded heavily, then walked toward home.

The starry river casually adorned the vast twilight, using a touch of profound vastness to weave this deep summer's new moon.

On the road, Chen Qing kept recalling Zhou Liang's words.

The difference between obvious strength and hidden strength was significant. Obvious strength only required accumulating qi and blood and tempering skin and flesh, but hidden strength required connecting tendons, bones, skin, and flesh.