noffsinger Chapter 29 Target
Chapter 29 Target
"Why did Fan Zhou and Liu Ergou come upstairs too?"
As the three figures disappeared down the stairs, Guan Qingyun whispered a question to Zhang Yu and Wu Xiu.
"Perhaps it was Steward Tian who invited them to dinner?" Zhang Yu also seemed unsure.
Wu Xiu glanced at them and whispered:
"It seems like Boss Qin is hosting a dinner party upstairs."
Guan Qingyun and Zhang Yu both fell silent.
They actually knew it, but they felt it was impossible.
Why would someone like Boss Qin invite Fan Zhou and Liu Ergou to dinner?
"It's probably just Steward Tian who brought them, not Boss Qin who called them," Guan Qingyun muttered to himself.
But the atmosphere became even more somber, and the group fell silent as they looked at the dishes on the table.
Since Steward Tian can bring Fan Zhou and Liu Ergou, why didn't anyone call them?
.........
Smoke was rising from the heater in the private room upstairs.
The deacons chatted and laughed, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.
Qin Zhiyuan tried to challenge Huang Yi to a drinking contest, but Huang Yi refused.
Fan Zhou and Liu Ergou ate heartily, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
It wasn't that they were starving, but rather that the dishes on this table were all spiritual delicacies, which were not only delicious but could also increase their cultivation!
Hou Yi kept serving them food.
"Try this turtle penis stewed with civet cat. Let me tell you, it's a precious tonic for winter."
"And this steamed lamb with turtle is one of my best-kept secret recipes!"
In addition, there were also more than a dozen dishes of spiritual cuisine on the table, such as braised winter bamboo shoots with ham and pine mushrooms, braised goose with water chestnuts, and clear soup with scallops. There were also several jars of spiritual wine, and even the rice was the best spiritual rice.
The ingredients for these dishes were all New Year's gifts presented to Jianlu from various parts of Yue, and then distributed by Jianlu to his disciples.
Of course, a menial disciple shouldn't even dream of it.
If it weren't for Qin Zhiyuan, his disciple, treating everyone to these delicious foods, Fan Zhou would never have had the chance to enjoy them.
After a few rounds of drinks, the table was a mess, and everyone leaned back comfortably in their chairs, chatting about trivial matters.
Hou Yi was flushed from drinking, his tongue was slurred, and he kept patting Liu Ergou and Fan Zhou on the shoulders while chatting, making them wince in pain.
"Little Liu, go to the Sword Furnace and cultivate diligently. Don't let Senior Brother Huang down."
Liu Ergou nodded emphatically, "I know, Master Hou."
Hou Yi smacked Fan Zhou a few more times, then gestured to Liu Ergou, saying, "And don't forget about A-Zhou."
"I won't forget," Liu Ergou assured him.
Hou Yi turned and stared at Fan Zhou for a long while before finally stammering:
"Cultivate yourself well, don't be like them... that won't work."
"Don't worry, Master Hou." Fan Zhou knew he was referring to Guan Qingyun and the other two.
Hou Yi then slowly nodded, and said to Tian Youliang, who was also somewhat bewildered:
"Old Tian, this kid is good. Train him well. If you... are unwilling, send him to... me."
Tian Youliang stared at him blankly for a while, then glanced at Fan Zhou, laughed a few times, and waved his hand, saying:
You're overthinking it.
Hu, the steward standing to the side, hooked his arm around Hou Yi's neck and laughed along:
"Exactly, if you're going to come, come to me. It would be much better to learn tea cultivation from me, wouldn't it, A-Zhou?"
Fan Zhou had no choice but to smile and remain silent.
Liang Yong, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke up:
"The mine is short of inspectors after spring, so why don't we transfer Fan Zhou to my place? The work is easier, and it will be more convenient for him to practice his swordsmanship."
Tian Youliang shook his head and refused, saying, "No."
Wang Xiaoshan chimed in to Liang Yong, "Old Tian, don't just make decisions on your own, ask A-Zhou for his opinion too."
The deacons all turned their attention to Fan Zhou.
They were all Qi Refining cultivators, their eyes gleaming with concentrated divine light. Fan Zhou felt as if he were being stared at by a group of ferocious beasts, and cold sweat seeped down his back.
"Alright, alright, don't scare the child," Qin Zhiyuan said.
The deacons smiled and withdrew their gazes. Fan Zhou immediately felt a lightness in his body, and the invisible pressure disappeared.
"A-Zhou".
Although Qin Zhiyuan had drunk the most, his eyes remained clear, and he softly asked Fan Zhou:
What are your plans after the New Year?
Fan Zhou naturally wanted to join the weapon forging workshop, because it offered the best prospects.
But since he is currently under Tian Youliang's command, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to say it directly in front of so many people.
Fan Zhou looked at Qin Zhiyuan, then glanced at Tian Youliang, hesitating about what to say, when Tian Youliang suddenly slapped him on the shoulder and said seriously to Qin Zhiyuan:
"Brother Qin, I've seen this kid. He's hardworking and willing to endure hardship. I hope you can mentor him."
"Master Tian..." Fan Zhou looked at Tian Youliang in surprise, not expecting him to take the initiative to bring it up for him.
Qin Zhiyuan shook his head slightly, "I didn't ask you."
"A-Zhou, what are your own thoughts?"
Fan Zhou stood up and said seriously, "I want to join the weapon forging workshop!"
Qin Zhiyuan smiled slightly, but did not agree immediately. Instead, he asked:
"How many types of Qi have you mastered by now?"
"Two kinds, sword energy and heat energy," Fan Zhou replied truthfully.
Qin Zhiyuan remained noncommittal and slowly said:
"Clear and turbid, cold and hot, hard and soft, smooth and rough, slow and fast, condensation and dispersion, strange and orthodox, bright and dark—you must master at least four of these sixteen basic Qi transformations to be qualified to enter the weapon forging workshop."
He sat up straight, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Fan Zhou, and asked:
"How long will it take you to cultivate all four types of Qi?"
Tian Youliang frowned and quickly began to estimate in his mind: 'His aptitude is inferior. Even if he cultivates one type of qi for a year, it will probably take him three years, or at least two years if he's quick...'
"Six months!"
Fan Zhou replied without hesitation.
The scene fell silent instantly.
Tian Youliang looked at him with disbelief.
Lao Hu, Liang Yong, Wang Xiaoshan, and the others were all stunned and speechless.
Even Huang Yi, who had been quietly drinking tea, cast a surprised glance at her.
As for Liu Ergou, he didn't understand what this meant, while Hou Yi had already collapsed onto the table.
Qin Zhiyuan's tiger-like eyes gleamed with golden light, and his entire aura suddenly surged, becoming even more terrifying than a tiger. He coldly said:
"I don't like it when people talk big to me."
Fan Zhou remained calm, knowing that now was not the time to hide his abilities.
Since Qin Zhiyuan asked in person, I must give him a sufficiently unexpected answer. Only in this way can I gain his favor and make him truly willing to mentor me.
He looked directly into Qin Zhiyuan's eyes and said firmly again:
"I only need six months to cultivate the four types of Qi: hardness, softness, coldness, and heat!"
With the "Two Elements and Four Phases Sword" forged by the Heavenly Craft Furnace within his body, Fan Zhou was fully confident that he could master these four types of energy within six months.
"I believe in Fan Zhou, he can definitely do it!" Liu Ergou shouted in support, silencing Tian Youliang who was about to say something.
Everyone had different expressions, and all eyes were focused on Qin Zhiyuan, waiting to see how he would react.
"Excellent! Young spirits soar high, let's raise a toast!"
Qin Zhiyuan burst into laughter, picked up a wine jar, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
He wiped his mouth, his eyes bright, and promised Fan Zhou:
"I'll give you six months. If you can truly master the four types of Qi after six months, I, Qin, will accept you as my disciple. I mean it!"
"Thank you very much, Uncle Qin!" Fan Zhou was overjoyed and drank the wine bowl in one gulp.
Qin Zhiyuan smiled and drank a bowl with him.
Tian Youliang was both happy and worried at this moment. He quickly poured himself a bowl of wine, stood up and said to Qin Zhiyuan:
"Thank you very much, Senior Brother Qin!"
"good!"
Qin Zhiyuan drank another bowl with him, his smile widening, and he didn't forget to call out to the other stewards:
"Come, everyone, let's drink! Tonight, we won't leave until we're drunk!"
…………
The next day, at dawn.
Fan Zhou awoke from his deep sleep on instinct.
He stood there stunned for a while, unable to recall how he got back.
All I remember is drinking several bowls of spirit wine with everyone last night. I was fine at the time and even felt full of spiritual energy. The more I drank, the more energetic I became. But as soon as I walked out of the Yingchun Pavilion, I lost consciousness.
"I actually drank myself into oblivion. I'll have to be more careful next time."
Fan Zhou rubbed his head and got out of bed.
Liu Ergou woke up at this moment, sat blankly for a while, and then suddenly chuckled and said:
"Fan Zhou, I dreamt last night that I ate so many delicious dishes! They were all things I'd never seen before, and I even dreamt about you and Master Hou! And Boss Qin and the others were there too..."
As he spoke, he looked confused and asked in bewilderment:
"Strange, this dream felt so real, I even had a piece of meat stuck between my teeth."
Fan Zhou shook his head and chuckled; this man was even more clueless about what he was drinking.
"Alright, get up and practice your swordsmanship. Stop dwelling on that dream."
Liu Ergou said "Oh," and quickly put on his shoes and got out of bed, but suddenly froze and his expression fell.
"Fan Zhou, I'm leaving with Master Huang this morning and won't be able to practice swordsmanship with you."
Fan Zhou frowned. "So rushed?"
Liu Ergou nodded. "Master Huang said we'll set off early this morning."
"Then I'll see you off one last time."
Fan Zhou smiled with relief, picked up the wooden sword, pushed open the door, and walked out.
It was still dark, and the whole world was still bathed in a deep blue light.
The two arrived at the foot of the mountain where they practiced swordsmanship. Huang Yi sat on a rock as usual, her eyes half-closed, with her sword resting on her lap.
"Greetings, Master Huang."
The two of them exchanged gifts together.
Huang Yi nodded slightly, took out a scroll of bamboo slips from her storage bag, and handed it to Fan Zhou:
"This contains some of my experience in practicing swordsmanship; I'm giving it to you as a gift."
"Thank you very much, Master Huang." Fan Zhou accepted the gift respectfully.
Huang Yi then instructed, "After you have mastered the dual sword techniques of strength and gentleness, if you still wish to practice swordsmanship, go find Senior Brother Qin. I left you a sword manual with him."
"I will, Master Huang."
Fan Zhou solemnly agreed.
After he finished explaining his business, Huang Yi looked at Liu Ergou:
"Ergou, is there anything else you need to tidy up?"
"No," Liu Ergou shook his head.
"Then let's go," Huang Yi said.
Liu Ergou nodded, stood next to Huang Yi, and said goodbye to Fan Zhou:
"A-Zhou, I'll be waiting for you at the sword furnace."
Before they finished speaking, the two had already transformed into sword light and soared into the sky, heading far away to the horizon.
Fan Zhou stood there waving until they were no longer in sight.
He felt a slight sense of loneliness, but quickly regained his composure.
"Ergou is improving, so I need to work hard too. I absolutely can't lose to him!"
Fan Zhou took a deep breath and checked the progress of the Heavenly Craft Furnace.
The Yin-Yang Four Phases Sword is already in the furnace!
[The Two Elements and Four Phases Sword: Combining strength and gentleness, cold and heat! Upon reaching perfection, one can achieve the four transformations of Qi: strength, gentleness, cold, and heat.]
[Forging Materials: A steel sword, 103 days' worth of stored essence blood]
Forging time: 120 days (starting after forging materials are stockpiled)
"There are still 103 days left to replenish the essence, which is a little over three months."
"I currently have two large blood chickens that are over ten years old, and more than twenty large blood centipedes, including three that are over a foot long. These resources can greatly reduce the time it takes for me to accumulate essence blood."
"The priority right now is to soak the blood centipede in the wine so we can take it as soon as possible. We should also kill those two large blood chickens and use their blood to enhance the medicine's effects."
Fan Zhou cleared his mind, picked up his wooden sword, and began his daily morning practice.
The more skillful ten sword techniques flowed smoothly from his hands, and the essence within his body circulated throughout his limbs and bones, drawing in strands of spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Unlike yesterday, Fan Zhou felt more agile and nimble today, as if he had swept away all the turbidity.
This is not an illusion; the essence in the dantian has also been significantly improved.
"It's because of the spiritual food and wine we ate last night," Fan Zhou realized.
Those spiritual creatures didn't eat for nothing; they all merged into his body, not only strengthening his vital energy but also cleansing his body, allowing him to reach the first level of perfect embryonic breathing.
"Perfect, I'll use this opportunity to break through to the second level of Fetal Breathing!"
The second stage of fetal breathing is called "Yi Jin".
Upon reaching this stage of cultivation, the body has been initially cleansed by spiritual energy. The spiritual energy gradually condenses and remains within the flesh and blood, continuously refining the meridians and ensuring unimpeded blood and qi circulation. It also prevents impurities from invading the body, leading to a life of peace and fewer illnesses.
It is said that after breaking through to a higher realm and completing the marrow cleansing and blood transformation, a fragrance will even emerge from the flesh and blood.
Fan Zhou is still far from reaching that level, but when he finishes his morning exercise, a spiritual energy is already circulating through his muscles, subtly cleansing his body.
It is the second level of fetal breathing, the Yi Jin realm.
Fan Zhou sheathed his sword, exhaled a breath of white air, and flew two feet away before gradually dissipating.
"Great, you've made another breakthrough, and you're still stuck at the end of the month, so you'll get a little more pay next month."
"Everything is moving in a better direction."
Fan Zhou smiled and leaped towards the canteen.
After breakfast, he found Hou Yi and asked for some wine and medicinal herbs, which he then used to soak all the blood centipedes.
When Hou Yi heard that he had acquired two more roosters, he quickly followed to help, and even cooked the chicken for him, all for the sake of the two pairs of rooster kicks.
Fan Zhou was genuinely puzzled. "Master Hou, what kind of treasure is this chicken's foot kick that you like so much?"
"What do you know? This chicken's foot is also called a 'money-grabbing hand,' it brings wealth!"
"Moreover, it also has a nice-sounding meaning, called 'rising to the top in one step'."
Hou Yi had already taken the pedal in his hand and was rubbing and fiddling with it, looking like he couldn't put it down.
Fan Zhou rolled his eyes twice. It's one thing for ordinary people to believe in this kind of thing, but for a cultivator like you to believe in it is another.
Hou Yi was too lazy to say anything more to him, and waved his hand, saying:
"The rooster is ready to stew, hurry up and eat it and give the pot back to me."
Fan Zhou raised an eyebrow and joked:
"Master Hou, if you keep this attitude, I won't leave you any kickers on the roosters I get in the future!"
Hou Yi's spirits lifted. "You still have roosters that are over ten years old?"
Fan Zhou smiled but remained silent.
Hou Yi quickly brought the stewed chicken soup to Fan Zhou, not forgetting to pick up a bowl and spoon, and said with a smile:
"Ah Zhou, I carefully simmered this chicken soup with a variety of nourishing medicinal herbs, so eat it while it's hot."
Fan Zhou nodded in satisfaction, and without keeping him in suspense any longer, said to Hou Yi:
"Master Hou, I visited a village before called Sangma Village..."