Chapter 3

“Establish a good horse stance. Adjust your breathing, calm your mind, focus on the Dantian, and feel your own Qi and blood…”

Xu Yan adopts a horse stance, under the guidance of Li Xuan, adjusting his breathing and sensing his Qi and blood.

Li Xuan, while providing instructions, speaks up: “The method of my cultivation lies in the ‘insight’ and the ‘intention’, not in the form. You need to calm your mind, forget about everything else, and deeply understand it, while looking for the ‘intention’ within…”

No matter what, it’s all made up anyway. There are no techniques to teach. Surely I can’t teach Xu Yan to do aerobics, right? That would be too lame.

So Xu Yan can only do a horse stance and figure out the Qi and blood itself.

As for not being able to sense it, that’s a matter of aptitude.

Not a problem with the cultivation technique I taught.

“Whether you can sense Qi and blood relies on your understanding. If you can glimpse the ‘intention’ within and sense the Qi and blood, then try to mobilize Qi and blood, refining your skin all over, and enter the skin refinement stage…”

Li Xuan teaches Xu Yan cultivation with a serious expression.

“This is the foundation of martial arts. As they say, ‘the master can lead the way, but the disciple must do the work.’ You must cultivate diligently, understand deeply, and rest when tired. Combine work with leisure, but do not rush.”

“The more anxious you are, the harder it is to sense Qi and blood, understand?”

Xu Yan respectfully replied: “Yes, Master, your disciple understands!”

“Very well, cultivate diligently!”

Li Xuan leaves with his hands behind his back, happily collected the offerings Xu Yan presented to him when he sought to become his disciple.

“Nine-leaf Ginseng is indeed a treasure, let me boil some and try its effects!”

Thinking so, Li Xuan takes out a small knife, carefully cuts a piece of Nine-leaf Ginseng, catches a chicken from the coop to slaughter, and cooks it together with the Ginseng.

“This apprentice is here cultivating, but he needs to be fed. Considering the lavish gift he presented, if I don’t even provide food, that would be a bit too heartless.”

Li Xuan muttered to himself.

While cooking, he took a look at Xu Yan, who was still practicing his stance, but shaking slightly, about to lose his strength.

A while later, Xu Yan couldn’t hold on any longer and began to rest.

This was already his third break.

“I’ll just deceive him for as long as I can. I didn’t want to trick you, but you basically threw yourself at my doorstep.”

Li Xuan shook his head and ignored him. He wouldn’t be found out for a while.

Moreover, Xu Yan’s arrival provided Li Xuan with a chance to leave the small village. Perhaps he could safely traverse through the Evil Forest.

He already planned his escape. Once he left the small village, he’d head to Wu Country.

To stay far away from Qi Country and DongHe County, even if Xu Yan found out he was deceived, he wouldn’t be able to use his background to take revenge on him!

…

Xu Yan once again adopted the horse stance, focusing his mind to sense his Qi and blood.

“Qi and blood, they reside within the body, flowing throughout. How do I sense them? How do I mobilize them? Master said, it’s all about comprehension, intention, and not the form…”

Xu Yan continued to sense his Qi and blood, but besides feeling the soreness in his legs from maintaining the horse stance, he couldn’t sense any Qi or blood at all.

“Don’t be disheartened. It hasn’t been that long, persistence will surely pay off!”

Xu Yan encouraged himself, his eyes firm as he continued to hold the horse stance and sense his Qi and blood.

The chicken soup was ready.

Li Xuan took a look, seeing that Xu Yan was still in his stance; he didn’t disturb him and started eating by himself.

“Ah, Nine-leaf Ginseng. A rare treasure in this world. Eating it can keep all diseases at bay, black hair won’t turn white, and it prolongs life by twenty years… I wonder if that’s an exaggeration!”

After Li Xuan had eaten his fill, he didn’t know if it was simply psychological, but he felt much more energetic, as if his whole body had become much more relaxed.

“There’s a bit left over, I’ll give it to Xu Yan.”

After mumbling to himself, he got up and walked over to Xu Yan.

“How is it?”

Xu Yan ended his horse stance, looking slightly dispirited: “Master, I still can’t sense any Qi or blood.”

“That’s okay. In the way of martial arts, the most important things are persistence and firm will!”

Li Xuan comforted him.

He thought to himself: “Of course you can’t sense any Qi or blood. What I taught you is all nonsense. If you could actually sense Qi or blood, wouldn’t you be some kind of monster?”

“You still have a whole year, aren’t you hungry now? Go and eat.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Yan suddenly realized his hunger and gratefully said: “Thanks, Master!”

“This is chicken soup cooked with Nine-leaf Ginseng. Eat it. Consider it a nourishing meal.”

“Yes, Master!”

Xu Yan felt touched. The Nine-leaf Ginseng was his gift to his master, but his master used it to cook soup for him. His master truly didn’t care about the gift, just as he had said, him being here was fate!

While eating his meal and sipping the soup, Xu Yan asked, “Master, how long does it usually take to sense Qi and blood and get started with cultivation?”

“Well, that varies from person to person.”

“Master, how long did it take for the fastest person to get started?”

How long did it take to get started?

Li Xuan rolled his eyes internally. According to the cultivation method he made up, one could never get started in a lifetime.

“If I set the threshold for getting started too low, will he become suspicious when he doesn’t make any progress? I must set the standard of a genius a bit higher.”

Thinking this, Li Xuan said: “In ancient times, a genius would complete the skin refinement in five days, the bone refinement in ten days, organ refinement in fifteen days, then move on to the ‘thunderous bones’ stage and Qi and blood like the Gan, successfully getting started.”

“It took about a month in total.”

Xu Yan’s eyes widened in surprise.

Complete the skin refinement in five days?

Get started in a month?

Was this what his Master considered a genius?

“Can I complete the skin refinement in five days? Today, I wasn’t even able to sense the Qi and blood. I probably can’t do it in five days. Does that mean I’m not talented enough?”

Xu Yan immediately began to feel nervous.

Li Xuan was paying attention to Xu Yan’s expressions. It was good that he was feeling nervous. So he added: “Of course, these are the ancient geniuses, one in a million. You don’t need to rush. As long as you can get started in a year, you’re qualified in my eyes.”

“So in Master’s eyes, only getting started in a year is just about passable!”

Xu Yan’s eyes firm up, declaring earnestly, “Master, rest assured. In a year, your disciple will certainly have gotten started. I won’t let down your efforts!”

Li Xuan slapped his shoulder, his face filled with satisfaction, “With this level of understanding, it was not in vain that I made an exception to accept you as my disciple!”

Xu Yan was deeply moved.

At the same time, he felt more pressured, hurriedly finished his meal, and stood up: “Master, I’m going to practice!”

“I need to strive hard in my cultivation, and certainly not disappoint my master’s efforts!”

With a determined heart, Xu Yan took off at a quick pace, returning to his horse stance to sense the Qi and blood.

“This silly boy!”

Li Xuan shook his head, sighed – he didn’t want to deceive anyone.

But now, there was no turning back.

From the moment he accepted the gift and taught Xu Yan the made-up cultivation technique, Li Xuan knew there was no way back. He had to see this through to the end.

The sky had already darkened.

Before going to bed, Li Xuan stepped outside and saw Xu Yan still practising. He admired his determination.

Feeling a twinge of compassion, he didn’t want to exhaust the boy so he said: “Remember to combine work with rest during your cultivation. Pushing yourself too hard might harm your foundation. It’s essential to rest at the appropriate time!”

“Master, I understand!”

Xu Yan replied respectfully.

Li Xuan shook his head, closed the door, and went back to his room to sleep.