From a humble farmer to a great martial arts master

44. Power

inside the room.

After learning the basic True Qi Technique, Ren Qingshan immediately sat cross-legged and circulated his Qi and blood throughout his body to strengthen his True Qi.

The difference was obvious.

The originally scattered and disorganized true energy was able to be gathered together, advance and retreat with restraint, and its growth rate increased dramatically.

Refining essence into qi, true qi originates from essence and blood. When true qi circulates, it can also stimulate acupoints, which in turn nourish the generation of essence and blood.

The explosive power and endurance of martial artists undergo a dramatic transformation in this realm.

Until dusk.

Ren Qingshan circulated his internal energy for thirty-six cycles before getting up, pushing open the door, and going out.

Guan Shanyue stood guard outside the door, like a door god.

"Seeing that you are completely absorbed in your own world, Lord Fang has ordered me to protect you and prevent you from being disturbed. What do you say?"

Upon seeing Ren Qingshan leave, Guan Shanyue immediately asked with a smile.

"very good."

Ren Qingshan's lips curled up, his true energy circulated between his fingers, lingering without dissipating, and suddenly he pointed his finger and shot it towards the ground.

With a loud "boom," dust flew up, and a deep pit appeared on the hard, compacted earth, about a foot deep and the thickness of a finger.

Guan Shanyue was startled, his lips twitched slightly, and envy appeared in his eyes.

True Qi Martial Artist!

That's how powerful it is; when true energy leaves the body, its power is immense.

He slowly walked towards the wall.

"Where did Brother Guan go?"

Ren Qingshan glanced at his fingers and asked curiously.

"Shovel soil and fill the hole."

Guan Shanyue took a shovel from the wall, quickly dug up a basket of loose soil, and brought it over to fill the ground.

Ren Qingshan chuckled to himself.

"Where is Lord Fang?"

Guan Shanyue carefully patched the ground, then looked up and said, "Lord Fang went to inspect the river. Since the beginning of spring, there have been frequent cases of childhood parasitic diseases, and the lord is currently studying prescriptions."

He stood up, dusted off his hands, and took out an iron waist token from his pocket: "The master instructed that you come to the Martial Virtue Academy after noon tomorrow. I suppose you have another appointment. Congratulations, Brother Qingshan."

Ren Qingshan took the waist tag and saw the two small characters "Martial Virtue" on it. He smiled and nodded.

"I am very grateful for your introduction today."

Guan Shanyue smiled and said, "No need to be polite. From now on, we're all on the same side. If we become rich and powerful, let's not forget each other."

He couldn't help but feel envious and eager to climb up to them.

After all, with Ren Qingshan's late-stage Silver Blood cultivation and his passable social skills, it wouldn't be long before he became Lord Fang's right-hand man, and great wealth and honor would be within his grasp.

"Of course, no problem at all."

After condensing his true energy, Ren Qingshan's biggest realization was that he no longer got hungry so easily.

After all, having an extra source of energy means your stomach is full of energy.

His clothes were smelly and sticky, which was the filth expelled from his body when he was circulating his internal energy.

Raise your arm and take a sniff.

Hey!

The scent of the armpit odor is very strong.

"Brother Guan, let's go take a bath. I'll treat you to drinks after we're done."

Now that he has achieved some success in martial arts, he should make more connections and increase his income rather than cut back on spending. Therefore, Ren Qingshan is no longer as stingy as before.

Guan Shanyue nodded happily.

He laughed and said, "No need for you to invite me. Come on, let's call Brother Dachang and celebrate for you tonight."

Ren Qingshan immediately understood what he meant.

Life in the county town was truly corrupt; even a constable had to ask a merchant to pay for his meal.

Not to mention the head constable, even Xiao Qi, a mere yamen runner, eats at restaurants owned by gangs, getting free meals.

A corrupt and backward feudal society.

"Then I'll call for another person. There's a yamen runner named Ren Yaokang, who is my nephew."

Ren Qingshan said with a smile.

Such is the state of the world; only the accomplished can benefit all under heaven. Now, I cannot even manage to remain virtuous; I can only blend in with the world.

The moral high ground is too cold, so I won't go up there for now.

"Oh? I've heard of this person before, I didn't expect him to be your nephew... Alright."

……

Inside the steaming hot bathhouse.

Ren Yaokang sat in the corner, his mind still blank, his face flushed, whether from excitement or heat.

Uncle Liu has broken through to the late Silver Blood stage!

Sixth Uncle was also personally taught the True Qi Technique by Lord Fang!

Sixth Uncle and Constable Guan became good friends!

I was anxious all day, thinking about the situation at home while I was doing anything.

However, to everyone's surprise, such good news arrived in the evening!

It felt like a dream.

In a daze, he recalled how his sixth uncle asked him to find a job, and through the connections of Steward Li, he became a bodyguard for the Lu family. It was still vivid in his mind, as if it were yesterday.

How long has it been?

In less than half a year, Sixth Uncle had already soared to great heights.

Looking back, it had only been a little over a month since Uncle Liu last came to the county town, boasted to me, and made a "three-year agreement".

It seems like it's about to be realized.

Ren Yaokang grinned, buried his head in the steaming hot water of the bathtub, and gently wiped the corner of his eye, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Now, the future looks promising!

Third Brother's revenge can finally be taken!

However, since Uncle Liu is just starting out and his foundation is not yet solid, he should not be in a hurry. He should proceed slowly and steadily, and not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small gains.

……

"So, Brother Qingshan is probably going to be assigned to the Martial Virtue Academy by the county magistrate?"

Beside him, Liang Dachang, after hearing what had happened that day, immediately asked in surprise and delight.

"It's not decided yet, but it's roughly like this."

Guan Shanyue replied to Liang Dachang, then looked at Ren Qingshan: "Lord Fang is prudent in his actions, considerate of his subordinates, and has a strong desire to cultivate them. I think he means that he feels your martial arts foundation is not particularly solid, and it would be best if you honed it more at the Martial Virtue Academy. However, combat experience should account for at least 30% of your combat strength."

Ren Qingshan smiled and nodded: "That's to be expected."

"This is truly a first-rate and prestigious job. The wealthy families in the city privately refer to Lord Fang's Martial Virtue Academy as 'Little Hanlin Scholar'!"

"I wanted to spend a thousand taels of silver to send my good-for-nothing son to the Martial Arts Academy, but alas, they wouldn't accept him!"

"They despise my family's corrupt practices and refuse to associate with them. Sigh, it's all pure white money, but mine gets tainted..."

Liang Dachang said excitedly, but he started reciting in the mountain dialect.

The disciples of Wude Academy were all personally taught by the county magistrate. In this county, they were like the emperor's disciples. They were either rich or noble, or commoners with geniuses. Merchants were of a lower status, and those who ran gambling dens were of an even lower status. They couldn't even spend their money.

Guan Shanyue's son can get in without spending any money.

But his own son couldn't get in even if he paid money.

There's no reasoning with them.

But we still have to find ways to squeeze in, to pave the way for our descendants.

Ren Qingshan glanced at him and immediately understood what he meant. He then looked at Guan Shanyue and saw him intently scrubbing the dirt off his body, looking lost in thought. He pretended not to hear and shook his head with a smile.

Even if Guan Shanyue wanted to help, he probably didn't have the right to do so.

"Let's see how it goes. I'll officially start tomorrow, and what I'll be doing is still undecided."

Ren Qingshan said calmly, without giving him any concrete promises.

A seventh-rank official stands before the prime minister's gate; a county magistrate stands before the county magistrate's gate... Being close to power, one seems to possess a portion of that power's influence.

This is when they'll start preparing to corrupt me with sugar-coated bullets.

In short, having lived two lives, this was truly the first time I had ever experienced such a feeling.

……

……