“Having received such a favor from Huai Dao today, it would be inappropriate for me, as his uncle, not to offer a gift. Huai Dao, please accept this little trinket.” Li Ji smiled and pulled a token from his sleeve, handing it over. This token was square and larger than Yan Lide’s identity token, and considerably thicker. One side of the token was covered with patterns, while the other side bore a strangely shaped character for “general.”
"Hehe, Mu'er, why don't you thank your Uncle Li?" Qin Qiong said with a smile.
"Thank you, Uncle Li." Seeing Qin Qiong's expression, Qin Mu knew that this must be a good thing, so he quickly clasped his hands in thanks and then accepted it with both hands.
"This is a military token, containing a general-level beast soul, but it's the kind without consciousness. Once activated, a general-level beast shadow will fight for you," Yan Lide explained to Qin Mu.
"Hehe, it only has one-tenth of the original body's power, and it can't use spirit skills, and it can only be used once." Li Ji waved his hand and said.
"Maogong, don't be modest. You didn't even give such a good thing to your son. I'm so grateful," Qin Qiong said gratefully.
"Brother Shubao, what are you saying? We're all family, why distinguish between you and me?" Li Ji said with a smile.
Qin Qiong smiled and nodded in response. That's just the kind of person he is; everything is understood without words. He keeps kindness in his heart and will find an opportunity to repay it.
"Hehe, you all gave gifts, it seems a bit unreasonable for Lao Cheng not to give one, but I don't have anything worthwhile to offer." Cheng Zhijie chuckled, scratching his head with some embarrassment.
"Uncle Cheng, please don't be embarrassed. I appreciate your kind offer," Qin Mu quickly said.
“No way! Oh, right, I have a courtyard in Longshou Plain outside the city. Don’t you Confucian scholars love to go there to compose poems and paint? I’ll give it to you.” Cheng Zhijie’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his forehead.
"this…"
"It's settled then. I'll have someone deliver the land deed tomorrow," Cheng Zhijie said confidently before Qin Mu could refuse.
Then the food and drinks were served, including stewed monster meat, which made their mouths water. Unfortunately, Qin Mu couldn't digest it and could only serve him from the side.
They ate for over an hour, until the lanterns were lit and all the meat was consumed, before finally stopping, slightly tipsy. Qin Mu, on behalf of his father, personally saw them off to the gate, helped them into his carriage, and then returned home.
"Father, why aren't you resting yet?" Qin Mu asked in surprise when he returned to the room and saw that Qin Qiong was still there.
"Sit down!" Qin Qiong gestured.
Seeing that his eyes were clear and he was obviously not drunk, Qin Mu obediently sat down next to him and waited quietly.
"There are some things I must tell you," Qin Qiong said with a forlorn expression.
"Father, please speak."
"Alas! Because of certain events, although His Majesty still trusts me, he doesn't like me. So many people have distanced themselves from our family. The only ones who are truly close are Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Jingde, and Li Ji," Qin Qiong explained with a long sigh.
Qin Mu nodded slightly. The situation was similar in another world. Qin Qiong was, in truth, one of Li Yuan's favorite generals, whom Li Yuan had rewarded handsomely on numerous occasions. Furthermore, Li Yuan had tried his best to win Qin Qiong over since he joined Li Qiong's forces. Human hearts are made of flesh and blood, and Qin Qiong was naturally very moved by this. Therefore, even though he had a better relationship with Li Shimin, he chose to remain neutral in the power struggle between the two brothers.
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, although he still trusted Qin Qiong, he had absolutely no intention of giving him an important position.
Although the neglect of Qin Qiong was not obvious, there were no fools in the court, so they all subconsciously distanced themselves from him.
"Father, you don't need to worry about it. I never thought about becoming an official." Although he didn't know what would become of the Qin family in the future, Qin Mu would never let it become like another world.
In his original world, Qin Qiong's son was merely appointed as a minor official in a remote area, a position best left undone. With Qin Qiong's reputation and the support of his friends, even without officialdom, he could easily have lived a wealthy life.
Although his former friends had grown distant from Qin Qiong, they still couldn't bring themselves to kick him when he was down, as that would be condemned.
"Yes, study hard and cultivate your skills. Any great Confucian scholar, even if he doesn't serve in office, will be respected by millions." Seeing that Qin Mu understood the meaning, Qin Qiong was happy to have a smart son and smiled with satisfaction.
"Your Aunt Zheng said that Huaiyu and your sister will learn literature from you from now on, and I have no objection to that. As for your teacher, there's still no progress. Perhaps you could go to the Academy of Literature to study as well," Qin Qiong said.
Many great Confucian scholars came from other prominent families. When Qin Mu wanted to become their student, Qin Qiong had to consider whether others would accept him and Li Shimin's attitude. He also felt that ordinary people were not qualified to teach his son.
"I'm not in a rush. I just arrived in Chang'an and haven't gotten to know the city yet," Qin Mu nodded. As for going to the Academy of Arts, he instinctively felt some resistance, as he was somewhat tired of going to school.
Qin Qiong said a few words, then, feeling tipsy, got up and left.
The bed was still occupied by his two younger sisters, and Qin Mu didn't want to sleep. Seeing the maids downstairs cleaning up the mess, his eyes lit up, and he asked them to bring in the remaining wine.
To be honest, it's been a long time since I've had a drink, and I miss it a bit. I used to drink a lot in order to get drunk and forget everything.
To his surprise, the wine tasted exceptionally good. It was rich yet clear, with a sweet aftertaste and a delicate aroma. It was somewhat like a high-proof fruit wine. The maid gently scooped out the wine; there was still a slight sediment at the bottom.
As Qin Mu drank, his eyes lit up. Wasn't this a golden opportunity? While the wine tasted good these days, its alcohol content was low. If the wine were slightly purified, it would become a high-proof spirit. Wealth was one thing, but high-proof spirits also had another use: making medicinal wine. Medicinal wine was unheard of these days, probably because the alcohol content was too low.
Although I don't know how to brew wine, it's recorded in the "Essential Techniques for the Common People," and with distillation, I've got it all.
I picked up a pen and paper and started writing and drawing, listing out all the things I needed, just waiting for dawn to bring them to me.
"Big brother!" Qin Yuling stood at the door, rubbing her eyes.
"Fourth Sister, you're awake." Qin Mu put down his pen and walked over.
"Mmm." Upon seeing Qin Mu, Qin Yuling rushed towards him with open arms, like a puppy meeting its owner. Perhaps because no one had ever treated her so well before, the little girl was exceptionally dependent on Qin Mu.
"Are you hungry?" Qin Mu asked, picking up the little girl.
"No," Qin Yuling replied, shaking her head.
"Big brother." Just then, Qin Yuxin also got up and smiled when she saw Qin Mu and the other two.
"Second sister is awake too. Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?" Qin Mu asked.
"I'm not hungry yet."
"Big brother, have you been drinking?" the two girls asked separately.
“Yes. You’re all awake so early, and you’re not eating anything. What will you do if you get hungry tonight?” Qin Mu nodded and asked.
"Big brother, what time is it now? How long have we been asleep?" Qin Yuxin asked, looking at the dark night sky outside.
"Hmm, you've slept for more than three hours, so it should be Hai hour now," Qin Mu estimated and said.
"Ah! It's so late, won't that disturb your rest, brother?" Qin Yuxin said anxiously.
"It's alright, it's the same whether you meditate or not," Qin Mu said with a smile, trying to comfort him.
"Is meditation cultivation? Doesn't cultivation require sleeping?" Qin Yuxin asked curiously.
"Yes, meditation is also a form of cultivation, and it can replace sleep. Second sister, would you like to cultivate?" Qin Mu asked.
"Can I?" Qin Yuxin asked in surprise, her big eyes shining brightly in the candlelight.
"Of course! As long as you're willing to cultivate, I can teach you," Qin Mu nodded.
"I do," Qin Yuxin nodded vigorously.
"Big brother, I want to cultivate too." Qin Yuling looked up at Qin Mu and said.
“Okay, no problem. Second sister and fourth sister can both cultivate. Let your eldest brother think about it and teach you which one.” Qin Mu nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, big brother," Qin Yuxin said happily.
"You all go back first, and come back first thing tomorrow morning. I'll teach you breathing techniques to build a foundation," Qin Mu said.
"Okay," the two little girls happily agreed. Then Qin Mu guessed that Dongmei downstairs had also woken up, so he called out, and sure enough, she was right. He then asked them to take his two younger sisters back home.
Teaching his two younger sisters didn't feel too much pressure for Qin Mu; they were his own sisters, and he hadn't expected them to become extremely powerful. However, cultivation was always good, at least for their health. As for cultivation methods, currently only the Beast Revolving Technique was suitable for them.
However, this was still too early for them; they needed to lay a solid foundation first. He reviewed the plan in his mind again, making sure everything was in order. Then Qin Mu went to sleep.
Feeling refreshed and having cleared a section of my meridians, I slept soundly for a while before getting up. As I pushed open the door and went downstairs, I saw my two younger sisters already standing under the big tree.
The sky was just beginning to lighten, and it was barely possible to see the road. Qin Mu was both curious and distressed, wondering how long they had been there.
"Why didn't you come upstairs to find your older brother when you arrived?" Qin Mu was slightly startled by the figure under the tree. After recognizing it, he walked over and asked.
Qin Yuxin pursed her lips, stubbornly remaining silent.
"My sister said that my brother didn't sleep well and told me not to disturb him," Qin Yuling said, opening her eyes after she had just been dozing off.
"You...remember, I'm your eldest brother. There's nothing to be afraid of disturbing. Next time you come, just come inside and rest," Qin Mu said with a slight sigh. He understood that Qin Yuxin was worried about upsetting him. Although he had treated them well, it had only been a little over a day, and a sense of unfamiliarity still existed; their trust wasn't very deep yet.
"Understood, Big Brother." Qin Yuxin glanced gratefully at Qin Mu, then said softly.
Seeing that the two of them were already there, Qin Mu decided to teach them first. The first thing he taught them was a breathing technique.
Practicing rhythmic breathing has the benefit of calming the mind, allowing for focused concentration and a tranquil state. This is the foundation of cultivating spiritual energy, much like the basic training of a martial artist. It facilitates the absorption of spiritual energy later on and is primarily aimed at beginners and young children.
Inhale deeply, letting the air enter your lower abdomen, then exhale slowly. This method is most suitable for children. Even without practice, a child's breathing actually involves the air entering their abdomen. When infants and young children sleep, their bellies constantly rise and fall; this is the air entering their abdomen. As they grow older, it becomes less effective to simply let the chest rise and fall without practice, with the air only reaching the chest.
As people age, most of the air they inhale only reaches their throat, with only a small portion entering their lungs. Therefore, most elderly people experience rapid breathing and wheezing; if they can't catch their breath, and the air ends up in their mouth and they exhale, they die.
Breathing deeply into the abdomen is a fundamental aspect of cultivation. Developing this habit, with long, even shallow breaths, is essential for absorbing spiritual energy. Otherwise, even if you sense spiritual energy, it will be extremely difficult to draw it into your dantian (energy center). This is why cultivation must begin in childhood.
The method is simple, as it's merely a basic introductory method, and most cultivators use this approach with little difference. The only difference in the Guigu school's breathing method is that it must begin before sunrise, facing east, and end immediately after sunrise. After that, it doesn't matter; normal walking, sitting, or standing will allow the body to maintain this breathing rhythm out of habit.
Evil cannot harm the noble, nor can evil harm the pure. This means that all evil influences are difficult to harm those of high status. "Pure" refers to pure Yang energy, the essence of life. As the rooster crows and the sun rises, the first wisp of pure Yang energy spreads throughout the world; absorbing that wisp of Yang energy is of utmost importance.
The child, being simple-minded, quickly began practicing according to Qin Mu's instructions. This kind of cultivation also had another benefit: it honed the child's patience. Because children are naturally active, without sufficient patience, they are prone to making mistakes when cultivating spiritual energy.
Seeing that the two of them had started cultivating with their eyes closed in a very serious manner, Qin Mu then prepared to cultivate on his own.
But a large head interrupted his thoughts. Upon seeing its master, the rhinoceros excitedly walked over.
This mount needs consistent training; keeping it confined won't do. Qin Mu also wanted to take it for a stroll, but although the yard was large, the layout wasn't ideal. However, the Qin family naturally had a designated area. So, Qin Mu jumped onto the rhinoceros's back, directed it out of the yard, and then had it jog slowly along a path.
The commotion caused by the rhinoceros was considerable, given its size. The poor Qin family's stone-paved road, which was fine for warhorses to run on, was trampled to pieces by this behemoth.
Qin Mu didn't care about any of that. He figured he'd still have to walk the cows eventually, so if one broke, he'd just replace it with a sturdier one.
After running around the Qin residence for about ten laps, the unicorn rhinoceros alerted the entire Qin family, allowing those who had never seen Qin Mu before to see their young master. Only after stretching his body did Qin Mu return to his courtyard.
Qin Yong and Qin Zhong came forward to wash the rhinoceros, which was one of their main tasks. After feeding it a couple of handfuls of beans, Qin Mu suddenly remembered the bone scraps left over from yesterday's meal in the large vat. He had intended to throw them away but felt it would be wasteful. So he had Qin Yong and Qin Zhong add some water and pour them all over the rhinoceros.
Surprisingly, the one-horned rhinoceros ate with great relish. The one-horned rhinoceros, which usually only eats tender branches and grass, was very interested in the bone fragments. It chewed them with its big mouth and ate them all. Just by looking at its actions, you could tell that it was very happy.
"You know this is good stuff, huh?" Qin Mu looked at it for a while before leaving, relieved.
He did a few simple hand and foot exercises, and practiced the Xi Yi sword technique again. Seeing his two younger sisters still standing there, motionless and focused on breathing, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
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