Chapter 53 Martial Arts·Physique, Dacheng
As the sun sets and the clouds drift away in a hazy, golden hue.
The Xiao residence was bustling with carriages and horses, and numerous guests were coming and going.
People would frequently visit the quiet residence where the old Marquis lived to pay their respects.
One crop after another.
The old marquis naturally wouldn't say anything, but even though he was weak, he still forced himself to talk to the visitor.
Whether it's offering encouragement or inquiring about their recent situation, chatting and laughing, it brings a sense of comfort to the elderly.
These people are the connections that the Xiao family has accumulated over two hundred years. While he is still alive, they were invited to this birthday banquet.
Firstly, it's to let them get acquainted with the family and meet the next generation of leaders of the Xiao family, namely Xiao Wan'er, Xiao Jinghong, and Xiao Wuge.
Secondly, it will also allow the Xiao family to see the true colors of some people.
As for those who come to offer birthday wishes, the Xiao family will not necessarily become too close to them in the future, but they will help them out if they are able to.
As for those who didn't come, there's not much to say.
Even if the gift is given, the distance will still be maintained.
In a family tradition, with the old and new generations succeeding each other, certain rules are established and must be followed.
As night fell, the guests who were not so close to the host tactfully took their leave.
Those from Shuzhou returned home, while those from farther away were provided with accommodation by the Marquis's residence.
Closer relatives or guests stayed at the Xiao family home, where banquets were held in various courtyards, from the central courtyard to the back courtyard.
However, only two or three people could stay in the quiet house.
At this moment, Duke Zhang Xuan watched the old Marquis wolfing down his food, wanting to keep up but feeling powerless to do so.
Ever since Chen Yi wrote that birthday poem, the old Marquis's appetite has increased dramatically. He eats two bowls of porridge in the morning, chicken, fish, meat and eggs at noon, and can even have some fruit in the evening.
Not only did his appetite increase and his mood improve, but his health also improved as a result.
Zhang Xuan was able to keep up at first, but after three to five days, his appetite wasn't so good anymore.
Sun Fu noticed something amiss: "Old Xiao's appetite has greatly increased, which is a good thing."
Zhang Xuan glared at him. "Did I say anything?"
Sun Fu ate the duck meat slowly and deliberately, saying, "Your words are written all over your face, do I need to say anything more?"
"Hmph, you old codger, you've got some skills."
After finishing half a roast duck, Lord Xiao wiped the grease from his hands and mouth, and said with a smile:
"Mingtang is still a bit lacking compared to me, whether in terms of appetite or military achievements."
This infuriated Zhang Xuan so much that he glared and shouted that he wouldn't compare their eating capacity, but only their military achievements.
Then he brought up his campaigns to suppress bandits and annihilate pirates in Guangyue Prefecture.
The old Marquis mentioned one thing—he had planted a flag in the Kingdom of Vaishsa.
Sun Fu continued eating, and taking advantage of a pause in their bickering, said, "After the birthday banquet tomorrow, I'd like to stay here for a while longer."
The old marquis nodded, "You may stay."
Zhang Xuan immediately followed suit, saying, "I also have this plan."
Sun Fuqi asked, "Lord Duke, your birthday is coming up soon. Why don't you go back to Guangyue Prefecture to rest?"
Zhang Xuan glanced at him sideways, "The birthday greetings haven't been finalized yet, how can I leave empty-handed?"
Having won the argument earlier, the old Marquis replied cheerfully, "My household won't be short of a pair of chopsticks."
"However, it's been more than ten days since you brought up Chen Xuanji, and I haven't seen you go to Chunhe Garden even once."
Zhang Xuan snorted and said, "Haste makes waste. Just wait. I have a brilliant plan."
Upon hearing this, the old Marquis and Sun Fu exchanged a smile, which infuriated him greatly.
Inside Jiaxingyuan.
Because of the large number of guests, the women held a banquet in the private room of the wooden building's hall.
Chen Yi then led the gentlemen and young masters to set up several tables and chairs under the trees in front of the house, where they sat together to eat and drink.
The maids lit the lamps, others cleaned, and several servants who frequently went back and forth to the kitchen hurriedly brought out various delicacies.
After a hearty meal and drinks.
Xiao Wan'er and Chen Yi saw them off at Jiaxing Garden, where servants led them to their guest rooms to rest, and only then did they breathe a sigh of relief.
Chen Yi was somewhat better off because he had martial arts skills, but the large number of people, including many scholars, made him waste some of his breath talking about all sorts of things.
Xiao Wan'er, on the other hand, was exhausted both physically and mentally.
Normally, it should be the master of the mansion who should appear on such occasions, but now the eldest son's family is not prosperous and the only male heir, Xiao Wuge, is still young. Therefore, it is up to her, the eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion, to appear.
Fortunately, since she took over the business of the shops in the mansion, she has become skilled in dealing with people and is quite generous and proper in such situations.
"We still need to work for two more days, tomorrow and the day after."
After calculating the time, Xiao Wan'er's already pale face showed some fatigue. She turned her head to look at Chen Yi and said, "Thank you for your help, brother-in-law."
Chen Yi met her gaze with a smile and said, "We're family, no need to be so polite."
As he spoke, he glanced at the quiet Chunhe Garden.
That's strange, why haven't Xiao Jinghong, Pei Guanli, and Xiao Die returned?
Xiao Wan'er noticed his gaze and explained, "Jinghong must have been delayed by something at the Provincial Administration Commission."
Chen Yi bowed slightly to take his leave and went straight back to Chunhe Garden.
Only after he had walked away did Shen Huatang, who was standing nearby, speak up: "Miss, it's getting chilly at night, you should go back and take your medicine."
Xiao Wan'er withdrew her gaze, hummed in agreement, and followed her back to Jiaxing Garden.
A moment later.
Xiao Wan'er sighed softly, "Hua Tang, after Grandfather's birthday banquet, have the heads of those pharmacies come to the manor."
Shen Huatang bowed: "I will inform them early the day after tomorrow."
Xiao Wan'er nodded, her eyes flickering slightly.
Chen Yi is a talented and capable person.
She would be happy to help if she could.
...
Chen Yi was unaware that Xiao Wan'er had already made a decision. He returned to the wooden building and sat in the study.
After thinking for a moment, he grinned.
"Don't worry about things that don't concern you."
"Xiao Jinghong is a master of martial arts, and Pei Guanli possesses poisonous Gu worms. Anyone who dares to provoke them is courting death."
Thinking of this, Chen Yi got up, stretched his limbs to relax, and with a slight thought, opened the panel and glanced at it:
With 123 chances, that's finally enough.
He then focused his efforts on "Martial Arts and Body".
As the "minor achievement" that represented a certain level of mastery was replaced by the "major achievement," a vast and profound mystery suddenly filled Chen Yi's mind.
Muscles, bones, skin, flesh, internal organs, limbs, bones, and even the twelve regular meridians and eight extraordinary meridians, and so on.
The mysteries concerning muscles, bones, skin, and flesh alone cannot be digested in just a few days, let alone other things.
After a quick examination, Chen Yi felt a bit dizzy and had to rub his forehead and close his eyes to rest.
The profound mysteries of "Martial Arts and Body" after mastery are far more complex than those of calligraphy.
This perfectly illustrates the saying—the human body is a vast treasure trove; the deeper you dig, the more it feels like a bottomless pit.
Besides those profound mysteries, he also sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough in his already stagnant spear stance training.
After resting for a while and feeling slightly better, Chen Yi got up and practiced the spear stance in the study.
Half an hour later.
[Cultivation achieved, technique: Great Spear Stance Technique, breakthrough to mastery, gaining insight into the essence of martial arts and the body.]
Upon reaching the proficiency level of stance training, Chen Yi's body, which had been generating energy smoothly, suddenly doubled in volume.
The energy continuously flows into his dantian and the Tanzhong acupoint in his chest, allowing him to activate and continue opening the four main meridians in his hands and feet.
Moreover, the benefits of breaking through stance training also include the tempering of his physical body.
Under the vibrations of the standing meditation, the muscles, bones, skin, flesh, and internal organs are improved at a speed far exceeding that before.
In almost ten breaths, he felt himself gain a pound of strength.
In other words, practicing stance training for one hour can increase his strength by 120 jin.
Not long after.
Chen Yi slowly straightened his body and calmed and gathered his internal energy.
He clenched his fist and immediately felt much lighter and stronger, as if all the mental and physical energy he had spent that afternoon had been swept away.
Chen Yi glanced out the window and listened intently for a moment.
Seeing that Xiao Jinghong and Pei Guanli had not yet returned, he continued to practice the other techniques.
Although he has now reached the proficiency level in the Bengyue Fist, Hundred Flowers Palm, Dragon Playing with Phoenix Body Technique, and Meteor Butterfly Step, he still maintains his daily practice.
Perhaps one day he will have another "sudden enlightenment" and break through the paths of fist and footwork without having to expend any special opportunities.
Despite his claim of diligent practice, Chen Yi actually only practiced each technique once.
It took about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Immediately afterwards, he began to practice the newly learned Xuanwu Concealing Breath Technique.
After reading the Xuanwu Concealing Breath Technique incantation through once, Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly:
"This is actually a set of stance training exercises?"
I thought it would be an internal energy cultivation technique.
Thinking it over, Chen Yi assumed the starting posture—the Black Tortoise Worships the Moon, head raised to the sky, limbs drawn inward, and began to breathe in and out in an extremely strange posture.
As his breathing gradually calmed, wisps of spiritual energy from heaven and earth flowed into his body, strengthening his muscles, bones, and skin in a mysterious way.
Unlike the Great Spear Stance, which comprehensively strengthens the physical body and generates Qi, the Xuanwu Breath Concealing Technique only targets the muscles, bones, skin, and hair.
It allows him to close his pores and tighten his muscles and skin, preventing any leakage of vital energy and thus achieving the effect of breath control.
When one's cultivation reaches a high level, it is not impossible to disguise oneself as an ordinary person with no cultivation at all.
A moment later.
[Successfully mastered the cultivation technique "Mysterious Warrior Breath Concealment Technique" (Mysterious Rank), Level: Beginner]
Chen Yi subconsciously followed the profound cultivation techniques that had appeared in his mind.
His mind guided the internal energy to transform into hair-sized particles, blocking each pore on his body surface and merging with his taut muscles, bones, and skin.
Soon after, no more energy leaked from his body.
He remained completely still, as if asleep.
...
Xiao Jinghong brought Su Zhenyue back to Chunhe Garden.
The garden was quiet, but brightly lit.
Xiao Jinghong glanced at the study lit by candlelight, listened intently, and a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes beneath his half-armor.
Why is Chen Yi asleep in the study?
Also, where did Pei Guanli and Xiaodie go?
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Jinghong did not disturb Chen Yi and went to Jiaxing Garden instead.
Upon hearing Xiao Wan'er mention that guests would be entertaining that evening, and after Chen Yi had consumed some wine, she gave the following instructions:
"Zhenyue, prepare some hangover soup and take it to your husband when he wakes up."
"Yes, miss."
Xiao Wan'er also wanted Shen Huatang to have someone to look after her from the past.
After the two left.
Xiao Jinghong noticed that she had something to say and asked, "Sister, what happened in the manor today?"
Xiao Wan'er shook her head and said hesitantly, "There's nothing wrong at home. Yes, it's your husband who has something to do."
Since it was her second sister's request, she couldn't refuse.
Let's give it a try.
I just hope that he can always be as polite and courteous as he is today.
(End of this chapter)
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