Even great martial arts are no match for a kitchen knife.
Let alone a foreign gun!
After listening to Master Ma's narration, this saying came to Xu Xing's mind.
My lord, times have changed!
Fang Yun, the Governor of Qin Province, was no simple character. Or, to put it another way, most Qing court officials were not the incompetent fools portrayed in films and television series. On the contrary, these men had fought their way through the imperial examination system; every single one of them was exceptionally cunning. They merely seemed foolish when caught in the tide of historical change.
Before joining Weijing Academy, Xu Xing had predicted that Governor Fang Yun would undoubtedly have foreign gun teams guarding him. So, even with Master Ma, a skilled martial artist, by his side, he was still eager to find a way to avoid this impending fatal tribulation.
I'm afraid Master Ma also knows Fang Yun has foreign gun teams under his command...
It's just that... it was an excellent opportunity, one they couldn't afford to miss.
Xu Xing suddenly felt a greater measure of respect for Master Ma.
To know something is impossible, yet still attempt it.
Xiaoyi Hall, having been at odds with the Qin Province government for so many years, could not possibly have been ignorant of the true strength of Governor Fang Yun's guard.
"Twenty-three brothers went," Master Ma sighed. "Only fourteen returned. This time, we failed to kill those dog Tartars and instead lost nine brothers. As the leader, I am to blame. It's fortunate you didn't go. Otherwise, with your mediocre martial arts, attempting to assassinate Fang Yun would have only ended in your death."
"By the way, what brings you here today?" Master Ma asked, getting to the purpose of Xu Xing's visit. "Does the academy require tuition fees? Or are you short of money?"
As he spoke, he took out ten taels of patterned silver from a cloth bag on the kang bed and handed it to Xu Xing. "If you're short of money in the future, go to the Four Seas Bank to make a withdrawal. Shopkeeper Wu of the bank is the incense master of Taoyuan Township. Just mention the name of Xiaoyi Hall, and you can withdraw silver. However, you mustn't be too extravagant. Every coin of this is money earned by our brothers through their blood and sweat... so spend it sparingly."
The Elder Brother Association operates through Four Pillars, which are its main types of branches: Mountain, Water, Fragrance, and Hall. (The term 'Four Pillars' itself refers to these four branches.) The Peach Garden Fragrance Contract, for example, aligns with the 'Fragrance' pillar organizations. Xiaoyi Hall aligns with the 'Hall' pillar organizations. The main headquarters, Qin Fengshan, is also known as the Mountain Hall, aligning with the 'Mountain' pillar.
Xu Xing nodded and accepted the silver from Master Ma.
Accepting this silver was not a casual matter. By taking Xiaoyi Hall's financial support, he became one of their own. If he refused it, it would imply he had ulterior motives and could be suspected of intending to betray Xiaoyi Hall.
"Master Ma," Xu Xing began, "I came today for two reasons. First, I read in the Widespread News about your failed attempt to assassinate the Tartars. I was worried about the safety of our brothers, so I came to check on things. Second..."
"Recently, in the academy's book house, I accidentally came across a martial arts secret manual. This manual was hidden within the 'Immortal Scrolls' section of the 'Taiping Wide Record.' I found its principles quite profound, so I've brought it for you to examine, Master Ma..."
Xu Xing shamelessly fabricated a bizarre story about the origin of the Rock Heart Technique. Such a fabrication, commonplace to later generations, was a rarity in the late Qing Dynasty.
After speaking, he handed the copied Stony Heart Method to Master Ma.
After listening, Master Ma first frowned, then his expression eased as he said, "Perhaps when Weijing Academy was establishing its mountain campus and acquiring ancient and rare books, someone unknowingly sold an ancestral heirloom, and you happened upon a lucky find."
"But this cultivation method..." He carefully studied every word of the technique. "This cultivation method is quite profound. Although it's not as good as my Meridian Skill, it can complement my Meridian Skill."
"This cultivation method..." He looked hesitant, then closed the silk cloth on which the cultivation method was written.
The Rock Heart Technique was a Martial Dao cultivation method; practicing it could refine vital essence and nourish primal energy. His Meridian Skill, however, was not strictly a Martial Dao cultivation method but rather a Taoist Internal Power technique. It involved cultivation by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth during the Zi (11 PM - 1 AM) and Wu (11 AM - 1 PM) hours. The former refined vital essence from food, while the latter absorbed the spiritual energy present in heaven and earth.
"Master Ma, is there a problem with this cultivation method?" Xu Xing asked deliberately, seeing Master Ma's prolonged silence.
"No," Master Ma shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with this heart-method. It's just too precious. Having seen it, it's difficult for me to offer you a reward of equivalent value."
"We are all Gelaohui brothers."
"Master Ma, you've said it yourself, we are all brothers..."
"I came upon this cultivation method by chance. Gaining it is my fortune; losing it would be my fate." Xu Xing waved his hand, feigning indifference.
In any case, his Stony Heart Method had cost him nothing. It wasn't a family heirloom technique, so Master Ma practicing it as well would be no loss to him. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, costing him nothing. On the contrary, if Master Ma, an expert, practiced the Stony Heart Method, Xu Xing could also take the opportunity to seek his guidance.
A mutually beneficial situation!
"Very well!" Master Ma said solemnly. "In that case, I will accept this kindness from you."
He had originally intended to take Xu Xing as his disciple. However, Xu Xing's status had now changed. He was a scholar.
Just moments before, from his bedroom, Master Ma had overheard Xu Xing's conversation with the Gelaohui brothers outside. He knew Xu Xing was performing well at Weijing Academy and had a strong chance of achieving official rank and recognition. Whether in official circles or within the Mountain Hall, the status of scholars who had achieved such recognition was considerable. For him, a man of humble origins, to take Xu Xing as a disciple no longer seemed appropriate.
"If you can become a Scholar..." Master Ma glanced at Xu Xing and said cryptically, "with your background, you might gain a significant opportunity."
"Please elaborate, Master Ma," Xu Xing immediately said with a sincere expression, performing a deep bow. "I would be endlessly grateful..."
Seeing Master Ma about to fall silent on the matter of this "opportunity," Xu Xing was not one to wait idly. To be blunt, Xu Xing was not optimistic about Master Ma's lifespan. Although Master Ma was a martial arts expert and had almost escaped unscathed from the assassination attempt on Governor Fang Yun, the adage "even the best swimmers can drown, and the fiercest warriors often die in battle" was not mere empty talk.
"This..." Master Ma was caught off guard. Typically, upon hearing such words, one would first focus on passing the scholar examination. But Xu Xing had directly asked about the nature of the opportunity itself.
"This opportunity isn't anything too secretive," Master Ma relented. "My family's inherited cultivation method is the 'Meridian Cleansing Method.' As the ancients said: 'The Zi and Wu hours, when yin and yang are in harmony, are optimal for cultivation and nurturing.' This Meridian Skill was passed down from my ancestor."
"My ancestor was one of the Seven Sons of Quanzhen, specifically Danyang Daoist..."
"The Mountain Leader of Weijing Academy is Liu Guyu, a prominent figure in Guan Learning. Quanzhen Taoism, which integrates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—the Three Teachings—has long-standing ties with the Guan Learning lineage. If you succeed in the scholar examination, you can identify yourself as being from the Guan Learning lineage. Then, I could petition the Sect Master of the Dragon Gate Sect, and perhaps he would impart the true teachings to you..." Master Ma looked deeply at Xu Xing as he slowly explained.
The reason he hadn't taught Xu Xing the Meridian Skill was that it was a family-inherited method. Without permission from Quanzhen Taoism, it could not be taught to outsiders, not even his own disciples. However, his inability to pass on the skill directly did not mean Xu Xing had no path to obtaining the true lineage of the Dragon Gate Sect.
The Seven Sons of Quanzhen?
The Guan Learning lineage? The true lineage of the Dragon Gate Sect?
A myriad of thoughts instantly flooded Xu Xing's mind. He had never expected that Master Ma, who seemed like an ordinary commoner, would have such a profound connection to Quanzhen Taoism. And that Quanzhen Taoism, in turn, would have such connections with Guan Learning and Weijing Academy...
Then again, Guanzhong might seem vast, yet in some ways, it was small. Quanzhen Taoism was located right in Mount Zhongnan. Grandmaster Chongyang, Wang Chongyang himself, was a native of Xianyang. Before Wang Chongyang embraced Taoism, he was a scholar from Qin Province. Therefore, his connection with Guan Learning seemed... quite plausible.