Kong Bin was barely able to control his Inner Breath, a thin wisp of it running through his Meridians, only lasted a few breaths before dissipating.
Kong Bin dispersed his Power, looking at the ground with a face full of shame and frustration.
As the saying goes, comparing oneself to others can be infuriating.
Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong, who was still standing after retracting his power, and thought to himself: This kid, he's even more monstrous than I was back in the day!
Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong standing with his sword, snorted coldly, then turned his head to Kong Bin and said, "Kid! If your money has dropped to the ground, just pick it up, no need to keep staring at the ground!"
"No... no..." Kong Bin blushed and stammered, raising his head.
Having accidentally witnessed Duan Rong's forceful exertion of Inner Breath last time, Kong Bin's confidence had been thoroughly shattered. He understood that he could never catch up to Duan Rong. This utterly powerless bitterness was something he had never tasted before in his life.
"You don't need to look at him! He's a beast, you're human! How can a human compete with a beast?" Xiao Zongting said to Kong Bin, "Your progress is normal. Inner Breath cultivation is a gradual process, practice makes perfect. Come over, I'll teach you some details about how to handle the circulation of Inner Breath."
Kong Bin glanced at Duan Rong, his face recovering slightly, and then walked over to Xiao Zongting, who began teaching him specific details and insights.
Meanwhile, Duan Rong stood not far away, gazing at his nose, his nose at his heart, without approaching. Just now, Xiao Zongting had called him a beast, so he didn't feel the need to approach and find trouble.
However, Duan Rong was quite disgruntled in his heart: Is it wrong for me to train well?
Xiao Zongting instructed Kong Bin for nearly the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, before nodding and saying, "Practice on your own diligently."
"Elder Xiao. Don't worry, I will definitely train hard," Kong Bin said through gritted teeth, his cheeks puffing out.
"Go on."
Kong Bin clasped his fists and left, taking a look at Duan Rong as he departed, a complicated look in his eyes. Elder Xiao wanted him to leave first, to give Duan Rong some special instruction, how could he not know?
Duan Rong, however, didn't mind at all, grinning, he rolled his eyes at Kong Bin's back. He also understood in his heart that they weren't on the same progress level, so they couldn't be taught together at all!
Seeing Kong Bin leave, Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong and said, "Your Inner Breath is about as thick as a pubic hair, isn't it?"
Duan Rong was taken aback by Xiao Zongting's vulgar words, nearly choking on his saliva.
Duan Rong dry-coughed and nodded. But it must be said, though crude, the description was quite accurate!
Even though Xiao Zongting had already discerned the strength of Duan Rong's Inner Breath from his techniques, seeing Duan Rong admit it himself was still greatly surprising to him.
The circulation of Inner Breath is so complex, and yet this kid, accomplished such a level so quickly?
"Have you been practicing these past three days?" Xiao Zongting asked.
This was the only answer he could think of.
The moment he instructed that day, this kid immediately began circulating his Inner Breath, which showed that he had an extraordinary understanding of Inner Breath circulation.
In other words, he was quickly able to grasp the complex ways of circulating Inner Breath.
For ordinary people, this might be as difficult as climbing to the heavens, but for some geniuses, it's not impossible.
But even if one mastered the way of circulating Inner Breath, to achieve such strength, practicing diligently every day these three days must have been essential.
"Yes." Duan Rong replied calmly, "If you use Deer Antler, you can keep practicing."
Xiao Zongting's face changed slightly!
Talent is one thing, determination is another.
Cultivation, how dreary it is?!
How many can truly withstand the cold bench?
The words 'keep practicing' seem calm, but in reality, they reflect a heart as firm as iron!
"Did you use up five slices of Deer Antler?"
If one could quickly master the complex circulation methods of Inner Breath and train efficiently, even five slices of Deer Antler might not be enough for three days!
"Yes, used them up," Duan Rong answered, "I went to the Herbal Shop to buy ten more slices myself."
Xiao Zongting's eyes shifted.
In the realm of Martial Artist supplements, Deer Antler slices are quite low-grade, but even so, Deer Antler slices are considered expensive among mundane herbs.
Ordinary families can't afford to use them.
To his knowledge, Duan Rong is an orphan without parents, alone, where did he get the money?
"You have silver coins?"
"Yes, I got some on my own," Duan Rong replied candidly.
Duan Rong had long thought it over, as he stayed in the Escort Agency day and night, some things couldn't be hidden, better to address it sooner.
"You got it yourself?"
Ten slices of Deer Antler would cost at least seven or eight taels of silver.
Xiao Zongting was just about to question Duan Rong further, mainly afraid that he might have taken the wrong path, doing something nefarious.
No matter how good a seedling, if the roots aren't straight, it's wasted.
Duan Rong could see Xiao Zongting's intention to question him further, and he also wanted to seize this opportunity to clear things up sooner. Actually, he had long prepared his excuse.
But before Duan Rong could speak, he suddenly heard urgent, sharp cries coming from the rear courtyard, "Master, the Second Miss is having a seizure!"
Hearing this, Xiao Zongting dashed toward the rear courtyard.
Duan Rong had never imagined that a cripple could run so fast!
In the backyard, inside Xiao Baijiao's boudoir.
Xiao Baijiao lay convulsing on the bed, frothing at the mouth, the embroidery she had been working on fell at her feet.
Xiao Zongting rushed in, immediately clamping down on Xiao Baijiao's jaws, Zhu Xiaoqi quickly handed a black-wood chopstick wrapped in white cotton cloth to Xiao Zongting.
Xiao Zongting, full of anxiety, placed the black-wood chopstick wrapped in white cotton cloth between Xiao Baijiao's teeth, then checked her rolling eyes, wiping away the foam at the corners of her mouth, and said gruffly, "Xiaoqi, quickly go find Doctor Gu!"
Zhu Xiaoqi's little face had long been flushed, she placed the packet of Silver Needles on the bedside and vanished from the room in a flash of red.
Xiao Zongting took up the needle pouch left by Zhu Xiaoqi, drawing out a Silver Needle, as fine as a hair, and awkwardly inserted it into a certain acupoint on top of Xiao Baijiao's head.
Xiao Zongting inserted a total of seven Silver Needles!
He was covered in sweat!
Throughout his life, he had experienced life and death, seen all sorts of scenes, but every time he inserted needles into Xiao Baijiao, his normally steady heart was consumed by fear.
The seven Silver Needles, Xiao Baijiao's condition improved significantly, although she was still convulsing, her eyes were no longer rolling back, and her breathing was steadier and stronger than before.
Xiao Zongting finally sighed, wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye, and placed the packet of needles back at the bedside.
This emergency needle method was taught to him by Doctor Gu a while ago, because Xiao Baijiao's illness had been flaring up more frequently and severely this year.
Thinking back on what Doctor Gu said, it made Xiao Zongting all the more worried!
... This disease can't be cured, with such frequent attacks, to carry on like this might be unbearable...
Seventeen years ago, Xiao Zongting returned severely injured, his fate uncertain!
At that time, Madam Xiao was pregnant with Xiao Baijiao, her anxiety over her husband's safety took a toll on her health, causing her to die in childbirth, leaving only a sickly baby girl.
Xiao Zongting had always cherished his little daughter like the apple of his eye.
But who would have thought, such a lovely daughter, would suffer from epilepsy?
Looking at Xiao Baijiao's sleeping form, which bore seven-tenths resemblance to Madam Xiao back in the day.
Thinking of the deep love shared as husband and wife in those days, now seeing the daughter she left behind slipping away, Xiao Zongting's heart twisted painfully.
"Menglian, I have failed you!"
Xiao Zongting sat at the bedside, his eyes brimming with tears.