Duan Rong was immersed in a sense of joy, when suddenly he noticed that the voice of Xiao Zongting, which had been ringing in his ears, had disappeared for quite some time, and everything around was silent...
Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately thought to himself: "This is not good."
Then he deliberately withdrew his spiritual power, and as it dissipated, the wisp of inner breath disappeared into the depths of his energy channels like a fish swimming into the sea, scattering away...
Duan Rong abruptly opened his eyes, a deep look of confusion in them.
Xiao Zongting quickly noticed that Duan Rong stood still only for a moment, and after a few breaths, his energy flow became chaotic.
At this moment, Duan Rong still had a strong expression of confusion in his eyes, clearly not understanding the situation that had just occurred.
Xiao Zongting took a slight breath. It seemed that Duan Rong's state just now was actually an ethereal state occasionally touched by those with excellent perception.
When he was young, practicing martial arts, he too would occasionally experience it.
"It seems this boy might be the next me!"
Xiao Zongting himself came from humble beginnings; without exceptional talent, how could he have possibly become the Chief of the Escort at Yuan Shun Escort Agency?
In his view, a poor youth like Duan Rong becoming someone like him would already be some kind of limit.
To aim even higher would be beyond human capability.
"Listen carefully!" Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong and shouted.
Duan Rong raised his head, focusing intently on Xiao Zongting, thinking to himself: Life is all about acting; it seems I've passed this trial of Old Xiao's.
He realized he had to be more careful in the future. Xiao Zongting, this stubborn old man, was not easily fooled.
"Martial arts is the skill of killing!" Xiao Zongting's voice suddenly grew sharp.
"The moves of martial arts are merely techniques of combat, whereas the Inner Power Heart Method is where the essence lies!"
"Practicing fists without practicing inner strength is but a hollow effort!"
"In martial arts, combat techniques are methods of engagement, the Inner Power Heart Method is the foundation, and spiritual power is the core!"
Duan Rong's heart trembled as he repeated Xiao Zongting's last sentence to himself. He could understand the Inner Power Heart Method as the foundation, but couldn't grasp the profoundness of spiritual power being the core.
Isn't spiritual power just a means to cultivate inner breath?
"In martial arts, combat techniques are methods of engagement, the Inner Power Heart Method is the foundation, and spiritual power is the core!"
Duan Rong pondered over this sentence repeatedly, and the more he thought about it, the more profound he felt its underlying meaning was.
According to sentence arrangement logic, the latter parts are more important.
"Does this mean that spiritual power is actually more important than the Inner Power Heart Method?"
"Alright, I've finished explaining. How much you can absorb depends on your own fortune." Xiao Zongting suddenly stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the two, and said, "I'll give you three days to study and comprehend it. In three days, right here in this courtyard, I want to assess the results of your inner breath circulation!"
Upon hearing this, Kong Bin wore a bitter expression. The long string of things Xiao Zongting explained seemed like a myth to him, as if he were listening to a celestial book.
But Duan Rong didn't worry at all; to him, the method of inner breath circulation was something he had already basically grasped.
Moreover, due to consuming and digesting the Artifact Spirit, he even had several years of experience, and was familiar with even the minutest complex pathways of operation.
What's left is just the slow, steady practice, which is the same principle as training routines to strengthen the body. This time it's to strengthen the inner breath!
It can't be rushed; rushing is useless!
"Take the secret manuals back with you! But if they're lost or passed on, I'll break your legs!"
The Five Tigers and Sheep Saber is not a profound martial art, and there are quite a few manuals of this kind of martial arts available in the market, but most contain errors.
In martial arts, especially the Inner Power Heart Method, a tiny deviation can lead to a massive difference.
The manuals in their hands, though tattered, had been personally corrected by Xiao Zongting. Some difficult parts were annotated and expanded upon.
The value of this cannot be measured with money.
The stricter the regulations, the more it implies the truth of the teachings!
Being taught the real thing, the selling contract was worth it!
Duan Rong and Kong Bin just pocketed the manuals, intending to leave, when Xiao Zongting called them back, almost forgetting.
As he spoke, he handed each of them a slip of paper.
On the slip were a few lines of text, stamped with the seal of the Escort Agency's accounting office.
"Take these slips to the Inner Warehouse to receive a new saber. This matching saber will be your weapon from now on. For martial practitioners, where there's a saber, there's courage! Also, collect this month's monthly salary and the apprentice's supply of herbs!"
After Xiao Zongting had finished instructing them, he waved his hand, saying, "Go on."
Duan Rong and Kong Bin took the slips and headed out.
As Duan Rong reached the doorway, he slightly tilted his head and saw the side room by the study, its carved window covered in red gauze cloth.
Judging by the decor, it should be Xiao Baijiao's boudoir.
At this thought, the silhouette of Xiao Baijiao's dough-like fair face flashed in Duan Rong's mind.
Suppressing the flutter in his heart, Duan Rong walked out of the courtyard.
Xiao Zongting's gaze kept following Duan Rong's silhouette, muttering to himself: "What a promising youth! It's been so many years since I've seen such a good seedling! If I can nurture you, my role as Chief Tutor won't have been in vain. Even if I die, it'll leave a pillar for the young shopkeeper!"
As he spoke, it seemed like there were murky tears flashing in his aged eyes.
He was reminded of the old shopkeeper.
When one gets old, memories of the past often come to mind.
Of things and people long gone…
Xiao Zongting intended to mold Duan Rong to be his successor.
Duan Rong and Kong Bin left Xiao Zongting's courtyard, noting it was lunchtime, and headed to the dining hall of the Central Court.
Unlike the Outer Court's dining hall, where there weren't even tables and chairs, and the servant disciples had to find places to squat and eat, the Central Court's dining hall had neatly arranged tables and chairs, all scrubbed clean.
Duan Rong and Kong Bin got their meals and found a less crowded corner to sit down.
Duan Rong noticed quite a bit of fatty meat floating in the oily soup.
In ancient times, when resources were limited, fatty meat was more expensive than lean meat.
Just as they were about to start eating, Zhao Mu and a group of people clearly dressed as escorts entered the dining hall, laughing and jostling.
They sat on the other side of the dining hall, and Zhao Mu glanced up to see Duan Rong and Kong Bin, nodding only at Duan Rong…
Duan Rong's dark face broke into a sincere smile in response.
Kong Bin's eyelid twitched; Zhao Mu only nodded at Duan Rong, without even glancing his way.
He admitted that Duan Rong's talent was better than his.
But it's hard for people to control their jealousy and resentment.
After the two finished eating, they left the dining hall.
"Brother Rong, let's go to the Inner Warehouse together to get what Elder Xiao instructed." Kong Bin suggested with a grin that didn't reach his eyes, looking at Duan Rong.
"You go first. I have something else to do; I'll go later." Duan Rong replied coldly and headed towards the east of the dining hall.
Kong Bin was momentarily stunned, watching Duan Rong's retreating figure, his pupils slightly constricting.
He remembered Zhang Zheng's suggestion to befriend Duan Rong, but it seemed Duan Rong didn't want anything to do with him.
Biting his lip, he said, "Since we're not peeing in the same pot, we'll go our separate ways."
The Inner Warehouse is essentially the Central Court's storeroom, storing weapons, herbs, escort vehicles, escort banners, etc.
While the front yard's storeroom, called the Outer Warehouse, is generally where servants collect miscellaneous items.
The reason Duan Rong didn't go with Kong Bin to the Inner Warehouse was his eagerness to practice the circulation of inner breath.
He had attempted the method of inner breath circulating for days, unable to find a way in.
Today, under Xiao Zongting's guidance, he had comprehended it, but couldn't reveal it in front of Xiao Zongting.
He had to forcibly hold it in, which was extremely frustrating!
Duan Rong went to the Martial Arts Arena on the east side of the dining hall, found a secluded corner, and immediately began practicing the Complete Round Pile Skill.
The inner breath operation circuit during pile practice had long been deeply ingrained in his mind. Now, as soon as his spiritual power intervened, that thread of inner breath started flowing along his meridians...