The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 40 - 36 The Rival Merchants

Chapter 40: Chapter 36 The Rival Merchants

Xu Qing immersed himself in the cultivation of the Eight Diagrams Body Technique, time swiftly passed by. In this process, his understanding of "The Book of Changes" ascended to a new level.

In fact, understanding "The Book of Changes" also aids in the writing of eight-legged essays.

Because "The Book of Changes" emphasizes the unity and inter-transformation of Yin Yang and all things. When discussing issues, eight-legged essays often adopt a dialectical method, analyzing both positive and negative aspects of things. In essence, this aligns with the philosophical concepts of "The Book of Changes".

At the same time, the language of "The Book of Changes" is concise and imbued with philosophy, adept at using symbolism and metaphor to convey profound thoughts. Eight-legged essays similarly focus on refined language and depth of expression, stylistically inheriting the legacy of "The Book of Changes".

Through pondering over "The Book of Changes," Xu Qing felt that the restrictive influence of eight-legged essays on thought was exaggerated by human intervention.

Essentially, eight-legged essays are merely a form of writing that evolved from ancient scriptures.

For example, the late Ming Dynasty was actually a period of diverse thought and explosive ideological collisions.

Enclosed environments, restricted career advancement, numbness to servitude... a combination of these factors led to the confinement of thought.

But this was only temporary.

If you don’t express in silence, you perish in silence.

Again, you can control what a person does, but not what he thinks.

Emphasizing the harm of any single entity is always one-sided.

The development of all things must be measured through their interrelations.

For instance, Xu Qing’s progress in movement techniques was very fast. Aside from the solid foundation laid by the Crane Form Skill, the Crane Call’s training of the spine was indispensable, as well as Absolute Focus and the help from the Old Wutong Tree nearby.

While practicing the Eight Diagrams Body Technique at night, Xu Qing inadvertently caused a subtle reaction between his Qi-Blood and the Moonlight absorbed by the Old Wutong Tree.

He could clearly feel that this benefitted his Divine Soul.

Of course, compared to the progress in his movement technique, this benefit seemed minor.

Autumn winds scattered the wutong leaves, stars shone like water.

On this autumn night, three days short of the courtyard examination, Xu Qing observed the bronze mirror.

"Eight Diagrams Body Technique (Great Success)."

To cultivate the Eight Diagrams Body Technique to this extent, Xu Qing had to maintain Absolute Focus for a full two hours.

But now his heart was filled with joy, without much fatigue.

Practicing martial arts is a joy.

And when you see your efforts bearing fruit, the joy doubles!

At the same time, when Xu Qing focused on the evaluation of the Eight Diagrams Body Technique, a sudden enlightenment dawned upon him.

During these days, his insights from "The Book of Changes" had wholly integrated into the Eight Diagrams Body Technique.

He saw the rating text for the Eight Diagrams Body Technique in the bronze mirror dissipate quickly, replaced by a new passage:

Eight Diagram Wandering Palm (Incomplete).

Just like the beginning of the Crane Form Skill.

"So the movement technique she taught me was just the foundation of this Eight Diagram Wandering Palm."

Essentially, the Crane Form Skill, like the Five Animals Qigong, is for exercising the body and health preservation. Its effects on health and fitness are naturally excellent, but if used for fighting, it all depends on Xu Qing’s own instincts.

Of course, strength can overpower techniques.

When facing opponents who greatly differ in strength, speed, and reaction, Xu Qing could just use his Bright Strength to push them away.

But against a real Martial Arts Master who is adept in combat skills.

That’s still very dangerous.

The Eight Diagram Wandering Palm is a Combat Skill used for self-defense and killing enemies.

The role of the movement technique is evidenced in both offense and defense. In defense, the flexibility of the movement allows one to dodge attacks from the enemy, while also enabling one to close in and deal lethal blows through the agility of the movement technique.

The Eight Diagram Wandering Palm that Xu Qing currently understood through the bronze mirror is incomplete.

It’s actually just one move, which is "stabbing".

This relates to his usual practice with daggers.

For example, in a street fight, common injuries are typically due to slashing, but fatalities are most often caused by stabbing.

A precise stab, a fierce stab, and the enemy could be killed instantly.

It can be said that Xu Qing’s practice with the dagger has completely merged into the Eight Diagram Wandering Palm.

In fact, his initial aim in practicing with the dagger was for killing.

Carrying a lethal weapon ignites the intent to kill.

Resorting to a dagger indicates an extremely dangerous situation, where one must not hold back.

"Although this Eight Diagram Wandering Palm is incomplete, it has actually retained the most lethal moves." Xu Qing was well aware that he now possessed a powerful trump card.

When facing a formidable opponent, running away isn’t the only option.

With the heightened senses under Absolute Focus, along with his agility in movement, he could certainly find an opportunity to get close and kill the enemy.

"A gentleman doesn’t stand under a dangerous wall. Once such a situation arises, one must make swift decisions. Even saints like the Master were resolute and ruthless enough to execute Shao Zhengmao."

As the courtyard examination approached, advancing to the Eight Diagram Wandering Palm was naturally a cause for joy for Xu Qing.

However, since that night the young girl taught him the technique, Xu Qing had not seen her again.

The chance of meeting her again was also slim.

Because Feng Xifeng was going to participate in the provincial exams of August, she had already gone ahead to the provincial capital Yingtian Prefecture in South Zhili Province.

Yingtian Prefecture is also one of the two capitals of the Great Yu Dynasty, complete with the Six Ministries. Many high-ranking officials who have failed in their political struggles often come to Yingtian Prefecture to retire as Six Ministers or Assistant Ministers, or to wait for an opportunity to make a comeback to the court.

Jiangning Prefecture originally was part of Yingtian Prefecture, but was later sectioned off.

Therefore, Yingtian Prefecture is not far from Jiangning Prefecture, and it is just over a hundred miles from Xu Qing’s place to Yingtian City.

But the problem is, once Feng Xifeng passes the preliminary examination, he will definitely set off directly for the Capital.

Because the metropolitan examination will be held in the coming spring. If he does not depart before the Canal freezes over, the hardships faced on the journey after the onset of winter are indescribable.

Thus, before winter arrives, candidates from all across the country will embark on their journey to the Capital.

If Feng Xifeng passes the Imperial Examination as well, it is unlikely Xu Qing will ever have the chance to see the young lady again.

The girl had said that day that she wanted Xu Qing to remain indebted to her, and indeed, this was one of the reasons.

It is truly difficult to repay this debt of gratitude.

The sorrow in the poems of parting in ancient times is often because one farewell could mean never meeting again in a lifetime.

"People who never meet again, fluctuate like the stars of Chen and Shang." Xu Qing’s understanding of this line of poetry was not profound before, but now he finally has a deeper sense of it.

Most likely because, apart from his uncle, the girl was the second person who truly treated him well.

As for his aunt, she counts as half.

But in Xu Qing’s heart, he is very grateful to the Zhou family.

So the profit from selling salt at the fish market, Xu Qing entrusted it all to the Zhou family’s care.

With money in hand, the Zhou family had more confidence, and they kept enticing old Li with promises, saying that once they saved enough money, they would buy him a beautiful concubine.

As for men, once they achieve a certain status and position, even if they do not stray, there are always temptations that come uninvited.

Since it can’t be stopped, it’s better to keep the source under one’s own control.

Xu Qing actually thinks this is a good thing.

Because many people who achieve great things often stumble because of women.

The saying "Lust muddles the wit" is not unfounded.

Xu Qing trusts his uncle’s character, but he does not trust his uncle’s weaker nature.

He doesn’t even trust his own resolve.

Even the sages say "Food and sex are natural."

One is survival, the other is reproduction; both are instincts beyond control.

The only option is to be cautious!

...

...

In Yingtian City, down a narrow alley.

Feng Wu was dressed as a man, holding a newly bought powder box. Three men wearing white headbands blocked her path.

"Miss Feng, please come with us for a chat."

They greeted her with their left hand in the front and right hand behind, left palm curved as it embraced the right fist, both thumbs pressed together pointing forward.

This martial salute is known as "Auspicious Bow", symbolizing good fortune, friendliness, and respect.

Clearly, they put themselves in a very low position.

However, Feng Wu paid no attention to their friendliness, and said indifferently, "I’m not interested in your affairs, step aside."

"Our Incense Master has ordered that we must invite you for a visit. This also involves the posthumous matters of your master, the Green-eyed Fox."

"People die and that’s the end of it; what posthumous matters could there be? Besides, my master left your Holy Sect long ago, and I do not wish to get involved with you anymore."

"Miss Feng, if that were the case, you should not have asked Yin Sanniang for help."

"The Magistrate is my father’s friend. What’s wrong with asking his wife for help?"

"Yin Sanniang is also a member of our Holy Sect."

"As I see it, that’s a separate matter."

"Miss Feng, pardon our offense."

The sect member speaking suddenly lunged at Feng Wu like a wolf, aiming a knife-hand strike at her neck, a vital point on the human body.

With proper control of strength, one could easily knock a person unconscious.

Feng Wu tilted her head slightly and contracted her shoulder, slipping past the sect member’s hand like a swimming dragon, then extending her palm sharp as a snake’s strike, aiming for the sect member’s carotid artery.

Like a silver bottle’s rupture, the water spouts forth.

Blood sprayed on the faces of the other two sect members who were coming at her.

Feng Wu repeated the process.

Both fell dead instantly, blood spurting from their neck arteries.

From start to finish, Feng Wu did not get any blood on herself.

She lightly leapt onto the adjacent wall, thinking, "Thank goodness I already moved into my uncle’s official residence in Yingtian Prefecture with my father, otherwise I wouldn’t have peace even before the provincial examination."

Her uncle was Academician Zhou, a provincial Academic Administrator with an official residence in Yingtian Prefecture, guarded by soldiers, naturally nothing would go amiss.

During the college examination, the Academic Supervisor has to travel to each prefecture to preside over the exam, a very laborious process. Now with the Yingtian Prefecture college examination over, Academician Zhou had already gone to neighboring Jiangning Prefecture to prepare for the exam there.

Presiding over the college exams in various prefectures is also a way to inspect the academic atmosphere in each place.

The Academic Supervisor is also an imperial envoy, appointed by the Emperor to each locality, a sword hanging over the scholars’ heads.

Feng Wu does not know what the opponents are planning, but it is sure to involve her background.

Causing a death was to eradicate any wild expectations they might have had.

That day, Xu Qing also taught her a lesson; the outside world is full of perilous hearts, one must strike hard when necessary.

"After the provincial exam is over, I’ll give him this letter." Feng Wu touched the box in her embrace, underneath which was hidden a letter, the continuation of the Eight Diagrams Body Technique.

If Xu Qing goes to the Capital for the examination, facing an arduous journey of a thousand miles without combat skills by his side, any mishaps could be highly dangerous.

Hopefully, we’ll meet again.