Chapter 67: Internal Breath Second Stage

Zhou Shoushan and Wu Hui exchanged a glance upon hearing this, their eyes filled with amusement.

A mere Apprentice Escort, earning no more than three taels of silver a month, yet he wanted to point out a path to wealth for the two of them.

They might have fallen on hard times, but they had seen glory before; did he really take them for beggars?

They had only flattered Kong Bin a few times just now; he was still young after all, losing his bearings over a few polite pleasantries!

Although the two of them didn't care at all, Kong Bin continued earnestly.

"There is an Apprentice Escort who joined in the same batch as me, named Duan Rong."

"He sells paintings on West Street and can bring in a hundred taels of silver a day. I've made a rough estimate—that kid must have at least several thousand taels of silver in his hands!"

Zhou Shoushan was slightly startled; several thousand taels was not a small sum to him either. He turned his head to look at Wu Hui, his eyes now conveying a question.

Wu Hui was silent for a moment, then said, "I seem to recall hearing a while back that something happened on West Street... it was said that... two women almost caused a death over some painting matter!"

"Exactly!" Kong Bin looked up at Wu Hui and said, "That's the one. The painter I'm talking about is that very Duan Rong!"

"Does this person have any background?" Zhou Shoushan became interested; he stroked his chin and asked.

"His parents are both dead; he's an orphan! Just like me, he was selected from the Miscellaneous Disciples!"

"Are you sure he could have several thousand taels of silver?"

"Gang Leader Zhou, you don't frequent West Street often. You don't know—his paintings go for ten taels of silver each, and there are people lining up for them every day!"

Zhou Shoushan was slightly surprised; he didn't understand calligraphy or painting.

But he did know that many famous masters of calligraphy and painting lived in mansions, supported by a crowd of fools who pretended to be refined!

As for why he didn't frequent West Street, wasn't that obvious?

The County Government Office was on West Street; did he dare to wander in front of Shen Yanliu?

Was he afraid that the fierce god wouldn't remember him?

Zhou Shoushan looked at the drunken Kong Bin, his mind racing. "Damn it, it really does sound like a path to wealth!"

Having lived off his savings for three years, he was short on money too!

Zhou Shoushan leaned toward Wu Hui, and Wu Hui immediately understood. He leaned in, and only heard Zhou Shoushan whisper, "Find a way, go inquire..."

During the day, Duan Rong had been playing the mouse in his dormitory for three or four days straight, hiding inside and secretly practicing and studying the Cloud Snake Step whenever there was no one around.

After these three or four days, Duan Rong had thoroughly mastered the Cloud Snake Step!

Moreover, he had integrated the footwork and body movements into some of the moves of the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber!

This was already the limit of what Duan Rong could achieve for now; some moves in the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber conflicted with the footwork and body movements of the Cloud Snake Step, and to initially integrate these moves, they had to be drastically altered!

With Duan Rong's current martial arts level, he was still not quite capable of that!

However, even the initial integration of some moves had already greatly benefited Duan Rong!

His current footwork and body movements were graceful and peculiar; in this cramped room, no matter how he slashed, hooked, or flicked with wide, sweeping motions, he would never hit anything.

And once he started running, he could actually create a sense of the open wilderness within this tiny room...

Galloping freely through the boundless world!

After his practice of the Cloud Snake Step came to an end, Duan Rong finally didn't have to hide in the dormitory like a mouse during the day. After not seeing the sun for many days, he felt his heart and mind open up as he stood on the sun-drenched Martial Arts Arena to practice Standing Stake.

Duan Rong exhaled lightly, then sank his hips and sat in a virtual stance, beginning his Standing Stake.

Two hours later, Duan Rong suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light shooting out. He tilted his head back and let out a soft whistle, exhaling a thick stream of white Qi from his mouth.

The white Qi was as thick as an infant's arm, shooting diagonally toward the sky. With a 'Crack!', it actually snapped a thin branch of the paulownia tree above Duan Rong's head.

The branch fell in front of Duan Rong, and he joyfully said, "Internal Breath Second Stage, achieved!"

At this moment, the Internal Breath in Duan Rong's dantian was already thicker than his little finger, and it was more solid than it had been a few days ago.

Like a small snake, the Internal Breath, with its head and tail connected, coiled in his dantian, spinning round and round...

The Internal Breath was connected to Duan Rong's mind; as soon as he had a thought, the small Internal Breath snake began to circulate through his meridians and internal organs!

Duan Rong had gradually begun to feel that every time the Internal Breath circulated for a period, his meridians and internal organs would be nourished and strengthened!

This is what is meant by 'internally training a single breath'!

At this moment, with a clear mind, Duan Rong let the Internal Breath circulate through his meridians and organs for one full cycle, then suddenly drew his saber and began to perform the Proficiency-level Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber!

Proficiency-level Martial Technique, combined with the Internal Breath of the Second Stage!

When Duan Rong reached the most exhilarating part, the tip of his saber often emitted a clear hum!

That was the vibration caused by the short, explosive sound of the blade rubbing against the air!

This sound was different from the air-breaking sound of the First Layer!

Once the Internal Breath reached the Second Stage, it had become somewhat solid, the energy began to be internalized, and the moves already had a sense of appearing slow but actually being fast!

Duan Rong could clearly feel his combat power rising significantly once again!

Duan Rong went through the routines of the Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber several times, immersed in the joy of his breakthrough, his body and mind feeling light...

It wasn't until he finished the fifth set that Duan Rong satisfiedly sheathed his saber. Just then, the gatekeeper of the Yuanshun Escort Agency suddenly ran up to Duan Rong, panting, and said, "Escort Duan, there is a young lady outside looking for you!"

"A young lady?" Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat. "Which young lady? What does she look like?"

"She says she's from the Xia Mansion."

"Xia Mansion?" Duan Rong secretly breathed a sigh of relief; as long as it wasn't Shen Mizhi.

Duan Rong sized up the gatekeeper; this gatekeeper wasn't actually an ordinary person—he was the biological father of one of Ruan Fengshan's concubines.

Relying on his daughter being favored, this guy walked with his nose in the air every day and wouldn't look at people straight on.

If it weren't for the person outside being generous and giving him enough benefits, he wouldn't have run all the way to the Middle Courtyard Martial Arts Arena to find someone.

"It's the residence of Mr. Xia Zhongyang from the Yunshui Bank." The gatekeeper also looked at Duan Rong with surprised eyes.

Duan Rong was just an Apprentice Escort; not only did the County Magistrate invite him to dinner, but even the Xia Mansion was associating with him. Could this person have some kind of background?

Xia Zhongyang was the God of Wealth of Xiangu County; all the taxes and large transactions in Xiangu County were allocated through the Yunshui Bank. Just by taking the interest from these inflows and outflows, one could make a fortune.

Historically, being the manager of a branch of the Yunshui Bank was a more coveted 'fat' position than even the County Magistrate!

Duan Rong followed the gatekeeper, left the Martial Arts Arena, took a shortcut, passed through the front courtyard, and arrived at the main entrance of Yuanshun Escort Agency.

He saw that outside the bright, sunlit gate, a date-red horse with snorting nostrils and hooves pawing the ground wore a red-tasseled bridle, and the wooden shafts on its back were connected to a carriage adorned with carved patterns and brocade silk.

Not far behind the carriage stood a woman with a charming smile, appearing even more radiant than the sunlight scattered across the ground.

This scene caused Duan Rong's heart to stir slightly, and he could not help but exclaim, "A fine horse, a fragrant carriage, and a beautiful woman! The God of Wealth is truly the God of Wealth! He has the exact same style as the big tycoons of my past life!"

(End of this chapter)