Chapter 104: Establishing a Guard Battalion

Qinghe Branch Office.

Li Residence.

“The Qian and Kun shift in sequence; true qi hides within the abdomen.”

Li Rui sat cross-legged on a mat, palms clasped in a circle, five points facing heaven.

The five points refer to the palms of both hands, the soles of both feet, and the crown of the head.

The hands and head were fine, but turning both feet upward required some skill.

In the past, Li Rui would have admitted he couldn’t do it.

But as a martial artist, his entire body had long been tempered to perfection, extremely supple, so it came effortlessly.

A thread of Xuanqing qi wandered through his body, again and again.

Thirty-six celestial cycles.

Only by practicing daily without fail could the qi take shape.

“The Nine Mystical Celestial Map is truly profound!”

During this period of cultivation, Li Rui clearly felt the Xuanqing qi had grown significantly stronger—his hair strands had thickened to the size of ropes, already quite impressive.

Not much longer.

True qi would take form within his dantian.

Its applications would be limitless.

With increased reading and advancing cultivation, his insight was far beyond what it had been.

The divine weapon talismans mentioned by Han Qin and others were merely one application of true qi.

Warriors above the sixth rank could maintain true qi outside the body for extended periods.

Such talismans.

Involved infusing true qi into talisman paper, then activating it with special techniques when needed to injure or kill enemies.

These were commonly carried by elders in wealthy households as life-saving charms for their juniors.

Of course, rumors spoke of a major sect in the Central Plains, deeply versed in talisman arts, with considerable renown.

After finishing cultivation.

Li Rui patted his trousers, stood up, and stepped out through the door.

Noon.

The sun blazed at its hottest.

“Old Li, we’re getting old—we ought to get out more often, stretch our limbs.”

Yang Yong looked at Li Rui with concern.

In the past, Li Rui often came out to practice, his “Old Man’s Fist” deeply pleasing to Yang Yong.

But for some reason,

lately Li Rui had been going out less and less.

He woke later and later; sometimes he wasn’t seen until noon.

And he no longer practiced the “Old Man’s Fist.”

Yang Yong was no longer young himself and knew the human body well.

If one remained inactive for too long, the body would weaken further, and falling ill until bedridden was common.

If this continued, he might not live many more years.

So he often urged Li Rui to go out and move around more.

Li Rui smiled faintly: “Don’t worry—I know my old bones better than anyone.”

He understood Yang Yong’s intent.

But the gap between a martial artist and an ordinary person was too vast; his current physical condition surpassed even a young man’s.

Sitting in meditation and circulating qi was a common method among seventh-rank martial artists.

Yet since seventh rank was so far removed from ordinary people, the public assumed all martial artists were merely brawlers.

As the two spoke,

a knock came at the courtyard gate.

“Master Li.”

The two walked toward the gate.

Yang Yong opened the door and saw a young disciple standing outside.

He recognized him as one of Dao Xiong’s disciples.

“Is Dao Zhubo asking for me?”

The young man nodded in surprise: “Deputy Zhubo Li, Dao Zhubo has urgent matters to discuss—please come with me.”

“Hmm.”

Li Rui nodded.

If Dao Xiong requested it, it was best not to refuse.

Soon after,

he followed the young disciple to the front of the Gathering Hall.

The Gathering Hall was not a specific branch.

It was where the Qinghe Branch Office held meetings.

When Li Rui entered, he found that besides Dao Xiong, Ge Hong, Zhang Yang, and Zhou Rui—all deputy zhubos—were also present. “This is quite the gathering.”

Li Rui silently thought, taking the empty seat to Zhang Yang’s left without showing emotion.

Zhang Yang turned his head.

With his back to Dao Xiong, he gave Li Rui a meaningful glance.

Li Rui understood instantly.

Zhang Yang wanted to know what had happened.

He shrugged, indicating he had no idea.

Dao Xiong cleared his throat once all four were seated: “We’ve just received word from the main office—the Annan Army will establish a guard battalion here in Qinghe.”

Guard battalion!

The brows of Li Rui and the other three rose in unison.

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Annan Army.

This was no ordinary force; “Annan Army” was a civilian term for the troops under Annan Garrison.

The Annan Regional Commander was a third-rank official.

His status was extraordinary.

He commanded a full twenty thousand troops.

Annan Garrison had seventeen guard battalions.

Qinghe lay precisely between two of them, long a no-man’s-land.

Yet now they were establishing a separate guard battalion here.

Dao Xiong laughed heartily: “The imperial court is cracking down on the Ghost Ming Sect, so they’re placing the guard battalion right here in Qinghe.”

Zhang Yang and the others immediately brightened.

This was excellent news.

Guard battalions weren’t always established in prefectural capitals; sometimes, for strategic reasons, they were placed in major counties.

Whenever a county gained a guard battalion, its status soared.

Some even rivaled prefectural capitals.

Because the battalion stationed within the city numbered over a thousand troops, it would inevitably boost local economic development.

In addition, the imperial court would offer considerable favors.

It would often attract martial artists from the jianghu seeking opportunity.

If one caught the eye of Annan Army officers, this could be a golden chance to secure an official post—true advancement.

The Annan Army was no ragged frontier force like the Guyuan Army.

Most of the time, they didn’t need to risk their lives in battle; it was a genuinely lucrative post.

Qinghe City’s status would rise sharply, and the Qinghe Branch Office would rise with it; their positions as zhubos and deputy zhubos would gain half a rank above other branches.

Not to mention all the hidden benefits—city expansion, land allocation, and more.

Zhang Yang and the others grinned broadly.

“I wonder who the new Assistant Regional Commander will be—we should find out.”

Zhang Yang rubbed his hands together.

He was already plotting how to befriend the Assistant Regional Commander.

The Assistant Regional Commander was the highest-ranking officer in a guard battalion—ranked fifth, equal to a Prefect; his subordinates, Garrison Commanders, were sixth rank, a full rank above a County Magistrate.

If one could climb this ladder, it wouldn’t just mean power in Qinghe.

One could walk with impunity throughout Anning Prefecture.

In the past, such an opportunity didn’t exist—even if one wanted to bribe, no one would open the door.

Proximity grants the first glimpse of the moon.

The Assistant Regional Commander himself came to Qinghe County; on his own turf, of course he wanted to meet the local powers that be.

The opportunity had arrived.

Establishing a guard battalion was a massive undertaking.

Just waiting for approval from the Ministry of Military Affairs would take a long time, let alone setting up an administrative office, building barracks, and other matters.

It wouldn’t be finished in less than two or three months.

Life went on as usual.

Li Rui carried on as always—reading when he should read, cultivating when he should cultivate, utterly unaffected.

A few days passed, while he was cultivating.

Suddenly, a loud clanging of gongs and drums sounded outside, full of festivity.

“It’s still months away from the New Year—why are they setting off firecrackers?”

As he pondered this.

He heard someone pounding on the door.

When he opened the door.

He saw a plaque, half a person’s height, inscribed with the bold, swirling characters “Yi Yong.”

(End of Chapter)