Chapter 52: What Is Called a Genius

Dressed in a black robe with cloud patterns, cinched at the waist with a white jade belt, his figure stood tall and straight.

Shen Yi slowly stepped out of the room.

The old woman smiled warmly: “Oh, much more handsome than Heng’er—come over and sit.”

Fang Heng moved the table into the courtyard, brought out several plain dishes, and finally let his gaze settle on the cloud pattern along Shen Yi’s sleeve.

Without a word, he picked up a spoon and quietly ladled three bowls of thick porridge.

He helped the old woman sit down: “Only my grandmother and I live here—we eat simple fare. If you don’t mind, help yourself.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Shen Yi had eaten dried rations for two days and made no pretense of modesty; he sat at the table and ate, alternating bites of vegetables with sips of porridge.

Seeing him enjoy the food, the old woman’s smile deepened: “You’re from Baiyun County? Bai Wei wrote that you’re a good child. Are you married? Shall I find you a match?”

At this, Shen Yi choked on his porridge: “...”

Fang Heng, seemingly used to it, said nothing and kept eating.

When the bowl was empty, he put down his chopsticks: “My master won’t be back for at least two months. Until then, you’ll stay here.”

Saying this, Fang Heng returned to the room and brought out a book two fingers thick, placing it on the table.

“When my master was young, he became famous in Qingzhou through five supreme techniques.”

Master one of them, and you can dominate demons within your own realm. He passed each down to us—this isn’t an official Zhen Mo Si martial art, so teaching it to you won’t violate any rules.

“But you’re not of my sect, so you may learn it—but never reveal it to others.”

Having spoken with Zhang the Butcher for so many days, Shen Yi was no longer the ignorant novice he once was.

Whether in the Zhen Mo Si or among martial sects, secretly leaking martial arts without permission would bring severe punishment to both teacher and student—either severing limbs or rupturing meridians, literally stripping away their martial abilities, or worse, costing them their lives.

No wonder Lin Baiwei had been making up martial arts to bluff her way through, even when she was in such dire straits.

The Fourfold True Gang she finally copied out was truly the only thing he could teach.

“The method I’ve been taught is called Cutting the Meridians and Capturing the Dragon—it’s a profound martial art of the Jade Fluid realm, belonging to fist and palm techniques.”

“I’ll take a month’s leave. I’ll practice it three times daily—morning, noon, and night. If you have questions, come ask me.”

Fang Heng rose slowly and said coolly: “Until you master it, you may not leave this courtyard, nor associate with Li Xinhan and his spoiled peers. The cloud pattern on your sleeve isn’t earned through connections.”

At this, Shen Yi lifted his gaze slightly, his expression unreadable.

He had once thought Lin Baiwei was overly calculating and hard to get along with.

Yet after coming to Qingzhou, whether Li Xinhan or Fang Heng before him, none were overtly arrogant—but each carried that same unyielding air of superiority, as if carved from the same mold.

The condescending manner hidden beneath their calm faces was indeed unsettling.

“...”

The old woman’s face grew increasingly troubled; suddenly she picked up a twig from the ground and lightly swatted Fang Heng’s calf: “You’ve learned to scare people now? Even during a meal you can’t let them eat in peace—can’t you wait until they’re done? Bai Wei praised this child to the skies—do you really think he’s the kind you described?”

Fang Heng lowered his eyes and stood silently, taking the blows: “I was wrong.”

When the old woman’s anger subsided,

he walked to a small tree, no thicker than a bowl, and his muscles trembled slightly; then his fists and palms struck the trunk like arrows, seemingly at random.

The tree, which Shen Yi could snap easily with his bare hands, did not so much as quiver under Fang Heng’s repeated blows.

“All things have meridians. Find them—and cut them.”

Fang Heng slowly withdrew his hand and turned: “By the way, did you receive a vial of Opening Meridian Pills?”

Shen Yi pulled out the vial: “This one?”

Each Zhen Mo Si captain receives three upon entry—except those extracted from medicinal baths.

“Swallow them whole, absorb their power—they open meridians and expand dantian orifices. Take one every three months. After fully absorbing all, you’ll widen your twelve major orifices by ninety percent, nearly doubling your efficiency in both Qi refining and storage.”

Fang Heng explained briefly.

Shen Yi looked down at the vial in his hand; even after fully understanding, he still felt astonished.

Doubling the efficiency of Qi refinement meant one day’s training equaled two days’ for a beginner—effectively transforming one’s talent.

The other effect was even more profound.

The amount of Qi stored in the major orifices is fixed—that was Shen Yi’s conclusion after consuming countless demon lifespans; even after decades of cultivation, Qi could only slowly condense into Jade Fluid.

If the orifices are widened by ninety percent, in combat, wouldn’t that mean nearly double the stamina compared to others?

And yet, such a precious pill was given to everyone.

“Are these pills common?”

At this, Fang Heng turned his gaze away: “They were once the exclusive treasure of Qingzhou’s great sect, Songhe Gate—called the Changing Meridians and Shifting Orifices Pill, given only to a select few inner disciples. After Songhe Gate colluded with demons and was wiped out by the Zhen Mo Si, we recovered the formula. Other sects have similar pills, but none exceed fifty percent efficacy.”

He added: “The Zhen Mo Si pays poorly, but the benefits are decent... provided you survive.”

With that, Fang Heng turned and walked back inside.

The small tree stood exposed.

Shen Yi stared silently. The tree was the same—but its green leaves and upright trunk now radiated no life, only a chilling “deathly stillness,” eerily unnatural.

Though he didn’t fully grasp its mystery, a martial art ranked alongside Fourfold True Gang couldn’t possibly be weak.

He reached out and idly flipped through the book on the table.

Moments later, a line of text appeared on his panel.

【Jade Fluid. Cutting the Meridians and Capturing the Dragon (Unmastered)】

“Child, you can’t flip through books like that—have you eaten enough? Was it to your taste? If you’re full, take it inside and read slowly.”

The old woman pushed him up, urging him indoors.

“No need to rush—I have plenty of time.”

Shen Yi looked at the little old woman with faint exasperation, his eyes softening slightly.

He tucked the book away and bent to help clear the table.

Though he’d grown used to ordering Chen Ji and Lin Baiwei around, he couldn’t bear to make an unrelated elderly woman do his chores—his sense of propriety still had room to grow.

Besides, after seeing so many so-called geniuses lately, Shen Yi—who in his past life dreaded nosy aunts and uncles—now found himself... actually preferring the latter.

Even being asked about salary or marriage felt better than being falsely labeled.

“...”

Fang Heng stood inside the room, watching his grandmother’s cheerful demeanor, then turned to Shen Yi—his expression turned cold.

First, he took advantage of Lin Jie’s misfortune to demand two Jade Fluid martial arts—precisely Fourfold True Gang and Cutting the Meridians and Capturing the Dragon, both rare treasures.

Even among his fellow senior disciples, none could afford to study more than one.

This man, still at the beginner realm, dared covet two.

He’d barely entered the Zhen Mo Si and was already cozying up to Li Xinhan’s wealthy brats; on his first day, he’d already gotten the cloud-patterned robe.

Even his grandmother—someone with no connections, here only because he needed to care for her—he flattered with excessive attention, likely convinced himself she was some hidden master.

Greedy and foolish—he was truly annoying.

Wanting to stay here, to leap forward in status, is only human.

But he can’t even bother to hide it.

What else would you call it, if not sycophancy and insatiable greed?

(End of Chapter)