Chapter 130: Reality and Secret Technique

A few days ago, after the flower-stealing thief died, the crisis was resolved.

When Senior Brother Shen Sijing came to the martial arts hall to pick up his younger sister Shen Siying to take her home, Zhou You inadvertently noticed his brows were tightly locked; he found it a bit strange at the time, and it turned out these matters were hidden behind it.

Zhou Laodie had no heart to eat, "That's for sure."

"Manager Xu has made his stance clear to the master: if the trade route cannot be opened up again, he will call his son back to help."

Senior Brother Xu is leaving the martial arts hall? But he has always hoped to break through to the Blood Qi realm and has been practicing his fist techniques diligently.

In fact, Xu Ying training at the martial arts hall was also tacitly approved by the Shen Family Trading Firm.

Once he breaks through the Blood Qi barrier, he will be of even greater use to the trading firm, as Blood Qi is something that can directly contend with bewitching entities.

Senior Brother Xu has worked hard for nearly ten years; it would be a great pity to give up now.

Considering that Manager Xu's prosperity is tied to the trading firm and his family's future relies entirely on the Shen family, it is not strange that he made this decision.

"His father, what about our You'er?"

Mother was a bit worried; if such a big figure as Manager Xu has to have his son help, what about their family? Zhou Laodie glanced at Zhou You, "Nothing has been said for now."

Their family also relies on the Shen Family Trading Firm for a living; when things truly reach a dead end, they will also have to make a gesture.

There is no way around it; they are bound too deeply, and it is not easy to jump ship.

"Father, don't worry, I have been practicing my fist techniques well lately and can help."

Zhou Laodie waved his hand, "Absolutely not."

"You don't know how dangerous it is outside; if ten merchant caravans go out, we should thank the heavens if even one can return!"

"There was a clerk in the trading firm who only got married last month; he went out with a caravan to earn money escorting goods, and when he returned yesterday, only half of his remains were left—it was truly miserable!"

Mother was terrified and grabbed Zhou Laodie's hand, "You must never go!"

"I won't go, and I couldn't even if I wanted to, I'm just a pile of old bones."

Zhou Laodie laughed at himself, "You'er, the Shen family has shown us kindness, but we don't need to throw our lives away for them; even if we want to repay their kindness, we must act according to our capabilities."

"Father, don't worry, I know, son."

Taking advantage of mealtime, Zhou You discussed with his parents and finalized the matter of renting a new house.

Father has been busy with work lately; once he has free time, the family can pay the money, sign the contract, and move.

Things happened one after another, coming in quick succession.

After returning to the martial arts hall, Zhou You buried himself in practicing his fist techniques, racing against time to improve his realm.

"Zhou You, Senior Brother Xu is hosting a meal at Zhaijin Lou."

Li Hao rushed into the training grounds, "Let's go together."

It's not a holiday or a festival, so why is Xu Ying hosting a treat, and at Zhaijin Lou no less?

Xu Ying's father is a high-level executive at the trading firm, and his family is well-off, but they are at most a middle-class family with limited pocket money.

"Senior Brother Xu is graduating from the hall!"

So that was it.

Zhou Laodie's words surfaced in his mind; in the end, it had come to this step.

Zhaijin Lou...

"Apologies, I cannot afford a private room on the second floor, so I must wrong you brothers by eating on the first floor."

Xu Ying raised his wine cup and drank it first as a gesture of respect, "A toast to all you brothers."

The Apprentices present were all youths from the city on Shen Sijing's side, and they all had decent relationships with Xu Ying.

Someone who didn't know the inside story asked, "Senior Brother Xu, why are you in such a rush to graduate?"

Graduating means leaving the protection of the martial arts hall from now on to strike out on one's own; even if something happens, one cannot ask the hall for help.

Unless one has broken through to the Blood Qi realm, the disadvantages of graduating far outweigh the benefits.

"Why ask so much? Drink!"

Li Hao knew something and hurriedly blocked the other person's mouth.

Although Senior Brother Shen Sijing did not come, the Apprentices drank to their hearts' content until the moon was high in the sky, when they helped each other back to the martial arts hall.

"Zhou You, I have something to tell you!" Xu Ying was not drinking; his eyes were bright, and he specifically asked to speak with Zhou You alone.

The two did not return to the martial arts hall but walked to a well by the side of the street and sat down against the well railing.

The mouth of the well emitted wisps of cool air, and the moonlight reflected on the water surface, with shimmering light floating and sinking.

"Zhou You, after I graduate, I will join the trading firm to work, mainly responsible for escorting merchant caravans."

"Hmm, don't speak yet; let me finish."

"I requested this matter myself; the Shen Family Trading Firm cannot fall. From childhood to adulthood, I have received much kindness from Senior Brother Shen's family, and now it is time to repay it."

"You just focus on practicing your fist techniques at the martial arts hall; I will hold things down for the trading firm, and I don't need you for now."

"There is one favor you must do for me."

Xu Ying opened his palm, "Give me the Secret Technique left behind by Wu Yanyi."

It was obvious that Xu Ying, seeing no hope of breaking through to the Blood Qi realm, wanted to use a crooked Secret Technique to force an improvement.

But this was a path of no return.

Zhou You still remembered that Xu Ying had warned him repeatedly not to ruin his future for a moment of pleasure.

Yet when it came to himself, he chose this desperate measure.

"Senior Brother Xu, I cannot give it to you."

Zhou You shook his head, "You know that is not a good thing."

"Silly boy, I am solving your trouble; if you don't appreciate it, that's fine, but don't refuse so quickly."

Xu Ying smiled faintly, "Times are different now; the world is murky and chaotic, people's hearts are restless, and martial strength will become increasingly important in the future."

"Although Wu Yanyi's crooked Secret Technique has side effects, it can truly enable one to break through the Blood Qi barrier."

"If you keep it in your hands, it will only invite more covetousness and schemes; it would be better to hand it over to me for safekeeping."

I'm afraid it's not just for safekeeping, but for your own use, right? "Senior Brother Xu, this is a road of no return; have you forgotten the fate of Wu Yanyi?"

"I haven't forgotten, but I have no other choice."

Wu Yanyi said resolutely, "Drinking poison to quench thirst—at least it ensures you won't die of thirst before the poison kills you; you can delay the inevitable for as long as you can!"

"Zhou You, you have a bright future; strive to walk the righteous path and break through to Qi and Blood early, don't waste as many years as I have."

Having said this, Zhou You could not bear it and took out the secret technique left behind by Wu Yanyi.

Only he in the world possessed the Tianfu Decipher Confusion, allowing him to offset the flaws of the secret technique by consuming a large amount of medicinal pills.

Xu Ying was not him; using this secret technique would certainly lead to a loss of Qi and Blood and a significant reduction in lifespan.

This was trading one's life for power.

Zhou You understood; in order to escort the merchant caravan, Xu Ying had to reach the Qi and Blood realm in a short time, and he had no other choice.

"Senior Brother Xu, are you prepared?"

"It's alright."

After receiving the secret technique, Xu Ying was in a great mood, "The old employer gave me a sum of money, and I purchased four Secret Medicines; supplemented by this secret technique to break through to Qi and Blood, even if there are side effects, they won't be more severe than Wu Yanyi's."

When Wu Yanyi made his breakthrough back then, he didn't use any Secret Medicines and directly lost more than half his life.

Xu Ying learned from that lesson and used Secret Medicines to replenish himself; perhaps the situation would be more optimistic.

After returning to the martial arts hall, Zhou You sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and pondered.

He and Xu Ying were both proficient in internal strength, so why was Xu Ying chosen to finish his apprenticeship and be responsible for escorting the merchant caravan?

Xu Ying's father held a higher position, and Xu Ying himself had a closer relationship with Shen Sijing.

The only difference was...

Zhou You was younger and had more potential; he was a somewhat famous Winged Tiger, and recently there were faint signs of him breaking through to Qi and Blood. Once he broke through to Qi and Blood, the benefits to the Shen Family Trading Firm would be greater.

Xu Ying, who used a crooked secret technique to break through to Pseudo Qi and Blood, was destined to be a consumable with a very short shelf life.

Which was lighter and which was heavier—wasn't it obvious at a glance? This was reality, cold reality.

(End of this chapter)