Chapter 21: Teaching the Method of Refining Qi

Pei County, west of Zhongyang Lane, Fengyi.

In fact, it's in Fengxi Ze.

Fengxi Ze is a marsh formed by silt from an ancient tributary of the Si River, full of reed swamps and muddy paths, surrounded by dense locust forests.

Among them is a rammed‑earth official road.

A person walks on the road.

Yu Lin.

He came here to see what the legendary White Snake actually looks like.

After searching around, he found the tallest locust tree.

Standing in the canopy of the locust tree, his view was filled with endless reed swamps and tangled locust woods.

In the distance, a few early‑rising pheasants pecked the ground, then suddenly startled, they lifted their heads and fluttered into the mist.

Suddenly, a rustling came from the western locust forest, the canopy shook, startling a few crows into flight.

Yu Lin squinted, vaguely seeing a flash of white darting quickly between the tree shadows.

"Did I really find it?" he thought, his Qi surged, and he swooped over the treetops like a swallow, leaping from branch to branch in pursuit.

Locust blossoms were shaken loose by his steps, scattering lightly, and the air was filled with a faint scent of grass and trees.

The white silhouette was absurdly fast; Yu Lin pushed his speed to the limit, barely catching up in a low‑lying ditch.

He fixed his gaze and was stunned on the spot—

In the sunlight, a gigantic snake as bright as white coiled among the shrubs, its scales shimmering like pearls; at its thickest, the body was three to four meters wide, crushing the surrounding vegetation.

As for its length… Yu Lin silently took out his smart glasses, scanned it, and twitched his mouth— fifty‑three meters!

"Did Liu Bang cut this thing?" he muttered.

"What's the difference between the White Snake's tail whipping past and hitting great luck?"

"He might have to be reincarnated on the spot."

The White Snake seemed to sense his presence, its vertical pupils narrowing slightly, and its massive body slipped agilely into the deep reeds, vanishing in an instant.

Yu Lin stood still, rubbing his chin, thinking, "Looks like I need to teach Liu Bang cultivation first; otherwise this mission won't be finished within the two‑day holiday."

He turned and headed back to Pei County quickly.

Back at Xiao He's residence, seeing no one else, he stepped forward to ask the Xiao family:

"Madam Xiao, may I ask where Liu Ji's home is? I wish to look for him."

"Some matters."

Upon hearing that, the Xiao lady's eyes flashed with undisguised disdain, she pursed her lips and said, "Why are you looking for that rake? He idles all day, either drinking or gambling on credit, needlessly tarnishing your reputation."

Yu Lin smiled, "Some urgent matters."

Seeing his persistence, the Xiao lady could not persuade further, and said, "At this hour you won't find him at home; he's probably in a tavern."

She pointed outside the door: "Go straight ahead, turn right, then walk a hundred steps."

"Thank you, madam," Yu Lin bowed and took his leave.

Inside the tavern.

Liu Bang sat around a table with a few brothers, his brows furrowed.

Fan Kuai pounded the table, cursing, while Xia Hou Ying sighed heavily…

"This assignment is literally deadly!" Fan Kuai shouted loudly:

"Going to Lishan? Isn't that a death sentence?"

"Whoever wants to go can go; I'm not going!"

Liu Bang was about to speak when a peripheral glance caught a figure at the doorway; his eyes lit up, and he quickly rose to greet, "Mr. Yu, why are you here?"

The others, seeing Liu Bang's deference, cast puzzled looks.

Yu Lin scanned the group, his gaze landing on Liu Bang, and said bluntly:

"Liu Ji, do you want to learn the method of refining Qi? I can..."

Before the words finished, Liu Bang went "thump" and knelt, without a word, "dong dong dong" knocking three times:

"Master, I receive three bows from your disciple!"

The speed of his reaction and the decisiveness of his action even made Yu Lin pause, then he reflected—no wonder it's Liu Bang, adaptable and opportunistic, never sloppy.

No wonder others can succeed.

He reached out, helped Liu Bang up: "No need for that, I'll teach you myself."

Liu Bang beamed, rubbing his hands, "Master, rest assured, I will study earnestly!"

Fearing Yu Lin might not find the place, he quickly pointed outside, "My home is the third household on the east side, the one with a crooked‑necked jujube tree at the door. If you can't find it, I can meet you at Lord Xiao's place every day!"

"Alright." Yu Lin nodded, then looked at the others at the table, knowingly asking:

"Earlier I saw you all looking worried; what were you discussing?"

Liu Bang sighed and briefly explained the conscription matter.

Yu Lin listened and simply nodded:

"We still have time; teaching you a few skills will be enough."

Liu Bang nodded, "Yes, yes, yes, Master, your skill reaches the heavens; even a single thread I learn will satisfy me!"

"I just don't know… what will you teach me, Master?"

Yu Lin smiled without answering, and said:

"Wait for me at home this afternoon; I'll teach you cultivation."

Having said that, he turned and left.

From behind came Liu Bang's excited voice:

Did you hear? I'm going to cultivate immortality!

Fan Kuai spoke in a rough voice: "Big brother, you must be drunk talking nonsense!"

Liu Bang slammed the table and rose, his eyes gleaming: "You ordinary mortals, how could you know the methods of immortals?"

He lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously: "That day I personally saw my master's figure flicker and disappear without a trace, and in an instant he reappeared, already holding four plump mountain chickens in his hands!"

He even gave me a bottle of spices to roast the chicken........

As he spoke, he unconsciously swallowed his saliva: "The flavor of that roasted chicken... tsk tsk, I don't know how many times better it is than the coarse food in this tavern!"

If I could eat it again, it would be a blessing of three lifetimes!

Fan Kuai widened his bell-like eyes: "Is there really such a marvel?"

"Absolutely certain!" Liu Bang stroked his beard, proudly saying:

"My master, old sir, wanders the four seas, subsisting on wind and dew; if not a qi cultivator, how could he possess such divine powers?"

Zhou Bo, upon hearing this, showed a look of longing: "If you master the immortal arts, could you... teach us brothers?"

"No way, no way!" Liu Bang waved his hands repeatedly, feigning alarm:

"The sect's secret arts, how could they be lightly passed on? If I anger my master, I fear he'll break my old legs!"

Saying that, he exaggeratedly rubbed his knees.

Everyone thought the same—how could immortal methods be freely transmitted?

Then another burst of laughter arose.

Liu Bang suddenly turned serious: "Let's get back to the matter of the conscripted labor..."

"Just ask everyone to pitch in."

"Otherwise.........."

"I'm going, you all have to go too!"