He pushed open the door, and a sea breeze carrying the faint smell of fish rushed in, lifting his long hair from behind.
"Young Master."
The maidservant, Ke'er, hurried over.
"You're awake."
"Mm."
Zhu Ju nodded slowly, allowing her to straighten his clothes and smooth out the wrinkles.
He had transmigrated, and this was his second time doing so.
During an assassination attempt a month ago, he had awakened his Talent and used transmigration to escape.
However, this second transmigration clearly had a time limit. He had only been there for a moment before an invisible force brutally yanked him back.
After that, he had to wait about four or five days before he could transmigrate again.
The second time he transmigrated, he stayed for about an hour.
Since then, he had traveled back and forth several times to this place called the Zheng Kingdom, gradually figuring out the rules of transmigration.
The flow of time in both places was roughly the same, only day and night were reversed. When it was evening there, it was just past midnight here.
Each transmigration required four to five days to accumulate energy, and the duration of his stay grew longer each time. He could now remain for a full day.
Furthermore, this world seemed to lack the kind of Martial Arts Masters who could leap onto rooftops and vault over walls. The infrastructure was also rather primitive, and it appeared to be the final years of a dynasty, with the Court's influence over local regions severely lacking.
During his third transmigration, Zhu Ju had used the silver taels he had on hand to purchase property in this coastal city. He later partnered with someone to establish a textile factory. His personal maidservant, Ke'er, was a beggar he had found on the street.
"Where is Hall Master Yann?"
"He's receiving a guest in the front," Ke'er replied.
"I think it's a constable from the Government Office."
'A constable?'
Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow at her words.
Hall Master Yann was the partner he had chosen. The man ran a boxing hall on the verge of bankruptcy. If not for his help, Yann's Boxing Hall would have likely closed down for good.
When he reached the front courtyard, he saw two men in conversation.
"Brother Jiangg."
Yann Jingfu stood up to make the introduction.
"This is Young Master Zhu Ju. We say we're partners, but in truth, I'm just working for Young Master Zhu."
"Young Master Zhu, this is Brother Jiangg, Jiangg Ping, one of the three chief constables of Yue City."
Jiangg Ping narrowed his eyes, sizing up the newcomer.
He was young, with smooth, delicate skin and teeth as clean as jade. A single glance told you he came from a wealthy family.
'His surname is Zhu...'
'There are no prominent families with the surname Zhu in Yue City. Could he be from the north?'
Zhu Ju was also scrutinizing him.
He had a leopard-like head with round eyes and a fierce expression. His constable uniform had been washed so many times it had faded to a whitish-brown.
"I've long heard of Young Master Zhu's great name. It is my good fortune to finally meet you today."
Cupping his fists, Jiangg Ping spoke in a gruff voice.
"We have some leads on the missing female workers. It's related to the Seven Workshops of Flower Street. What does Young Master Zhu plan to do next?"
"Hmm?" Zhu Ju asked, looking perplexed.
"Since you've found a lead, you just need to bring the missing people back. What other plan could there be?"
"Ahem..." Yann Jingfu coughed lightly and said in a low voice,
"Each of the Seven Workshops of Flower Street is backed by powerful and wealthy families or major gangs in the city. Once someone enters Flower Street, it's difficult to get them out."
"Not even people from the Government Office can get them out?"
"I'm afraid not."
"So, the investigation ends here?"
"More or less."
Zhu Ju understood.
"Young Master Zhu," Jiangg Ping said, cupping his fists.
"Several consecutive years of drought have led to uprisings all around. There are some things the Court is powerless to handle, even if it wanted to."
"A few female workers are nothing..."
"If Young Master Zhu doesn't want to let this go, I can mediate and should be able to bring the people back."
"Oh!" Zhu Ju said with a half-smile.
"Flower Street is so dangerous, yet Brother Jiangg is confident?"
"I don't wear this uniform for nothing." Jiangg Ping patted his clothes and snorted softly.
"Besides, it's not like I don't have my own methods. Young Master Zhu, please watch!"
He stood up and swung his leg in a powerful kick at the solid wood table beside him.
"BANG!"
With an explosive sound, the solid wood table shattered, sending splinters and table legs flying in all directions.
"Excellent!"
Hall Master Yann shouted his approval.
"What a fine technique, Brother Jiangg! I'm afraid you've already reached Great Success in Blood Coagulation and are about to begin Body Tempering, aren't you?"
"You flatter me." Jiangg Ping took a deep breath to stabilize the churning Qi Blood in his body and waved his hand.
"Body Tempering is incredibly difficult. At my age, I've given up on the idea."
"CLAP! CLAP!" Zhu Ju clapped his hands lightly, a strange look in his eyes.
"Brother Jiangg truly lives up to his reputation as one of Yue City's three chief constables. Breaking a wooden table with a single leg is truly impressive. I imagine a place like Flower Street certainly won't be able to stop you."
Hearing this, Jiangg Ping's expression stiffened slightly.
"How about this," Zhu Ju said.
"For the two female workers, I'll offer fifty taels of silver. I'll have to trouble Brother Jiangg to bring them out of Flower Street."
"What do you say?"
"Fifty taels?" Jiangg Ping silently calculated for a moment, then grinned.
"Young Master Zhu is benevolent. Anyone else wouldn't care if two female workers lived or died. I'll take this job!"
After seeing Jiangg Ping off, Zhu Ju turned and sighed.
"Hall Master Yann, you've kept me quite in the dark. Didn't you say that practicing Martial Arts could only nourish the body and extend one's life, and was useless for strengthening it?"
"Then how did Chief Jiangg shatter a table with one kick?"
"Young Master Zhu," Yann Jingfu said with a bitter smile.
"The first priority in Martial Arts is Qi Blood. Qi Blood Nourishing Body can naturally extend one's life, but to strengthen the body, you must consume Qi Blood, which is a losing proposition."
"Brother Jiangg's feat of breaking the wood with a single leg was indeed impressive, but it also consumed a great deal of Qi Blood. Such a technique is not sustainable."
"Is that so?" Zhu Ju paced with his hands behind his back.
"Hall Master Yann, what did you mean earlier when you mentioned Blood Coagulation and Body Tempering?"
"In Martial Arts Cultivation, controlling your Qi Blood is the Entry Level. After that come the three realms of Blood Strengthening, Blood Coagulation, and Body Tempering," Yann Jingfu explained.
"The Blood Strengthening and Blood Coagulation realms have a limited effect on the Physical Body. One can only erupt with Giant Power by consuming Qi Blood."
"Only after becoming a Body Tempering Martial Artist can one truly become a ten-man or hundred-man enemy."
Zhu Ju was lost in thought.
He had learned the Yann Family's Health Cultivation Skill from Yann's Boxing Hall and, with Yann Jingfu's help, had already mastered control over his Qi Blood.
'It really didn't feel very useful.'
So-called Blood Strengthening refers to fortifying the Qi Blood within the body. Once one's Qi Blood is strong, they will naturally be immune to all illnesses, thereby achieving the effect of nourishing the body and extending life. The vast majority of those who practice Martial Arts are at this Realm.
Zhu Ju had started Martial Arts late and had no foundation in Cultivation. For him, practicing to prolong his life was enough, so Yann Jingfu hadn't mentioned the later Realms.
"Qi Blood, when activated with a special Method, can allow one to unleash power far beyond that of an ordinary person. Every school and style has a similar Method."
Yann Jingfu said,
"My Yann Family's Iron Wire Fist excels at explosive power in the fists, palms, and arms."
As he spoke, he took a step forward and pressed a single hand onto the other, intact round table, leaving a palm print on the hard surface.
"Excellent!"
Zhu Ju praised him, then asked,
"Between you and Jiangg Ping, Hall Master Yann, who is stronger?"
"..." Yann Jingfu looked embarrassed.
"As the saying goes, 'poverty for scholars, wealth for warriors.' A Martial Artist cannot lack for rich food and meat. I have been short on funds in recent years, so I'm afraid I cannot compare to Brother Jiangg."
"No matter. In the future, Hall Master Yann will not lack for meat, and with the nourishment of Great Medicine, you will surely surpass Chief Jiangg." Zhu Ju smiled and continued to press,
"Above Body Tempering, are there even stronger people?"
"There is the Gui Cang Realm," Yann Jingfu said.
"But an existence of that level hasn't appeared in Yue City for decades. There are, however, a few Body Tempering Martial Artists in the city. You've probably heard of two of them."
"Which two?"
"The master of the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Hall, Shenn Hu, and the leader of the Caoo Gang, Ghost Foot Xiang Zhongyuan."
With the matter settled, Yann Jingfu took his leave. Zhu Ju watched his back disappear before turning to look at the table with the palm print.
Then, he smiled nonchalantly and struck out with his palm.
"BANG!"
The table exploded into pieces, a display of power that was in no way inferior to Jiangg Ping's, and perhaps even surpassed it.
'It seems this world isn't without Martial Arts, but its upper limit is indeed not very high.'
*
*
*
'I never expected Qi Blood to have such a wonderful use. It seems I'll have to pay more attention to the Health Cultivation Skill from now on.'
「In the study.」
Zhu Ju put down the book in his hand, a smile touching his lips.
After witnessing Jiangg Ping's abilities, he had become interested in Qi Blood Martial Arts. He had borrowed a few Martial Arts Classics from Yann Jingfu and gained a deeper understanding of the Martial Arts of that world.
The Martial Arts of the Main World started with Entering the Realm of Strength, and was divided into Realms such as Entering the Realm, Minor Achievement in Entering Strength, and Great Success in Entering Strength. After Entering the Realm, one could use Strength to temper the body and unleash power far beyond that of an ordinary person.
However, Strength is fierce and powerful. The slightest carelessness could harm the body, which is why most who practice this form of Martial Arts, despite their power, do not live long lives.
Qi Blood Martial Arts, on the other hand, was different.
The Martial Arts of the Otherworld started with controlling Qi Blood. It nourished the body and improved health, slowly increasing the Physical Body's power.
Comparatively speaking, Qi Blood was gentler than Strength. Not only did it not harm the body, but it could also extend one's life. However, its explosive power and duration were severely lacking.
Blood Strengthening and Blood Coagulation Martial Artists were not much stronger than ordinary people, whereas someone at Minor Achievement in Entering Strength could easily fight ten opponents at once. This was the reason why Jiangg Ping and Yann Jingfu, despite having practiced Martial Arts for many years, might not necessarily be stronger than Zhu Ju in a fight.
But!
Qi Blood could repair hidden internal injuries and speed up the absorption of medicinal effects, which was of great benefit to the Cultivation of the Thirteen Body Refinement, and could further increase his own strength.
'The Yann Family's Iron Wire Fist can be both hard and soft.'
After stretching his muscles and bones, Zhu Ju took a stance in his study and began to practice the Yann Family's Iron Wire Fist.
'The fist has a principle: Stillness in motion, motion in stillness. Release without releasing, hold without holding. Swift without chaos, slow without slack.'
'The Iron Wire Fist can be practiced by anyone, young or old, man or woman. With constant practice, it has the effect of warding off illness and prolonging life.'
"THRUST!"
"CHOP!"
"POUNCE!"
"..."
Zhu Ju's Fist Momentum shifted, his expression turning serious as he suddenly threw a punch to the side.
"BANG!"
His Fist Force erupted, creating a low, muffled boom.
"Hooo..."
Letting out a long, turbid breath, Zhu Ju relaxed his Fist Technique, his face full of delight.
"Just as I thought!"
'By using the Method of the Yann Family's Iron Wire Fist to erupt with Qi Blood, I can also increase my strength. The power is about thirty percent stronger.'
'By activating my Qi Blood, I, at the Skin and Flesh Realm, can almost unleash the power of the Tendon and Bone Realm. The only drawback is that it's not sustainable.'
That was right!
Zhu Ju, by cultivating the Yann Family's Health Cultivation Skill, had not only reached the Entry Level of controlling his Qi Blood but had even cultivated to the Blood Strengthening Realm.
It was not hard to understand, really.
Reaching the Entry Level of the Thirteen Body Refinement had caused his physique to skyrocket, making his Qi Blood far superior to an ordinary person's. It was only natural that he would enter the Blood Strengthening Realm; even the Blood Coagulation Realm was within his grasp.
'I originally wanted to learn fist techniques from Yann Jingfu to cultivate the old man's Mixed Element Iron Hand. I didn't expect this bonus.'
'Qi Blood nourishes the body, so the interval between my medicinal baths will shorten. With the help of Qi Blood, the Thirteen Body Refinement can temper my Physical Body faster. As my Physical Body gets stronger, my Qi Blood will become more abundant. Don't the two complement each other? My Cultivation progress will likely far exceed my imagination.'
'It's just that...'
'I'm running out of money!'
Reviving Yann's Boxing Hall, building the factory, and hiring workers all required silver taels, and not a small amount either.
Nowadays, the income from the Forest was starting to decrease, and the pharmacy alone was not enough to cover his expenses.
If he hadn't had some savings to begin with, he would no longer be able to support it all.
'I still have over five hundred taels in savings.'
After a quick calculation, Zhu Ju breathed a sigh of relief.
'It should be enough to last until the new cloth hits the market. With this world's dyeing technology, capturing the market will be a piece of cake.'
'After all, even the clothes of the wealthy families in that world don't come in many colors.'