Chapter 72: Second Training
Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Second Training
Zhao Xingyang led the Escort Team on a smooth return to Yunzhao County. Aside from one person who was seriously injured, the rest were fine. Even the seriously injured guard’s wounds weren’t life-threatening or crippling; he would recover after a month or so of rest.
The major escort mission had ended on a rather positive note. So, after Zhao Xingyang reported its completion, he set up a celebratory banquet at a large restaurant in Yunzhao to reward the members of the Escort Team.
"This place is pretty luxurious."
It was Xie Yuan’s first time visiting a grand restaurant in Yunzhao County. It was over five stories tall, with carved beams overhead and paintings hanging on the pillars, looking more like an art gallery than an eatery.
Inside the spacious private room, the screen was elegant and the window lattices were exquisitely crafted. As he looked at the table laden with delicate dishes, Xie Yuan sighed in admiration.
"That bear paw is even bigger than the one I hunted. Truly, the one who once sold bears is now the guest of honor!"
He said "once," but it had only been a winter. Xie Yuan had gone from considering a simple meal of stir-fried pheasant a luxury to now being able to enter a fine restaurant and taste such delicacies.
"Xiaoxie, never been here before?"
Seeing Xie Yuan looking around curiously, Qin Sea leaned in and asked in a low voice.
Xie Yuan answered openly,
"This is my first time in a place this nice."
Qin Sea chuckled.
"You’re a Darts Master now, so eating here is no big deal. But to pay for a spread like this yourself... Hiss, that would sting. A few months’ earnings would be gone in one meal. We have to let the boss foot the bill!"
’A few months’ earnings... wouldn’t that be over a hundred taels of silver?’
Xie Yuan calculated in his head. This meal was certainly not cheap. Although escort leaders were wealthy, those at the Third Training and above had even greater expenses. Money was never inexhaustible.
However, a few others nearby overheard their conversation and burst out laughing, clearly accustomed to Zhao Xingyang’s generosity.
Zhao Xingyang also smiled slightly and raised his cup.
"Everyone worked hard on this trip. With the end of the year approaching, let’s drink to that! After this meal, you’re all on holiday. Go home, and we’ll get back to work after the new year!"
"Hear, hear!"
Everyone cheered and downed three cups in a row before stopping.
After the banquet began, cups were raised and toasts were exchanged. People came one after another to toast Xie Yuan, even though he was the most junior member.
On this escort mission, Xie Yuan had made significant contributions and had saved several people during the chaotic battle. The martial men, being clumsy with words, simply plied him with drink after drink.
Although the rice wine was low in alcohol, Xie Yuan was still slightly drunk after chugging several large bowls.
But a quick glance around revealed that all those who had taken turns trying to get him drunk were already passed out. He had a realization:
’Turns out I can really hold my liquor.’
"Xiaoxie."
Zhao Xingyang walked over just then, clinked cups with him, and said with a smile,
"You performed well this time. When I reported in, I already mentioned it to the Head Escort Chief. We’re awarding you a C Class merit directly."
’A C Class merit?’
’That’s a merit equivalent to the Second Training level. I can exchange it for one high-grade medicinal bath.’
Delighted, Xie Yuan drank another three large bowls with Zhao Xingyang.
After several rounds of drinks, the Escort Team members began to disperse, helping each other along. Some went home, while others returned to the Escort Agency.
The cool night wind sobered Xie Yuan up a good deal.
’It’s almost the new year, so there’s hardly anyone around. Right, I’ll exchange for the medicinal bath tomorrow, break through to the Second Training before the year ends, and cap off the year with a bang!’
Fueled by the lingering effects of the alcohol, Xie Yuan practiced a set of his saber techniques. His body grew warm, and the feeling was exhilarating. After washing up, he went to his room, collapsed onto his bed, and fell fast asleep.
「The next day, in the bathing chamber.」
Xie Yuan looked at the steaming, brown medicinal liquid, took a deep breath, and stepped into the wooden tub.
The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is routine. This time, Xie Yuan sat cross-legged in the wooden tub, quietly waiting for the medicinal effects to activate.
As time slowly passed, the medicine seeped into his flesh. Xie Yuan once again experienced the agonizing pain of his muscles tearing and spasming, his face contorting slightly.
’Painful, yet blissful.’
Watching the numbers before his eyes tick upward, Xie Yuan’s eyes shone.
Circulating his internal energy, the pain subsided a great deal. Xie Yuan closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and carefully sensed the changes in the muscles throughout his body.
’I don’t know what kind of formula the Escort Agency uses, or how many Treasure Medicines they add, but this one medicinal bath has increased my Muscle Training progress faster than my Skin Training ever did!’
Xie Yuan marveled inwardly as he felt his muscles rapidly strengthening and watched the numbers creep ever closer to the breakthrough point.
A shallow pond cannot raise a flood dragon. If he had stayed in Panlong Town, stayed with the Iron Cloth Sect, he would never have progressed so quickly.
[Iron Cloth Shirt · 4th Layer: (1998/2000)]
...
[Iron Cloth Shirt · 4th Layer: (2000/2000)]
Xie Yuan’s eyes flew open. He instantly directed all the Blood Qi from his chest throughout his body, covering every muscle, and felt his muscular enhancement reach a critical point.
He pushed both his internal energy and Blood Qi to their limits, using the Blood Qi to furiously temper all the muscles in his body.
The medicinal potency in the liquid was rapidly drawn out, the solution fading at a visible rate.
Every muscle in Xie Yuan’s body trembled and burned, reaching the peak of this stage of strengthening. And then, he broke through that limit.
He felt his tightly-wound body suddenly relax and expand. In that flux between tension and release, an immense power was born, making him want to unleash it.
Xie Yuan subconsciously raised his hand, then barely managed to stop himself.
’No, I can’t. Breaking a tub every time I have a breakthrough is too wasteful.’
’Besides, this tub is used for twelve hours at a time and can be heated from below. It’s not an ordinary wooden tub. I’d probably have to pay a hefty sum if I broke it.’
Forcibly restraining himself, Xie Yuan shot to his feet, causing the entire tub of medicinal liquid to erupt with a BANG! The bathing chamber was instantly filled with steam, as if he were standing in the clouds.
Muscle Training perfected. A Second Training Martial Artist!
Xie Yuan felt the boundless power within him and clenched his fist.
If the First Training was about toughening the skin, enhancing defense, increasing strength, and raising a Cultivator’s overall attributes to become a Martial Artist, then the Second Training had one primary effect: enhancing strength and explosive power!
At this moment, the quality of Xie Yuan’s muscle strength had undergone a fundamental change. His power had nearly doubled, and his explosive speed was even faster!
He felt that with his current physique alone, he wouldn’t fear the barbarian foreigner, Monto. And if another Second Training bandit dared to get close, his "three axe strikes" could chop him into four pieces, with no need for anyone else to land the finishing blow.
The power of a Second Training practitioner, especially their strength, was incomparable to that of a First Training Martial Artist.
As Xie Yuan got dressed, he thought to himself,
’My Muscle Training stage progressed so quickly. The two medicinal baths were a huge help. The Escort Agency’s high-grade medicinal baths are really something special; no wonder everyone is so envious.’
’But the medicinal baths are mainly for External Training to strengthen skin and muscle; the boost to Blood Qi progression is relatively small. Normally, I would have had to cultivate for a while longer, waiting for my Blood Qi to catch up before I could finally break my limits and reach the Second Training. However, the internal supplementing effect of that Golden Jade Pill was significant. It’s perfectly suited for a Martial Artist in the External Training stages to build up their Blood Qi. The combination of internal and external nourishment allowed me to reach my peak all at once and break through naturally.’
’So, I really have the Vajra Sect to thank for this.’
’Speaking of which, ever since I joined the Escort Agency, the Vajra Sect hasn’t been able to cause me any trouble. Especially after that sparring match, they’ve been eerily quiet.’
’It’s true what they say: it’s nice to cool off in the shade of a big tree. With Shen Longteng backing me in Yunzhao, no one should dare to touch me, unless they’re a lunatic.’
’My strength is increasing quickly, and my situation is much more stable. Joining the Escort Agency was absolutely the right decision.’
However, now that he had cultivated the Iron Cloth Shirt to the Second Training level, the subsequent insights provided by Liu the Monk became somewhat vague. How to stretch the tendons, how to forge the bones—Xie Yuan was a little lost about how to proceed with his cultivation.
After all, Liu the Monk himself was only at the Second Training...
’Is it time to switch to a better Cultivation Technique?’
Xie Yuan stroked his chin in thought, but the exquisite booklet with the image of an Arhat on it, the one from Liu the Monk’s study, kept floating through his mind.
And then there were the four words he’d encountered while cultivating the Iron Cloth Shirt: "Buddhist rhyme hidden within"... It was all rather tantalizing.
After pondering for a moment, Xie Yuan returned to his room and slowly began to pack his things.
It was the holiday for the new year. Time to head back to Xiaoshi Village.
Returning to Xiaoshi Village meant he would pass through Panlong Town. A perfect chance to go and ask... no, it had been a long time since he’d seen his old friends from the Iron Cloth Sect. He missed them. It was a perfect chance to pay them a New Year’s visit.
Definitely not for some secret Cultivation Technique manual.