Chapter 16: Attaining Rank

Chapter 16: Attaining Rank

As evening fell, the students who had been out all afternoon gradually returned.

The dinner was slightly inferior, consisting of pork stewed with cabbage and plain steamed buns.

As they ate, the students chatted about their outings. Some had soaked in hot baths, others visited relatives, and some had simply strolled around.

Living together day and night, everyone noticed the changes in Meng Yuan, but no one found it strange. They just felt that he was even more handsome than before, with a more spirited look in his eyes.

Meng Yuan didn't talk much with the others and focused on eating.

By now, his Essence Flame had shrunk to the size of a soybean. After eating the pork stew, his Essence Flame still absorbed nutrients, growing slightly larger, but at a slower pace than before.

"It seems that making the Essence Flame grow is more difficult than before. I need to eat more meat," Meng Yuan concluded silently, reflecting on the uses of the Essence Flame.

This Essence Flame, whose location in the body was unknown, could be nourished through diet. When the body was weak or injured, it could also nourish itself.

Moreover, as the Essence Flame became more complete, it would be absorbed by the body, impacting the meridians and having a tempering effect.

"Now, after just the first completion, it has helped me open my meridians. It will be even more difficult to nurture it to the next completion, and I wonder if the effect will be stronger then?"

"Also, I ate less meat before, so the nourishment was slower. In the future, I need to find a way to eat more meat..."

Meng Yuan couldn't help but think of his grandmother and wondered if he could try eating monsters, as they were also born and raised naturally, containing essence and spiritual energy.

Of course, he still needed to be cautious. Meng Yuan decided to seek advice from Teacher Nie to learn more about martial arts.

The next day, before the rooster crowed, Meng Yuan was already up.

After morning practice and breakfast, it was time for the morning training.

It wasn't until halfway through the morning that Nie Yinian finally arrived.

Upon his arrival, he instructed Wu Changsheng to fetch a reclining chair from the training ground warehouse. After cleaning it, he casually gave a few instructions to the students, telling them to increase their training intensity. Then, right in front of the students, he lay down on the chair to rest.

Meng Yuan considered his options and decided to ask a question.

Now was not the time to hide his abilities; it was time to reveal his talents and strive to learn and understand more. After all, he was still wearing the clothes tailored by the little girl, and he needed to bring her over soon.

After finishing his practice, Meng Yuan walked up to the reclining chair and squatted beside it. In a low voice, he said, "Teacher Nie, I think I've opened my meridians."

Nie Yinian didn't even open his eyes, lazily asking, "You've opened your meridians? Whose meridians have you opened?"

Why does this guy always talk about women!

"Not some girl's meridians," Meng Yuan replied honestly and earnestly. "Teacher Nie taught the Pole Standing Technique yesterday and said that the combination of tension and relaxation helps open the meridians. When I practiced this afternoon, I felt a surge of energy rushing towards my crown, as if something had been unblocked."

Finally, Nie Yinian opened his eyes. He turned his head and saw Meng Yuan's serious expression, so he asked, "What else do you feel?"

"I feel less prone to irritability and my eyes, nose, and ears are much sharper. Before, I could see the archery targets a hundred steps away, and now I can even see individual leaves at that distance." Meng Yuan explained.

Upon hearing this, Nie Yinian straightened up, grabbing Meng Yuan's wrist.

Meng Yuan immediately felt a warm current flowing through his wrist, then up his arm, and it was swiftly retracted.

Nie Yinian's expression changed, showing both joy and surprise. He carefully examined Meng Yuan, as if he had seen a treasure.

"How old are you this year?" Nie Yinian asked.

"I just turned seventeen after the New Year," Meng Yuan replied.

"Have you never studied martial arts before? Have you learned any techniques like the Posture Cultivation Technique?" Nie Yinian asked again.

"No, I didn't know any of this before," Meng Yuan answered.

Nie Yinian believed him. He had seen Meng Yuan practice martial arts, and although he was quick to learn, he was indeed a novice.

"Have you ever eaten anything special? Like some unusual herbs or rare meat?" Nie Yinian asked further.

"I've never left the training ground, and I eat the same food as everyone else," Meng Yuan said.

"So, you've only been practicing for a month?" Nie Yinian pointed at Meng Yuan's nose and laughed, "Hey! Your mother must be a genius!"

Meng Yuan was speechless.

"But you're so pale and tender, and your face is quite pretty. You don't look like a martial artist. You better take care of yourself down there, and I'll introduce you to a business later!" Nie Yinian rubbed his hands happily, not seeming to be joking.

"Nie Shi, what business are you talking about?" Meng Yuan thought of Nie Yanyan's usual behavior and felt a bit afraid for no apparent reason.

"You know, some widows are afraid of not being able to protect their wealth, so they need to find someone to guard their home." Nie Yanyan spoke seriously, not joking, and my head on his lap.

So, it's still about selling yourself! What's this about guarding and protecting a home? Being a prostitute and setting up a brothel! I've just made some progress, and instead of praising me, you want to lead me astray? You just praised my talent, and this is how you treat a genius? Does the Empress Dowager know you're taking on private jobs?"

"I only serve as the Empress Dowager's bodyguard." Meng Yuan felt life was dull; he was a tall, eight-foot man, and selling himself into slavery was already a last resort, but now he had to sell himself again? Anyone with a bit of ambition wouldn't do such a thing!

"You little rascal, you're quite ambitious!" Nie Yanyan scolded him and then comforted him, "Actually, she's not ugly, and she's well-maintained. She's in her forties or fifties, still young! Besides, if you get to sleep with a woman for free, why are you hesitating? If I were ten years younger, it would be my turn, wouldn't it?"

Why is this martial arts teacher acting like a pimp right from the start? I'm learning martial arts to avoid selling myself! Meng Yuan hasn't fallen to such a state yet!

A warrior must have integrity!

"One night for a thousand taels, and we split it fifty-fifty!" Nie Yanyan whispered.

"Then I'll give it a try?" Meng Yuan was truly afraid of poverty.

"A worthy disciple." Nie Yanyan was very satisfied and patted Meng Yuan's shoulder.

"Nie Shi, have I attained rank? What should I do next?" Meng Yuan realized that Nie Yanyan had led him astray, and he had forgotten to ask about the main issue.

"You have indeed attained rank, but don't be arrogant. You've only just asked about the way to the brothel, and you're still far from entering the alley!" Nie Yanyan casually exaggerated and clapped his hands, signaling everyone to stop.

"Come here!" Nie Yanyan waved to the young men.

A group of students gathered around, looking at Meng Yuan in confusion, then turning to Nie Yanyan in unison.

Nie Yanyan crossed his legs and sat in the armchair. He looked around at everyone and said, "I thought it would take at least three or four months before someone would open their meridians, but I didn't expect someone to make progress so quickly!"

All the young men looked at Meng Yuan. Although they didn't understand what opening meridians meant, it usually took three or four months for ordinary people to achieve it, so it must be extremely difficult.

Some were surprised, some were envious, but most were still clueless.

Hu Qian was also surprised. She looked at Meng Yuan and thought, "This kid keeps asking me for guidance on his stance and body technique every few days. How did he make such progress so quickly? Could it be related to the person who brought him things yesterday? But that person is just an ordinary villager, nothing special."

She looked at Zhao Tieniu and saw that he was also surprised.

"Are you envious? If you're envious, you should practice hard!"

Nie Yanyan chuckled and said, "You are either from a homeless background or children of the Imperial Mansion's elders. You've all heard more or less about cultivation, but you probably don't understand it well."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuan pricked up his ears and listened attentively.

"I was planning to talk about it later, but since Xiao Chuanjiang made such progress today, it's not enough for me to explain it to him alone. Let's all listen together."

Nie Yanyan finally showed a bit of a teacher's demeanor. He continued, "The path we follow is that of a warrior, and it's one of many paths. It starts from the ninth rank and goes up to the first rank. Attaining rank means opening the meridians, which is the true beginning of this warrior's path."

"Do you mean there are other paths besides the warrior's path, Nie Shi?" Meng Yuan asked.

"Of course. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have been around for thousands of years, and they each have their own paths of progression, all from the ninth rank to the first rank. These paths are vastly different from our warrior's path. The mysterious and wondrous aspects will become clearer as you gain more experience in the world."

Nie Yanyan smiled slightly, proud of himself, and continued, "Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism certainly have their merits, but our warrior's path is the most ancient, mature, and populous. Because of this path, anyone from merchants and laborers to wild spirits and nobles can learn it, and attaining rank is not difficult."

"Nie Shi, are there other paths besides Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism?" Wu Changsheng asked.

"There are, but they all fall under the eclectic school, and fewer people practice them, so they can't be considered the great path." Nie Yanyan explained.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end