Chapter 84 : Chapter 84
Chapter 84. The Fifth Meridian!
Changlin Ward, the Ward Master’s residence.
After hearing Hong Qianshan and Xu Yuan’s report, Xue Zhan remained silent for a long while.
The candlelight in the hall flickered, casting shifting light and shadow across his stern face.
“Interesting. They actually tried to turn the tables on us.”
Xue Zhan finally spoke, his voice low and heavy. “Still, with Xu Tianlong and Qiao Sheng walking right into our hands this time, it saved us quite a bit of trouble.”
He looked at Xu Yuan, the appreciation in his eyes growing even stronger.
“Xu Yuan, this time you not only exposed the spies, you also used their own scheme against them and killed Qiao Sheng and Xu Tianlong. You have rendered great service. I will report your merit for you.”
“Thank you, Ward Master,” Xu Yuan said, cupping his hands.
Xue Zhan waved it off. “It is what you deserve. However…”
His tone shifted. “The Bai Family has suffered repeated losses. They will never let this go so easily. For a while yet, you must be careful.”
“This subordinate understands.”
“You may go. Recuperate properly. Once the merits have been calculated, I will send someone to notify the two of you.”
“This subordinate takes his leave.”
By the time the two of them stepped out of the Ward Master’s residence, it was already deep into the night.
Hong Qianshan patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder and said with feeling, “Brother Xu, after this battle, your weight in the Ward Master’s eyes is probably going to rise by several more degrees. Recover well. I’ll be heading back first.”
“Take care, Brother Hong.”
Xu Yuan watched him leave before slowly making his way back toward Changning Street.
The night wind was cool, dispersing some of the blood-soaked smell still clinging to him.
He could feel the faint pain in his internal organs, yet his mind was crystal clear.
This battle had been dangerous, but it had been worth it.
Not only had they uprooted an important Bai Family stronghold, they had also taken the chance to eliminate Xu Tianlong, a hidden danger.
From now on, things on Fu’an Street’s side ought to stay quiet for a while.
…
Two days later, the battle merit was finally calculated.
Because Xu Yuan had taken the lead in uncovering the spy network, killed Xu Tianlong with his own hands, and joined forces with Hong Qianshan to slay Qiao Sheng, a heavy entry was written beside his name in the merit ledger. In the end, he was awarded six hundred battle merit points.
The moment the news came out, it instantly shocked the various Street Guards.
Everyone had more or less known that the Bai Family had planted spies in Changlin Ward, and they had all either been secretly searching for those hideouts or waiting for a chance to make their move.
But no one had expected Changning Street to snatch the first great merit.
From this point on, the Bai Family would surely become even more cautious. For the others, even getting a sip of the soup would likely require enormous effort, and quite a few of them felt displeased, whether openly or in secret.
Not long afterward, Lin Yue’e, Zhao Tieshan, and the others also came one after another to congratulate him in person.
At one point, Lin Yue’e even laughed and complained that Xu Yuan had only arrived in the Level Three zone a few months ago, yet he had already scored one achievement after another, making the purses of old hands like them go flat.
Xu Yuan naturally only smiled that off.
After receiving the two of them, he did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately used the newly credited battle merit to exchange for a large amount of Qi-Harmonizing Powder and spirit beast meat.
He was now only one final step away from breaking through to the Fifth Meridian. This was exactly the time when he needed to pile up a vast amount of resources.
In the days that followed, Xu Yuan kept a low profile and rarely went out, devoting nearly all of his time to cultivation.
During the day, he handled official affairs. At night, he shut himself away and cultivated bitterly.
Bottle after bottle of Qi-Harmonizing Powder was consumed, meal after meal of spirit beast meat devoured, and under the circulation of the Jade Platform Stance Art, his Qi and blood grew stronger and more condensed by the day.
Chen Sanli and the others knew their Street Guard was attacking a bottleneck, so they all did their utmost as well, keeping the affairs of the street in perfect order and not allowing trivial matters to disturb Xu Yuan’s secluded cultivation.
And the Bai Family had clearly been caught off guard by this incident. For a time, all the surrounding streets became much quieter.
…
Time flew. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
July 12.
Late that night, in the quiet chamber of the Changning Street garrison post.
Xu Yuan sat cross-legged, his Qi and blood coursing through his body like a rushing river, giving off a faint, surging sound.
【Skills: Tai Chi Exercise (Perfection 100%) Jade Platform Stance Art (Beginner 99%) Benlei Fist (Major Mastery 40%) Wandering Dragon Step (Minor Mastery 36%) Iron Garment Art (Minor Mastery 51%)】
【Aptitude: 23 (Promising Talent, Uncut Jade)】
“It is about time.”
Xu Yuan’s face was flushed red, white vapor rising from the top of his head. It was obvious that he had reached the critical moment of breakthrough.
The vast, blazing Qi and blood inside him was like a furious river in flood, surging again and again toward the Yin Linking Meridian.
Who knew how much time passed.
Xu Yuan’s body suddenly trembled, his skin flushing red as sweat poured from him like rain.
BOOM!
It was as if some barrier within his body had been shattered. His Qi and blood suddenly surged, and its circulation speed increased explosively!
Washed over by that powerful Qi and blood, his meridians seemed to widen slightly, becoming even tougher and more resilient.
The fifth meridian, the Yin Linking Meridian, had finally opened and connected completely at this moment.
The Fifth Meridian was complete!
Xu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through them, seeming to light up the dim chamber itself.
He slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. The breath did not disperse at once, but instead remained gathered together like a white arrow that shot forward three feet before gradually fading away.
【Skills: Tai Chi Exercise (Perfection 100%) Jade Platform Stance Art (Minor Mastery 1%) Benlei Fist (Major Mastery 40%) Wandering Dragon Step (Minor Mastery 36%) Iron Garment Art (Minor Mastery 51%)】
【Aptitude: 25 (Promising Talent, Uncut Jade)】
“My aptitude increased by two points…”
Xu Yuan’s mind was astonishingly clear, and his previous exhaustion rapidly vanished as well. He clenched his fist and felt the surging power inside his body.
The gap between the Fifth Meridian and the Fourth Meridian truly was as vast as heaven and earth.
Not only had the total volume of his Qi and blood skyrocketed, and its circulation become much smoother and faster, but even his control over his muscles had become increasingly fine and precise.
If he now used the Benlei Fist or the Wandering Dragon Step again, he would be able to find the points of coordinated force far more easily. Using them would become much less taxing, and their power would rise to yet another level.
“So I have finally taken this step.”
A faint smile lifted the corner of Xu Yuan’s mouth as a great weight settled from his heart.
Within the Level Three zone, with the Ward Master acting as the stabilizing pillar, a Fifth Meridian martial artist already counted as the highest level of combat strength that could be actively deployed.
And if that were paired with his Minor Mastery fist art, footwork, and Beginner Iron Garment Art, then even against veteran Fifth Meridian fighters, he would have the power to fight.
“This is what it means: gain an inch, and there is the joy of that inch.”
Xu Yuan smiled slightly, put on his clothes, and slowly stepped out of the quiet chamber.
It was now the turn of summer into autumn in July. The heat had begun to fade, and the air felt especially fresh.
Xu Yuan stood silently in the courtyard, gazing carefully at the stars filling the sky, listening to the creek and the falling leaves. He almost felt a subtle sense of his body coming into harmony with the Dao.
…
The next day.
Xu Yuan emerged from seclusion and began handling the accumulated official work.
Breaking through to the Fifth Meridian was naturally a joyous thing, but the responsibility on his shoulders had also grown heavier.
Changning Street bordered Bai Family territory, so he still could not relax in the slightest.
In the afternoon, Chen Sanli hurried in. The moment he saw Xu Yuan, his gaze wavered. He felt that something about him seemed different, yet he could not quite say what.
‘Strange. Why does this feel oddly familiar?’
Chen Sanli frowned and scratched his head.
“What is it?”
When Xu Yuan saw him enter, he took the initiative to ask.
Chen Sanli came back to himself, his expression somewhat ugly.
“Brother Xu, the Third Patrol Squad from the west entrance of our street was chasing a group of Bai Family martial artists just now. When they reached Changyuan Street territory, Sun Xiaochuan’s men stepped in again and snatched the kill.”
The hand Xu Yuan was using to flip through the account books paused slightly.
This was already the third time this month.
Ever since Sun Xiaochuan had lost money in that previous wager, he had stopped provoking Xu Yuan openly, but he was always causing trouble in secret.
Snatching battle merit, making things difficult for merchant goods passing through the territory, allowing his subordinates to clash with Changning Street martial artists… the list of such behavior was endless and exhausting.
In the past, Xu Yuan had shown restraint for the sake of them both serving under Shangyang Residence, and because he had been wary of Sun Xiaochuan’s long-established Fourth Meridian cultivation. If the two of them fought, the Bai Family might seize the chance to take advantage.
But now…
Xu Yuan closed the account book and slowly rose to his feet. “Where is Street Guard Sun right now?”
“He should still be at the Changyuan Street garrison post.” Chen Sanli froze for a moment. “Brother Xu, you are…”
Xu Yuan did not answer. He only said calmly,
“Prepare the horses. We are going to Changyuan Street. Today, Street Guard Sun will learn that the things belonging to Changning Street are not so easily taken.”
Chen Sanli froze for an instant, then excitement burst into his eyes.
“Yes!”
Outside the Changning Street garrison post, Xu Yuan swung himself onto his horse.
Behind him, Chen Sanli, Liu Kun, and more than ten other martial artists followed closely, every one of them solemn-faced.
The sound of hooves rang out across the bluestone street as they galloped toward Changyuan Street.
…