Chapter 188 - 119: Guard
Take the Spiritual Snake Listening Wave Pile, for example. The ’spirit’ is what’s important, not the ’form’...
He gradually fell into deep thought, his brow furrowing as he pondered seriously.
A glint in his eye, Qin Fang suddenly called over Monkey, who was also listening intently but looked utterly confused most of the time, and told him to go pour a cup of water.
In the brief moment he turned, Qin Fang pulled the bottle of mysterious liquid from his robes. He saw his senior brother was still muttering about Mingjin, Anjin, and something called ’Water-like Intent’... When Monkey brought the water over, he nodded and took it.
As Monkey turned to sit back down, he poured a drop of the mysterious liquid into the cup.
He then put the bottle away and turned to hand the cup to his senior brother, who was lost in thought.
"Senior Brother, have some water."
His senior brother took it automatically and, still deep in thought, downed the water in one gulp.
He even smacked his lips afterward.
’...Seems a little sweeter than usual?’
Qin Fang watched him drink it, a flicker in his eyes. ’...I wonder if it’ll work?’
About ten breaths later, his senior brother suddenly let out a sound of surprised confusion.
Then, his eyes suddenly shot wide open...
He felt a warm current suddenly and inexplicably surge through his body.
This warm current was clearly different from that of a Qi Blood Pill. He could even faintly feel a power seeping out from his very bones...
The moment he noticed this, his senior brother’s eyes flew wide. He had no time to wonder where this power came from; he immediately stood up, assumed the stance, and began performing the Spiritual Snake Listening Wave Pile!
...Although his senior brother knew the Spiritual Snake Listening Wave Pile, he clearly hadn’t even reached the entry-level. He was still stuck on the ’form’.
But it had to be said, this Pile Method was originally for Anjin Martial Artists to use for their Standing Pile. By naturally performing the many movements, one could feel the internal exertion of power.
It’s like how some people can’t wiggle their ears. No matter, if an external force yanks on your ear... doesn’t it move all the same?
The ’form’ of the Spiritual Snake Listening Wave Pile was like that hand pulling the ear... as long as you performed the movements, it would naturally engage some of the internal muscles used for power exertion.
Especially at this moment, with that mysteriously appearing power surging from his very bones... in an instant, it gave Zhou Xing an unprecedented sense of clarity!
"So... that’s how it is?"
The longer he held the stance, the brighter his eyes became. In the end, he simply closed them, oblivious to his junior brother and Monkey nearby, and immersed himself completely in the enlightenment of this moment...
He keenly sensed that this was the perfect opportunity for him to step into the Anjin realm in one fell swoop!
Time trickled by. Gradually, his senior brother had clearly found the way to exert Anjin. His body vibrated slightly, and his Spiritual Snake Listening Wave Pile began to transition from ’form’ to ’spirit’. The movements became more restrained, yet the feeling of smooth, fluid grace grew ever more natural.
A smile touched the corners of Qin Fang’s mouth...
’...Senior Brother has reached Anjin!’
In what felt like the blink of an eye, four hours passed.
At a certain moment, Zhou Xing let out a long breath. A jet of air, like an arrow, shot out three or four feet from his mouth before dissipating.
When he opened his eyes again, they were practically glowing!
Qin Fang rose, bowed, and said, "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on reaching Anjin!"
Zhou Xing burst into hearty laughter, his spirits soaring...
Three years!
After failing twice in a row, he had finally, finally succeeded today!
He looked at Qin Fang with a complicated expression and said, "If it weren’t for your guidance, I’m afraid I’d still be stuck outside the gate, unable to find my way in..."
His feelings were truly complex.
...After all, before this, he had always been the one to guide Qin Fang!
But how long had it been?
And now the tables had turned, and the other was guiding him...
Qin Fang chuckled. "We’re fellow disciples, Senior Brother. This is just us learning from each other. How could you call it guidance?"
Zhou Xing came back to his senses and couldn’t help but chuckle... Of course he knew his junior brother was just trying to help him save face.
Then he paused, frowning. "Just now, I felt a powerful energy suddenly well up inside my body... What was that about?"
Qin Fang put on a surprised look. "There was?"
"You don’t know, Junior Brother?" Zhou Xing frowned at him, then his eyes subconsciously drifted to the water cup on the table.
Qin Fang shook his head. "I have no idea."
"..." Zhou Xing stared at him.
But in the end, he let out a light sigh. "Fine, if you don’t know, you don’t know..."
Qin Fang immediately asked, "Senior Brother, now that you’ve broken through to Anjin, is there a chance for you to take the next step? To get a position with real power?"
Hearing Qin Fang’s words, Zhou Xing frowned and thought for a moment. "The positions at the Government Office Entrance are all filled, one man to a post. Most of the positions with real power are already taken..."
As he said this, he suddenly paused.
Qin Fang’s eyes glinted as he said, "The City Gate Guard... isn’t that position newly vacant?"
Zhou Xing’s expression immediately shifted, his eyes flashing.
To be honest, the position of City Gate Guard was definitely one with a great deal of real power.
Not only was it responsible for overseeing several city gates, but more importantly... the Guard would inevitably have to deal with the military.
True Martial County had a formal army, the True Martial Guard... When the refugees rioted that day, it was the True Martial Guard who had stopped them outside the city gates.
The True Martial Guard was the Court’s regular army. Under normal circumstances, they did not take direct orders from the True Martial County Magistrate, operating independently of the Government Office as their own entity.
Their garrison was supposed to be in the barracks outside the city, but because of the refugee rebellion and to guard against any eventuality, their post was temporarily moved to the Haiman atop the True Martial City walls. To this day, no other arrangements had been made.
Normally, the True Martial Guard didn’t participate in True Martial’s daily defensive duties, so the city gates were still managed by the Government Office constables.
But once a state of war was declared, these powers would be handed over to military control.
...This armed force was extremely powerful, but because it wasn’t involved in day-to-day administration, it was relatively inconspicuous.
And the City Gate Guard was one of the few Government Office positions that could directly liaise with the True Martial Guard.
After all, right above the city gates was the Haiman!
Realizing this, Zhou Xing made a swift decision and said in a low voice, "An Changyu just died, and many people at the Government Office Entrance are already eyeing the City Gate Guard position like tigers. It’s an extremely important post, so it will probably have to be filled in the next day or two. I need to go to the Government Office Entrance now to report that I’ve broken through to Anjin... We’ll talk more when I get back."
Qin Fang nodded immediately. "Go on then, Senior Brother."
Zhou Xing nodded, got up, and left, not caring that it was the middle of the night...
A glint appeared in Qin Fang’s eyes.
’...The City Gate Guard is in charge of the city gates.’
’If Senior Brother can successfully secure this position, it will be so much more convenient for me to enter and leave True Martial in the future... I’ll never again have to deal with being stuck outside the city, unable to get in.’