Chapter 90: The Five Classics
Just as Zhuang Jin had anticipated, after the incident with the allocation of exotic beasts, a gentle admonition to Zhang Zigao and Huang Chuanhe had rendered these two squad leaders considerably more obedient. Furthermore, owing to that event, Zhuang Jin had struck up some acquaintance with Gan Ju, the guardian of the neighboring Long Town. Of late, Gan Ju often joined them at dinner, gathering around the table as dusk fell.
The first reason was Chen Yun’s remarkable culinary skill; she could turn the simplest ingredients into delectable dishes. Secondly, the incense burned here drove away the mosquitoes. Indeed, the former surpassed the latter—Gan Ju was a true gourmand, ever drawn by the promise of fine food and drink. When the dinner hour arrived, he would follow the aroma, though he was courteous enough never to eat without offering something in return: sometimes a dish of exotic beast meat, sometimes a bottle of beast-infused wine.
On this day, Gan Ju visited again. Not far from Zhuang Jin’s two small huts, perhaps a few hundred meters away, stood a pavilion where the two sat face to face. It was an octagonal pavilion, stone steps leading up to it, furnished with stone table and stools. Its location was a vantage point; from there, one could gaze for miles around. To the deep mountains, the stacked rocks and lush forests were visible; to the city, the entire Dian Nan Prefecture unfolded, rivers and streams weaving through it like ribbons.
Sometimes, when Zhuang Jin practiced martial arts, Chen Yun would sit in the pavilion and keep him company.
This evening, twilight had fallen. Smoke rose from kitchens throughout the city, the sunset was resplendent, and a bright moon had climbed above the treetops. A gentle breeze swept through, making one's sleeves flutter.
Gan Ju tasted a dish and remarked, “Brother Zhuang, you are truly blessed. Your wife’s skills are unmatched; she makes even the simplest fare into a delight.”
Zhuang Jin smiled without speaking, agreeing in his heart.
Gan Ju continued, “A pity the ingredients aren’t the best. The finest delicacies come from the belly meat of the Violet-Eyed Dove, better than the Iron-Beaked Sparrow. Then there’s the hind leg of the Luminous Rabbit, the pork belly of the Ironhide Pig... If we could render the fat of the Ironhide Pig for oil, then fry strips of the Color-Shifting Snake, that would be unparalleled!”
Having spent years guarding the medicinal fields north of the city, Gan Ju had tasted many exotic beasts. He smacked his lips as he spoke, listing them as if reciting rare treasures, then poured Zhuang Jin a cup of tiger bone wine he had brought.
“This wine packs a punch!” Zhuang Jin exclaimed.
“Indeed! It’s brewed from the bones of a Black Fiend Tiger at the peak of the Hide-Refining Realm, equivalent to the Five Meridians Realm for us martial artists. I assisted in slaying it, so I was allotted two bones.”
Gan Ju recounted proudly, and soon, at Zhuang Jin’s inquiry, spoke of his predecessor Zhang Ziqiao: “The two brothers are cut from the same cloth, but their temperaments differ... Ziqiao went north of the city this month, likely due to the commotion you caused last month, Brother Zhuang.”
Zhuang Jin rubbed his nose and changed the subject. “This month’s battle merit exchange introduced the Meridian-Loosening Pill; the north city will surely be restless.”
“Quite so. Even here, I’ve heard the big shots—town guardians and above—are uneasy. Many are stuck at the bottleneck between the Sixth and Seventh Meridians; the street guardians at the Sixth are especially eager. This month, the speed at which the small gangs are cleared out is like chaff flying from a sieve.”
Gan Ju sighed. “I reckon the Meridian-Loosening Pill will be prioritized for town guardians above the Seventh Meridians. Even if street guardians at the Sixth have enough merit, they’ll have to queue, who knows how long—so close, yet out of reach!”
“Indeed!” Zhuang Jin thought of the queuing for the Meridian-Loosening Pill; the pill would be even more sought after. Still, it was a sliver of hope.
“All comes back to the bottlenecks of the martial path. The bottleneck from the First to Third Meridians is tough, Fourth to Sixth tougher still, and above the Seventh... that’s another matter entirely.”
Gan Ju reflected on his own situation, sighing, “Just look at me, stuck at the bottleneck between the Fourth and Fifth Meridians for years. You, Brother Zhuang, are exceptionally gifted, so you needn’t worry as much.”
“Who can say for certain?” Zhuang Jin replied vaguely. “At least, here we are safe enough, able to watch the winds and clouds at leisure.”
“Well said! Let’s drink to that!”
Their laughter echoed. Compared to the increasing intensity of battles in the south city, near the Medicine King Gang, and in the north, their medicinal fields outside the city seemed a haven of tranquility.
...
Time flew; another seven or eight days passed. During this period, nothing much happened at the medicinal fields under Zhuang Jin’s watch. They encountered several exotic beasts—Iron-Beaked Sparrows, Violet-Eyed Doves, small creatures at the entry-level Hide-Refining Realm. His squads handled them easily, needing no intervention.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Jin’s cultivation progressed rapidly; he sensed he would break through to the Fifth Meridian in two or three days.
Then, on the seventeenth of June, a mid-level Hide-Refining Realm beast appeared, finally giving him an opportunity to act.
...
Whoosh!
A black eagle, its wings spanning nearly a meter and a half, flashed with a faint dark glow, slicing through nets like scissors, swooping down to snatch two stalks of Black Jade Grass.
“A mid-level Hide-Refining Iron-Feathered Eagle!”
Zhang Zigao was leading a patrol and immediately attacked, with Huang Chuanhe joining in. Two against one, and yet they could not subdue it.
As for their squad members, this mid-level Hide-Refining Iron-Feathered Eagle was equivalent to a Third Meridian martial artist, with the added advantage of flight and agility. They could only support from the sidelines.
Then Zhuang Jin arrived and, with a single palm strike, killed it.
Gan Ju, stationed nearby, came over, full of envy. “A mid-level Hide-Refining beast—such luck, brother!”
“Perhaps all my luck this month is here. Gan, why not join us for lunch?” Zhuang Jin invited.
Gan Ju, eyeing the fresh beast meat and recalling Chen Yun’s skill, could hardly restrain his salivation. “I won’t refuse!”
...
Yet luck, fickle as ever, can turn quickly; the next day, Zhuang Jin’s fortunes dipped.
Another Iron-Feathered Eagle attacked—a male, likely the mate of the one slain yesterday. Its body was nearly two meters long, its realm at peak Hide-Refining, equivalent to a Fourth Meridian martial artist.
—A peak Hide-Refining beast’s strength is on par with Fourth or Fifth Meridian martial artists, depending on species and size. Large beasts like tigers, cattle, or wild boar match Fifth Meridians; smaller birds, weighing only twenty or thirty pounds, match the Fourth—albeit the strongest among them.
Now, Zhuang Jin’s accumulation at the Fourth Meridian was nearly complete, and his mastery of the Black Fiend Palm was at the minor level, placing him among the elite Fourth Meridian practitioners.
Man and eagle engaged in a fierce battle.
Bang!
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Zhuang Jin matched his palm against the eagle’s claws.
One force burst forth, the other’s talons shimmered with dark light.
A shrill cry tore from the Iron-Feathered Eagle; Zhuang Jin’s palm bore a faint bloody mark.
Zhuang Jin realized he could not defeat it alone and ceased his direct assault, weaving and dodging, stalling for time. He had already signaled for backup; soon, other town guardians would arrive, perhaps even district guardians at the Seventh Meridian if it dragged on.
Gan Ju, the first to answer, joined him in a two-on-one fight. Seeing more martial artists approach, the eagle had no choice but to retreat.
...
Two days passed. It was the twentieth of June.
On this day, Zhuang Jin felt a subtle swelling in his meridians—a sign that, since the tenth of last month, he had refocused on cultivation. After forty days, his Fourth Meridian accumulation was finally complete.
‘This is the result of exotic beast meat, ample cultivation supplies, and Yun’s support in handling chores and logistics—all factors combined.’
‘At last, I will break through to the Fifth Meridian!’
He looked at the Iron-Feathered Eagle circling above his hut. “Wait until I break through...”
Since its failed ambush two days ago, the eagle realized it could not best him; if it delayed, other guardians would arrive to gang up on it. So these past two days, it merely circled above, dropping excrement on his roof.
Yes, excrement!
Though Zhuang Jin’s reflexes ensured he was never struck, the insult was potent even if the harm was slight.
He was not one to take offense at mere insult; he cared little for the jokes of other guardians or the chatter of his subordinates. But...
Imagine Zhuang Jin practicing stance work, refining Black Essence Powder, and suddenly a dollop of bird droppings fell precisely from above.
If he dodged, his stance would be disrupted, rendering his practice useless; if he did not, he would be soiled.
Thus, these days, he practiced in the pavilion or indoors.
‘No more delay—today, I break through to the Fifth Meridian!’
He took a deep breath, cleared his mind, concentrated his internal energy, and directed it to the Yangming Meridian of his hand.
As before, there was no barrier; he easily completed the cycle through five meridians, his internal energy further purified and refined.
The Fifth Meridian—complete!
Zhuang Jin assessed his newfound strength, estimating that if he faced the Iron-Feathered Eagle again, he could defeat it in dozens of moves.
‘After breaking through, I’ll need three doses of Black Essence Powder daily. The boost from peak Hide-Refining beast meat will drop from fifty percent to thirty... But these matters can wait.’
He glanced again at the eagle circling outside. ‘The priority is to deal with this beast and use its blood and flesh to aid my cultivation!’
...
Zhuang Jin rose; Chen Yun, sitting on a small bench by the door, quickly stood and poured him tea.
“Yun, no need for that now. I’ve broken through; I’ll be heading out shortly.”
He paused, looking outside. “Time to disguise myself as prey and hunt this beast!”
Chen Yun, hearing this, immediately understood his intentions, recalling the events of the past two days. She couldn’t help but smile. She remembered how, whatever she did, Zhuang Jin always stayed close, a subtle warmth filling her heart.
He had intended to leave her behind, but worried the eagle might try a diversion; it was safer to keep her by his side. “Yun, the weather’s lovely today. Shall we go for a walk together?”
“Certainly!” she replied, setting down her things and rising, asking no questions—her trust in Zhuang Jin evident.
Then Zhuang Jin asked Gan Ju to keep watch over the medicinal fields, guarding against surprise attacks, before leaving with Chen Yun. As expected, the Iron-Feathered Eagle followed.
...
Today, the sky was clear and blue, the breeze gentle, stirring the green waves of mountain foliage. Birds called, streams murmured, all life flourished.
Zhuang Jin and Chen Yun wandered, not venturing far, simply enjoying a stroll.
Passing a hollow near a pool, Chen Yun spotted small stones covered in moss, beautiful and variegated. She pointed them out. “Stack these for a bonsai rock garden; it would be striking.”
Zhuang Jin agreed, intrigued. “Such stones are indeed rare.”
“But it’s hard to reach them—a pity.”
“That’s no trouble! Watch me fetch them.” Seeing her delight, Zhuang Jin leapt across the wide pool, landing gracefully on a stone.
Chen Yun, seeing him act before she could protest, felt a mix of helplessness and sweetness. Formerly, as the elder sister, she had always been the caretaker; now, being pampered stirred unfamiliar feelings, her heart rippling like sunlight on the water.
Zhuang Jin tore a broad leaf, wrapped up stones Chen Yun approved of, discarding those she did not. Soon, they had gathered many.
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High above, the Iron-Feathered Eagle, seeing no ambush and knowing the guardians could not reach in time, seized the moment when Zhuang Jin’s attention seemed relaxed. It swooped, targeting Chen Yun, intent on making Zhuang Jin taste the pain of losing a companion.
But Zhuang Jin had not forgotten his purpose. Even while gathering stones, part of his mind was kept on the eagle. He reacted instantly, sweeping to Chen Yun, pulling her into his arms as he spun in midair, and struck at the eagle.
A shrill cry tore from the beast. Its talons flashed with dark light, its force clashing with his. This time, however, its flesh tore, and it screamed in agony.
It couldn’t comprehend—how, in just two days, had things changed? Last time, they were evenly matched; it had even held the advantage!
Despite its confusion, the searing pain told the eagle that Zhuang Jin was now beyond it. It shrieked, trying to ascend, but was struck by several swiftly thrown iron caltrops.
“Wait here, Yun!”
As he set Chen Yun down, Zhuang Jin tossed another handful of caltrops, then dashed after the eagle.
Chen Yun, still feeling the warmth of his embrace, was momentarily dazed. Though she had faced life and death, she felt no anxiety—in Zhuang Jin’s arms, there was only inexplicable peace. Watching him composed and skillful, her gaze softened.
Whoosh!
The wounded eagle fluttered down, not mortally injured—it could recover and ascend in moments. But Zhuang Jin was already upon it; it swung its iron-fan wings in defense.
Zhuang Jin did not dodge. Enduring some pain, he took the blow head-on, then tore at the eagle, eliciting another anguished cry. The eagle lunged with its beak.
He was prepared for this—indeed, he had waited for it. His palm moved with a shadow, dodging aside, then pressed down on the eagle’s head, crushing its skull in an instant. The beast’s body stiffened; its life was gone.
...
Zhuang Jin returned with the eagle’s corpse. His two squads, ten martial artists, were shocked.
The two squad leaders understood the significance. Two days ago, Zhuang Jin, at the Fourth Meridian, could only barely contend with the beast, needing Gan Ju’s help to drive it off. Today, he had slain it alone. Did this mean...
“Guardian Zhuang, you’ve broken through?” Zhang Zigao and Huang Chuanhe asked in unison, incredulous.
Zhuang Jin nodded slightly. “Yes, today I was fortunate enough to break through to the Fifth Meridian.”
The confirmation stunned them all the more; their minds buzzed with disbelief.
‘Wasn’t the bottleneck after the Fourth Meridian supposed to be far harder than the first three? How does Zhuang Jin break through as easily as eating and drinking?’
This month, Zhang Zigao had harbored resentment, daring to push back only because his elder brother was also at the Fourth Meridian. Now, with Zhuang Jin at the Fifth, his confidence evaporated.
Huang Chuanhe was even more shocked. When Zhuang Jin first arrived, he thought his own disguise had fooled the newcomer. He had secretly sowed discord, thinking himself clever, mocking Zhuang Jin’s diligence as mere ‘martial stupidity.’ Only after being admonished during the Luminous Rabbit incident did he realize Zhuang Jin harbored hidden talents and grew more honest.
Now, hearing of Zhuang Jin’s breakthrough, he was dumbstruck, reflecting on his own actions—perhaps they seemed laughable in Zhuang Jin’s eyes.
‘Among martial artists, strength is paramount!’ Huang Chuanhe suddenly understood the truth.
—Indeed! Zhuang Jin’s late uncle, Zhuang Yutang, would have agreed; scheming and intrigue have their place, but only atop a foundation of true strength. Otherwise, they are but adornments, or empty laughter.
Not only the squad leaders, but the other martial artists were astonished, though the gap was so vast that their feelings were less intense—Bi Kai was simply genuinely happy.
Gan Ju arrived, his expression complex, offering congratulations.
Zhuang Jin instructed Bi Kai to process the eagle, handing some offal to Gan Ju.
The beast weighed twenty or thirty pounds, with nearly twenty pounds of pure meat. According to local custom, Zhuang Jin could claim fifteen pounds, enough for half a month’s training—worth one hundred and fifty battle merit points!
The only surprise was that, after Zhuang Jin’s invitation, Gan Ju did not join them for lunch, and from that day, attended less and less frequently.
Perhaps, once he had considered himself the elder, mentoring the younger, but now, surpassed by Zhuang Jin, he felt embarrassed, unwilling to be seen currying favor.
Zhuang Jin was undisturbed. His talent meant many would fall behind or drift away—unless bonds were formed early, as with Ping Yongfeng or Chang Hetong, or if one found a role, as subordinate or sycophant, like Lin Hong, Bi Kai, Wu Hao, or Qian Wende. Otherwise, they would soon be eliminated from his circle.
He continued at his own pace, disciplined in training, supplied with ample beast meat and resources, and supported by Chen Yun in logistics, free from distractions. After breaking through to the Fifth Meridian, his progress surged, completing one-fifth of Fifth Meridian accumulation by month’s end!
Of course, Zhuang Jin was not a slave to power; he still indulged in leisure and pleasure.
The stones they had collected were shrouded in mystery by Chen Yun, who was building a bonsai garden. When Zhuang Jin inquired, she replied, ‘You found the stones; now it’s my turn. If it’s unfinished, I’ll feel embarrassed—wait until it’s ready for you to admire.’
She spent six or seven days preparing. On a misty morning, Zhuang Jin finally saw her creation and could scarcely believe his eyes.
The bonsai rock garden, with its interlaced mountains and water, was draped with morning glory vines, their crimson flowers blooming amid star-like white duckweed floating on the water. Red and white intermingled. On closer inspection, a rustic pavilion and thatched hut stood among the rocks, and on one cliff, the words ‘Between Falling Flowers and Flowing Water’ were inscribed.
In the morning mist, the bonsai seemed a miniature immortal island hidden in clouds.
Zhuang Jin marveled, asking how she had achieved it.
“I found a rectangular pot, treated the stones with yellow ash, set them while damp to match the pot’s color, stacking a jagged peak—not symmetrical, rugged to the left, protruding to the right, horizontal patterns on the back, leaving one corner empty... I used river mud for the duckweed, morning glory on the rocks...”
It sounded simple, but only Chen Yun knew the effort involved.
Whenever Zhuang Jin was free, he and Chen Yun would gaze at it together, discussing like children where one might live or fish in the enlarged landscape, as if they might truly move in.
Such were some of the pleasures of this period, revealing in Chen Yun, beyond her quiet serenity, a refined, sensitive, and charming side.
...
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