Chapter 3: Health Cultivation Techniques

Wei Hong’s subtext.

Wei Tu understood it clearly.

His second aunt meant for him to be cautious with his requests; she would help with small favors, but not big ones.

"Nephew has come this time to ask Second Aunt for a favor: to learn a few moves of martial arts from the Huang family’s guards, so as to strengthen my body and improve my health."

Wei Tu pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Practicing martial arts? Since ancient times, it has been said that literature is for the poor and martial arts for the rich. You are already of age; there is no future for you in martial arts." Wei Hong frowned.

She had actually hoped that her nephew was asking for help to secure a good position in the Huang household, but upon remembering that Wei Tu had already been sold into servitude to the Li family, she kept those words to herself.

Having family on her side made her feel more secure as a married-out daughter, but unfortunately, the Wei family was useless and could offer her no support.

"Practicing a health-cultivation technique to strengthen the body and improve health is good enough."

Wei Tu retreated a step in his request.

Compared to unique martial arts, health-cultivation techniques were common knowledge among martial artists and were not considered precious.

"Since you insist, I will have a word with Master Ruan and have him teach you a few moves." Seeing Wei Tu’s stubbornness, Wei Hong sighed and agreed.

After saying this, Wei Hong had no desire to chat further with Wei Tu in the side room. She glanced sideways at her maid, made up a casual excuse, and rose to leave.

"Second Aunt, this gift..."

Seeing Wei Hong about to turn and walk out the door, Wei Tu hurriedly reminded her.

"Qinghe, take the gift." Wei Hong did not look back, gave the order to her maid, and continued toward the corridor.

A moment later, Wei Tu, still in the side room, realized the truth: Wei Hong not taking the gift directly when she left was a silent message for him not to come looking for her again.

The bond of kinship ended here.

"The Second Mistress has already spoken to Master Ruan. Brother Wei, please come this way."

By the afternoon, the maid named "Cui Liu" came to the side room and led Wei Tu to another courtyard in the front yard.

Walking through the courtyard gate, Wei Tu saw a burly man with a saber at his waist teaching two young masters in silk robes in the open space.

The two young masters were one thirteen or fourteen years old, and the other only seven or eight.

He thought to himself that this burly man must be the Master Ruan that Wei Hong had mentioned.

"You are Wei Tu?" Master Ruan glanced at Wei Tu, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes, though he did not show it in his speech.

"Yes, Master Ruan."

Wei Tu cupped his hands and bowed.

Martial arts guards were honored guests of wealthy families, not mere servants.

"The Second Mistress asked me to teach you a set of health-cultivation techniques. I happen to have the 'Turtle Breathing and Qi Cultivation Technique' I obtained in my youth. Take it."

Master Ruan pulled a yellowed booklet from his sleeve and tossed it to Wei Tu.

"Memorize the moves of this Turtle Breathing and Qi Cultivation Technique. In seven days, give it to the gatekeeper to return to me..."

He said.

After speaking, Master Ruan waved his hand, signaling for Wei Tu to leave.

He had no intention of actually teaching Wei Tu anything.

Seeing the disdainful looks from Master Ruan and the two young masters of the Huang family, Wei Tu did not get angry. He thanked them and walked away.

At this moment, the conversation between the two young masters in silk robes reached him from behind.

"Yuanshan, was that your cousin just now? Why didn't you say hello?"

"He is no cousin of mine. My mother has never even let me see him..."

The tail end of their voices faded. By the time the burning sensation on Wei Tu’s face subsided and he lifted his head to look straight ahead, he realized he had already been out of the Huang residence for a short while.

"Is it because of this golden finger that I have courage in my chest and self-esteem? No longer numb..."

Wei Tu gave a self-deprecating smile.

Back when he was thinking about going to the Huang residence to find his Second Aunt Wei Hong last night, he had already anticipated that today’s scene might occur.

But there was no choice; apart from the Huang family where Wei Hong resided, he had no way to access health-cultivation techniques, let alone martial arts.

Health-cultivation techniques being "common" was only relative to wealthy children and martial artists.

Even if he could access them, the price he would have to pay would be far greater than these two cold, mocking remarks.

"One step at a time."

"With the health-cultivation technique, if I persist, sooner or later I can become someone superior."

Wei Tu hugged the booklet in his arms tightly, quickened his pace, and headed toward the Li residence.

He couldn't wait to start practicing this Turtle Breathing and Qi Cultivation Technique.

Although health-cultivation techniques were not as lethal as ordinary martial arts, it did not mean they lacked any combat capability.

Being strong and healthy was always better than being an ordinary person.

Furthermore, once one achieved success in a health-cultivation technique, practicing other martial arts would yield twice the result with half the effort.

Back at the Li residence.

After feeding the half-grown black horse, Wei Tu lit the oil lamp in the stable, hid in the side room where he slept, and began to read the "Turtle Breathing and Qi Cultivation Technique" that Master Ruan had given him.

This technique was not complex; it consisted of only seven stance postures, totaling thirty-two diagrams.

Two or three hours later, Wei Tu began to stand in the stances and practice according to the diagrams.

He spread his feet, first tucking his chest and straightening his back, sinking his shoulders and dropping his elbows, then solidifying his abdomen and retracting his hips, controlling his breathing.

His movements were very stiff; he could not achieve the "upper void, lower solid," "body void, stance solid," or "interplay of void and solid" required by the technique.

However, fortunately, the stance was not complex. Under repeated practice, his movements became increasingly familiar.

Once.

Twice.

On the thirty-second time.

Wei Tu’s vision flickered, and a line of text appeared on his Golden-Purple Fate, as if carved into it.

「Turtle Breathing and Qi Cultivation Technique (1/100): Nine practices a day, success in five years.」

"Five years, that is too long. It will take me five years to bring this health-cultivation technique to great success..."

Wei Tu could not spare the time to be surprised by the application of his Fate; his expression turned somewhat ugly. Although he had long guessed his own aptitude, the fact that it would take five years to master a basic health-cultivation technique left him feeling unreconciled.

An average person practicing a health-cultivation technique would become proficient in a few months.

It should not take five years.

"Wait, 'success in five years'—the point is not the five years, but the word 'success'..."

Wei Tu opened the booklet and saw a sentence in the preface of the "Turtle Breathing and Qi Cultivation Technique."

【When the Qi Cultivation Technique is successful, Qi rises from the meridians, and one can enter the Realm of Qi Perception.】

Combined with his 【Late Bloomer】 Fate, it meant that while it would take him longer than others to practice this technique, he would definitely achieve success and develop a sense of Qi.

Or perhaps, his practice was not necessarily worse than others; it was just that others appeared proficient but had never truly reached the pinnacle of success.

"I just don't know what this Realm of Qi Perception is in the world of martial arts..."

Wei Tu sighed.

Limited by his background, his understanding of this world was still too little.

He had only heard bits and pieces of information.

However, he guessed that this realm must be extraordinary; otherwise, it would not have been highlighted in the preface of the "Turtle Breathing and Qi Cultivation Technique."

"Five years is not a long time. When five years have passed, it will be clear whether this golden finger matches my guess."

Wei Tu had the patience to wait.

At this moment, he was only seventeen. Five years from now, he would only be twenty-two.

(End of chapter)