Chapter 44: The Origin of Qi Refinement, the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan

“Hey.”

“Don’t always start with talk of fighting and killing.”

“You’re making me sound like a maniac.”

Lu Ge considered himself quite kind-hearted. This time, he had even patiently queued up.

The swordsman opened his eyes and looked at Lu Ge.

“Since you won’t kill me, I’ll be on my way then.”

“You spared my life today; I shall repay you.”

With that, the swordsman turned to leave. But as soon as he turned, Lu Ge, who had been standing right behind him, appeared before him again.

“What do you mean by this?” The swordsman frowned slightly.

Lu Ge smiled. “There’s no need to repay me later.”

“There’s something I’m curious about. If you can answer it, we’ll call it even.”

The swordsman’s eyes flickered. “You want to ask about the Qi Refiners?”

Lu Ge snapped his fingers. “No seat available.”

“Go ahead and tell me. I’m quite curious how Qi Refiners cultivate.”

After a moment of silence, the swordsman said, “I’m just fortunate to have stepped onto the path of Qi Refinement, but I haven’t received the true teachings.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up working as a hired hand at this public office to make a living.”

Lu Ge shook his head. “It’s alright. Tell me whatever you know.”

The swordsman slowly began, “When I was young, I met a stranger.”

“He examined my bones and said I had the potential to refine Qi.”

“Later, he taught me the basics of Qi Refinement.”

“Qi Refinement is the art of absorbing the primal energy of heaven and earth, storing it in the dantian for one’s own use.”

“I’ve practiced for twenty years and have only managed to cultivate sixty-eight units of primal energy.”

Lu Ge asked, “Do you know the origin of Qi Refinement? Who pioneered it?”

The swordsman thought for a moment. “According to my master, the path of Qi Refinement traces back to ancient times, founded by the Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan.”

“But the method is extremely demanding. Ordinary people can hardly even draw Qi into their bodies, let alone cultivate.”

“That’s why only a handful have inherited it to this day.”

Lu Ge stroked his chin. So Qi Refiners have always existed, just very few in number, which explained why he had never encountered one.

“What else do you want to know?” the swordsman asked.

Lu Ge reached out his hand. “Give me your Qi Refinement method. I want to study it.”

The swordsman was stunned, then said, “My cultivation method was orally taught by my master; there are no written records.”

“If you want to know, I’ll have to write it down first.”

A smile appeared on Lu Ge’s face. He grabbed the swordsman and vanished, reappearing inside the public office.

Without a word, he snatched a brush and a blank bamboo scroll from the elderly clerk at the front desk.

“Come on, write.”

“Oh, and don’t try to fool me with some fake technique.”

“I may not understand Qi Refinement, but I’ve studied cultivation for years. I can spot the clues.”

The swordsman took the brush and scroll, his voice cold.

“I said, since you won’t kill me, I will repay you.”

“Now that you ask this, I won’t deceive you with falsehoods.”

With that, he moved aside to copy the method in silence.

Lu Ge finally had time to look at the elderly clerk.

“What did you just say?”

“Tell me if I have any business, I should talk to him?”

Lu Ge pointed at the swordsman quietly writing nearby.

“I’ve talked with him now.”

“Will you accept my request or not?”

The elder sighed inwardly, not expecting Lu Ge to be so formidable.

“Young master, it’s not that I refuse.”

“But I truly don’t have the authority.”

The elder stood, clasping his hands, intending to say more when someone appeared from behind.

“Lu Zi has arrived. Apologies for the lack of proper welcome.”

“I am Yu Peng.”

“One must bear responsibility for one’s actions.”

“All I have done is independent of the public office and unrelated to Chu Mo.”

Hearing the voice, Lu Ge looked toward the newcomer — an elderly man stepping forward.

Dressed in coarse hemp cloth, his face weathered yellow, palms calloused.

“Greetings, Master Yu,” the elder clerk bowed quickly.

Yu Peng waved his hand and turned to Lu Ge.

“Lu Zi, the people suffer hardship and have no one to turn to, so they come to the public office.”

“Let us discuss in the back to avoid delaying their matters.”

Lu Ge glanced at those queued behind and nodded slightly.

Shen Dao approached and followed Lu Ge under Yu Peng’s guidance toward the rear of the public office.

From a distance came the murmurs of the waiting crowd.

“Is that really Lu Zi?”

“No wonder no blade can harm him.”

Some expressed worry — after all, they had suffered injustice, and the public office was their only hope.

If the public office fell by Lu Zi’s hand, their lives would be utterly hopeless.

In the rear courtyard, Yu Peng, Lu Ge, and Shen Dao sat cross-legged on meditation mats.

“The Grand Music Master’s attempt failed that day. We sensed danger and retreated immediately.”

“Now that Lu Zi has found me, it seems the Grand Music Master has exposed us all.”

Yu Peng’s face was calm.

Lu Ge smiled. “Since you dared come to kill me, you must know something about me.”

“Then you should also know my principle.”

Yu Peng nodded. “Of course.”

“Lu Zi always kills those who kill him.”

“An eye for an eye, fair and just.”

Lu Ge asked, “Then how come you’re still so calm now?”

“Not afraid to die?” Yu Peng’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“My Chu Mo sect, to put it nicely, follows the way of the roaming swordsman, wielding the sword to cleanse injustice.”

“To put it bluntly, we’re just some wandering rogues.”

“In the martial world, how can one avoid the blade?”

“Feuds and bloodshed are commonplace.”

“I have long accepted the possibility of death.”

His expression faltered slightly.

“I only hope, if I fall today, you spare the public office.”

“After all, the public office is innocent.”

Lu Ge stretched lazily. “Don’t worry.”

“You already know my code.”

“Whoever kills me, I kill in return. I never take it out on others, nor harm the innocent.”

Yu Peng rose and bowed.

“Lu Zi, your righteousness is commendable.”

“Pity you are not a Chu country native and are close to Qin, opposing my stance.”

“Otherwise, I would follow you and seek your teachings always.”

Lu Ge smiled at Yu Peng. “Who says I’m not from Chu?”

Yu Peng was taken aback.

Lu Ge was born in the Jingchu region in the future world.

His first transmigration brought him to Chu, where he learned the Dao under Lao Dan in Lixiang.

By that measure, he was at least a Chu native.

“Then why do you aid Qin?”

Yu Peng was puzzled.

Lu Ge shook his head. “What does Chu matter? What does Qin matter?”

“We are all descendants of Yan and Huang, the Chinese people.”

“My allegiance is not to a nation of birth, but to those with true talent and vision to unify the realm.”

“Chu cannot achieve this.”

“Qin can.”

“That is why I aid Qin.”

“My only wish is for a united realm and peace for all.”

Yu Peng fell silent for a time.

Though Lu Ge’s words were harsh, they rang true.

Among all the states, Qin was undoubtedly the strongest and most likely to unify the land.

“Your reasoning is sound.”

“But my convictions are deeply rooted and hard to change.”

“To aid Qin is worse than death.”

“No need for more words. Lu Zi, please begin.”

“Today, who lives and who dies will be decided by battle.”