Liver penetrates martial arts, instantly becoming a saint.

Chapter 10: Immortality Can Be Achieved, But Must Be Grounded

Outside the servants' quarters.

Luo Fang paced back and forth, waiting anxiously.

"How strange. With Bi's current martial arts skills, even in a real fight, he should be able to secure the position of guard."

Why am I so uneasy and anxious? Is it because of that thieving brat Li Xian who suddenly appeared?

He pinched his chin, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Oh, I was overthinking it."

"Once my nephew becomes a bodyguard, my uncle and I will be even more secure in our positions. Hehe, as long as we don't provoke my wife's friends in the martial arts world, we'll live a very comfortable life."

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his face. After a moment, footsteps sounded, and someone walked towards them.

But it stopped a few feet away, hidden behind the artificial hill, and didn't come any closer.

Luo Fang called out, "Nephew? Is that you?"

"Uncle Luo."

Bi Hao's voice rang out.

"Good nephew, what are you hiding for? Come quickly and tell Uncle Luo how you won!"

"What form did this guard selection competition take? And...did you win the favor of the powerful?"

Luo Fang followed the sound, but before he could see Bi Hao, all the questions in his mind had already been voiced.

"The move competition... is... is in a ring format." Bi Hao avoided the main point, his heart filled with unease.

"Wonderful!"

Luo Fang clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Using a ring format is your strength. I was worried that if it were a contest of endurance or strength, your martial arts skills wouldn't be fully utilized."

"I've seen your Three Talents Fist Technique; it's executed with exceptional solidity. Hahaha, Commander Pang, do you seem to have any appreciation for it?"

"My nephew, Bi Hao, is truly capable of protecting the household!"

At this point, they finally met Bi Hao, who was covered in blood and looked utterly disheveled.

I was stunned for a moment.

"Nephew Bi, you...you..."

"Uncle Luo, that Li Xian is too cunning. He risked his life to tear off my scalp."

Bi Hao's expression was strange, his eyes darting around, and he spoke weakly.

"I knew it! Those lowly bastards, faced with a chance to turn their lives around, will definitely fight tooth and nail for it." Luo Fang laughed heartily, unconcerned. "It was a bit of a mess, but winning is good, winning is good..."

"We didn't win." Bi Hao's voice was as soft as a mosquito's wing.

"No..." Luo Fang's expression froze, incredulous. "Nothing?"

Bi Hao went all out, closed his eyes, and said truthfully, "Uncle Luo, actually I... I didn't win, it was that Li Xian who won."

"You didn't win!?"

Luo Fang took three steps closer, his eyes filled with murderous intent. His usual gentle demeanor was completely gone.

"Say it again. Good nephew, don't joke like that. This is no joke."

"Uncle Luo, we really...we didn't win."

The moment he finished speaking, a slap landed on his face.

His ears immediately started ringing.

Before he could react, he was kicked in the abdomen and sent flying a good distance.

Without uttering a word, Luo Fang slapped Bi Hao twenty times in a row, swelling his cheeks and knocking out several teeth.

"Useless piece of trash!"

"You drank my precious soup, and you're telling me you didn't win!"

"Can't even beat a menial servant."

"I fucking want to kill you, you little bastard. Damn it, how could your mother give birth to such a piece of trash?"

……

"Li Xian, do you live in Louping Lane, Qingning County?"

Pang Longxing walked ahead, recalling information about Li Xian.

"Yes." Li Xian nodded, taking light steps so as not to make any unnecessary noise.

Pang Long nodded slightly and said:

"You have passed the guard recruitment test. From now on, you will no longer be a menial servant, but a regular guard of Yihe Manor."

"But there's one thing I need to remind you of. Although we guards have better pay and benefits than the servants, we are still, in the end, the lady's servants."

"One must be loyal to one's duties and not be arrogant or domineering. Is this even possible?"

Li Xiandao said, "Of course I can do it."

But in his heart he thought that the rules were good, but people's hearts were complicated, and very few could actually do the simple rule of "not being arrogant and domineering".

"You must be hungry after the fight. Let me take you to the vegetarian restaurant in the manor's courtyard and explain the rules to you slowly."

Pang Long spoke in a gentle tone.

He showed great interest in the frail Li Xian.

If he wasn't mistaken, in the arena competition just now, Li Xian deliberately concealed his true strength to make his opponent underestimate him, and then won decisively at the last moment.

At first, they even fooled him, thinking he was just a handyman with nothing but brute strength.

After walking for about a mile, we arrived at a pavilion.

The plaque reads: "Shizhailou".

This building was specifically provided for guards, so many guards passed by in the surrounding area.

"The Giant Man".

……

The guards greeted him respectfully, and Pang Long nodded slightly.

After taking his seat, Pang Long gently waved his hand and said, "Bring two servings of Class D food."

"Mr. Pang, you also eat the 'D-class meal'?" the cook asked.

"Of course," Pang Long nodded.

Before long, two dishes of food were served on the table.

Li Xian's mouth watered at the sight of the three dishes and one soup, one meat dish and two vegetable dishes.

The meat dish is "braised pork chunks in oil," each piece about two fingers thick, and there are three pieces in total.

And it wasn't lean meat, but rather streaky pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat. The surface was glistening with oil.

Ordinary menial laborers would never be able to afford a decent meal in their entire lives.

The two vegetarian dishes were boiled bean sprouts and stir-fried shredded radish. The appearance was average, but there was plenty of oil and salt, giving them a glossy sheen.

That takes a lot of strength!

It can hardly be considered a delicacy.

But in this world, it's already a rare treat to be able to eat a meal like this.

"Eat up, this is a normal meal for the nursing staff."

"A bodyguard... to put it simply, a bodyguard is someone who helps the lady look after the house. If you don't have some martial arts skills, you can't protect the house."

"So, now that you've joined the guards, you won't have to do any menial tasks anymore. But you still need to practice martial arts; a martial artist can't be careless when it comes to food."

Pang Long took out wooden chopsticks and poured the rice, meat, and vegetables into the soup.

After stirring, slurp it down the side of the bowl, eating the soup, rice, vegetables, and meat all at once.

In just a few breaths, he had eaten half of it.

Li Xian didn't rush to eat, but instead asked, "Practicing martial arts?"

Pang Long didn't answer, and finished his meal in one gulp. This way of eating was truly unique; he ate as if he were drinking water.

Amidst the swirling clouds, there was a touch of refinement. The bowl was finished, leaving it spotless, requiring no further rinsing.

Then he replied:

"Every newcomer is interested in martial arts."

"I have no obligation to answer your questions about martial arts. But since you are new here, may I allow you to ask me three related questions?"

Pang Long added, "Ask anything related to martial arts."

Li Xian's eyes lit up. This Commander Pang Long was different from Luo Fang and the others.

At least for now, it seems very different, very rule-bound.

"Three questions?"

Since Pang Long had said to ask anything, Li Xian figured there was no need to be too reserved, and asked, "Can practicing martial arts increase lifespan and make one immortal?"

Li Xian has just arrived in this world and is currently in dire straits. How could he dare to seek immortality?

The purpose of asking this question is to quickly understand the outline of martial arts.

Pang Long was taken aback and looked at Li Xian with surprise. He wondered why such a question would come from the mouth of a servant.

"This lad is truly interesting. As a menial servant, he was never well-fed or clothed. Yet, upon becoming a guard, his first question was about whether martial arts could grant immortality?"

Pang Long said, "Of course."

Instead of offering a detailed explanation, he observed Li Xian's expression. Seeing no fervor or excitement on his face, he realized that Li Xian was not overly ambitious.

It was pure curiosity.

After a moment's consideration, Li Xian asked, "Is there a way within ten miles?"

Pang Long's gaze was complicated. This time, he neither said "yes" nor "no," but replied, "It's harder than ascending to heaven."

"You have one last question left."

After asking his two questions, Li Xian had a general understanding of the martial arts world.

Extraordinary, mysterious... and that Mrs. Zhuang was the one who had grasped the essence of this art.

For the last question, Li Xian let her imagination run wild. She recalled the many stories and novels she had read in her past life.

They all share a common characteristic: they increase their strength by absorbing some kind of energy from the air.

Or it could be vital energy, fighting spirit, or spiritual energy...

Could it be that this world is also like this? Is there a similar substance in the air that can be used to strengthen martial artists through breathing?

So he asked, "Is martial arts about sensing and utilizing some invisible force in the air?"

"Ahem." Pang Long looked at Li Xian strangely. "I don't know where you got this idea from."

"But I can give you a definitive answer. Your idea... is too far-fetched. Air is just air; what mysterious power does it possess?"

As he spoke, he almost burst out laughing.

This kid is really interesting; his ideas are quite different and rather unconventional.

Li Xian pondered, "Without spiritual energy and primordial energy, where would extraordinary power and longevity come from?"

I was extremely curious.

I'm reminded of the [essence] that was brewed in the village a while ago.

Is this item related to the supernatural?

Unfortunately, that level is too far away for him for the time being.

Fortunately, I've escaped being a menial laborer, and life will be even better from now on!

One must take things one step at a time!

(End of this chapter)