Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

After the hunt on the eve of the Lunar New Year, He Damin made a decision—to suspend night hunts around the Lunar New Year. This decision was based on two considerations: first, the Soul Refining Banner had just advanced and needed time to stabilize; second, he did not want the people of Beiping to suffer more during the New Year because of his actions.

"With the year-end approaching, if I continue hunting, the Japanese will inevitably intensify their searches," He Damin calculated in his Taiji Space. "When they search house to house, it's ordinary people who suffer. I can't let more people suffer for my own selfish reasons."

This wasn't out of soft-heartedness. In his past life as an assassin, he had seen far too many ordinary people suffer because of the power struggles of powerful figures. Now, with a family and neighbors he wanted to protect, he had to consider many more things.

"Perfect timing. I'll use this time to focus on my cultivation." He Damin looked at the drop of golden true essence in his dantian. "My martial arts have just reached the Ming Jin level, and my Taoist arts are still in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. A month is enough time to raise my martial arts to the Hua Jin level, and my Taoist arts will also be much more stable."

Cultivating both mind and body is a principle he gleaned from the Daoist classic *The Daoist Primordial Elixir*. "Mind" refers to character and soul, while "body" refers to the body and vital energy. Traditional Chinese martial arts cultivate life force and strengthen the body; Daoist arts cultivate mind and strengthen the soul. The two complement each other and are indispensable.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll spend my days learning to cook and cultivating my character at Fengzeyuan, and my evenings practicing traditional Chinese martial arts and Taoist techniques at Taiji Space," He Damin decided. "We'll resume our operations after the Lantern Festival."

The kitchen of Fengzeyuan Restaurant, on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

"Damin, today I'll teach you how to make broth." He Daqing said solemnly, "Tan Family Cuisine has three types of broth: clear broth, milky broth, and stock. Clear broth is used for bird's nest and shark fin soup, milky broth is used for braised dishes, and stock is used for stewed dishes. Each type of broth has a different method of preparation, including the heat, time, and order of adding ingredients; even a slight difference will not work."

In the large iron pot, the water had already boiled. He Daqing added the old hen, old duck, pork hock, ham, and other ingredients to the pot one by one, explaining as he went: "Making broth requires 'three boils and three clears.' The first boil is to bring it to a boil over high heat and skim off the foam; the second boil is to simmer it over low heat for six hours; the third boil is to use high heat to thicken it..."

He Damin listened attentively, his eyes focused. Making broth may seem simple, but it's actually an ultimate test of heat control. A gentle simmer must be steady, without sudden changes in intensity; a strong flame must be intense, but not so intense that the bottom of the pot dries out. This requires the chef to have immense patience and a precise sense of the flame.

All of this is precisely in line with the precise control of power in traditional Chinese martial arts.

"Brother, let me give it a try." After He Daqing finished explaining, He Damin volunteered.

He took the ladle and stood before the stove. His inner energy circulated slowly within him, enhancing his perception of temperature. Every bubble in the pot, every flicker of the flame, was clearly visible to him. His left hand controlled the fire, his right hand held the ladle. He Damin's movements were unhurried and perfectly controlled. The foam was skimmed off precisely, the heat adjusted according to the changing color of the broth—everything seemed effortless and effortless.

He Daqing watched from the side, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. This younger brother's learning ability was astonishing; he had perfectly mastered the key points he had just been taught yesterday.

"Damin, your talent... it's truly a gift from God," He Daqing exclaimed.

"It's all thanks to my brother's excellent teaching," He Damin said with a modest smile.

He knew in his heart that this was not only talent, but also an enhancement brought by his true essence. His cultivation at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage made his perception and control far surpass those of ordinary people. Learning culinary arts was essentially honing his precise control over power, which would greatly benefit his cultivation of martial arts.

In the days that followed, He Damin eagerly learned the techniques of Tan Family Cuisine. From knife skills to cooking time and temperature, from broth preparation to seasoning, he strived for perfection in every aspect. Chef Wang observed this with delight and was already grooming him to be the future pillar of Fengzeyuan Restaurant. At this point, only Fengzeyuan could provide some of the ingredients.

At night, the anode side of the Tai Chi Space.

He Damin, shirtless, practiced martial arts on a hundred acres of black soil. Sweat streamed down his lean yet muscular body, glistening in the moonlight.

"ha!"

With a single punch, the air exploded. This was the hallmark of Ming Jin—force penetrating to the bone, the sound like a firecracker. After half a month of training, He Damin had mastered Ming Jin to its peak, every punch and kick carrying astonishing explosive power. But that wasn't enough.

The realm of Chinese martial arts is divided into five levels: Ming Jin (manifest strength), An Jin (hidden strength), Hua Jin (transformation strength), Dan Jin (elixir strength), and Jian Shen Bu Hui (seeing the spirit and being indestructible). Ming Jin is just the beginning, which trains the strength of the tendons and bones; An Jin requires the development of internal strength that "travels through the fascia," injuring people invisibly; Hua Jin requires the training of strength throughout the whole body, so that not even a feather can be added or a fly can land on it.

"Hidden strength..." He Damin put down his fist and stood up, closing his eyes to feel the flow of qi and blood in his body.

True essence flowed through his meridians, driving the circulation of qi and blood. He could clearly feel a thin layer of fascia deep within his muscles; that was where hidden strength resided. As long as he could penetrate this fascia with his strength, hidden strength would be formed.

"Try the power generation techniques of Bajiquan."

He Damin recalled the key points of Bajiquan: "Power originates from the ground, passes through the legs, waist, back, and arms, and finally reaches the fingertips." The principle of "whole-body power" in Chinese martial arts is the same.

He re-established his stance and slowly threw a punch. This time, he didn't use brute force, but carefully felt the transmission of power. His feet were firmly planted on the ground, the power originating from the soles of his feet, passing through his calves, thighs, hips, spine, and shoulders, finally converging in his fist.

"Buzz—"

When the fist struck the air, it emitted a low hum. It wasn't the explosive sound of a powerful strike, but rather a muffled thud like the vibration of a bowstring.

Success! Hidden strength!

A look of joy flashed in He Damin's eyes. He could feel that the power of this punch was more than three times that of Ming Jin, and the force could penetrate the surface and reach the internal organs, truly achieving the effect of injuring people invisibly.

In the days that followed, He Damin entered a state of near-madness in his cultivation.

During the day at Fengzeyuan, he treated the preparation of each dish as a form of self-cultivation—practicing knife skills when chopping vegetables, wrist flexibility when stir-frying, and mental composure when controlling the heat. He perfectly integrated the Tan family cuisine philosophy of "selecting the finest ingredients, using generous amounts of seasoning, meticulous workmanship, and sufficient heat control" into his martial arts training.

In the evenings at the Tai Chi Space, he practiced diligently without ceasing. From the fierce and powerful "Twelve Fists and Legs" to the close-quarters combat of "Bajiquan," he integrated several traditional Chinese martial arts, taking the best from each and making up for their weaknesses.

Most remarkably, the internal cultivation method of "Tai Chi Harmony Exercise" plays a crucial role at this time. Whenever the qi and blood boil during practice, circulating this method can harmonize yin and yang, making the violent energy gentle and controllable.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, He Damin broke through to the peak of the Dark Force realm.

He could feel the force penetrating every inch of his fascia, as if his body were wearing an invisible armor. Ordinary swords and knives could only wound the skin and flesh, not the bones and tendons.

But this is not enough.

"Transform the internal energy, transform the internal energy..." He Damin stood in the center of the black soil, closing his eyes and concentrating.

The essence of neutralizing force lies in "neutralization." It means neutralizing clumsy force and stiffness, and training the body's strength into a unified whole, seamless and unimpeded. When you reach this level, there is no part of your body that cannot generate force, and no part that cannot neutralize force.

"Not a single feather can be added, not a single fly can land," he murmured.

This doesn't mean that nothing can actually touch the body, but rather that any touch will trigger an instinctive reaction, automatically unleashing a surge of power. It's like a calm lake surface where a pebble falls, and ripples naturally spread outwards.

The thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Lunar New Year's Eve.

He Damin stood in the Liangyi stance for an hour. The Liangyi stance, seemingly simple, actually contains infinite mysteries. It is the source of all Bajiquan movements, cultivating lower body strength, body structure, and internal energy coordination through static standing. During practice, emphasis is placed on the skeletal structure of "head reaching for the blue sky, feet treading on a clear spring," combined with key points such as sinking the shoulders and elbows, tucking the chest and straightening the back, helping practitioners establish a stable foundation. He relaxed his entire body, focused his mind inward, and felt his qi and blood surging within his body like a river.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

The scene of preparing the broth for Tan Family Cuisine flashed through his mind—simmering over a low flame, the broth gradually changing from cloudy to clear, impurities settling, and essence rising. How similar this was to his current state: energy flowing through his body, turbid qi sinking, clear qi rising, his body becoming increasingly light and agile, increasingly transparent.

"I see!"

He Damin opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them. He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers spread wide.

With a thought, five strands of energy burst forth from his fingertips, weaving into a net in the air. This was not true energy, but pure martial arts power, yet it was condensed to the point of being tangible.

"Successfully achieved the Transformation Realm!"

He withdrew his strength, and his aura instantly became harmonious and restrained. Standing there, he was like a piece of unpolished jade polished by time, its brilliance hidden within, profound and unassuming.

In just one month, he progressed from Ming Jin to Hua Jin. If word got out, this speed would be enough to shock the entire martial arts world. But He Damin knew that this was not just due to talent, but also to the transformation of his body by the "Marrow Cleansing Pill" and "Foundation Building Pill," the nourishment of the abundant spiritual energy in the Tai Chi space, and the mutual verification between the concepts of "Taoist Innate Elixir" and martial arts practice.

"Next, it's time to consolidate my cultivation."

He sat cross-legged and began circulating the Tai Chi Harmony Technique. Within his dantian, the drop of golden true essence solidified further. His mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation was now completely stable, and his total true essence had increased by 50% compared to a month ago. His soul body had also become increasingly solidified, and could now move freely outside his body for an hour during the day without dissipating.

"Cultivating both body and mind is indeed twice as effective with half the effort," He Damin nodded in satisfaction.

In the evening, He Damin returned to Nanluoguxiang carrying New Year's goods.

The alleyways were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and every household had pasted up Spring Festival couplets and paper-cut window decorations. Children in new clothes chased and played in the courtyards, and the sound of firecrackers rose and fell. Although the times were difficult, the festive atmosphere of the New Year was still strong.

"Uncle!" Little Yuzhu, wearing the new cotton-padded jacket made by Lü Bingxin, rushed over like a little cannonball. "Look at my new clothes!"

"It looks really good." He Damin smiled, picked up his nephew, and took out a red envelope from his pocket. "Here, this is your New Year's money."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Xiao Yuzhu accepted the red envelope, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.

Inside the main room, He Daqing was putting up Spring Festival couplets. Seeing his younger brother return, he smiled and said, "Damin, come and help me. I can never get these couplets right."

"They're here." He Damin put down the New Year's goods and took the Spring Festival couplets. He had grown to 1.6 meters tall, not much shorter than He Daqing, so the couplets fit him perfectly.

Lu Bingxin was busy in the kitchen, with meat stewing in a pot, the aroma filling the air. Seeing He Damin, she wiped her hands and came out: "Damin, the east wing is finished. Go and see if you're satisfied."

"It's fixed?" He Damin's eyes lit up.

Over the past month, He Daqing hired two experienced craftsmen and their apprentices to completely renovate the two rooms in the east courtyard. The roof was replaced with new tiles, the walls were re-plastered, and the windows were repapered. A large pit was dug in the courtyard, and a large vat was installed as a makeshift toilet; although rudimentary, it was much more convenient than a public toilet.

He Damin walked into the east courtyard and nodded in satisfaction. The room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy, the kang (heated brick bed) was already heated, and the bedding was all new. Most importantly, it was relatively private, so he didn't have to worry about being disturbed while cultivating.

"Brother, sister-in-law, thank you." He Damin sincerely expressed his gratitude.

"No need for thanks, we're family." He Daqing patted his shoulder. "You can move in after the New Year; it'll be more spacious. But you should come over for meals; your sister-in-law will cook at home."

Dinner was a lavish New Year's Eve feast. Lü Bingxin prepared eight dishes: braised carp, four-happiness meatballs, braised pork knuckle, stewed chicken, stir-fried cabbage, spinach salad, fried dough sticks, and fermented bean paste—a luxury in those days, when many families were still receiving rations from the Japanese. He Daqing even bought a pot of wine, and the two brothers drank together.

"Come on, Damin, let me toast you." He Daqing raised his glass. "You've made rapid progress these past few months, I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you, brother." He Damin raised his glass in a toast. The liquor was ordinary Erguotou, pungent and strong, but it warmed his heart. This was the first time in He Damin's two lifetimes that he had truly celebrated the New Year, and the first time he had a New Year's Eve dinner with his family.

"Sister-in-law, have a drink too." He poured a glass for Lü Bingxin as well. Lü Bingxin took the glass, took a small sip, and blushed: "Damin, you'll be fourteen after the New Year. Work hard at Fengzeyuan, and you'll definitely have a bright future."

"Yes, I will definitely study hard." He Damin nodded emphatically.

The sound of firecrackers outside the window grew increasingly frequent. Little Yuzhu couldn't sit still and pulled He Damin to go outside and set off firecrackers. In the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai's family was also setting off firecrackers. Seeing the He brothers, Yi Zhonghai greeted them with a smile, "Master He, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, Master Yi," He Daqing returned the greeting.

Liu Haizhong also came out, his belly protruding, holding firecrackers in his hand: "Hey, Master He's family has a very sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner this year." "Happy New Year, Master Liu," He Daqing replied.

He Damin observed coldly, his mind perfectly clear. There weren't many truly kind people in this courtyard; most were driven by their own agendas. But as long as they didn't provoke his family, he wouldn't bother with them.

After setting off the firecrackers, the family went back inside to stay up all night to welcome the New Year.

The kang (heated brick bed) was nice and warm, and Xiao Yuzhu couldn't stay awake any longer and had already fallen asleep in Lü Bingxin's arms. He Daqing and He Damin sat on the edge of the kang, drinking tea and chatting.

"Damin, what are your plans after the New Year?" He Daqing asked.

"I'll continue learning my craft at Fengzeyuan," He Damin said. "Master Wang said he'd teach me the secret recipes of Shandong cuisine after the New Year."

"Okay, study hard." He Daqing nodded. "Also, although the east wing has been repaired, you'll be living alone, so be careful. The city isn't very safe right now, so lock the door at night."

"I know, brother," He Damin replied.

He knew perfectly well that He Daqing's "unrest" referred to the bizarre deaths. He had suspended operations for a month, but the city remained on edge. Kawashima Yoshiko was still investigating, and various factions were operating covertly. But he wasn't in a hurry.

With his early-stage Transformation Realm martial arts skills, mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm Taoist cultivation, and the upgraded Soul Refining Banner—his strength was now more than double what it had been a month ago. Outside the window, the clock struck midnight. "Dong—dong—dong—"

The new year has arrived.

He Damin gazed at the night sky outside the window, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.