Chapter 79: What Jailor?

Martial artists have bodies inherently different from ordinary people, and Liu Shen not only enjoyed the nourishment of countless medicinal supplements, but also had a senior sister at the fifth innate stage to transfer true energy and regulate his body for him. In less than half a month, the arrow wound on his shoulder had already grown tender new flesh, and apart from being slightly lighter in color, there was no sign of injury left.

Liu Shen originally thought that after such a severe injury, his cultivation would surely be damaged, but unexpectedly, after recovering, not only was he unharmed, his cultivation had even advanced a notch!

The first stage of martial arts focuses on opening up the meridians throughout the body, allowing the flow of energy to reach every limb and bone, thus generating internal force.

The second stage is summarized by eight words: "Store energy within, unleash when needed."

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Main Meridians form a network connecting the organs and limbs. On top of these twenty meridians, there are three hundred and sixty energy points scattered throughout the body.

A thread of energy is called "qi," but a current of energy is called "true energy."

These so-called "energy points" are the reservoirs of qi for martial artists. Just as one needs a full stomach to have strength for work, if the body lacks true energy, how can one fight others?

Therefore, the second stage of martial arts is about using one's internal energy to locate and fill these three hundred and sixty energy points.

Human bodies are largely similar, and with the wisdom of countless predecessors, the locations of these energy points are well documented and easy to find.

The difficult part is filling them!

The second stage requires filling all three hundred and sixty energy points. For every seventy-two points filled, it counts as one level. Such a daunting number—even with good talent, practicing day and night and managing to fill one point per day, it would still take a year!

For those with average or poor talent, even with relentless cultivation, it could take years or even decades to fill all the points.

It is entirely a matter of perseverance.

When Liu Shen first broke through to the second stage, his internal energy could fill only a few points.

But after a fierce battle and a surge of accumulated energy, and with his senior sister at the fifth innate stage regulating his body with true energy, not to mention the constant supply of rare supplements, during his recovery his cultivation not only remained intact, but mysteriously fifty-three energy points had been filled!

A blessing in disguise, indeed.

In these few days, Ning Hongwu, Ning Sanniang, Feng Jun, Qian Yousheng, and other leaders of the Qingsha Gang had devised their strategy for swallowing the Qianye Gang—direct confrontation!

Ning Sanniang’s mastery at the fifth stage was openly acknowledged, while Qianye Gang's leader Zuo Shaosong was only at the fourth stage, a level lower.

Moreover, the Qianye Gang was little better than the Chishui Gang, with lax rules and many unsavory characters gathered within. With Zuo Shaosong gone, the rest would be nothing but a rabble.

Against such a Qianye Gang, what need was there for elaborate tactics?

Charge straight through!

After this decision, Feng Jun traveled to Jiangdu Prefecture to report at the main headquarters of the Canal Gang.

Ning Hongwu also personally went to Anqing Prefecture, spending heavily and leveraging connections to secure the necessary documents from the authorities.

All awaited their return.

At the dock...

With spring arrived, work gradually increased. Laborers pulled ropes, shouldered sacks, pushed carts—struggling for a living, busy for their families.

Due to the special circumstances and Feng Jun’s absence, Liu Shen, now fully recovered, was forced to shoulder the role of "leader of the dock."

---

Routine patrols...

Seeing the busy porters, Liu Shen felt a pang of melancholy, an inexplicable sense of things changing.

After confirming everything was in order at the dock, he instructed the staff at the hall to seek him at the Tongda Hall Medical Clinic if anything arose, then left.

In the rear courtyard of the Tongda Hall Medical Clinic...

Pei Xueyan sat on the bed with a cold face. Though her shoes were already on, at her feet knelt a half-grown boy, head knocking loudly against the floor, his face full of misery.

"Young Madam, you really can't get out of bed!" Yuan Xiaofei pleaded, "If Brother Shen finds out you got up, he’ll break my legs. Please, Young Madam, just give it one more day—just one more day of recovery."

"He wouldn’t dare!" Pei Xueyan glared at him, rebuking, "My foot is already healed, he won't do anything to you, so move aside!"

"Please, Young Madam, spare me..."

"So you won’t listen to me now?"

"I..."

Yuan Xiaofei was bitterly stuck between Brother Shen and the Young Madam, caught in the middle.

"Stand up!" Pei Xueyan saw him still kneeling before her, her delicate face stern as she scolded, "You fear Liu Shen will break your legs, but aren’t you afraid I’ll do it instead?"

Yuan Xiaofei shivered all over at her words...

For he sensed she might very well be telling the truth.

Days ago, Xiao Yuhong had quietly told him that the Young Madam seemed different since her return—not only silent, as if hiding some secret, but no longer laughing with others, even her usual demeanor became more authoritative...

At the time, Yuan Xiaofei dismissed it as his sister’s imagination.

Because in his eyes, when the Young Madam heard anything about Brother Shen, she still spoke a lot, her smile was radiant, her attitude gentle as ever...

But today, with the Young Madam insisting on getting out of bed, even after he had bruised his forehead, she showed not a hint of softening, her manner only growing harsher.

Only then did he realize Yuhong might have been right.

The Young Madam... really had changed.

Seeing him distracted, Pei Xueyan said calmly, "I forgive your ignorance and give you one last chance—stand up and move aside..."

Her voice was serene and indifferent, so devoid of emotion it seemed almost cold.

Yuan Xiaofei kept his head down, sweat beading on his forehead...

As he struggled with what to do, suddenly the door was pushed open and a voice, as heavenly as music, called out, "Alright, alright, why make things hard for Xiaofei?"

"Brother Shen..."

---

Yuan Xiaofei glimpsed Liu Shen entering, feeling as if he’d been rescued, a trace of joy appearing on his miserable face...

Pei Xueyan, seeing Liu Shen, let the frost melt from her features, and a bright smile bloomed.

Liu Shen frowned slightly at Yuan Xiaofei’s bruised forehead, seeming to understand what had happened, and said, "Xiaofei, you can go now."

"Young Madam, Brother Shen, I’ll leave now..." Yuan Xiaofei hurried out, head lowered, closing the door behind him.

"What happened?" Liu Shen saw Pei Xueyan sitting at the edge of the bed, dragged a stool over to sit across from her, teasing, "Our great Young Madam seems not very happy?"

"How could I be?" Pei Xueyan wrinkled her nose, pouting playfully, "I’m healed and wanted to come find you, but Xiaofei wouldn’t let me get up, so I got angry!"

Liu Shen quirked his lips, "Healed, are you?"

"Really healed..." Pei Xueyan, seeing his skepticism, quickly removed her shoes and socks, and held her soft, white feet before Liu Shen to show her injury was truly gone.

Liu Shen, seeing those dainty feet extended towards him, was momentarily dazed by their pale luster...

Perhaps after days of careful recuperation, Pei Xueyan’s feet were so delicately cared for the skin seemed like it would break at a touch. The ten slightly curled toes resembled pearls, charming and lovely.

The beautifully arched instep made them a captivating treasure.

"I don’t believe you, let me see..."

Liu Shen’s Adam’s apple moved as he solemnly took the offered foot in his hands, carefully "examining the injury."

The soft pink foot, nestled in his palm, toes curling slightly—the arch, instep, heel, sole, and toes, from every angle flawless.

Pei Xueyan saw his inspection turn into gentle caressing, his expression shifting from seriousness to fascination.

Noticing how Liu Shen was completely absorbed by her feet, she seemed to discover a delightful secret...

She bit her lip lightly, as if struck by an idea, propped herself on the bed, shifted aside, then took a cup of untouched tea from the headboard and poured it slowly over her knees...

The tea dripped onto her fair legs, beads of water gathering and running down the curve of her calves.

The droplets flowed from her calves to her ankles, then down the instep—some lingered on her toes, some trickled from her heel, dripping softly...

Her flawless jade feet, adorned with sparkling water, appeared even more exquisitely transparent, like a piece of perfect jade shrouded in mist...