Chapter 70 - Field Hunting

A young gentleman with a gentle demeanor, dressed in a white scholar's gown and wearing a hairpin made of high-quality white jade to tie up his hair.
His gaze is fixed on the book in his hand, speaking calmly and eloquently: "All things have their ghost and end, and all affairs have a starting point and a conclusion. Knowing the order of priority, one can approach the Tao."
The quote is from "The Great Learning" and it means that all things in the world have a beginning, middle, and end. By understanding their order and sequence, we can approach the laws of development of things.
This also applies to his current situation and his plans and ideas for the future.
He deliberately restrains his sharpness and obscures his previously present aggressive temperament. The gaze of the former Cui Chong was soft, but now his eyes are narrow and sharp.
He restrains his sharpness, trying to appear harmless in front of the people around him.
His body was flabby and weak, with no martial arts foundation at all. Due to his long-term study, his body was even weaker than an average person.
After he proposed to practice martial arts, someone immediately put two skin training methods (including meat, tendons, and skin) on his desk.
The Bull Demon's Mighty technique at the Dazhen Temple is also known as the Bull Demon's Mighty Fist, which is divided into three styles: Bull Demon's Headbutt, Bull Demon's Hoof, and Bull Demon's Skin Movement. If it is mastered, it will give the practitioner the strength of a bull and the ability to withstand the force of 100 jin.
There is also the Lucky Hall's Heavenly Binding Hand, which is also a method of practicing skin, but different from the strong and powerful Bull Demon's Great Strength Fist. Heavenly Binding Hand is a palm technique that combines hardness and softness and is also a method of practicing strength.
That middle-aged man in embroidered clothes made a recommendation for him, saying that Niumo Dali Fist from Dachan Temple was the best method for cultivating strength.
After watching two different types of martial arts, he agreed that Niumo Dali was indeed superior. The middle-aged man in embroidered clothes demonstrated it in front of him.
He immediately understood the trick in it. With the theoretical knowledge from the previous world, he was not starting from scratch and was able to combine the two.
The reason why the Cui family only has two cultivation techniques is not because they have too few collections, but because other skinning techniques are not worth collecting.
The Niu Mo's Great Strength Technique is not collected by the court, and it was not found after the destruction of the Dachan Temple.
The reason why the Cui family had a collection of this Niu Mo Da Li Fa was that they obtained it through secret means during the previous dynasty.
There are countless martial arts techniques in the world, but when it comes to foundational fist techniques, there is only one: the Niu Mo Da Li Fist.
As for the "Small Circulation Training Force Fist" that is practiced in the imperial army, it is recorded in the Cui Family Library's techniques for toughening the skin, but it is not even worth mentioning, so it has not been presented.
For half a month, he recklessly squandered the precious medicinal herbs he had prepared, and soaked in medicinal baths every day. He also had a special medicinal formula for the Cow Demon's Great Strength Fist.
Originally, based on the foundation of this body at the moment and with the help of these medicinal prescriptions and baths, it would take at most a year to reach the level of a warrior.
This is the judgment made by the middle-aged man in the brocade robe based on his current condition.
However, Cui Chong was very clear about his current state. He had previously practiced the Hongquan martial art of Iron Horse and Hard Bridge, which was significantly different from the Cow Demon Mighty Fist given by the Cui family.
However, the former can provide inspiration for the latter, in terms of the force and strength applied.
The Bull Demon Strength Technique in Daizendo is rough in terms of its emphasis on intention rather than form, and not as precise as traditional Chinese martial arts.
No one would devote their whole life to practicing skin techniques, but in that world, countless people kept improving and supplementing it.
Within half a month, he had already reached the threshold of practicing skin techniques, just a hair's breadth away.
His only problem is that his foundation is not stable enough, but it will be a natural progression soon.
Sitting in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, his handmaids quietly serve by his side.
They hold tea, fruit, pastries, and each person's face is filled with care and caution.
The Cui family's upbringing is very strict, and all maids and servants dare not show any emotions, let alone joke with the master.
As a noble family, if a maidservant is beaten to death, the court will not inquire into it.
Therefore, even if Cui Chong behaves extremely humble and polite, the servants underneath him dare not cross the line.
Suddenly, a servant dressed in short brown clothes rushed over from a distance and knelt down as soon as he saw Cui Chong: "Young master, the Crown Prince of Riguogong has sent an invitation asking you to participate in a hunting event!"
He heard the news and raised his eyebrows. Only Jing Yuxing, as the eldest son, could be called the heir.
The Daqin Empire divides titles into duke, marquis, and earl. The title of the national duke is already the highest that can be conferred upon a subject. Beyond that, there are only foreign surname kings, but there is no precedent for this in the Daqin Dynasty.
However, this does not mean that the status of the Li Guogong Mansion is higher than that of the Shunyi Marquis's residence. Cui Chong's father was an imperial scholar who served as an official.
Now that he has been a court official for ten years, the influence of the Marquis's residence is incomparable to that of the Li Guogong Mansion.
And the depth of cultural heritage of Cuifu, from the previous dynasties to now, is rare in Beijing.
It is impossible to talk about the enmity between Jingyuxing and Cuichong without mentioning one person, who is the eldest son of Cuifu, Cuichenghong. As the eldest son, he was not favored in Cuifu because of his mother's low status.
He had already obtained the title of juren for his academic achievements, and at the age of twenty he was already a skilled martial artist, having reached the level of bone refining.
However, the former Cuichong was a bookworm who cared only about studying and did not respect his older brother.
Jing Yuxing looked down on him. He believed that, apart from his bloodline, he was inferior in every way to his older brother, Cui Chenghong. However, he and Cui Chenghong were close friends, and he would defend him against injustice.
Therefore, he knew that Cui Chong was not proficient in martial arts, yet he still invited him to go hunting in the fields, with the intention of humiliating him.
These military descendants go hunting in the fields every spring and autumn to maintain their courage and martial spirit.
In a martial arts arena, a valiant and graceful woman pulls the bowstring of her bow and accurately hits the bullseye several times in a row.
She is in her early twenties and wears a white waistcoat with a red headband tied around her forehead.
"Sister Xuejiao's archery is divine. With this strong bow that weighs 120 jin, your current strength and arrow techniques can compete with martial artists!"
"It's just that for a girl to handle a knife and a gun every day is inevitably somewhat unseemly. It will be difficult to find a good match for you in the future. By then, the Marquis Wensheng will have a headache!"
The speaker is a young man in a gorgeous embroidered knit gown, with a slender figure and sharp eyes.
The woman is Hong Xuejiao, the daughter of the second family of the Hou Mansion, and beside him is Jing Xingyu.
"My Great Qian Dynasty was established through martial arts, but after only sixty years, the martial arts declined and the literary arts flourished. Are the girls from each household not decent? When the capital of Great Zhou was breached, the fate of those noble ladies was either being violated or killed!"
In the face of Hong Xuejiao's imposing manner, Jing Xingyu smiled and said, "Xuejiao, you are a woman of great talent, making us men ashamed!"
"By the way, I heard that you also invited the Young Lord Cui Chong of the Shunyi Marquis to attend today?"
Hong Xuejiao put down the strong bow in her hand and asked casually.
Jing Xingyu smiled and answered, "I was just teasing that bookworm. How did the Shunyi Marquis from the Cui family come here? They know best themselves. As descendants, it's quite ironic for them to talk about loyalty to the emperor and the country and speak of righteousness and loyalty!"
The reputation of the Cui family has already become notorious, and even the upper class of the powerful often joke about them, believing that the Cui family of Shunyi is nothing more than a dog raised by the royal family that knows how to bite people.
Because Cui Shengping, the current Shunyi marquis, is best at deciphering the intentions of those in power, he has also offended many people in the court.
Some words that were not spoken face to face have been arranged secretly. At this moment, a voice faintly sounded: "The Cui family pursued fame and power, but did not expect to be seen as a petty person in the eyes of the young master. Isn't the Great Qin worth following by my Cui family?"
Looking back at the rain, Jing Xing was surprised to see the incoming person clearly shocked by his words.
How could the usually taciturn Cui Chong be so sharp-tongued and sharp-witted today.
He naturally wouldn't admit to such words and acted as if nothing had happened.
It must be said that Jing Xingyu treated people like a warm breeze and rain, even if he looked down on Cui Chong, he could still smile and say to him, "I never expected to see you today, young Master Hou."
Hong Xuejiao nodded slightly and said, "Young Master Hou."
Many people outside would call him Young Master Hou because of his father's title, but in the mansion he was mostly referred to as the young master.
He also returned the greeting, and Cui Chong did not continue to be sharp-tongued towards Maimang except for the fierce retort just now.
He only had one follower by his side, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade. The man next to Jing Xingyu was a middle-aged man whose hands were longer than his knees, and his steps were steady. When he saw him, his face changed dramatically, but he quickly controlled his emotions.
Jingxing Yuye noticed his change of mood and asked in a soft voice, "What's wrong, Uncle Yun? Is there anything unusual?"
His face showed a serious expression and he paused for a long time before saying, "Chi Lian Shou Yuanzhi."
Jing Xingyu's eyes also became cold, unexpected that the Cui family would dare to shelter such a big demon.
Chi Lian Shou is not from the Great Yan Dynasty, but a master from the Northern Yuan Dynasty. His martial arts realm is at the Great Master level where he has achieved marrow refining. His greatest strength lies in the Soul Technique.
He belongs to the demonic cult of Hua Gu Zong and practiced the Dark Yin Possession Ghost Technique. It's unknown how many people he killed during his cultivation of this technique.
Later, he disappeared without a trace, thinking that he might have been hunted down by some righteous expert. However, he was actually taken in by the Shunyi Marquis Mansion.
Nowadays, he dares to appear so openly in front of everyone, naturally because the court will not hold him accountable for it.
As for why Jing Xingyu grits his teeth, he hates evil and cannot stand places like the Shunyi Marquisate, which hides dirt and filth.
However, he managed his expression very well and the discontent on his face immediately subsided.
The woman next to him, Hong Xuejiao, was also surprised to hear Cui Chong's words, and a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes.
Although he talks a lot about revitalizing the martial spirit of the Great Qing Dynasty, he does not dislike literati himself.
These two things are not in conflict, just like his father who, unlike a brute, switched from martial to literary pursuits.
The second son of the Shunyi Hou family in front of me, except for his slightly luxurious clothing, is in some sense very similar to my own younger brother.
They both appear warm and gentle, but their inherent pride is no less than that of others.