Ying had claimed she would not practice, but by dusk she was already training in the empty space behind the teahouse.

Madam Tong danced with the White Snake Blade in her hand, her feet executing the newly learned Mysterious Turtle Step, her dainty boots tapping the ground lightly.

Song Cheng had married a rich beauty, and she too had become "rich". Her boots were newly replaced, fitting better and more convenient for practicing martial arts, much better than the cloth shoes before, at least she didn't have to worry about kicking them off when lifting her legs...

At that moment, Song Cheng, like a strict teacher, scolded from the side, "Move like a turtle, not slow and sluggish like a turtle, but stable.

The point of force is in the waist, if the spine does not move or sway, then it's rooted to the ground, and the power used has its source."

On the other side, Ying was practicing the "White Snake Force".

This "White Snake Force" is the Pouncing Force, which Song Cheng extracted from the "Xuanwu Force".

The Xuanwu Force was actually a mix of two forces, one for attack and one for defense.

The subsequent "Willow Brushing Force" and "Extreme Force" integrated by Song Cheng were actually blended into the attacking aspect, and the defensive "Hard Force" remained unchanged.

Simply put, "Three forces for attack, one force for defense, operating parallel, yet interconnected".

Now that Ying was nearly perfecting the Willow Brushing Force, Song Cheng naturally chose the White Snake Force from the Xuanwu Force and taught it to her separately.

For others, such effortless disassembly was impossible, but since he had created this cultivation technique, and he had reached Perfection, splitting it up wasn't difficult.

Not only that... even if he were to plant a trap in one of the split parts, it would be exceedingly difficult for others to detect.

"Willow Brushing Force emphasizes on stretching the tendons, extracting power, which actually only employs the upper limbs to exert force.

The White Snake Force, on the other hand, involves pulling the thoracic vertebrae, driving the flesh and blood, thereby generating a penetrating force."

"Understood, my son-in-law."

Ying responded, then continued practicing the set of fist techniques taught by Song Cheng.

With a solid foundation, after getting the feel of the punching, she grabbed two stone locks in each hand and started to swing them.

Thoughts like "Son-in-law, have you perfected the Willow Brushing Force?" frequently came to her lips, only to be swallowed back down.

It should be... just a cultivation technique similar to Willow Brushing Force, so my son-in-law is so familiar with it, right?

It probably isn't the Willow Brushing Force, right?

Otherwise... what kind of monster could cultivate so quickly?

Meanwhile, the teachings of Song Cheng opened a new door for her.

Just like a climber who thought she was near the peak, an immortal suddenly descended from the sky, pointing a finger and broadening her path significantly, and the peak itself grew much taller.

Thus, when she finally reaches the top, she will be able to stand higher and overlook a more beautiful vista.

As for Ling, she was holding a ladle of water, splashing it on the ground to settle the dust so that it wouldn't rise and interfere with their practice...

...

After a while, An Chenyu also returned from outside.

With the Ghost Tide besieging the town, she had many things to do, unlike Song Cheng who appeared to have all the leisure in the world.

First, she checked on the rice shop, and then she led the Wang brothers in participating in a meeting organized by the government office.

After returning, she arranged for manpower to set up porridge stations in the east and north of the town.

The An family was a grain merchant with plenty of stored grain, and it was natural for them to take on some of the pressure at this time.

Beyond that, she also collaborated with some local wealthy gentry to deploy Protectors and house servants to help defend the east town.

The southern town's Martial Arts Hall, meanwhile, would send martial artists to assist the County Soldiers in patrolling and guarding the south town to prevent chaos.

The young president of the commerce chamber was bearing a pressure unsuitable for her age. Upon returning, she sat in the teahouse, with Ling diligently serving tea and giving her a shoulder rub.

An Chenyu rested her cheek on her hand, seemingly pondering something, when she suddenly called out, "Husband."

Song Cheng did not react at first, as he was used to being called "Song" day in and out, even last night's bridal chamber was filled with calls of "Song".

Tong Jia reminded, "Sister An is calling you."

Song Cheng then ran over and sat across from her.

An Chenyu said, "Ling, please bring the dinner over. I don't want to eat out."

"Okay." Ling ran off.

The teahouse was quiet with just the two of them left.

An Chenyu glanced at Ying, who was practicing martial arts, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Song, you still care for Ying. Seems like I didn't marry the wrong person."

Song Cheng smiled.

He was overthinking it...

Miss An would call him husband in front of outsiders, but would continue to call him Song when they were alone.

An Chenyu continued, "If we are husband and wife, there's no harm in sharing hardships.

But since we're allies, I'll let you know what's troubling me."

Then, she said solemnly, "Ghost Tides are always localized. A county-level Ghost Tide besieges a county, and a state-level Ghost Tide besieges a state.

But from what I've seen, this Ghost Tide is likely state-level.

Unprecedented.

I'm slightly worried.

I've studied before that Ghost Tides never enter the city, but now, evil spirits have actually sent quite a few Ghost Servants to attack the city, which is really rare."

Song Cheng asked, "Didn't it happen before?"

An Chenyu replied, "It did, but they were sporadic and absolutely not this many.

But you know, I went to the county government office today, and the County Magistrate said that last night, beneath the east gate, people actually ran from the grey mist to knock on the city gates.

The County Soldiers received orders, and naturally, they did not open the gate at all.

At first, those people were crying heartbreakingly, begging in such a way that it hurt to listen. But gradually, the sound of them pounding on the gate became terrifying. Their hands seemed like metal hands lead-filled, and their cries also turned to strange and horrifying sounds.

Then after a volley of arrows was fired, the true forms of those knocking were revealed.

They were all Ghost Servants clad in human skin."

The two fell silent.

An Chenyu added, "The county magistrate said that we were lucky to have provided the information; otherwise, with those Ghost Servants from Biliu Courtyard aiding from within, the city gates would have certainly been breached yesterday.

However, my worries are not confined to just this matter.

What bothers me is the annual tribute of ten thousand taels.

Even though our An Family has some money, an annual tribute of so much is a considerable burden.

So now, I need to understand one thing.

The county magistrate was either acting on explicit instructions from White Camel Estate or he only knew about Shi Yi's collaboration with White Camel Estate and, after Shi Yi's death, took it upon himself to extort money.

If it's the former, then there's no room for negotiation.

If it's the latter, Song, we still have a chance.

The Ghost Tide actually helped us by giving us some breathing room.

Song, I don't want to give them the money.

If I myself am reluctant to spend money, why should I give him so much money? And every year at that."

Song Cheng said, "I'll try."

Miss An was stunned for a moment, then said, "How do you plan on trying?"

Song Cheng said, "Wait a few more days."

...

...

Five days later.

In the morning...

Song Cheng stepped out from Fierce Madam's house and sat on the corridor, glancing at the panel:

[Points: 103 points]

[Realm: Yellow Level Grade C]

[Cultivation Technique]

Xuanwu True Force (Four Forces) (Yellow Level Grade C) (Perfection)

6.4% chance to deduce the Superior Technique of "Xuanwu True Force."

Each deduction requires 4 points.

[Strength: 51~102]

The arrows of the Huntian Poqi Crossbow had been thoroughly cleaned of rust and become shiny, changing the provided data to 10.

To ensure fail-safe, Song Cheng deliberately waited two more days.

At this moment, he focused on the "Xuanwu True Force" and quietly thought:

'Deduce, 100 points, "Xuanwu True Force."'

A mysterious sensation emerged from his heart.

Day after day, Song Cheng practiced martial arts, trained with the blade, and pursued higher realms. Suddenly, he realized: all forces are merely within the human body, yet their source is not human.

If one used human will to control these forces, would it be inferior?

Thus, the youth stopped practicing his blade skills, and instead observed snakes, turtles, and willows, integrating their behavior into himself.

As his "Xuanwu True Force" was a fusion of four forces, he needed to observe four forms of life.

For "Absolute Force," he climbed cliffs to watch eagles.

Through years of repetitive cultivation, the shackles in his heart slowly broke.

He began to realize "will commands, strength acts like officers, and force corresponds to elite troops"; only with proper commands can the strength of officers be fully realized.

He watched the readily visible life around him, merging these lives into one, gradually forming the appearance of Xuanwu.

And Xuanwu transformed into a mystical presence, integrating into his body, correcting countless previously overlooked minute details in his use of force.

He comprehended the Pile Stance Technique.

Standing in the stance, swallowing resources that could replenish flesh and elevate level had become Song Cheng's daily routine.

Instantly...

Song Cheng opened his eyes.

New information appeared:

[Points: 3 points]

[Realm: Yellow Level Grade B]

[Cultivation Technique]

True Form of Xuanwu (Four Forms) (Yellow Level Grade B) (Minor Accomplishment [31/32])

Song Cheng was momentarily stunned, had it "leveled up"?

Success in eleven attempts, and the remaining points were added directly to the cultivation technique.

He glanced at his strength: [59~110]

Song Cheng did not hesitate and promptly added the 3 points.

Suddenly, the progression of True Form of Xuanwu changed from "Minor Accomplishment (31/32)" to "Great Achievement (2/64)."

His strength altered once more: [71~122]

Thinking of Shanghe County's strongest Water Bird Martial Arts Hall master's strength being "33~62", and the strongest from Ruyi Commerce Chamber, Shi Yi, having a strength of "34~68", Song Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, feeling safer.

He glanced at the progress.

Nine days, in just nine days, he could reach Perfection.

Then... he would directly go to discuss the matter of the "annual tribute of ten thousand taels" with the county magistrate.

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