Li Xian condensed Qi into silk, starting from the dantian, and once again attempted the circulation of Qi throughout his body.

Circulating through the major acupuncture points, when he reached the 112th major point, the Qi in the dantian was depleted. The Qi could no longer maintain its form and scattered into his flesh and blood.

"Although I'm still far from circulating Qi throughout my body..."

"Compared to last time, the progress is already very evident!"

...

Jiang Yun, a B-class nurse, was originally a famine refugee from Ziqiong County.

Fortunately, thanks to her family connection with Qiuyue, Madam Wen's personal maid, and through Qiuyue's recommendation, she was able to enter the manor as a nurse.

In such a large manor, under the Madam, Qiuyue holds the most power.

"Speak, what brings you to me?"

In a beautifully scenic stone pavilion.

Jiang Yun bent over, with an obedient and gentle face, bowing to serve tea reverently. Qiuyue slowly took it, glancing at Jiang Yun, and asked nonchalantly.

"Sister Qiuyue, I lost again in the last nursing competition. I'm still not able to reach A-class..." Jiang Yun spoke nervously.

"Oh?"

Qiuyue shook her head and said, "I don't blame you. After all, you are a woman, and your martial arts talent is just ordinary. If it weren't for my support due to our connection, not to mention A-class, even B-class would be a stretch for you."

"Yes, yes, thanks to Sister Qiuyue's great kindness and virtue." Jiang Yun hastily thanked.

"Moreover..."

"Being a woman, you will inevitably suffer some losses in combat on the ring."

Qiuyue took a sip of tea and frowned, "What kind of tea is this?"

"It's Mingxiang Tea, I specially..."

Before Jiang Yun could finish, a slap landed on her face as Qiuyue scolded, "Such inferior tea, it's simply a stain on my mouth!"

Furious, she smashed the tea cup to the ground, shattering it, with tea splattering everywhere. Impatiently, she said, "What is it you want to ask, quickly say it."

"Yes, yes."

Jiang Yun dared not show anger, she said sheepishly, "It's like this, the kid named Li Xian has been quite active recently, and some time ago, I had a little conflict with him, should I..."

"Him..." Qiuyue naturally remembered, she was present during the soup distribution incident.

Qiuyue waved her hand dismissively, "No need to bother, just a small fry."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun felt relieved, "And about the winter hunt..."

"Now that you mention the winter hunt, I remember something."

Qiuyue motioned Jiang Yun to come closer, lowering her voice slightly, "This winter hunt might give you an opportunity to find a different path, stepping into A-class."

"The Madam has been in a good mood lately, and the winter hunt is her favorite activity, make sure to perform well."

Jiang Yun's eyes lit up, she took out a piece of gold jade from her bosom and presented it with both hands, "Thank you, Sister Qiuyue, for your guidance. This is a token of my appreciation for you."

Qiuyue raised her eyebrows slightly, the gold jade was of good quality, intricately carved with floral and bird patterns, quite exquisite.

Gold objects are considered hard currency, while the dynasty is in turmoil and times are changing, such things always remain valuable, never too much, so she naturally accepted it.

She saw that Jiang Yun must have expended considerable effort to obtain this thing, and her voice softened, "You do have some sense, don't mention I was ever here." She got up and left.

...

...

Several days have passed since the distribution of essence food. Life had been as usual, calm without stirring any waves.

All the nurses, whenever they encountered Li Xian, felt envy, fear, and defiance, but no one dared to provoke him easily.

Li Xian did not have many friends, nor did he take the initiative to make them. But his kindness and gentleness in dealing with others earned him some goodwill.

"It's already late October, I wonder how my brother's studies are progressing?"

Li Xian's mind wandered as he leaned against a tree with his long sword in his arms.

"Master Li, after we finish the patrol shift, shall we go up the mountain together?"

At that moment, a figure came running over.

The person's name was Le Zhitao, also a C-class nurse. Since the distribution of meat, he had approached Li Xian to befriend him.

Both were C-class nurses, and they had more free time. Sometimes after patrolling, Le Zhitao would look for Li Xian to dine together at the Vegetarian Restaurant.

Though they became close, their friendship did not run deep.

Li Xian was enthusiastic on the outside but cold on the inside; whoever sought him out for conversation, he would respond. He wouldn't refuse companionship either, but to truly become friends wasn't that easy.

"Going up the mountain? Why?" Li Xian asked.

Le Zhitao said, "You don't know? The winter hunt is coming!"

"I've heard of the winter hunt, but what's it got to do with going up the mountain?" Li Xian shook his head, standing up leisurely, dusting off the snow from his body.

"You need to prepare your own bow for the winter hunt, don't you know? If you don't go up the mountain to cut wood to make a bow, are you not participating in the winter hunt?" Le Zhitao explained.

Li Xian frowned, "Cutting wood to make a bow? The craftsmanship of a bow and arrow is complex; it takes at least a few weeks. Isn't it too late to craft a bow now?"

"There's a rare kind of wood on the neighboring mountain, the branches are sturdy and elastic, just bind them with cow tendons, and there you have it, a bow is ready." Le Zhitao said confidently.

Li Xian inwardly critiqued: "It's more like a toy.", the feel of a bow is extremely important. The bow arm and the string are secondary; the synergy between the bow and the person is crucial.

The person knows the bow, and the bow knows the person, only then can there be unfaltering accuracy. Li Xian, born in a hunter's family, was most proficient in this. From the age of five, he crafted his own bow and arrows.

By the age of eleven, his hunting skills surpassed his father's.

Since ancient times, archers have held a very esteemed status. Whether in the military or the Jianghu, it is always so.

With the winter hunt drawing near, Li Xian thought to himself: "Rather than crafting a new bow, it's better to bring out my old friend again."

He immediately told Le Zhitao, "You all go ahead, I won't be going."

"Ah!" Le Zhitao shook his head, "What a pity, what a pity."

...

Reminded by Le Zhitao, Li Xian finished his patrol shift and took half a day off with Pang Long, then set off for Qingning County.

It was late October, cold and frozen, silver everywhere, with occasional cold geese flying across the sky.

"Ordinary geese migrate with the seasons, but these cold geese take the unusual path. The colder it gets, the more they drill into it."

Having not left the manor for a long time, Li Xian walked along the road with a clear and tranquil heart.

After walking seven or eight miles, he suddenly heard cries in the distance:

"My lord, my lord, spare me, I dare not anymore, I dare not anymore."

"Ouch, stop hitting, stop hitting."

Turning his head, he saw five nurses surrounding a man and beating him.

Judging by the scene, it seemed the man was caught cutting down trees and was being punished.

"It's him?"

Glancing again, Li Xian recognized the beaten man as Wang Yonghou, Aunt Liu's husband.

He immediately quickened his pace and said, "Stop right there."

"Damn it, keep hitting him!"

These were nurses from the Lin Family of Qingning County; they glanced at Li Xian, completely indifferent, continuing to kick and punch Wang Yonghou.

Li Xian frowned, leaped forward, and kicked one of the nurses in the rear. The person toppled over awkwardly.

The other nurses were stunned, one of them cursed, "What a bastard, another helper, brothers, let's deal with him first!"

Four to five people swarmed up. Li Xian snorted coldly, charging directly towards the speaking nurse, landing two punches squarely on his face.

He then leapt up, sweeping with his legs, kicking each of the surrounding nurses.

In no time at all, they were all dealt with.

"Who...who are you! How dare you hit us, you just wait, wait for it!"

That nurse howled incessantly, pointing at Li Xian, both angry and frightened.

"Wait for it?" Li Xian shouted angrily, "If I'm not mistaken, this is a forest belonging to Yihetang Manor, since when is it any of your Lin Family's business?"

"This...this..."

The nurses were immediately silenced.

They were actually unaware of whose forest this was. They simply saw someone chopping down trees and, realizing there was fun to be had, beat people for amusement.

"Can your Lin Family afford to provoke Yihetang Manor? You better weigh your options carefully."

"If there's nothing more to say, shut your mouths and get lost."

The final "get lost" was roared by Li Xian with inner Qi, his voice shook their hearts.

Instantly, the bullies were scared into a hasty retreat.

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