Chapter 80: The Ding Residence

Ding Songyan smiled and asked Xu Chang’an, "How has your training been going lately?"

Xu Chang’an stood at the courtyard gate, saying with some unease, "The Blameless Profound Art is far better than what my master originally taught me. I’ve been using it to redo my body tempering and qi refining, and my body is stronger and my qi fuller. I’m already ready for aperture refinement."

As he spoke, Xu Chang’an relaxed and said with genuine feeling, "A great cultivation art and an ordinary one are worlds apart! Brother Ding, the Brightnight Sect’s arts must be even better. Which one are you focusing on?"

"The Candlelit Nocturne Sutra." Ding Songyan looked at Xu Chang’an with a genial smile.

"Why not the Celestial Stars Scripture?" Xu Chang’an was a little surprised. "It focuses on killing, on countering enemies, and can even manifest a starry sky outside the body. How inspiring is that."

Ding Songyan finally managed to put away his smile and said with a straight face, "You’ll have to blame it on the fear Demoness Ji instilled in me. I wanted to learn something that could counter the Sage-Severing Way’s arts."

Xu Chang’an glanced up at Ding Songyan and dared not say a word.

Ding Songyan could guess what was going through the fellow’s mind even with his toes: Given Demoness Ji’s strength and standing, Brother Ding, unless you have some extraordinary stroke of fortune, you’ll never counter her in this lifetime...

"What about my copy of The Legend of the White Snake?" Ding Songyan kept mum despite seeing through it and changed the subject.

Xu Chang’an led him inside and took out from a hidden compartment the copy of The Legend of the White Snake written by Ji Hanyi.

While returning it to its owner, he asked quietly, "Brother Ding, this—this was written by Demoness Ji herself, wasn’t it? I’ve seen her practice calligraphy before."

The corner of Ding Songyan’s mouth twitched and he gave Xu Chang’an a thumbs up.

Still holding a crush, are we?

Since you call me Brother Ding, once I’ve completed my training and made my fortune, I’ll take you out for a proper night on the town. Demoness Ji is not someone you should be pining over. You couldn’t handle her.

Putting away The Legend of the White Snake, Ding Songyan asked cautiously, "Nothing has happened during this time, right?"

"Nothing." Xu Chang’an only then remembered to report. "Brother Ding, as you instructed, I’ve taken charge of the courtyard at Baoping Lane and dismissed most of the servants. I kept one cook and one maidservant who are a couple. There’s also two handymen and a gatekeeper. If you have no family with you and won’t be living there often, it’s enough.

"Their monthly wages plus food come to ten taels of silver in total. You don’t need to pay me back. I’ll handle it going forward. The Blameless Profound Art is worth far more than any of this!"

Ding Songyan did not refuse, and only smiled.

"Your money won’t last three months.

"You still need to buy medicinal tonics to support your body tempering, qi refining, and aperture refinement. And aperture forging later on will cost even more."

Xu Chang’an’s expression fell at once, and he muttered, "Should I dismiss the rest of the servants too? I can go and clean every three days. My cooking is decent enough."

"No rush." Ding Songyan smiled again. "Repaying me doesn’t have to mean spending silver. Come on, take me to see the place."

The autumn breeze blew through and Xu Chang’an suddenly shivered, with the distinct sense that Brother Ding’s words meant more than they said.

After locking the courtyard gate, he glanced toward the other side of Chengyu Lane.

"Brother Ding, the courtyard you were living in before has been rented out again."

"That quickly?" Ding Songyan said offhandedly.

Xu Chang’an explained earnestly, "It’s a good location and the rent is cheap, so it goes fast. Apparently it was rented by a family that sells steamed buns. I’ve been busy with training lately and haven’t seen them."

He led Ding Songyan out of Chengyu Lane toward Baoping Lane in the south of the city. Along the way, he produced a heavy silver ingot.

"Brother Ding, for The Legend of the White Snake, the storytelling guild paid ten taels. Future earnings from it will be split with a 30% royalty going to you, settled every six months. I had this ingot checked—it’s genuine."

Ding Songyan weighed the silver in his hand and said with a smile,"You should have held out for more upfront silver. The share of recurring royalties can drop to 20%, even 10%. After all, who decides what those total earnings are? It’s the storytelling guild. Even if I had the energy to audit their accounts, I might not be able to catch anything. Better to take more cash at the start and have it safely in hand."

In his past life, he had suffered silently in similar ways even when financial systems were relatively more robust, let alone in this world closer to ancient times.

"You are Sect Master Tao’s personal disciple. They shouldn’t dare cheat you." As an experienced thief, Xu Chang’an had actually considered this too. He had seen plenty of people skimming off the top, but he believed the storytelling guild, out of deference to the Brightnight Sect and Sect Master Tao, would not go too far, and would want to cultivate goodwill.

Ding Songyan smiled.

"Have you never heard the phrases ’insatiably greedy’ or ’blinded by profit’? Have you never heard of men selling the very rope that would hang them, all for a little gain?"

"The first ones, yes." Xu Chang’an could broadly follow the meaning of the second as well.

Chatting as they walked, the two arrived at Baoping Lane.

It was much wider than Chengyu Lane, and the buildings on both sides were noticeably finer. Many of the people passing through were dressed in silks and satins and traveled by carriage or sedan chair.

The courtyard that had originally belonged to the Zhen household sat in the middle stretch of Baoping Lane, its main gate set toward the southeast corner. The first compound contained a front hall, a reception study, guest rooms, a spirit screen, and the reversed-facing servants’ quarters, gatehouse, and carriage room.

Through the ornamental gate beside the front hall, or along the covered walkways on either side, one entered the second compound, which held a sizable courtyard with trees planted in it, water vats, fish, and a dug well. It was usable for daily training or for cooling off. The main hall was large, with side rooms flanking it, one of which had been converted into a restroom with a water-flushed toilet. The east and west wing buildings each held three rooms, likewise with side rooms serving as restrooms. The kitchen was in the southeast corner, situated between the first and second compounds.

Behind the main hall was the third compound, entered via the covered corridors on either side. This held a modest garden, three rooms in the main building, east and west side rooms, a small kitchen, a restroom, and the like. It was tranquil and secluded.

After touring the courtyard with Xu Chang’an, Ding Songyan marveled inwardly, A place like this for just over a hundred taels... and yet a single copy of the Blameless Profound Art is worth ten thousand taels, or even more...

Then again, once one masters the Blameless Profound Art, buying a place like this would be nothing.

Ding Songyan returned to the front hall in the first compound, took the master seat, and accepted the property deed from Xu Chang’an. It bore the red seal of the authorities. It was commonly called a "red deed."

"The county office waived the property taxes, saying it was a reward," Xu Chang’an explained.

He then turned to the servants who had gathered and were waiting in the hall.

"This is Young Hero Ding, a true-lineage disciple of the Brightnight Sect. This courtyard is his. I have only been managing it on his behalf."

The servants glanced at one another, at a momentary loss for how to address him.

Calling him "Master" seemed wrong, since Young Hero Ding had apparently not yet completed his training. Calling him "Young Master" seemed wrong too, since his parents were gone and he was already the head of the household.

"Call him Second Master," Xu Chang’an instructed.

Once the servants had paid their respects, Ding Songyan looked at the two handymen—one tall, one short, both reasonably nimble—and the stout maidservant, and gave a slight nod.

"Have the main rooms and east wing ready. A guest will be staying later."

He turned to the cook, who had a double chin.

"Prepare some food and drink. Get the money from Xu Chang’an."

After a few more words with the gatekeeper, he sent him off and turned to Xu Chang’an with a sincere smile.

"Is there anything else, Brother Ding?" Xu Chang’an’s temple gave a twitch.

Ding Songyan rose, put his left hand—holding Frostshade—behind his back, and strolled two paces forward, smiling at Xu Chang’an.

"I have a fortuitous opportunity for you."

He had originally wanted to say "a chance to change your life," but feared that his obliterated master, Yan Changqing, might get angry enough to come back to life and shout, "That’s my line!"

"A fortuitous opportunity..." Xu Chang’an instinctively shook his head. "No need, no need. Brother Ding, giving me the Blameless Profound Art was already the greatest fortuitous opportunity I could ask for."

Ding Songyan said with a smile, "I came across a cultivation art at the Brightnight Sect that I found rather interesting. I want you to try the body-tempering and qi-circulation sections, to see how they compare with the Blameless Profound Art. If they’re good, the servants here could train in it later for self-defense and to guard the residence."

"Just that?" Xu Chang’an let out a breath of relief.

"This art may have limitless potential." Ding Songyan reached into his hidden inner pocket and drew out the manual containing the Nine Primal Arts and the Forward-Reverse Circulation, and handed it to Xu Chang’an. "Try the first form first."

Xu Chang’an opened the manual and studied with care the first form of the Nine Primal Arts: First Division of the Two Principles.

After a while, he set the manual on the tea table and took on the stance in the hall.

He spread his feet slightly apart, drew his left hand back to his chest, extended his right palm forward at half reach, and began to practice in a slow, measured way. This was the slow portion of the First Division of the Two Principles.

Before long, Xu Chang’an’s forehead was already breaking into a sweat.

His expression showed some surprise, as though he had not expected this body-tempering method to be so demanding.

By the time he had read, learned, and practiced his way through to the end of the fourth form, he said to Ding Songyan as if drained of all strength, "Brother Ding, I’m spent. The Nine Primal Arts look simple but they are hard to practice. An hour of this is like my usual four hours."

"But you can practice it?" That was what Ding Songyan cared about more.

Xu Chang’an moved about to loosen his body.

"I can."

Good, as long as you can practice it... Ding Songyan thought briefly, asked for brush and ink, took back the manual, and added annotations to the Nine Primal Arts section.

"Beginners need only practice one form per day—an hour in the morning and an hour after noon. As the body gradually strengthens, increase to two forms per day.

"When you can manage all nine forms per day, body tempering may be considered complete.

"When you reach three forms per day, qi should begin to arise. But do not neglect this art. It must be practiced until you can manage all nine forms per day."

"Brother Ding..." Xu Chang’an stood to the side and behind, watching him write rapidly. "The way you talk, you sound like a Grandmaster who has achieved mastery in the martial arts."

"Getting used to it ahead of time," Ding Songyan said in a joking tone.

Xu Chang’an then sat cross-legged and began practicing the Forward-Reverse Circulation.

He had nothing but praise for this qi-circulation method.

"Except that one full circulation taking more steps and longer, I think it’s far better than the Blameless Profound Art. I’ve only practiced for this short while and it’s already equal to a full day with the Blameless Profound Art."

"Then keep practicing. Tomorrow, work through the remaining five forms of the Nine Primal Arts. Wherever you get stuck, remember to inform me." Ding Songyan, gratified by the confirmation, got up and said, "Come on, let’s go buy a few jars of wine."

"Why do you suddenly want to drink?" Xu Chang’an asked in surprise.

He had only just told the cook to prepare some food and drink.

Ding Songyan chuckled.

"I’ve joined the Brightnight Sect, you’ve got the Blameless Profound Art, and we both have bright futures ahead. We ought to drink until we drop!"

"Exactly!" Xu Chang’an’s spirits were lifted.

The two left the Ding residence and had walked a few paces when a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"Ding Songyan?"

Ding Songyan turned to look and saw Qu Zhongheng—the three-eyed, one-legged Jiguren—hopping out from a courtyard behind them.

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