~~~

Liu Jin closes his eyes and concentrates. With every breath he takes, Qi flows through his body. It goes from his lower dantian to his middle one to his upper one. With every breath he takes, Qi reaches every part of his body.

At least, that is how things should be.

Nine-Headed Snake God’s poison has taken its toll on Liu Jin. As long as he keeps it under control, it won’t kill him. However, the modifications Liu Jin has made to his Qi flow in order to keep that balance are undeniable. It is those modifications that have kept him in the Inner Realm for over two years. While Liu Jin has learned to cope with these differences, they still remain an obstacle to the way he controls Qi.

Every time Liu Jin uses his Qi, he needs to take these modifications into account.

This time is no different. Liu Jin carefully guides Qi through his body, molding it to suit his needs. He needs to be extra careful today. Even though he has gotten used to eating, sleeping, and even fighting with Nine-Headed Snake’s poison flowing through him, there is no such thing as being too cautious, especially when trying something new.

Liu Jin opens his eyes and takes a step.

A hundred yards go by in an instant. Liu Jin manages to come to a stop with a faltering step. A wide-eyed Su An grabs him by the shoulders to steady him. The gesture is unneeded, but Liu Jin appreciates it all the same.

“How was that?”

“How was that?” Su An echoes, disbelief colors her voice as she lets him go. “Boss just covered a hundred yards in an instant! I never imagined Boss would pick up the technique so quickly!”

Months have passed since Su An first offered her services to him, more than enough time for Liu Jin to get a solid grasp of her as a person. He is reasonably sure Su An is not someone with evil designs towards him. She merely wants to stay in his good graces, which suits him just fine.

That is why he is comfortable enough to be outside Eastern Port City with her.

The two are in a plain a few miles away from the city walls. While Liu Jin would prefer to train inside the Xiao Sect’s compound, there are way too many eyes on him there for him to feel comfortable. If he asked Xiao Nan, it’d be easy to arrange a private training room just for him, but that is not a privilege Liu Jin feels he has earned.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Boss already knew Ground Contraction.”

Ground Contraction.

The Xiao Sect’s signature movement technique. For a few days now, Su An has been showing it to him. As an Outer Disciple, Liu Jin does not really have any right to learn it. However, Liu Jin is no longer just a mere Outer Disciple. He is Patriarch Xiao Zheng’s son-in-law, something Su An rightly pointed out to him a few days ago.

“Nothing so convenient,” Liu Jin replies, feeling the flow of his Qi. Using Ground Contraction doesn’t seem to have caused him to lose control. Good. He’ll practice a few more times to get the hang of doing a hundred yards before trying for a longer distance.

“I have seen Elder Brother using the technique a few times, so I already understood the theory of it.”

Back then, Xiao Nan had wanted to teach Ground Contraction to him. However, Liu Jin hadn't yet married into the Xiao Clan. It wouldn't have been proper to learn such techniques. While Liu Jin sometimes wonders how it would have felt like to be taught by Xiao Nan, it is better that he isn’t needlessly inconveniencing him.

From what he has heard, Xiao Zheng has Xiao Nan doing all sorts of tasks nowadays. It is a good week when Liu Jin manages to see him once or twice.

“Besides, the technique is not that complicated.”

All things considered, Ground Contraction is fairly simple.

“Not that complicated!”

Su An cannot stop herself from raising her voice.

“Boss, with all due respect, that’s just not right. The technique may sound simple in theory, but there is a myriad of things to take into account when using it. Focusing Qi on the legs to create a burst of speed is the easiest part of it. However, to use it effectively, one must carefully reinforce other parts of the body to compensate for the sudden acceleration. If only the legs are reinforced, you’ll just trip and fall. Similarly, if the entire body is reinforced equally, the boost will be substandard.”

Su An nods vigorously as she says this, likely reliving the memories of countless failed attempts.

“In other words, Ground Contraction is a technique that requires reinforcement of specific bones and muscles to work to its full potential. The exact level of reinforcement varies depending on the speed used and the distance covered. Furthermore, one must be ready to cancel or alter the technique in an instant lest an enemy takes advantage of its linear nature. Ground Contraction is deceptively complex.”

Liu Jin supposes she’s right. He did have to take into account all those things. However, compared to keeping Nine-Headed Snake God’s poison at bay, doing such things is an easy task.

“Those who are first learning Ground Contraction often get cocky and end up hurting themselves. It is the biggest cause of injury among Inner Disciples. It took this Su An months until she was confident enough to try a Fifty-Yards-Step.”

Liu Jin hums and nods. “That sounds reasonable.”

Su An’s face grows redder as she throws her arms up

“Boss has only been learning Ground Contraction for four days!”

“I have tried my best to be careful,” Liu Jin says, deliberately missing the point. If he explained why his control is so good, it’d just cause more questions, and he doesn’t feel like trusting Su An with such information just yet.

Besides, it is kind of fun seeing her overreact.

This is probably why his Master does the things he does, Liu Jin realizes.

“Let’s keep training. I want to try the technique a few more times before I try to cover a larger distance.”

The two do as Liu Jin says. Liu Jin covers a hundred yards twenty more times that day, Su An always ready to catch him in case something went wrong. Nothing does. Instead, Liu Jin’s mastery of the movement technique just keeps growing. By the end of the day, Liu Jin feels confident enough to try a Hundred-and-Fifty-Yards Step. He manages to pull it off, though he stumbles a bit at the end. Nevertheless, it earns him another wide-eyed stare from Su An.

“This one has to ask… is Boss really just in the First Level of the Inner Realm?”

“My Qi is exactly as you feel it. There is nothing else to it,” Liu Jin replies. It is true enough as far as he’s concerned. Until he sees Nine-Headed Snake God again, he’s stuck in the Inner Realm.

“I think this has been enough Ground Contraction training for now. Let’s move to the next part.”

Su An makes a face.

“Must we, Boss? I think it would be better if Boss keep practicing Ground Contraction rather than that weird technique.”

Even as she says it that, her body is already settling into position.

“Weird as it may seem to you, it is important to me,” Liu Jin says, assuming a combat stance. “Attack me.”

Su An does. She doesn’t even use half of her true speed, yet Liu Jin can barely make out her form as she rushes at him. Liu Jin reaches his Qi and carefully molds it in the blink of an eye. He feels the flow of the energy around him.

A single step is taken.

Su An’s finger strikes his forehead.

Liu Jin yelps as he staggers back a few steps. The only reason he doesn’t fall on his ass is that Su An held back that much just now. From the beginning, the idea of an Inner Disciple like her using her full strength against him is completely ridiculous.

“Does Boss want to try again?” Su An asks as Liu Jin rubs his forehead. She sounds as if she wants him to say no. Being in a position where she has to attack and hurt him, even lightly, does not seem to be one she enjoys.

She is probably worried that he’ll hold a grudge over this.

“Yes,” Liu Jin replies, settling into a stance once more.

Ground Contraction training is going well.

Art of the Roaming Thief training is not.

The technique his Master showed him is far more complicated than the Xiao Sect’s movement technique. In comparison to Ground Contraction, where Liu Jin only needs to focus on how his body is reinforced, Art of the Roaming Thief requires him to read the flow of Qi around him in addition to using far more complex movements. If he trains on his own and focuses, Liu Jin can manage the technique consistently.

However, that’s no good.

Unlike Ground Contraction, Art of the Roaming Thief is a technique meant to be used against an opponent. In other words, the best way to train it is by using it against someone else. That is why Liu Jin has instructed Su An to attack him. It is perhaps not ideal to train against an Inner Disciple, but it is the best Liu Jin can do for now.

After many weeks of training, Liu Jin has only managed to use the technique against her less than ten times. It is the reason why she suggested they try Ground Contraction instead. She probably thought he’d give up on Art of the Roaming Thief once he had another movement technique in his arsenal.

Unfortunately for her, Liu Jin is not keen on giving up on this technique.

“Again.”

~~~

Sometimes, having Su An around is helpful. In fact, Liu Jin has found that is often the case. The Inner Disciple is fierce when it comes to scaring away annoyances.

However, there are also days like this.

“You dare say that to me!”

“I’ll say it as many times as I have to! You should keep your big nose out of Boss’ business!”

The argument has already drawn a few stares, which is unsurprising considering the participants. On one side is Su An.

On the other side is Big Nose Li.

During Liu Jin’s first day in the Xiao Sect, Big Nose Li tried to bully him on Xiao Fang’s orders. Naturally, that did not work thanks to Xiao Nan’s interference. Shortly afterward, Big Nose Li moved up in the Sect, becoming an Inner Disciple. Liu Jin often sees him hanging around Xiao Fang. He’d call them friends, but lackey is probably a better word for it.

Not that dissimilar to his relationship with Su An now that Liu Jin thinks about it.

Does that make Su An his lackey? Does he have a lackey?

“You’re quite the bold one. Do you not realize who you speak to?”

Su An laughs with a haughty expression. “There is not one among us Inner Disciples that cannot recognize that big nose, although perhaps Brother Li is surprised someone recognized him so far removed from Young Master Xiao Fang’s side.”

Big Nose Li’s face turns red. Some chuckles are heard from their audience. Liu Jin rolls his eyes even as he chalks up a point for Su An.

Really, how did this argument even start?

“Bold words coming from a harlot!”

“Oh? A harlot, am I?” Outwardly, Su An doesn’t look bothered, but Li Jin is able to spot the slight tensing of her fists just fine. “Is that how it looks like to you? How rotten your eyes must be to mistake devotion in such a manner!”

That is laying it on a bit thick, yet such displays tend to be pretty effective.

“Yes, clearly your eyes must be rotten, and your mind as well to insinuate Boss would cheat on his wife.”

Big Nose Li’s widen at that. Finally, realizing what a mistake he had made. The murmurs rise from the crowd.

The argument last five more exchanges after that before Big Nose Li finally leaves, but not before one last parting shot.

“We’ll see how deep your loyalty goes when Young Master puts that boss of yours in place!”

Not a good thing to say. Xiao Fang is probably going to get told off for that, which means Big Nose Li is going to be told off by Xiao Fang.

“That idiot,” Su An mutters. She turns to the crowd. “What are you all standing around for? Don’t the disciples of the Xiao Sect have better things to do!”

Her loud voice is enough to startle the crowd into dispersing. Liu Jin is already walking away by then. Su An easily catches up to him.

“Boss, can I ask you a question?” Her voice is low so as to avoid people overhearing.

“Go ahead.”

“There are some rumors going around… about Boss and Young Master Xiao Fang.”

Liu Jin knows well what the rumors she is talking about are. Although Liu Jin is certain neither of them has gone out of their way to let people know about it, rumors of their upcoming spar are making their way around the Xiao Sect. Liu Jin supposes it had to happen eventually. He wants to say it doesn’t matter whether people know or not, but the truth is another. Having people know about it makes him even more nervous.

There is a reason why he has been practicing Ground Contraction and Way of the Roaming Thief so much lately.

Three moves. That is all he needs to endure. Whether they hit him or not doesn’t matter.

“They are true,” Liu Jin replied in an equally low tone of voice. He feels Su An stiffen next to him.

“Will… will Boss be alright?”

“I have no intention of losing if that’s what you are asking.”

Absolutely none.

~~~