Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three violent sounds of bowstrings snapping, tearing through the air. The arrows were like meteors, directly hitting the bullseye of the target two hundred steps away.
At the same time, the iron arrows even pierced through the bullseye of the target and emerged from the other side. This displayed the powerful strength and precise eyesight and agility of the archer.
"Sister Xuejiao, you can actually draw a 120-jin strong bow to shoot arrows. That's more than 120 jin. In the "Martial Classics", it can be called tiger strength. Such archery skills and strength, even those military officers in the army don't have such abilities. It seems that your martial arts have reached the stage of strengthening membranes and bones, and you can be called a martial master. But you're a girl, spending all day riding, shooting, and practicing martial arts. It's a bit unseemly."
In a martial arts training ground that was a full 500 steps in diameter, a woman about twenty years old, dressed in pure white tight-fitting clothing and with a red headscarf tied on her head, drew the bow, shot the arrows, and ended the stance. Three consecutive arrows, she pulled the bow into a full moon with composure.
She wore very little clothing, but in the cold wind and on the frozen solid ground, she didn't show any sign of coldness.
She was Hong Xuejiao, the daughter of the second branch of the marquis' residence.
Beside her stood a young man in splendid silk clothing. This young man had a slender body, like a standing crane, and eyes like stars.
"My Great Qian Dynasty established the country and settled the world through martial arts. Although it has been sixty years since the founding of the country and the folk culture is flourishing and the martial spirit is gradually declining, the emperor still attaches great importance to martial arts. Otherwise, why would he go hunting in both spring and autumn? Could it really just be for fun? I'm afraid it's to showcase martial skills through hunting. To remind those noblemen and the imperial family not to forget martial affairs."
Hong Xuejiao tried the bowstring again and easily pulled it into a full moon:
"This 'White Buffalo Bow' is indeed a superior bow with a bow force of about 140 to 150 jin, but it's far inferior to my father's 'Falling Star Bow'."
"Of course, the Falling Star Bow of Lord Marquis Wenwu is made of fine steel for the bow body, and the string is made of python tendons soaked in glue soup thousands of times for ten years. It has a force of nine stones and can shoot a thousand steps. Only when the martial arts and fist techniques reach the realm of 'tempering the marrow like frost, tempering the blood like mercury paste' and achieving physical sainthood can it be drawn into a full moon and shot continuously. There are probably very few people in the world whose fist techniques have reached the realm of martial saints."
The splendidly dressed young man smiled; "But you also know that now in the Great Qian Dynasty, the folk culture is flourishing and the scholar-bureaucrats control the government. Even with the martial power of Lord Marquis Wenwu, when he was young, he was scolded by the prime minister and scholar-bureaucrat Li Yan. Eventually, he indignantly gave up martial arts and pursued literature, passed the imperial examination and became the third-place scholar. Now he can hold a high position in the government. Otherwise, he could only be a stable Duke of Li at home like my father."
In the Marquis Wenwu's residence, no one dared to mention the young days of Lord Hong Xuanji. But this splendidly dressed young man spoke of it easily, obviously his identity was extraordinary.
This splendidly dressed young man was precisely the eldest son of the Duke of Li residence, Jing Yuxing.
In the Great Qian Dynasty, the noble titles were duke, marquis, and earl. The title of duke was above that of marquis. However, the title was one thing and the official position in the imperial court was another. "Marquis Wenwu" Hong Xuanji, because he was the third-place scholar in the imperial examination, entered the government and his influence was even greater than that of the Duke of Li.
"That can't be said like that. Your family already holds a heavy noble title. One step further would be a non-imperial duke. If you participate in the government affairs again, I'm afraid the imperial family won't be at ease." Hong Xuejiao smiled.
"Don't talk nonsense." Hearing this, Jing Yuxing's face changed slightly, and his eyes quickly swept around as if afraid of being overheard.
"Alright, let's not talk about this." Hong Xuejiao smiled: "But then again, you said that I ride and shoot and practice martial arts all day, which is unseemly for a girl. Do you know what happened to those weak noble ladies and gentlemen when our Great Qian Dynasty destroyed the Great Zhou Dynasty and entered Yujing sixty years ago? Those who were defiled were defiled, those who were killed were killed, and those who were barely alive were captured in the military camps... They didn't even have the strength to escape. Although our Great Qian is now a supreme dynasty, there is the Yunmeng Empire in the east, the Huoluo Dynasty in the west, many island empires in the south at sea, and the Yuan Tu Dynasty in the north. Twenty years ago, the iron cavalry of the Yunmeng Empire reached outside Yujing City. Although they were repelled, it was extremely dangerous. As for those civil officials and scholar-bureaucrats, the imperial court just wants them to pacify the people's hearts. Although the previous prime minister Li Yan held great power in the world, he was not awarded a noble title after his death, and his descendants did not receive imperial grace and favor."
"Alright, alright. You said you wouldn't talk anymore, but you said so much. Xuejiao, you are a heroine among women, making us men ashamed." Jing Yuxing smiled. "But I have a gift for you today."
"What gift?" Hong Xuejiao asked.
Jing Yuxing clapped his hands, and immediately a middle-aged man walked over from afar. This middle-aged man had arms that reached below his knees, his steps were steady and penetrating, and his eyes seemed dull but were actually sharp and hidden. Clearly, he was a master.
The middle-aged man came over, untied a package behind him, and Jing Yuxing took out a book from the package.
The cover of the book read "Tiger-Demon Bone Tempering Fist".
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"Tiger-Demon Bone Tempering Fist?" Hong Xuejiao took one look and a look of surprise appeared in her eyes: "This is a martial arts secret book of the Great Buddhist Temple in Central Province. Twenty years ago, after the Great Buddhist Temple was destroyed by our dynasty, countless martial arts secret books were scattered everywhere. This contains fist techniques and unique skills."
"Yes, it is precisely the "Tiger-Demon Bone Tempering Fist" of the Great Buddhist Temple." Jing Yuxing smiled.
"This is the most detailed book on bone tempering in the world. There are a total of 206 movements to temper the 206 bones throughout the body. In the world of martial arts, only this book has the most detailed bone tempering. Other bone tempering martial arts do not have as many as 206 movements."
Hong Xuejiao's martial arts skills were also proficient. As soon as she flipped through it, her eyes showed even more surprise.
In a person's body, there are 206 bones. Other martial arts cannot temper each one, only the "Tiger-Demon Bone Tempering Fist" of the Great Buddhist Temple can temper all of them.
This book is worth thousands of gold and is hard to buy.
"This is a secret copy that I saw with Prince Chengqin in the Songhe Mountain House of the Royal Library and secretly copied it. Don't let others see it." Jing Yuxing put his hands behind his back. "The Great Buddhist Temple in Central Province was a martial arts sacred place and the ancestral temple of Zen Buddhism. Unfortunately, it colluded with the remaining elders of the previous dynasty and rebelled. It was destroyed by our army. I heard that the temple was magnificent and had countless masters. Now it has vanished. I heard that Lord Marquis participated in the military operation to suppress the Great Buddhist Temple. I heard that the suppression was extremely fierce, and many generals of the imperial court died. Many masters from the Daoist sects such as the Fangxian Dao, the Zheng Yi Dao, and the Tai Shang Dao also died during the suppression."
"Um." Hong Xuejiao excitedly flipped through the book. "The fist postures of this Tiger-Demon Bone Tempering are to mobilize the joints, harden the bones, and temper the bones like steel. It is the supreme bone tempering fist posture in the world."
"There are various kinds of martial arts in the world, but they all involve tempering the flesh, tendons, membranes, bones, internal organs, marrow, and blood, step by step, transforming the body and achieving the realm of physical sainthood of martial saints. Miss Xuejiao can draw a hundred-jin bow made of ox tendons to shoot arrows and has already mastered the tempering of the muscles, tendons, and membranes. Next is to harden the bones and enhance the penetrating power. This Tiger-Demon Bone Tempering Fist technique is just suitable. But I heard that Marquis Wenwu is one of the rare grandmasters in the world. Although he gave up martial arts and pursued literature twenty years ago, his skills must be getting deeper and deeper. It's truly admirable."
Just then, the middle-aged man beside spoke.
"Uncle Yun." Jing Yuxing raised his hand.
The middle-aged man immediately smiled and stepped back, no longer speaking.
"Um? This person is not simple. When did the Duke of Li residence have such a master?" Hong Xuejiao thought secretly in her heart.
"Miss...." Just as Hong Xuejiao was thinking, the maid Xiaoning hurriedly walked over.
"What are these words?" Hong Xuejiao looked at the poem in her hand.
"Good calligraphy! The cursive script is like snakes and vipers. Good poem. How wonderful is this line: 'This heart is originally not controlled by oneself. Stabilizing the mind monkey can calm the mind. Locking the mind horse can establish life.' If a person's heart could be controlled by oneself, that would be a celestial being. The poem has a celestial air, and the calligraphy is even more vigorous, with a penetrating force. Who wrote this?"
Jing Yuxing looked at the words on the white paper and couldn't help but his eyes brightened, praising.
"This is one of my younger brothers. But his birth wasn't good. Lady Zhao doesn't like him much. He passed the county-level imperial examination and became a scholar last year." Hong Xuejiao handed the poem to Jing Yuxing and continued flipping through the Tiger-Demon Bone Tempering Fist manual.
"Xiaoning, take ten silver ingots from my private savings and give them to Hong Yi. He's preparing for the imperial examination. With his monthly allowance, it's probably not enough for his expenses."
"Miss, why are you giving him money? If Lady Zhao finds out, I'm afraid it won't be good." Xiaoning pursed her mouth, looking reluctant.
"Just go quietly, won't you?" Hong Xuejiao waved her hand.
"Alright." Xiaoning turned to leave.
"Wait."
"Mr. Jing, what are your instructions?" Seeing that it was Jing Yuxing speaking, Xiaoning immediately became respectful.
"Uncle Yun, ride fast to my home and bring me a hundred sheets of my Songzhu Xuan snow paper, as well as that purple inkstone, the pure fox hair brush, and the musk ink." Jing Yuxing said.
"Um." The middle-aged man called Uncle Yun had no doubts about Jing Yuxing's order. After answering, he took a few steps back, quickly reached outside the martial arts training ground, mounted a jet-black furious horse, and galloped away.
About the time it takes to have a meal, this Uncle Yun returned, with the writing brushes, inkstones, paper and ink on the horseback.
"Send this to him. By the way, what's your younger brother's name?" Jing Yuxing motioned with a wave of his hand.
"His name is Hong Yi." Hong Xuejiao looked at Jing Yuxing and suddenly smiled: "The rumors say that the young duke is courteous to the virtuous and eager to do good deeds. Today, I finally witnessed it. These writing tools are all precious items worth at least several hundred taels, equivalent to the family property of a middle-class family in Yujing City."
"It's just a small matter." Jing Yuxing smiled.
…………………………………………………………………….
In the small courtyard in the northwest of the marquis' residence, Hong Yi was still reading a book. Just then, Xiaoning and several maids came in holding the writing brushes, inkstones, paper and ink, and placed them on the table, saying: "Hong Yi, you're lucky. Today, the young lady was with the young duke of Li. The young duke of Li appreciated your poetic talent and specially ordered me to send you the writing brushes, inkstones, paper and ink. They are all rare treasures worth a hundred gold. Besides, the young lady asked me to give you ten silver ingots."
"Huh? Send me the writing brushes, inkstones, paper and ink?"
Hong Yi raised his head and looked at the items on the table. "Go back and tell the young duke of Li that I don't accept rewards without merit. As for the ten silver ingots from Xuejiao, you can take them back too. If you want to give me silver, at least a hundred silver ingots. My poem is worth ten gold per character."
"Humph!" After hearing Hong Yi's words, Xiaoning's face turned slightly green. She immediately packed up the items and turned to leave. When she walked out, faint words could be heard: "So unappreciative!"
"He really thinks of himself as a young master."
"Just a sour and stinky scholar. When he's a bit older, Lady Zhao will surely deal with him."
Hong Yi heard the discussions of these people, sneered in his heart, and let out a long breath: "It's getting harder and harder to stay in this marquis' residence. Forget it. Before the imperial examination, I won't bother with these petty women. I'd better go and stay at Qiuyue Temple in Xishan for a while to guard my mother's grave."
On the martial arts training ground.
"Don't accept rewards without merit? Xuejiao, your younger brother has a very firm character." Seeing that Hong Yi didn't accept the items, Jing Yuxing wasn't concerned. He just smiled and suddenly changed the topic.
"By the way, in a few days, it might snow heavily. The son of Prince Chengqin and Princess Yongchun, who we have a good relationship with, are going to hunt foxes in Xishan. I heard that there are foxes causing trouble in Xishan recently. A white fox even got into the city and ran into the imperial garden of the palace, startling Consort Yuan. Later, the imperial guards were called in to hunt it but failed. Finally, the Taoist priests from Yujing Taoist Temple were called in, and the white fox didn't appear again."
"To hunt foxes in Xishan? Of course, I'll go."
Hong Xuejiao smiled.