Li Yi gradually began to feel as if the world consisted of just him. He could vaguely see inside his own body. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth flowed into his body, and he could clearly observe something slowly forming within him.
It was a very peculiar energy flow—weak and faint—but he felt as though he could control it.
Martial artists, when they reach the pinnacle of external martial arts, can cultivate internal energy naturally. Li Yi had never practiced any external martial arts, but his body had grown so strong that it surpassed the limits that external martial arts could achieve. He should have already started channeling spiritual energy into his body, leading to the birth of internal energy.
Previously, without guidance and lacking understanding, the internal energy hadn’t emerged. But now, with some guidance—even if it was just casual advice—it was enough for internal energy to begin forming within him.
Of course, the existence of this internal energy depended on him not using the Wild Blood Method; otherwise, it would be immediately drained to nourish his physical body.
The landlady, sitting on a nearby table, observed him. "Never practiced before, but his internal energy forms on the first try. How did his body become so strong?" she muttered to herself.
The landlord, hearing this, handed her a goose leg. "Who knows? Maybe he’s born with divine strength. Try this goose leg; it’s delicious."
The landlady reluctantly took a bite, and the landlord seemed relieved when she ate. He quickly poured himself two large gulps of wine.
At the moment the internal energy was born, Li Yi gained a much clearer understanding of his physical body. More importantly, he realized that he could now control the internal energy circulating within his body, moving it around in a full circle.
He could feel that he now had a far better grasp of his own body. This was a significant benefit—ordinary people throw punches using only their upper body, but trained martial artists can use their entire body’s strength. Li Yi was now very close to that state, though he didn’t have much practical experience yet. In a real fight, he wouldn’t be able to unleash more power than a seasoned martial artist.
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He opened his eyes and finally felt everything around him. Before, he could only sense himself and the peculiar energy inside him, which he now knew to be internal energy.
"Thank you, senior," Li Yi said, standing and bowing respectfully to the landlady.
"You don’t need to thank me. If it wasn’t for the cigarettes, I wouldn’t have bothered teaching you. Besides, it’s nothing special. If I hadn’t told you, you would have figured it out eventually," she replied.
Even though she said this, Li Yi was still grateful in his heart. She could have chosen not to share any knowledge, but she did. Understanding such matters on his own was incredibly complex, and it would have taken a long time to figure out. With luck, he might have understood after some time, but without it, he might never have figured it out.
Li Yi sat back down at the table, where several dishes remained untouched. The landlord had only eaten a little, using the food to accompany his wine. When he saw Li Yi sitting down, he no longer hesitated.
"Senior, I wonder if you have a room to rent," Li Yi asked. He really intended to stay here, as he needed to wait for someone.
The landlady sighed as she heard his question. "You’re young; you shouldn’t be here. Judging by your appearance, you’re not a poor person. A young person like you shouldn’t be doing something like this. Don’t always think about practicing martial arts. The martial world is not as beautiful as you imagine."
The landlord, hearing her words, silently put down his chopsticks without speaking, and drank more wine.
Their child had once died in a martial contest, beaten to death in front of them. Unable to do anything, they had decided to leave the martial world. In his view, Li Yi’s decision to stay after being guided only meant he still wanted to practice martial arts.
He regretted not refusing him earlier. If he had, things would have been simpler.
"You are overthinking. I just want to stay here," Li Yi replied.
"Why do you want to stay here?" the landlady asked.
"Because it’s cheap. Right now, I don’t have any other way to make a living, so I’ll save whatever money I can. Later, when I find work, I can move out."
Living in the Pig Cage Slums was indeed a good choice. Li Yi could take this time to familiarize himself with the environment. As long as he understood the surroundings better than the two blind and deaf individuals, he would have an advantage in battle.
The landlady understood that her simple advice wouldn’t convince Li Yi. If she wanted him to leave, the only option was to stop talking to him. If he sought any further teachings from her or her husband, they’d refuse outright.
"Eat first. After you finish, I’ll take you to see the room," she said, no longer trying to persuade him. She had no deep attachment to him, and if he left after learning his lesson, it was his own business.