Chapter Three: Heaven-Aligning Seal Fist

Around the hour of the Tiger (between three and five in the morning), the accumulated snow shimmered with a pale, crystalline glow, bathing the earth in a translucent, ethereal beauty under the moonlight.

With a faint click, the wooden bolt of the main gate was gently lifted by a blade tip. A petite figure slipped inside, the blade turning to reveal a translucent blue sheen; the length of the weapon was nearly as tall as the intruder herself.

Glancing at the bedding in the darkness, Zhu Ying'er suddenly let out a shout. She leaped high into the air, her wrist flicking as the *Dojigiri Yasutsuna* scraped against its scabbard, unleashing a flash of cold light. It was a technique of the Shinkage-ryu school: "Fish-Gut Slit."

To master this blade technique, one must first train for half a year in the stillness of a calm lake, ensuring the blade sweeps through the water without arousing the slightest suspicion from the fish. Only then could one proceed to the roaring waterfall, practicing the cut amidst the flying foam and spray, waiting for that one-in-a-million fleeting moment to slice open the belly of a falling fish.

Zhu Baozai doted on this precious daughter of his and had spent a fortune to hire the finest swordsman from the land of the Wanu to teach her. This "Fish-Gut Slit" was a secret blade technique, and Zhu Ying'er had indeed grasped its essence.

Regrettably, such a beautiful strike met only empty air. There was no one on the bed.

"Damn it, the assassination attempt failed again!" Zhu Ying'er grumbled indignantly.

"Do you know the penalty for failure?" a voice came from behind her.

Zhu Ying'er rolled her eyes. She sheathed her blade, placed it on the stand, folded the quilt neatly, and picked up a flowerpot from the windowsill. She walked obediently outside, balancing the pot on her head. As the cold night wind bit into her, she trembled violently, save for her wide, unblinking eyes.

To enhance the effect of the assassination, the young girl had deliberately worn only a thin, black night-traveling suit. Given that physique, who else could it be in the Feng residence?

Kou Li shook his head in silence and leisurely put on his cotton-padded coat. Having reached the state of "not even a feather can land upon me," he knew that such clumsy assassination attempts were futile.

He didn't know if this little girl was merely persistent or simply thick-headed; this was the eighth time, and every attempt was as punctual as an alarm clock.

Walking out the door and catching Kou Li's gaze, Zhu Ying'er sniffled with her frozen, reddened nose and shouted, "Darn you! You dare to humiliate me like this? One day, I will surely have your head!"

"Good luck."

Kou Li walked to the center of the courtyard, stretched his limbs slightly, and began to practice his boxing in a slow, fluid motion. His movements appeared loose and relaxed, yet every punch, every kick, and every shift in stance stirred a gust of wind. The currents of air layered upon one another, eventually sweeping up the fallen snow until it seemed as if he were dancing with the snow itself. More and more accumulated, until half the courtyard's snow was caught in the vortex.

Zhu Ying'er watched him intently, vowing to herself that she would learn his skills and then take his head. "A-choo!" She let out a small sneeze.

*Next time I attempt an assassination, I really should wear a cotton jacket,* Princess Sakura decided, shivering in the cold.

When the hour of the Rabbit arrived and the sun began to break, Kou Li decisively stopped his practice. He gently placed the massive, water-vat-sized snowball he had gathered onto the ground, rubbed his steaming, damp hands together, and turned around. "Time for breakfast."

A flicker of joy crossed Zhu Ying'er's eyes. She quickly set the flowerpot under the window, hunched her shoulders, and scurried after him like a little tail.

"A-choo! Tell me, what kind of boxing is this?"

"This isn't boxing; this is playing with force."

"Playing with force? And what level have you reached?"

"Touching objects turns them to steel, my lethal hands are like iron, my internal energy does not rise, my form is not exposed, my spirit is condensed, and my power is stored within."

"How amazing! How long do you think it will take me to reach your level?"

"Twenty years at the shortest, or perhaps a lifetime."

"Darn it! I will definitely work hard to catch up! Please, you must teach me with all your heart!"

...

As the sun climbed high, Kou Li lay lazily on a bamboo chair, hands clasped, half-asleep like a hibernating bear. He only occasionally offered pointers on Zhu Xiaojun and Zhu Ying'er's technique. His entire demeanor was one of languor, a stark contrast to his usual intensity when he was immersed in his training day and night.

Ordinary martial artists have their own methods, and masters of the Internal School have theirs.

Now that he had reached a great mastery in the Internal School—especially after gradually honing his unique "Mercury Force"—Kou Li spent more time nourishing his blood and qi to heal hidden injuries. His true training sessions only took place at the hours of the Tiger and the Dog—one for external conditioning, one for internal—and neither lasted more than two hours.

This was a matter of self-regulation.

From the hour of the Tiger to the hour of the Rabbit, the Yang energy rises, as does the body’s internal qi. The liver qi begins to ascend, and since the liver and gallbladder meridians are paired, the body’s spirit and strength are in a state of vigorous renewal, which is conducive to training.

Furthermore, the sun rises at the hour of the Tiger, and lung qi begins its cycle then. During the hours of the Tiger and Rabbit, internal energy circulates between the lungs and the large intestine. The lungs govern qi and respiration, and the large intestine guides the flow. With the "Shao Yang" energy beginning to open, heaven and earth are in a state of growth, making it the optimal time for external force training.

Conversely, at the hour of the Dog, the Yin energy rises. This strengthens the circulation through the internal organs and meridians, expelling turbid qi and clearing the blood. After falling asleep at midnight, the body absorbs the corresponding atmospheric energy as Yin rises, strengthening the sinews and bones. Thus, this time is suited for internal training.

Whether it is the "Four Great Refinements" or the subsequent "Shattering the Void," one must act before the body's peak potential fades. Firstly, the body's metrics are all on the rise, providing the potential for stimulation; secondly, hidden injuries sustained during training have a greater chance of complete recovery.

To ensure the success of the Four Great Refinements, Kou Li had to bring his body to its peak state beforehand.

This wasn't something his master had taught him; it was a path Kou Li had discovered himself, based on his internal perceptions and the verification provided by the stack of alchemical texts Young Master Huang had sent him.

In truth, masters who have achieved greatness in internal martial arts all have their own methods of cultivation, though they differ in the details based on their individual physical states.

This is not something a master can teach; it must be realized and contemplated by the individual.

A master may lead one to the door, but the actual cultivation is a personal journey. Once martial arts reach the higher realms, the method of practice becomes the practice itself.

In his half-asleep state, Kou Li sank into the realm of internal introspection. The small stream he once visualized had now become a surging river, its banks lined with levees made of flesh, blood, and bone—still marked by visible scars.

He had fought his way out of the "Watching the Tide" battle and won his life, but the internal injuries were indeed numerous. Fortunately, Young Master Huang was a wealthy patron, sending endless supplies of tonics. He had been eating ginseng and yellow ganoderma like daily meals, gradually replenishing his vitality.

...

Just as Kou Li was immersed in this state of tranquility, the river water suddenly seemed to be dyed with pigment. A crimson red rapidly stained everything, and then, the bloody water bubbled up, and human heads began to float to the surface.

Human-Skin Wolf, One-Eyed Wolf, Soul-Chasing Wolf, Diao Fengsheng, Old Man Jiao...

The figures he had killed, either directly or indirectly, floated toward him with blood streaming from their eyes and their faces torn asunder, some cackling, others wearing hideous expressions.

Kou Li felt a tremor in his heart, but then his killing intent surged. He sneered, "I didn't fear you when you were alive; I certainly don't fear you dead. I killed you once, and I can kill you again!"

Wait!

His eyes snapped open, his killing intent rolling like thunder. His internal force was on the verge of erupting. Zhu Ying'er was less than three feet away; had he been a moment later, she surely would have died.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone is looking for you outside," Zhu Ying'er said, her eyelids drooping, swaying on her feet. She had been up since before dawn to assassinate him; even assassins get sleepy, you know.

The young Princess Sakura had no idea she had just skirted the gates of death.

Kou Li nodded and walked to the door. Two sturdy men in tight-fitting outfits stood there with a servant in blue, who held a letter in his hand.

"Master Kou, the Young Master sent me to deliver this letter to you," the servant said, bowing and scraping.

"Hmm." Kou Li took the letter without changing his expression. He studied the man for a few moments and suddenly asked, "Among the assassins of the Blood Pole, which rank do you belong to?"

The servant's face changed. As he reached for a small blowgun hidden at his waist, a surge of immense force struck his body. He was sent flying ten feet back, slamming into the opposite wall before slumping to the ground, leaving a pool of blood.

Fortunately, Young Master Huang had secretly bought up all the surrounding properties, so the commotion did not attract much attention.

At the very moment when Kou Li was most sensitive to killing intent, revealing such malice was a poor choice.

He flicked his finger, and the envelope pinned itself to the stone floor, emitting a cloud of corrosive gas.

"Send someone to the official post station to ask what is going on and if the message was swapped."

"Yes, sir!" The men broke out in a cold sweat. Had the master not discovered this in time, they would have faced severe punishment.

Kou Li shook his head. The forest is large, and it contains all kinds of birds. Young Master Huang had been recruiting people everywhere, and it was inevitable that the quality would be uneven; they couldn't even guard a door properly.

As for the target of this assassin, it was obvious: it had to be Zhu Ying'er.

They were either here to rescue her or to kill her!