Xiangzi’s Record of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 64: Fourth Master Liu’s Hesitation

Mastering the spear art brought Xiangzi more than just stronger spear techniques—it refined his stances.
As the old saying goes:
an inch longer, an inch stronger
. Though a battlefield adage, it held some truth in duels.
Long weapons had their flaws: less agile, demanding arm and core strength, and draining qi and blood quickly.
But for Xiangzi, these were no issue.
With his interface, his qi and blood growth and recovery far surpassed ordinary martial artists.
His current two pillars of qi and blood matched the strength of an early ninth-grade martial artist.
Following Uncle Jie’s advice to train with a long spear, Xiangzi’s stance progress soared—long spears demanded more from the lower body.
Three days of hard training paid off.
Not only did the Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Spear reach mastery, but his stance gained over thirty proficiency points—ten a day, an astronomical figure without mining.
[Four-Square Horse Stance]
[Progress: 708/1500 (Mastery Achieved)]
At this rate, his stance might reach perfection in a few months.
What would his dantian’s qi and blood look like then?
A freak with three pillars of qi and blood
?
Xiangzi chuckled to himself—
no rush, let it come naturally
.
For now, the priority was earning enough silver for Baolin Martial Hall’s apprentice trials.
Xiangzi counted on his fingers.
Even living frugally and staying at the yard, saving that much would take nearly a year.
Truly, no matter the world,
a working ox like him could never get rich
!
As for Uncle Jie’s offer, Xiangzi was grateful but couldn’t accept.
Uncle Jie’s savings, earned through decades of blood and sweat in the mines, were for his own future. Xiangzi couldn’t take that.
But still,
he had to find a way to make money
.
Sighing lightly, Xiangzi stopped training and lay in the practice room, pondering why Old Tang and Uncle Jie kept pushing him toward the martial hall.
Pity for his talent? Likely.
After half a year of training, Xiangzi was no longer the clueless novice. Though still an unranked nobody, his three-month progress was jaw-dropping to others.
Of course, assuming no elixirs.
Rumor had it the reckless Wan family kid started training at fifteen, and by sixteen, his family’s elixirs made him a ninth-grade martial artist. Now, still young, he was already an eighth-grade adept.
Before elixir-fueled noble martial artists, so-called talent meant nothing!
But with his interface, Xiangzi was a
natural elixir prodigy
—if only he had the money.
Beyond pity, Old Tang and Uncle Jie likely had other motives.
They hadn’t said it outright, but their odd behavior lately suggested they knew something.
What could it be?
Likely the mining route troubles.
Refugees, bandits, and that Jin Fugui mess—Ma Liu Rickshaw Yard’s claws were showing.
Yet Fourth Master Liu acted unconcerned, even with the mining route restarting tomorrow, sending no extra men.
Even dim-witted Wen San had asked Xiangzi about it several times.
The second-class pullers were restless.
If not for Fourth Master’s authority and Xiangzi and Old Tang’s presence, they’d likely refuse the mining route.
Still, Fourth Master Liu remained unshaken.
This was the mining route—
Harmony Rickshaw Yard’s lifeline
.
What was the old man hiding?
No matter what, Harmony Rickshaw Yard was bracing for a storm.
At dusk, the front courtyard of Harmony Rickshaw Yard lit its kerosene lamps earlier than usual.
Fourth Master Liu sat in his grand chair, no longer his usual calm self, his tiger-like eyes fixed anxiously outside.
After an unknown time, a towering black figure burst into the dark.
Fourth Master’s eyes lit up. “Girl Hu, you’re back?”
The tall figure removed her hood, revealing a tired, dark face, and nodded lightly.
Seeing the faint smile on his daughter’s face, Fourth Master Liu’s heart eased.
Inside, the kerosene lamp flickered.
Girl Hu sat cross-legged on the kang, rubbing her large feet.
Running around the embassy district all day, she’d finally handled her father’s tasks.
But Fourth Master Liu showed little joy, staring into the dark sky outside, puffing on his pipe.
A daughter knows her father. Seeing his look, Girl Hu’s dark face creased. “Old man, the deal’s done.
No backing out now
.”
Fourth Master took a deep drag, his voice heavy through the smoke. “The deal’s set. I’m wondering if we should let Xiangzi take the mining route tomorrow.”
“He might not come back.”
Girl Hu froze, unprepared for her father’s concern—
since when did the old man care about lives
?
Snorting, she stuffed the ledger into the copper cabinet. “What,
addicted to your free accountant
? Can’t let him go?”
Normally, her teasing would earn a sheepish laugh and a dodge.
But today, Fourth Master’s face hardened. “Girl Hu, you tell me—
is there really someone who can go from a rough nobody to a qi-and-blood martial artist in three months
?”
Girl Hu leaned back on the kang. “What’s so strange? You know the embassy district’s noble families do this all the time.”
“Not just qi-and-blood—three to five years of elixirs and ores can churn out an eighth-grade.”
Fourth Master didn’t reply, his mind on Xiangzi’s diligent work these past days.
Not only did he manage the accounts flawlessly, but in just over a month, he’d handled the mining route without a hitch.
Even Ma Liu Rickshaw Yard’s schemes were easily foiled.
In a mere month, this third-class puller’s reputation had nearly rivaled Liu Tang’s!
Fourth Master set down his pipe, sighing softly.
If only it were a few years earlier, he might’ve taken this big guy as an adopted son.
For the first time, this decades-long southern city boss felt regret.
He shouldn’t have made Xiangzi the route leader.
Girl Hu yawned. “Old man, there’s still time till morning. If you’re really regretting it, you can change your mind.”
She paused, drawling, “But if Ma Liu, that old fox, learns Xiangzi’s off the route, he might smell something and not take the bait.”
“And they already agreed—just a few second-class pullers’ lives will do. If you’re really worried, go beg them not to touch Xiangzi.”
Fourth Master’s eyes sharpened, his pipe frozen in hand.
Girl Hu was right. The stage was set—
how could he falter now
?
Those lives, those ores—they were bait to hook Ma Liu.
A few second-class pullers’ lives were one thing, but even if Xiangzi had to be sacrificed, what could Fourth Master Liu do?
The plan was in motion.
Could he, Fourth Master Liu, just call it off
?
“Do it! We’re doing it!” Fourth Master’s voice was iron. “Girl Hu, tomorrow morning, gather all your first-class yard men!”
Girl Hu grinned. “Don’t worry, old man—it’s all set.”
Fourth Master stared into the dark sky, taking a fierce drag on his pipe.
Sparks flew from the pipe, falling to the floor tiles, fading into faint gray smoke.