Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Empress Dowager’s Attendant

Xu Boqing’s mind once again conjured the scene he had glimpsed by chance while exercising in the garden that day. From outward appearance, it was merely an unremarkable young eunuch, yet through the Heavenly Eye technique, he saw a middle-aged man of a larger build. If it was only a change of face, it could be explained, but Cui Feng’s transformation altered even the size of his body—this could no longer be described simply as a disguise technique. It was reminiscent of the Monkey King’s seventy-two transformations, though certainly not on the same level.

Among the relics left behind, the Disguise Technique was the easiest to understand. The Star Absorbing Demon Skill sounded nothing like a proper martial art. The ability to alter one’s body—did it stem from the Bone-Forging and Tendon-Refining Manual?

Xu Boqing hesitated for a moment. Considering that Chief Huang would be instructing him in martial arts come morning, he thought there was no harm in a little advance reading. He walked over and picked up the collection of books, leafing through them one by one.

He first examined the Star Absorbing Demon Skill, which Chief Huang had mentioned earlier. The opening was a narrative full of hostility and bitterness, much like the story Huang had told. The creator of this demonic skill was a scholar who began cultivating martial arts at the age of forty, driven to madness after witnessing the brutal destruction of his family. He became utterly consumed by darkness.

The entire skill revolved around the word “absorb”—the ability to draw out the internal energy of others and make it one’s own! The advantage was that, provided enough energy could be absorbed, one could swiftly ascend to the innate realm; before that vast quantity of power, any bottleneck before the innate realm would be shattered.

Xu Boqing frowned slightly. Though inexperienced in martial arts, he knew that the inner energy cultivated by various methods differed greatly—some were vigorous and yang, some gentle and yin, some balanced, others insidious. No two people in the world were exactly alike, and even those who practiced the same method would achieve vastly different results. Such a heaven-defying method as absorbing another’s energy and making it one’s own must carry enormous hidden risks.

Sure enough…

As he read further into the cultivation methods, it became clear: though this approach enabled rapid progress, the dangers were severe. The manual stated that while the Star Absorbing Demon Skill could absorb another’s energy, it could not resolve the issues of “attribute conflict” and “retention.” Moreover, it easily bred inner demons.

Attribute conflict led to chaotic energy within, causing premature deterioration of the internal organs, shortening one’s lifespan, or, in severe cases, sudden death. As for retention, simply put, one could not utilize all the energy absorbed; if ten units were drawn, only two or three could be kept.

To break through rapidly, one would have to absorb vast amounts of energy from martial artists—who, more often than not, came from good families or belonged to powerful sects. Such actions would quickly provoke widespread outrage. The scholar who invented the Star Absorbing Demon Skill ultimately met his end, besieged and killed.

Xu Boqing’s brow furrowed tightly as he drew in a sharp breath. The scholar who devised this demonic skill was undoubtedly talented; its strengths and weaknesses were stark, and the method was unorthodox. Yet the drawbacks were glaring.

He was about to set aside the two scrolls of the Star Absorbing Demon Skill when his hand paused, as if struck by a sudden thought. The attribute conflict of absorbed energy? He possessed a Pure Yang constitution, with the trait “body like a furnace, all evils repelled.” His body now resembled a furnace—earlier, he had refined the deadly poison Cui Feng used, even absorbing medicinal essences from it.

So… could internal energy be refined as well?

Xu Boqing’s gaze sharpened, and he stroked his chin thoughtfully. He began to memorize the application method and the diagram of internal energy circulation from the Star Absorbing Demon Skill, planning to test it if the opportunity arose.

He shifted his attention to the Bone-Forging and Tendon-Refining Manual, reading through it. Unlike the previous demonic skill, this was a treatise on physical cultivation. The pages were dense with insights.

Cui Feng, known in the martial world as the Thousand-Faced Saint of Thieves, had visited countless sects, borrowing from many methods. This manual was his synthesis of the greatest strengths of those he encountered, allowing one to lighten bones and sinews, move with the grace of a swallow, and, once mastered, greatly enhance the power of both internal and external techniques.

Furthermore, mastery granted slight changes to body size, appearance, and even voice. It was indeed marvelous.

Xu Boqing skimmed the manual’s annotations and observations. Though some terms eluded him, it was clear the manual distilled Cui Feng’s life’s work.

Chief Huang returned and saw Xu Boqing, clad in the imperial flying fish robe, standing by the desk and engrossed in the Bone-Forging and Tendon-Refining Manual. Huang smiled, “You’ve got a good eye, boy.”

“Hm? Chief?” Xu Boqing was startled by the voice, hastily putting down the manual, a touch of embarrassment on his face.

“Well… these are rewards bestowed from above, brought to honor you, but you were absent, so I waited and, out of boredom, started reading. Please forgive me if I’ve overstepped.”

“No harm done.”

Chief Huang glanced at the tray on the desk, noting the eight large gold ingots without much concern. “The manual you’re reading, Bone-Forging and Tendon-Refining, was precisely what I intended to teach you tomorrow.”

“Ah? That one?”

“What, not to your liking?”

“No, no…”

Chief Huang poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and remarked casually, “The Bone-Forging and Tendon-Refining Manual is the main cultivation method of the thief Cui Feng. Though his conduct was contemptible, his talent, foundation, and insight were all exceptional—truly a prodigy in martial arts.

He combined the strengths of famed techniques such as the Tendon-Changing Classic, Bone-Forging Formula, Bone-Shrinking Method, Disguise Technique, and many others from the great sects. His ambition was evident. Most critically, he managed to weave together these methods, not only avoiding failure but actually creating this extraordinary skill.

It’s a physical cultivation method; once mastered, it enhances your foundation and greatly amplifies the power of any other internal or external technique. Were it not for my advanced years and limited energy, I’d have practiced it myself. Consider yourself lucky, boy.”

Xu Boqing feigned shock, drawing in a breath. “To earn such praise from you, Chief, Cui Feng must have been quite the talent.”

“To reach the innate realm, there are no limits.”

Chief Huang shook his head, seeming rather melancholy. After another sip of tea, he glanced again at the gold ingots on the desk and asked offhandedly, “What did His Majesty bestow upon you?”

“A hundred taels of gold; I gave twenty to the messenger eunuch. Imperial flying fish robe—this one I’m wearing. And… a position as attendant to the Empress Dowager.”

His embarrassment stemmed from the fact that the position originally belonged to Chief Huang, but now had fallen to him. Huang’s own post must have been revoked, meaning a loss of stipend.

Chief Huang seemed to sense his thoughts and dismissed them, saying, “Don’t overthink it. Your appointment as attendant to the Empress Dowager was my suggestion. In the days to come, serve her well and see that she suffers no indignity.”

“Ah, well…”