Chapter 19: Initiation into Channeling, The Day of Assessment Arrives

The Governing Vessel of the human body contains a total of twenty-eight acupoints. Shanglu’s vital energy, bolstered by the blessing of the Spleen Spirit in the Five Viscera Temple, surged forward like a battering ram, breaking through twenty-four of them in succession. Yet just as Shanglu was poised to press on and open the remaining four acupoints, aspiring to connect both the Conception and Governing Vessels, his vital energy was halted before the Life Gate.

Anxious, Shanglu summoned all his strength, urging his energy to break through the Life Gate acupoint, but to little avail. The Life Gate seemed an insurmountable dam, a celestial threshold impossible to cross. He tried time and again, but nothing could breach it. Instead, the excessive consumption of his energy left him weary, the momentum of his breakthrough faltering.

“It seems today I won’t be able to connect the Conception and Governing Vessels, nor advance to the Meridian Connection stage,” Shanglu thought, filled with regret. He was about to end his attempt, planning to try again once his energy recovered—lest he overextend, wasting his vitality and risking injury to his meridians and organs.

But just as he was about to withdraw his energy, a leaf drifted down and landed upon the Life Gate at his waist.

“Hiss—” Shanglu shuddered from head to toe.

The leaf appeared ordinary, yet it was piercingly cold. This chill seeped into his Life Gate, entwining itself with his vital energy. To Shanglu’s surprise, his exhausted, faltering energy was not suppressed or weakened by this cold. Instead, the chill invigorated him—the fatigue vanished, his momentum restored. It was as if he had been injected with pure adrenaline; his energy burned hot and powerful once more!

At the same moment, the Spleen Spirit statue in the Five Viscera Temple radiated golden light in response.

Boom—

With the help of Third Lady and the blessing of the Spleen Spirit, Shanglu’s energy broke through the Life Gate without obstruction. In one surge, it swept downwards, opening the remaining acupoints—Lumbar Yang Pass, Lumbar Shu, and Long Strength—one after another, before finally returning to the Conception Vessel.

Thus, the Conception and Governing Vessels were connected. Shanglu’s vital energy now circulated endlessly through the fifty-two acupoints of the two meridians, perpetually renewing itself.

“Haha, it’s done! The Conception and Governing Vessels are connected—I have entered the Meridian Connection stage!”

Feeling the surge of energy and strength within him, Shanglu was beside himself with excitement. Only a few months ago, he had crossed into this world, a useless invalid lying in a coffin. Now he had stepped into the Meridian Connection stage—and through such a dramatic turn!

Could it be true that when man and woman work together, all things harmonize, and nothing is burdensome? Frankly, having a cheat like this felt wonderful.

Shanglu suddenly recalled that, according to the laws of Ba State, entering the Meridian Connection stage qualified him to be promoted as leader in the third squad of the county office—provided there was an opening, of course.

Amid his excitement, Shanglu did not forget that his breakthrough owed much to Third Lady, who, at the critical moment, used a leaf to stimulate him, unlocking his energy’s potential. Without that jolt, breaking through the Conception and Governing Vessels and entering the Meridian Connection stage might have been a long wait.

“Third Lady, thank you,” Shanglu said, seeking the blood-red figure beneath the shade of the trees and opening his arms with a smile, “Come, let me give you a hug.”

To his delight, Third Lady floated over and nestled into his embrace. Shanglu was ecstatic, but as soon as she was in his arms, he felt as if he were clutching a block of ice—so cold it made him grimace.

Even so, he did not let go. Though Third Lady was beautiful and chilling, she was also fragrant and soft, and Shanglu could not bear to release her. Fortunately, after soaking in cold baths day after day, he had built up a resistance to the yin chill, and managed to endure.

Boldly, Shanglu lowered his head, peering at the indistinct figure in his arms, and ventured, “Third Lady, shall we celebrate with a kiss?”

Without waiting for her refusal, Shanglu puckered up and pressed his lips forward.

Instead, what met his mouth was dry, hard, and rough—like biting into wood, utterly devoid of the sweetness and softness he had imagined.

“Hmm?” Shanglu looked closely and finally realized Third Lady had slipped away at some point. What he held and kissed was only a block of wood—a wooden training dummy he used for martial practice.

Ever since Third Lady began helping him spar, the dummy had been retired to a corner of the courtyard. Unexpectedly, it had “ambushed” him at this moment.

“Pah, pah, pah.” Whether it was an illusion or not, the dummy had no face, yet Shanglu could sense it was mocking him.

He shoved the dummy aside, wiped his mouth, and turned to search for Third Lady in the courtyard.

She was hiding in a distant shadow—just a blood-red silhouette, her face invisible, but Shanglu could clearly sense her laughter. She was genuinely amused, her shadow swaying with joy.

Seeing her so happy, Shanglu’s own spirits rose. Yet he feigned grievance: “I am your husband, and still I can’t even kiss you?”

Third Lady drifted over and gave him a consoling hug.

This time, Shanglu was no longer impatient. He did not wish to let the dummy steal another moment.

Faintly, Shanglu heard Third Lady’s gentle, indistinct voice whisper in his ear.

“The veil has not yet been lifted.”

“Alright,” Shanglu sighed.

It seemed that until the veil was removed, he would neither see Third Lady’s face nor kiss her. He swore through gritted teeth, “Sooner or later, I’ll lift that veil and kiss you to my heart’s content!”

His ferocious expression and tone made it seem as if he were not merely lifting a veil, but waging war upon it.

“Pop.”

Shanglu’s head was lightly tapped by Third Lady.

In the days that followed, Shanglu devoted himself to consolidating his cultivation, not rushing to attack other meridians. His energy was barely sufficient to connect the Conception and Governing Vessels; further attempts would be fruitless, wasting energy and risking harm.

Soon, the day of the merit assessment arrived.

That morning, Shanglu rose early. As usual, after eating his meal of bloody meat paste, he practiced the Five Beast Vitality Technique. Once he absorbed the refined essence from the Spleen Spirit, he did not continue with the Bone-Slicing Blade, but instead took a cold bath and changed into his constable’s uniform.

The tattered uniform, carefully mended by Third Lady, was now as good as new, with no sign of its previous damage. Her skill with needle and thread was clearly of the highest order.

Just as Shanglu finished preparing, he heard Du Feng’s voice calling from outside the courtyard wall:

“Chief Lu, Chief Lu, it’s time to head out!”

The voice sounded distant—Du Feng must have been shouting from the entrance to the alley.

“Coming!” Shanglu shouted back, then turned to the blood-red shadow in the courtyard, saying, “I’m off—wait for me to return and celebrate.”

Third Lady nodded.

Then Shanglu heard her gentle, indistinct voice: “With me at home, you need not worry.”

“Haha, I never worry.”

Without another thought, Shanglu laughed in reply, pushed open the door, and stepped out into the street.

Looking up, he saw Du Feng indeed standing far off at the mouth of the alley. Not only was he standing at a distance, but he was peering around as if ready to bolt at any moment.