Chapter 10: Giving Everything Freely

"Madam Boss, what are you doing in my room?" Qin Zhiyong asked

Later, Qin will take his time to organize and focus on his research

Lu Xiaochuan let out a cold snort, remaining silent, clearly dissatisfied with Qin Zhiyong's proposal to join the Eastern Depot

Qin Zhiyong walked out of the room

Losing one's way internally is the most terrifying thing

The beginning of everything is difficult

Qiu Moyan said: "Qin Zhiyong, you are right. My situation is extremely perilous. If I die, all my martial arts will be buried with me, which would be a great pity. Leaving a legacy of my martial arts in the world is not a bad thing. If you have any questions, just ask. I will answer without reservation."

Qin Zhiyong's words are quite reasonable; he neither flatters the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei nor disparages them as a den of evil.

If you cannot win, then retreat

Jia Ting and Cao Tian provided more answers to Qin Zhiyong's questions, while Lu Xiaochuan spoke the least. Sometimes, a single sentence from them could enlighten Qin Zhiyong.

Qin Zhiyong clasped his fists and bowed to the three individuals

Being with a beauty like Qiu Mo Yan and recording her martial arts insights is a wonderful experience

Learning martial arts is the same; as long as there is a beginning, the subsequent matters will be easier to handle

Qin Zhiyong practiced calligraphy for more than half a month. His writing is average, truly very average, and one could even say it is quite poor. However, he writes each stroke with great care. The characters are relatively neat.

Jia Ting believed that if he did not join the Eastern Depot, Qin Zhiyong would be doomed. Qin Zhiyong was a remarkable individual, and it would be a great loss if he were to die. For this reason, Jia Ting decided to accept Qin Zhiyong's request for guidance and generously shared all his knowledge regarding martial arts.

Qin Zhiyong was taken aback, as he did not expect that Jia Ting would invite him to join the Eastern Depot

Lacking wealth and power is not frightening

Fortunately, Qin Zhiyong has already set his ambitions, having a clear goal in mind, knowing what he wants to accomplish in his lifetime. Unfortunately, his state of mind is still insufficient; he has not yet reached the level of "determination" as defined by Confucianism.

However, within the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei, there are also a few individuals who, relying on their power, commit wrongful acts, eliminate rivals, and plot against loyal officials. This has led to misunderstandings about the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei among the people of the world

Qiu Moyan nodded and escorted Qin Zhiyong out of the guest room

Every word they spoke was written down by Qin Zhiyong on paper

Qin Zhiyong said: "While others speak of the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei with fear, I hold no prejudice against them. The Emperor established the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei to oversee the officials of the realm, which is certainly reasonable. Among the officials in the world, few are truly clean; without the supervision of the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei, one cannot imagine how those with ulterior motives would harm the common people."

Of course, this is an illusion

Sometimes, it is often that little insight that is the most valuable thing

What he knows are merely some martial arts theories and the experiences of others in martial arts. However, these theories and experiences may not necessarily be correct, nor may they be suitable for him, Qin Zhiyong

Human emotions often change three times a day. In the morning and at noon, a person's thoughts differ, and from noon to evening, a person's thoughts change again

Once the state of the mind regresses, it will become very troublesome. All cultivation will reset to zero. If one wishes to cultivate again, one can only start from the beginning

With a platform, it is certainly more convenient to get things done. However, if one's mindset is not strong enough, it can be influenced by the organization, and one may even forget their original intention, becoming swept along by the tide. In such a case, a person becomes ineffective

In the Eastern Depot's arsenal, many martial arts manuals have been collected. Jia Ting and the others can directly go to the arsenal to choose any martial art they wish to learn. Therefore, they do not regard their own martial arts as particularly important

"Join the Eastern Depot?" Qin Zhiyong said, "I cannot make a decision at this moment. Let us wait until we leave the Dragon Gate Inn and return to the Ming Dynasty before discussing it further. Young man, I take my leave."

Qin Zhiyong returned to Room 18 and saw Jin Xiangyu sitting on a stool in the room

"Brother Qin, if only everyone in the world could view the Eastern Depot as rationally as you do," Jia Ting said. "To be honest, the three of us are officials of the Eastern Depot. We have come to the Dragon Gate Inn to capture the rebels against the court. I have said before that you are a talented individual, so why not join us in the Eastern Depot?"

Jia Ting suddenly said: "Brother Qin, you are a talented individual. What is your opinion on the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei?"

Qiu Mo Yan gave a wry smile

Qin Zhiyong, this "martial arts master," may only be good at theoretical discussions. When it comes to actual combat, he is sure to reveal his true colors and be exposed immediately

Qin Zhiyong carefully gathered the papers and said, "Thank you, esteemed seniors, for your enlightening guidance. At this moment, I finally have a deeper understanding of martial arts."

Qin Zhiyong asked a question in a casual manner, almost like chatting. The atmosphere was quite relaxed. This conversation lasted for more than an hour.

Qin Zhiyong said: "Joining the Eastern Depot? The Eastern Depot is not a good organization. The people inside have physical defects and their thoughts are rather dark. My current state of mind is still insufficient; I have not even reached the Confucian state of 'Ding'. If I were to enter the Eastern Depot, it wouldn't be long before I fear I would become complicit with those eunuchs."

Jia Ting said: "Qin Zhiyong is a true scholar. He is different from other scholars. If he were afraid of the Eastern Depot, I would not invite him to join. Given our Supervisor's temperament, the proprietress and staff of the Dragon Gate Inn, as well as Zhou Huai'an and his group, would likely not survive. Serving the Eastern Depot is the only way for Qin Zhiyong to stay alive. When the time comes, I believe he will make the right choice."

Having acquired the martial arts experience of Jia Ting and Qiu Mo Yan, Qin Zhi Yong immediately felt as though he had become a master of martial arts

Qiu Mo Yan and Jia Ting are different from others. She is a true heroine of the martial world, valuing martial arts and skills more than life itself. It is extremely difficult for martial arts in the world to be passed down through generations

Qin Zhiyong finished recording Qiu Moyan's martial arts insights and clasped his fists, saying: "Heroine Qiu, I hope we can all leave the Dragon Gate Inn and return to the Ming Dynasty alive. I take my leave now"

Jia Ting, Cao Tian, and Lu Xiaochuan all believe in Qin Zhiyong, considering that he indeed holds no bias against the Eastern Depot

It is quite difficult to seek guidance in martial arts from Qiu Mo Yan

Cao Tian sneered, "This kid Qin Zhiyong really does not know what is good for him. The Eastern Factory invited him, which was a favor to him. How dare he refuse? This is truly outrageous. Just now, I really wished I could kill him with a single blow"

The last question has been recorded

There were even fewer scholars among the Jinyiwei.

Qin Zhiyong had no other choice but to persuade her with sincerity. In the end, Qiu Moyan felt Qin Zhiyong's genuine heart and was convinced by him

Martial arts are no different in this regard

Having read the Confucian classics, I have come to understand these principles. Qin Zhiyong would not join the Eastern Factory. At least, he will not join the Eastern Factory at this moment

The insights and experiences recorded by Qin Zhiyong are quite scattered, and some statements are logically somewhat disordered, lacking coherence. After all, the martial arts experiences of three individuals will certainly not be completely identical. It is a normal phenomenon to find contradictions among them

Jin Xiangyu stared at the paper filled with writing in Qin Zhiyong's hand and said: "Having nothing to do, I came over to take a look. Qin Zhiyong, you are truly different from ordinary people. No matter who you meet, you always seek their advice. You haven't been killed, and yet you have succeeded. Your reputation is indeed quite substantial. So, have you obtained the martial arts manuals of the four top masters? Do you still need my martial arts and hidden weapon techniques?"

When Qin Zhiyong had any doubts in his mind, he boldly brought them up. He was not afraid of the three experts from the Eastern Depot harboring private intentions; after all, what if they could help him resolve his confusion

Whether in the martial world or the court, strength is what truly matters, and one cannot place hope in the miracles that one wishes for. In any case, Qiu Mo Yan does not believe that miracles will occur

No matter what organization, it is merely a platform

She embodies a graceful and ethereal style, with both her swordsmanship and lightness of movement reaching the pinnacle of "lightness".

Qiu Mo Yan's understanding of martial arts is different from that of Jia Ting and the others

If one reaches the state of 'stillness', then one can remain unmoved like a mountain, with a steadfast mind, faithfully adhering to the path within. Joining any organization will not pose any issues

Just like reading, some people read a book dozens of times but still cannot remember its content. However, the sages of the past have summarized their insights on reading. One must engage the heart, mouth, and eyes, and maintain focus; only then can one truly immerse oneself in reading

Qin Zhiyong said: "Thank you, heroine. However, the situation has not yet reached its worst point. Even if we truly find ourselves in a desperate situation, we should not give up hope. Perhaps, in the next moment, a miracle will occur"

The majority of those in the Eastern Depot are eunuchs and martial men. Scholars would not enter the Eastern Depot. This results in the Eastern Depot being unaware of the gravity of their actions and lacking a sense of proportion

Jin Xiangyu provided the foundational internal skills, which Qin Zhiyong had already memorized, but he had yet to cultivate his internal energy. The questions Qin Zhiyong asked were not about profound internal skill techniques, but rather their insights into martial arts.

Qin Zhiyong's tone is gentle, his gaze is pure, and his manners are impeccable. Even someone as dark-minded as Lu Xiaochuan would not harbor any dislike towards him

If one reaches such a state, achieving "photographic memory" is not an impossible task

The principles of the world are all interconnected

Only by keeping the heart "steady" can one, at any time and in any place, remain true to one's original intention and steadily explore the "path" within one's heart

It is very difficult to maintain a peaceful state of mind

This is the survival rule of the people in the martial arts world

Qin Zhiyong said: "There are no martial arts manuals. I merely sought advice from a few martial arts seniors regarding their cultivation insights. It is not due to my influence, but rather because they regarded me as a dying person. Anyone, when faced with someone on the brink of death, will harbor a bit of kindness. Madam, if you could generously share your martial arts insights, I would be immensely grateful"

... ...

Qin Zhiyong's ability to successfully seek guidance on martial arts from Jia Ting and Qiu Mo Yan is attributed to various factors of "favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious relationships." If the living environment were to change, without the despairing external conditions, and if the mindset of the individuals did not change, Qin Zhiyong's attempt to seek martial arts knowledge would undoubtedly not succeed

... ...

Qin Zhiyong walked to Qiu Moyan's room and knocked on the door. He still wanted to seek Qiu Moyan's guidance on martial arts