Dugong

Chapter 4 Preaching and Learning
Chenshi.

Eunuch Zhou walked into the Neiwu Hall on time, and just like yesterday, he led the young eunuchs in reciting the Lotus Sutra several times.

Afterwards, he sent everyone away to study on their own, and only took his godson Xiao Guizi away to give private lessons.

Li Pingan felt a bit dissatisfied and jealous, and couldn't help but complain, "Eunuch Xu's beatings hurt, but he was serious about teaching the rules. Why is Eunuch Zhou teaching internal skills so... casual?"

I wanted to say "perfunctory", but when I thought of Eunuch Zhou's hawk-like eyes, I changed my words when the words were on the tip of my tongue.

Xiao Rongzi glanced at him and sneered, "How do you think we should teach him?"

Li Pingan frowned and said, "At least you should explain what 'silence' means, where the Ren meridian is, and what the jade pillow is... I don't know anything about this, so how can I practice internal energy?"

Xiao Rongzi shrugged: "If you can't practice it, then you can't practice it. Anyway, it won't affect your emptying the night incense, cleaning the toilet, and it won't affect your poison and drug testing."

"If we want to go to the Imperial Kitchen, we must master the inner strength!"

Li Ping'an had already found out that the Shangshenjian was of middle and lower status among the twelve academies. Although he had few opportunities to meet the emperor, his salary was very high.

Even a little leakage from the imperial kitchen would be enough to keep the people below well-fed.

When the assignments were assigned half a year later, Li Ping'an wanted to go to the Shangshenjian, and his strength had to be at least in the middle among the eunuchs of the same period.

"You are quite self-aware."

Xiao Rongzi rolled his eyes and said, "There are two paths before you. One is to practice by yourself through self-comprehension and exploration, and the other is to find a godfather to guide you!"

Li Pingan's heart tightened: "What will happen if I comprehend and practice incorrectly?"

Xiao Rongzi said sinisterly, "Of course it's the reversal of true energy that leads to demonic possession. At the very least, all martial arts skills will be lost, and at the worst, meridians will be severed and death will occur!"

Li Pingan was horrified: "Someone else will die? Won't the Eunuchs investigate?"

"What are you pursuing?"

Xiao Rongzi said disdainfully, "Who cares if a nobody like you dies? Who'll pursue the matter? It's just a matter of buying a few more. There are so many refugees and poor people out there. A few white flour buns can be exchanged for one!"

Li Pingan didn't know how to refute because what Xiao Rongzi said was true.

During the drought in Wannian County this year, even a coarse flour bun, let alone a white flour bun, could bring someone home to be a child bride, a toy, a slave, or even an animal…

Li Pingan was silent for a while, then asked, "Eunuch Rong, aren't you afraid of making mistakes?"

"Our family is different from yours."

Little Rongzi raised his chin and said proudly, "My child knew a thousand words at the age of four, recited Tang poetry at the age of six, was familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics at the age of eight, and was proficient in poetry and songs at the age of ten..."

Li Pingan continued, "I entered the palace to become a eunuch at the age of thirteen!"

"..."

Xiao Rongzi's face froze, and he looked a little embarrassed. "I've already mastered the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Zhoutian Acupuncture Points. How could I have practiced them wrong?"

Li Ping'an's eyes lit up: "Could Eunuch Rong give me some advice?"

"You're just offering some free flattery, and I'm teaching you to read. That's barely an equal trade."

Xiao Rongzi said coldly, "As for teaching me the secrets of the martial arts, I've already taught you the truth. Do you think you can repay me? If you can't repay me, don't say anything, lest we hurt each other's feelings, even though we don't have much affection for each other."

Li Ping'an's face looked a little ugly. He had been planning to ask Xiao Zhongzi for advice, but after hearing this, it was obviously a fantasy.

It’s best not to speak until you have figured out how to repay the favor!
Seeing Li Ping'an suffer a defeat, Xiao Rongzi felt quite proud in his heart. He had easily won back a game, and the country boy still wanted to play the trick of "taking advantage of the situation to suppress others".

Eunuchs are so petty that they will return the things on the spot when there is a gap and will never leave them overnight.

Xiao Rongzi said, "Don't be discouraged, Xiao Anzi. Actually, there is a shortcut for you to learn internal skills. As long as you are willing to endure hardships!"

Li Pingan quickly asked for advice: "My family is not afraid of hardship, please give me some advice, Eunuch Rong."

Xiao Rongzi looked around and said in a low voice, "We heard that Eunuch Zhou has had many adopted sons, and all of them are like you, with square faces and broad frames."

Li Ping'an had been starving for a long time, his face pale and skinny, but he was naturally tall and broad-shouldered. If he ate well and drank well for a while, he would become strong and sturdy. "Really?"

"Absolutely true!"

Li Ping'an couldn't help but feel excited. If he could have Eunuch Zhou as his godfather, not to mention that he would have a place to practice martial arts, working in the imperial kitchen would not be a big deal.

According to Xiao Zhongzi, there are two types of eunuchs: those with godfathers and those without.

The former is majestic, has a good job and gets promoted quickly, while the latter is timid and can only do hard, tiring and dirty work.

"Tomorrow I'll try to get close to Xiao Guizi and flatter her. We might become sworn brothers in the future..."

Li Ping'an was thinking about how to become his godfather, and he kept sketching with his hands. He finished copying the "Lotus Sutra" near noon.

The handwriting is of different sizes and crooked.

Xiao Rongzi sarcastically said that if you sprinkled some rice on the paper, the words that a chicken would peck out would be better than what he wrote.

in the afternoon.

Li Pingan went to learn the rules.

Yesterday we learned how to stand on duty, and today we learned how to kneel and kowtow.

Eunuch Xu demonstrated it himself by kneeling straight down with his legs together, knees bent, and then lowering his upper body until his forehead touched the ground.

Boom!
There was a crisp sound on the ground, and when Eunuch Xu looked up again, his forehead was already flushed red.

"You must study carefully, not missing a single detail. You must not only learn it but also master it. If you make a mistake one day, this skill of kowtow can save your life!"

Eunuch Xu did not wipe the dust off his knees and forehead, but sat back in the armchair.

That is not dirt, but a mark of courtesy, humility and sincerity.

You cannot wipe it off in front of anyone. If your mortal enemy uses it to spread rumors, you will be accused of being "rude" and "impolite", and you will have no place to cry.

Li Ping'an imitated Eunuch Xu's movements, but when he knelt down, he found it difficult to close his legs completely, and they naturally opened apart.

Snapped!
A soybean hit Li Ping'an's calf, leaving a purple blood mark.

Li Ping'an gritted his teeth, stood up and then knelt down again, but his two legs did not land on the ground at the same time, and he was hit by a soybean again.

Eunuch Xu was not targeting Li Ping'an, but was punishing all the eunuchs who had incorrect postures and did not kowtow with enough force.

The soybeans in his hands were poured out like raindrops, dozens or even hundreds of them were thrown out, the force did not weaken at all, and the number did not decrease at all.

This kind of hidden weapon technique of raining flowers all over the sky is considered the best in the martial arts world!
Eunuch Xu said, "Kowtow is the skill that keeps us in the land. We rely on it for our livelihood. If you don't learn it now, you will regret it in the future!"

Upon hearing this, the young eunuchs kowtowed even more vigorously.

They don't understand what brainwashing and mental control are. Even though they were severely beaten by Eunuch Xu, they not only do not hate him, but instead think he is a kind man.

This is what Li Ping'an did. He endured the numbness in his knees and the pain in his forehead and kept repeating the kneeling action.

His knees were scraped and his forehead was bleeding, but he was completely unaware.

His face was numb and stiff, his eyes were empty and lifeless, just like a puppet, but his kowtow movements became more and more continuous and standardized.

After knocking their heads for half an hour, Eunuch Xu finally called for a stop, but he did not let the eunuchs rest. Instead, they were required to stand in a proper manner with their heads bowed and their chests hunched.

Whoever stands unsteadily will be hit by a soybean.

Li Ping'an hit his forehead and when he was standing in line, blood flowed down his cheek, looking horrible.

Eunuch Xu did not allow the blood to be wiped off, saying that the more miserable the knocking, the more it would allow the nobleman to vent his anger and would also make the nobleman feel pity.

"In times of crisis, a little mercy from you is our lifeline!"

(End of this chapter)