Those Who Plucked Flowers, Those Who Burned the Midnight Oil

Disgusting.

Li Cunxiao struggled to chew the mountain demon's meat and delivered his verdict inwardly.

The meat of fierce beasts might be highly nourishing, but that did not necessarily make it delicious. The same held true for demons.

Even though ginger had been added during cooking, the heavy stench could not be removed. For several moments, Li Cunxiao practically thought he was eating raw meat.

After finally chewing the meat to pulp and swallowing it with a gulp, he immediately rose from the table, assumed a stance, and prepared himself for the double impact of killing intent and blood qi.

More than a dozen breaths later, a familiar heat flowed from his abdomen to his limbs and bones. To his surprise, compared to the violent, surging force that came whenever he had eaten demon meat before, this time its effect was mild and rich. It felt as comfortable as soaking in hot water, rather than being fried in a wok of oil.

The Vajra Scepter showed no reaction at all.

Li Cunxiao breathed steadily and sensed his emotions and thoughts, catching only the faintest trace of irritation.

Because the meat was too disgusting.

"It seemed the Vajra Scepter's demon-subduing did not merely destroy the flesh. It eliminated the killing intent and demonic thoughts along with it."

"If so, then my plan to eat one fish two ways won't work."

As he pondered, Li Cunxiao picked up another piece of demon meat from the other bowl. He could not help feeling somewhat disappointed.

After all, if he could make use of waste, the time needed to accumulate charge would be greatly shortened. Its efficiency might even double outright.

"Without killing intent, only pure blood qi remains. Only pure blood qi?"

The chopsticks he had raised fell back down and tapped against the porcelain bowl. The demon meat rolled back into it.

Pure flesh and blood without killing intent—was that not the finest tonic sought after by the martial artists of this city?

Li Cunxiao's expression became extraordinarily vivid for a moment. Several ways of getting rich flashed through his mind, and the enticing prospects made him lose focus for once.

But in the end, every thought vanished like smoke.

"I'm just a lowly escort now. A child carrying gold through a bustling market—isn't that courting death?"

Having seen that crazed martial artist in the black market, Li Cunxiao knew better than anyone how irresistible demon meat that could be eaten freely without driving one mad or leaving hidden dangers was to a martial artist.

If this news were exposed now, he would instantly become fish on the chopping block. His younger brother Wood Fork might be dragged down with him as well.

Even righteous and forthright Zhang Lishi—could he remain unmoved before such temptation?

Who could guarantee that he would become another's honored guest rather than be controlled by some vile technique and suffer a fate worse than death?

He had not forgotten that the martial artists in this world were a pack of demons.

Li Cunxiao would not gamble the safety of himself and his family on human hearts. Before gaining sufficient strength, he would only use this secret to strengthen himself.

The chaotic age was approaching. Someday in the future, it would surely serve a greater purpose.

Li Cunxiao forcefully exhaled. Sometimes, he truly felt that compared to using his brain, practicing martial arts was far simpler and purer.

Fight when he wanted to fight, kill when he wanted to kill. Even if he trained his head until it became pointed, as long as he had strength, no one would dare look down on him.

But would that not make him no different from a beast?

Shaking his head, he picked up another piece of demon meat and put it into his mouth. Before he could continue contemplating the meaning of life, a long-absent violent emotion erupted into his mind like a volcano, and his expression changed instantly.

The original stuff was this fierce? This pure?

"Damn it!"

With an angry roar, he forcibly assumed the fighting frame of the Tiger Form Eight Styles. His fists and feet tore through the air with whooshing force. Amid the changing sounds of the wind, the Vajra Scepter once again worked in time, wave after wave devouring the killing intent.

For a time, Li Cunxiao felt as though an iceberg lay above his head and a volcano below it. His entire body was caught between ice and fire. Fortunately, he had not eaten much meat. In less than two minutes, the medicinal effect quickly faded.

"Unprocessed demon meat is this potent?"

Li Cunxiao looked at the strips of meat remaining in the first bowl, lingering fear rising in his heart.

He felt that even a timid cuckolded man could turn into an ultra-masculine berserker after eating this meat, let alone martial artists who were already naturally belligerent.

"The Great Clans and the Great Buddhist and Daoist Sects must have better methods of processing it. Perhaps they can reduce the killing intent to an almost negligible level."

"But commoner martial artists have none of that. If they want to practice martial arts, they can only gamble on their willpower and risk consuming this unrefined 'Pure Meat.' The chances of going mad and falling into demonhood increase greatly."

"No wonder rebel armies kill people for food. Those people's minds have probably already been twisted by the killing intent in demon meat."

Thinking of this, Li Cunxiao could not help recalling the escort mission that had been full of mishaps.

Demons survived by eating people, and when breaking through their realms, they craved martial artists' flesh even more. Had the attack on the relay station truly been a coincidence?

Wang Balang had gathered his forces at Iron Horn Mountain for years, only barely behaving himself out of fear of the government army. Now that the various regions were gradually becoming divided powers, was it not only natural for him to expand outward?

On both Escort Missions, the local landlords and powerful clans had been building Fortified Villages and stockpiling grain and medicinal materials. Once war began and trade routes were cut off, what future would the escort agency have?

Meanwhile, grain prices in the city were rising higher and higher, work was becoming increasingly difficult to find, and gangs were growing more rampant. Within and beyond Chu Hill City, a crisis was quietly brewing.

Li Cunxiao grabbed the strips of meat from both bowls and bit down with his stark white teeth, tearing through fibers and membranes. He swallowed this dogshit world into his belly, brewing flames that were about to erupt.

Two or three more days of eating, and he could fill the Vajra Scepter. No matter how the outside world changed, he would do only two things—

Eat meat, practice martial arts!

"Junior brothers and sisters, look. This is my Shen family's Plum Terrace."

"It is still early in the season. When the deep winter months arrive, with emerald bamboo and blazing red plum blossoms reflecting one another, only then can it truly be called a magnificent sight."

Shen He held a wine cup in hand and pointed out the scenery below the pavilion, looking rather proud.

For no other reason than the elegance of these ten acres of land, not even every lineage in the inner city could afford to maintain such a place.

"How interesting. Senior Disciple Shen resembles this garden too—green bamboo yellowing, winter plums not yet blooming. It must be rather hard to endure, no?"

The moment Xiao Mei spoke, Shen He's expression stiffened. He nearly crushed the celadon wine cup in his hand.

Ye Chengxiao was shallow in his schemes. Teased by his beautiful senior sister like this, he nearly laughed aloud.

Even Jiang Qi, who normally had a decent relationship with Shen He, found it hard to hold back his laughter.

"Senior Disciple Shen has run himself ragged for the escort agency and earned great merit through hard work. He should stand tall like green bamboo; he does not need red plum blossoms to set him off."

Seeing this, Zhang Yuelu could only step in to smooth things over. Naturally, she understood what was going on.

Ever since Shen He had returned from the escort mission two days ago, word of Li Cheng's severed arm had spread without wings. The details of the mission itself naturally could not be concealed from Zhang Lishi, the Chief Escort.

Escort Missions looked glamorous only in the eyes of impoverished people who could barely afford to eat. Those who truly worked in the trade knew that injury, disability, and even death were the destined end of men who licked blood from knife edges.

Getting hurt during an escort mission was normal. But if the escort leading the team disregarded the rules, acted wantonly, and created needless complications, then Zhang Lishi, who had built his foundation through blade and spear, could never forgive it.

Thus, although he could not impose any substantive punishment on Shen He for the Shen family's sake, as his master, merely treating his disciple a little more coldly was enough to make him restless with anxiety.

That was precisely why Shen He had specially invited several fellow disciples out today—Ye Chengxiao counted as a fellow disciple in his eyes too; it was merely a question of half a month or a month.

He had invited them to tour the grounds together and deepen their bonds. Most importantly, he wanted to find a way to have Zhang Yuelu, Third Lady, put in a good word for him.

He had simply not expected Xiao Mei to be so cutting, stabbing straight into his lungs the moment she opened her mouth.

Shen He did not wish to lose his composure. Upon hearing this, he naturally revealed a faintly bitter smile and cupped his hands toward Zhang Yuelu.

"I made mistakes on the escort mission and failed Master Zhang's trust. I also let down the brothers traveling with me. I already know my error."

"If Junior Sister finds it convenient, I ask that you say a few good words for me before Master Zhang. This senior brother would be endlessly grateful."

After saying that, he actually seemed about to bow down. Zhang Yuelu hurriedly supported his arm and said a few pleasant words, but inwardly, she grew even more disgusted with Shen He.

Though she possessed a daughter's body, she had always been forthright by nature. She had wisdom and stratagems, yet disliked showing them off before others.

Only those closest to her knew how much Zhang Lishi relied upon his daughter. Outsiders merely believed that Chief Escort Zhang had always spoiled her.

A real man did what he did and bore what he bore. Before Zhang Lishi, Shen He hemmed and hawed, covering up his mistakes. Yet before her, he acted as if he were open and upright, acknowledging his errors and reforming himself.

This kind of fawning ingratiation from Shen He truly displeased her.

Had she known today would turn out like this, she would rather have stayed home to watch Que'er and Wood Fork bicker!

"Senior Disciple Shen's actions this time did not truly count as a major error. After all, the man was saved."

For some reason, Xiao Mei suddenly changed her tune. Yet her next sentence made both Shen He and Ye Chengxiao frown.

"Still, I heard that it was thanks to someone named Li Cunxiao that he was pulled back from a demon's jaws. Otherwise, another household would have had white mourning banners hanging from its doors."

As she spoke, her expression was full of concern, as though she truly worried for others' safety. Jiang Qi, beside her, despised this bitch's hypocritical act the most and sneered.

"Junior Sister Xiao truly has a kind heart. I wonder what this escort's name is? As Master's disciples, we ought to set an example and pay him a visit, should we not?"

"Ah, I was so occupied with my own grief that I forgot about that."

Xiao Mei lightly turned her head. Through the gauzy shawl she had carelessly drawn up, Ye Chengxiao could not see her expression. He saw only wrists white as frost and snow, crimson makeup at the corners of her eyes, and felt his heart grow hot.

"Senior Sister is indeed kindhearted. But compensating an escort is naturally the escort agency's matter. It would not be proper for disciples of the sect to overstep and act in their place."

"As for saving one's companions, that is simply one's duty. That Li Cunxiao... not bad."

Though he said it lightly, Ye Chengxiao felt somewhat displeased. Li Cunxiao's name had frequently appeared among the escorts these past two days, even overshadowing the news that he, a genius who had received the Chief Escort's true teachings, had emerged.

At today's gathering of fellow disciples, even Senior Sister Xiao kept mentioning this Li Sanlang. With the temperament of youth, he could not help feeling somewhat jealous.

Shen He had no particular issue with Li Cunxiao. In fact, the other man had prevented anyone from dying on this escort mission, preserving his dignity. He ought to be thankful.

But had he not already given him a jade pendant?

Today's purpose was to have Zhang Yuelu plead for him. It was enough to joke about those minor characters; they should not delay his important business.

"We fellow disciples are out enjoying a gathering. Why keep bringing up outsiders? Come, everyone, let me show you around Jade Bamboo Residence again. My great-grandfather built it when he served as county commandant."

"Back then, famine was everywhere throughout Song Prefecture, and the people of Chu Hill could barely survive as well. My great-grandfather was kindhearted. He bought this land and had the local villagers construct the estate on site, providing Work Relief."

Though Zhang Yuelu appeared to be listening to Shen He endlessly recounting his family's rise, her thoughts had already drifted to Li Cunxiao, whom everyone had just mentioned.

Everything this man had done showed loyalty, righteousness, and courage. If his talent were a little better, perhaps he could become her father's right-hand man in the future.

She could not help shaking her head with a smile.

Unaware of the reason, Shen He thought his story had amused her and stirred the maiden's heart. He spoke with even greater enthusiasm—though his main purpose was to seek favor, Third Lady had not married yet. He should still have a chance, should he not?

Zhang Yuelu came back to herself, glanced at Ye Chengxiao, who kept finding chances to speak with Xiao Mei nearby, and silently sighed.

It took me two and a half years from beginning martial arts to reaching Blood Qi Perfection. That speed is only about the same as Shen He's and Jiang Qi's.

Though Ye Chengxiao is not very bright, he is blessed with extraordinary talent. He reached Blood Qi Perfection in less than a year. Father taking him in as a disciple is practically a foregone conclusion.

Li Cunxiao's talent cannot possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with Ye Chengxiao's. At the very least, he would need three years, perhaps four, before reaching Blood Qi Perfection.

But the world is growing more chaotic by the day. The inner-city lineages and our escort agency are openly and secretly fighting. By the time three or four years pass...

Zhang Yuelu endured the morning with complicated feelings. Considering all these matters, even the finest delicacies tasted like wax in her mouth.

When dusk approached, she took her leave first and returned by carriage.

Jiang Qi and the others had enjoyed themselves quite thoroughly. After all, as a great clan of Chu Hill, the Shen family's treasury was filled with a dazzling array of rare treasures. Shen He was eager to show them off, and for a time, host and guests were all delighted.

Not until the night watch drum sounded at the first quarter of the hour of the dog did everyone return to their respective homes.

Watching Ye Chengxiao ride away in Xiao Mei's carriage, the drunkenness gradually faded from Shen He's face until it became completely expressionless.

"Is Senior Disciple Shen drunk?"

Jiang Qi watched the carriage disappear as well. Without waiting for an answer, he continued on his own.

"I think Junior Disciple Ye is the one who is truly drunk. That bitch Xiao Mei..."

Shen He flicked his sleeve and interrupted him.

"When one is young, one longs for one's parents; when one learns of beauty, one longs for young maidens. Junior Disciple Ye's first stirrings of love have begun. Junior Sister Xiao is gorgeous as a peony. Finding it hard to restrain himself is only human nature."

"Yet though the peony is splendid, a beauty among flowers, it is not an autumn bloom."

"If the one who plucks flowers cannot see the bleak killing frost of autumn wind, then I fear... he will take a fall."

"Finally, finally, I've filled the Vajra Scepter again."

Li Cunxiao visualized the precious scepter radiating golden light in his mind. He was filled with accomplishment, but his stomach could not help churning with nausea.

These past few days, he had eaten so much demon meat that he was nearly sick of it.

To accumulate killing intent as quickly as possible, Li Cunxiao had not eaten ordinary meals at all these past few days. Three meals a day, nothing but demon meat. He had raised his intake from half a pound daily to nearly a full pound.

Yet even a pound of demon meat, which did not look like much, was still a great tonic for blood qi once it entered his belly.

If he did not practice his fists to burn off that energy, the spear beneath him could stand erect all day long.

Fortunately, this time he had gained several days of leave after returning from the escort mission. Otherwise, Li Cunxiao truly would not know how to face anyone.

Thankfully, all hardship had its reward.

Vajra Scepter, it is time to show me your strength once more!

Li Cunxiao steadied his heart and gathered his focus, preparing to press on in one burst. At that moment, an excited shout came from outside the room.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!"

Wood Fork?

Li Cunxiao's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly put away the demon meat on the table, afraid that his younger brother might accidentally eat it and have his mind ruined by killing intent at such a young age.

Wood Fork: Big Brother, why is your head pointy?

The door was knocked twice with a thump, thump. Only after his brother's voice sounded from within did Wood Fork push it open.

Without another word, he pulled out a small bag of candied preserved meat and stuffed it into his big brother's mouth.

As he stuffed it in, he chattered away about what he had done over the past few days, then peppered Li Cunxiao with questions about his escort mission.

When Li Cunxiao truly could not eat another bite, Wood Fork finally stretched out his little hand. Chewing dried meat, he seemed to remember something and said.

"...Oh, right. Today, I heard the older sisters in the residence saying that someone named Ye Chengxiao had his hand cut off."

"Big Brother, who is Ye Chengxiao? Do you know him?"