"Come, let us drain this cup to celebrate Junior Sister Zhang's breakthrough!"
At Zui Chun Lou, Shen He, Zhang Yuelu, Jiang Qi, Xiao Mei, Ye Chengxiao, and the others sat around a pearwood round table lacquered black and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, raising their cups in celebration.
"This time, Senior Disciple Shen has gone to great expense." Though Zhang Yuelu was the guest of honor today, there was not much joy on her face.
Shen He thought it was because Senior Disciple Shi Tie and Feng Sheng were absent, making things feel sparse, so he changed the subject.
"What are you being polite for? Does the bow I gave you work well enough?"
"Senior Disciple truly put thought into finding those two bows. But I am not fond of hunting, and one is already enough. It would be a pity to leave the other sitting idle."
"How could it sit idle?" Shen He said meaningfully.
"If Junior Disciple Ye can break through soon, perhaps Junior Sister Zhang would be willing to grant him the other one?"
As soon as those somewhat ambiguous words were spoken, the expressions of everyone at the table turned subtle.
"Senior Disciple Shen thinks too highly of me. The Muscle Realm is fraught with danger. I have only received the method a few days ago; how could I dare boast so brazenly here?"
"Senior Sister Zhang, on the other hand, patiently tempered herself until she struck the final blow. That is the example I should learn from."
Hm?
Everyone looked at Ye Chengxiao in surprise, seemingly never expecting these words from a young genius who had always held his head high above the rest.
Yet as Ye Chengxiao spoke, he could not help looking toward Xiao Mei. Their gazes met, and tenderness flashed between their brows.
Before the incident, Ye Chengxiao had also believed there were no outstanding heroes in Chuqiu City, carrying himself as though no one else mattered.
But that attack had jolted him awake. Only then did eyes blinded by arrogance see the hostility lurking within the Ye Family.
He had originally suspected Xiao Mei as well, but when she came to visit him, she not only did not mock him, but instead urged him to work hard and pull himself together. All the doubts in his heart vanished at once.
Now, looking again at these fellow disciples, Ye Chengxiao instead felt a measure of disdain for some of Shen He's actions.
Whether scheming through social connections or currying favor with Zhang Yuelu, what use was any of it?
No matter how many obstacles lay on the martial path, no matter how vicious the petty men, as long as one was strong enough, none of it was worth fearing.
By the same token, so long as he broke through the Muscle Realm faster, even if he came from a collateral branch, would Junior Sister Zhang dare look down on him? Perhaps she might even help him hold his ground within the Ye Family.
At that time, let alone a bow, even marrying Zhang Yuelu would be only natural. Still, Senior Sister Xiao was already in his heart.
Watching Ye Chengxiao and Xiao Mei trade amorous glances, Zhang Yuelu was truly at a loss for words.
She had thought that after suffering a setback and realizing his precarious position in the Ye Family, he ought to have kept a low profile and diligently cultivated.
Instead, his brain had grown in his lower half. What a waste of such talent.
"In this regard, Li Sanlang is far better than Ye Chengxiao."
After three rounds of wine, Shen He and the others' conversation became increasingly unrestrained. They spoke of this year's Autumn Hunt, saying that if Junior Disciple Ye could break through early and fight shoulder to shoulder with Junior Sister Zhang, they would surely overpower all the heroes.
Ye Chengxiao truly could not change his nature. After drinking too much, his wild arrogance surfaced again. Though he made a show of modestly declining, his fanciful thoughts made it clear that he regarded the Muscle Realm as something already in the bag.
After enduring until the banquet finally ended, Zhang Yuelu was the first to take her leave.
Once Ye Chengxiao had also departed in Xiao Mei's carriage, Jiang Qi could not help asking Shen He,
"Do you think Ye Chengxiao has seen through it?"
"Junior Disciple Ye is devoted to martial arts, so he is inevitably naive in worldly dealings. Do not gloat either. The Ye Family gaining another genius from a collateral branch is a good thing for our families."
Jiang Qi naturally understood that as well.
"Xiao Mei has delayed making her move because she likely wants to use the pure yang of the Muscle and Tendon Realm to break through her bottleneck."
"Fortunately, Junior Disciple Ye is from a collateral branch, and his lineage inheritance is incomplete. It does not matter if he loses his virginity. At most, it will delay him by a month or two. With his cultivation, if he knows shame and rises all the fiercer for it, perhaps his achievements will surpass what they would have been now."
Shen He nodded in agreement.
He was a man as well. He knew that when the little head controlled the big head, no amount of talking would help. The other party had to suffer a little first.
"Once he has suffered a loss, he will naturally understand who is a friend and who is an enemy."
"With such a genius standing on our side, whether it is the escort agency or Junior Sister Zhang, they will have to give greater consideration to the wishes of our families in the future."
Xiao Mei reclined languidly in the carriage, soft, vivid silk cushions beneath her highlighting her fair, creamy skin and full, swelling curves.
Even her personal maid did not dare look too much at such a fragrant, alluring sight.
"With just a small trick from you, my lady, Ye Chengxiao was played in the palm of your hand. And here he is, famous far and wide."
Xiao Mei smiled. "You think he is foolish?"
"He knows full well that my reputation for beauty is known far and wide, and that my relationship with Ye Rongzu is hard to fathom, yet he still believes I truly care for him?"
"He is not foolish at all."
"Men are simply like this. They hope virgins are wanton, yet fantasize that prostitutes remain chaste. Even if they know it is false, they still have to try before they are willing to regret it."
"Tsk, I am almost beginning to feel sorry for him."
"What about Young Master Ye?"
"Wait half a month. Once Ye Chengxiao breaks through, I will have my own plans. Sigh, can there not be a few more young talents in this escort agency?"
"...This is the breakthrough method for the Tiger Demon Fist." In the escort agency's study, Zhang Lishi lifted his teacup to moisten his throat. Just as he was about to say something more to Li Cunxiao, light footsteps sounded outside.
"Father, I'm back."
After knocking and waiting a moment, Zhang Yuelu pushed open the door. Seeing that the smoke from the incense burner had already thinned and dispersed, she could tell the two had been speaking for quite some time.
When Ye Chengxiao and the others were discussing their mystifying schemes, they probably never imagined that someone had already seized the initiative. The twists of fate truly are amusing.
Seeing Zhang Yuelu enter, Li Cunxiao observed every courtesy.
"I have yet to congratulate Third Lady on successfully breaking through."
"No need for such formality." Having just emerged from all those worldly social dealings, Zhang Yuelu did not exchange much pleasantry.
"How has your visualization been lately? If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I have only just broken through myself, so this experience should be useful to you."
Seeing his daughter conduct herself with such open grace, Zhang Lishi's face was full of gratification. He also instructed Li Cunxiao,
"Yue'er is right. Compared with the methods of the various families in the inner city, the breakthrough method of the Tiger Demon Fist can already be considered mild, but it still requires cleansing the marrow and remaking the blood."
"Once a failure harms your vitality, you will need several months of recuperation before trying again. And the further you go, the lower the chance of success becomes."
"You reached Blood Qi Perfection in two months, so you can afford to temper yourself for a while longer. Though I have told you the breakthrough method, that does not mean I want you to rush forward recklessly."
"If you feel the time is right, come to the residence. I will stand guard for you. Should anything go wrong, I can prevent the unexpected."
Li Cunxiao cupped his hands gratefully. "Master has considered everything thoroughly."
But what he thought was that the Vajra Scepter was his deepest secret. When using it to break through, it was best not to let anyone else watch.
After all, this was a breakthrough across an entire major realm. From Zhang Lishi's instruction, he had already understood that martial artists with demons within their bodies were fundamentally different from those without. If any strange phenomenon appeared then, it would be difficult to explain.
Thinking this, Li Cunxiao silently contemplated the Vajra Scepter. Its entire body shone with golden light, with only a single dim spot remaining at the tip of its final spike.
Tonight, he could break through to the Second Realm!
Before you continue