Stirrings of Affection

Before long, ten-odd days passed in a blur, and Zhuang Jin's life as a Martial Arts Instructor for the martial students settled into a routine. Every morning, he came early to keep watch, and he gradually grew much closer to Ni Ying. By now, she had changed how she addressed him, going from "Martial Instructor Zhuang" to calling him "Jing Gege" at every turn.

No matter how often Zhuang Jin corrected her, Ni Ying still kept calling him Jing Gege this and Jing Gege that. In time, he simply let it be.

After all, it was difficult for a man to dislike a woman who was close to him—especially a beautiful woman—before she did something that truly disgusted him.

After the morning lesson, following the customary incense-stick's worth of instruction, he went to the Xuan-grade Training Field for rigorous cultivation. He occasionally ran into Ping Yongfeng, Chang Hetong, Tang Wentao, or Xiong Lei and Lin Hong, who had remained at the Shen Family Headquarters. Seeing how diligently he trained, they could not help sighing to themselves. There was no need to elaborate further.

This morning—

Zhuang Jin watched Ni Ying finish distributing the Qi Channel Opening Soup to the martial students, then accepted the remaining bowl and drank it. Just as he was about to use Blotting Paper to wipe the residue from his lips—

—he was actually considered rather particular. Most martial masters would have simply wiped their mouths with their sleeves and called it a day.

"Jing Gege!" Ni Ying suddenly called out to Zhuang Jin. She took a clean pink handkerchief from her bosom, stepped closer, and tried to wipe his mouth for him.

As a Two-Meridian Martial Artist, Zhuang Jin's reactions were extraordinarily quick. He moved after her but arrived first, dodging aside, only then realizing what Ni Ying intended to do.

"No need. I'll do it myself," he said.

"Jing Gege, you didn't wipe it clean!" As Ni Ying spoke, she stepped forward twice more. This time, she directly grabbed Zhuang Jin's sleeve and, brooking no refusal, wiped his mouth again.

Zhuang Jin froze slightly. That cloudlike figure drew close, and the delicate, fair skin on her clear and lovely face seemed to glow faintly. Then she flitted away again, leaving behind only a trace of orchid-and-musk fragrance in the air.

"All done, Jing Gege. I'll be going first!" Before Zhuang Jin could react further, Ni Ying's bright eyes, like autumn water, darted away from his. With those words, she left with the light, cheerful steps of a fawn in the woods.

The many martial students nearby who witnessed this were green with envy, wishing they could take Zhuang Jin's place. Then their hearts shattered.

Ni Ying was lively and pretty. She distributed Qi Channel Opening Soup at their Yellow Character Number Nine Training Field and treated others without any arrogance. Naturally, they all thought highly of her. They had often discussed her in their dormitories, fantasizing that one day they would become Formal Martial Artists and carry the beauty home in their arms.

But just now... what had they seen? Their dream goddess had been beaten to the punch! Worse still, their dream goddess had taken the initiative. The earlier scene clearly showed that the goddess of their dreams had already given her heart to someone else!

—This era was relatively conservative. Though women did not suffer under the vile custom of foot-binding, it was common enough for women from ordinary households to go out and buy vegetables. Yet daughters of even slightly respectable families, let alone ladies of great houses, rarely showed their faces in public, considering it improper. For a sixteen-year-old girl to do such a thing before everyone was almost no different from openly declaring, "I like you."

Of course, although these martial students were deeply disappointed—and even felt vaguely uncomfortable looking at Zhuang Jin—they could only swallow it down. Zhuang Jin was a Martial Arts Instructor, in the Two Meridian Realm, a Two-Striped Servant. And what were they? More than ninety percent of them would be eliminated. They simply did not belong to the same world!

To put it bluntly, Zhuang Jin might be the highest-ranking person more than ninety percent of them would ever encounter in their entire lives!

"Enough!"

Zhuang Jin gave a sharp shout, suppressing the complicated feelings stirred up by that little incident, and began that day's lesson.

That day, Zhuang Jin continued as usual, practicing martial arts with diligence and focus. Having lived two lives, he would not be like some inexperienced virgin who had never seen a woman, letting a tiny hint send his thoughts running wild. Only after his evening extra training, when he lay in bed, did he spare a little time to consider the matter.

At present, I still have two enemies outside: Zhuang Yutang and Zhuang Yuyong. Though they are in the open while I am in the shadows, and they do not yet know about me, I can only truly cower within the Shen Family Headquarters for self-preservation. This is not the time to think about such things.

Still, according to my plan, once the self-selected mission in April is over, I may already have broken through to the Fourth Meridian. Even if I fall a little short, I will reach that step at most in the month after the self-selected mission ends.

By then, Zhuang Yutang and Zhuang Yuyong will be nothing to fear. I can settle every account at my leisure.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Jin frowned again. According to Shen Family custom, once one reaches the Four Meridian Realm and the Household Retainer rank, the main family grants one a marriage, choosing from among the Outer Courtyard Maids. If the two parties have caught each other's eye and both are willing, they will be matched accordingly. If not, one will choose a willing woman from among the First-Class Maids of the Outer Courtyard.

This was not something they discussed with you. When the main family bestowed a marriage, it was giving you face. There was no possibility of refusing.

Those martial artists born as Shen Family household-born children all have to go through this process, binding them more tightly through matchmakers and marriage. As for outsiders recruited by the family like us, there is even less need to say it. If I truly refuse at that time, it will be refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. The Shen Family might not say anything openly, but they will likely believe I am not of one heart with them. No matter how great my talent, I may well be sent to South of the City, beside the Medicine King Gang, and thrown into that battlefield of the fiercest intensity...

There was no need to stubbornly resist something that did not cross his bottom line. Besides, it was not as if he would lose out. Zhuang Jin had no intention of refusing. So when the time comes, I will certainly have to choose someone. Better familiar than strange; Ni Ying would not be a bad choice.

He pondered in silence and made his decision. There is no need to explicitly reject her yet. I'll watch a while longer and observe. Once I reach the Fourth Meridian, I'll make my decision then.

Having considered it all and settled his mind, Zhuang Jin reviewed and summarized the day, then prepared to sleep.

Yet unexpectedly, his thoughts drifted and scattered beyond his control. He thought of possibly becoming close with Ni Ying in the future, thought of her lovely appearance, and suddenly felt a wave of heat. He could not sleep. He tossed and turned, letting his imagination run wild for quite some time. Still, his mind was mature. He knew there was no use entangling himself in tender feelings between men and women. He emptied his mind in meditation, forcibly cast aside his distracting thoughts, and fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Zhuang Jin arrived ahead of time. For reasons he did not understand, he carried a trace of anticipation, quietly considering what he should say when he saw Ni Ying.

Yet Ni Ying did not come today. Chen Yun did.

"A few months ago, didn't the Inner Courtyard release some of its older maids? This month, seeing that the Outer Courtyard had selected quite a few new maids, they planned to promote some into the Inner Courtyard. Such an opportunity is rare. After Ying'er discussed it with her family yesterday, she went to try her luck and was selected. She is now a Third-Class Maid of the Inner Courtyard... For the rest of this month, I'll distribute the Qi Channel Opening Soup here in her place..."

Discussed it! Went! Selected!

Zhuang Jin seized upon those key points, feeling as though the words had struck against his heart. Clearly, Ni Ying had gone voluntarily. Of course. Inner Courtyard Maids serve the honored members of the family, so they must naturally be willing. No one would force them.

Within the Shen Family, Outer Courtyard Maids were, in form, more akin to hired workers. They could use their earned silver to support their families. If they no longer wished to continue, they could even apply voluntarily to end their contracts and be released. Inner Courtyard Maids were different. Their standards were higher, requiring the family to hold complete control over their lives and persons, equivalent to selling themselves entirely. Naturally, they were granted greater trust in return.