New Year's Eve

Three carriages rolled through the streets.

The streets were bustling. Farmers crowded around the temples, scrambling to buy "Portraits of the Eastern God" and pray for auspicious tidings in the coming spring. Merchants set up makeshift awnings and hawked their wares, with candies, snacks, and all sorts of sundries laid out on their stalls. Performers from all over displayed their respective talents, entertaining the eyes and ears of the crowds. Patrol guards moved warily through the main streets and narrow lanes.

Qi Yu watched through the curtain. With a twitch of his finger, the curtain fell.

The clamor and the marketplace were shut outside.

He sat alone in the third carriage, with his parents' carriage ahead.

After gathering with Yuanzi and the others yesterday, his father had sought him out that evening...

His father's arm had been swollen badly, hanging limp and unable to move easily. At last, father and son had held a frank, open secret conversation.

His father's words still echoed in his ears.

"The third branch is weak. If we don't struggle and rise, we'll be swallowed by the second branch until not even bone scraps remain.

"Yu'er, I originally didn't put any pressure on you because you had no potential.

"But now that you've shown potential, there's no need to keep these matters from you."

The voice surfaced in fragments within the young man's mind...

Qi Yu gazed distantly out the window.

The cold wind swept up shattered snow and hurled it against the carriage curtain.

Yuanzi had been right. Some storms didn't need to be sought out. They would come rushing... straight into your face.

The carriage wheels crushed over the accumulated snow and stopped at the Qi Family's main residence.

The main residence towered majestically.

The vermilion-lacquered gates bore rings held in the mouths of bronze beasts, while stone lions stood on either side, lightly covered in white snow.

Before the gates...

The wind and snow showed no sign of stopping. Instead, they grew wilder, pelting the lanterns beneath the eaves like a storm of shattered jade and dyeing heaven and earth in a vast, hazy white.

Yet beyond the gates was another world entirely.

Amid the dim sky, glazed palace lanterns shone like daylight. Beast-patterned gold charcoal burned fiercely, while the fragrances of wine and dishes mingled with the cloying sweetness of cosmetics...

Qi Yu followed his father into the main hall and walked around a huge gold-lacquered screen bearing the character "blessing."

Everything in the hall came into view.

Old Master Qi, Qi Zhendong, sat upright in the seat of honor, his white beard vigorous and his face glowing with health.

The Qi Family's prosperity before his eyes was the perfect embodiment of his life's achievements.

All of it was his doing.

Right beside Old Master Qi sat the second branch's Qi Changji.

Though this Poison Water Army Commandant wore plain clothes, his back remained ramrod straight. He carried the dignity of a man in a position of power and the killing intent of a soldier, commanding awe without anger.

On the other side sat the first branch's Qi Changfu. Though he was Eighth Rank, his cultivation focused on nourishing the body and maintaining health. His face was plump and ruddy. Seeing his third brother enter, he plastered on a smile and raised a hand in greeting. "Third Brother, over here!"

Qi Changshun came forward at the call, and his elder brother pulled him down into a seat beside him.

Old Master Qi gave a cold snort.

Qi Changshun hurriedly took out a brocade box and presented it respectfully with both hands. "Your son obtained an exceptionally rare Longevity Flower. I offer it especially to Father."

The old master's gaze paused briefly on the brocade box. He nodded slightly, and a steward stepped forward, accepted it, and put it away.

While the elders exchanged pleasantries, Qi Yu bowed to Old Master Qi, offered him a blessing, and then withdrew toward where the younger generation had gathered.

The younger generation had long since formed groups of three and five along the side wing of the hall.

The first branch's legitimate daughter, Qi Zhao, held a warming flask in her hands and wore fine clothes. She was speaking softly and laughing with several exquisitely made-up cousins. When she saw Qi Yu, a trace of obscure scrutiny flashed through her eyes, but she did not go over to greet him.

Several clan elders from collateral branches surrounded a small rosewood table not far away, sipping fragrant tea and murmuring about old affairs. The Qi Family's main business had long since had nothing to do with them. Some of their families had even fallen into decline. The only reason they could still come today was the bond of blood from years past...

Qi Yu swept his gaze over the younger members of the elders' branch.

He wasn't familiar with them.

He had no habit of going over to greet people either, so he sat down alone to one side.

At that moment, a series of sonorous, forceful footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall.

The footsteps were sharply rhythmic, overpowering the hubbub inside.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the doorway in unison. A heroic young man clad in gleaming armor strode in with his head held high.

The armor had been polished until it shone brilliantly, reflecting the lamplight like a moving blazing sun.

His figure was tall and straight, his eyes sharp, and the steadiness of his bearing far beyond that of his peers.

The hall fell silent in an instant. Then a wave of hushed exclamations and whispers arose. Many gazes, tangled with envy, awe, and curiosity, fell upon the Qi Family's most dazzling young man.

Qi Feng held his head high, a smile on his face. He nodded to each gaze directed at him, then walked straight to the old master and dropped to one knee. In a ringing voice, he said, "Your grandson Qi Feng wishes Grandfather robust health and blessings that last forever!"

The satisfaction on the old master's face nearly spilled over. Looking at this outstanding eldest grandson, he said fondly, "Feng'er, why have you come dressed in all that? It's the New Year's holiday."

Qi Feng rose and cupped his fists. "In reply to Grandfather, your grandson was just promoted to Brigade General of the Poison Water Army yesterday. With military office upon me, I dare not slacken. I happened to be between patrols, so I came specially to pay my New Year's respects. I'll need to continue carrying out my military duties shortly."

Military duties?

Qi Changfu, the eldest, and Qi Changshun, the third, were both stunned when they heard this. They exchanged a puzzled glance.

What urgent military duties could there be on New Year's Eve?

Neither of them had heard the slightest hint beforehand.

Then they looked at the old master, and at the second branch's Qi Changji... Neither of those two seemed surprised at all.

Their hearts sank, and their final sliver of hope was snuffed out.

Qi Changfu remained composed. He smiled while reaching beneath the table to tug at the hem of his third brother's clothes, signaling him not to say anything rash.

Meanwhile, the smile on the old master's face grew even broader. He raised a hand and gently stroked the youth's armor, its cold gleam sharp as frost, then surveyed the entire hall and declared loudly, "Now this is the true qilin son of my Qi Family! All of you younger generation must take Feng'er as your example! The future prosperity of my Qi Family rests entirely on your shoulders!"

Qi Yu glanced over the unfamiliar youths beside him.

Not one of them had any interest in the old master's words.

An example?

Future prosperity?

That would require resources first.

How many resources had Qi Feng consumed?

Could they possibly compare with him?

The old master really could say anything when he wasn't the one paying the price.

Qi Feng bowed humbly. "Grandfather praises me too highly. Your grandson is unworthy."

Then his gaze suddenly landed on Qi Yu. "Brother Yu! Third Uncle told me that you actually broke through to Eighth Rank in a single leap the day before yesterday? And even defeated Guard Sun? Truly... after three days apart, one must look at you with new eyes!"

The "surprised" lilt in his voice rang out with absolute clarity in the now-silent hall.

As he spoke, Qi Feng slowly walked toward Qi Yu.

Qi Zhao watched with great interest...

Qi Changfu of the first branch had fathered four children, but all of them were daughters. Qi Zhao was the only unmarried maiden remaining in the household. According to the first branch, she would not marry out, but would instead take a husband into the family.

This older female cousin was nineteen, one year younger than Qi Feng but one year older than Qi Yu.

Of course, apart from those three, the younger generation also included the first branch's three daughters who had married out, as well as a daughter from the second branch who had married out and a boy who was only eight years old.

Qi Feng drew closer at an unhurried pace, his posture relaxed. With a smile, he said in the patient, guiding tone of an elder brother, "Brother Yu, in martial cultivation... a solid foundation is the fundamental root. If you have any doubts, feel free to tell your elder brother.

"In the army, I often spar and exchange insights with my comrades. I've gained some experience and understanding in tempering one's foundation, so perhaps I can clear up a thing or two for you."

Not far away, the old master stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly, the approval in his eyes growing stronger.

He looked toward Qi Changshun and muttered, "Even this child has a broader mind and bearing than certain people."

Qi Changshun lowered his head and said nothing.

Qi Changfu of the first branch smiled and said, "Feng'er truly deserves to be the foremost of our Qi Family's younger generation. To hold an important post at such a young age is remarkable enough, but even rarer is this sincere heart that remembers to support his younger brothers. He is unquestionably the model for our Qi Family's younger generation!"

Those words went straight to the old master's heart. He stroked his beard and laughed, growing happier by the moment.

Not far away...

The center and edges of the radiance were sharply divided, glaringly distinct.

It was as though light and shadow stood apart.

Qi Feng was like the blazing sun, while Qi Yu opposite him was like a shadow—quiet, thin, and utterly inconspicuous, as if that light might swallow him whole at any moment.

In the next instant, Qi Yu bowed and said, "Cousin, you flatter me. It's only the Spirit Serpent Skill. I've merely glimpsed the entrance and am still feeling my way forward. My foundation is shallow."

Qi Feng smiled and rolled his wrist. "Brother Yu, how about I suppress my strength and we exchange a few moves?"

Qi Yu immediately rose and lowered his head slightly, making his posture as humble as possible. "Cousin, you jest. With this paltry cultivation of mine, how would I dare fight you? Besides... you have military duties today. I wouldn't dare delay you."

Old Master Qi watched from afar.

Seeing Qi Yu's "low-key" reply, he was quite pleased as well. He felt that the child still knew how to consider the bigger picture after all—more sensible than his father.

He called out, "Feng'er, since you have military duties, it's enough that you've shown your goodwill.

"As for guiding Yu'er... there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.

"Seeing you brothers so harmonious and close puts my heart at ease. I'm content."

He paused, his gaze briefly resting on Qi Yu, and said, "Why don't you thank your cousin?"

Qi Yu bowed deeply. "Thank you, Cousin."