In the morning, Wang Jingyuan was diligently practicing his martial arts. He was working on the four manuals he had seized from Tian Boguang: two saber techniques, Gale Saber Technique and Flying Sand and Rolling Stones Thirty-Six Forms, and two lightness skills, Positive Step Three Layer Cloud and Reverse Step Three Layer Cloud.
At this stage, Wang Jingyuan could already learn martial arts manuals on his own. But as a lazy person, if he could just get a "ding," why bother working hard?
He showed the manuals to Yue Buqun, then asked him for guidance the next day. Even if Yue Buqun hadn't mastered them yet, as long as he knew the general idea and could explain a couple of things, that was enough to trigger the teaching function and let Wang Jingyuan learn them outright.
After learning these four martial arts, Wang Jingyuan was still in his beginner's bonus period, during which practice alone could increase his proficiency. Of course he was willing to put in the effort. Later on, martial arts could only improve through sparring and killing.
What surprised Wang Jingyuan was that his idle internal-energy training continued to increase his proficiency by one point every twenty-four hours, just as before. The progress was slow, but the gains wouldn't decrease or stop as his power deepened.
Wang Jingyuan slowly wrapped up his morning training. Then he saw Yue Lingshan come to his little courtyard looking for him. As soon as she approached, she caught a strong whiff of the manly scent rising from his sweat-soaked body. The smell wafted over her, and her pretty face flushed. She stepped back a few paces and complained:
"You've worked up a whole stink first thing in the morning. Hurry up and take a bath. We're leaving for Liu Manor soon."
Wang Jingyuan checked his own cleanliness and casually put away his short saber. "There's still half a vat of water behind my room. I can rinse off in no time."
Yue Lingshan liked to needle Wang Jingyuan whenever she got the chance. "You can rinse all you want, but you'll still stink. You need to wash properly."
Wang Jingyuan gave Yue Lingshan a sidelong glance. "There's only pig pancreas soap here. I might as well wash with plain water. Want to smell nice? Then I'd need to use Yang Guo."
Yue Lingshan frowned. "What's Yang Guo?"
Wang Jingyuan strolled toward the back room. "A rare wonder. It gives off a strange fragrance, the kind that makes women so excited they can't keep their legs together."
"You're disgusting!" Yue Lingshan scolded, then turned and ran off.
Wang Jingyuan went into the room, casually tossed his dirty clothes into a basin, then headed to the back courtyard to get water for a bath. He scooped water from the vat with a dipper and rinsed himself a few times, washing away the sweat.
He took a clean set of clothes from his Inventory, changed, and prepared to leave.
When he reached the main gate, he saw Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, and the other disciples already assembled. Yue Buqun nodded to Wang Jingyuan when he came out, then led the group toward Liu Manor.
Liu Manor
Quite a few guests had arrived early. One of them stood out so much that whenever the passing martial artists saw him, they would turn around and hurry away in alarm.
Those who couldn't avoid him crept past carefully and quietly. The man seemed accustomed to such reactions. He paid them no mind and simply ate the fruit at hand.
The reason was that he wore a silver-white Flying Fish Robe and a Xiuchun saber at his waist. He was plainly an Imperial Guard Centurion.
At that moment, Liu Zhengfeng entered the main hall and cupped his hands toward the Centurion. "Thank you, Lord Chen, for honoring my humble home with your presence. Forgive me for being unwell and unable to come out and greet you."
Centurion Chen returned Liu Zhengfeng's salute without deference or servility. "You and I will be serving the same court soon, so the least I can do is show you this courtesy. You're quite an interesting fellow, Lord Liu. Most people can't get away from me fast enough. This is the first time anyone has invited me into their home."
Liu Zhengfeng's smile grew even brighter. "The Imperial Guard is tasked with overseeing the officials. I, Liu Zhengfeng, have always acted with integrity and have nothing to hide."
Centurion Chen recalled the recent uproar in Hengyang City. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, but he quickly suppressed his smile. "You've worked hard here in Hengyang City for half your life, Lord Liu. We've seen what you've done. It's a blessing to have someone like you here."
A few days earlier, Wang Jingyuan had helped Liu Zhengfeng donate money to secure an official post. After all the running around, he'd finally gotten it done. But he felt that simply buying an office didn't quite cut it, so he went a step further and sought out the local Imperial Guard office.
He brought an extravagant gift when he went to see the Imperial Guard Centurion. At first, the Centurion had wanted to throw Wang Jingyuan out, but after learning why he had come, he agreed to attend Liu Zhengfeng's Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony as a guest.
As a local power near Hengyang City, the Hengshan Sect was on the Imperial Guard's rolls. So Centurion Chen knew quite a lot about the Hengshan Sect and its de facto leader, Liu Zhengfeng.
As far as he knew, the Hengshan Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a respectable sect. In the region, it often did more good than the county government. Chen was glad to see Liu Zhengfeng willing to enter officialdom and get things done through proper channels.
Especially since Liu Zhengfeng had gone to great lengths to secure a post as the local county magistrate. With someone like him serving as an official, life would be much easier for the Imperial Guard as well.
And so Liu Zhengfeng and Centurion Chen chatted on and off. As more and more people arrived at Liu Manor, Chen took the initiative to say he was feeling tired and asked Liu Zhengfeng to have someone escort him to the back hall to rest.
After all, this was an important day for Liu Zhengfeng, and the guests were all martial artists. Chen was here as a guest himself. If he sat in the main hall the whole time, everyone would probably feel uncomfortable. He could come out and make an appearance when the ceremony began.
Liu Zhengfeng immediately called his disciple Xiang Danian and had him escort Centurion Chen to the back hall. After Chen left, Liu Zhengfeng breathed a quiet sigh of relief and touched the back of his neck, which was already damp with sweat.
Liu Zhengfeng hadn't been lying earlier. Apart from befriending Qu Yang, he had lived his life with integrity and had done nothing he couldn't speak of openly. But the Imperial Guard... Surely it wasn't powerless against a man whose record was spotless?
Thinking of this, Liu Zhengfeng gritted his teeth. "That brat really is... really... sigh!"
"Brother Liu, it's been a while!" Abbess Dingyi had arrived. Liu Zhengfeng composed himself and went over to greet her.
"I'm sorry I couldn't welcome you at the gate. Please forgive me, Abbess."
With Centurion Chen temporarily gone, the atmosphere in the front hall immediately became much livelier.
The Mount Hua Sect arrived last, since their lodgings were quite far away. When they heard the Hengshan disciple stationed at the gate announce that the Mount Hua Sect had arrived, Abbess Dingyi, who had been chatting with Liu Zhengfeng, smiled. "I hear Brother Yue of Mount Hua recently gained a fine new disciple. My own disciple, Yilin, was rescued by him and spared the clutches of that villain."
Liu Zhengfeng forced a smile. "Yes, yes."
Abbess Dingyi thought for a moment. "I hear Brother Yue's new disciple is named Wang Jingyuan. From his conduct, I can tell he must be just as his name suggests: a humble gentleman, serene and far-reaching..."
Crack! Crack!
As Abbess Dingyi praised Wang Jingyuan, a strange sound suddenly came from beside her. She turned and saw Liu Zhengfeng grinding his teeth with a grimace.
Abbess Dingyi frowned. "Brother Liu, what's wrong?"
Liu Zhengfeng's expression was as strained as if he were constipated. "An old injury flared up just now. It'll pass if I bear with it, it'll pass."
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