Jade Guanyin of the Heart Sword, a Youth with a Fierce Tiger in His Chest

The carriage had stood silently in the spring rain since stopping, utterly still. The coachman on the shaft seemed to have even his breathing frozen, not daring to disturb the man inside by an inch.

Even as the lofty man within pressed down on the youth—full of hope, just stepping into the world of cultivation—with his formidable cultivation and peerless will, the coachman remained unmoved, unshaken.

But when a corner of the carriage curtain was abruptly severed, that thin scrap of fabric falling onto the carriage, then slapped to the ground by the sparse rain and spun by the water flowing through the cracks, the coachman's pupils suddenly contracted.

A chill plunged this man—whose body blazed with hot blood like a furnace—into an icy abyss. Even his surging vitality could not fend off this cold by an inch.

Then the coachman jerked his head up. The rain beat mercilessly against his face beneath the bamboo hat, and in his pupils, shock reflected the Sword Qi formed from three thousand raindrops gathered from the depths of Quiet Street.

It looked like a silver waterfall cascading down before his eyes.

The coachman dared not move. The powerful blood energy nurtured in every inch of his meridians froze solid in that instant, unable even to flow.

Each raindrop transformed into Sword Qi carried enough sharpness and power to pierce him through!

This was the peerless technique of a Divine Refinement Master—one who could roam the nine heavens, wield spring thunder, and split the dusk rain and Black Cloud!

Snap!

A single raindrop turned Sword Qi drifted lightly past his upturned face.

The bamboo hat Split in Two, bursting apart to both sides. The coachman's body trembled almost imperceptibly, every inch of skin prickling with goosebumps, cold clinging to him.

Far away.

An Le, who had been struggling against the oppressive force of the man in the carriage, felt the pressure and restraint on his body vanish like smoke the moment the first raindrop carried Sword Qi arrived.

Like a mountain shifting, his rain-soaked chest rose and fell slightly, but An Le's eyes grew sharper, carrying a hint of unwillingness and fierceness.

Eighteen years old, standing here like a nobody.

Before true cultivation masters, he was far too weak. The smugness of stepping into cultivation dissolved in that moment.

Today's oppression had nearly tarnished his Dao heart, but it also awakened a hidden anger and fighting spirit within An Le.

Step by Step, he would walk higher and farther on the path of cultivation.

Inside the carriage.

Mr. Luo was moved for the first time. Watching the Sword Qi formed from three thousand raindrops surging like a waterfall, a shadow of gloom settled over his heart. He Converged his aura, pulling his mind entirely back into the carriage.

A single strand of Sword Qi split the coachman's bamboo hat, Shredded the carriage curtain, and drifted toward the carriage.

Inside, the man sat upright. Before him, a small sword still stained with blood hovered, Softly Hummed, ringing through Quiet Street, shattering every raindrop around the carriage!

The man pressed his thin lips together, then finally reached forward, colliding the hovering small sword with that strand of Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi dissipated, and the man's small sword lost its divine light, falling back into his arms.

He had exerted all his strength, yet only managed to cancel out a single strand of Sword Qi sent with a wave of the other's hand!

And there was a whole array of such Sword Qi!

The sky over the alley was blotted out—three thousand raindrops turned into a sword waterfall!

"Lin Manor's Hua Jiebing, Jade Guanyin of the Heart Sword..."

The man murmured.

The next moment, he could no longer remain composed or unmoved before the sword waterfall that blotted out the sky over Quiet Street.

The luxurious carriage roof burst apart. The man's figure rose from within, but the three thousand raindrops poured down like a storm—like lightning tails burning Black Cloud, rain feet flying like silver threads!

His rising body crashed back into the carriage. His face, once composed, turned ashen.

Three thousand raindrops Fell Upon him.

Each drop was like a blade descending from heaven—white rain like scattered chess pieces, striking the carriage walls, shattering them inch by inch, striking the table inside, reducing it to dust.

But these blade-like raindrops, when they landed on the man's face, were truly like precious spring rain—without any sharpness, carrying a tenderness that nourished all things.

Yet Mr. Luo, already sitting amid the ruined carriage and the rain-mixed debris, understood: the other hadn't killed him, but had planted a seed of fear in his heart.

Three thousand raindrops watered that seed of fear, letting it slowly take root and sprout.

The coachman still sat on the shaft, but the carriage behind him had crumbled to pieces, leaving only the disheveled Mr. Luo sitting on the ground, mixed with mud.

Mr. Luo slowly raised his head and looked at An Le.

He did not expect that Lin Manor's Hua Jiebing... would make such a grand move for this youth.

He had pressed down on the youth, trying to make him bow.

And Hua Jiebing had turned the spring rain into swords, planting a seed of fear in his heart.

This youth had only drawn a picture for you, Hua Jiebing—was it really necessary to be so... doting and protective?!

Mr. Luo's body trembled slightly, his throat choked, on the verge of tears. But he quickly composed himself, climbed awkwardly to his feet, and looked at An Le with a complex expression.

Then he turned toward Lin Manor, clasped his hands in a bow, and bowed deeply like a student paying respects to a teacher: "Madam, calm your anger. This matter—I, Luo, went Too much."

"You work for Qin Qianqiu, and testing Lin Manor is understandable. But bullying a youth who has just stepped into cultivation? All your years of cultivation, Luo Qingchen, have become a joke. Did the academy teach you such shameless behavior?"

"Get lost."

A faint voice came abruptly, lingering through the streets and alleys.

Mr. Luo clasped his hands, a warm spring-like smile on his face as he looked at An Le. "Young friend, my apologies. I only meant to test your limits, but I didn't expect it would displease my wife. I hope you won't take it to heart. For today's mess, I, Luo, will personally come to your door another day to apologize."

An Le coldly watched the man offering apologies with that gentle smile, as if forcing him to bow had been nothing but a joke.

The apology rang insincere.

An Le Took a Deep Breath, then put on a smile of his own, clasping his hands and bowing in return.

"Brother Luo, is it? No harm done. Today, you've shown me what true cultivator combat looks like, and taught me that there's always someone better. I'll be sure to cultivate diligently and learn from Madam Hua, hoping that one day I can spar with you and let you enjoy yourself... just as much as today."

Mr. Luo's warm smile faltered for a moment. What a fearless, spirited youth.

"Good. I'll be waiting anytime."

Both men beamed, their smiles like blooming flowers, as if they were close friends.

But beneath those smiles, turbulent thoughts churned.

An Le's smile was bright as he casually plucked two strands of Time Qi from Mr. Luo.

Though Mr. Luo's cultivation was formidable, An Le didn't feel the same depletion he had with Madam Hua, where he couldn't continue after drawing her Time Qi.

With two strands of Time Qi in hand, An Le's smile faded slightly. He turned to look at the distant coachman, nodded in greeting, and promptly plucked two more strands from him as well, sparing no one.

Pat-pat-pat!

The sound of splashing water came from the entrance of Quiet Street, where constables in official robes, swords at their waists, marched in formation.

"Mr. Luo."

The constables arrived and clasped their hands to him.

"Arrest those two thugs who attacked a Juren scholar, interrogate them thoroughly about who's behind it, and vent some anger for my young friend An."

Mr. Luo said calmly.

"As you command!"

The lead Captain declared loudly. The constables drew their blades and swarmed forward, taking into custody the three thugs, who had long been terrified by the awe-inspiring clash of cultivator might.

An Le watched the prepared constables calmly, saying nothing.

He Nodded to Mr. Luo, picked up his Oil-Paper Umbrella, flicked off the bloodstains, opened it to shield himself from the drizzling spring rain, and turned to walk toward the Lin Manor.

Mr. Luo stood still in the rain, his clothes already dried, his white robes pristine once more. He watched An Le's retreating figure under the umbrella, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He could sense the fierce tiger hidden in the youth's chest, his spirit burning like a furnace.

But so what?

What if he was angry, resentful, and unwilling?

The gap between him, Luo Qingchen, and the youth was like the stars in the sky compared to dust on the ground—utterly incomparable.

Besides, the youth had started his training so late, his bones already set, missing the prime opportunity for Foundation Establishment. The road ahead would be fraught with difficulty. So yes, a tiger dwelt in his chest, but the youth lacked the means to unleash it.

With a faint smile, Mr. Luo turned and walked away from Quiet Street in another direction.

"Mr. Luo, what should we do with these thugs?"

A constable from the Yamen asked respectfully at his back.

But Mr. Luo had no interest in responding.

The coachman led his horse over, expressionless, his voice hoarse: "Assaulting a Juren, assaulting a cultivator—capital offense."

The Captain understood at once.

Passing through the Stone Tablet Jade Workshop, which commanded the awe of nobles, An Le arrived at the Lin Manor's gate. He calmed his mind, closed his Oil-Paper Umbrella, shook off the water, and knocked on the copper-ringed door.

This time, Madam Hua had helped him, and An Le was deeply grateful. He had to thank her in person.

The vermillion gate swung open, revealing Lin Zhuifeng's spirited face.

When Lin Zhuifeng saw An Le, drenched like a drowned rat at the door, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes. Those testing the Lin Manor were growing more and more excessive.

She already knew about his situation. The moment Madam Hua acted, Lin Zhuifeng sensed it and learned some of the truth from her. So now, her eyes held a mix of indignation and apology for dragging An Le into this.

"Young Master An, please come in. The First Madam is waiting for you in the waterside pavilion."

ps: Monday, begging for reads and fresh Recommendation Tickets!