Having returned to the courtyard, An Le naturally had no idea that an old man holding a bamboo staff had appeared on the street, nor did he know that the old man was concerned for his safety and life.
In the courtyard, Hu Jingang's corpse lay quietly on the ground, fresh blood flowing from it.
An Le watched for a while, his expression utterly unchanged. The turmoil he had felt when killing someone for the first time had now settled into still water.
He did not regret killing. Since he had come to this world and set foot upon cultivation, just as Captain Huang had told him, he had to learn to kill. If he did not kill others, others would kill him.
The cultivation world could truly be viewed as another kind of jianghu. Cultivators great and small were like beads, while every grudge, love, and hatred formed the threads of a curtain. When the wind blew, that jianghu would rise and fall like a beaded curtain; the beads might wish for stillness, yet could never be still.
Seated in his chair, An Le saw that half a jug of Old Yellow Wine remained on the table, while the pig head meat had only been picked at a few times. He took a fresh pair of chopsticks and set the candle stand on the table, its dim light illuminating the dark courtyard.
The clear night was spotless, the moonlight like silver.
When pouring wine, the cup had to be filled to the brim.
With the spring night, the stars, the candlelight, the Old Scholar Tree, and the headless corpse in the courtyard for company, An Le drank wine and ate meat.
Tonight, the Old Man of the Imperial Ancestral Temple likely would not come. However, given his status, the sword he had promised would certainly not be withheld.
An Le was in no hurry. After finishing the wine and meat, he tidied up, carried the candle stand, and returned to his room.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and first reviewed tonight's battle with Hu Jingang.
Though the battle had been completely one-sided, it was still An Le's first solo clash with a cultivator. After replaying it several times, he put himself in Hu Jingang's place and considered how he should have responded.
This sort of review proved rather interesting.
Fearless Heart (Dao Fruit): Dragon Battle in the Wild. Win it, and Fearlessness is Slightly Strengthened; Dao Fruit Self-Feedback.
A line suddenly appeared on the light screen before his eyes.
Then, a current of pure qi seemed to spread through him, winding like dragons and serpents. It raced from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, then traveled from his palms to his heart meridian.
An Le discovered that his qi and blood had grown somewhat stronger, faintly showing signs of drilling into his bones. That was the precursor to Casting Spirit Bone.
His mind, having only just entered Embryonic Breathing, had also become steady and unshakable!
After a brief moment of surprise, An Le understood. The effect of the Dao Fruit known as Fearless Heart was to shatter tribulations, strengthen fearlessness, and feed cultivation back to him. Hu Jingang had counted as a minor tribulation this time, hence Slightly Strengthened Fearlessness.
That "slightly" was quite subtle. His already perfected qi and blood had been pushed forward a little, bringing him another step closer to Casting Spirit Bone. His mind had also condensed further. It truly was only a slight strengthening, but it equaled more than ten rounds of practicing the Five Animals. Not bad at all.
An Le smiled. Today's battle had stirred his emotions, making it hard for him to calm down.
Rather than continue practicing the Five Animals, he began visualizing the Sword Waterfall Diagram. Combined with the Dao Fruit that had transformed into Innate Swordsman, it tempered his mind.
On the candle stand, the flame danced, casting shifting light and darkness throughout the room.
The long night had not yet ended.
The carriage returned to the secluded residence on Quiet Street.
The burly coachman removed his bamboo hat and stepped down from the carriage shaft, only to find his legs somewhat weak. He had nearly failed to stand steady. The threat posed by that sword intent had left him frightened even now.
Yet he calmed the alarm in his heart and walked into the residence, where winding corridors framed meandering streams and floating wine cups.
The sky was filled with stars, and the silver moon hung like a disk.
The courtyard was cold and clear. A figure in scholar's robes sat upright at its center, bathed in moonlight and starlight. The pond water had been cleaved apart, and one tiny sword after another hovered above its surface. Strands of Sword Qi crisscrossed through the air like a great dragon drawing water, pouring down from above the figure's head to scour him.
It sought to wash away the shadowy sword intent reflected upon his Dao heart.
With a crisp ding, the tiny swords hovering over the pond were flung away by a mysterious force, exploding pillars of water across the surface.
Ripples spread wildly before gradually settling.
Luo Qingchen opened his eyes, drenched in sweat. Pain flashed through his gaze and vanished, after which he rose and strolled into the leisure pavilion, wiping away his sweat.
"Was it handled?"
Luo Qingchen asked indifferently.
The coachman lowered his brows and bowed his head, unsure how to answer.
"It failed?" Luo Qingchen raised a brow. Seeing the coachman's manner, he knew it must have failed.
"Wasn't Hu Jingang at perfected Opening Qi and Blood? Add to that his twisted brutality and decisive viciousness—how could he fail to kill a boy who had only just begun cultivating?"
Luo Qingchen sat upon a round hollowed Kun stone chair in the leisure pavilion. The table, too, had been carved and polished from Kun stone. A tea tray rested atop it, while a charcoal stove boiled water nearby with a low whistling sound.
Unhurriedly, he brewed himself a cup of black tea. He lifted it, blew away the rising steam drifting over its surface, and was about to bring it to his lips.
"Sir, that boy... his mind cultivation had already entered Embryonic Breathing, and his qi and blood had reached perfection. Hu Jingang was no match for him."
The coachman said in a deep voice.
The cup of tea that Luo Qingchen had yet to drink froze in midair.
He turned his head, frowning as he stared at the coachman. His voice rose slightly. "His mind cultivation has entered Embryonic Breathing? His qi and blood have also reached perfection?"
"You weren't mistaken?"
The coachman clasped his fists and bowed. "That boy severed Hu Jingang's head and threw it at me. Then he swung his blade at me. His qi and blood were revealed, and they had indeed reached perfection. As for his mind... I felt a faint oppressive force, enough to confirm Embryonic Breathing."
Luo Qingchen set down his teacup and narrowed his eyes.
"A genius in mind cultivation? No wonder Madam Hua had taken it upon herself to protect his path... His speed of mind cultivation truly is extraordinary."
"Still, it is also possible that Madam Hua gave him a mind-cultivation artifact. This boy is a Juren scholar who came to Lin'an for the Spring Imperial Examination, isn't he? It seems Madam Hua wants to use him to break the deadlock, have him rise in one bound into the ranks of Jia Bang Jinshi in the Spring Imperial Examination, then take part in the Palace Examination, using that slim hope to obtain Calm the Waves."
Luo Qingchen smiled as he speculated.
How could someone who had only barely received cultivation initiation at eighteen possibly enter Entering Stillness and then Embryonic Breathing in such a short time? He must have had external help.
Three days to Embryonic Breathing... even he, Luo Qingchen, was far from capable of that.
Since An Le had won Madam Hua's favor, Luo Qingchen naturally assumed Madam Hua had helped him.
"Keep watching him. We cannot touch him for now. This fortuitous chance came by coincidence, and Hu Jingang still failed to kill him. It will be difficult to find such a good opportunity again."
"However, it is no great matter. Entering Embryonic Breathing through external aid is like pulling up seedlings to help them grow—it ruins one's cultivation foundation. This boy has naturally buried his own cultivation future."
Luo Qingchen said dismissively.
The coachman glanced at Luo Qingchen and remained silent.
When the boy had thrown Hu Jingang's head, that confidence, that wild arrogance, that unrestrained spirit soaring high... he had not looked like someone without a future.
"But we must indeed pay attention to this boy. Hua Jiebing has gone to such lengths to elevate him; perhaps she harbors a lucky hope for the Palace Examination. I should visit Prime Minister Qin's Manor and mention this to Young Master Qin. We can start with the boy's scholarly honors, sever his ambition of joining the ranks of Jia Bang Jinshi, and make the Lin Manor lose heart. Young Master Qin will surely be quite willing."
"This year's Spring Imperial Examination has brought forth the geniuses nurtured by every faction. It is contention on another level. To rise into the ranks of Jia Bang Jinshi will be immensely difficult, but since the boy is connected to the Lin Manor, it can never be wrong to prepare for a rainy day."
After thinking it over, Luo Qingchen said this.
The coachman nodded. Sir was still very cautious.
Though he too felt that a boy who had just entered Entering Stillness only to reach Embryonic Breathing right after, without external help, would be far too monstrous. This boy had only received initiation at eighteen—could he possibly be even more monstrous than Sir?
As for whether the boy was a monster or not—
He was merely a coachman. It was not for him to worry about it.
Lin'an, Ye Manor.
A grand feast was in full swing. The lanterns shone brightly, wine cups clinked in succession, and fine wine and exquisite dishes overflowed with fragrance and color.
Yet all those seated at the banquet tables were female relatives. Not a single man was present.
At the head sat a woman of noble bearing, dressed in equally luxurious attire. Her smile was gentle and peaceful, as though it could melt an iceberg in the depths of winter.
At the woman's side sat the breathtakingly beautiful Madam Hua.
Madam Hua was conversing merrily with the noblewoman when her brows suddenly stirred. A feeling rose in her heart, and she looked toward Imperial Ancestral Temple Alley.
Since she had said she would Light a Green Lamp upon An Le's cultivation path and protect his path, she had naturally left behind certain measures. If An Le encountered danger, she would sense it.
This sensation came swiftly and vanished just as swiftly, indicating that An Le might have encountered a battle. However, no opponent vastly beyond his realm had acted, so he did not require her assistance.
Protecting one's path was still protecting one's path; it did not mean she had to step in and settle every hardship. Most hardships had to be overcome by the youth himself. Only then could he grow.
Coming back to herself, Madam Hua lifted her wine cup and shared a drink with the noblewoman.
"Little Sister Jiebing, I know why you came to find me. Of course I will help with this favor, but what your elder sister can do is limited. At the time of the Palace Examination, I can enter Heavenly Profound Palace with you in the name of my noble title and take a look. But if you wish to retrieve Eldest Brother's Calm the Waves, I cannot offer much more help."
The noblewoman said gently with a smile.
Hearing this, Madam Hua's eyes trembled with emotion. She knew this was already the greatest promise the woman could offer.
Madam Ye knew why she wished to enter Grand Profound Palace, yet she had still given this promise.
"Little Sister Jiebing, if you wish to reclaim Eldest Brother's Calm the Waves, you should find an outstanding talent capable of ranking among the Jia Bang Jinshi in the Spring Imperial Examination, and have him do everything possible to win the Palace Examination and receive Calm the Waves as his reward." The graceful Madam Ye spoke with some puzzlement.
Madam Hua, however, shook her head and sighed. "Sister, do you think the Lin family can find such a Heavenly Prodigy to help us? Those outstanding talents already have factions behind them. If the Lin family seeks their aid, we will inevitably be constrained by every power..."
"Therefore, Jiebing is unwilling to rely on any outstanding talent."
Madam Hua spoke frankly. Madam Ye nodded to show that she understood. "Then has Little Sister Jiebing never considered using the Lin Manor's strength to nurture a talented youth capable of reaching the Jia Bang?"
"Sister, you jest. Though the Lin Manor is a family of military merit, our foundation pales in comparison to the Literature Academy and the Martial Temple. Furthermore, to reach the Jia Bang, one must also win the Palace Examination in a single stroke. Talent and cultivation are both indispensable. How could the Lin Manor easily cultivate such a talented youth?"
Madam Hua said with a bitter smile.
For some reason, the instant her words ended, the figure of a youth suddenly flashed through her mind.
Before you continue