Fist Technique: Collapse Mountain!

Eventually Chen Yi agreed to Xiao Wan'er's "request," promising to look after Xiao Wuge for a time.

He would take it as compensation for being provided good food and drink by the Xiao Family.

However, he also made his conditions clear beforehand: he would only have Xiao Wuge stay inside Chunhe Garden and not let him run around wildly, but he would not be responsible for teaching him any odd and unorthodox things.

Xiao Wan'er nodded in assent, and after giving Xiao Wuge a few words of instruction, she left with Shen Huatang.

"Eldest Miss, why do you value the second son-in-law to this extent?"

Enduring for a long time until they passed through the Inner Courtyard Gate, Shen Huatang could not hold it back and asked, "From Huatang's perspective, even if he has some literary talent, he is far inferior to the several tutors within the estate, not to mention his character is still so..."

Despicable.

Although Shen Huatang did not say it out alound, Xiao Wan'er naturally understood.

While gracefully walking toward a residence near the right side of the inner courtyard, she replied in a gentle tone:

"I do not need him to teach Wuge learning; I merely want Wuge to stay by his side and absorb his conduct in handling affairs through subtle influence."

"This..."

"Huatang, you have not been in my Xiao Family for a short time; you should know that Wuge will set out for Jinling to serve as a hostage early next spring."

"You mean," Shen Huatang's heart stirred slightly as she understood, "you want Young Master Wuge to behave in Jinling just like the second son-in-law?"

"Yes," Xiao Wan'er nodded slightly, her bright eyes lowered and her tone carrying a bit of heaviness:

"The Xiao Family now has only him left as a direct-line descendant. I do not ask for him to be all that motivated; I only hope he can safely spend ten full years in Jinling."

"It is true that Brother-in-law has some learning, but what I value more is his disposition of taking things as they come. If Wuge can learn even a tenth of it, he will be able to avoid a great deal of trouble in Jinling henceforth."

"Pardon me, Miss, Huatang spoke out of turn."

"It is nothing."

Xiao Wan'er gave a light laugh, pushed open the door of the residence, and walked slowly inside.

Watching her go in, Shen Huatang kept watch silently outside the door, holding her long sword with her arms crossed over her chest and looking up at the sky.

Her master was right: born into a wealthy household, things seemingly looked like a brocade of flowers and embroidery, but the inside was still a tangled mess of hemp.

Inside the residence.

"Wan'er, has Wuge been arranged for?"

Old Marquis Xiao Yuan, dressed in a simple, unadorned long gown, leaned against a recliner. Even with his broad frame, the illness on his face was still discernible.

After bowing to the three old men on the other side, Xiao Wan'er replied, "He has already been properly arranged for; starting these days, he will follow the second brother-in-law constantly."

Xiao Yuan paused. "Everything in the estate is decided by you; your arrangements are fine."

As he spoke, he smiled and praised to his several old friends, "This granddaughter of mine is the most meticulous. With her here, the estate is much more at peace."

"You old fellow really have good fortune; this old man envies you bitterly." A benevolent old man dressed in cyan brocade stroked his beard and said:

"Come to think of it, Heng'er also shares your Xiao Family bloodline, but this old man truly cannot say where he is well-behaved."

"Elder Zhang, blood ties and marriage are one aspect, but one must also find a good teacher."

"Are you old fellow saying that the tutors in my Duke's Mansion do not know how to teach?"

"The facts are as such..."

Seeing several prestigious old men bantering back and forth with each other, Xiao Wan'er did not linger further. After instructing Xiao Yuan to rest well, she got up and left.

After she departed.

Xiao Yuan sighed softly, causing the other few old men to stop talking.

"Old Xiao, stop thinking about those messy things. The most important thing for you right now is to take care of your health," Elder Zhang said, pinching his beard.

"That may be so, but..."

Xiao Yuan did not continue, instead turning to say, "Brother Xuan, earlier you said His Majesty bestows immense favor and affection on the Chen Family and even said my Xiao Family would suffer calamity because of this. Why is that?"

"You have lived in Shuzhou for a long time and do not know," Elder Zhang said with a solemn expression. "In this imperial examination, His Majesty personally appointed the Eldest Son of the Chen Family as the Top Scholar. Those scholars have made a huge fuss for quite a while."

"Oh?"

"Nothing else, his virtue and talent do not match his position..."

The sky grew late.

The dim, blazing sun hung like a massive wheel of light on the western horizon, shining into Chunhe Garden.

Yet unlike the evening sky, the three people inside the pavilion were bustling with intense activity.

"Second Brother-in-law, look quickly, I hooked another fish."

"Sister Xiao Die, quickly bring the fish basket..."

Xiao Wuge seemed to have activated a cheat code, hooking five carp in a single afternoon.

The crucial part was that his equipment was even simpler than Chen Yi's. He had simply found a small bamboo pole himself, tied a string to it, imitated the "Jiang Taigong" that Chen Yi spoke of, tied a piece of meat to the end, and cast it into the pond.

There was no justice in this; he could catch fish even like this?

Chen Yi looked at the fish basket beside Xiao Wuge with an expression of envy, silently putting away his fishing rod.

"Second Brother-in-law, are you not fishing anymore?" Seeing his actions, Xiao Wuge also got up to follow suit, taking on the appearance of going wherever Chen Yi went.

Chen Yi tried his best to calm his mind, saying in a calm tone, "Fishing is merely a minor path; I must go seek the Great Dao."

"Brother-in-law, what is the Great Dao? Teach me."

"It is time to eat. Xiao Die, go check what we are having for dinner..."

How could Chen Yi articulate what the Great Dao was? He was purely worried that if he continued fishing any longer, he would turn green with envy and snatch Xiao Wuge's fish basket away.

During the interval of waiting to fill their stomachs, Chen Yi leaned lazily against the recliner, looking at the beautiful scenery of the setting sun spilling over the pond, and asked in a casual tone:

"Where has Sister Wan'er gone on this long journey?"

"They said it is to buy some gifts for Grandfather, so she went north to Jingzhou." Xiao Wuge sat up straight, his small face taut.

Do not look at his young age; his mind was very mature.

Even at a small age, he sat with proper posture and stood with proper posture. Furthermore, he spoke and acted without shrinking back, showing that he had received specialized guidance since childhood.

In contrast, Chen Yi belonged to that lazy and scattered sort, his face always wearing a gentle smile, looking harmless to humans and animals.

"Oh, why does your sister always wear that cloak?"

With summer approaching, Xiao Wan'er was still draped in that oversized cloak, looking hot just from the sight of it.

Xiao Wuge did not conceal it, stating bluntly, "Eldest Sister's constitution has been weak with illness since childhood, and every year she travels to the Black Mountain Dojo to recuperate in peace."

Chen Yi understood in his heart; no wonder her complexion was slightly pale and her voice lacked a bit of inner breath.

After chatting idly for a few sentences, he asked the doubt in his heart: "Come to think of it, how is it that your sister let you come live in Chunhe Garden?"

With so many residences in the estate, not to mention Old Marquis being around, logically they should not have let this Young Marquis follow him instead.

Xiao Wuge hesitated for a moment. "My sister would not let me tell you. She wants me to learn how to conduct myself and handle affairs from you."

"..." Chen Yi chuckled dryly. "We do not need to be this honest next time."

Learning his conduct and handling of affairs-did Xiao Wan'er have a grudge against Xiao Wuge or what?

How could she be so unhinged.

"Brother-in-law," Xiao Wuge said, looking up at him with his small face, not knowing what he was thinking, "that night Brother Heir Apparent called you a 'runaway groom.' Why did you not get angry when you heard it?"

"How do you know I did not get angry?"

"I could tell. If you were angry, you should have rushed up at the first moment and beaten him up together with me."

"Indeed I was not all that angry," Chen Yi thought for a moment. "I merely feel that things which have already been done, regardless of whether the result is good or bad, ought to be calmly accepted."

What is more, it was merely an appellation; it still could not affect his eating, drinking, and merrymaking.

"And then correct it after doing something wrong?" Xiao Wuge's small face revealed a thoughtful expression as he said, "No man is without fault; who can be free from error? Is that right?"

"Right, though there is another sentence after that: It is never too late to mend." Seeing Xiao Die walking over with the dishes, Chen Yi got up, patted his shoulder, and said, "Let us eat first. The hour is late today; tomorrow Brother-in-law will take you out to play."

"Okay."

Xiao Wuge secretly memorized this sentence, thinking to himself that Brother-in-law truly was, as Eldest Sister had said, one to utter astonishing words every time. Even several of the tutors could rarely speak such simple and direct supreme truths.

After finishing the evening meal.

Xiao Die made the bed in the side chamber next to Chen Yi for Xiao Wuge, and after serving him to rest, she came to the study.

"Son-in-law, are you going to rest?"

"I will go to sleep after I finish writing characters."

Chen Yi stood before the desk, having switched to a small-sized wolf-hair brush to practice his writing in running script.

Compared to the rugged uprightness of the Wei Qing script, running script was obviously much more casual. Every stroke was natural and freehand, and the sharpness of the brush could follow the lightness, weight, speed, and slowness of his mood.

Seeing that he did not even raise his head, Xiao Die quietly stood by his side, grinding the ink while looking at those brushstrokes, and asked with puzzlement:

"Son-in-law, your calligraphy style has changed?"

"It is indeed worse."

"No, no... I mean, it is good, even better-looking."

Chen Yi glanced at her without explaining the changes within it, but he was well aware that his running script was far inferior to the Wei Qing script.

Seeing that he did not speak further, Xiao Die looked left and right as if searching, and upon seeing that she could not find that page of the "Graceful Spirit Ode," she felt slightly relieved in her heart.

It seemed Son-in-law also knew that piece of ci-poetry was inconvenient to show others.

That way she could rest assured.

After watching for a while, Xiao Die saw the first watch drum sound and said, "Son-in-law, Xiao Die will go fetch water for you first."

"Alright."

After finishing writing, Chen Yi looked it over, frowning slightly at the sight, though it smoothed out in just an instant.

"Going from an initial glimpse to the proficient level in two days-this speed can also be considered remarkably fast."

Afterwards, Chen Yi bathed and changed his clothes, putting on a casual garment before returning to the side chamber.

He blew out the candle in the room, looked at the bright moon outside the window, thought of today's discovery of the "Hidden Guard", and began to loosen his limbs.

Then he assumed the posture of the Great Spear Stance Cultivation, with his physique unmoving, taking long and continuous breaths, while the Qi within his body fluctuated and guided his strong muscles, bones, and skin.

If I don't want someone to shatter my peaceful life, I must strengthen myself.

An hour later.

Chen Yi finished the Stake Training covered in heavy sweat, patted his hot and firm chest, and took out a few pieces of meat he had prepared in advance to eat.

After a brief rest, he got up and followed the fist techniques in his memory, practicing them within the narrow side room.

Before long, he saw light and shadows flickering before his eyes:

[Successfully practiced fist technique - Collapse Mountain (Mystic Grade), Level: Initial Glimpse]
[Martial Dao - Fist: Uninitiated 0/1 (Available for stat allocation)]