Fist Technique: Collapse Mountain!

In the end, Chen Yi agreed to Xiao Wan'er's "request" and promised to look after Xiao Wuge for a time.

He would take it as compensation for all the fine food and drink the Xiao Family had provided him.

However, he made his terms clear beforehand: Xiao Wuge could stay within Chunhe Garden and was not allowed to run around, but Chen Yi would not be responsible for teaching him any miscellaneous nonsense.

Xiao Wan'er nodded in agreement. After giving Xiao Wuge a few instructions, she left with Shen Huatang.

"Eldest Miss, why do you value the second son-in-law so highly?"

Having held it in for a long while, Shen Huatang finally could not help asking after they passed through the central courtyard gates. "In Hua Tang's view, even if he possesses some learning, he is far inferior to the several teachers in the residence, not to mention that his character is so..."

Despicable.

Though Shen Huatang did not say it aloud, Xiao Wan'er naturally understood.

As she walked gracefully toward a residence near the right side of the central courtyard, she replied in a gentle voice:

"I do not need him to teach Wu Ge knowledge. I only want Wu Ge to remain by his side and absorb, by ear and eye, how he conducts himself in the world."

"This..."

"Hua Tang, you have been with my Xiao Family for quite some time. You should know that next spring, Wu Ge will set out for Jinling to serve as a Hostage."

"You mean..." Shen Huatang's heart stirred as she understood. "You want Young Master Wu Ge to behave in Jinling as the second son-in-law does?"

"Yes." Xiao Wan'er gave a slight nod, her bright eyes lowered and her tone carrying a trace of heaviness.

"The Xiao Family has only him left as a direct bloodline descendant. I do not ask that he strive for greatness. I only hope he can remain safe and sound in Jinling for ten full years."

"It is true that my brother-in-law has some learning, but what I value more is his easygoing nature. If Wu Ge can learn even one-tenth of it, he will face far fewer troubles in Jinling."

"Please forgive me, Miss. Hua Tang spoke out of turn."

"It is nothing."

Xiao Wan'er let out a soft laugh, pushed open the residence gates, and slowly walked inside.

Watching her enter, Shen Huatang silently stood guard outside. With her longsword held across her chest in both hands, she lifted her head to look at the sky.

Master had been right. Those born into wealth and splendor appeared surrounded by blooming flowers and embroidered brocade, yet within lay tangled knots of chaos.

Inside the residence.

"Wan'er, have you arranged things for Wu Ge?"

Old Marquis Xiao Yuan, dressed in a plain long robe, reclined in a lounge chair. Though broad of body and stout of frame, the sickliness on his face was still apparent.

After bowing to the three elderly men on the other side, Xiao Wan'er replied, "Everything has been arranged. He will remain with Second Sister's husband these next few days."

Xiao Yuan paused. "Everything in the residence is yours to decide. Arrange it as you see fit."

As he spoke, he smiled and praised his old friends. "My granddaughter is the most meticulous. With her here, the residence has been much more peaceful."

"You old fellow truly have good fortune. This old man envies you greatly." An elderly man in green brocade stroked his beard as he spoke.

"Strangely enough, Heng'er also bears the bloodline of your Xiao Family, yet this old man truly cannot say where he is obedient."

"Elder Zhang, blood ties and marriage are one matter. You still need to find a good teacher."

"You old fellow mean to say that the teachers in my Duke's Mansion cannot teach?"

"That is simply the truth..."

Seeing the several high-ranking elders bicker with one another, Xiao Wan'er did not linger. After reminding Xiao Yuan to rest well, she rose and departed.

After she left.

Xiao Yuan let out a faint sigh, causing the other elders to stop arguing.

"Old Xiao, do not think about all that disorderly nonsense. The most important thing for you now is to take care of your health." Elder Zhang said, pinching his beard.

"Though that is true, but..."

Xiao Yuan did not continue. Instead, he asked, "Brother Xuan, earlier you said His Majesty favored the Chen Family greatly, and that my Xiao Family would suffer because of it. Why is that?"

"You have lived in Shuzhou for too long and do not know," Elder Zhang said solemnly. "In this imperial examination, His Majesty personally selected the Eldest Son of the Chen Family as the Top Scholar. Those scholars have been making a ruckus for quite some time."

"Oh?"

"There is no other reason. His virtue and talent do not match his position..."

Evening gradually fell.

The dusky sun hung like an enormous wheel of light over the western horizon, shining upon Chunhe Garden.

Yet unlike the sky, the three people in the pavilion were ablaze with excitement.

"Second Brother-in-law, look! I caught another fish."

"Sister Xiao Die, hurry and bring the fish basket..."

Xiao Wuge seemed to have been blessed by the heavens. Over a single afternoon, he caught five carp.

The key was that his equipment was even simpler than Chen Yi's. He had merely found a little bamboo rod, tied a string to it, imitated the Jiang Taigong Chen Yi had mentioned, tied a piece of meat to the end, and tossed it into the pond.

This was outrageous. He could catch fish like that?

Chen Yi stared enviously at the fish basket beside him and silently put away his fishing rod.

"Second Brother-in-law, are you not fishing anymore?" Seeing his movements, Xiao Wuge stood as well, looking as though he would follow Chen Yi wherever he went.

Chen Yi tried his best to calm himself and said evenly, "Fishing is but a minor path. I must seek the Great Dao."

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

"It is time to eat. Xiao Die, go see what we are having tonight..."

How could Chen Yi possibly explain the Great Dao? He was simply worried that if they kept fishing, his envy would turn his eyes red and make him snatch Xiao Wuge's fish basket away.

While waiting to fill his stomach, Chen Yi lounged lazily in his chair. Looking at the beautiful sight of the setting sun spilling across the pond, he casually asked:

"Where is Sister Wan'er going on this long journey?"

"She said she was going east to Jingzhou to buy some gifts for grandfather." Xiao Wuge sat bolt upright, his little face taut.

Though he was young, his thoughts were exceptionally mature.

At such a tender age, he sat properly and stood properly. Moreover, he neither shrank back in speech nor action. It was obvious that he had received specialized instruction since childhood.

By comparison, Chen Yi was the lazy and slack sort. He always wore a mild smile, looking harmless to man and beast alike.

"Oh, why does your sister keep wearing that cloak?"

Summer was nearly here, yet Xiao Wan'er still wore that oversized cloak. It looked hot just seeing it.

Xiao Wuge did not hide it and said frankly, "Eldest Sister has been frail and sickly since childhood. Every year, she goes to Black Mountain Dojo to recuperate."

Chen Yi understood at once. No wonder her complexion was slightly pale and her voice lacked some strength.

After chatting idly for a few moments, he asked the question in his heart. "Come to think of it, why did your sister have you stay in Chunhe Garden?"

There were so many residences in the estate, and Old Marquis was here as well. Logically, this Young Marquis should not have been sent to stay with him.

Xiao Wuge hesitated for a moment. "My sister told me not to tell you. She wants me to learn how to conduct myself from you."

"..." Chen Yi laughed speechlessly. "Next time, you do not need to be so honest."

Learn how to conduct himself from him? Did Xiao Wan'er have some grudge against Xiao Wuge or what?

Was she really that desperate?

"Brother-in-law," unaware of what he was thinking, Xiao Wuge raised his little face to look at him. "That night, Brother Heir Apparent called you a 'runaway groom.' Why were you not angry when you heard it?"

"How do you know I was not angry?"

"I could tell. If you had been angry, you should have rushed over at once and beaten him up with me."

"I truly was not that angry." Chen Yi thought for a moment. "I only felt that once something has been done, regardless of whether the outcome is good or bad, one should accept it calmly."

Besides, it was only a title. It could not affect his eating, drinking, or enjoyment.

"And then correct your mistakes?" Xiao Wuge's little face revealed a thoughtful expression. "No man is a sage; who can be without fault? Is that right?"

"Right, but there is another saying after that: It is never too late to mend." Seeing Xiao Die approach with the food, Chen Yi stood and patted his shoulder. "Eat first. It is already late today. Tomorrow, brother-in-law will take you out to have some fun."

"Alright."

Xiao Wuge quietly memorized those words. Brother-in-law truly was as Eldest Sister said—whenever he spoke, his words were startling. Even the teachers rarely spoke such simple and straightforward truths.

After dinner.

Xiao Die made up a bed for Xiao Wuge in the side room next to Chen Yi's. After attending to him as he rested, she went to the study room.

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

"I will sleep after I finish writing."

Chen Yi stood before the desk, changed to a smaller Wolf-hair Brush, and practiced with Running Script.

Compared with the bold, upright Wei Qing script, Running Script was clearly more free and unrestrained. Each stroke flowed naturally, while the brush tip could shift between weight and lightness, speed and slowness, with one's mood.

Seeing that he did not even raise his head, Xiao Die quietly stepped to his side. As she ground the ink, she watched the writing and asked in puzzlement:

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

"It has indeed worsened."

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

Chen Yi glanced at her without explaining the differences, though he knew full well that his Running Script was far inferior to Wei Qing's.

Seeing that he said nothing more, Xiao Die looked around as if searching. When she failed to find that page of the Graceful Spirit Ode, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

It seemed Son-in-law also knew that those lyrics were not suitable to show others.

Now she could rest easy.

After watching for a while, Xiao Die heard the first night watch drum sound and said, "Son-in-law, Xiao Die will draw your bathwater first."

"Alright."

After Chen Yi finished writing, he looked over it once. His brows furrowed as he stared, but only for an instant before they relaxed again.

"Two days to rise from Initial Glimpse to Proficient Level. This speed can be called lightning fast."

Afterward, Chen Yi bathed and changed clothes, putting on a set of casual clothes before returning to the side room.

He blew out the candle in the room, looked at the bright moon outside the window, recalled the Hidden Guard he had discovered today, and began to loosen his limbs.

Then he assumed the stance of Great Spear Stance Cultivation. His body remained motionless as he breathed long and steadily. Qi stirred within his body, drawing upon his powerful muscles, bones, and skin.

"If I do not wish for others to shatter my peaceful life, I must strengthen myself."

One hour later.

Chen Yi ended his Stake Training drenched in sweat. He patted his heated, solid chest, then found several chunks of meat he had prepared beforehand and began eating.

After resting briefly, he rose and followed the fist technique in his memories, practicing within the cramped side room.

In a moment, flickering light and shadows appeared before his eyes:

[Successfully practiced Fist Technique · Collapse Mountain (Mystic Grade), level: Initial Glimpse]

[Martial Path · Fist: Not Initiated 0/1 (points may be added)]