Heroine?

The next day, the heavy rain eased slightly.

A fine drizzle fell, lending the entire Xiao Manor a fresh, renewed air.

As Old Marquis Xiao's birthday drew near, the mansion's servants and maidservants began bustling about the various courtyards.

Even with the rain, they still had to prepare the birthday arrangements in advance.

At the very least, the "happiness" lanterns hung for Chen Yi and Xiao Jinghong's wedding had to be taken down and replaced.

Before long, the eaves of both wooden towers in Chunhe Garden were festooned with lanterns bearing the character for "longevity."

Fearing the rain might soak them, the servants covered the lanterns with oilcloth, saying they could remove it just before the birthday celebration.

There were other decorations as well, but Chen Yi paid them no mind, leaving everything to Xiao Die.

At the moment, he was pondering what birthday verse to write for the Old Marquis, and had even specifically asked Xiao Wuge about the Old Marquis's deeds.

"Grandfather is incredibly formidable."

Xiao Wuge's eyes lit up as he recounted Xiao Yuan's several campaigns that crushed the Barbarian Tribe—such as twenty years ago, when he personally led three thousand Black Armor cavalry to behead the Barbarian Tribe's national preceptor.

Or fifteen years ago, when the Poshushuo Kingdom rebelled and Xiao Yuan led the army to suppress them, slaughtering his way through twenty cities large and small; his name still echoed in that kingdom to this day.

And six years ago, when the Barbarian Tribe's Left King Muhage amassed two hundred thousand troops and pressed against Mengshui Pass, Xiao Yuan commanded from the pass and drove them back after a year-long campaign.

But at this point, Xiao Wuge couldn't help but grow a little downcast.

"Father, Mother, and several uncles and aunts all died in that great battle..."

Chen Yi patted his head and comforted him. "The departed are gone. Living well yourself is the greatest filial piety you can show them."

The Xiao Family was indeed sparse in numbers now. The main branch went without saying—aside from Xiao Jinghong, Xiao Wan'er, and Xiao Wuge, only the Old Marquis and Xiao Xuanshuo remained, one old and one crippled.

There were plenty of collateral branches, though. For instance, Xiao Wang's line, the second house of the Xiao Family, could boast a full house of descendants; his sons alone numbered three.

Chen Yi had been puzzled by this at first, but later learned that the second house had taken the civil official path, mostly serving in Shu Prefecture.

The highest-ranking among them was Xiao Wang's eldest son, Xiao Dongchen, now Shu Prefecture Administration Commissioner, a rank-four official overseeing all taxes in Shu Prefecture—no small authority.

Of course, the most exceptional was Xiao Wang's daughter, Xiao Qiuyun, who had married the Duke of Gan's youngest son and was the mother of the Young Heir Apparent, Zhang Heng.

A true case of a sparrow perching on a phoenix branch.

This time, Xiao Qiuyun had brought Zhang Heng back to her maiden home, along with the Old Duke himself, ostensibly to celebrate the Old Marquis's birthday but in truth to show off.

To put it nicely, "noble air nurtures the person"; to put it bluntly, "a petty person putting on airs."

Of the fortunes Chen Yi had recently obtained, two out of three were tied to this woman, which had truly opened his eyes.

After a while, a smile returned to Xiao Wuge's face. "Brother-in-law, next year I'm going to Jinling and will have to stay there for ten years. Can you come with me?"

"What for? Isn't Shu Prefecture good enough?"

Chen Yi wanted to see the splendor of Jiangnan Prefecture and Jinling, but going there would inevitably mean dealing with the Chen Family. He'd rather stay in Shu Prefecture, where it was peaceful.

Xiao Wuge grinned. "Great Wei's regulations say that if I want to inherit the Marquis title, I need to spend ten years in Jinling, studying rites, laws, classics, and history."

"But I think you could be my teacher, brother-in-law. I don't need so many people teaching me."

Chen Yi frowned inwardly. Study? This was about going as a hostage.

But on second thought, it made sense—the title of Marquis of Military was hereditary. The heir spent his youth as a hostage, learning rites and regulations, which benefited the imperial house in every way.

"I can't be your teacher."

"Does brother-in-law not want to go to Jinling?"

"No, I don't. And besides," Chen Yi shot a sidelong glance at the lively carp in the fish basket at Xiao Wuge's side, "you're too dull-witted. I couldn't teach you even if I tried."

"Huh?"

"Stop 'huh'-ing. The fish is biting. Hurry up..."

Strangely enough.

It had been over ten days since Chen Yi made his fishing rod, and he hadn't caught a single fish.

Whether it was some clash between him and these "Golden-haired Carp" in the pond, or just rotten luck, every time the float bobbed, some accident would let the fish slip away.

That would be bad enough.

But the real kicker was that Xiao Wuge caught something every single day—his worst haul was five fish—which was a real blow to Chen Yi's pride.

A day of peace.

Chen Yi followed his usual routine: at dawn, he practiced stance cultivation with Wang Lixing, then after breakfast, he took up his brush to practice calligraphy, followed by fishing and passing the time with tea.

When the sky dimmed, he quietly slipped out of the side room and into the bamboo grove to train in Great Spear Stance Cultivation, Collapsing Mountain Fist, and Dragon Playing Phoenix Footwork.

As he held his stance, Chen Yi checked his current progress in each path.

Name: Chen Yi

Cultivation Base: Ninth Rank · Middle

Way of Calligraphy: Mastery (0/1000)

Calligraphy: Wei Qing (Proficient), Running Script (Skilled)

Martial Dao Body: Minor Accomplishment (0/100)

Cultivation Technique: Great Spear Stance Cultivation [Mystic Grade] (Proficient)

Martial Dao Fist: Minor Accomplishment (0/100)

Fist Art: Collapsing Mountain Fist [Mystic Grade] (Proficient)

Martial Dao Step: Minor Accomplishment (0/100)

Body Art: Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix [Yellow Tier] (Initial Glimpse)

Fortune: 7

"After breaking through to Ninth Rank, Middle Stage, my strength has surged quite fiercely."

At Ninth Rank · Lower, Chen Yi's physical body could only muster One Ox Strength, but now, he already possessed Five Ox Strength—a full fivefold increase.

Though he hadn't looked into the progress of other cultivators, following the profound guidance of the [Martial Dao Body], he guessed that others training in [Great Spear Stance Cultivation] would likely break through directly to Ninth Rank, Middle Stage upon reaching One Ox Strength.

But he hadn't rushed to break through. Instead, he continued tempering his body with the stance, only advancing when there was no further room for improvement, laying a solid enough foundation.

"This is good too. Others have to use their full strength; I only need to use two-tenths."

"If I can train Great Spear Stance Cultivation to Mastery Level, or even the Perfection Realm in the future, I'll reach the peak of 'Elephant Strength,' and a casual punch will weigh ten thousand jin."

Thinking this, Chen Yi reined in his thoughts, silently sensing the vibrations in his sinews, bones, skin, and internal organs. He guided that thread of Qi born from tempering flesh and blood, channeling it into his Dantian, gradually expanding his Qi Sea.

Having stepped into Ninth Rank, Middle Stage, further breakthroughs would rely on Qi.

First, he had to open the Dantian Qi Sea. Only when it held enough Qi could he proceed to the next step—unblocking the Four Main Meridians in his hands and feet, reaching Ninth Rank, Upper Stage and the Perfection Realm.

But the entire process was excruciatingly slow. Even with the profound guidance of the "Martial Dao Body," it was still a painstaking, gradual effort.

An hour passed quickly.

Chen Yi took a short rest, swept his gaze around, and seeing no unusual movements nearby, he assumed a stance and began throwing Collapsing Mountain Fist punches, slow and powerful.

The complete fist art had nine moves and thirty-six variations.

Besides being fierce, heavy, and forceful, it emphasized offense over defense. Every punch and kick aimed straight for vital points, and the footwork was straightforward and direct.

Thus, after finishing five sets of the fist art, the food Chen Yi had just replenished was once again completely consumed, leaving his stomach utterly empty.

"Tomorrow I'll have to ask Xiao Die to bring more food. Otherwise, if I keep training like this, I'll really end up as weak as Wang Lixing said."

Chen Yi muttered to himself, then circled around a few purple bamboos, continuing to practice the [Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix] body art.

Just then, a crisp, pleasant voice suddenly rang in his ears:

"Chen Yi?"

Chen Yi's expression tightened. He didn't stop his steps, retreating far away as he scanned his surroundings.

"Who?"

"It seems it's you. The live-in son-in-law of Xiao Manor, Xiao Jinghong's husband, Chen Yi, right?"

That voice drifted unpredictably, wandering through the purple bamboo grove, interspersed with a tinkling, jingling sound.

Chen Yi looked around but still found nothing. "May I ask... what business does this heroine have with This Humble One?"

"Heroine? Hehehe... That's right, that's right. I am a heroine."