Heroine?

The next day, the heavy rain eased slightly.

A fine, unbroken drizzle fell, making the entire Xiao Manor seem much fresher.

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

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

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

Before long, the eaves of the two Wooden Towers in Chunhe Garden were filled with lanterns bearing the character "Longevity."

Worried that the rain would soak them, the servants also covered them with a layer of raincloth, saying it could be removed before the birthday celebration.

As for the other arrangements, Chen Yi paid them no mind and left everything to Xiao Die.

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

"Grandfather is amazing."

Xiao Wuge's eyes shone as he spoke of several battles in which Xiao Yuan had defeated the Barbarian Tribe. Twenty years ago, he had personally led three thousand Black Armor cavalrymen and slain the Barbarian Tribe's Imperial Preceptor in formation.

Fifteen years ago, when the Poshushuo Kingdom rebelled, Xiao Yuan had led troops to quell the revolt, massacring twenty cities large and small. Even now, his name was still spoken throughout the Poshushuo Kingdom.

Then there was six years ago, when Muhage, the Left King of the Barbarian Tribe, assembled an army of two hundred thousand and pressed toward Mengshui Pass. Xiao Yuan had commanded from atop the pass and, after a year, driven them back.

Yet when he reached this point, Xiao Wuge could not help looking somewhat dejected.

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

Chen Yi rubbed his head and comforted him. "The dead are gone. Living well is the greatest filial devotion you can offer them."

The Xiao Family was indeed not blessed with many descendants. Not to mention the main branch—apart from Xiao Jinghong, Xiao Wan'er, and Xiao Wuge, only Old Marquis Xiao and Xiao Xuanshuo remained, one old and one crippled.

There were quite a few descendants from the concubine-born branches, however. For instance, Old Marquis Xiao's brother Xiao Wang had a line known as the Xiao Family's Second Branch. They could be called a house full of children and grandchildren; Xiao Wang alone had three sons.

Chen Yi had initially been puzzled by this, but later learned that the Second Branch had taken the path of civil officialdom, with most of them serving within Shuzhou.

The highest-ranking among them was Xiao Wang's eldest son, Xiao Dongchen. He was now Shu Prefecture Administration Commissioner, Subordinate Fourth Rank, overseeing taxes large and small throughout Shuzhou. His authority was not insignificant.

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

She had truly flown onto a branch and become a phoenix.

This time, Xiao Qiuyun had returned to her maiden home with Zhang Heng and even brought the Old Duke along. On the surface, they had come to celebrate Old Marquis Xiao's birthday, but in truth, they were there to flaunt themselves.

Put nicely, it was "nobility nourishes a person." Put bluntly, it was "a lowborn wretch putting on airs."

Of the fortunes Chen Yi had obtained recently, two out of three had involved this woman, truly broadening his horizons.

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

"What are you going there for? Isn't staying in Shuzhou good enough?"

Although Chen Yi wanted to witness the splendor of Jiangnan Prefecture and Jinling, going there would inevitably mean dealing with the Chen Family. He would rather remain in peaceful Shuzhou.

Xiao Wuge said with a smile, "Great Wei regulations state that if I want to inherit the marquisate, I must stay in Jinling for ten years and study rites, laws, classics, histories, and other subjects."

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

Chen Yi secretly frowned. Studying? Wasn't that just going there as a hostage?

But on further thought, there was nothing unreasonable about it—the Marquis of Military title was hereditary and perpetual. The heir would serve as a hostage in childhood, receiving instruction in rites and regulations. It was all benefit and no harm to the imperial family.

"I can't be your teacher."

"Doesn't brother-in-law want to go to Jinling?"

"No. Besides," Chen Yi cast a sidelong glance at the few lively carp in the fish basket beside him, "your aptitude is too dull. I can't teach you."

"Ah?"

"Stop ah-ing. A fish has taken the hook, hurry—"

Strangely enough—

It had been more than ten days since Chen Yi made his fishing rod, yet he had not caught a single fish.

He did not know whether he was simply incompatible with the Golden-haired Carp in this pond, or whether his luck was too poor. Whenever the float moved, some mishap would always let the fish escape.

That alone would have been fine.

The key was that Xiao Wuge caught fish every day. Even on his worst day, he caught five. It truly made Chen Yi lose face.

A peaceful day passed.

As usual, Chen Yi trained in Stake Training with Wang Lixing at dawn. After breakfast, he practiced calligraphy, then spent the rest of the day fishing and drinking tea.

Only when the sky had darkened did he quietly slip out of his side room and train Great Spear Stance Cultivation, Collapsing Mountain Fist, and Dragon Playing Phoenix Footwork in the Bamboo Grove.

As Chen Yi held his stance, he checked the progress of his various paths.

Name: Chen Yi

Cultivation Base: Ninth Rank · Middle

Way of Calligraphy: Great Accomplishment (0/1000)

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

Martial Dao Body: Minor accomplishment (0/100)

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

Martial Dao Fist: Minor accomplishment (0/100)

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

Martial Dao Step: Minor accomplishment (0/100)

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

Fortune: 7

"After reaching Ninth Rank · Middle Stage, my strength has risen incredibly quickly."

At Ninth Rank · Lower, Chen Yi's body had possessed only One Ox Strength. But now, he already had the strength of five oxen—a full fivefold increase.

Though he had not learned about the progress of other cultivators, following the profound guidance of Martial Dao Body, he guessed that others practicing Great Spear Stance Cultivation would directly break through to Ninth Rank, Middle Stage once they reached One Ox Strength.

But he had not rushed to break through. Instead, he continued tempering his body through Stake Training until he could advance no further, only then breaking through. His foundation had been laid solidly enough.

"This is good too. When others go all out, I only need to use twenty percent of my strength."

"If I cultivate Great Spear Stance Cultivation to Mastery Level in the future, even to the Perfection Realm, I'll reach the peak of 'elephant strength.' A casual punch will weigh ten thousand jin."

With that thought, Chen Yi gathered his mind and silently felt the tremors in his muscles, bones, skin, and internal organs. He guided the thread of Qi born from tempering his flesh and blood into his Dantian, gradually opening up his Dantian Qi Sea.

Having entered Ninth Rank, Middle Stage, his next breakthrough would rely on Qi.

He first had to open his Dantian Qi Sea. Once it contained enough Qi, he could proceed to the next step: opening the Four Main Meridians in his hands, feet, and limbs, reaching Ninth Rank, Upper Stage and the Perfection Realm.

But the entire process was exceptionally slow. Even with the profound guidance of Martial Dao Body, it was still the grinding work of water wearing down stone.

An hour passed quickly.

After resting briefly, Chen Yi looked around. Seeing no unusual movement nearby, he assumed a stance and began slowly, powerfully practicing the Collapsing Mountain Fist.

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

Beyond its fierce force and heavy blows, it emphasized using attack in place of defense. Every punch and kick went straight for vital points, and its footwork was equally direct and straightforward.

Thus, after five sets of the fist technique, the food Chen Yi had just eaten was completely burned away, leaving his stomach utterly empty.

"I should have Xiao Die bring more food tomorrow. If I keep training like this, I'll really become weak like Wang Lixing said."

Chen Yi muttered to himself, then circled several stalks of Purple Bamboo and continued practicing the Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix body movement technique.

Just then, a crisp and pleasant voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

"Chen Yi?"

Chen Yi's expression tightened. Without stopping his feet, he quickly moved far away and scanned his surroundings.

"Who's there?"

"Looks like it really is you—the live-in son-in-law of Xiao Manor, Xiao Jinghong's husband, Chen Yi, right?"

The voice drifted unpredictably through the Purple Bamboo Grove, mixed with the tinkling sound of bells.

Chen Yi looked around but still found nothing. "May I ask what this... heroine wants with me?"

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