Soaring Across the Void: Xiao Jinghong

Five days later.

Chen Yi lay by the window, his eyes fixed on the west gate of Chunhe Garden—the end of the corridor leading to Jiaxing Garden.

Ever since Xiao Die had brought him the Eldest Miss of the Xiao Family's "good news," he couldn't contain his excitement. In just five days, he had finished copying the remaining two hundred family rules.

No, "copy" wasn't the right word—it should be "memorize."

The entire text was a hundred characters long; he could recite it backward with his eyes closed.

"First, loyalty to the sovereign and service to the country, dying on the battlefield wrapped in horsehide. Second, all male family members must enter the Training Ground upon turning six..."

The Marquis of Wu Family's rules were harsh—either loyalty to the sovereign, martial training, or bringing glory to the family name.

It sounded profound, yet baffling.

His thoughts scattered in chaos.

Chen Yi still couldn't calm down.

He hadn't stepped outside for fifty days now. Even a prisoner in a cell got daily exercise time, but he truly hadn't set foot past the door once.

Even the Armored Soldier at the gate could see his impatience, a faint smile creeping onto his face.

Over these days, the four Armored Soldiers had come to understand Chen Yi, sympathizing somewhat with his escape from the marriage.

Think about it—a man from a prestigious family, well-read, with hopes of passing the imperial exams, yet forced into a matrilocal marriage. Anyone would struggle to accept it.

"Brothers," Chen Yi noticed their gazes and made small talk, "If I could leave this side room, wouldn't you be free to stop guarding here?"

The four Armored Soldiers exchanged glances. One with a braided cord on his left arm rumbled, "Yes, but we'd guard outside the garden instead."

"..."

Chen Yi thought, fair enough.

From a three-story wooden building to a dozen-acre garden—that was a big step forward.

Maybe because Chen Yi was about to be released, or maybe the soldiers had changed their view of him.

Either way, while waiting for Xiao Die to return, they grew more familiar.

Chen Yi seized the chance to ask what he most wanted to know: "Can martial artists really soar through the air?"

He'd long known from his memories that the Great Wei Dynasty revered martial arts, and those with deep cultivation possessed unimaginable power.

For instance, Yin Tiankuang, the master of the Broken Blade Sect in Jiangnan Prefecture, had once visited the Chen Family and demonstrated the Sect-Breaking Saber—splitting a small hill with a single slash.

Then there was the legendary Sword Ghost, who "stopped a river with one sword," single-handedly breaking through three thousand armored soldiers and slaughtering the Huben Army sent to hunt him.

But Chen Yi only knew of the former, never having seen the latter. So lately, he occasionally fantasized about becoming a martial arts master—the reclusive kind.

If he could channel his fortune into martial training, he could rely on the Dao Realm's boost to rapidly advance his cultivation.

The Armored Soldier with the braided cord on his left arm, named Wang Lixing, replied, "Of course. The Second Miss can."

Chen Yi froze. "The Second Miss... the Madam? Her cultivation is that high?"

Wang Lixing nodded, a hint of admiration in his expression. "The Second Miss has extraordinary martial talent. At just twenty, she's already a Fourth Rank Realm cultivator. She can soar dozens of miles and travel two thousand miles in a day."

Chen Yi was stunned. Xiao Jinghong was that formidable?

Well, it seemed he'd better stay low-key until he had enough strength.

Not long after.

Xiao Die finally appeared through the archway of white walls and black tiles at the end of the corridor. Spotting Chen Yi craning his neck, she giggled and trotted over.

"Son-in-law, there's good news and bad news. Which do you... which do you want to hear first?"

"Either works," Chen Yi rolled his eyes, his excitement fading a bit. "To me, any news is good news."

Xiao Die muttered that he was no fun, then first addressed the soldiers: "The Eldest Miss says you can guard outside the garden from now on."

"Yes, Miss Xiao Die."

The soldiers had expected this.

Wang Lixing bowed to Chen Yi, then led the others out of the garden in single file.

Once they disappeared.

Chen Yi didn't even wait for Xiao Die's good or bad news. He braced one hand on the windowsill and jumped straight out, then let out a whoop and dashed toward the nearby pavilion.

Xiao Die hurried after him. "Son-in-law, Son-in-law, slow down!"

She wasn't worried he'd run off—it was broad daylight, and soldiers were still guarding outside the garden. Unlike on his wedding day, when he'd slipped away in the chaos on the road from the inn to the Marquis's mansion.

Chen Yi ignored her, sprinting all the way to the pavilion. He spread his arms wide before the rippling pond water, took a deep breath, and felt utterly refreshed.

Xiao Die ran up, panting. "Son-in-law, I haven't even finished speaking."

Chen Yi didn't turn around, still tilting his head back, breathing in the free air.

Seeing he wouldn't respond, Xiao Die went on, "The Eldest Miss says you'll have to stay in Chunhe Garden for now. She's already written to the Second Miss to explain. Once the Second Miss replies, your confinement should be lifted."

Chen Yi let out a long breath, his whole being brightening. "And the good news?"

Xiao Die was taken aback. "That's the good news?"

"Then what's the better news?"

"There is no better news." Xiao Die puffed out her cheeks, pouting as she glared at him. "Son-in-law, there's only one piece of bad news left."

Chen Yi turned his head to look at her. "Let's hear it."

"The bad news is that the Eldest Miss said... no, actually, it was the Old Master's instruction. He said that since you've married into the Xiao Family, you must follow the household rules."

"What rules?" Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that there really was bad news after all.

"Son-in-law, have you forgotten? The family code states, 'Any male in the household who has reached the age of six must train in martial arts at the Training Ground.'" Xiao Die covered her mouth with a laugh. "You have to train too."

Chen Yi was stunned. "Are you sure?"

To him, this news was neither good nor bad.

He had previously assumed the Xiao Family wouldn't teach him martial arts. After all, as a son-in-law who had fled from a marriage, having food, clothes, and an allowance was already more than generous from them.

But letting him train in martial arts... were they treating him like family now?

He thought for a moment.

Then a notion stirred in his mind: "Could they be trying to conscript me? They wouldn't want me to join the army and fight, would they?"

From his understanding of the Xiao Family over this period, he knew the household was indeed short on male members.

It was very possible...

Xiao Die had no idea what he was thinking, and kept a straight face as she said:

"But the Eldest Miss said you don't need to worry, Son-in-law. If you don't want to learn, you can just go through the motions. And since you still can't leave Chunhe Garden, they'll probably send a teacher here."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and said irritably, "Xiao Die, next time remember to say everything at once."

If that was the case, he didn't need to worry too much. Still, to be safe, he'd have to act like he was "no good at martial arts," so he wouldn't get dragged off as cannon fodder later.

Xiao Die stuck out her tongue. "Who told you to run off here without listening?"

Hearing this, Chen Yi sensed something off and glanced at her. "You seem different from before."

"Do I?" Xiao Die looked down at herself.

"Your way of addressing me has changed. In these past two months, you've never used a 'respectful title' for me. What's this? Did the sun rise from the west today?" Chen Yi teased.

Xiao Die's face flushed, and she said softly, "The, the Eldest Miss told me to serve you from now on, Son-in-law..."

"Oh~ so that's how it is~" Chen Yi drew out his words. "You're worried I'll make things hard for you later."

"It's, it's not that..."

"You're blushing, hey."

Xiao Die made as if to hit him, but remembering she was now his personal maidservant, she held back and lowered her head without speaking.

Seeing this, Chen Yi stopped joking and said a few sincere, warm words.

Xiao Die smiled again, secretly glancing at his back.

Before, because the son-in-law had fled the marriage, everyone in the Xiao Family had disliked him, and she was no exception.

It was only today that she realized—the son-in-law was actually a very good person, just as approachable as the Eldest Miss, the Second Miss, and the Old Master.

No.

Xiao Die thought back carefully and realized that from the moment she first met Chen Yi, he had never treated her like a servant.

Although he sometimes asked her to do things, like grind ink or bring food, his tone never made her feel looked down upon. Instead, it was very calm.

So much so that she could completely relax around him.

Thinking this, Xiao Die asked softly, "Son-in-law, you must be hungry, right? I'll go get some food."

"Go on, go on."

Chen Yi waved his hand without looking back, still watching the lively fish in the pond with great interest, planning when he could get a fishing rod and wipe them all out in one go.

He was a seasoned fisherman who prided himself on "never coming back empty-handed"—how could he not cast a few lines?