A Change in Attitude

The setting sun sank completely behind the western hills, its last trace of afterglow swallowed by the dusk. Bitter cold winds swept scattered flecks of snow along the silent mountain path. When Li Bufan led his horse and, together with Lin Zhiyan, Nanny Wu, and Qin Shi, finally emerged from the vast Cloud Dusk Mountain Range and saw Black Rock City's familiar outline in the distance, dotted with lights in the night, even with his greatly improved physique, he could not help quietly letting out a breath.

The brief yet soul-stirring experience deep in the mountain range—especially the earth-shattering battle between the two Qi Condensation Demon Beasts and the young lady's unfathomable methods, which had flashed by like a startled swan—had been branded deeply into his mind. It was a world of martial arts he had never encountered before, one he could scarcely even imagine: powerful, mysterious, and filled with both danger and opportunity.

No one spoke along the way. Only the clopping of hooves against the frozen earth and the howling of the cold wind accompanied them. The atmosphere was silent but not oppressive; instead, it carried the calm that followed surviving great peril.

By the time they reached Black Rock City's towering gates, the sky had gone completely dark. The gate guards clearly recognized the Lin Family emblem. When they saw Lin Zhiyan atop her horse, they immediately let them pass with great respect, not daring to question them in the slightest.

After entering the city, few pedestrians remained on the streets. Only the light spilling from the shops on either side and the occasional cries of vendors painted a scene utterly different from the deathly stillness of the deep mountains, one filled with the warmth of human life.

Hoofbeats echoed across the Blue Stone pavement before finally stopping outside an imposing residence. On the lanterns hanging high above, the two gilded words "Lin Manor" gleamed in the firelight. The vermilion gates were shut tight, while two stone lions stood before them, solemn and imposing.

They had arrived.

Lin Zhiyan lightly swung herself down from her horse, her movements flowing like drifting clouds and running water, without the slightest sign of exhaustion. Her gaze swept over the servants on duty at the entrance, and the two men immediately straightened up and bowed respectfully. "Young Lady!"

"Mm." Lin Zhiyan responded indifferently, then turned her gaze to Li Bufan. Her tone remained as cool and steady as ever. "We have arrived at Lin Manor. Li Bufan, you may attend to your own affairs."

After a pause, she continued, "Nanny Wu, Coach Qin, come inside with me. Ask at once whether Lin Gong has returned safely."

"Yes, Young Lady." Nanny Wu and Qin Shi bowed in unison.

Qin Shi glanced at Li Bufan, seeming as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he merely nodded. Then he followed closely behind Lin Zhiyan and Nanny Wu as they hurried toward the slowly opening vermilion gates.

Li Bufan stood where he was and respectfully bowed toward Lin Zhiyan's retreating back. "Farewell, Young Lady."

Only after the three vanished beyond the gates and the heavy doors slowly shut once more did Li Bufan straighten up. Leading the equally exhausted horse, he handed it over to a stablehand who had hurried over after hearing the news and gave him a few simple instructions.

After finishing all that, he stood alone beneath the dim yellow light outside Lin Manor and took a deep breath of the icy air, which carried the familiar scent of the city. The suffocating pressure and terrifying might of the mountains gradually faded away, yet the flame kindled in his heart by the sight of greater heights burned ever fiercer.

"Qi Condensation Realm... drawing upon the Vital Energy of heaven and earth..." he murmured, his fists clenching of their own accord. The young lady's Sword Qi that had blocked the shockwave from the Demon Beasts' self-destruction, and her calm manner of deciding the fates of two terrifying Demon Beasts with a casual gesture, replayed endlessly before his eyes.

Compared to such power, his Minor Success in Skin Refining truly was as insignificant as dust. Wang Zheng's schemes, other people's mockery, even that tiny bit of self-satisfaction he had once felt—all of it now seemed incomparably laughable and trivial.

Yet this did not discourage him. Instead, it stirred an unprecedented fighting spirit and yearning within him!

"I possess the fate of Heaven Rewards Diligence! So long as I put in enough effort, there will surely be a reward!" Li Bufan's eyes shone with resolute light in the darkness. "The Five Body Tempering Gates are by no means my endpoint! One day, I too will uncover the secrets of Vital Energy and wield such formidable power!"

That conviction was firmer than it had ever been before. He no longer sought merely to gain a foothold in Lin Manor, nor merely to avenge himself upon petty villains. He wanted to truly set foot upon the martial path and behold the scenery from greater heights!

With such thoughts in his heart, Li Bufan headed toward the side courtyard where the guards lived. His steps were steady and powerful, as if every one of them landed upon a foundation stone leading toward greater strength.

However, when he entered the side courtyard, he found that its atmosphere was entirely different from before he had left.

At this hour, the courtyard should have been quite lively. The guards would either gather together to brag and chatter, spar with one another, or handle their private affairs. Yet although there were people in the courtyard now, it felt strangely quiet, even... eerie.

Many gazes instantly focused on him. Those looks no longer contained their former contempt, mockery, or gloating. In their place were complicated emotions: awe, curiosity, embarrassment, and even... ingratiation?

Li Bufan's expression remained calm, as if he had noticed nothing unusual, and he walked straight toward his own crude room.

"Uh... Li, Brother Li is back?" A somewhat dry voice rang out. Li Bufan had some impression of the speaker; he was one of the guards who had often followed at Wang Zheng's heels and mocked him.

Li Bufan did not stop walking. He merely glanced at him indifferently and gave no response.

The man immediately looked awkward. He opened his mouth, yet had no idea what to say.

Another man stepped forward, his face piled with smiles. "Brother Bufan, the Winter Hunt must have been hard on you! I heard you rendered a great service and even saved someone? Truly impressive!"

"Yes, yes. Before, we were blind as bats. Brother, please do not take it to heart..."

"Those bastards Wang Zheng and the others truly got what they deserved! They actually dared to harm their fellow guards!"

"Brother Bufan, if there is ever anything you need in the future, just say the word!"

For a moment, several guards surrounded him, chattering away with flattery and apologies, their tones full of obvious fawning and caution.

Li Bufan sneered inwardly. These people changed their faces quickly enough. They had merely seen that the young lady treated him somewhat differently and heard of his performance during the Winter Hunt. In particular, Wang Zheng and the other two had met such miserable ends, which frightened them and made them eager either to clear themselves of any connection or cling to him.

True respect had never come from another's charity or fear. It had to be earned through one's own strength.

He had no interest in their hypocritical ingratiation and even found it somewhat irritating. He neither stopped nor answered a single word. His face remained as still as an ancient well untouched by ripples, as though the people around him were no more than air.

Under the complicated gazes of the crowd, he crossed the courtyard without expression, entered the shared quarters, and with a soft snap, shut the door, sealing all the noise, flattery, and awkwardness outside.

The guards outside looked at one another, their faces alternating between green and white before finally turning into helplessness and a trace of resentment. They knew that the past could not be brushed aside with a few weightless apologies. That medicine-carrying servant they had once looked down upon had already used his strength and fortune to thoroughly widen the distance between them. He did not need to say anything. That very disregard was the clearest attitude possible.

Inside the room, Li Bufan slid the bolt into place, shutting out everything beyond the door. He lit an oil lamp, and its dim yellow glow illuminated the crude but tidy little room.

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and cast all the disturbance outside completely from his mind. Other people's attitudes no longer mattered to him.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he did not begin cultivating immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and carefully revisited everything he had seen and heard in the mountains that day, especially every detail of the Demon Beast battle and the young lady's intervention, trying to draw even the faintest trace of insight from them.

At the same time, a clear plan took shape in his mind: make full use of the fate of Heaven Rewards Diligence and cultivate madly! Consolidate his peak Minor Success in Skin Refining, then gather enough resources as quickly as possible to charge toward Grand Completion of Skin Refining! Only greater strength could support his ambitions!

As the night deepened, silence enveloped both the inside and outside of Lin Manor. The other newly recruited guards in the shared quarters gradually returned.

Li Bufan paid them no mind and continued sitting there with his eyes closed, Nourishing Spirit.

However, though the tree wished to be still, the wind would not cease.

He might not have cared, but those who had once bullied and mocked him spent every day like a year, their hearts like fifteen buckets drawing water—seven rising and eight falling.

This was especially true of the lackeys newly taken in by several young masters of the manor, as well as the children of certain long-serving servants and guards who had some standing in Lin Manor. Back then, they had joined Wang Zheng and the others in jeering at him. More or less, all of them had kicked him when he was down, made snide remarks, or even secretly tripped him up.

Now, Wang Zheng and the other two had met miserable ends, demoted to Hard Labor with their lives uncertain. Yet Li Bufan had clearly gained a measure of the young lady's favor, while his own strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. He had even escaped alive from a savage wolf pack.

How could such a stark contrast not leave them trembling in fear? They feared that once Li Bufan rose to power, he would settle accounts after autumn and use his current status and strength to take revenge on them. Given the potential Li Bufan had displayed and the young lady's attitude that day, if he truly intended to deal with them, the tiny backers behind them would likely not amount to much at all.

This fear spread through certain small circles like a plague. Li Bufan opened his eyes and was about to go home to reassure his younger brother and bring back the things he had gained in the mountains so that Ping'an could eat better, when he found seven or eight people gathered around him.

All of them were familiar faces who had never spared him their sarcasm and ridicule in the past. Now, however, each looked like a quail, necks tucked in, faces covered in uneasy and ingratiating smiles. They all carried something in their hands—some held small money pouches, some had several pieces of decent-looking dried beast meat, and one even carried a small jar of wine.

Seeing Li Bufan emerge, they visibly grew nervous. After shoving one another around, a young man who seemed to be their leader finally gritted his teeth and stepped forward. His father was a minor purchasing steward in the manor. He presented the money pouch in both hands, his voice thick with flattery and trembling.

"Li... Brother Li, cultivation has been hard on you... This, this is just a small token from us, hardly worthy of mention... Back then, we brothers were young and foolish, and we offended you in many ways. We hope Brother Li can be magnanimous and not lower yourself to our level..."

"Yes, yes, Brother Li, please do not take it to heart!"

"This little something is for Brother Li to nourish your body..."

The others hurriedly echoed him, pushing their "gifts" forward.

Li Bufan stopped and calmly swept his gaze over their frightened, uneasy faces. Then he looked at the offerings in their hands, things that counted as respectable tributes for ordinary guards, and immediately understood.

He truly had not been inclined to bother with these people. After witnessing the far broader martial world, their past grievances had become insignificant to him. But as he watched them now, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Although he had gained a small opportunity, his foundations remained shallow and he had no background at all. If he wanted to remain safely in Lin Manor, obtain resources, and climb higher, relying solely on the young lady's uncertain "regard" would be far from enough. There was no benefit in driving these people completely to the opposing side. Their own status might be low, but the connections behind them could stretch through every courtyard and level of the manor. Though slender, those roots were tangled and intertwined.

Rather than gain more enemies, it was better to gain more acquaintances who could nod in greeting. Keeping them steady would also spare him much needless trouble.

With that thought, Li Bufan's expression softened slightly. He did not immediately take the offerings, but said flatly, "I accept the sentiment. What happened before is in the past."

The crowd was stunned at first. Then looks of unbelievable joy appeared on their faces.

After a pause, Li Bufan continued, "I, Li Bufan, have always been clear about kindness and grudges. So long as you do not provoke me, I will naturally not seek trouble with you for no reason. From now on, we are all serving at Lin Manor. Let well water not offend river water, and simply attend to your own duties in peace."

Only then did he reach out and accept the money pouch from the leading young man. He also nodded amiably at the others. "Take the rest back. I do not lack these things. I have received your apologies."

The others felt as though they had been granted a great pardon. They were so excited they nearly wept and hurriedly thanked him over and over.

"Thank you, Brother Li! Thank you, Brother Li!"

"Brother Li is truly magnanimous!"

"If Brother Li has any orders in the future, we will obey without a second word!"

The hearts they had been holding in their throats finally settled completely back into their stomachs. Their gazes toward Li Bufan filled with gratitude and relief, while their former fear transformed into genuine awe. Smiling awkwardly, they gathered up the things they had brought. Only after thanking him repeatedly did they retreat respectfully.

Watching their relieved backs as they left, Li Bufan weighed the heavy money pouch in his hand, his expression calm and unruffled.

He did not value this small amount of money, but it was a signal—a sign that he was beginning to understand and attempt to use the rules of human relationships. Within these deep residences and great courtyards, appropriate compromise and winning people over could sometimes carry one much farther than blind hardness and proud aloofness.

He put away the money pouch and turned toward the dining hall. The road ahead was still long, but he had already learned how to place each step more steadily.