Floating Lanterns

"Taking control of your fate"

It was a simple, easily understood phrase, yet the more you thought about it, the more profound and unfathomable it seemed.

To take control of your own fate, to let no one else dictate or influence it, and to live the way you wanted to live.

But who didn't want to take control of their fate? Who didn't want to live the way they wanted to live?

Yet with so many people in the world, how many could actually do it...

The world was vast, so vast that no one could explore even a tiny fraction of it in a lifetime. And yet it was also small, so small that many people never left a single city their entire lives...

From that day onward, Chen Han trained even harder. His mastery of the Taiji Health Cultivation Technique began to surge.

He rose each morning as the sky began to lighten and went to the quiet, deserted pond. A hazy mist hung over the water, the cold biting to the bone. It didn't dampen his resolve; instead, it made his mind even sharper.

When the time was right, he would head to Li Mansion to instruct Li Mubai in his fist technique. Whenever Li Mubai came to find him in his spare time, Chen Han would gnaw on a piece of dried meat nearby, then get right back to training.

At night, he trained until midnight before going to sleep.

He found that, under such a grueling routine, his body showed no signs of strain. On the contrary, he felt exhilarated, as if he'd taken some kind of drug.

Squire Li was exceedingly generous. Knowing that martial arts training required blood-nourishing foods and medicinal soups, he pulled strings to obtain two portions of each every day.

One portion went to Li Mubai. The other was a perk for Chen Han's instruction.

Chen Han naturally accepted it without hesitation and continued to teach with all his effort.

"Teacher, I've finally reached two hundred pounds of punching power!"

Li Mubai exclaimed excitedly one day.

An ordinary adult man could punch with about one hundred and thirty pounds of force. Li Mubai had once been a scholar, so his punching power had naturally fallen far below that standard.

But in less than half a year, he had undergone a complete transformation. His punching power now far exceeded that benchmark, laying a solid foundation for his future path in martial arts.

On top of that, he had trained the Mountain Breaking Fist to the entry level. Several grown men could no longer pose a threat to him. All he needed now was to nourish his qi and blood until they brimmed over, then attempt the breakthrough and become a Mingjin Martial Artist.

"Good. Very good."

Chen Han praised his diligence and hard work again and again.

"Next, you just need to keep nourishing your qi and blood before attempting the breakthrough to become a Mingjin Martial Artist."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Li Mubai no longer looked like the frail scholar he had once been. His forehead was full, and he was brimming with confidence.

Looking at this teacher, who was only a few years older than him, Li Mubai suddenly remembered his dazzling achievement: becoming a Dark Force martial artist before he was even twenty.

Back when he hadn't practiced martial arts, he hadn't thought much of it. But now that he had entered the martial path, he understood just how enormous the gap between him and his teacher was.

He seemed to see a towering mountain, with his teacher standing at its peak. It was as if he could never measure up to him, let alone surpass him.

Li Mubai asked, "Teacher, will you really never be able to practice martial arts again?"

Chen Han glanced back at him and met his gaze, so full of longing for an answer. His thoughts churned, but he said nothing.

"Teacher, even spending a lot of silver wouldn't help? You used to be so exceptionally talented, countless times stronger than I am."

Li Mubai looked deeply disappointed.

"Don't let that make you give up on yourself."

Chen Han patted his shoulder. "Keep at it."

Those few brief words made Li Mubai pause. Then confidence flooded back into him.

"I understand, Teacher."

Just then, two figures entered the courtyard. They were Li Mubai's closest family, Li Muyun and Squire Li.

"Not bad, not bad. After taking up martial arts, your whole being—your essence, energy, and spirit—has changed."

As Squire Li spoke, he punched his son in the chest and grinned. "You've got a sturdy frame now!"

"Father, I'll be ready to attempt my first breakthrough very soon."

At those words, Squire Li was stunned. Li Muyun covered her mouth, her lips forming a little O.

"Good! Excellent! I knew my son, Li Tianming, had what it takes to practice martial arts!"

Li Mubai's rapid progress had taken both father and daughter by surprise. Once Squire Li came to his senses, he burst into delighted laughter.

He had never expected that the scholar who once did nothing but dabble in writing and ink would reach such heights in martial arts in less than half a year—and soon become a martial artist whom everyone admired.

It was the best news he had heard in his entire life.

"Young Master Li has excellent natural aptitude and works hard every day. With Uncle Li's generous support, it's only natural that he's come this far. It's a result everyone hoped for."

Chen Han offered a tactful compliment. Squire Li beamed even more, and on the spot, he announced that he would host a celebratory banquet that night.

That evening, after several rounds of wine and a full meal, Squire Li thanked Chen Han privately for teaching his son and promised that Chen Han could come to him anytime he needed help.

Afterward, just as Chen Han stepped out the gate, a graceful figure hurried after him.

"Benefactor, please wait."

Chen Han stopped and turned around. It was the pure and lovely eldest young lady, Li Muyun.

"Miss, is there something else?"

"Benefactor, you've helped my family so much. I truly don't know how to thank you."

As calm as ever, Chen Han smiled. "It was nothing. I was only doing what I should."

Li Muyun looked at Chen Han earnestly. "No matter what, you've done my family a tremendous favor. I'll remember it. Oh, and today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Take these home for your wife to try."

As she spoke, she seemed to remember something. She held out a bag of mooncakes she had prepared earlier, smiling warmly at Chen Han.

A guard watching from afar felt a sour pang of jealousy. He wished he could kick this pretty-boy in the face and take his place.

"Then I thank you, Miss."

Chen Han accepted the gift openly. They chatted a little longer about this and that before going their separate ways.

Li Muyun watched him go. As Chen Han's figure disappeared into the darkness, a strange feeling spread through her heart.

Meanwhile, Chen Han opened the bag and glanced inside. As expected, it held more than just mooncakes. There was silver, too—at least fifty taels, from a quick count.

"No wonder it's so heavy."

Chen Han immediately went to the Black Market again and spent all the silver on Exotic Beast meat.

A few days later, good news arrived from the front lines: the Red Spider army had suffered a string of defeats and retreated hundreds of miles.

The situation had once again settled into a stalemate, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

Though it wasn't a great victory, the news still gave everyone in the city a much-needed glimmer of hope.

That night, many people organized a lantern-floating event of their own accord. It was a local custom for offering encouragement, usually held before a family member sat for the imperial examinations. But this time, the person they wished to encourage was different.

The night was as dark as ink, yet the city blazed with light.

One by one, lanterns drifted slowly across the lake, carrying people's hopes for survival and their longing for loved ones at the front.

Every lantern bore the same message: "Stay safe."

Chen Han and his family, who had been cooped up long enough to feel stifled, were there too.

Shen Yue was delighted, a faint smile never leaving her face. She had even applied rouge and powder, taking special care with her appearance.

With bright eyes and pearly teeth, she radiated the youthful charm of a young woman.

They floated a lantern too. It was obvious who they had in mind: Shen Wuren, who had joined the army when the Red Spider first appeared.

"Mm!"

Just then, a voice so faint it was barely audible reached them. An ordinary person would have missed it, but the Taiji Health Cultivation Technique had sharpened Chen Han's senses, and he caught it easily.

The familiar voice filled him with dread. His heart pounded wildly as he whipped around!