"Bright Force ambush?"
Zhou Yun froze for a moment. Since the other party already knew the cargo was being protected by the Shen Family of the Sky Sea Escort Agency, how could anyone be foolish enough to attack the convoy with Bright Force?
Could they be enemies of the Sky Sea Escort Agency or the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall? Of course, it was also possible the cargo was valuable enough to make the risk worthwhile.
"Junior Brother Zhou, there's no need to worry. My family is treating this escort mission as a trial for me. I only need to find an outsider Bright Force martial artist to accompany me."
Shen Qingxue spoke gently. "Since my family has given me this information, there won't be any mishaps."
"That's good to hear."
Zhou Yun wasn't afraid of running into an ambush. He had chosen the escort job for two reasons. First, the Sky Sea Escort Agency had a formidable reputation, and ordinary forces wouldn't dare provoke it.
Second, he wanted to temper his own abilities.
"By the way, Junior Brother Zhou, how many fingers thick is the force in your dantian now?"
Shen Qingxue took a sip of tea and asked.
"How many fingers thick? Is there so much to know about Bright Force?"
Zhou Yun asked in confusion, lifting his teacup. "I'd be grateful if Senior Sister could explain."
"You've only just entered the Bright Force stage, so it's normal that you don't know. Every month, Master Liang gathers the Bright Force disciples to teach them. He'll explain it in detail then."
Shen Qingxue gave a soft laugh, then answered, "Bright Force means placing your own force in your dantian. Once it reaches seven fingers thick, it can be transformed into Dark Force, allowing you to release your force beyond your body."
"When your force reaches three fingers thick, you've achieved minor mastery of Bright Force. Six fingers means major mastery, and at seven fingers, your force is complete—you can then attempt to break through to Dark Force."
As they spoke, Shen Qingxue was probing Zhou Yun's background.
If Zhou Yun were a martial artist from some other faction, he naturally wouldn't be ignorant of the different Bright Force stages. It seemed he really was someone without a backer.
Of course, it was also possible Zhou Yun was pretending to be clueless, but there would be little point in that.
"I see. I was ignorant, then."
Zhou Yun clasped his hands in thanks. At the same time, he circulated the force in his body and sensed his dantian. He found that the force there was already a little more than one finger thick.
It was probably an effect of the Blood Coagulation Pill when he broke through.
"Don't take it to heart, Junior Brother. I've said everything I needed to. Do you currently have any faction supporting you?"
Shen Qingxue took a porcelain bottle from her robes with her slender fingers. "I can offer you the Shen Family's support: one Blood Coagulation Pill and two taels of silver each month. Would you be willing?"
"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Sister, but I already have someone supporting me, so I can only decline your kind offer."
Zhou Yun raised a hand to refuse. If Chen Jingping hadn't been supporting him, he might have considered it. But now, he clearly didn't need any more support.
If he took support from too many people, what would he do if both families later asked him to join a fight on their behalf?
This support looked like a steady source of income, but in truth, it was a debt of gratitude—and those were the hardest debts to repay.
"I was too forward."
Shen Qingxue put the little porcelain bottle away and said nothing more.
She had asked Zhou Yun to come tonight for two reasons: to tell him about the escort mission and probe his background, and to offer him support as soon as possible.
She hadn't expected someone else to get there before her. That was beyond Shen Qingxue's expectations, especially since Zhou Yun had only recently broken through and answered the call.
It was a pity that a talent like him hadn't been brought aboard the Shen Family's ship. But he was only someone without a backer, with a First Form Bone. It could hardly be called a loss.
Never mind whether he'd be able to establish himself in one of the Twelve Main Cities later on.
Even placing well in the Three Halls Martial Tournament a month from now was uncertain.
"It's late, so I won't keep you any longer, Junior Brother. I wish you success in your martial path."
Shen Qingxue clasped her hands and rose to see him out. "Tomorrow afternoon, I'll send someone to find you. Once you get the message, just come to the martial arts hall's main gate."
"Very well. Thank you for clearing things up for me tonight, Senior Sister. I'll come ask you for advice again another day."
Zhou Yun stood and thanked her. He glanced at the sky, then headed out through the courtyard gate.
After he had gone some distance, Shen Qingxue furrowed her willow brows. "Someone actually beat me to it. What a clever move."
"Forget it. I should focus on Wang Lan, Chen Jingping, and the others. They're the talents who matter more."
Shen Qingxue looked up at the night sky. The twinkling stars were no match for the brilliance of the bright moon.
Black Stone County was simply too small. As a genius with a Fourth Form Bone, she had never confined her gaze to this tiny place.
"It's just that Father's test for me seems a little too easy."
The one thing Shen Qingxue couldn't understand was this: even if some fool really dared to ambush the Shen Family's convoy, how much of a storm could one or two Bright Force martial artists raise?
Perhaps it really was just a formality.
With Junior Brother Zhou, who had achieved minor mastery in both the Black Ape Movement Technique and boxing, they could hold their own even against four Bright Force martial artists.
"I've found the person. The escort mission will leave on time tomorrow."
Shen Qingxue raised her hand and summoned a carrier pigeon. It flew down from the night sky and landed on her wrist, then departed with the letter in its beak.
Outer Courtyard, Common Dormitory.
Zhou Yun didn't return to his room in the Inner Courtyard right away. Instead, he went to the place where he used to live.
Most people had already gone to sleep at this hour. He'd come to gather some odds and ends. Some of them were clothes his mother had sewn for him, and without them, his heart felt strangely hollow.
"Brother Yun! Brother Yun!"
Suddenly, Zhou Yun heard someone calling him. He turned around and saw Zhang Hu.
Zhang Hu sat up from his bunk, then walked over to him quietly. "Brother Yun, did you really make it to Bright Force? Did you really become an Inner Courtyard disciple?"
"Huzi, you still don't believe me?"
Zhou Yun chided him with a laugh. Facing his childhood friend, he felt a jumble of emotions.
"I was just curious what the Inner Courtyard looks like. I heard everyone there gets their own courtyard. Is that true?"
Zhang Hu put his hands behind his head and lay back on the bunk, one leg kicked up. "You're just naturally gifted, Brother Yun. Who knows when I'll manage to reach Bright Force?"
"It's true. You may only have a First Form Bone, but you're not lacking in comprehension."
Seeing Zhang Hu like that, Zhou Yun turned to him and said, "Maybe you should put more effort into studying martial arts."
"Really? My mother says I'm good at understanding things, too."
Zhang Hu perked up at once. "By the way, Brother Yun, did you see my mother when you went back? She hasn't come to visit me in ages."
"Your mother... can't get around easily anymore. She asked me to give you this month's tuition fee."
Zhou Yun hesitated for a moment, then took three taels of silver from his robes.
"Ah, when I reach Bright Force, I'll take my mother to live in a big courtyard. Then she won't have to keep making the trip."
Zhang Hu lay back down on the bunk and turned to the side, waving a hand. "Brother Yun, next time we meet, I'll definitely have broken through to Bright Force!"
"Huzi, come find me in the Inner Courtyard if you need anything."
Zhou Yun didn't say much more, only making sure to remind him.
On the bed, Zhang Hu clutched the three pieces of silver in his hand. Two sesame flatbreads sat in the cabinet.
Zhou Yun had brought them to him when he came back. He hadn't touched the flatbreads; his mother loved them most.
Usually, his mother also brought him clothes for the changing seasons and things like the family's pickled vegetables. But this time, she hadn't brought him anything.
Zhang Hu didn't dare dwell on it. He only knew he had to break through to Bright Force as soon as possible. Clutching the silver, he drifted into a deep sleep.
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