Master's Wife said, "External Force is divided into nine seals. When the qi in your dantian grows strong enough, it forms a seal—that counts as one. The more seals you have, the stronger you are. Only after filling all nine can you glimpse the next realm."
"I understand." Lu Chen nodded, then asked, "Then, as for this disciple..."
"You? Your qi has only just begun to develop. It hasn't taken shape yet, so you're nowhere near forming a seal." Master's Wife smiled. "But to stumble into this path on your own is already a stroke of good fortune. Apply yourself, and you'll have a bright future."
"Yes."
Lu Chen answered respectfully.
Zhou Lan shook his fan and smiled. "Junior Brother, there's no need to be impatient. For Su Xiaoxiao to reach the Seven Seals at her age, she must have endured countless life-or-death battles and ground her way there, in addition to her natural talent."
Lu Chen's heart stirred. He pressed, "Can fighting help someone form seals faster?"
"It can." Zhou Lan replied without hesitation. "The External Force qi of martial artists like us grows fiercer the more we fight. When you're truly fighting for your life, breakthroughs come fastest."
Lu Chen nodded, then asked, "Then how many seals have our senior brothers and sisters reached?"
Zhou Lan gently waved his folding fan and smiled. "My talent is mediocre, and I don't like fighting with others. I've only reached one seal so far—just barely entered the hall, you might say."
Lin Wei'er said briskly, "I spar with my fellow disciples often. I reached the second seal just before the New Year."
Zheng Tie grunted two words. "Three seals."
Everyone's eyes instinctively turned to Ji Chuan.
The Red Eyebrow Army officer fell silent for a moment before replying briefly, "Three seals as well."
Lu Chen mused to himself.
Senior Brother Zhou had only reached one seal, Senior Sister Lin had two, and Senior Brothers Zheng and Ji had only reached three.
Yet Su Xiaoxiao had already reached the Seven Seals at such a young age. Her talent and cultivation were truly fearsome.
The group chatted for a long while that afternoon, until night had fallen and the streets blazed with lights.
Master's Wife rose with a smile. "It's about time. Let's go take a look at the lantern festival."
Ji Chuan had duties to attend to with the army, so he took his leave first.
Lin Wei'er also needed to go home for a while.
Lu Chen wasn't particularly interested in strolling through the lantern festival and was about to take his leave too, but Zhou Lan stopped him.
"Wait, Junior Brother."
Zhou Lan smiled. "Tonight's lantern festival is no ordinary affair. The magistrate and several prominent figures from the city will be there, along with quite a few friends from the martial world. Now that you've joined us, you should come along and broaden your horizons."
Master's Wife also urged him gently, "That's right. Come with us."
Lu Chen had no choice but to agree.
The group stepped out of the residence. The long street was already awash in lantern light, a sea of brightness. It was packed with people. Children rode on their elders' shoulders, babbling and shouting; young women and newlywed brides wore freshly bought velvet flowers in their hair and laughed in bright, lilting voices. Most of the crowd, though, were poor folk bringing their old and young along, their faces relaxed with the relief of finally getting a rest after a year of hard work, slowly shuffling forward with the throng.
The most beautiful and spectacular lanterns were all on display in West City.
And that was where the crowds were thickest, too.
The brightest spot was in the heart of West City's main street.
A massive, three-story-tall lantern stood there, towering over the crowd.
Constables and servants guarded the entrance below, admitting only respectable guests with invitations.
The lion dancers, acrobats, and vendors selling food and trinkets had all wisely set up well away from it.
As soon as Master's Wife and her party arrived, the steward greeted them with a broad smile. "Madam Mei, Young Master Zhou, Hero Zheng, we've saved you a private room." His gaze paused when it passed over Lu Chen, but he still courteously ushered them inside.
Upstairs, screens divided the hall into private rooms. Quite a few people were already seated there, most of them wealthy merchants in fine clothes, along with a few hardened martial artists.
The choice seats by the window were still empty. As soon as everyone sat down, a maid quietly brought out tea and refreshments.
Zhou Lan poured Lu Chen a cup of tea and said,
"This lantern festival is called a lantern viewing, but in truth it's a formality everyone has to go through. When the magistrate arrives, everyone will stand and toast him. After that, each family will present the New Year gifts they've prepared—in other words, the offerings for the magistrate and his deputies. That's why every prominent person in the city will be here tonight. It's a good chance to meet people and make yourself known."
The black-faced swordsman Zheng Tie also grunted, "Junior Brother, now that you've joined Master's Wife's school, you'll have to make a place for yourself in this city. We brought you here today so you can meet people and show your face. It'll make things easier when you're looking for work or dealing with people in the future."
"I understand. Thank you, Senior Brother, and Master's Wife," Lu Chen said.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later,
the steward's voice rang out sharply from downstairs. "His Honor the Magistrate has arrived—"
Every guest in the hall rose to their feet.
A middle-aged man in a deep blue-green official robe climbed the stairs at an unhurried pace, his face lean and refined. He was none other than Wen'an County's magistrate, Chen Mingyuan.
Behind him, the county deputy, registrar, and other officials filed in, their robes immaculate.
"We welcome Your Honor!"
"Best wishes for the festival, Your Honor!"
Amid the greetings, Magistrate Chen raised his hands in a slight salute and took the seat of honor. He offered a few formal pleasantries about "sharing the joy with the people," and soon the wine and dishes were brought out.
Next came the gift-giving.
The heads of the city's various guilds and several families with generations of wealth stepped forward in turn, raising their cups, offering toasts, and exchanging auspicious wishes.
Then they took the gift lists or red envelopes they had prepared and slipped them discreetly into the tray held by the maid standing beside the magistrate. Their movements were practiced, their words deferential.
After watching for a while, Lu Chen leaned toward Master's Wife and asked quietly, "Does our martial hall need to go forward?"
Master's Wife gave a slight shake of her head and answered in a low voice, "Our share from the Plum Blossom Martial Hall was already handled along with the others by the head of the martial guild. We don't involve ourselves in officialdom; it's best to leave it to him."
Lu Chen nodded.
Once the gifts had been presented, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed.
Zhou Lan and Zheng Tie exchanged a glance, then rose one after the other.
"Come on, Junior Brother," Zhou Lan said with a smile. "I'll introduce you to a few friends and help you get acquainted."
Lu Chen understood. He put down his teacup and followed.
The two of them led him first to the table of the martial guild's head, old Master Du Liefeng, where they offered a toast and exchanged pleasantries.
When Du Liefeng learned that Lu Chen was Master's Wife's newly accepted personal disciple, he looked him over and said with a smile, "A promising young man."
After that came the major martial halls, escort agencies, several old martial artists with honorary positions in the county offices, the heads of the grain and cloth guilds... By the time they had made the rounds, Lu Chen had met many people and raised his glass even more times.
He followed along quietly, greeting people and draining every cup.
Though he could hold his liquor, after several rounds his face had flushed, and warmth churned in his belly.
Back at their seats, Zheng Tie patted him on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "The martial world isn't all fighting and killing. You have to show up for these social occasions. Get that part right, and the road ahead opens up."
Zhou Lan nodded as well. "Your hands have to be skilled, but you need to practice your social skills too. Now that you've met these people, you'll have an easier time getting by in Wen'an."
Lu Chen tamped down the effects of the alcohol and nodded. "Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother. I'll remember it."
Zhou Lan and Zheng Tie exchanged a smile.
They had heard some of the gossip about Lu Chen circulating in the martial hall, and had initially been somewhat prejudiced against him.
But after spending the day with him, they realized that although Lu Chen came from South City, his outlook wasn't narrow. He had sound opinions of his own, and he was humble and courteous.
Judging by his words and conduct, he was certainly someone worth befriending.
Since they considered him a friend, the two of them sincerely introduced him to their connections and helped smooth his path. They genuinely took him under their wing as their own junior brother.
Just then, the magistrate suddenly summoned the heads of the various guilds to his side and began discussing something with them in a low voice.
At first, things seemed peaceful enough, but as they talked, their voices rose.
Before long, they were openly arguing in front of everyone.
The martial guild's head, Du Liefeng, had a fiery temper. He immediately bellowed, "The offering has been set for years: once a year, no more. What sort of reason is there for you to demand three times as much this year out of nowhere?"
"Three times as much?"
At those words, the whole hall erupted in shock.
Before you continue