Entry Realm

[Name: Lu Yuan]

[Age: 16]

[Technique: Blade-Breaking Eight Styles (1213/10000 Mastery)]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance (68/100 Beginner)]

From Yun Province to Yan Province, the journey had taken a full half year. Though he had spent most of that time traveling and had little time to cultivate, Lu Yuan had still relied on the system to enter the Entry Realm. His blade technique, in particular, had reached Mastery.

One had to know that without several decades of rolling through the mud in the military, no one could possibly cultivate a martial art to such a level.

Though Lu Yuan had only recently entered the Entry Realm, with this Mastery-level blade technique, he could likely give even a Bone Forging Realm martial artist a run for their money.

Then, he took a porcelain bottle from the hidden compartment beneath his bed. After opening it, he poured out a pill and swallowed it.

Perhaps out of guilt, the Zhang Clan had given Lu Yuan twenty Body-Tempering Pills.

Ordinary disciples of the Lineage only received three of these pills each month.

Giving Lu Yuan more than half a year's supply at once was not too bad.

Yet even rationing them carefully, after more than half a year, only this final pill remained.

From here on out, he would have to rely on himself.

After taking the pill, he lay prone on the floor like a crouching tiger. His spine arched upward, his chest rose and fell faintly, and though the movement was slight, it was incomparably heavy, like the rumble of thunder.

Before long, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Meanwhile, Old Huang sat in the restaurant, baring his yellowed teeth as he drank. Looking at the tavern owner wiping down the tables, he asked with rare embarrassment, "Do we still have a chance?"

"We were together for a while back then, but you know I had no choice. My child was too young, and a widow and orphaned girl couldn't survive on their own. You protected us and helped me get this place running, and I was grateful to you. So even if I found you somewhat unpleasant, I treated it as being bitten by a dog.

"Now Xiu has grown up, and I don't want to bend myself double to please others anymore. Let's part on good terms." The proprietress's voice was flat and blunt, and she did not even lift her eyelids.

It turned out that Widow Li's husband had died outside the city during one of the Northern Barbarians' sieges. Left alone with her ten-year-old daughter, she had no way to survive in Ice Plain City, so she had spent a period of time with Old Huang.

For one thing, he was an old soldier who knew everyone on the ground and could protect the mother and daughter. Those who knew him also knew that although his mouth was a little loose, he was not a bad man. For another, he had neither sons nor daughters and was an old bachelor; every year, the grain harvested from his land could support the two of them quite a bit.

But now, Old Huang was clearly getting on in years. Moreover, he had sold all his land two years ago to open this restaurant, and he no longer had much savings in hand.

Naturally, Widow Li had no desire to maintain any ties with him.

Lu Yuan had been here too short a time and clearly did not know about Old Huang's relationship with Widow Li.

"You're decent enough, but you're too calculating and lack a bit of human warmth. I won't hold it against you. Still, what do you think of that young fellow who ate with me just now?

"Let Xiu marry him. I guarantee she won't live badly.

"He lives in Ice Valley Lane now, with three tiled rooms and fifty mu of land." Old Huang did not take offense. After another gulp of wine, he smacked his lips and continued.

He was a man who valued loyalty and sentiment, and he did not care much for worldly possessions.

Widow Li said nothing. Her expression remained cold as she continued sweeping the restaurant, the tables, chairs, and benches occasionally letting out rough scraping collisions.

A young girl in a red padded jacket emerged from the back. She had a nice figure and above-average looks, though her skin was very fair. Her name was Guo Xiu, Widow Li's daughter.

She had lost her father at the age of ten and had grown up these past years only through Old Huang's support.

She now worked as a maid at the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall in Ice Plain City.

Holding a pitch-black rag, she came to Old Huang's table. As she wiped it down, she said stiffly, "Uncle Huang, you're welcome to come eat here anytime, but don't bring up anything else.

"The martial arts hall has no shortage of Garrison Soldiers like that. If I wanted one, would I need you to introduce him?

"And when you speak to my mother in the future, don't be so crude. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."

There was clear displeasure in her voice.

Her family's restaurant could now support the mother and daughter, and Guo Xiu had gotten to know several young Garrison Soldiers at the martial arts hall, all of whom came from decent families. She no longer had any reservations toward Old Huang.

Old Huang shook his head helplessly. The mother and daughter were dead set on cutting ties with him now.

But he had not given up. Instead, he looked toward Widow Li.

"Think it over again. That boy's name is Lu Yuan. He has good character, and he has no relatives here. If Xiu is willing, this matter has an eighty percent chance of working out..."

"Old Huang, are you done yet? My family's affairs are none of your concern. What kind of future can anyone who hangs around with you possibly have? You want my daughter to marry him? Dream on! Get out!"

Widow Li finally could not hold back any longer.

She threw the rag to the floor and pointed toward the door with a finger as thick as a carrot.

"Ah, you—I know what you're thinking. But there are only so many men in this city with positions. Would an official marry Xiu? Even if he did, she would only be a concubine. Why put herself through that? I have no other intentions. I just can't bear to watch a child I saw grow up..."

Crash! Guo Xiu could not endure it any longer and flipped the table over with one motion.

Wine splashed all over Old Huang.

Then she shoved him toward the door.

In these times, any woman who could open a restaurant in Ice Plain City was bound to be fierce. Guo Xiu had clearly inherited her mother's toughness and was ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

Widow Li also moved to join in, baring her teeth and claws as she pounced.

Though Old Huang had not entered the Entry Realm, he had been to war and was no ordinary man to be pushed around. Yet against this mother and daughter, he truly had no solution.

The two did not play by the rules, and their attacks were viciously underhanded.

Widow Li shouted that Old Huang was molesting her. Not only did she tear at his clothes, she also ripped at her own.

Guo Xiu locked his arms and dragged him outside. In no time at all, the old soldier's clothes had been torn to shreds, and several bloody scratches had appeared on his face. There were not many people on the street, but there was no shortage of onlookers eager to watch the excitement.

He had truly lost face in spectacular fashion.

In the end, city patrol runners arrived. Only after both sides were reprimanded did this farce come to an end.

Still, no one pursued the matter.

Such things happened far too often on the Northern Frontier. There were many widows here, and many bachelors too; the authorities had no way to manage it all.

It was a common occurrence for elderly veterans to be driven out.

Old Huang ultimately returned with a face full of scratches.

He had only wanted to arrange a match. Who could have imagined it would end like this?

Not only had his clothes been torn apart, even the several dozen copper coins inside had been snatched away by Widow Li.

Lu Yuan knew nothing of this.

At this moment, he was continuously practicing the Crouching Tiger Stance. As time passed, the temperature inside the room actually began to rise slowly.

He had long since removed his upper garments, revealing a back even more solidly built than it had been half a year ago.

His sweat-covered upper body looked as though it had been brushed with a layer of oil.

His breathing was also becoming increasingly heavy and powerful.

Every muscle twitched faintly with his breaths.

As the night deepened, Lu Yuan finished his practice an hour later.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance (70/100 Beginner)]

This cultivation session had yielded considerable gains. Though he had not broken through, he had improved quite a bit. One Body-Tempering Pill had increased his progress by two points.

But his future cultivation would have to depend on himself.

He touched the silver on his person. Less than ten taels remained.

Looks like I need to find a way to earn silver as soon as possible.

Lu Yuan thought this as he prepared to sleep.

But then he heard movement outside. Chaotic shouts gradually drew closer to his courtyard.

His hand instinctively closed around his blade's hilt.

Ice Plain City was chaotic. Northern Barbarians' spies entered all year round to gather intelligence or cause destruction.

Especially at night.