Yuan Xiuxiu's Surprise

Azure Talisman Divine Land, Dachang Dynasty, Yang Family Hunting Grounds

As morning light cleaved through the night, the clear crowing of roosters rang out one after another through the little mountain village, and wisps of smoke gradually rose from every household.

They were preparing for another day in the fields.

Yang Huai also opened his eyes in the dawn light spilling through the window. Feeling the power of the Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman, and even his innate sword-bone destiny, being stripped away, he felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Yet some things had not left him, such as knowledge.

Such as his strengthened soul power.

"Ah Da, time to get up!"

At that moment, Mother Yang's call came from the wing room outside.

Yang Huai sprang up from the canopy bed and landed lightly on the floor. Looking around, he saw that Yuan Xiuxiu was already up. By now, she had probably spent the whole morning helping the family with farmwork.

At that thought, the corners of Yang Huai's lips lifted slightly, though he answered loudly.

"Coming!"

Morning light spilled across the little courtyard, falling upon the jujube tree in the yard with a particularly warm glow.

Breakfast for the seven members of the Yang family was simple. Aside from coarse-grain steamed buns, there were pickled vegetables Mother Yang had steamed several times over—mostly preserved vegetables left from last winter. With a little coarse salt and cooking oil added, they had a flavor all their own.

After this meal, Mother Yang would take the other three Yang siblings to the fields, leaving Yuan Xiuxiu behind to tidy the house, while Yang Dayuan and his son prepared for the final delivery date.

At this point, there was no more major work left in the carpentry workshop.

The full set of furniture ordered by the Liu Family had been completed: eight exquisitely carved Hu chairs, a dressing table with mirror, several low tables, a large cabinet, chests, bed frames, as well as newly designed screen bases and canopy beds. Every piece was exceptionally refined—elegant and generous, yet carrying an unhidden natural beauty. They were exquisite at a glance, clearly top-grade work from a master craftsman.

Even more remarkable was that the woodcarving craftsmanship revealed an aristocratic refinement, making one's eyes light up at first sight.

"Yang Huai, if you weren't my son, I truly wouldn't be able to tolerate you..."

Watching this scene, Yang Dayuan could not help but sigh.

With such skill, how could the other master craftsmen in the city still make a living? They would probably have to drink the northwest wind.

His eyes held both delight and concern.

Yang Huai shot him a glance. This was nothing—he was a man who would become a generation's God of Craftsmen.

As that thought surfaced, Yang Huai's heart suddenly stirred. He vaguely felt that he had overlooked something. A moment later, he remembered that Xi Huang Kingdom seemed not to have carpenters at all. The Daoist temples there were built rather crudely, and many of their wooden structures lacked natural beauty. Could he perhaps do something there?

Once the thought emerged, it planted a seed in Yang Huai's heart. He felt that perhaps he could give it a try.

He swept his gaze over the many furnishings in the carpentry workshop and said at once.

"Dad, we can invite Auntie Liu over to inspect the goods now. If she's satisfied, we can prepare for delivery this afternoon!"

Yang Dayuan immediately nodded, his spirits high.

From the order being placed to completion, father and son had spent no more than half a month in total. It was truly a miracle.

The Liu Family was not far from the Yang Family, less than two hundred paces away. Before long, Yang Dayuan returned with the Liu Family. Aside from Mother Liu, there was Butcher Liu and four broad-shouldered, brawny men with full beards.

Other than being younger, the four men looked as though they had been cast from the same mold as Butcher Liu.

Compared with her four brothers, Liu Jingjing's tall figure appeared rather petite.

Yang Dayuan led the group into this "forbidden ground" of the Yang Family. With just one glance, everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the dozen or so incomparably exquisite pieces of new furniture in the carpentry workshop.

Seeing this, Yang Huai asked at the right moment.

"Uncle Liu, Auntie Liu, take a look. Are you satisfied?"

"Satisfied? How could we not be satisfied? Brother Dayuan, we've always trusted your craftsmanship and Yang Huai's!"

Butcher Liu was already grinning from ear to ear. How could he not be delighted to commission such a set of dowry furniture at such a reasonable price?

Such a dowry set was rare even throughout the surrounding villages. Even that wealthy Squire Huang, with all his riches, might not have been able to hire such a great master craftsman.

Liu Jingjing's bright eyes fell upon Yang Huai, and a hint of astonishment appeared in them. Though she was merely a country girl, she knew quality when she saw it. Furniture like this could probably only be found in the homes of city gentry and wealthy merchants; it was surely worth a fortune.

And carpenters capable of producing such furniture were rare even in the city.

Sister-in-law Xiuxiu truly is fortunate!

Liu Jingjing sighed inwardly. She said nothing more. After inspecting the furnishings and finding no faults, Butcher Liu, fearing that delays might bring complications, paid the full amount that very afternoon. He then made a great show of having the many new pieces of furniture carried home, causing quite a stir throughout the Yang Family Hunting Grounds.

Naturally, this had been a joint decision by the Yang and Liu Families. Yang Dayuan and his son wanted to use the matter to advertise their craftsmanship, while the Liu father and daughter wanted to use the chance to publicize the dowry and raise their family's standing, so that no one would look down on their daughter in the future.

On the way back, Yang Huai quietly sidled up to Yang Dayuan and chuckled.

"Dad, what about our share?"

"What? Do you think I'd embezzle your wages?"

Yang Dayuan glanced at Yang Huai, who merely chuckled again before saying.

"Dad, our family hasn't had meat in ages. Now that Uncle Liu has settled the payment and we've got new income, why don't we buy some wine and meat to celebrate?"

Yang Dayuan glared at him.

"Nonsense. How long has it been since your wedding feast? You're obviously just craving it!"

"Last time, you ate so much food and drank so much wine, and even made your second brother take the blame and get beaten..."

The more Yang Dayuan spoke, the angrier he became. Yet when he noticed Yuan Xiuxiu seemingly looking their way from afar, he hesitated.

In the past, Yang Dayuan would naturally have kept Yang Huai in line. But thinking of Yang Huai's craftsmanship, which had surpassed his own master's, and considering that his eldest son was now married, he simply took a bulging cloth pouch from his robes and handed it to Yang Huai.

"Spend it sparingly!"

"Got it, Dad!"

Yang Huai weighed the silver in his hand and was immediately overjoyed. With these wages, there would be no problem eating meat for a month, and it would also be enough to replenish the qi and blood his Lesser Heavenly Circuit lacked.

Watching Yang Huai hurry off to catch up with Butcher Liu and the others, Yang Dayuan shook his head.

"A half-grown boy can eat a family into ruin!"

After a lavish meal that afternoon, Yang Huai hurriedly circulated the Lesser Heavenly Circuit. The depletion of qi and blood in his meridians was finally eased. At the same time, vigorous qi and blood traveled through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, gradually opening them and the hidden acupoints around them, drawing forth his own potential.

Having already practiced with another body of himself, this time he needed neither caution nor detours. He could directly begin circulating the Greater Heavenly Circuit.

Under the sunlight, Yuan Xiuxiu watched the invisible qi and blood around Yang Huai's body gradually swell and surge, surprise appearing in her eyes.

She had examined Yang Huai's aptitude before. It was merely below average, yet the cultivation speed he displayed did not match that aptitude.

The only explanation was that his comprehension was extraordinary.

If that is so, perhaps there is still a sliver of hope!

She mused inwardly.

But as Yang Huai actively summoned a portion of his immense soul power to illuminate his hidden meridians and assist the circulation of the Greater Heavenly Circuit, Yuan Xiuxiu's willow brows immediately furrowed. She pressed a hand against her brow, only for it to suddenly split open. A terrifying multicolored light seemed to emerge and envelop Yang Huai's entire body as she carefully examined him. Yet where she could not see, a hazy clear radiance far beyond her comprehension arose from the depths of Yang Huai's sea of consciousness, concealing the most central region of his soul. Only the outer sea of consciousness was left open for Yuan Xiuxiu to inspect.

The look in her eyes grew even stranger.

"Hmm? His soul power has increased again? Yet there isn't a trace of Daoist cultivation within his body? There are, however, traces of innate essence cleansing and nourishing him!"

"Did I misjudge him? Does my husband possess another innate quality within him?"

Yuan Xiuxiu's expression became somewhat subtle.