Wang Family Comes Calling

Li Yuan took the booklet. It was a copy of the Hundred-Forged Basic Fist Manual. He casually flipped through a few pages. It was richly illustrated, breaking down thirty-two moves in detail, along with the key points for practicing them.

"Remember, there are no shortcuts in cultivation. Only diligence." Liu Hongyan waved a hand, turned, and left.

After dinner, Li Yuan did not return to Bamboo Listening Lodge. Carrying the fist manual, he headed to the training ground where they had assembled yesterday.

The place was relatively quiet at night, with only a few torches providing light. It was well suited for practicing alone.

He found a corner with decent lighting, spread open the manual, and studied it carefully by torchlight. He pondered the fist technique over and over. It looked simple, but executing every movement properly while coordinating his breathing and points of exertion was no easy task.

After reading for about half an hour, he felt he had memorized the first three forms. Li Yuan closed the booklet and began to practice them slowly. He was in no hurry for quick success, instead striving to make every move standard as he carefully sensed the flow of his breath.

By his fifth repetition, his movements had become much smoother. The warm current within him also seemed to begin flowing slowly of its own accord, nourishing his sore, swollen muscles and bones and bringing an oddly comfortable sensation.

Just then, his heart stirred. He drew in his fists and stood still, looking toward the other side of the training ground.

In the darkness, a tall, straight figure had appeared there at some unknown time, silently practicing a fist technique with meticulous precision.

It was Shen Lian.

Sensing his gaze, Shen Lian also stopped and turned to look over.

Across most of the empty training ground, their gazes met in midair. Neither spoke. Then, at the same time, they withdrew their eyes and resumed their separate practice, as though the other did not exist.

In the silent night, the two figures sweating like rain each possessed a strange, unspoken understanding.

After practicing for about an hour, Li Yuan felt a faint heat suffuse his whole body and his blood and qi flow freely. His comprehension of those fist forms had also deepened another layer. Only then did he finish, wipe away his sweat, and prepare to return.

Shen Lian sheathed his fists at the same time. One before and one behind, several yards apart, the two silently walked back to Bamboo Listening Lodge.

Just as he reached the dormitory entrance, Li Yuan halted and frowned warily.

Someone stood in the shadows before the door.

The man wore the moon-white long robe of an inner courtyard student. He was tall and lean, and his features could be called handsome, but an undisguised arrogance lingered between his brows.

At that moment, he stood with his hands behind his back, sizing up the approaching Li Yuan from head to toe.

"Cousin Li, why are you returning so late?"

When the man saw Li Yuan approach, he piled on a smile and greeted him with apparent familiarity. "This brother is Wang Shixuan. Your maternal grandfather, Elder Wang, is my grandfather as well. By seniority, you should call me cousin."

Wang Boyuan's grandson?

Li Yuan sneered inwardly. The Wang Family had never regarded him as worthy of notice before. Over the past half year, he had not seen a single member of the Wang Family. Yet now they had come rushing over to claim kinship?

His expression remained unchanged as he said lightly, "So it is Young Master Wang. Visiting in the dead of night, what business brings you here? The Li Family seems to have no relatives surnamed Wang."

The smile on Wang Shixuan's face stiffened. He secretly fumed that this country bumpkin was still putting on airs.

Remembering his grandfather's instructions, he quickly regained his composure and sighed.

"Cousin, you are still blaming Aunt. After your father-in-law's mishap, Grandfather was heartbroken as well. These days, the old man often speaks of you and deeply regrets that he was unable to lend aid in time."

He lightly glossed over Li Chongwen's affairs, yet did not mention Madam Wang's separation even once. "Upon learning that you have now entered Divine Martial Academy, Grandfather was immensely gratified. He specially sent this brother to visit, to see whether Cousin needs anything. The family will certainly spare no effort to help."

His words were pretty, but his eyes subtly assessed Li Yuan with concealed disdain. Li Yuan sneered inwardly. The Wang Family had merely taken notice of his potential and wanted to reestablish ties, drawing him into the Wang Family's sphere of influence.

"Young Master Wang's goodwill is appreciated by Li Yuan." Li Yuan's tone remained calm, even distant. "But Li Yuan has been alone and destitute since childhood, with no maternal family. Now that I have entered the academy, I should naturally devote myself to cultivation. There is no need for your concern."

As he spoke, he coolly raised a hand. "If there is nothing else, it is late. Please leave."

"You..."

Wang Shixuan had not expected Li Yuan to be so impervious to soft or hard tactics. His false smile could no longer hold, and his face immediately darkened.

"Li Yuan, do not fail to appreciate favors!"

"Grandfather remembers old ties, which is why he gave you this opportunity. Do you truly think that, relying on yourself alone, you can sail smoothly through Chang'an City and Divine Martial Academy?"

As he spoke, a malicious sneer curled across his lips. "Without a family's support, what does being a genius amount to? Are there few geniuses in this world who die halfway?"

Wang Shixuan stepped forward and lowered his voice, his tone carrying an undisguised threat. "Do not forget that you have no one to rely on now. Your fine father is still waiting to die in Dali Temple Prison. If you are smart, obediently acknowledge your kinship, and benefits will naturally come your way. Otherwise..."

"Heh. Outside the academy, it is nowhere near as safe as it is within."

So brazen. Did he take Li Yuan for someone raised to be frightened?

His eyes turned cold as he prepared to speak.

"What a racket!"

A cold voice rang out.

Wang Shixuan jumped and sharply turned his head. Shen Lian stood there with a saber in his arms, lazily leaning against the doorframe, his eyes brimming with impatience.

"Scram!"

His thin lips parted, and he coldly spat out a single word.

Wang Shixuan was Elder Wang's grandson, surrounded by flatterers in ordinary times. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? His face immediately turned green, then white with rage.

Naturally, he recognized Shen Lian—the son of a border army military family, a baleful star. In the past, he would not have taken him seriously, but his grandfather's position was now in grave peril, and he had repeatedly been told to keep a low profile. He naturally did not dare provoke a true ruthless figure like Shen Lian so lightly.

"You..."

Wang Shixuan clenched his teeth in secret. "Shen Lian, this is a family matter between my cousin and me. What does it have to do with you?"

Shen Lian said nothing more. With a flick of his wrist, a flash of snow-bright saber light gleamed in the night, slowly pointing toward Wang Shixuan. A chilling killing intent instantly spread through the air.

This madman!

Wang Shixuan shuddered violently. The harsh words at his lips were swallowed back down. He shot Li Yuan a vicious glare, threw down a "You'd better watch yourself!" and hurriedly turned away, leaving in a sorry state.

Li Yuan looked at Shen Lian. By then, Shen Lian had already sheathed his saber. As though nothing had happened, he turned and entered his own room, shutting the door with a "bang."

What a prickly child. Li Yuan could not help laughing. He pushed open his own door and entered. The sound of splashing water came from inside; Shen Lian was clearly bathing.

Li Yuan's expression darkened slightly. He had expected someone to come win him over, but he had not expected the Wang Family to be the first. It seemed his peaceful days were coming to an end.

The next day's theory class covered the history of demons and monsters. Li Yuan listened with particular attention. He had always wondered what exactly had happened during the An Lushan Rebellion to cause history to turn so drastically.

The instructor was still yesterday's Teacher Han.

"Demons and monsters are not of our kind; their hearts must differ, and their deeds must be evil."

"Since the An Lushan Rebellion, heaven and earth have undergone tremendous changes. The barrier was damaged, Outer Realm devil qi seeped in, and together with local spirits, wandering souls, and even evil cultivators emerging in force, they formed what we now call 'demons and monsters.'"

"They are not a single race, but a collective term for all malevolent things that oppose humanity and treat humans as blood food and sustenance."

He unrolled an enormous scroll, upon which all manner of hideous, terrifying demons and monsters had been painted in a realistic style, each accompanied by written explanations.

"By origin and form, they can roughly be divided into four categories."

Li Yuan was immensely curious and listened closely.