Sect Tournament

The morning of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

Jiang Fu'an and Stone, father and son, each gripped a long wooden saber and swung it with deliberate precision.

Jiang Fu'an had long since thoroughly studied the several martial arts manuals recorded on the beast-hide scroll.

They truly held some profound tricks. When executed, they could not only be driven by inner force to increase their power.

They could even be driven by spiritual power.

According to the beast-hide scroll, once mastered, they counted as a formidable offensive technique even at the Qi Refining stage.

Jiang Fu'an did not hesitate for long before choosing the movement art, "Cloud-Soaring Steps," and the "Wind-Thunder Saber Technique" to practice.

At the other end of the small courtyard, a young maid of around fifteen or sixteen was sweeping the fallen leaves from the stone paving with a bamboo broom, making soft rustling sounds.

At Xu Lao'er's introduction, Jiang Fu'an had hired her from the village.

There were two in all; the other was currently inside the main hall, wiping and cleaning.

To their parents, being able to earn wages to help support the household before their daughters married was already an unexpected joy.

Jiang Fu'an had hired them without much trouble and for little silver.

After completing a round of saber practice, Jiang Fu'an withdrew his stance.

He raised his head and looked at the sky. The sun had long risen high, hanging there in a glaring white glow, yet offering little warmth.

He estimated that it was around eight or nine in the morning.

He stopped, then turned to Stone beside him and instructed him:

He stopped practicing, then turned to Stone beside him and instructed him:

"Stone, I'm heading out. Practice a little less too—don't wear yourself out."

"Dad, I know."

Stone answered crisply, but his wooden saber did not pause for even an instant. He continued swinging it with utmost seriousness.

Ever since Jiang Fu'an had promised to teach him and his sister martial arts, the boy had been brimming with enthusiasm.

He was not afraid of the cold in the slightest. Every day, he got up to practice as soon as the roosters crowed, and he had not slacked off a single day.

Seeing his son's meticulous manner, Jiang Fu'an felt deeply gratified.

At five years old, his bones and muscles had yet to settle, making it the perfect time to lay a foundation. And Stone also possessed the Devouring Physique.

As long as the child could keep this up, he might one day become a martial arts grandmaster.

Jiang Fu'an returned to the house and changed into clean clothes. After straightening his cuffs, he shut the courtyard gate and headed toward town.

A few days earlier, Ma Ping, the Wang Family's live-in son-in-law, had specifically come to his home with a message. He said that he would host a banquet at Gathering Immortals Tower in town at noon today and hoped Jiang Fu'an would honor him with his presence. Sun Xiuyuan had also been invited.

Jiang Fu'an had some doubts about the invitation.

His friendship with Ma Ping had not reached the point where they needed to hold a drinking feast together during the New Year.

Besides, this world also valued visiting relatives and friends during the New Year. Jiang Fu'an himself was free only because neither he nor Su Wanqing had many relatives; they had already made the rounds on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

But the Wang Family was different. Just from the many guests who had attended their previous banquet, it was clear that they had extensive connections.

During the holiday season, such a household was surely thronged with visitors, busy enough that their feet never touched the ground.

As the Wang Family's live-in son-in-law, how could Ma Ping be so free, with the leisure to entertain guests outside?

Carrying this doubt, Jiang Fu'an made his way to town and found Gathering Immortals Tower.

The moment he entered the private room on the second floor, he saw that Ma Ping and Sun Xiuyuan were already seated at the table.

Ma Ping's face was flushed, clearly showing that he had already drunk quite a bit. When he saw Jiang Fu'an enter, he deliberately put on a stern face and pretended to be angry.

"Fu'an, you're late! No excuses—come on, punish yourself with three cups!"

"My apologies, my apologies. I was delayed on the road."

Jiang Fu'an hurriedly smiled in apology. Without refusing, he took the wine cup and drained three in succession.

Fortunately, the wine here was not particularly strong, so it was nothing to him.

After a round of pleasantries, Ma Ping, already seven or eight parts drunk, resumed the topic he had been discussing with Sun Xiuyuan. His tongue curled slightly as he spoke, his words carrying a hint of grievance.

"That woman hasn't shared a bed with me for over ten years. Fine, I could accept her refusing to let me take a concubine.

"But now, she won't even let me through the gates of the main courtyard. She only assigned me a tiny room in an outer side courtyard to rest my head.

"Heh, my standing in the Wang Family now is probably worse than a servant's..."

Jiang Fu'an's heart stirred at this.

This was gossip from inside the Wang Family's inner residence!

The "woman" Ma Ping spoke of should be Wang Zhiyue, the current head of the Wang Family.

She had been a famed beauty throughout the surrounding region decades ago. When he had caught a brief glimpse of her at the Wang Family residence last time, she had indeed aged somewhat, yet her charm still remained.

At the time, he had even secretly envied Ma Ping. It was one thing to live off a woman, but he had even found such a beautiful woman to live off.

Yet from what he heard now, the two were merely a couple in appearance, their relationship frozen stiff.

No wonder Ma Ping had invited guests out during the New Year. He must have been neglected at home, his heart choked with pent-up frustration, and simply wanted to find someone he could talk to over a few drinks.

Though Jiang Fu'an was curious, he did not pry. He merely listened in silence, occasionally raising his cup to drink along with him.

At this moment, Sun Xiuyuan set down his chopsticks and spoke after some deliberation.

"Brother Ma, this old man is going to say something unpleasant. I hope you won't take offense.

"For the Wang Family head to treat you this way... could it be that she has someone else outside?"

Ma Ping did not react with much emotion. He merely calmly poured another cup of wine down his throat and shook his head.

"Most likely not. That woman is proud as can be. Back in her younger days, she declared that if she ever found another man, he would have to be stronger than her in cultivation and more gifted than her.

"She stopped sharing a bed with me because her cultivation surpassed mine.

"This time, she won't even let me enter the family residence because she used the Qi-Gathering Pill her daughter gave her to break through to the middle Qi Refining stage. She looks down on me even more now that I'm still standing in place."

Peace Town had no spiritual vein, making cultivation difficult. Qi Refining cultivators at the middle stage were already as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

Therefore, Ma Ping did not worry that his wife had another man outside.

Jiang Fu'an secretly nodded as he listened. Women were naturally drawn to strength.

Someone earning three thousand a month wanted to find someone earning thirty thousand a month.

Someone one and a half meters tall believed that anyone under one point eight meters was not worthy of her.

He had seen far too much of this in his previous life.

Such gossip was the finest accompaniment to wine. From time to time, Jiang Fu'an took a sip and picked up a bite of food with his chopsticks.

Only after Ma Ping had poured out all his bitterness did Sun Xiuyuan bring up the matter that had been weighing on his mind.

"Brother Ma, during these New Year days, this old man has missed his daughter at the Melodious Sound Sect more and more.

"I keep wondering whether I might find an opportunity to visit her.

"I wonder... does the Melodious Sound Sect allow ordinary relatives like us to enter and meet them?"

Jiang Fu'an, who was picking up a slice of bamboo shoot, paused slightly.

If he could truly go to the Melodious Sound Sect...

Then could he not bring that storage ring he could not open and ask Seedling for help?

Unexpectedly, Ma Ping directly shook his head.

"The Melodious Sound Sect accepts only female disciples, and its sect rules are extremely strict. In particular, it deeply forbids men from entering its mountain gates. Ordinarily, trying to pay a visit would be harder than climbing to the heavens."

However, before Sun Xiuyuan could show disappointment, Ma Ping abruptly changed the subject.

"Still... I've heard that the Melodious Sound Sect holds a sect tournament once every five years.

"During that time, its mountain gates are open to outsiders. No matter who it is, anyone may enter to watch the matches.

"If Old Brother Sun truly wants to go, perhaps you can take that opportunity."