Winter Hunt Approaches, Reunited with an Old Friend

Li Xian condensed Qi into a thread, starting from his Dantian, and tried once more to circulate Qi through the heavens.

He guided it around the major acupoints along the circuit. When it reached the one hundred and twelfth acupoint, the Inner Qi in his Dantian ran dry. The Qi could no longer maintain its form and dispersed into his flesh and blood.

"I'm still a long way from circulating Qi through the heavens."

"But compared to last time, I've made very obvious progress!"

Jiang Yun, a Grade-B House Guard, had originally been a refugee fleeing famine in Purple Jade County.

Fortunately, she was distantly related to Qiuyue, Madam Wen's personal maid, and had some connection with her. With Qiuyue's recommendation, she was able to enter the manor and serve as a Guard.

In that sprawling manor, Qiuyue ranked just below Madam Wen.

"Speak. What did you come to see me about?"

In a scenic stone pavilion,

Jiang Yun bent at the waist, her face meek and obedient, and offered tea with both hands. Qiuyue slowly accepted it, glanced at Jiang Yun, and asked nonchalantly.

"Elder Sister Qiuyue, I failed the Guard Competition again last time. I still can't advance to Grade-A..." Jiang Yun seemed very ill at ease as she spoke.

"Oh?"

Qiuyue shook her head. "It's not your fault. You're a woman, and your talent for martial arts is only ordinary. If I hadn't supported you out of consideration for our ties, you'd have struggled even to reach Grade-B, never mind Grade-A."

"Yes, yes. It's all thanks to Elder Sister Qiuyue's great kindness." Jiang Yun hurriedly thanked her.

"Besides..."

"You're a woman, so you're bound to be at a disadvantage in a martial contest on the Arena."

Qiuyue took a sip of tea, then furrowed her brows. "What kind of tea is this?"

"It's Fragrant Jasmine Tea. I specially-"

Jiang Yun had only gotten halfway through her sentence when a slap landed across her face. Qiuyue scolded her, "This wretched tea is simply an insult to my mouth!"

Furious, she hurled the teacup to the ground. It shattered, and tea splashed everywhere. Then, impatiently, she said, "Whatever you want to ask, hurry up and say it."

"Yes, yes."

Jiang Yun didn't dare get angry. She said sheepishly, "It's like this. That boy named Li Xian seems to have been very active lately. I had a bit of a falling-out with him some time ago. Do you think I should..."

"Him..." Qiuyue naturally remembered him. She had been there when the soup was handed out, too.

Qiuyue waved a hand. "No need to pay him any mind. He's just a nobody."

At that, the weight on Jiang Yun's heart lifted. "There's also the matter of the Winter Hunt..."

"Now that you mention the Winter Hunt, it reminds me."

Qiuyue beckoned Jiang Yun closer and lowered her voice a little. "This Winter Hunt might let you find another way to make it into Grade-A."

"Madam's been in a good mood lately, and the Winter Hunt is her favorite activity. Make sure you do well."

Jiang Yun's eyes lit up. She took a piece of gold and jade from her bosom and offered it with both hands. "Thank you for your advice, Elder Sister Qiuyue. This is a token of my respect for you."

Qiuyue's brows lifted slightly. The gold and jade were of good quality, and the bird-and-flower patterns carved into them were quite exquisite.

Gold was hard currency. Even with the dynasty in turmoil and times changing, this kind of item would always be worth money. No one ever complained of having too much, so she accepted it.

Seeing that Jiang Yun must have gone to considerable trouble to obtain it, she softened her voice. "At least you know how to behave. Don't tell anyone I came by." She stood and left.

Several days had passed since the Essence Food had been distributed. The days went on as usual, so peaceful they could not stir up the slightest ripple.

Whenever the Guards encountered Li Xian, some were jealous, some afraid, and some unconvinced, but no one dared provoke him lightly.

Li Xian didn't have many friends, and he didn't go out of his way to make any. But he treated people warmly and was kindhearted, so he had still earned some goodwill.

"It's almost the end of October now. I wonder how Younger Brother's academic examination is going."

Li Xian's thoughts drifted as he leaned against a tree trunk, holding his long saber.

"Master Li, once we finish patrol later, let's go up the mountain together."

Just then, a figure came running over.

The newcomer was Le Zhitao, another Grade-C House Guard. Ever since the incident with the meat distribution, he had actively tried to get on Li Xian's good side.

They were both Grade-C House Guards and had plenty of free time each day. Sometimes, after finishing patrol, Le Zhitao would seek out Li Xian, and they would go to the Dining Hall together for a meal.

They were often together, but they weren't close.

Li Xian was warm on the outside and cool within. Whoever came to talk to him, he would respond; if someone wanted to accompany him, he wouldn't refuse. But becoming a true friend of his was not so easy.

"Up the mountain? Why?" Li Xian asked.

Le Zhitao said, "You don't know? The Winter Hunt is coming!"

"I have heard about the Winter Hunt, but what does that have to do with going up the mountain?" Li Xian shook his head, then slowly stood up and brushed the snow off himself.

"You need to prepare your own bow for the Winter Hunt. Didn't you know? If you don't go up the mountain to cut wood and make a bow, aren't you going to take part in the Winter Hunt?" Le Zhitao explained.

Li Xian furrowed his brows. "Cut wood and make a bow? Making a bow and arrows is complicated. It would take weeks at the very least. Isn't it too late to start making one now?"

"On the neighboring mountain there's a rare kind of wood. Its branches are tough and elastic. You just have to bind on some ox sinew, and there you have it—a bow." Le Zhitao spoke as though it were only natural.

Li Xian thought to himself, That sounds more like a toy. The feel of a bow was extremely important. The bow stave and the string came second; the most important thing was how well the person and bow worked together.

Only when the archer knew the bow and the bow knew the archer could they hit the mark a hundred times out of a hundred. Li Xian was born into a hunter's family and was highly skilled in this craft. He had made his own bows and arrows since the age of five.

By eleven, his hunting skills had already surpassed his father's.

Since ancient times, archers had enjoyed great respect, whether in the army or in the Jianghu.

Hearing that the Winter Hunt was drawing ever closer, Li Xian couldn't help thinking, Rather than make a new bow, I might as well... bring out that old friend of mine again.

He immediately said to Le Zhitao, "You all go ahead. I won't be going."

"Ah!" Le Zhitao shook his head. "What a shame, what a shame."

After Le Zhitao's reminder, Li Xian finished his Patrol Duty, asked Pang Long for half a day off, and set out for Qingning County.

It was the end of October. The weather was bitterly cold, the ground was covered in white, and Frost Geese occasionally flew across the sky.

"Ordinary wild geese all fly south in winter and return in spring. Only these Frost Geese take the road less traveled. Wherever it's cold, they head straight for it."

It had been a long time since he had left the manor. As Li Xian walked along the road, his mind was clear and peaceful.

After walking seven or eight li, he suddenly heard cries of agony in the distance:

"Sir, sir, spare me! I'll never do it again, never again!"

"Wah! Stop hitting me, stop hitting me!"

He turned to look and saw five Guards surrounding a man and beating him.

Judging by the scene, the man must have been caught red-handed by the Guards while secretly cutting down trees.

"Is that him?"

Li Xian took another glance and realized that the man being beaten was Wang Yonghou, Auntie Liu's husband.

He immediately hurried over and said, "Stop for a moment."

"Damn it, keep hitting him!"

These men were Guards of the Lin Family in Qingning County. They glanced at Li Xian without giving him a second thought and continued to punch and kick Wang Yonghou.

Li Xian furrowed his brows, leaped forward, and kicked one of the Guards in the buttocks. The man went sprawling, thoroughly disheveled.

The other Guards froze. One of them cursed, "You little bastard, you've got a helper too! Brothers, take care of him first!"

Four or five men surged toward him at once. Li Xian gave a cold snort and charged straight at the Guard who had spoken, landing two punches squarely in his face.

Then he leaped up and swept out both legs, kicking each of the surrounding Guards once.

In the blink of an eye, he had dealt with every one of them.

"You... who are you? You dare hit us? Just you wait! You just wait!"

The Guard howled, pointing at Li Xian, both furious and afraid.

"Wait?" Li Xian shouted angrily. "If I'm not mistaken, this forest belongs to One Accord Manor. Since when does the Lin Family get to meddle here?"

"This... this..."

The Guards were instantly at a loss for words.

They didn't actually know whose forest this was. They had merely seen someone cutting trees, realized there was some fun to be had, and started beating him for amusement.

"Can your Lin Family afford to offend One Accord Manor? Think it over carefully."

"If you've got nothing to say, then shut your mouths and get lost."

As he said the final words, "get lost," Li Xian infused them with Inner Qi. His voice struck deep into their hearts.

The Guards, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, fled in disarray, thoroughly frightened.