Ding Songyan began looking forward to seeing how Three Thousand Years of Great Dreaming would perform in the Law Realm. He agreed with Zheng Zhuxi that once she had created her tenth unusual aperture and recovered, they would travel together to Qisong Prefecture at the southernmost tip of Ning Prefecture, seeking out a few people named on wanted notices along the way to test their swords against.
Once they reached Qisong Prefecture, they would assess the situation and find a way to spar with a Martial Grandmaster of the Yellow Millet Sect. They could not force a deal on anyone; after all, they all belonged to the righteous side of the martial world.
After eating the food prepared by the kitchen, Zheng Zhuxi left Baoping Lane for the County Yamen. She intended to apologize to several fellow disciples for disrupting their duty rotation by suddenly leaving to pursue the Three Fiends of Xiao City. This had not been a mission assigned by her sect, but a choice she had made out of youthful spirit and a promise worth a thousand pieces of gold-and she really had caused trouble for others.
In the past, she would have considered the matter settled once she apologized. Now, however, she planned to bring some snacks and little gifts with her. Her path and beliefs had not changed, but her approach had grown gentler and more mature.
With his senior sister handling these trifles for him, Ding Songyan was happy to practice his swordsmanship in his own courtyard.
He performed every move and stance very slowly, as though relaxing his body and mind. Yet an artistic conception gradually spread outward, causing some of the surrounding plants and trees to yellow faster and wither early, while others actually sprouted tender new shoots in the depths of