Please Master Ye Step Forward

After July, Ye An's days grew completely quiet.

The matter of the Medicine Field was already settled, and his time now was even more than before.

Coupled with the supply of resources, his cultivation speed was not something from before that could compare.

In the morning he went to the inner-gate Martial Practice Ground to practice the Star-Shattering Finger, in the morning he returned to his room to circulate the Meridian Opening Formula, and in the evening he practiced the sword.

[Meridian Opening Formula (First Layer): 47/100]

[Meridian Opening Formula (First Layer): 54/100]

[Star-Shattering Finger (Initial Glance): 67/100]

[Star-Shattering Finger (Initial Glance): 73/100]

[Rosy Cloud Sword Technique (Initial Glance): 38/100]

[Rosy Cloud Sword Technique (Initial Glance): 44/100]

The progress of the Star-Shattering Finger was smoother than expected; movements that previously required deliberate adjustment of force application angles now had his body remembering that slanted-side path on its own. The sword forms of the Rosy Cloud Sword Technique had also grown somewhat steadier, and connecting all five forms together would no longer break off in the middle.

Cangwu Prefectural City, Liu Lineage estate.

Liu Ruyan sat in the backyard pavilion, with Zhao Wan seated opposite her.

Zhao Wan was one of the few old acquaintances Liu Ruyan could sit down with to drink tea and chat in the prefectural city. Her family ran a silk business, and while they could not be considered exceptionally wealthy, they had several years of friendship with the Liu Lineage.

Each of them had a cup of tea placed before them, which had already been refilled twice. Liu Ruyan held a letter in her grip, read it twice, folded it and placed it on the table, then picked up her teacup.

Zhao Wan watched her set the teacup down before speaking, "Is there any lead on the matter at the mine?"

"Cuiwei is back," Liu Ruyan said. "She sustained some injuries, though they weren't severe. She said someone was tailing the outer perimeter of the mining area, and last night someone felt their way to the outer edges of the mining area without going inside. She staked it out there for a whole night and confirmed that the other party bore markings, and wasn't just some ordinary rogue cultivator."

Zhao Wan did not rush to reply, and only spoke after a moment of silence, "Bearing markings means they belong to someone." She looked at Liu Ruyan again, "What do you plan to do?"

Liu Ruyan did not answer.

Zhao Wan picked up her teacup, her tone lightening somewhat, "Since things stand like this, why don't I recommend someone to you? Ma Rui, Mid-Meridian Opening, spent a few years serving as a retainer in the Zhao family before striking out on his own later on. He has spent a few years in the prefectural city's market and is considered quite steady among rogue cultivators. If you don't want to show your face yourself, having him go probe out the bottom of it would also work."

Liu Ruyan pondered for a moment before replying, "Thank you for Sister Zhao's good intentions, but I have other plans for this matter."

Zhao Wan did not press further and nodded, "That's fine too. As long as you have a clear idea in mind. If there's any need, let me know anytime." She did not try to persuade her further, and took a sip from her teacup.

Somehow, the news spread out.

Behind a shop in the West Market of the prefectural city, Ma Rui sat in a chair, listened to his subordinate finish speaking, and let out a laugh. "That Liu Lineage mining vein? I know about it. Some trouble did indeed occur recently, and if I were to go, those little rats are not worth mentioning. However, that would depend on the sincerity shown by Liu Ruyan of the Liu Lineage."

A tall, thin man beside him picked up the conversation, "That's right! With big brother making a move, it'll be in the bag!"

Another subordinate laughed and said, "I heard there are four great beauties in Cangwu Prefecture, and Liu Ruyan ranks first. I wonder if it's true or false."

Ma Rui did not pick up on this remark, but the smile on his face did not dissipate. As if turning something over in his mind, he said unhurriedly, "Just wait."

The tall, thin man was slightly taken aback, "Big brother, should we make some preparations in advance?"

Ma Rui put down the teacup in his hand, "What preparations to make? It's her, Liu Ruyan, who is begging us to handle things for her, not us begging her. Just wait."

The tall, thin man asked no more and retreated to the side. Ma Rui leaned against the back of the chair, tapping his fingers twice on the armrests, the smile at the corner of his mouth still lingering.

A period of time later, a steward walked hurriedly in from outside the courtyard gates, coming to a halt outside the pavilion with a rather poor complexion.

He hesitated for a moment, lowered his voice, and began, "Mistress, something happened at the mining area again this early morning. Last night, someone cut off that transportation route on the northern side, piling up rocks and broken timber so the caravan couldn't get through. The stewards in charge didn't dare force their way through and took a long detour, causing the ore to arrive late, and the buyers have already rejected the cargo. The quantity of this batch of goods is not small, and hearts are somewhat unsettled over at the mining area, with several veteran foreheads asking if they should halt operations for a while."

Liu Ruyan set down the teacup in her hand without making a sound. Zhao Wan glanced at her and likewise did not speak. This mining field was managed by Liu Ruyan, and with trouble occurring, the pressure naturally fell entirely upon her shoulders alone. People from the collateral branches were already waiting for her to break under the strain, and now with the road cut off, the cargo returned, and hearts unsettled, every single piece was a glaring vulnerability.

Liu Ruyan was silent for a brief moment before speaking, "Have them halt for two days first, appease them with their wages, and I'll figure out a way for the rest." The steward acknowledged the order and retreated. The pavilion grew quiet, and the tea had already turned cold.

Zhao Wan waited for her to put down the teacup before speaking, her voice somewhat lighter than before, "With the road to the mining area cut off, the losses aren't small, right?"

Liu Ruyan did not conceal it from her, "The shortfall from this batch of goods is enough to cover more than half a year of my income."

Zhao Wan asked no further, picked up her own teacup, and took a small sip, "Why not... still consider Ma Rui? Even though he comes from a rogue cultivator background, he has knocked around the prefectural city's market for all these years, and he's at least at Mid-Meridian Opening with a familiar lay of the land. With him holding down the fort, it at least won't let those people be so arrogant."

Liu Ruyan did not reply immediately. She remained silent for a short while, then shook her head, "Let's see."

Zhao Wan put down her teacup, her gaze lingering on Liu Ruyan's face for a split second. As if thinking of something, she smiled, "That's true. Didn't you say you recruited someone some time ago? Even though he's only at Early-Meridian Opening, he's at least in the Meridian Opening Realm? There's quite a gap between Mid-Meridian Opening and early, I wonder if he'll be able to suppress the situation."

Liu Ruyan did not take up this remark, nor did she deny it.

She picked up her teacup, took a sip, set it down, and looked toward the sky outside the courtyard wall. Zhao Wan understood and did not continue asking.

At this moment, Ye An had no idea what had happened to the Liu Lineage; he stared at the Star-Shattering Finger before his eyes.

[Star-Shattering Finger (Initial Glance): 90/100]

Give him a few more days, and by then the breakthrough of the Star-Shattering Finger would elevate his combat prowess to yet another level.

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