The Manor Lord's Daughter's Favor, Martial Resources, Wealth Unreturned Is Brocade Robes Worn by Night!

"Ji Xiu, right?"

"Come with me."

Just as Ji Xiu was still immersed in all these benefits,

a clear, pleasant voice, like a yellow oriole's song, reached his ears.

He lifted his eyes and looked.

He saw a ponytailed woman clad in a goose-yellow martial outfit that hugged her exquisite figure, revealing her graceful form. She gave him a slight nod and extended her hand.

"My name is Lu Hongyu. I'm Xiao Yu's older sister, a little older than you."

"Come with me. I'll take you to collect your silver and medicine."

"There are usually many people in the manor, and many retainers as well. The Fire Kiln is a large place, with plenty of rules."

"You've only just arrived, so you may not understand everything. If there's anything you don't know—"

"Feel free to ask me."

The woman's long legs stepped across the bluestone path, every stride powerful. The closer she came, the more startled Ji Xiu became.

With every step this manor lord's daughter took, her skeleton pressed down upon her muscles. She looked graceful, but beneath that exquisitely curved body—

her explosive strength rivaled that of tigers, leopards, and lions!

She had clearly entered the second step of the Strength Threshold: Bone Tempering!

Her cultivation was so high, yet she was so young. Still, she carried herself openly and gracefully, with the bearing of a great family. Ji Xiu could not help relaxing a little, letting out a breath.

Sure enough, it was easier to get things done when one had connections at court.

Since she was Lu Yu's own sister—

then—

she definitely would not have the same temperament as that senior brother of his.

With that thought, Ji Xiu smiled for the first time in a while.

"Then thank you, Senior Sister Lu."

Calling her "older sister" just to curry favor would seem far too fawning, and he could not bring himself to say it.

After thinking it over, since those martial schools all addressed one another as senior brothers and senior sisters, there was nothing wrong with someone his age calling her that.

Besides, he called Lu Yu Senior Brother as well.

Though under Duan Chenzhou, the two of them were not truly disciples—one was an outer apprentice who paid money, a fool ready to be fleeced, while the other was a handyman tending the kitchen fire.

Still, one could not exactly stop others from putting in a good word.

The early morning's cold wind scattered fallen leaves.

In this late autumn chill, the faint indifference that had lingered between Ji Xiu's brows suddenly eased somewhat.

In Lu Hongyu's exquisite, radiant eyes,

it seemed that even if Ji Xiu stood amid the dense crowd of retainers, she would still spot him at a glance.

She had to admit it.

This young man her brother had brought back

truly possessed the sort of bearing she had read about in biographies—the unique air that Qi Refining Experts and Titled Martial Path masters possessed in their youth.

As the saying went, the face arose from the heart.

If it had been Ji Xiu from over a month ago, yellow-faced and skinny as skin stretched over bones, Lu Hongyu certainly would not have spared him a second glance.

But after undergoing several transformations, devoting himself wholeheartedly and reverently to the saber, coupled with his already solid foundation—

Ji Xiu had undergone a complete rebirth.

That cold, sharp loneliness about his appearance, paired with such fine features,

made him far superior to those noble young masters who possessed only a handsome face and nothing within.

Whatever his temperament might be,

Lu Hongyu had taken a liking to him at first sight.

Without trying to hide it, her gaze became brilliant and bright.

Hearing his thanks, and after watching him for a long while, she suddenly broke into a radiant smile.

Then she turned and led the way.

The look in Lu Hongyu's eyes as she left

did not escape Lu Chengfeng, Luo Xiao, or Lu Yu.

Lu Chengfeng's eyes immediately lit up, as though a heavy burden had finally been lifted from his heart.

Lu Yu, standing to the side, wore a wonderful expression. He suddenly snapped back to himself, pointed at the graceful woman leading Ji Xiu away, and said,

"Wait!"

"Old man, you—you wouldn't be thinking—"

"My sister is ten years older than him!"

Lu Chengfeng frowned. The warmth in his eyes first faded into coldness as he swiftly swept his gaze around.

Once the retainers had sensibly dispersed,

he stepped forward and smacked the back of Lu Yu's head hard.

"What nonsense are you spouting, brat?!"

"You think so little of your sister?"

"If you ask me, with Lin Zhenhai's meager ability, he wouldn't be able to latch onto a Qi Refining Expert even in eight lifetimes. Only his daughter had good fortune. Otherwise—"

"Your sister might not be any worse!"

A sharp gleam flickered in Lu Chengfeng's eyes as he paced away.

"They merely offended the Lin Residence. A minor issue."

"But you can know a man's face, not his heart. Some matters must be observed closely before a conclusion can be drawn."

"Also, keep the tokens I gave you safe."

"In a few days, you'll understand why I said this."

With that, Lu Chengfeng slowly walked away. Lu Yu covered the back of his head and followed close behind.

Only Luo Xiao remained, watching the entire scene like an outsider.

Especially when he looked in the direction Lu Hongyu had gone, fury finally appeared on that expressionless, mask-like cold face of his.

After a long while,

he threw a vicious punch into the cold wind, his chest full of stifled frustration, then turned and walked away in the opposite direction.

Before a neat blue-tiled brick house, one courtyard in and one courtyard out, roughly two hundred square meters and complete with its own yard,

Ji Xiu looked at the main hall, side rooms, stove, utility room, washroom, and every other facility before him.

He nearly burst into tears.

The heart of the Fire Kiln!

Back in his old life, this would have counted as prime downtown real estate.

Two hundred square meters—

converted over, it would have cost at least several hundred taels of silver to acquire.

And now, he could live here for free.

At last, he had risen from a life worth less than dirt to someone with substantial means.

There was hope in life now!

"Junior Brother, of the currently vacant houses, this is already the best one. It's a little small, but make do with it for now."

"If you need anything, just come find Senior Sister. I live two houses down from you."

Lu Hongyu tucked back a lock of hair and placed thirty taels of silver, along with a medicinal pill and a small packet of powder, into Ji Xiu's bundle as she carefully instructed him,

"The Leopard Fetus Pill and Tiger Blood Powder can strengthen flesh and blood. Once you cultivate Quicksilver Blood, you can begin Forging Tendons."

"You were brought here by Xiao Yu. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask Senior Sister."

After saying that, seemingly to show off her strength, Lu Hongyu swept out with her long jade-like leg and kicked a stone monument to pieces. She then clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

"In this manor, neither Xiao Yu nor Luo Xiao would dare defy me."

"You're a saber arts genius with a bright future. If anyone gives you trouble—"

"Just come find me!"

"In a few days, I'll see whether there are any good shops or good positions, something leisurely with an opening, and arrange one for you."

Holding the thirty-tael silver ingot, feeling the outlines of the pill and medicinal powder, and looking at the steel saber in its sheath propped against the courtyard wall,

while listening to Lu Hongyu speak of cultivating Quicksilver Blood and forging steel tendons, and recalling the superior Pile Stance and cultivation methods Duan Chenzhou had promised him before he came to Lu Manor,

Ji Xiu felt incomparably delighted.

Not to mention the earlier benefits.

The Leopard Fetus Pill and Tiger Blood Powder alone—

these two medicines, used to help Toughening Tendons Realm martial artists cultivate Quicksilver Blood and forge steel tendons—

if sold outside,

a single dose would equal a month's salary for a Saber-Wearing Retainer!

When joy came, the spirit shone!

After shedding his Slave Status, his life, Ji Xiu's life, was finally about to turn to a new page!

But before that—

I need to bring Xiao Wei here.

He thought to himself.

By now, with the accumulated wisdom of two lifetimes gathered within him, along with all he had experienced during this time,

Ji Xiu had finally fully accepted this younger sister of his.

She has suffered for so long.

I should let her see properly, too.

Whether her brother truly has what it takes to completely turn his life around!

To have wealth and not return home is like wearing brocade robes through the night!