Going Home

Luoshui City was still the same as ever.

As the uproar over the explosion of the Princess Treasure Ship gradually subsided, Luoshui City seemed to return to its former tranquility.

Li Ping'an said goodbye to the caravan and left, leading Old Ox along.

Before he left, Chen Shun packed the last jug of "Stupefying Donkey" liquor for Li Ping'an.

He also made sure to mention that he would come visit another day.

For the sake of the fine liquor, Li Ping'an readily agreed.

He ambled into the familiar alley, pushed open the door, and went inside.

Hearing the noise, Liu Yun first peeked out from the room, revealing a pair of bright eyes.

Her large eyes blinked, then made out that the newcomer was Li Ping'an.

Delight immediately lit her face, and she checked that no one was behind Li Ping'an.

Only then did she happily step outside. "You're back."

Hearing that familiar voice, Li Ping'an smiled faintly.

"Yes, I'm back."

After several days apart, Liu Yun looked at the man before her and felt even closer to him.

"What's that smell?" Li Ping'an suddenly asked.

"Oh, I... made dinner. We can eat together..."

A trace of embarrassment crossed Liu Yun's face.

"All right."

"Then go wash your hands first," Liu Yun said. "I'll bring out the dishes."

Soon, Liu Yun had set the meal on the table.

Although Li Ping'an could not see what the dishes looked like, his senses were exceptionally keen, and he could pick out their smells with perfect clarity.

Li Ping'an took a deep breath. "Um... did you poison it?"

"Of course not," Liu Yun protested.

Then she realized that Li Ping'an was saying, in a roundabout way, that her cooking tasted awful.

Her pretty face immediately flushed, but she stubbornly retorted, "How would you know it tastes bad without trying it?"

Li Ping'an took a small bite.

Beyond "awful," he could find no words to describe it.

Liu Yun seemed to know her cooking tasted terrible too, but she still steeled herself and ate it one mouthful at a time.

Her lovely eyes stared at Li Ping'an without blinking.

Feeling Liu Yun's gaze on him, Li Ping'an could not help smiling wryly.

Even back in his wandering days, he had never eaten anything this bad.

Li Ping'an gave a dry cough and picked up some vegetables, putting them into his bowl.

"This is what you've been eating these past few days?"

"Yes."

With a strand of half-cooked glass noodle between her lips, Liu Yun nodded.

Then Li Ping'an suggested, "How about I make a couple more dishes?"

In her excitement, Liu Yun swallowed the noodle in one gulp.

She had eaten her own cooking for several days in a row, and it had been nothing short of a sight too pitiful to bear.

It would be no exaggeration to say she had dreamed of Li Ping'an's cooking day and night.

She was about to agree at once, but swallowed the words just as they reached her lips.

"You must be tired after the journey back. Why don't I make a few more dishes instead?"

"It's fine," Li Ping'an said with a smile. "I already had a nap on the road.

"Wait a little. I'll see what ingredients we still have."

Watching Li Ping'an walk into the kitchen, Liu Yun could not help pressing her lips into a smile.

Her gaze was clear as rippling blue water, carrying a tenderness as gentle as its flow.

Even the curve of her lips was utterly perfect.

"Moo~"

Old Ox called out, as though saying he was hungry.

After staying here all this time, Liu Yun could more or less understand what Old Ox meant.

So she picked up a plate of food and offered it to him.

Old Ox sniffed it, then turned his head away in disgust.

Liu Yun: ...

Peace returned to Li Ping'an's days.

Or rather, his days had rarely been filled with heart-stopping thrills in the first place.

The payment from this escort job, together with the money he already had,

would be enough for Li Ping'an and Liu Yun to live on for a while.

Wang Dali of Tong Ren Tang also expressed his willingness to supply Li Ping'an with the ingredients for Life-Pulse Powder over the long term.

At the first faint light of dawn,

Li Ping'an began training in the courtyard.

He knew nothing of proper training methods, so he simply practiced ordinary punches and palm strikes.

He had learned the basic boxing stances from a book called "Boxing Techniques," bought at a street stall for five copper coins.

The martial arts manuals there also included things like "Great Heavenly Creation Palm," "Wind and Fire Palm Manual," and "Great Art of Dissolving Power."

Their names were so outlandish that Li Ping'an had ruled them out.

After his morning boxing practice, he prepared breakfast.

Then he took the tools of his trade and went out to sing on the streets.

Occasionally, he could pick up a few funeral jobs, following behind the procession and playing a little tune.

Those earned him some extra money too.

After returning home in the evening and eating with Liu Yun,

he resumed his training.

Whenever he felt his energy running dry during training, he took Life-Pulse Powder.

On the exhale, he drew true qi into his dantian; on the inhale, he drew it into his mind.

He breathed in vital essence and stood alone, guarding his spirit.

Unlike the usual seated meditation, Li Ping'an preferred to cultivate while walking.

He directed his gaze three to five paces ahead, focused his intent on the tip of his nose, and kept his spirit from wandering outward.

Depending on his walking pace, he generally exhaled over three steps and inhaled over one.

True qi surged through several gates along the Governing Vessel in his back, leaping with vibrant life all the way to the crown of his head.

Like a dammed-up torrent, it would rise into towering crests one moment,

then plunge into deep troughs the next, churning up and down.

It broke through obstructions and surged onward.

By the end, every breath he exhaled sent a wave of heat rising from his pores.

Life passed like this, day after day.

In the blink of an eye, nearly half a year had passed, and winter arrived in Luoshui City.

The New Year drew near, and bitter winds and weather that swung between cold and warmth filled the entire city.

Snowflakes landed on Li Ping'an's shoulders, only to melt beneath a faint, barely perceptible aura.

The streets were crowded, but Li Ping'an easily avoided the people.

[Name: Li Ping'an, Age: 24]

[Lifespan: 110 years]

[Constitution: Mortal bones]

[Techniques: "Turtle Breath Technique" (82%), "Wind-Listening Saber Technique" (80%), Draw-Sword Technique * Diagonal Rising Draw (40%)]

[Skills: "Aura Lock" (50%)]

[Status: Blind]

The Wind-Listening Saber Technique had reached a bottleneck too.

Ever since the Turtle Breath Technique reached 80%, its progress had gradually slowed.

In a full half year, it had advanced by only 2%.

His Draw-Sword Technique and Aura Lock, on the other hand, had progressed by leaps and bounds.

Li Ping'an was in no hurry. He had plenty of time, after all.

When he returned home, Liu Yun was cooking inside.

Hearing him, she said without turning her head, "Dinner's almost ready. Go wash your face first."

"What are we having today?"

"Steamed buns and shredded radish soup."

In fact, Li Ping'an had already smelled the steamed buns and shredded radish soup. He only asked out of habit.

It was just like asking someone, "Have you eaten?" when greeting them.

Over the past half year, Liu Yun had learned to cook, and her cooking had steadily improved.

The two got along better and better, with less of their initial awkwardness and more of the ease that came as affection grew over time.

After washing his face, Li Ping'an went to help Liu Yun carry out a large pot of soup.

"The New Year's only half a month away. Is there anything you want?"

Li Ping'an suddenly asked.

Liu Yun took a bite of her steamed bun and shook her head. "Nothing in particular. Some good food will do."

Liu Yun knew Li Ping'an did not have much money.

She was already taking refuge in his home. What more could she ask for?

"Oh, right," Liu Yun said. "I got you a new cane and left it in your room. Go see if it suits you later."

A couple of days earlier, the cane Li Ping'an had used for so long had broken.

Though he called it a cane, it was really just a somewhat long wooden stick.

Exposed to wind and sun, it was a wonder it had lasted this long.