The next morning, when Chu Xisheng woke, he was once again in such agony that he rolled all over the bed.
His gains, however, were plentiful. Last night, he had spent a full seven hours in the dream, practicing his saber for all seven.
Without tiring, Chu Xisheng had swung his saber at least seven thousand times, the equivalent of five days of his usual practice.
Unfortunately, time in the dream passed at a one-to-one ratio. However long Chu Xisheng wanted to practice, he had to sleep for just as long.
He still had to live and earn silver. He could not spend more time sleeping.
Nor could he practice the Origin-Nourishing Art in the dream. The environment there could not nurture primal yang energy.
So after waking, Chu Xisheng went to the rear courtyard and sat cross-legged in its center, facing the Great Sun as he breathed and nourished his qi.
Today was the thirtieth day of the seventh month, a day of rest at the Zhengyang Martial Academy.
Although Chu Xisheng did not have to attend morning drills, he still had to practice the Origin-Nourishing Art.
He was only four days away from a breakthrough in the Origin-Nourishing Art and was especially looking forward to it.
Next, following Cao Xuan's instructions, he went to the bun shop northeast of the academy and bought three dried tangerine peel buns.
Chu Xisheng did not understand why this world even had such things as dried tangerine peel buns.
But according to Cao Xuan, once the siblings bought three dried tangerine peel buns, they would belong to the Embroidery Guard.
Last night, Chu Yunyun had flatly denied possessing the God-Defying Banner and had known nothing about Qin Muge's "treasure" either. She suspected someone was borrowing Qin Muge's name to stir up wind and rain in Xiushui Commandery, harboring unfathomable schemes.
Chu Xisheng thoroughly agreed, and judged that there was still some need for the two of them to attach themselves to the Embroidery Guard.
The trouble sparked by the God-Defying Banner was bound to spread. The Zhengyang Martial Academy, and even all of Xiushui Commandery, would soon become a maelstrom.
At a time like this, it would have been fine if they were still nameless pawns of the martial world.
But the disturbance at the Library Tower had pushed Chu Xisheng into that storm.
Calling his current position the crest of the waves might have been an exaggeration, but he was at least in a conspicuous spot on the storm's outskirts.
Chu Xisheng thought they badly needed a powerful leg to cling to. The official uniform of the Embroidery Guard could effectively improve their circumstances.
Chu Yunyun, meanwhile, was interested in the Embroidery Guard's pay.
Under the Great Ning court's regulations, a ninth-rank Bannerman received seven taels of demon silver and seven shi of rice a month.
That pay was meager indeed, barely enough to support even oneself.
Working as junior escorts at the Sitong Escort Agency, the siblings could each earn more than twenty taels of demon silver a month.
That was why the Embroidery Guard never relied on their salaries. Through extortion, bribes, and squeezing people at every turn, their local Bannermen could easily pocket fifty taels of demon silver a month in illicit gains.
As undercover agents with no real authority, the siblings had no share in those pickings.
However, the Embroidery Guard also provided additional subsidies for undercover agents. All told, the siblings could collect forty taels of demon silver between them each month, as well as a few cultivation pills.
It was a substantial income, an extra salary for nothing.
When the bun shop's proprietor saw him buy three dried tangerine peel buns, he immediately beamed.
Taking advantage of the lack of people nearby, he spoke quietly to Chu Xisheng. "From now on, Master Chu, you're one of us. The Thousand-Household Commander left instructions: if anything comes up, you can contact us through our Full Fragrance bun shops. Full Fragrance has seven branches in Xiushui Commandery, not just this one.
"If you have any leads, come here and buy three mutton buns and one dried tangerine peel bun. If you're in danger and need help, buy three snake-meat flatbread sandwiches and one bitter melon bun. If you want to collect your pay, buy four baskets of steamed leopard cat dumplings-"
Chu Xisheng listened carefully while inwardly grumbling.
Does this bun shop not sell any normal buns?
Mutton buns and snake-meat flatbread sandwiches are one thing, but are bitter melon buns and steamed leopard cat dumplings really edible?
Who came up with these? They're certainly making life difficult for the bun maker.
After leaving the shop, he glanced at the three dried tangerine peel buns in his hand. He hesitated a moment, then decided not to waste food and took a bite.
Chu Xisheng's face immediately puckered like a bitter melon. He could not take another bite.
The taste of that dried tangerine peel filling really defied description.
Just as he was looking around, hoping to feed the two remaining buns to a dog, a small, jade-white hand reached over and snatched them from him.
Chu Xisheng glanced sideways and discovered that it was Lu Luanli.
Today, plum blossoms were the theme of her outfit. She was no longer wearing a disciple's uniform, but an ethereal, flowing purple gauze dress.
"So here you are. I've been looking everywhere for you." As Lu Luanli spoke, she stuffed one of his buns into her mouth.
Chu Xisheng's eyes flickered at the sight. Thinking that joy shared was better than joy alone, he did not stop her.
"I thought you were still in the Library Tower. I searched inside for ages and almost got caught by its master, Ye Jingyuan. Mmph-"
Lu Luanli had reached the dried tangerine peel filling. Her bright little face immediately twisted into a braided knot.
She tossed the bun back to him. "Is this dried tangerine peel? How can such a bizarre bun exist in this world?"
Chu Xisheng shrugged. He wanted to know that too.
Then he realized something was wrong with what she had said. His brows immediately knitted, his gaze sharpening. "How did you know I was in the Library Tower? Were you following me?"
Lu Luanli spat several times, then took out her waterskin and rinsed her mouth before replying with a cold laugh. "If I didn't follow you, how would I know you weren't informing on me? I didn't expect your comprehension to be quite so good.
"There's a trace of saber intent hidden in that Yazi Diagram. People with ordinary comprehension can't sense it, yet you managed to stay in front of it for two and a half days."
A hint of surprise immediately appeared in Chu Xisheng's eyes. Chu Yunyun had said that only those with the very finest cultivation talent could sense the saber intent within the diagram.
He scoffed, his words laced with mockery. "If I'd informed on you, Academy Master Lei Yuan would have summoned you long ago, or simply kicked you out of the Zhengyang Martial Academy. Would you still need to keep watching me all the time?"
Lu Luanli thought he had a point. If her identity was exposed, she could fight him to the death, until the fish died and the net tore, and settle the score with him. There really was no need to watch him so closely.
But a moment later, she still hurried after Chu Xisheng. "Where are you going? Leaving the city?"
She noticed that Chu Xisheng was fully armed. Not only was he wearing a layer of leather armor and carrying his Hundred-Forged Light Steel Saber, but he also had a spare steel saber strapped to his back.
His pack was bulging too, presumably with several days' worth of food and water.
Chu Xisheng gave her a sidelong look. "I'm going to Firebone Cavern outside the city. Satisfied?"
Understanding immediately dawned on Lu Luanli's face.
Firebone Cavern produced a medicinal herb called Yangyang Grass, which could serve as the main ingredient for the secret medicine required for the second level of the Origin-Nourishing Art.
Chu Xisheng was indeed only a hair's breadth from the second level of the Origin-Nourishing Art. It was time to mend the roof before the rain and prepare the secret medicine for his breakthrough.
Her eyes rolled, and she headed toward the Full Fragrance bun shop beside them. "Wait here. I'll buy some meat buns and go with you."
Chu Xisheng froze, his gaze startled. "I'm going into the cavern to look for herbs. You're following me even for that?"
Lu Luanli did not answer immediately. She bought a dozen or so meat buns in the shop, then hurried back to Chu Xisheng's side, her tone threatening. "I happen to be going there to practice a yang-fire spell, and I'll protect you up close while I'm at it. Is that not allowed? Once you leave the city, watch out for the Bloodwind Bandits taking your head!"
She would not say that she was actually bored. She had yet to find any useful clues in the Zhengyang Martial Academy and was bored out of her mind every day.
In the entire Zhengyang Martial Academy, only Chu Xisheng knew her true identity, allowing her to speak without any reservations.
Besides, this fellow was rather interesting-
Chu Xisheng's mood, meanwhile, sank slightly as he recalled the Bloodwind Bandits' declaration that they would take his life within ten days to a month.
Annoying as Lu Luanli might be, now was not the time to turn his nose up at her.