Yan Xiaoyu

At Li Garden, the sky gradually darkened, and the bright moon rose.

In the front courtyard, Li Ziye was still waiting anxiously, his expression torn between hope and fear, as though he had suffered a heartbreak.

Only when the bright moon hung high in the starry sky did a figure in white Confucian robes approach Li Garden, handsome of face and extraordinary in bearing.

At the sight of him, Li Ziye immediately rushed forward in excitement.

Little Red Riding Hood had finally returned. He had scared him half to death.

"Old Bai, I thought you weren't coming back."

Li Ziye grabbed Little Red Riding Hood's hand, so moved he nearly cried.

Little Red Riding Hood must have been unable to bear leaving him, which was why he had insisted on coming back.

Suppressing his disgust, Bai Wangyu tugged at his hand. It did not come free, so he gave it a hard yank.

"The Head of the Confucians wanted to see me, so I went back for a while."

As he spoke, Bai Wangyu discreetly wiped the hand Li Ziye had grabbed, afraid of catching some disease.

"The Head of the Confucians wanted to see you?"

Li Ziye did not notice Little Red Riding Hood's actions and asked curiously, "Was it something urgent? If you need my help, just say the word."

"It was nothing. He just gave me a few instructions, telling me to stay by your side, Brother Li, and learn and observe more," Bai Wangyu said calmly.

"Learn from me?"

Li Ziye froze at those words. Had he heard wrong?

The model child of other families was supposed to learn from him?

Old Li, did you hear that? Your son has made something of himself!

"The Head of the Confucians truly lives up to his title, spotting strengths ordinary people can't see."

Li Ziye reached out and patted Little Red Riding Hood on the shoulder. "Study hard. I'll teach you patiently."

"..."

Bai Wangyu was speechless. He had indeed learned quite a few things-being thick-skinned, for instance.

"I'm going to bed. I waited half the night for you. This young master is dead tired!"

Seeing Little Red Riding Hood return safe and sound, Li Ziye relaxed, waved a hand, then turned toward the inner courtyard.

"Brother Li."

Behind him, Bai Wangyu called out.

"Hmm?"

Li Ziye stopped and turned back, asking in puzzlement, "What is it?"

"What is the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal to you, Brother Li?" Bai Wangyu asked solemnly.

"My master, of course," Li Ziye answered.

"Have you ever doubted whether what the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal teaches you, or the path she has arranged for you, might be wrong?" Bai Wangyu continued.

"Never!"

Li Ziye shook his head vigorously. "Someone as respectful of his master and her teachings as I am could never doubt my fairy master. Everything my fairy master says is right!"

"Brother Li, I want the truth," Bai Wangyu asked with a serious expression.

Seeing the earnest look on his face, Li Ziye first froze, then grinned. "Doubted her? Far more than that. Several times, I couldn't help offering my regards to her relatives. Though things ended rather badly for me. Old Qin beat me so badly several times that even my own father wouldn't have recognized me. Old Bai, you're acting strange today. Why are you asking about this?"

"It's nothing."

Bai Wangyu shook his head. "It's late. Go get some rest, Brother Li."

"How strange."

At a loss for words, Li Ziye turned and left.

Bai Wangyu watched his retreating figure, an unusual glint appearing in his eyes.

Now he knew why the Head of the Confucians had told him to stay by Brother Li's side.

He could tell that Brother Li cared deeply about the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal as his master and respected her greatly.

But Brother Li did not obey every arrangement the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal made. He dared to question her. In this respect, he truly fell short of Brother Li.

He would do his best to learn.

In return, he would also faithfully follow the Head of the Confucians' decree and do everything he could to help Brother Li grow stronger.

With that thought, Bai Wangyu headed toward the west wing, preparing to study the third form of the Flying Immortal Art in earnest.

The bright moon shone overhead. Beneath the night sky, in the inner courtyard and the west wing, two people held swords, their gazes equally resolute, practicing again and again.

Li Ziye had not gone to sleep. He believed diligence could make up for shortcomings. If once was not enough, he would practice ten times. If ten times did not work, he would practice a hundred times, a thousand times!

Bai Wangyu had not slept either, spending the entire night studying the third form of the Flying Immortal Art for Li Ziye, the Vast Righteous Qi around him brighter than the moon.

Two people, two swords, tracing streak after streak of sharp, cold light, at the same time, in perfect unison-a breathtaking sight.

Meanwhile, west of the Great Shang capital, the Divine Hall's procession traveled day and night, drawing ever closer to the city.

Seven days later, with the thunder of hooves before the western city gate, the Divine Hall's procession finally arrived after many days on the road.

Outside the gate, Third Prince Mu Yao personally welcomed them with several ministers from the Court of State Ceremonial, giving the Divine Hall ample face.

The Great Shang Dynasty had founded its nation through military might, yet never failed to display the bearing of a great nation in matters of etiquette.

As the Divine Hall's procession entered the city, many curious citizens came out onto the streets to watch the spectacle.

Over the past decade and more, although there had occasionally been friction between the Great Shang Dynasty and the Divine Oracle Temple, relations had remained peaceful overall.

Thus, the people of Great Shang bore no particular hostility toward the Divine Oracle Temple's visiting envoys.

In particular, the visitors included Yan Xiaoyu, the world-renowned Divine Son of the Divine Oracle Hall, which stirred the curiosity of Great Shang's people even more. Everyone wanted to see just what this legendary Divine Son looked like.

Naturally, among these bored people was the even more bored Li Ziye, who had dragged along a very reluctant Little Red Riding Hood.

Behind the crowds lining the street, after waiting for a long time without seeing the Divine Hall's procession appear, Bai Wangyu had no desire to wait any longer and said, "Brother Li, I've already met Yan Xiaoyu and even fought him. I'll head back first!"

"Don't!"

Li Ziye grabbed him. "We're already here. At least watch the spectacle before leaving."

"Why are you so interested in Yan Xiaoyu, Brother Li?"

Bai Wangyu asked in confusion. From what he knew of Brother Li, even if Yan Xiaoyu were as beautiful as a flower, as long as he was a man, Brother Li would have no interest whatsoever.

During their time together, he had gained some understanding of Brother Li's character and interests.

"I'm not interested in Yan Xiaoyu. I'm interested in that King of Medicines of mine. I need to keep an eye on it first. Otherwise, if it gets lost, I won't even have anywhere to cry."

As Li Ziye explained, he rose onto his toes and looked toward the end of the street. Why had the Divine Hall's procession still not arrived? Were they going to have a meal outside the city first?

"Why do you care so much about this King of Medicines, Brother Li? I truly don't understand," Bai Wangyu could not help asking again.

"Because I have a great use for it, of course!"

Li Ziye glanced at Little Red Riding Hood beside him, thought for a moment, then said, "All right, I can tell you, but you can't tell anyone else."

After spending these days together, he thought Little Red Riding Hood was quite a good person. There was no harm in telling him this secret.

"I won't tell anyone," Bai Wangyu promised, nodding with curiosity written across his face.

"Actually."

Li Ziye looked around, lowered his voice, and said quietly, "The eight meridians in my body are blocked. I need outside force to shatter them, then use Kings of Medicines to repair them, reconstructing my eight extraordinary meridians that way."

At those words, Bai Wangyu shuddered and stared at the youth before him in disbelief, unable to hide the shock in his heart.

His eight meridians were blocked?

How could someone the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal had accepted as a disciple, someone the Head of the Confucians cared so much about, have eight blocked meridians?

At that thought, Bai Wangyu grabbed his arm and sent True Qi into his meridians, his expression growing increasingly shocked.

Brother Li had not lied.

Of his eight meridians, six were blocked. Even the two that had been opened had yet to heal completely, clearly having only recently been reconstructed.

"Brother Li, you..."

Bai Wangyu looked at the youth before him with complicated eyes, no longer knowing what to say.

"Make sure you keep it a secret!"

Li Ziye reminded him quietly, "I don't mind, but my fairy master cares about her reputation. If the world learns she took in a piece of trash as her disciple and word spreads, Old Qin will lose face. She'll definitely beat me to death."

"I understand."

Bai Wangyu nodded gently, his expression complicated. "Brother Li, you truly surprise me again and again."

"Keep it low-key."

Li Ziye grinned. "After all, outstanding model children like you, Brother Bai, are far too rare. There are more ordinary people like me in this world. What can we do if we want to practice martial arts? We can only think of every possible way and use any means necessary to create the conditions for ourselves."

"No wonder the Head of the Confucians repeatedly instructed me to stay by your side, Brother Li, and learn and observe more. There are so many unbelievable things about you."

Bai Wangyu sighed softly. From the Li Family's rise to Brother Li successfully becoming the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's disciple, everything had exceeded the world's expectations.

If he had to describe it with a single word, that word could only be "miracle"!

"I don't know what the Head of the Confucians is thinking, but I do know that for every day I fail to get that King of Medicines the Divine Hall has brought, I'll spend another day unable to sleep."

Watching the end of the street, Li Ziye replied offhandedly. Then his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Old Bai, it's here! My King of Medicines is here!"

Hearing this, Bai Wangyu looked over as well.

At the end of the street, carriages rumbled and armor clanked. The third prince and the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial led the way, with the Divine Hall's procession following. The Divine Hall's armored cavalry at the very front were encased in silver armor, leaving only their eyes exposed, their murderous presence striking awe into onlookers.

In the very center of the procession, a handsome young man in moon-white robes sat upon a carriage, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes. A faint smile touched his lips, warm as the morning sun, and his noble bearing surpassed even that of Great Shang's princes.

The Divine Son Yan Xiaoyu, a peerless heaven's chosen of the world's younger generation, had arrived in the Great Shang capital.

"Overflowing with domineering presence!"

Behind the crowd, Li Ziye looked at Yan Xiaoyu on the carriage and delivered a very fair assessment.

In terms of appearances, this Divine Son really was quite impressive.

He was almost catching up to him and Little Red Riding Hood.

Within the Divine Hall's procession, Yan Xiaoyu felt the admiring, envious gazes of Great Shang's people, and the corners of his lips curved slightly.

Great Shang, a nation abandoned by the God of Light. Its people were nothing but ignorant peasants without faith. How could they compare with his Divine Oracle Temple?

Beneath the crowd's admiring gazes, Yan Xiaoyu's expression suddenly sharpened. Sensing that unusual gaze in the crowd, he looked over.

Their eyes met. In that brief instant, Yan Xiaoyu's brows creased slightly.

Strange. Who was this person? The presence about him was truly unpleasant, with an indescribable sense of incongruity.

Behind the crowd, Li Ziye saw Yan Xiaoyu looking over and grinned.

This young master's King of Medicines had finally arrived. Thank you, wealth-delivering boy!

On the carriage, Yan Xiaoyu looked at his smile, the disgust in his heart deepening.

Where had this idiot come from!