The Great Fire

At dawn, a streak of fish-belly white appeared on the eastern horizon.

On the stone steps, Li Ziye's eyes snapped open. He had woken right on time.

As dawn replaced night, the utmost yin turned to yang between heaven and earth-the best time to practice the mental method of the Flying Immortal Art.

Li Ziye sat cross-legged and circulated the mental method, breathing in and out Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

In an instant, endless Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surged toward the courtyard, pouring ceaselessly into his parched Divine Repository.

Time passed little by little. In the east, the brilliant sun rose, and as the first rays of morning light fell over the land, the fluctuations of True Essence around Li Ziye gradually subsided.

The Divine Repository, the human body's treasure vault, formed a small world of its own. Within it, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled as Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered into a boundless sea of True Essence. Huge waves rolled and mighty breakers roared, a breathtaking sight.

As Li Ziye's cultivation grew more profound by the day, his sea of True Essence continued to expand, stretching out of sight without end.

After opening his second meridian, Li Ziye cultivated more than twice as fast as before, and the rate at which his True Essence expanded had also multiplied.

Whoosh!

Half a quarter-hour later, Li Ziye abruptly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through them, like a keen divine sword with a threatening edge.

Beside him, Bai Wangyu sensed it, and an unusual look crossed his face.

What keen sword intent!

To possess such sharp sword intent in only the First Realm-the Flying Immortal Formula truly deserved its reputation as the world's foremost art.

"Brother Li, would you like to spar?"

Bai Wangyu thought for a moment, then asked.

At his words, an eager expression appeared on Li Ziye's face as well. He sprang to his feet and said, "Sure. Same rules as always-keep your cultivation at the middle stage of the First Realm."

"All right."

Bai Wangyu nodded and walked to the center of the courtyard. Then he curled his right hand around empty air, and the Taiyi Ancient Sword flew from its sheath in response. In an instant, Vast Righteous Qi surged forth.

Opposite him, Li Ziye drew the Pure Jun Sword and grinned. "Please!"

As his words fell, Li Ziye moved in a flash, seizing the initiative.

His movements were blindingly fast, like a flying immortal, and difficult to follow. In the blink of an eye, the Pure Jun Sword's edge was already before Bai Wangyu.

Clang!

Taiyi and Pure Jun clashed, sending True Qi rippling outward. Li Ziye changed the course of his blade and moved again, appearing behind Little Red Riding Hood in an instant.

The Pure Jun Sword swept past, its edge dazzling. The fierce strike was all but impossible to guard against.

Yet Bai Wangyu neither ducked nor dodged. He turned and struck, blocking the keen blade with a clang.

Fast-too fast to react to. After two exchanges, Li Ziye changed his sword stance once more, his movements growing faster and faster.

Beneath the morning sun, the two swords clashed repeatedly, scattering sparks. The two actually seemed evenly matched.

In a flash, ten exchanges had passed. Bai Wangyu swung his sword, breaking off the fight with a single strike, and praised him. "No need to keep fighting. Brother Li, you've learned fewer than three moves in total, yet you held your own against me for ten exchanges without falling behind. Your progress truly makes me see you in a new light."

"Why does that sound a little odd?"

Li Ziye sheathed his sword and muttered. Was he overthinking it? Why did that compliment make him so uncomfortable?

"Young master."

Just then, Hongzhu approached from outside the west wing and said respectfully, "It's nearly time."

Li Ziye nodded at her words and headed out of the courtyard.

Outside Li Garden, the carriage was ready. Li Ziye and Hongzhu climbed aboard together.

Meanwhile, in the small courtyard beside the Xiang River in the southeast of the capital, Yu Qingxuan packed up her guqin and departed in her carriage.

At the Yin Family Bank, firecrackers crackled and people came and went. A festive mood filled every corner.

It was Old Master Yin's sixtieth birthday, and guests packed the place, most of them younger members of the Yin Clan and friends and relatives.

The Yin Family Bank wielded considerable influence in the Great Shang capital and even had ties to the imperial court. Naturally, many people came to congratulate Old Master Yin on his birthday.

Carriages pulled up outside the Yin residence one after another. Inside one of them, Hongzhu's slender hands roamed over Li Ziye's face, all in the fine name of disguise.

But Li Ziye suspected that Hongzhu was deliberately taking liberties with him.

"Done."

Before long, Hongzhu withdrew her hands and admired her handiwork with satisfaction. Then she took out a mirror and smiled. "Take a look!"

Across from her, Li Ziye looked at himself in the mirror and immediately jumped in fright.

Who was this pretty boy?

The fair-skinned youth in the mirror was exceedingly handsome-even far better-looking than a certain Mr. Li himself.

Li Ziye was a little angry. He had thought himself the best-looking man in this world, but it turned out he had been wrong.

The best-looking man in the world was him with makeup on!

"Yu Qingxuan's carriage is here too."

Ignoring the narcissistic young master before her, Hongzhu lifted the curtain beside her. When she spotted the carriage approaching nearby, she spoke up to remind him.

At her words, Li Ziye put down the mirror and rose to get out.

"Hongzhu, stay outside to support us."

With that, Li Ziye stepped out of the carriage.

Outside the Yin residence, Yu Qingxuan's carriage also came to a stop.

Yu Qingxuan then stepped out and looked around, searching for that person's figure.

"Fairy Qingxuan, I trust you've been well!"

Li Ziye approached, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Young master, I don't believe we know each other."

Yu Qingxuan frowned slightly at the newcomer and replied.

"Fairy Qingxuan, it's me, Erniu."

The smile on Li Ziye's face grew even brighter. "The Erniu who gave you the Guangling Melody."

Yu Qingxuan froze for a moment at his words. Then excitement appeared on her face. "Brother Erniu, it's you!"

With that, Yu Qingxuan burst into laughter, unable to hold it in any longer. "Ziye, you've changed far too much."

"I had no choice. I'm too famous, and I was afraid someone would recognize me!"

Li Ziye glanced around and said quietly, "Once we're inside, make sure you don't let it slip."

"I understand."

Yu Qingxuan rolled her eyes at the youth before her, then handed him her guqin and smiled. "Brother Erniu, let's go inside together."

"Right you are!"

Li Ziye took the guqin, grinned, and walked beside Yu Qingxuan as they entered the Yin residence together.

In the Yin courtyard, a stage had long since been set up. Celebrated performers sang opera as drums thundered to the heavens.

Below, the guests cheered, making for a lively scene.

The guests who had come to offer birthday wishes were all prominent figures in the capital. Yet when they saw Yu Qingxuan, quite a few still took the initiative to approach her and shower her with attention.

Yu Qingxuan offered these people only a few indifferent replies, showing no intention of currying favor.

Beside her, Li Ziye swept his gaze over the various parts of the Yin residence, and a trace of nervousness actually rose in his heart.

Whether he could get that Essential Arts of Heavenly Craft all came down to today!

"Everyone, today is my father's sixtieth birthday, so we specially invited Fairy Qingxuan to play the guqin for you. Please welcome her."

Just then, a middle-aged man stood on the stage, looked at the many guests below, and spoke with a smile.

"Fairy Qingxuan!"

"Fairy Qingxuan!"

At once, everyone below shouted at the top of their lungs. Some of the young people, in particular, grew red-faced with excitement.

Beside her, Li Ziye jumped at the sudden commotion. He looked at the woman next to him, disbelief on his face.

Was this girl that popular in the capital?

So many brainless fans!

Yu Qingxuan seemed to sense the surprise in Li Ziye's gaze. She smiled radiantly, then took the guqin and walked forward.

On the stage, Yu Qingxuan sat down and set the guqin before her.

Below, the middle-aged man clapped a few times. Several women with graceful figures stepped onto the stage from beside it to dance to Fairy Qingxuan's music.

Ting!

Yu Qingxuan plucked the strings, and melodious notes rang out like a babbling spring, pure and clear.

As the music stirred, the women behind her began to dance, their graceful movements complementing the guqin's melody.

Below, the guests quieted down. Listening to the music and watching the song and dance, they were utterly entranced and perfectly at ease.

Not far away, however, Li Ziye had no interest in appreciating the performance. His gaze rested on the Yin residence's rear courtyard as he waited for Yin Kuang to act.

Meanwhile, at the Court of State Ceremonial not far from the Yin residence, the Divine Hall's envoys had been lodged to await a summons from the Great Shang emperor.

Inside the Court of State Ceremonial, Yan Xiaoyu slowly opened his eyes from cultivation and looked outside, his brow creasing slightly.

Where was all that noise coming from?

Yan Xiaoyu rose and walked outside.

"Divine Son!" Outside the room, a Divine Hall knight bowed respectfully.

"Go and ask which household is making such a racket," Yan Xiaoyu said.

"Yes!"

The Divine Hall knight accepted the order and hurried away.

Before long, the Divine Hall knight returned and reported respectfully, "Divine Son, the capital's Yin Clan is celebrating Old Master Yin's sixtieth birthday, so things are rather noisy."

"The Yin Clan?"

Yan Xiaoyu narrowed his eyes slightly. The Yin Clan of the Yin Family Bank?

According to the Divine Hall's records, the person behind the Yin Family Bank was very likely Great Shang's Third Prince.

"Fire!"

Just then, an urgent cry rang out beyond the Court of State Ceremonial, startling everyone.

"The Yin residence is on fire!"

Then more voices rang out. People rushed about spreading the news and gathering others to help put out the fire.

Inside the Court of State Ceremonial, Yan Xiaoyu heard the cries and looked toward the Yin residence, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Fire?

Why would a fire suddenly break out for no reason?

At that thought, Yan Xiaoyu headed outside the Court of State Ceremonial.

"Divine Son, don't concern yourself with unnecessary matters!"

Just then, Liu Rongnü appeared behind him and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"I'll exercise discretion."

Yan Xiaoyu nodded in reply, then walked out of the Court of State Ceremonial.

The Yin residence.

In the rear courtyard, the fire had broken out so abruptly that everyone in the residence was caught completely off guard and thrown into a flurry.

Because of Old Master Yin's birthday celebration, most of the household was busy with preparations in the front courtyard. There were barely any people in the rear courtyard.

Thus, once the fire broke out, there was no time to put it out before the flames grew larger and larger.

And so the entire Yin residence descended into chaos.

"The first month brings the New Year, yi-yo-wei..."

Amid the utter chaos, Li Ziye hummed a little tune and calmly headed toward the location Yin Kuang had told him about.

Outside the Yin ancestral hall.

Yin Kuang stood there, waiting anxiously.

Before long, Li Ziye approached with a blue-green jade pendant hanging at his waist, all in the fine name of a token of identification!

When Yin Kuang saw the jade pendant at the newcomer's waist, he immediately recognized him and stepped forward to bow.

"Young master!"

"Let's go get the thing together."

Li Ziye replied, and they headed forward together.

The two entered the Yin ancestral hall and opened the entrance to the secret passage. Before their eyes appeared a gloomy, dimly lit passage more than ten zhang long.

"Young master, from here on, you must stay close to me. You mustn't take a single wrong step, or neither of us will get out alive."

Yin Kuang looked at the secret passage ahead and spoke gravely.