A little trial, nothing dangerous

Not far from the lakeshore, Qin Enuo and Zhang Lata both witnessed the scene. They exchanged a glance, neither saying anything.

The Li family's second young master truly was astonishing.

Such cultivation at such an age was simply terrifying.

By the lake, Li Ziye silently picked up the sword from the ground. Though he had never been one to take a loss, he offered not a single word of defiance now.

"Qingzhi."

In the distance, Li Youwei saw Li Qingzhi approach and said softly, "Our little brother has already been working very hard. Give him some time."

"Eldest sister, how long can you and our adoptive father protect him?"

Li Qingzhi said indifferently, "If he remains such a good-for-nothing, the Li household will fall in his hands sooner or later."

"Our little brother deserves much of the credit for what the Li household has today. Now, he's working hard to protect this family too. Qingzhi, I hope you can give him a little more patience and time," Li Youwei said with a soft sigh.

"He did bring the Li household glory, but his inability to safeguard it is his greatest fault." Li Qingzhi watched the boy by the lakeshore out of the corner of his eye, his expression cold.

By the lake, Li Ziye picked up the sword and returned it to Qin Enuo.

"Fairy, may I take half a day off? I'll make up the repetitions I owe today when I return," Li Ziye said.

"Go ahead."

Qin Enuo asked no further questions. She took the Azure Frost Ancient Sword and nodded.

"Thank you, Fairy."

Li Ziye thanked her and walked away.

"Second brother."

Li Ziye hurried over to the two of them. Despite having just been taught a lesson, he still greeted him with a cheeky grin. "You're back."

Li Qingzhi looked at the boy before him and said flatly, "Finished practicing your sword?"

"Not yet. I promised the third prince I'd give him an answer within these two days," Li Ziye replied.

"Do you know that your eldest sister is going to the capital?" Li Qingzhi asked.

"I do." Li Ziye nodded.

"The capital's waters run deep. This should have been your responsibility as the legitimate son, but because of your inaction, we have no choice but to send your eldest sister. Do you understand?" Li Qingzhi said coldly.

"You're right to reprimand me, second brother," Li Ziye replied, accepting the criticism very humbly.

"When your eldest sister goes to the capital, I'll follow her in secret. Yuzhou City will be left to you," Li Qingzhi said evenly.

"Don't worry, second brother."

Li Ziye's head bobbed like a drumstick. He looked as obedient as could be; no one would have imagined that this was the Li family's lawless young master.

"Go on. That third prince is deeply calculating. Be careful dealing with him." Li Qingzhi's expression softened slightly as he cautioned him.

"Thank you for your concern, second brother. I'll be careful."

It was rare for his elder brother to express concern for him. Li Ziye answered happily, then trotted off.

"You really are too hard on our little brother."

Watching him leave, Li Youwei said helplessly, "He actually respects you very much as his elder brother. Every time you come home, he stays happy for ages."

"He is the Li household's only legitimate son. He ought to shoulder greater responsibilities than others. That's his lot in life."

Li Qingzhi said calmly, "By the way, I'll keep an eye out for a sword for him. I've heard that several fine ancient swords have appeared in the East Sea and the Southern Border. If I have time, I'll go there myself."

"You always have a sharp tongue and a soft heart," Li Youwei said gently.

In a second-floor guest room at the Yuelai Inn.

The third prince, Mu Yao, secured his hair crown, straightened his clothes, then headed downstairs.

Li Ziye was already waiting outside the inn.

"After you, Your Highness!"

Seeing him arrive, Li Ziye spoke politely.

"After you, Brother Li!"

Mu Yao was equally courteous.

The two exchanged a smile, then walked on side by side.

Yuzhou City's local customs differed from the capital's. Its people were simple and honest, but also relatively fierce.

The streets bustled with people. From time to time, children playing and laughing darted through the crowds.

"Have you given any thought to my suggestion, Brother Li?"

Mu Yao casually asked as he took in Yuzhou City's local life and customs.

"The Li household would naturally be remiss to refuse your kindness, Third Highness. My eldest sister will be visiting the capital soon to discuss cooperation with those three families," Li Ziye replied.

"Oh?"

Mu Yao looked surprised at this. "That adoptive elder sister of yours? Aren't you going with her, Brother Li?"

"I've never concerned myself with the Li household's business. My eldest sister and father handle all of it. Father's getting on in years, so traveling far is inconvenient for him. That's why my eldest sister will go in his place," Li Ziye answered with a smile.

"What a pity."

Mu Yao looked regretful. "I'd hoped to play host in the capital and share drinks and conversation with you, Brother Li."

"If I have the chance, I'll certainly visit you in the capital, Third Highness," Li Ziye said.

Mu Yao nodded, the corners of his mouth curving slightly, and said nothing more.

It truly was a pity that the Li family's legitimate son would not be going along this time. Still, he had heard that the Li siblings were extremely close. As long as Li Youwei ran into trouble, there was no fear of this boy refusing to come to the capital.

After they had strolled around for quite some time, Mu Yao looked at the boy beside him and asked, "By the way, when will your elder sister be leaving?"

"In the next few days," Li Ziye answered.

"Good. I've been away from the capital for some time. It's time I returned."

Mu Yao said, "I can return to the capital with your elder sister. We can look out for each other on the road."

"That would be excellent. Sorry for the trouble, Third Highness," Li Ziye said with a smile.

"Not at all," Mu Yao replied.

With their business concluded, the two proceeded to exchange empty pleasantries, one asking a couple of questions and the other answering, probing each other and trying every means to fish out useful information.

Both were clever men, so despite the utter insincerity of their words, they still appeared to be old friends enjoying a lively reunion.

After noon, Li Ziye decisively parted ways with the third prince, and each went home.

Li Ziye entered the Li residence's rear courtyard and sat down beside Old Zhang. Wiping the sweat from his face, he prepared to rest for a while.

"What, a little outing wore you out this badly?" Zhang Lata asked.

"Talking to someone as deeply calculating as the third prince really is exhausting," Li Ziye said, catching his breath.

"You have the nerve to call someone else calculating? I'd say you're the most scheming person in all of Yuzhou City, brat," Zhang Lata said with a smile that never reached his eyes.

"Old Zhang, you've seriously misunderstood me."

Li Ziye said very earnestly, "I've always treated people with sincerity."

"Heh."

Zhang Lata gave a mocking laugh. "Not even the dogs in Yuzhou City would believe that."

Li Ziye opened his mouth, about to lash out at Old Zhang, when a chill suddenly ran down his back. An ancient sword flew over and plunged into the ground before him with a clang.

"Finished practicing your sword?"

A cool voice came from behind him. Though pleasing to the ear, it was cold enough to make him shiver all over.

"Right away."

Li Ziye immediately stood, pulled out the sword before him, and resumed practicing.

Zhang Lata took a sip of wine, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.

Qin Enuo stood to one side, watching the boy nearby. A gleam flickered through her eyes, as though she were considering something.

"Sword Maniac, what do you think of finding him an opponent?" Qin Enuo asked after a long while.

"Are you trying to get him killed?"

Zhang Lata said in surprise, "He's only been learning the sword for a few days. Even though you nourish his meridians and temper his body every day with True Qi and potent medicines, his meridians are still blocked. He can't cultivate yet. Besides, blades have no eyes. Finding him an opponent now is just deciding he's lived too long."

Qin Enuo fell silent for a moment. "Jade cannot become a fine vessel without carving. If he keeps practicing like this, he won't catch up to Huo Liner even in another ten years. Actual combat is the only way for him to improve faster. I hear there are plenty of bandits in the mountains north of Yuzhou City. In a few days, let him take a walk there."

The corners of Zhang Lata's mouth twitched. This woman really was going to toy with the boy to death.

Those bandits all licked blood from the edges of their blades and were ferocious. With the boy's current strength, going there would be throwing his life away.

Unaware of the miserable fate awaiting him, Li Ziye continued practicing his sword over and over, thoroughly absorbed.

Meanwhile, everyone else in the household was exceptionally busy preparing for Li Youwei's journey to the capital.

For the next seven days, Li Ziye did nothing but soak in medicinal baths and practice his sword. Every day, he was tortured until he hovered between ecstasy and death, and several times he could barely get back up.

However, amid this inhuman torment, Li Ziye's meridians and physical strength improved rapidly, surpassing ordinary people and drawing ever closer to those of a true martial artist.

And seven days later, Li Youwei was finally ready to depart.

Li Baiwan personally went to see her off, accompanying her all the way beyond Yuzhou City.

Yet Li Ziye, who shared the deepest bond with Li Youwei, never appeared.

"Aren't you going to see your eldest sister off?"

By the lake in the Li residence's rear courtyard, Zhang Lata watched the boy practicing his sword desperately nearby and asked casually.

"No. With second brother protecting her in secret, Sister Youwei will be perfectly safe," Li Ziye answered as he practiced.

Zhang Lata smiled. This boy's temperament was even stranger than his own.

"Li Ziye."

Just then, Qin Enuo approached and said, "Come with me."

"Where?" Li Ziye stopped, puzzled.

"I've prepared a little trial for you," Qin Enuo replied.

"Is it dangerous?" Li Ziye asked instinctively.

"It's only a little trial. Nothing dangerous," Qin Enuo answered casually.

Of course, it really was not dangerous for her. As for this boy... who knew?

Hearing this, Li Ziye put away his sword and eagerly trotted after her.

Zhang Lata sat by the lake, watching their retreating figures with a face full of gloating.

How had he never noticed before that this Plum Blossom Sword Immortal, who resembled a banished immortal, was so black-bellied?

Truly, those who were not of one family would never enter the same door.

North of Yuzhou City, a carriage rumbled up before the Qilian Mountains.

Qin Enuo stepped out of the carriage, looked at a cliff among the distant mountains, and said, "There's a blood ginseng herb king on that cliff. It will be very helpful in repairing your meridians. If you can pick it, I'm confident I can open one of your meridians in a short time."

"Really?"

Behind her, Li Ziye followed her out of the carriage. He looked toward the cliff ahead, excitement on his face. It was precisely because all eight of his meridians were blocked that he could not cultivate at all. If he could open one of them, he would still be no match for those geniuses, but at least he could begin attempting to cultivate.

"Mm."

Qin Enuo nodded and answered flatly.

"All right, I'll go right now."

With that, Li Ziye immediately headed toward the mountains ahead.

"Wait."

Qin Enuo handed him the sword she held. "Take this."

"I'm only picking an herb. I won't need a sword," Li Ziye said in surprise.

"Just take it."

Qin Enuo offered no explanation.

Li Ziye took the sword in puzzlement, but gave it no further thought. He turned and entered the mountains.

Outside the Qilian Mountains, Qin Enuo watched him leave, her red lips curving slightly. Then she pushed off the ground and leaped through the mountain forest, graceful as an immortal, sweeping deeper into the mountains.

Half an hour later, deep in the Qilian Mountains, Qin Enuo swept up to a bandit camp not far from the cliff. Standing on a branch, she caught a falling leaf between two fingers, then flung it toward the camp ahead.

Boom!

The falling leaf flew past, and a wooden post in the camp snapped at the sound. One corner of the camp collapsed with a crash.

"Who's there!"

Inside the camp, a burly man with a vicious face covered in bulging flesh abruptly rose and walked outside. Looking around, he shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Go take a look!"

"Yes!"

Several bandits accepted the order and immediately went out to investigate.

On the branch, Qin Enuo pushed off with her foot and left without concealing her movements, under the eyes of every bandit.

"After her!" the man roared furiously.

By the nearby cliff, Li Ziye, utterly unaware of any of this, finally climbed up after exhausting himself half to death.

"The blood ginseng king."

Li Ziye looked around, searching for the blood ginseng king where Qin Enuo had indicated.

Where was it?

Just as Li Ziye was searching for the blood ginseng king, furious shouts came from nearby.

"There they are!"

As the words rang out, more than a dozen bandits charged over like madmen.

"Holy shit!"

At the sight, Li Ziye's expression instantly changed in alarm.

Old Qin had set him up!

No wonder Old Qin had specifically told him to bring the sword!

He was no fool. If he still could not figure out what was happening now, he must have been kicked in the head by a donkey!

Watching the bandits charge over like madmen, Li Ziye snapped back to his senses. Without another word, he turned and ran.

"Old Qin, damn you!"