Chapter 656: Showing Off

Beijing's Jishuitan.

Ripples spread in concentric circles.

A hundred-zhang blood pillar surged skyward, startling eagles and hawks in the clouds, fully announcing Liang Qu's arrival!

Smoke curled from chimneys, carrying the scent of cooking food.

Every household took two bites of dish, bowl of rice in hand, stepping outside to gaze at the red pillar beneath the sunset, unaware of what had happened.

Its height, its grandeur, its scale, surpassed only by the Moon-Gazing Tower in the imperial palace!

Majestic indeed.

On the rooftop of the Moon-Gazing Tower, a shadow stood askew.

Merely from the phrase "a fine young man, tall and sturdy," the Chief Eunuch knew exactly how delighted His Majesty was—no less than a senior relative saying to a child, "You've grown up with a strong, sturdy head!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Joy to Your Majesty! You have stirred the civil and martial realms, capable of cleaving the vast ocean! Your Majesty's literary virtue and martial prowess stand peerless!"

"Hahaha! Excellent—capable of cleaving the vast ocean!" The Emperor kept patting the railing. "You've read quite a few books in your spare time?"

"Mostly miscellaneous texts and poetry—no true talent or learning."

"Go ask, when is dinner?"

"I inquired earlier—about three quarters of an hour," the Chief Eunuch caught the implication and added quickly, "Liang Shui has just broken through his realm; he'll need several hours to stabilize."

"No matter. Transmit my edict: Let Liang Qing display as long as he wishes. Let envoys from all nations see. Let all under heaven see. Also, tell the Imperial Kitchen to delay dinner—I shall dine with Liang Qing!"

"Yes!"

…

Night fell; a thousand boats converged.

Painted pleasure boats hung bright lanterns, their fiery glow turning the entire river orange-red.

Tonight was the twenty-second day; the moon still hung full in the sky, and the blood pillar remained vividly visible, causing a sensation throughout Beijing.

The crimson tip stretched out in fine threads, like smoke or mist, dissolving into silver clouds as fluid as water.

Liang Qu remained in meditation, unawakened.

The hundred-zhang blood pillar continued to grow, though no longer surging upward as violently as when it was being built.

Vast, terrifyingly potent spiritual energy swirled around him, drowning Liang Qu in the profound wonder of his suddenly opened cultivation path.

True qi, born of the fusion of his spirit and blood, spread beyond his body, as if granting him a sixth sense beyond the five.

Hunting the Tiger—a transformation of life's very level!

The heavens and earth are utterly different now!

Crack!

Sparks flew everywhere.

Surrounding boats circled but did not depart; people huddled around fires, restrained by the earlier dominance of the Golden Leaf Boat, daring not to disturb it. Seeing no one disembark, they could only guess at the identity of those aboard.

Imperial clan member?

Son of a Martial Saint?

Lan Lan Jicai ignored the commoners, ordered someone to arrange a fine banquet, and had it brought to the deck, where the ship's soldiers feasted heartily.

"Master Lan, aren't we entering the palace?" Xu Xu Yue asked.

"Outside the imperial palace lies Jishuitan; inside lies Taiye Pool—they're one and the same lake. If the treasure boat entered Jishuitan, how could His Majesty not know?" Lan Lan Jicai dipped his steamed bun in sauce and devoured his food. "We just wait patiently. Soon enough, His Majesty will send someone to reward us."

"Long time no see, Master Lan—you remain as carefree as ever."

A small boat drifted gently closer.

Several figures leapt lightly aboard; their leader had a pale, beardless face and held a dust whisk.

"Oh! Brother Li!" Lan Lan Jicai dropped his chopsticks, pulled out a stool. "Fine wine and delicacies from Jinxiu Garden—sit down and have a drink?"

Brother Li waved off: "I can't match Master Lan's ease, nor dare delay matters. Tonight, I've come specifically to deliver His Majesty's oral edict."

His Majesty's oral edict?

Everyone scrambled to their feet, bowing deeply.

"We humbly listen to His Majesty's edict."

On the Altar, Liang Qu's ears twitched slightly; he was about to open his eyes.

Brother Li cut in first: "Liang Shui, don't move! Don't move at all! Heaven and earth are vast, but cultivation is paramount. If you disrupt your cultivation, I cannot bear the blame—you sit on the altar and listen."

Liang Shui?

The onlooker nobles caught the keyword and strained their minds.

Surname Liang.

Not an imperial clan member, not a wealthy or noble family.

Shui Shi…

Hengshui Shi?

An official in the River Office?

With too little information, they could not identify the identity of this person, so they strained their ears to catch the edict's words.

All was silent; Brother Li cleared his throat: "Let Liang Qing display as long as he wishes. Let envoys from all nations see. Let all under heaven see."

Hss~

So familiar?

Before anyone could react in shock,

Brother Li continued: "Additionally, His Majesty has ordered the Imperial Kitchen to delay dinner and invites Lord Liang to join him for a banquet after his cultivation is complete."

Damn!

The crowd erupted.

Wait, are you some secret bastard of the imperial clan?

Just by breaking through to Hunting the Tiger, how could you possibly dine with His Majesty?

Tana Kai puffed out his chest and lifted his head at the surrounding gasps.

"This makes no sense."

Song Song Jili rubbed his chin, baffled.

Outside the capital, save for a few special regions, a Hunting the Tiger Grand Martial Artist was no small matter—he could command an army, govern a county.

In more remote areas, he could practically be a local emperor—truly remarkable.

But this is Beijing!

In this city, a single brick thrown could strike down a dozen Hunting the Tiger Grand Martial Artists.

Not to mention Grand Martial Artists—among the barons and marquises, whose ancestors didn't have a Grand Master or Great Grand Master?

An edict is already bizarre; but never before has anyone been invited to dine with His Majesty!

On the deck of the Golden Leaf Boat, Brother Li lifted the red cloth and distributed rewards: silver ingots, one for every person—from Master Lan down to the boatmen and river otters.

Tana Kai bit hard into his ingot, leaving two sharp tooth marks.

Liu Liu Qiaosheng stared at Liang Qu's face, a sudden insight flashing in his mind.

"Could this kid be under twenty? Even under nineteen?"

"Under twenty?"

Song Song Jili frowned.

"Is there truly a Grand Martial Artist under twenty? Starting cultivation at fourteen or fifteen, reaching Hunting the Tiger in three or four years? Even the famed Master Bai took until after twenty to reach Grand Martial Artist!"

"There was one, over ten years ago—Yuan Yuan Yuwen. Broke through at nineteen years and five months." Liu Liu Qiaosheng remembered vividly.

"Yuan Yuan Yuwen?" The others exchanged glances. "We've never heard of him."

"Don't fool us—such a young Grand Martial Artist couldn't possibly be unknown!"

"Because Yuan Yuan Yuwen is dead."

"How did he die?"

"Died from overindulging with a woman."

"?"

The noble youths swallowed hard, all simultaneously loosening their grips on their waistlines.

"Can a Grand Martial Artist die from 'horse wind'?"

"Not horse wind."

Liu Liu Qiaosheng briefly recounted the "love and hate" between the Southern Frontier Holy Maiden and Yuan Yuan Yuwen.

A plump woman covered her mouth: "What a humiliating way to die."

"…."

"Wait." Song Song Jili looked up. "According to Brother Liu, it's possible."

Not imperial clan, not noble family—combined with this scene, the entire event now made sense. Setting a new record for Hunting the Tiger carries meaning far beyond merely becoming a Grand Martial Artist.

"Could this be an imperial summons to break through in the capital?"

"If he dines with His Majesty, this boy's age is likely even shorter than Yuan Yuan Yuwen's nineteen years and five months."

The crowd guessed nearly right; their glances held mutual shock.

If truly under twenty, this kid is an extraordinary genius, crushing all his peers—future historians will surely dedicate a whole chapter to him!

There were more than a few clever minds here, especially those who knew the altar's function. News spread like wings, flying through the entire capital, fermenting rapidly.

"A Grand Martial Artist under twenty?"

Inside the pleasure boats, foreign envoys gasped.

The previous blood pillar had been terrifyingly tall; no one expected the breakthrougher to be so young.

Unconsciously, everyone raised a hand to wipe sweat.

On such a freezing day, to feel damp and stifling must mean the stove is burning too hot!

The envoy near the stove gripped the iron hook and pulled out two chunks of burning charcoal.

"Earlier we heard that a tribe from the Northern Court produced a young hero, only nineteen years and eight months old, who achieved the rank of Great Wu Shi of Tiger Hunting. But now it seems he pales in comparison to Great Shun."

"Oh? Nineteen and eight months?"

"I beg to ask, my lord, who is this person? Let this humble girl have the honor of learning."

The woman filled her cup and leaned close.

"Good, good, good…"

"Phew."

There was no time to keep His Sacred Majesty waiting. Half an hour later, Liang Qu absorbed what he had gained, suppressed his aura, and the red pillar above the stagnant pond slowly dissipated.

The wonder vanished.

The curious crowd brought out small stools and returned to their homes.

Inside the stagnant pond.

The fleet of houseboats split into two groups.

Yang Xu led his junior disciples to visit Xu Wenzhu, General Xu.

Liang Qu and Lan Lan Jicai, carrying their household registration documents, boarded a small boat and entered the palace with Eunuch Li.

Moonlight flowed silently.

The towering city gate loomed in the night, its red banners straight, swords pointing toward the floating clouds at the horizon, radiating an aura of solemn majesty.

Approaching the palace gate.

Liang Qu pulled out a silver note from his sleeve and, while no one was watching, slipped it into Eunuch Li's sleeve.

More gifts never offend.

"Eunuch Li, don't laugh at me—I'm a fisherman by birth, attended academy for only one year. I understand some broad principles, but know little of fine details. This is my first time entering the palace; are there any customs I should observe? Please guide me."

"Master Liang, you jest. You at least studied for a year; we entered the palace as children and never opened a book. For others, I'd certainly give advice—but for you, I suggest you simply be yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"Excessive ritual breeds falsity; simplicity is lost in ornament." Eunuch Li gently brushed his dust whisk and smiled. "Master Liang, you are young and grew up in the countryside. The Emperor knows all this. He delights in it. Even if you commit a breach of etiquette, it will be seen as sincerity. So, keep your heart open, speak frankly, and be casual in your manners."

Liang Qu pondered this.

"Thank you."

(End of Chapter)