Chapter 14

"This is..."

Li Guanyi was certain that the bronze ding had not had this red dragon before.

He reached out and lightly pressed his hand against the bronze ding on his chest, clearly sensing the presence of the red dragon's trace, which seemed to contain a powerful, scorching force; when his fingers touched it, he could faintly hear a dragon's roar, yet the roar felt muffled, extremely weak.

The red dragon's trace was still blurry.

Like it had just been carved onto the bronze ding, not yet real, not yet clear.

Li Guanyi pondered silently to himself: "It seems the bronze ding's mystery isn't just about absorbing Qi... this red dragon's shadow isn't clear enough; if that's the case, then multiple accumulations of Jade Fluid are needed before the red dragon becomes distinct."

"At that point, something should change too."

"But this is only speculation—not yet certain—I'll need to test it again."

Li Guanyi organized his thoughts and tried meditating once more.

This time, he still moved his Qi slowly, but because his internal Qi was far greater than before, his circulation speed had increased slightly; as the twelve-layer Qi of the Break the Formation Melody passed over his chest, he could distinctly feel the icy chill coiled around his heart.

This was the poison that had tormented him for ten years, each outbreak killing him with pain.

The twelve-layer Break the Formation Melody seemed to have begun to faintly reach the place where the poison festered—just as General Yue Qianfeng had said: the stronger he became, the less threat the poison posed.

With this peace in his heart, he slept without dreams.

The next day, when Li Guanyi went to Huichun Hall, he glanced from afar at the Mountain God Temple—it was packed with people, and armored soldiers with swords patrolled; amid the noisy crowd, Li Guanyi channeled Qi into his pupils but saw no trace of the red dragon's dominant form.

General Yue Qianfeng had left.

That wasn't surprising.

Li Guanyi didn't linger; like a passing civilian drawn by curiosity, he glanced a few times and hurried off to Huichun Hall. Today, a carriage was parked outside Huichun Hall, and the several martial artists previously injured by the imperial guards were gathered at the door, where a young man in his twenties was chatting merrily with them.

The martial artists, who had always been arrogant and dismissive toward these apprentices, now wore full smiles.

Li Guanyi recognized him: the young master of Huichun Hall.

When Li Guanyi changed into his blue robe and walked up to the medicine cabinet, Elder Chen looked at the young man entering the back courtyard with the three martial artists and shook his head: "The young master arrived early this morning, comforting these guard martial artists..."

"Saying that these martial artists were injured protecting Huichun Hall, so Huichun Hall must show its appreciation."

"He gave them herbs, silver, and promised higher monthly salaries."

"Didn't the young master call you over?"

Li Guanyi shook his head. Elder Chen was puzzled. The young man had already begun working at the medicine cabinet, feet rooted to the ground, breathing calm, feeling the tangible flow of the Break the Formation Melody within him, while mentally planning his next steps.

He and his aunt were fugitives in Chen State—his aunt, clever, had led him through countless detours until they finally reached Yicheng, not far from their destination: the Eighteenth Province of Jiangnan. But one problem stood before Li Guanyi.

Guosuo.

Also known as the travel permit.

To cross the national border, one needed a Guosuo issued by the court; to obtain a Guosuo, one needed official household registration. Li Guanyi was a refugee with no registered status; in Chen State this was tolerable, but in the northern Ying State, he'd be branded as lowborn.

If he worked at Huichun Hall for three years, he could obtain household registration in Yicheng.

Then he could apply upward for the Guosuo; otherwise, staying in Chen State was always unsafe. He could use the Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu as travel funds—Chen State currency wouldn't be accepted everywhere, and in chaotic times, gold was the true currency.

He would also practice martial arts, ideally slowly breaking through to the realm General Yue Qianfeng called entering the state.

He said all wandering swordsmen operated at this level.

Li Guanyi thought seriously.

The world was unstable; crossing borders required a Guosuo, and he needed martial strength for protection, plus a large sum of silver for bribes.

His martial strength now had potential, and he already had some gold and silver. Li Guanyi mentally checked off each item, feeling a small satisfaction—he was slowly approaching a better life, where he and his aunt could have a courtyard, free from fear of night riders.

Raise chickens, raise pigs, practice martial arts, run a small business.

He wanted a peaceful life.

He looked up at the sky outside.

Warm and sunny.

He only had this goal.

Live well. Live properly.

"You've all worked at Huichun Hall for years. This incident happened because you protected Huichun Hall—rest assured, you'll be cared for here. Your monthly salary and herbs won't be lacking."

In the back hall of Huichun Hall, the young master set down his teacup and spoke his final words with a smile.

The martial artists expressed deep gratitude, their faces beaming; once they left, the young master turned to the shopkeeper standing respectfully beside him: "I heard a young apprentice was injured in this incident too."

"The herbalist?"

The old shopkeeper bowed his head and whispered: "Still an apprentice. He's good with calculations and works diligently."

"He has only a seriously ill aunt, and he alone supports the household."

"He's a good boy."

The young man frowned slightly, lifted his teacup, and brushed the tea leaves with the lid:

"I see."

He thought for a moment, then said:

"Then dismiss him."

The old shopkeeper paused. The young master used his pinky to flick away a tea stem, casually: "Shopkeeper Zhao, you know Huichun Hall suffered heavy losses this time—we must cut expenses. This apprentice was injured and won't be able to do heavy work for three to five months. We'll still have to pay for his medicine—it's a loss."

"I know you're kind-hearted, but the hall has its reasons."

"Our family is wealthy, but so are our expenses."

"Good steel must be used on the blade. He's just a lowly apprentice—not a martial artist with skill."

The old shopkeeper weighed his words, lowering his head further, whispering: "The master is right, but there's too much work here—without him, things won't turn smoothly..."

The young man laughed: "Shopkeeper Zhao, you're being foolish."

"The rest of the work? Have the other apprentices do a little more each day."

"What's hard about it?"

He set the teacup down on the table, stood up, and walked out—he had an appointment to drink at Fanhua Pavilion.

By noon, Li Guanyi rolled up his sleeves, sat at the door, pulled out a flatbread, and took a boiled egg; originally, this was enough for him, but now his appetite had become absurdly large—he devoured it in big bites, then calculated and decided to buy something else to eat.

Nowadays, without luxury, a man in Yicheng, Chen State, can survive on twenty-some wen per day.

But that includes food, clothing, shelter, and travel.

Just as he was thinking of buying some baked buns to fill his stomach, a shadow fell before him.

The old Shopkeeper blocked his path and said, "Li Guanyi, how's your injury?"

The other clerks stopped to watch.

They were all sharp-eyed—when the young master had ignored Li Guanyi earlier, they'd already guessed something. Li Guanyi looked at the old Shopkeeper and nodded. "Fine."

The old Shopkeeper nodded. "Today I have business and won't be going home—I'll eat out."

"Come sit with me, old man."

Li Guanyi had sensed it coming—he nodded. The two walked one after the other to a restaurant on the street, where inside stood a long wooden bench, a jar of wine, and laborers who came here to drink—one wen per cup, only strong liquor, with a piece of braised meat brought over, eating it with great delight.

Today, however, tables had been set out. The old Shopkeeper ordered several dishes with practiced ease.

There were meat and vegetables, two bowls of rice, and a cup of strong liquor—one wen per cup. The old Shopkeeper said softly, "Your injury was caused by being tied to Huichun Hall. This world is uncertain—there may be more trouble in a few days. You're young; this kind of life won't do forever."

He watched Li Guanyi, head down, shoveling food.

"Huichun Hall's medicine was stolen. No one knows if this world is safe anymore. There may be more trouble soon. You're too young to keep enduring this."

Li Guanyi had sensed it before, but now he understood more clearly.

He had been "optimized" out.

The old Shopkeeper pulled a letter from his robe, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Li Guanyi. "Your math skills are excellent. I know the manager of the Liu family's private school. I wrote you a recommendation myself—take it, see if you can find some work somewhere."

"It's about finding another place."

Liu family's private school?

That was far more renowned than Huichun Hall—indeed, a better place altogether.

The old Shopkeeper finished his wine, set the cup down, and said, "Eat up. I've got work to do."

"Old Zhou, today's meal for this boy is on my tab."

"If you're still hungry, order more."

The old Shopkeeper walked out, his gray, dusty long robe, his head slightly bowed, his back slightly hunched. Li Guanyi set the letter aside and devoured everything like a storm—finished it all. The restaurant owner laughed, "More? Take some food with you."

"Old Zhao said—just tell him, if you want anything, take it. Don't worry about being shy—you'll just leave."

The young man smiled and replied, "No, I'm full."

Then he stood beside the owner, glanced at the wine prices on the table, reached into his pocket, and placed ten wen on the table.

The owner chuckled. "Kid, the money's on your tab."

"Mm. Next time he comes, I'll treat Old Zhao to better wine."

The young man replied softly.

The owner paused, then smiled. "Alright."

"Good. You're a man of principle."

"Old Zhao didn't misjudge you."

Old Zhao walked back to Huichun Hall, took out the ledger, and drew a line under Li Guanyi's name. Elder Chen said, "Guanyi was dismissed?"

The old Shopkeeper nodded.

Elder Chen saw the mark the old Shopkeeper had made below. "You put down a full string of cash? Hey, the young master isn't this kind."

The old Shopkeeper spoke:

"We work for the master—the master's word is the rule. We must give our heart and strength."

"But we must not do unjust, cruel things. That too is a rule—the rule inside our hearts."

"Rules outweigh heaven."

Old Zhao rolled up the ledger, lifted the curtain, and stepped inside. On both sides of the curtain hung couplets.

Illness is worse than denial.

Medicine must be practiced with benevolence.

The Shopkeeper held his head high, his spine straight as a rod.

…………

The sun passed noon, growing hotter.

Li Guanyi stood before the Liu family's private school—indeed, grand. Half the children of Yicheng's wealthy families studied here; most carriages stood outside. Just as he was about to enter, another carriage arrived. Li Guanyi halted. The carriage stopped steadily between him and the school.

A fragrant breeze rose.

A clear, youthful voice rang out:

"Young Lady, the Liu family's private school has arrived."

(End of Chapter)