Chapter 18: The First Manifestation of the White Tiger!

The old man glanced at Li Guanyi, then lowered his head to chat and laugh with his granddaughter, his smile gentle.

Li Guanyi exhaled, his mind thoughtful.

The descendant of the divine general who secured the border with three arrows?

Then why does the Xue family not enter court service, nor allow descendants to hold office?

There must be various reasons and hardships behind it—another tale of grudges and entanglements.

Over there, Xue Shuangtao tugged at the old man’s arm, turned to Li Guanyi, and spoke many flattering words, saying she had never seen a young boy so gifted in numerology; the old man’s wrinkled palm gently patted his granddaughter’s hand, his face filled with astonishment as he smiled and said, “Is that so?”

“Impressive, truly impressive.”

The old man’s gaze fixed on Li Guanyi, noting his plain clothes and bright eyes, and smiled: “Young man, come forward and take a look.”

The driver was stunned, then a flicker of unease rose in his heart—they always obeyed the young mistress, but had never truly considered this: wasn’t this unusual? A fifteen-year-old Xue family heiress returning home with a boy her own age? Sssss—!!! The old master has always doted on the young mistress.

But he would never ignore his fifteen-year-old granddaughter bringing home a thirteen-year-old boy.

Years ago, the old master’s second daughter, in her youthful recklessness, brought a dissolute nobleman from the capital, galloping a blood-sweating horse down the main road of Guanyicheng, overturning stalls, then riding straight into the Xue mansion and tying the horse outside the old master’s tea pavilion.

In the end, the nobleman nearly had his three legs broken by the old master.

At that time, the old master had simply smiled and said, “Young man, come forward.”

To others, it seemed like the old master was warmly inviting him; to the veteran servants of the Xue family, it filled them with dread.

But what Li Guanyi saw was different.

He saw the tiger suddenly swell to immense size, its whiskers and fur whipping wildly as it stepped forward; the colossal white tiger’s head drew near, its pupils slowly contracting, locking onto the plain-clad boy. Li Guanyi’s body stiffened, his heartbeat quickened, and a strange fear rose from deep within.

Pressure?

Then, with sheer willpower, he pulled himself free from that inexplicable fear and regained his composure.

As Li Guanyi calmed down,

the bronze tripod let out a faint hum.

The crimson dragon imprint within it began to glow slowly, responding to the refinement of Li Guanyi’s will.

The old master had merely intended to test whether the boy was a fraud, whether his heart was clear, to gauge his character—he had applied a trace of pressure.

Seeing he did not flinch, the old man’s face softened with a faint smile, and he nodded.

Good character.

The white tiger wields weapons to expel evil.

No petty villain can stand firm before the white tiger’s manifestation.

He was about to withdraw.

The colossal white tiger circled Li Guanyi, preparing to depart.

But at that moment, the bronze tripod inside Li Guanyi suddenly roared—the crimson dragon imprint, once dormant, blazed to life, writhing as if provoked, then part of its dragon head broke free from the tripod’s surface.

It reared and clawed above the bronze tripod.

Scales rose, claws and fangs extended.

As if ready to manifest fully, like the crimson dragon behind Yue Qianfeng, circling Li Guanyi to protect its host, a pure aura began to radiate.

But its foundation was too weak—it remained blurred.

No matter how it struggled, it could not break free, and finally could only roar upward in fury.

Only one cry of the crimson dragon exploded within Li Guanyi’s heart.

Like rolling spring thunder.

The boy’s mind cleared.

The faint suppression the white tiger had imposed shattered instantly.

Li Guanyi looked at the old man before him, bracing himself against the tiger, stepping forward, his posture sharp as a blade, passing through the invisible white tiger; as the jade fluid within his bronze tripod accelerated its accumulation, he bowed his fists and straightened his spine, speaking calmly:

“Li Guanyi, pays his respects to Master Xue.”

The old man was slightly surprised.

He looked at the boy, then patted his granddaughter’s hand on his arm and smiled: “Look, even in Guanyicheng, there are young masters who excel in both literature and martial arts.”

“And such a young master has been found by my granddaughter.”

Xue Shuangtao did not know what her grandfather had just done, but seeing her chosen teacher now approved by him, her face lit up with a smile—not the gentle, wind-like smile she showed outsiders, but one where her eyes curved like crescents, radiant with joy.

Clearly, she felt a small pride and delight in her own discernment, having recognized talent; she shook her grandfather’s arm and asked, “Grandfather, you think the teacher is impressive too?”

“Then won’t you give him a greeting gift?”

The white tiger manifestation now rested quietly behind the old man, yawning; he looked at Li Guanyi and asked, “Child, have you trained in martial arts?” Li Guanyi, regretting that the jade fluid’s accumulation in the bronze tripod had returned to normal, replied:

“I trained in swordplay for several years with an uncle.”

The old man nodded approvingly: “Hmm, it looks like the Path of the Eight Blades of Breaking the Army.”

“At thirteen, after five years, you’ve reached the realm where the spirit of the Eight Blades resides within you, like a blade’s edge—remarkably diligent.”

“Your internal cultivation is also solid, though your body is weak—you’ve likely endured hardship, lacking sufficient meat and grain.”

The old man spoke kindly: “Since Shuangtao has hired you as her teacher, young master, come to the mansion daily and share meals with our martial disciples.”

“What I just tested you on? Only concern for my granddaughter—natural enough.”

Xue Shuangtao said, “Grandfather?”

The old man sighed: “Fine, fine. Take this Nourishing Body Pill.”

He was somewhat impressed by the boy’s character, and with his most beloved granddaughter pressing him, he pulled out a small porcelain bottle and tossed it toward Li Guanyi, smiling: “My granddaughter and grandson’s numerology—I leave it to your care, young master.”

“Come, Shuangtao.”

Li Guanyi raised his hand to catch it; even through the porcelain, the medicinal fragrance was rich.

Xue Shuangtao turned back to Li Guanyi, bowed slightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons, then accompanied her grandfather away; the white tiger manifestation lowered its gaze and strolled off. Inside Li Guanyi, the jade fluid’s accumulation slowed, then ceased entirely.

In such a short time, the bronze tripod had already accumulated one-fifth of its capacity.

Indeed, one must be within a certain range of the old master to absorb the white tiger’s aura.

Li Guanyi touched the bottle.

Hmm… it’s jade.

Another one like this would cost three or four taels of silver.

The boy watched the old man and girl, feeling they glowed almost golden in his eyes.

Miss Xue Shuangtao truly has extraordinary charm!

The driver wiped sweat from his brow and said, “Phew, I overthought it. The old master is stern, everyone fears him—but since he approves of you, young master, you’ll have no trouble in the Xue mansion.”

“Come, I’ll show you the rest.”

The driver parked the carriage along a road flanked by high walls.

Then he led Li Guanyi through the Xue mansion, introducing the layout, pointing out which areas were accessible and which were strictly forbidden: “The inner compound is where the Xue family and their women live—we never enter.”

“This area here is where all the guest masters reside.”

The driver pointed to a cluster of small courtyards in the distance, his tone tinged with envy: “The guest masters’ treatment is entirely different from ours.”

“Each guest master has his own private villa, receives monthly doses of pills and herbs from the family, and may exchange them for martial arts techniques. Sometimes, even the old master comes to observe the Xue disciples and guest masters training and offers a few words of guidance.”

Guest master?

Private villa?

Li Guanyi thought: if he could become a guest master, he might see the old master often, complete the bronze tripod’s accumulation, and bring his aunt to live in the Xue mansion—far safer than renting an outside courtyard. He asked:

“May I ask, elder brother, how does one become a guest master?”

The driver smiled knowingly: “You want to become a guest master too?”

“In today’s world, martial arts are the foundation. To be a guest master in the Xue family, one must at least reach the Entry Realm.”

“Entry Realm…”

The driver comforted Li Guanyi: “You’re young, yet already possess martial skill.”

“Entry is hard, but with time—perhaps no more than ten or so years.”

Li Guanyi nodded.

He raised his hand and pressed it to his chest.

Li Guanyi, thirteen, perfected the “Breaking the Formation Melody.”

Entry Realm.

One step away.

Li Guanyi’s movement froze.

He felt something unusual—

Slowly lowering his gaze, a tiny crimson dragon’s head emerged from his chest, vivid and lifelike, lifting its head to meet his gaze.

Li Guanyi: “???”

(End of Chapter)