Chapter 19: The Crimson Dragon Returns

The dragon's head, small and childish in color, was intangible and formless, yet crystal clear in Li Guanyi's eyes.

It seemed enraged by the Bai Hu's manifestation just now.

The red dragon reacted fiercely, like a nursing kitten with a bad temper, opening its mouth to emit a series of tender cries.

This is…

Li Guanyi gently touched it with his palm; the red dragon had only peeled away its head and part of its neck from the bronze tripod, the rest still etched into the tripod's wall, its anger instinctive, one claw extended, translucent, gripping his index finger.

Li Guanyi lightly stroked it, sensing the red dragon might seep into his body.

The internal Qi of the Po Zhen Qu within him seemed to subtly quicken.

The suppressed speed of Qi circulation, long hindered by poison, actually improved slightly.

A flicker of surprise and delight passed through Li Guanyi's eyes.

Could this red dragon, clearly inherited from General Yue Qianfeng, alleviate the poison's suppression of Qi flow? The driver, noticing Li Guanyi had stopped moving, halted and turned back in confusion:

"What's wrong, Mr. Li Xiao?"

Li Guanyi knew now wasn't the time to test it; he kept his expression calm, shifted his gaze, and replied: "Just feeling that entering the realm is still far off."

As he sighed, he used his finger to nudge the red dragon's tiny claw.

I nudge!

I nudge! Huh? This little claw grips tightly—yet, can a red dragon, a Bai Hu, truly be physically touched? Or is it actually something that can coalesce or disperse at will?

What realm are General Yue Qianfeng and the Xue family's patriarch in?

The driver chuckled in understanding: "Thinking so far ahead?"

"Cultivation follows gradual progress. You're only thirteen, young master, yet you already possess Wu Gong—entering the realm won't be a barrier for you. Come, come, let's first get you familiar with the grounds. That big courtyard over there is the training ground; it has stone weights, heavy swords—all sorts of gear. You can practice there in your spare time."

"This is the dining hall. Meals are always ready inside."

"This is the pharmacy. All kinds of herbs are stocked; Xue family members may purchase them at cost price, but selling them outside is forbidden—caught, and you'll face severe punishment."

"This is the manager's office."

"This is the tailoring workshop."

The Xue estate was vast; Li Guanyi was led around for a long while until he memorized each location, then taken to the tailoring workshop to change clothes. The driver waited outside, pulling from his sleeve a neatly folded square cloth, unfolding it to reveal a handful of salt-roasted peanuts.

Peanuts weren't cheap; salt-roasting was a luxury method.

Yet the flavor lingered long.

The driver pinched one, tossed it into his mouth, savoring it for a long while.

While waiting, he ate—endless pleasure.

For some reason, after the young master entered, a woman's startled cry rang out, and laughter never stopped. The burly driver didn't understand—why had the tailoring women never been so cheerful when they came for clothes before?

It wasn't that they were rude—just normal conversation.

Another burst of laughter.

The driver looked up at the tailoring workshop's sign, then down, muttering: "It's not like the chamber pot exploded—why all the fuss?" Then he laughed, raised his head, and saw the workshop door open—several women stepped out laughing. The driver looked up—and his eyes brightened.

The boy had changed clothes.

Before, he wore a long-faded brown garment, washed thin, frayed at the edges, cloth shoes with layered soles, hair simply tied—clearly from poverty, yet his bearing was noble, his eyes bright, instantly likable.

Now, the boy who stepped out.

His feet were clad in black leather boots.

His blue-collar robe was crisp, with white trim along the collar and cuffs.

A leather belt cinched his waist—common among martial cultivators, lending him a sharp, martial air.

His black hair neatly tied, his face refined and handsome—though not dazzling, still undeniably handsome.

Outside the main Xue household, few possessed such elegance and charm.

The women of the tailoring workshop praised endlessly, then clapped and laughed, taking a plain jade pendant and fastening it to the boy's belt, clapping again: "Truly, this fake jade worth less than two taels of silver looks like a hundred-tael treasure on you, young master."

"We'll give you this jade—it's not worth much anyway."

The driver froze, watching the tailoring women laugh as they escorted the boy out, now transformed—Li Guanyi looked utterly different. The driver stared at him like a monster, up and down, unable to hold back:

"They've never given anything to anyone before, Master Li—what magic did you use?"

Li Guanyi thought a moment: "I did nothing."

The driver frowned.

Li Guanyi said: "I just called them 'sister' a few times."

The driver: "…………"

For some reason, the salt-roasted peanuts in his mouth suddenly lost their flavor. Li Guanyi went to the manager's office and signed the contract.

"Monthly salary: thirty guan. Plus fifty jin of rice and flour, twenty jin of meat per month."

"Two sets of clothing."

"Three meals a day—you may eat here if you wish."

"Additionally, each day you must spend one hour teaching the Young Lady and Young Master arithmetic."

One hour of work per day earned one guan.

Li Guanyi marveled at this easy job. He recalled the driver Zhao Da Bing saying he could buy things from the Xue merchant guild at cost. He thought, then bought many items here, and found a better rented house through the Xue estate's property agent.

His silver quickly dwindled by half, yet he felt an inexplicable satisfaction.

A sense that his life was slowly improving.

Finally, Li Guanyi pointed in one direction: "Please, pack me up this jar of wine too."

……………………

Meanwhile, a thousand li from Yicheng, on a barren plain.

The roaring cry of a great dragon shook the land; over a dozen armored men in black armor flew like rags, crashing to the ground. Four steeds had shattered knees, kneeling, blood streaming from all seven orifices—their skins intact, their internal organs reduced to pulp.

Inside the carriage, an old man with white hair and beard sat with closed eyes, playing the qin, his melody serene and lingering.

A rough voice rang out: "Facing pursuit, still unflinching, calm as ever."

"Master Zu, no wonder you're a renowned scholar of the realm—I, Old Yue, truly admire you!"

The old man's zither music gradually ceased; he extended his hand and lifted the carriage curtain. A tall man clad in black armor was being held by a massive hand gripping his head, struggling fiercely—but his vast True Qi had no effect whatsoever. His gaze stretched further: the master of that hand had wild, tangled hair and beard, like a slumbering tiger.

The giant suddenly raised his right hand.

The assassin, ranked among the top hundred in the realm, was flung into the sky.

With a flick of his wrist, he threw a punch.

A crimson long dragon roared, reducing him to dust. The giant clasped his fists together and bowed slightly to the old man, his voice rough yet filled with respect: "I am Yue Qianfeng, Fourth-Rank General Zhenwei under Marshal Yue's command, Commander of the Left Army, former Chief Commander of the Four Garrisons of Tianwu in the State of Chen."

"I pay my respects to Master Zu."

This old man was a famed scholar of the realm, the one who cracked the method of pi, skilled in astronomy and geography, a senior elder of the Daoist sect, yet never cultivated martial arts. Now, to save Marshal Yue, he intended to journey to Jingcheng—but was ambushed and hunted by top-tier assassins. Had Yue Qianfeng not appeared suddenly, he would have died beneath this cliff.

After thanking him, the old man asked curiously: "General Yue, how did you know I was here?"

As he helped the old man out of the carriage, Yue Qianfeng replied: "It was sheer luck. Earlier, I waited in Yicheng as agreed, but was spotted by night riders. Had I acted by my usual nature, I'd have killed them all. But because I was training a boy, I left the spies' corpses intact, examined one, and learned you were being hunted."

"So I came here to save you—just in time."

After a pause, Yue Qianfeng said slowly: "Master Zu, this journey is dangerous. Are you still going to Jingcheng?"

Master Zu nodded: "The more they fear my going, the more I must go."

"But before entering Jingcheng, I must go to Yicheng."

"Marshal Yue's matter has shaken the entire realm—Northern Court, beyond the passes, the Turks—all are drawn in. This affair will end in either great success or great failure; no middle ground exists. I must consider what comes after."

"When I was young, I once had a good connection with Yicheng. I've left behind a somewhat intriguing puzzle—every small academy in Yicheng should have heard of it by now."

"Whoever solves it may come to unravel my next few riddles."

"From among them, I will choose one extraordinary talent as my disciple."

"I may die."

"But this title, this legacy, the Daoist Twenty-Four Sacrificial Libationers' Talisman—someone must inherit them."

"Yicheng…"

Yue Qianfeng suddenly thought of the boy he'd parted with not long ago.

I wonder if he's entered the First Level by now? He laughed heartily and bowed: "Very well."

"I, Yue, will escort Master Zu back."

"And while I'm at it, I'll check on that brat—though I have no idea what he's up to."

………………

Li Guanyi had no idea Yue Qianfeng had mentioned him. He returned home with light steps; his aunt was out walking and buying vegetables. The house was empty. Li Guanyi went to his small, shabby bed, sat cross-legged, and pressed his hand against the bronze ding.

The bronze ding trembled; the youth's eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Alright, let me see what you really are."

(End of Chapter)