Chapter 19: The Crimson Dragon Returns

The dragon’s head, small and childish, was colorless and intangible, yet crystal clear in Li Guanyi’s eyes.

It seemed enraged by the White Tiger’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 childish cries toward Li Guanyi.

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 fused to 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 inner Qi of the “Break Formation Melody” within him seemed to subtly quicken.

The suppressed speed of his Qi circulation had slightly improved.

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

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

“What’s wrong, Young Master Li?”

Li Guanyi knew now wasn’t the time to test it; he kept his expression calm, shifted his gaze, and replied: “I just feel 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—but can such a red dragon, like the White Tiger, truly be physically touched? Or is it actually something that can coalesce or disperse at will?

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

The driver chuckled in understanding: “Thinking so far ahead?”

“Martial cultivation progresses step by step. You’re only thirteen, yet you already possess martial skill—entering the realm won’t be a barrier for you. Come, come, first let’s get you familiar with the place. That big courtyard over there is the training ground; it has stone weights, heavy blades—all kinds of gear. You can practice there in your spare time.”

“This is the dining hall. Meals are always prepared inside.”

“This is the medicine room. 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, memorizing 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, the taste endless.

For some reason, after the young master entered, a woman’s startled cry rang out, followed by continuous laughter—this burly driver didn’t understand: why had the tailoring women never been so joyful when they’d come before for clothes?

It wasn’t that they’d been rude—just normal conversation.

Another burst of laughter.

The driver looked up at the tailoring workshop’s sign, then lowered his head, 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 young boy had changed clothes.

Before, he’d worn a long-worn brown robe, faded from washing, frayed at the edges, cloth shoes with layered soles, hair simply tied—clearly from poverty, yet his bearing was excellent, his eyes bright, instantly likable.

Now, the boy who stepped out:

He wore black leather boots, a clean blue-collar robe with diagonal front closure.

The collar and cuffs were edged in white.

Around his waist was a leather belt, common among martial cultivators, tightening the waist, radiating martial vigor.

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

Among the Xue family’s non-mainline members, few possessed such elegance and charm.

The women in the tailoring workshop praised him endlessly, then clapped and laughed, taking a plain jade pendant and fastening it to the boy’s belt before clapping again: “Indeed, this fake jade worth less than two taels of silver looks like a hundred-tael treasure on Young Master Li.”

“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 into this entirely different Li Guanyi. He stared at him like a monster, up and down, unable to hold back:

“They’ve never given anything to anyone before, Master Li—do you have some magic?”

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 strings of cash, plus fifty catties of rice and flour, twenty catties of meat.”

“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 mistress and young master arithmetic.”

One hour of work per day earned him one string of cash.

Li Guanyi marveled at this easy job; recalling the driver Zhao Da’s mention that he could buy things from the Xue merchant guild at cost, he bought many items here, then found a better house through the Xue family’s housing broker.

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 as well.”

……………………

Meanwhile, a thousand li from Guanyi City, on a barren plain:

The roaring roar of a celestial 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 a zither, its melody serene.

A rough voice rang out: “Facing pursuit, still calm, demeanor unchanged.”

“Master Zu, you are truly a renowned scholar of the realm—Old Yue admires you!”

The old man’s music faded; he raised his hand and lifted the carriage curtain. A tall man in black armor was being held by a giant hand gripping his head, struggling desperately, yet his vast true Qi had no effect. His gaze stretched further—the giant’s master had wild, disheveled hair and beard, like a silent tiger.

The giant’s right hand suddenly raised.

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

He swung a punch.

A crimson dragon roared, reducing him to dust. The giant clasped his fists, bowed slightly to the old man, his voice rough but his face filled with respect: “Fourth-rank General Zhenwei under Marshal Yue, Commander of the Left Army, former Chief Commander of the Four Imperial Guards of Chen Guo—Yue Qianfeng.”

“Greetings, Master Zu.”

The old man was a renowned scholar of the realm, who had solved the problem of pi, excelled in astronomy and geography, was a senior Daoist elder, yet never cultivated martial arts. Now, to save Marshal Yue, he intended to journey to the capital—but had been ambushed by elite assassins; had Yue Qianfeng not appeared, he would have died beneath this cliff.

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

Yue Qianfeng helped him out of the carriage: “Pure coincidence. I was waiting in Guanyi City as agreed, but was spotted by night riders. Normally, I’d have killed them all—but I was training a boy, so I left the spies’ bodies intact, examined one, and learned you were under attack.”

“So I came to rescue you—just in time.”

He paused, then spoke slowly: “Master Zu, this journey is dangerous. Still going to the capital?”

Master Zu nodded: “The more they fear me going, the more I must go.”

“But before entering the capital, I must go to Guanyi City.”

“Marshal Yue’s matter has stirred the entire realm—Northern Court, beyond the passes, the Turks—all drawn in. This affair will end in total victory or total defeat, no middle ground. I must consider my legacy.”

“When young, I once had a good connection with Guanyi City. I’ve left a small, intriguing puzzle—every private school there should know of it by now.”

“Whoever solves it may proceed to my next riddles.”

“From among them, I will choose one prodigy as my disciple.”

“I may die.”

“But this title, this lineage, this one of the Twenty-Four Daoist Ritual Masters’ talismans—must find a successor.”

“Guanyi City…”

Yue Qianfeng suddenly remembered the boy he’d left not long ago.

I wonder if he’s entered the first level yet? He laughed heartily, bowed: “Good.”

“I’ll escort you back, Master Zu.”

“And while I’m at it, I’ll check on that brat—wonder what he’s up to?”

………………

Li Guanyi knew nothing of Yue Qianfeng mentioning him. He returned home with light steps. His aunt was out walking and buying vegetables; no one was home. Li Guanyi sat on his small, broken bed, crossed his legs, and pressed his hand against the bronze tripod.

The bronze tripod trembled; the boy’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

“Alright, let’s see what you really are.”

(End of Chapter)