Chapter 30: The Beauty

The green bronze tripod's jade nectar was Li Guanyi's most vital asset.

The last time he accumulated jade nectar, he poured it into his dantian, enabling him to attain the twelfth layer of the martial sect's supreme internal art, "The Break-the-Formation Melody," and acquire a sword technique; now, this jade nectar had finally accumulated for the second time.

Li Guanyi's gaze settled on the Cloud-Piercing Thunderbow.

He reflected on what had just happened, lost in thought.

It seemed that not only could a Law-Form level expert's Law-Form martial art complete the final step of jade nectar accumulation—divine weapons could too.

But he did not know what changes this pouring of jade nectar would bring.

Perhaps because he had exerted too much spirit just now by wielding that bow, Li Guanyi felt a weariness rising from his core; his mind buzzed with scattered thoughts, unable to settle for a long time, and he could only suppress them with the bitterness of tea.

Xue Daoyong did not mention the bow again, but spoke of Xue family anecdotes, his words witty and amusing, interspersed with some perilous experiences; finally, he served a simple meal: each person received a bowl of yellow millet porridge, a grilled fish, a few fresh vegetables, some seasoning powder, and one fruit.

Li Guanyi said: "Senior, your lifestyle is indeed simple."

The Xue family was a noble household.

Just now, the old man had given away a courtyard and land deed worth at least five hundred guan without blinking—but when it came to food, he ate exactly like an ordinary commoner, even worse than the three martial masters at Huichun Hall.

At this moment, he noticed Xue Shuangtao glancing at him, holding back a smile.

Perhaps the spirit-draining fatigue had dulled his perception; only now did Li Guanyi notice something different.

He sniffed lightly at the small dish of seasoning powder and said: "This is..."

"Ginseng, atractylodes, poria."

Having suffered from severe poison for ten years, Li Guanyi had become an amateur physician, frequently dealing with herbs; he had spent long periods in herbal shops, and with two lifetimes of experience and exceptional talent, he needed only to smell to identify the main ingredients, then tasted a spoonful of the millet porridge.

It contained the same herbs, yet the bitterness had been neutralized, leaving a sweet, pleasant flavor.

His blood and qi, along with the inner power of "The Break-the-Formation Melody," became active.

Even the massive depletion from holding the divine weapon began to ease.

Xue Daoyong smiled and asked: "How is it?"

Li Guanyi thought for a moment and replied: "Rehmannia nourishes essence and fills marrow; ginseng tonifies the spleen and boosts qi, nourishing blood—these are the sovereign herbs."

"Atractylodes and poria assist ginseng in boosting qi; angelica and white peony nourish blood and harmonize the camp, aiding the heart—these are the minister herbs."

"Chuanxiong is the assistant herb, activating blood and moving qi; licorice is the envoy herb, tonifying qi, harmonizing the middle, and balancing all herbs."

"Senior, this meal is truly excellent for replenishing both blood and qi."

The old man was momentarily surprised, then laughed, turning to the girl beside him: "See? You threw a flirtatious glance at a blind man—wasted all that kindness. Good things require guests who can explain why they're good; only then is the host-guest exchange truly satisfying. Unlike your brother and brother, who only know to say 'delicious.'"

"Or else: 'One more bowl.'"

"Like a cow chewing peonies—utterly vulgar."

As he spoke, he looked up and saw the boy had already devoured the millet porridge—no less potent than a great pill, yet gentle on the body—in three or two bites. Seeing the old man stunned, the boy smiled too, deliberately saying: "Then, Senior, I shall be vulgar once more."

"One more bowl."

The old man burst into laughter.

He grew even more fond of the boy.

Then he refused without hesitation: "A hundred-year ginseng, fish from Tianchi Lake—both beneficial to martial cultivators; even I rarely bring them out to entertain guests. How could I have so much to spare for you?"

"You've got quite the appetite."

Li Guanyi felt regret.

He had wanted to bring some home for his aunt.

The girl watched the previously composed young master now eating greedily, and finally burst into a giggle, feeling he wasn't so hard to read; after a moment's thought, she pushed her bowl forward and said: "I haven't touched mine—take it if you don't mind."

She added quickly: "Of course, not the fish."

Li Guanyi tasted the fish—it was indeed incredibly tender and fresh. The old man had warned that the fish was raised on herbs, beneficial to martial cultivators but like a potent poison for the weak; Li Guanyi finished the fish and said: "Truly delicious."

"If I could eat meals like this every day, I would be content."

Xue Daoyong laughed heartily: "Hahahaha, you're trying to eat me into ruin!"

"Good!"

"If you Break Through the Realm within three years, come to me—I'll feed you one meal a day."

"If you Break Through the Realm within a year, you can eat every meal."

"I'll sell the pots and iron to feed you."

The meal ended in mutual delight; Xue Shuangtao led Li Guanyi out of the Listening Wind Pavilion. She glanced at his clothes and said: "You're now a guest minister—your clothing, food, and necessities will follow the main branch's standards. It's late today, so come with me to collect new clothes, weapons, and pills."

She paused, slightly embarrassed, yet striving to maintain an air of nonchalance, and said:

"You must come early tomorrow."

"I'll teach you footwork and archery."

Li Guanyi nodded.

First, he went to collect weapons; in today's era of warring states and frequent diplomacy, the court had relaxed control over certain weapons—swords, knives, wooden shields, and bows requiring long-term cultivation—but remained extremely strict on armor, crossbows, and formation spears longer than twelve feet.

The former were for personal protection in the world.

The latter were different.

Xue Shuangtao took Li Guanyi to the Xue family's private armory within their estate.

She pointed inside and said: "The knives here are divided into three types: the lightest, fastest knife; the narrowest, longest stabbing knife, capable of thrusting and slicing; and the heavy knife—all forged from hundred-fold refined iron, differing only in material from famous weapons of the martial world."

Based on the characteristics of the Eight Break-the-Army Blades, Li Guanyi chose a completely dark heavy knife.

The blade was thick, with perfect balance, ideal for chopping and slashing.

The scabbard was dark ironwood inlaid with copper, engraved with tiger-roar patterns.

The blacksmith glanced and said: "A three-hundred-fold refined heavy knife—nearly equal to famous martial world blades—priced at ninety-seven guan. The scabbard is top-grade dark-patterned ironwood, treated to resist worms and rust, inlaid with brass, with a hollowed tail for storing pills. The scabbard alone is worth four and three-tenths guan; total price: one hundred and one guan. As a guest minister, you pay only seventy guan."

Guest ministers received fine weapons, but still paid for basic materials and labor.

This channel was something ordinary martial cultivators could never obtain; many in the martial world could only wield swords forged by village smiths—iron scraps with wooden planks nailed together as scabbards, wandering the world.

Even Li Guanyi would have to admit it was a great deal.

But right now, the silver he carried amounted to only three taels.

After a moment of silence, he held his knife close and looked toward the girl over there.

Xue Shuangtao said casually, "Just put it under my name."

The blacksmith was surprised, glancing at the young, handsome Li Guanyi, then at the young lady, his eyes full of suspicion, but he nodded: "Alright, if that's the case, we'll put it under your name, young lady."

Xue Shuangtao nodded, then took Li Guanyi to pick out a bow.

The bow needed to be one Li Guanyi could just barely draw fully, yet still struggle with—its length suited the height of a boy his age. The girl swiftly tested several bows, finally selecting three that matched Li Guanyi's needs.

Bowmaking requires dry wood, horn, sinew, glue, silk, and lacquer—the six materials.

The first bow was made of purple bamboo, with excellent flexibility; yellow ox horn was bonded to the inner side of the limbs, and ox sinew to the outer side, both enhancing elasticity and increasing arrow speed.

Price: thirty guan.

Li Guanyi asked what glue was used to bind the materials of this bow.

The middle-aged man smiled: "Shu rat."

"Boiled down from the muscles and skin of rats from Shu—it's quite sticky."

"The main point is it's cheap. Of course, if you're unwilling, we have others."

The second bow used yi wood for the limbs, with mo feng horn, horse sinew, and fish glue combined.

Its qi was exceptionally solid, took two years to make, and cost one hundred ten guan.

This bow was more expensive than the knife now at Li Guanyi's waist.

Li Guanyi turned to look at the cheapest bow, about to speak, when he saw the girl raise her finger toward the bow placed at the highest shelf and say: "Take down that one."

Li Guanyi saw the bow's wood, yet its body seemed woven with golden silk threads.

The horn on the inner side of the bow measured two feet five cun long, in three colors: pure white at the base, blue-green in the middle, and mo feng at the tip.

The three colors followed a clear order.

Li Guanyi didn't understand bows, but he could tell good from bad.

This thing was expensive!

The middle-aged manager praised: "Young lady, your eye is sharp!"

"This bow took fifteen years to complete: winter for selecting the bow stave, spring for treating the horn, summer for the sinew, autumn for assembling all materials, then returning to winter to place the bow within a frame to set its shape. It uses zhe wood—ten zhe trees yield nine hollow ones, nine crooked ones; the heartwood contains golden threads like gold, with exceptional resilience."

"The horn is from rhinoceros, the sinew from crocodile dragon, bound with shark glue from the Southern Sea."

"But its draw weight is immense—difficult to pull fully open."

"Price: one thousand five hundred thirty guan."

Li Guanyi's eyelid twitched.

How much?! He weighed his words carefully: "I think… it's too expensive."

Xue Shuangtao shook her head: "Grandfather said, a bow is like a sword or knife—it entrusts your life. Sometimes, a little more resilience in the bow stave lets you fire more arrows without snapping; sufficient elasticity makes arrows fly faster. That tiny improvement might be the difference between life and death."

"Everything else can be compromised—but not life and death. Not a single step back."

"Take down this bow."

The middle-aged manager said: "Yes, young lady."

Xue Shuangtao gripped the bow, casually nocked an arrow, and though the bow didn't even draw fully, she stepped forward, her aura sharp as ice, and shot the arrow—it pierced straight through a tree trunk as thick as two arms. Her temple hairs fluttered, revealing Bai Xi's chin and a pair of apricot eyes. She nodded in satisfaction:

"Hmm. Just put it under my name."

"I remember Grandfather gave me a shop when I was ten. The profits these past years should be enough."

"Here, Mr. Your bow."

She saw Li Guanyi freeze.

She reached out, cupped his wrist and sleeve, lifted his hand, and gently placed the bow into his palm: "Since ancient times, beauties have gifted swords to heroes. I'm no beauty, but I believe what Grandfather said—you, Mr., will one day be a hero."

"I bestow upon you this Su Ni bow."

Li Guanyi: "…………"

"Thank you."

He glanced at his knife, then held the bow in his arms.

He saw the girl ahead, hands clasped behind her back, smiling faintly.

Li Guanyi thought:

The young lady's charm was peerless.

At this moment, an old man with white hair had arrived in Yicheng.

He effortlessly shed the government trackers and his own junior disciples, saying: "Little Zu hasn't arrived yet. Let's take a stroll."

"See if anything interesting turns up. What do you say, old friend?"

He smiled with lowered eyes, and in the space invisible to ordinary eyes, a colossal black tortoise bowed its head.

The eldest living master of Yin-Yang, Master Siming.

He had come as invited.

(End of Chapter)