Chapter 68: The Shift of the Stars, the Bai Hu Rests Its Claws

Standing there was Yao Guang.

Li Guanyi said: "Miss Yao Guang, what are you doing here?"

Yao Guang's reply was as calm as water: "I have business."

Li Guanyi sighed helplessly.

This was the Xue family estate—its defenses, while not matching those of a fortress border, were still hard to infiltrate; the courtyard walls were tall, over one zhang high, the very definition of high walls and deep courtyards, and yet Yao Guang's head had appeared atop it, and Li Guanyi had no idea how she had climbed up.

Li Guanyi said: "Come down first."

Yao Guang nodded.

She pressed her palms against the wall and lifted her body slightly.

Then she strained to swing her body.

First she swung her left leg up, gently resting her left foot on the wall.

Using her left foot and both hands as supports.

She strained to flip herself over, lying prone against the wall, exhaled sharply, then stood up.

She bent down and brushed the dust off her cloak.

Yao Guang stood atop the wall over one zhang high, hands resting before her, behind her the vast night sky and star patterns, her silver hair faintly stirred by the night wind, her expression solemn yet serene as she whispered: "I thought you had already left."

Li Guanyi felt slightly embarrassed: "I haven't yet perfected the cultivation method after entering."

"So I didn't go look for you."

Yao Guang shook her head, extended a finger toward the sky, her voice tranquil:

"It's not because of that."

"The Pleiades of the Bai Hu's Seven Mansions suddenly brightened by three levels tonight, nearly rivaling the brilliance of Shen. The Pleiades, the fourth mansion of the Western Palace's Bai Hu, known as Mao Tou, symbolizes the banners of a great army."

"Tonight, the brightening of the Bai Hu's Pleiades is like a great army raising its banners—thus the world's situation has shifted. I thought you had left Yicheng to wage war in the west, and I grew uneasy, so I came here uninvited. Since you're still here, I won't disturb you further."

Li Guanyi said: "I've been right here these past few days."

He suddenly remembered the letter he had sent to the Second Young Master of the Ying State's Longxi Marquis House.

A flicker of astonishment crossed his mind.

Wasn't that young master only thirteen or fourteen? Could he truly be carrying out what was written in the letter?

Could he really possess such boldness?

He immediately dismissed the thought—timing didn't match. The letter had just been sent; it would still be en route, taking over half a day to arrive. There was no way the response could be this swift. He must have been mistaken. The changes in the western frontier reflected in the star chart had nothing to do with him.

Unless there was another person connected to him stirring up chaos in the west.

Li Guanyi said: "It's already late tonight. Stay here for now."

Yao Guang shook her head.

Li Guanyi said: "I still have some questions for you."

At this, Yao Guang nodded. Under the night, her pale face, delicate features, and silver hair—so refined they seemed inhuman—were bathed in starlight and moonlight, radiating a sacred aura.

Then she crouched down.

Carefully turned, pressing her palms against the wall.

Then she extended her right foot downward.

Her right foot lightly tapped and probed, searching for a secure foothold.

Li Guanyi suddenly felt the sacred, ethereal disciple of the Eastern Land's Star Observing School had become human—climbing down a wall like this was no different from how he used to do it, but the Xue family's wall was both tall and slippery, impossible to grip. He stepped to the wall's edge, extended his hand, and said:

"Don't worry—I'll hold you. Let go."

Yao Guang trusted him.

Her right foot descended, landing in Li Guanyi's palm.

With the support beneath her right foot, she relaxed.

Her left foot followed, descending.

Both of Yao Guang's feet now rested in Li Guanyi's palms; the boy bent slightly, and she gave a small hop.

She landed on the ground.

Yao Guang brushed the dust from her palms.

Turning to face him, her voice tranquil: "Thank you for your help."

Li Guanyi pointed to the side courtyard and led Yao Guang into the side room, wiping the soil from his palm as he asked: "The Xue family's defenses are tight—how did you get in?"

Yao Guang replied: "The Star Observing School has special methods to conceal its presence."

Li Guanyi nodded.

"You just mentioned the star chart?"

"Will the changes in the Bai Hu Seven Mansions affect me?"

Yao Guang nodded, her voice as calm as still water: "Events in the mortal realm reflect in the star chart. The Bai Hu Seven Mansions represent chaos and conflict, governed by the Divine Lord of Surveillance. The bloodshed and changes in the mortal world stir responses in the Bai Hu Seven Mansions—and your fate is already bound to them."

"The radiance of the Seven Mansions will influence your Dharma Form."

"The light has not yet stabilized. If it does…."

Yao Guang said: "Perhaps you may receive a second starlight purification."

Starlight purification.

Li Guanyi recalled his experience upon entering—having already understood cultivation after entry—he thought that if this happened, the first trial's Body Casting and the 【Tiger Roar Bone Forging Art】 might be swiftly perfected.

But he was here now; the turmoil and heroism rising in the western frontier had nothing to do with him. He said: "I've learned the cultivation method and acquired a weapon. After that, I can enter the Mystical Realm."

Yao Guang nodded.

Li Guanyi felt slightly embarrassed: "Have you eaten?"

Yao Guang answered quietly:

"I've eaten."

Li Guanyi smiled and said, "It's this late, having a bit more to eat won't hurt." He could roughly guess what the Yaoguang before him had eaten; after thinking for a moment, he rummaged through the kitchen. Although Li Guanyi often ate with the martial instructors at the Xue family, or else went to Listening Wind Pavilion to mooch meals, the side-courtyard kitchen was well-stocked enough.

There was milk, eggs, finely milled flour, polished rice, and refined salt.

There were plenty of vegetables and fruits, refreshed daily.

There was even the pastry sent by Changsun Wuchou.

This kind of pastry from the Western Regions and the grasslands was closer to the butter Li Guanyi knew from his previous life.

Li Guanyi smiled slightly and said, "Got it, wait a moment. If you're going to leave, I'll give you a gift—eat before you go, consider it my apology for not visiting this whole while."

He used milk and egg yolks mixed with flour and honey to make the cake base.

Whipping egg whites by hand is actually quite difficult, but for a martial artist's arm strength and recovery—

Especially for one who cultivated the Jade Arm Divine Bow Art, this was simply child's play.

He set it into the oven to steam and bake. Li Guanyi and Yaoguang chatted about the Mystical Realm and the "Tiger's Roar Bone-Forging Art." He took the cake base out, covered it with the rather expensive pastry, then cut fruit into pieces and arranged them on top as decoration.

Though it was quite plain, this was already the most perfect restoration Li Guanyi had managed.

More complicated pastries, like those from Jiangnan Dao, he couldn't learn.

He set this simple cake pastry before Yaoguang.

He put down his chopsticks and said, "Give it a try."

Yaoguang's voice was calm: "The Eastern Lands Star-Gazing School is content with simple food and clothing."

Li Guanyi laughed and said, "I've already made it, just try it."

Yaoguang reached out, took up her chopsticks, picked up a piece, and put it in her mouth. Li Guanyi wanted to see amazement or a bright sparkle in her eyes, but she remained as quiet as ever; Li Guanyi was rather disappointed.

Yaoguang set down her chopsticks, her tone rippleless, and said:

"Many thanks. Today I shall rest here briefly, that will be enough."

"When the city opens at sunrise, I will return to before the Mystical Realm and await your arrival."

Li Guanyi left the guest room and closed the door. Yaoguang quietly closed her eyes, waiting until Li Guanyi had gone.

She opened her eyes.

She looked at the delicate pastry before her.

She extended her chopsticks, picked up a small piece, and put it in her mouth. The texture, far softer than baked mantou, the sweetness of honey, the pastry from the Western Regions—all blended into a wonderful sensation. A faint light flickered in Yaoguang's eyes, her expression still serene.

She withdrew her chopsticks and set them down.

She picked up a spoon.

In one scoop she took a large piece, opened her mouth wide, and bit down.

A layer of pastry clung to her lips, like a mustache.

The maiden's cheeks puffed out slightly, moving as she chewed.

"Delicious."

She gave her quiet verdict.

Then she scooped up an even bigger spoonful.

………………

When Li Guanyi woke the next day, Yaoguang was already gone. Given his vigilance, he had not detected any movement of her leaving, and the Xue family's Retainers on guard had not noticed either. Only when Li Guanyi came out did he see, beside the wall the maiden had climbed over, a large water vat placed upside down.

After thinking it over, it must have been Yaoguang who pushed this water vat over.

Climbed up.

Then stood on tiptoe, and only then managed to drape herself over the wall.

Li Guanyi stretched lazily, looked at the sky, and felt this was truly a peaceful and serene day. He had things to do today, so he borrowed a horse from the stables, dressed in a brocade robe, and rode to the government office. Because of his status as a seventh-rank martial officer, no one stopped him.

Even the official handling the travel documents hurriedly welcomed him in.

The seat of honor, the finest tea!

In the time it took one incense stick to burn, Li Guanyi walked out of the government office.

For a moment he felt rather dazed.

It was this simple. Those officials were almost eager to fulfill every one of his requests. Clearly a seventh-rank martial officer had expressed the intention of leaving the country, yet the officials only saw that once he left, the vacancy left by this seventh-rank martial officer's position would become an opportunity.

Li Guanyi did not know whether the rest of the kingdoms under heaven were also like this.

If even the State of Ying was like this—

Then this world truly was done for.

But a world this vast surely had a place for him to settle, where he and his aunt could live. Li Guanyi's Wu Gong had already entered the realm, silver was no problem, and after saying a word to Xue Lao, having him give a greeting to the merchant guild over there, he could take his aunt and leave this place, passing beyond the pass.

Li Guanyi's shoulders felt much lighter. But when he returned to the Xue family, he found the roads outside the Xue residence had all been cleared, commoners forbidden from passing through. Even relying on his seventh-rank martial officer status, he had to dismount and walk. When he reached the Xue residence, he found a great many people gathered around.

The Xue family members had all been driven to the outer courtyard, forbidden to enter; even the inner-courtyard guest retainers were no exception.

Li Guanyi said: "What's going on? Sister Qu?"

The clothing workshop's Manager Qu's face held a certain awe as she said:

"It's an official from the palace."

"The Emperor has sent someone."

The Emperor?

Li Guanyi's expression tightened slightly. Though his origins were still unclear, he was absolutely unsuited to meet anyone from the palace. Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best; he planned to hide for now and was about to leave, but someone spotted him—it was Zhao Da Bing, who squeezed out of the crowd, grabbed him in one pull, and said:

"Brother, finally found you! Hurry over there, they're waiting for you!"

Li Guanyi said: "What does the Emperor's envoy have to do with me?"

Zhao Da Bing shook his head and said: "I don't know."

"Seems like, the verbal message the envoy brought mentioned you, brother. Palace rules—everyone has to be assembled before the imperial edict can be issued!"

He said to Li Guanyi:

"It seems your name was called out in the Sage's Sacred Decree."

"They want you to come over!"