Chapter 110: Chapter 110
Early afternoon, the sun at its fiercest.
A sandship flying a “Ji” pennant broke through white crests and nosed into the dock.
Shen Xiuhan and the sword-bearing Ji Ning stepped onto the jetty side by side.
Behind them followed two wounded patrol guards, hitching a ride home.
The moment they came ashore, the two guards separated and hurried off to report their safe return to their families.
Shen Xiuhan and Ji Ning set out for the Ji manor.
Vermilion-lacquered gates loomed cold and imposing. Two white-jade stone lions bared their fangs on either side, exuding the deep-rooted authority of a century-old great house.
No announcement needed. The two passed through unchallenged, crossing several covered gallery corridors before arriving at the inner hall of the Ji estate’s rear compound.
Inside, the mingled scents of contemplation incense and expensive medicinal herbs hung bitter and sweet in the air.
Ji Shuying, head of the Ji clan, sat in the grand chair at the hall’s head.
She wore a gold-brocade cloud-crane robe. Her features were cool and composed. Two firm, shapely legs were crossed beneath the hem, their long outline hinted at through the fall of silk. In her hands she held a blue-and-white teacup, using the lid to skim the froth.
She listened to Ji Ning’s brief report.
Ji Shuying set down the teacup. Her gaze settled on the two men, and she spoke with open praise.
“This time, Chenjian Wu launched a major assault, and the two of you turned the tide. You killed three notorious bandit chiefs and won a resounding victory for the Ji clan’s name… Ji Ning!”
“Present!”
Ji Ning clasped his fists, back straight as a spear.
Ji Shuying’s eyes softened with a hint of reproach, though her tone carried warmth.
“You… we’re family. Enough with the ‘present’ and ‘subordinate.’ Are you saying I’m not one of your own?”
“I wouldn’t dare…”
Ji Ning’s composure cracked. He hesitated, then unclenched his fists and bowed instead, amending his address.
“Ning’er… greets the head of the household.”
“There we go.”
Ji Shuying’s brow smoothed with satisfaction.
“The clan hasn’t produced anyone this young in Hidden Strength for over a decade… The last one who looked set to break through in his twenties was Guannan…”
At that name, Ji Shuying’s voice dipped. A shadow passed behind her eyes, as though touching a memory she would rather leave buried.
She paused, drew a deep breath, and pressed the feeling down.
“Go on, then. Everything you need has been prepared and sent to your father.”
A flicker of excitement lit Ji Ning’s face.
“Yes! Your child takes his leave…”
He turned and strode from the hall, his figure disappearing down the gallery corridor.
Once he was gone, the hall fell quiet. Only the thin thread of incense smoke curled upward, and the faint drone of cicadas carried through the window.
Ji Shuying rose. With light, measured steps, she drifted to Shen Xiuhan’s side and looked him over, head to toe. A smile tugged at her lips.
“Little Six… you’ve surpassed all my expectations.”
“Ah… what does Auntie Ji mean by that?”
“Your rate of growth.” Ji Shuying’s voice carried a note of wonder.
“The first time your master mentioned you, you had just entered Blood Tempering — barely touching the threshold of Manifest Strength. The last time I saw you, you’d already broken through to Bone Tempering. And now, so soon after, you’ve stepped into Sinew Tempering… That kind of progress — even Guannan in his day might not have matched it.”
She paused, and her tone shifted, gravity settling in.
“But the tree that grows tallest catches the wind first. You and Ji Ning have likely become thorns in the eyes of those water bandits — they’d love nothing more than to rip you both out.”
“Chenjian Wu never forgives a grudge. If you stay posted on Yunyi Island, the danger is simply too great.”
“The Ji clan does not abandon those who have served it well. We will not stand by and watch a man of merit walk into peril.”
Ji Shuying returned to the head seat and sat. Her slender jade fingers tapped the rosewood table — TAP, TAP — in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
“I intend to reassign you and Ji Ning to safer positions.”
“Next spring, our Ji clan will be establishing a new apothecary in Guangwu Commandery. When the time comes, I’d like you to go to the prefectural city and serve as the apothecary’s chief house-guard… What do you think?”
Shen Xiuhan lowered his gaze and considered briefly. He had no objections.
Guangwu Commandery was a fair distance from Changyun County, but the prefectural city was ringed with high walls and deep moats — a seat of officials and great families, garrisoned by troops, tightly defended.
Chenjian Wu’s reach, however long, would never extend into a prefectural city.
With the techniques he now possessed, what he needed most was a stable environment and time to cultivate in peace.
A quiet posting where he could develop without interference was an excellent choice.
This was also the Ji clan head’s way of looking after his safety.
“The household head’s kindness is deeply felt. Xiuhan accepts.”
Shen Xiuhan clasped his fists in assent. Then his brows rose slightly.
“Only… the Guangwu posting isn’t until next spring. I can’t very well sit around the manor eating idle rice for the rest of the year, can I?”
Ji Shuying’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
“You — just as your master described. A martial fanatic to the bone, can’t sit still for a moment.”
Her smile faded, and her expression grew measured.
“Since you’ve already broken through to Sinew Tempering, there is in fact an opportunity right in front of you.”
“The Wang clan — one of the Five Great Families — will be hosting a grand Longxiang Martial Feast in about ten days, bringing together the young prodigies of Changyun and Changshui counties.”
“The feast was last held decades ago. An event like this comes around once in ten years, if that.”
“The competition is split into a Hidden Strength bracket and a Manifest Strength bracket. Any martial artist under thirty years of bone-age is eligible to compete.”
“Claim the top spot, and you’ll not only have the chance to enlist in the Longxiang Army for a career, but also gain entry to the fabled Dragon Blood Essence Pool for cultivation.”
“For Manifest Strength and Hidden Strength fighters alike, that place is an extraordinarily rare training ground — quenching bone, washing marrow, transforming the body. For breaking through to the next realm, the benefits are immense!”
“The Longxiang Martial Feast…”
Shen Xiuhan felt a twinge of reluctance.
He had seen all of this in his intelligence reports long ago. The problem was Tian Ping’an — he had been wary of anything connected to the Longxiang Army ever since.
Even now, with Sinew Tempering achieved, who knew whether Tian Ping’an had deeper connections within the Longxiang Army?
If the man had a Hidden Strength backer, that was manageable. But if there was a Transforming Strength patron behind him… that would be a headache.
Seeing his hesitation, Ji Shuying looked puzzled.
“Is something troubling you, Little Six? Speak freely — Auntie Ji will sort it out.”
Shen Xiuhan considered for a moment, then clasped his fists.
“May I ask, Auntie Ji — the Dragon Blood Essence Pool, the feast’s grand prize: does entering it require enlisting in the Longxiang Army? Would I be placed under their command and sent to serve?”
He had his reasons for asking.
The Longxiang Army, one of the Great Qi’s five armies, was garrisoned in a distant province.
A round trip that far would consume who knew how many weeks. With Deduction at his disposal, he had no bottleneck to overcome — given the time he’d waste on the road, he could probably smash through the Hidden Strength barrier on his own.
Ji Shuying’s face cleared with understanding. She smiled and explained.
“You’re overthinking it, Little Six. Only the top three finishers in each bracket may enlist — and only on a voluntary basis. No one will force you.”
Her smile deepened, and she shook her head.
“As for the Dragon Blood Essence Pool, you needn’t worry about that at all. Give it another ten or twenty days, and it’ll come to Changyun County all on its own.”
“Come… on its own?” Shen Xiuhan looked puzzled.
“Precisely.”
Ji Shuying turned abruptly, fixing him with a keen, intent gaze. Her voice dropped.
“Little Six — are you familiar with the concept of celestial caverns and blessed lands?”