Chapter 112: Chapter 112
“If the conditions are right… I’d certainly like to test my hand.”
“Ha ha ha, good!”
Ji Shuying swept a long sleeve toward the inner hall’s lattice window.
“Come!”
“The feast is still ten-odd days away. Walk with me to the Scripture Library.”
“The Scripture Library?”
“Indeed. You killed Tu Xiaotian on Yunyi Island and rendered great service — that demands a reward. Silver and pills have already been prepared for you. Beyond that… you may select one technique from the Scripture Library to strengthen yourself before the feast.”
Here Ji Shuying paused, her tone sharpening with emphasis.
“This time… it won’t be the same Scripture Library you visited before.”
Shen Xiuhan understood at once.
The library he’d entered last time held a fair number of techniques, but it was the section opened to outsiders and retainers. The truly valuable material was elsewhere.
This time, he would be entering the Ji estate’s real vault.
Only…
For other martial artists, a single top-tier mental cultivation method or combat art might be the opportunity of a lifetime.
But Shen Xiuhan had Deduction. Even a second-rate technique could be refined into something supreme.
Moreover, he already possessed the Golden Vulture Soaring Wind Art — he had no shortage of mental cultivation methods.
His fists, kicks, movement art, and body-hardening method formed a unified whole.
These combat arts would carry him all the way to Transforming Strength. No need for excess.
‘Better to choose a weapon art — something built for killing — and close my last gap.’
The thought arose naturally.
The impetus was simple: Ji Ning’s sword gleam severing Tang Jin’s arm had left a deep impression.
Fists and feet, no matter how ferocious, would always be at a disadvantage against edged steel.
Against an armed opponent, the bare-handed fighter was hemmed in at every turn. One careless moment and a limb could be sliced clean off.
That was where weapon arts proved their worth.
Turning these thoughts over, Shen Xiuhan followed Ji Shuying out of the hall.
Beyond the doors, dusk was settling. The last light sank behind the hills, and a crescent moon hung at an angle, casting cool silver across the world.
Lanterns flickered to life throughout the Ji estate as the two walked the gallery corridor by their glow.
Along the way, Ji Shuying remarked casually.
“By the way, Little Six… now that you’re stepping down, Squad C’s Patrol Envoy seat will be vacant. Do you have anyone to recommend?”
Shen Xiuhan considered briefly.
Into his mind flashed the image of the grey-clad youth — outwardly calm amid the crisis, yet striking in secret to cripple Ji Yuande.
After a moment, he spoke. “The new patrol guard assigned to Squad C — Luo Feng.”
“He’s young, but steady in temperament. More importantly, he recently broke through to Blood Tempering and entered Manifest Strength — no longer an ordinary fighter. Promoting him to lead Squad C would give the men someone who knows the routines and can hold the position.”
“Luo Feng? The lad from the Luo clan’s branch line?”
“The very one.”
“Mm…”
Ji Shuying looked thoughtful.
“I recall when Ji Zhong submitted his file last month, the boy was barely nineteen? To break through to Manifest Strength at that age shows a measure of talent…”
She paused, then nodded.
“Very well. Let him take over as Squad C Patrol Envoy for now.”
As they spoke, the two arrived at a small courtyard. Two disciples stood guard outside and bowed low at the sight of Ji Shuying.
Shen Xiuhan followed her in, and they pushed open the doors.
Only upon entering did he see that the entire library held nothing but a single long table.
Arrayed upon it were a dozen or so ancient booklets and bamboo scrolls.
Few in number — yet each was housed in an exquisite case.
The cases were crafted from nanmu wood, sheathed in Shu brocade, with jade plaques set alongside. Each plaque bore the name of the technique within.
“Every art and technique here represents the foundation our Ji clan has built over a century — earned at the cost of incalculable silver and lives.”
Ji Shuying gazed at the cases with a note of emotion in her voice.
Shen Xiuhan stepped forward, his eyes sweeping across the plaques one by one.
Mountain-Crushing, Peak-Sundering Palm…
Jade Maiden Yin-Essence Art…
Azure Water, Frozen Ice Art…
Vajra Great One’s Indestructible Buddha Body…
He scanned them briefly and moved on.
Before long, he stopped at a case placed at the very edge of the table.
Inside lay a yellowed booklet. On the jade plaque beside it, three characters were carved in bold, flowing calligraphy.
Flowing Cloud Sword!
Seeing him study the sword manual, Ji Shuying stepped forward to explain.
“This sword art originates from Bixia Mountain Estate in the prefectural city. The Estate is split between the Qi Path and the Sword Path. This method is derived from the Sword Path’s supreme art — the Flowing Cloud Thousand-Illusion Sword Dao True Revelation. It is the most orthodox introductory volume.”
Shen Xiuhan’s expression showed a flicker of surprise.
A Bixia Mountain Estate supreme art… even if only the introductory volume — how had it ended up here?
Could it be…
Before he could wonder further, Ji Shuying offered a light laugh and explained.
“Don’t overthink it. This manual’s provenance is perfectly legitimate — a gift from one of the Estate’s Sword Path elders.”
“What you may not realize, Little Six, is that the four great sects have been locked in open and covert rivalry for years, competing to recruit talent.”
“Deliberately scattering non-core techniques and arts across the land — casting a wide net to reel in grassroots prodigies — is one of their strategies.”
“A few years back, for instance, a prodigy was born on Qingyuan Sword Tower’s territory. Through a stroke of fortune, he ended up training in a Zhaixing Sect method. Once his talent became apparent, he defected to Zhaixing Sect without hesitation!”
“Last year, I heard the man broke through to Transforming Strength and was promoted to chief disciple — hailed as the most gifted Zhaixing Sect talent in a decade.”
Shen Xiuhan’s eyes cleared with understanding, and a measure of admiration stirred within.
Whoever had devised this stratagem — “bait the hook with a technique, angle for the world’s talent” — possessed a formidable and nimble mind.
No strong-arming. No coercion. A single fragmentary manual was enough to make promising fighters from humble backgrounds pledge their loyalty willingly.
Brilliant. Truly brilliant.
Shen Xiuhan picked up the sword manual, turned to Ji Shuying, and spoke with resolve.
“Auntie Ji, I already have the stance art and combat techniques my master taught me. What I lack is a weapon art. I’ll choose this sword manual.”
“Good.”
Ji Shuying asked no further questions. She turned and called out.
A disciple on guard duty entered at once.
“Copy the Flowing Cloud Sword overnight. Not a single error or omission. Have it delivered to Patrol Envoy Shen’s residence by noon tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The disciple bowed respectfully, took the manual with the utmost care, and withdrew.
Afterward, Ji Shuying had sixty taels of silver brought out, along with five Jade Blood Pills — the Ji clan’s special product.
These were Shen Xiuhan’s reward for killing Tu Xiaotian.
Once the handover was complete, Ji Shuying personally escorted Shen Xiuhan to the gate.
However, as the two passed a side-room off the front courtyard, a stream of furious shouts burst from within.
“Get out! Take all of it away! These weeds make me sick just smelling them!”
“My spine is broken! My martial path is over for good! How long are you wretched dogs going to keep lying to me? Get out — all of you, OUT!”
Ji Yuande!
Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Xiuhan halted. His brow creased.
The voice was hoarse and tinged with madness — a world apart from the swaggering, high-and-mighty Ji Yuande of before.
Then a sharp, acid-tongued woman’s voice cut in.
“Ji Yuande! Don’t mistake kindness for weakness!”
“You’re a branch nobody from some backwater estate. If you hadn’t gotten lucky, you’d have spent your whole life in that village feeding pigs and herding cattle!”
“A few good days in the city and you actually think you’re some pampered young lord? Go find a puddle and take a good look at yourself!”
“A cripple who can’t even get out of bed — and you dream of the two young ladies marrying you? A toad lusting after swan’s flesh — pure delusion!”
Every word was a knife. Outside, Ji Shuying’s expression shifted. Her brow furrowed tight, and she moved to push open the door.
But at that moment, another shriek of rage erupted from within.
“Fine — so you finally admit I’m a cripple!”
“I knew it… From the day they carried me back, every last one of you has been lying to me!”
“‘Just take your medicine, rest up, and you’ll be good as new — you can still train…’ Goddamn bullshit! Lies! All lies!”
“So what if it is?”
The woman’s voice sneered, dripping contempt.
“You’re a cripple, and has the family ever shortchanged you?”
“The family spent dozens of taels to bring in Doctor Wen from Changshui County to treat you, then pulled who knows how many rare herbs from the stores to save your life. What more do you want?”
“What do I want?”
Ji Yuande’s teeth ground audibly, as though he’d suffered the world’s greatest injustice.
“All of that is owed to me!”
“I, Ji Yuande, was crippled defending the Ji clan’s honor against Chenjian Wu!”
“This is the Ji clan’s debt!”
“I want to see Ji Shuying! I want to see Ji Wen!”
“Marry Ji Xue and Ji Yao to me — as my compensation! They’re mine — ha ha ha — they’re both mine!”
Ji Yuande’s ravings carried clearly through the walls.
The look of complicated pity on Ji Shuying’s face froze — then in an instant, went dark as deep water, glazed with frost.
She gave a cold snort, raised her hand —
And Hidden Strength exploded outward across the distance.
BANG!
A wave of force surged like a tide, reducing the wooden door to splinters.
Ji Shuying crossed the threshold in a single step, her voice cracking like thunder from a clear sky.
“Insolent!”