“Not too shabby. Good thing I’ve been focusing on nourishing Yin during this period. This second level is also the highest stage of the Jade Crane Skill; an average person would need five years to reach it. I’ve compressed those five years into such a short time—naturally, the strain on my body is far greater than when I first began cultivating this art.”
He quietly examined the state of his body from within. Though still frail, it was undeniably stronger than before. His efforts in restoring his health had not been in vain.
He let out a long breath. “Hoo…”
The circle of inner Qi within his chest had thickened—from the width of a single chopstick to that of nine. The difference was astonishing. The second level of the Jade Crane Skill was indeed unlike the first.
Each breath now carried vitality; his body felt lighter, sharper, more responsive than ever.
‘According to the records, the second level of the Jade Crane Skill can prolong life and quicken the healing of wounds. I’ll test its effects tomorrow. Also, I should meet with Duanmu Wan—perhaps I can acquire new inner force techniques from her.’
Since the Jade Crane Skill had proven genuine, then the other manuals might be authentic as well. He wondered what would happen if he cultivated several inner force arts simultaneously. So long as their energies did not conflict, merging them should be possible in theory.
With that thought, Lu Sheng lay back on his bed to rest.
Yet just as he closed his eyes, faint footsteps echoed beyond the courtyard—soft, deliberate, receding into the night.
Judging by the rhythm, they belonged to Lu Qingqing.
Lu Sheng shook his head and ignored them. Lately, Lu Qingqing had been slipping out almost every few nights, wandering through the city for reasons of her own. Who knew what leads she was chasing this time.
Initially, he had even tried to tail her for a while, but soon realized his footwork was far inferior to Lu Qingqing’s. Within moments, she had vanished from sight, and he decided there was no point in wasting his energy any further.
The next morning, Lu Sheng brought along the silver notes he had prepared and went straight to the Thousand Blessings Inn, where Duanmu Wan had been staying.
“What? She’s already checked out?”
Lu Sheng’s brows knit together as he fixed his gaze on the innkeeper.
“When was that?”
“Around half a month ago,” the innkeeper replied promptly. “Miss Duanmu was invited by several young masters to sightsee at Red Lotus Temple. Afterward, she sent someone back to settle her bill.”
The man’s tone carried a hint of admiration. Duanmu Wan had clearly left an impression—her beauty alone could turn heads, and her generous spending had made her a favorite among the staff. It was no wonder many young masters had pursued her during her stay.
“Red Lotus Temple…” Lu Sheng murmured under his breath. His instincts told him otherwise—she was unlikely to be there. That reason sounded more like an excuse to disappear without leaving a trace.
“Forget it.”
He flicked open his folding fan and turned to leave. Outside, his two bodyguards waited by the entrance.
“How did it go, Young Master? Did you find Miss Duanmu?” asked Little Song, one of his attendants who often helped him clear training grounds and occasionally sparred with him. His martial arts skills, while modest, were reliable enough.
“No. She’s already gone,” Lu Sheng replied flatly.
“Then where are we headed now?”
“Where else? Back to the manor.”
Frustration lingered in his chest. Having failed to secure any secret manuals, his mood soured.
The three boarded the horse carriage and headed straight for Lu Manor. But as they neared the main gate, another yellow carriage came into view, already parked at the entrance.
Carved on its side was a single large character—“Zhang (张).”
“Zhang Family?”
Lu Sheng’s expression darkened. It had been a long time since the Zhang family incident. It seemed they had finally come knocking.
But he felt no fear. After instructing Little Song and the others to withdraw, Lu Sheng strode through the main entrance alone.
From where he stood, he could see straight into the Main Hall. Inside, Lu Quanan sat in the host’s seat, calm and composed, while beside him stood another martial artist from the household guard. Across from them sat a single emissary from the Zhang Family.
The Zhangs had sent only one representative—a man in his thirties with sharp, narrow eyes and thick, severe brows.
“…How could my son have done such a thing? The Zhang Family must be mistaken!” Lu Quanan’s tone was even, though his gaze was cold.
“Mistaken? Quite a few people witnessed it with their own eyes! How could it be false?!” the man roared, his voice echoing through the hall.
“I don’t care how powerful your Zhang Family is in Zi Hua City,” Lu Quanan replied icily. “This is Nine Links City, not your Zi Hua. Your Zhang Family may be strong, but my Lu Family is no pushover. If you continue to slander us, don’t blame me, Lu Quanan, for showing no mercy!”
The Zhang envoy trembled with fury, his finger quivering as he pointed at Lu Quanan, unable to find words for a moment.
“Fine, fine, fine! The Lu Family Head truly has courage! I’ll be sure to deliver your words—exactly as spoken—to our Family Head, Song Xi! Goodbye!”
He spun on his heel and stormed out of the hall.
Halfway to the carriage, he brushed past Lu Sheng without recognizing him, still seething as he climbed aboard and barked for the driver to move.
Lu Sheng watched him go without surprise. The Song Dynasty’s power had long waned; its territories were fractured, each region ruled by its own self-proclaimed lords. In the distant North, city masters and noble clans held true authority. Even in the Central Plains, powerful families like the Lu Clan merely paid lip service to the imperial court—obedient in form, rebellious in spirit.
For the Zhangs to come all the way here and demand answers was sheer arrogance. Did they truly think this was still their Zi Hua City?
As the carriage rumbled away, Lu Sheng stepped into the Main Hall. His father, Lu Quanan, sat motionless in his seat, expression calm but unreadable.
“Dad, finished settling your business?” Lu Sheng asked lightly, motioning for the guards to withdraw so he could speak with his father in private.
Lu Quanan let out a long sigh. When he saw it was Lu Sheng, a faint smile crossed his face. “Little Sheng, you need to keep an eye on your sister. Don’t let her run about the city all day.”
“I can’t control her,” Lu Sheng replied with a wry smile. “Dad, that thing the higher-ups wanted us to find—has there been any progress? Are they searching for a person or an object?”
“It could be either,” Lu Quanan answered softly, shaking his head. “No one can say for sure. The Prefect’s already in turmoil over the Xu Family case and that business with the well at Wang Villa. Especially the latter—dozens of constables haven’t turned up a single lead. What could your sister possibly hope to uncover on her own? Tell her to stay home and behave.”
“She’s gone to investigate the Wang Villa case?” Lu Sheng asked in surprise.
“You didn’t know?” Lu Quanan’s tone carried both exasperation and resignation. “The yamen constables have seen Qingqing at the Wang Villa more than once. Every few days, she drags in fugitives or suspects and hands them over. By now, everyone at the yamen knows her by name.”
“I see…” Lu Sheng frowned, his expression clouded. “I’ve been occupied lately collecting martial arts manuals. I haven’t had the time to keep watch over her.”
“Collecting martial arts manuals, hmm? You’ve already spent nearly five thousand talents on that,” Lu Quanan said with a hint of curiosity. “How’s your progress?”
“I’ve gathered quite a few,” Lu Sheng replied seriously. “I plan to organize them into a scripture library here at home. That way, our Lu Family can train its own experts more efficiently.”
Lu Quanan nodded slowly, his face hardening with thought. “I’ve more or less guessed your intentions. In times as turbulent as these, we can’t depend on just a handful of family members. We must raise capable fighters of our own. That’s why I’ve supported your efforts to collect these martial arts from the start.”
“Dad, finished settling your business?” Lu Sheng asked lightly, motioning for the guards to withdraw so he could speak with his father in private.
Lu Quanan let out a long sigh. When he saw it was Lu Sheng, a faint smile crossed his face. “Little Sheng, you need to keep an eye on your sister. Don’t let her run about the city all day.”
“I can’t control her,” Lu Sheng replied with a wry smile. “Dad, that thing the higher-ups wanted us to find—has there been any progress? Are they searching for a person or an object?”
“It could be either,” Lu Quanan answered softly, shaking his head. “No one can say for sure. The Prefect’s already in turmoil over the Xu Family case and that business with the well at Wang Villa. Especially the latter—dozens of constables haven’t turned up a single lead. What could your sister possibly hope to uncover on her own? Tell her to stay home and behave.”
“She’s gone to investigate the Wang Villa case?” Lu Sheng asked in surprise.
“You didn’t know?” Lu Quanan’s tone carried both exasperation and resignation. “The yamen constables have seen Qingqing at the Wang Villa more than once. Every few days, she drags in fugitives or suspects and hands them over. By now, everyone at the yamen knows her by name.”
“I see…” Lu Sheng frowned, his expression clouded. “I’ve been occupied lately collecting martial arts manuals. I haven’t had the time to keep watch over her.”
“Collecting martial arts manuals, hmm? You’ve already spent nearly five thousand talents on that,” Lu Quanan said with a hint of curiosity. “How’s your progress?”
“I’ve gathered quite a few,” Lu Sheng replied seriously. “I plan to organize them into a scripture library here at home. That way, our Lu Family can train its own experts more efficiently.”
Lu Quanan nodded slowly, his face hardening with thought. “I’ve more or less guessed your intentions. In times as turbulent as these, we can’t depend on just a handful of family members. We must raise capable fighters of our own. That’s why I’ve supported your efforts to collect these martial arts from the start.”
He left the Main Hall and made his way to the training arena, where the air was thick with the scent of dust and sweat. There, he continued his martial practice beneath the waning light of the afternoon sun.
Ever since reaching the peak of the Jade Crane Skill, his body brimmed with energy and vitality. From dawn till dusk, fatigue rarely touched him. Even when exhaustion began to set in, a brief moment of rest was enough to restore him—his strength roaring back like a dragon awakening, his spirit sharp as a tiger’s gaze.
On the arena floor, his saber whistled through the air again and again until the sun began to dip below the horizon. Only when his clothes clung to his skin, soaked through with sweat, did he finally stop. He washed up quickly and hurried to join the family for dinner.
At the dining hall, Lu Quanan, Second Mother, and Lu Sheng sat together at the main table, while the rest of the relatives occupied another. Such was the Lu Family’s custom. As head of the household, Lu Quanan commanded respect; Lu Sheng, the heir apparent, sat beside him; and Second Mother, who oversaw the servants and managed the affairs of the inner courtyard, was seated with equal standing.
The others—Third Mother, Fourth Mother, Fifth Mother, Lu Qingqing, Lu Yingying, Lu Chenxin, and the younger kin—sat in their places according to rank and status. Though the Lu Family was a newly risen house, they meticulously followed the traditions of the old and powerful clans.
Conversation was forbidden during meals; silence reigned, broken only by the soft clinking of chopsticks against porcelain bowls.
“Little Sheng.”
Lu Quanan’s voice broke the stillness. He seldom spoke during dinner, and when he did, the entire hall went silent in respect.
“Yes, Dad?”
Lu Sheng set his chopsticks down and turned to him.
“You mentioned that you’ve exhausted all the martial arts available in Nine Links City,” Lu Quanan said evenly. “Would you consider making a trip to Mountain Edge City?”
“Mountain Edge City?”
Lu Sheng looked up in surprise. He hadn’t expected his father to suggest he leave Nine Links City.
“Yes,” Lu Quanan replied with a slow nod. “I have an old friend there. In his recent letter, he mentioned that several renowned experts from the Central Plains have come to Mountain Edge City and are openly accepting students. If you’re willing to make the journey, you might be able to return with one or two truly exceptional martial arts techniques from the Central Plains.”
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