"Ye, I heard you and Tributor Huang have a good relationship with Chen Yuan. How certain are you about recruiting him?" Gu Changfeng could only pin his hopes on them.
Gu Ye looked troubled. "Changfeng, Yuan values loyalty. But even with our past financial support, this grace has likely been exhausted after everything that’s happened. He might even harbor resentment toward the Gu Family."
Changfeng’s heart sank. "What about Tributor Huang? I remember they were fellow disciples. It was Tributor Huang who introduced Yuan to work for the Li Family in the first place. He shouldn’t just turn his back on him."
Ye sighed again. "Tributor Huang and Yuan do have a good personal relationship, but it’s strictly personal. Haven’t you noticed, Changfeng, that Tributor Huang hasn’t spoken up much for Yuan lately? He clearly doesn’t want to ruin their friendship over family matters."
Actually, when Changfeng had decided to abandon Yuan, Huang Yan had tried to persuade him against it, but to no avail. Yan had probably drawn a line in the sand ever since.
Changfeng leaned back heavily in his chair, looking as though he had aged years in an instant. An outstanding young man had once stood before him, but he hadn’t cherished the opportunity. Now that he had lost him, regret was useless. If only he had a chance to do it all over again...
Ye interrupted his thoughts. "But all is not lost. After all, Yuan’s cousin, Cheng Xiaoyu, is still working in our estate and gets along well with our young lady. This shows Yuan has no intention of making enemies out of us. Killing Yu Yan might have been a forced move; there’s still room to mend our relationship."
Hearing this, a gleam of light appeared in Changfeng’s lifeless eyes. "Good! We absolutely cannot let Xiaoyu suffer any grievances in the estate," he hurriedly said. "Since she gets along well with Wan Tong, she would definitely want Wan Tong to become her cousin-in-law. She surely wouldn’t want to see Wan Tong marry that old toad.
"However, we can’t use this to force Yuan’s hand. We must handle this with tact. Ye, you have interacted with Yuan quite a bit. I’ll leave this matter to you."
If absolutely necessary, they might be able to leverage the relationship between Wan Tong and Xiaoyu to get Yuan’s help.
Ye accepted the order and departed.
Leaning back in his chair, Changfeng recalled the past, suddenly slapped himself across the face, and let out a long sigh.
...
Near dusk, Funiu Mountain.
Inside the small building next to the First Medicinal Garden, Li Changgui was reviewing the account books in his room. He still had to find time to handle his steward duties.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. A knock echoed at the door.
Changgui wondered who it could be. Opening the door, he was shocked to see his older brother, Li Changfu, standing outside. His heart tightened. Under normal circumstances, his brother would never come here to find him.
"Changfu, what brings you here?" he asked hurriedly.
Changfu smiled gently. "Nothing major. I just made a slight misjudgment yesterday. I realized the matter with Chen Yuan wasn’t resolved securely enough, so I came to make amends."
He hadn’t expected that right after brushing Yuan off yesterday—thinking there was no need to be overly deferential—news would arrive today that Yuan had killed two people consecutively at Wankou Mountain. This battle record was enough to elevate Yuan’s value by another half-tier.
Changgui looked slightly confused. "Make amends for what? We had a good talk yesterday, and I compensated him. He shouldn’t hold any grudges, right?"
Changfu smiled. "Yuan’s value has increased in my eyes, so the compensation must increase as well. Understand? Now, take me to see him. I’ll explain the details on the way."
Not daring to delay, Changgui hurriedly led his older brother toward the Fourth Medicinal Garden. Along the way, he learned what had happened, and his mouth twitched.
"Let alone He Yunhan," Changgui couldn’t help but ask, "Ge Jinhua used to be a genuine Muscle Gate martial artist. Even with his strength declining, he wasn’t someone an ordinary Bone Gate fighter could compare to, let alone Yuan, who has only just reached Body Refining Great Success. Taking a step back, Jinhua comprehended Hidden Force years ago. His experience should be incredibly rich. How could he lose to a greenhorn like Yuan?"
For a moment, he couldn’t comprehend it. This wasn’t as simple as killing a Black-Scaled Leopard.
Changfu offered a faint smile. "I heard he literally exhausted Jinhua to death. What a clever guy. But it’s perfectly normal that you don’t understand. Could we understand Li Changqing back in the day? Yuan is starting to give me a bit of Cousin Changqing’s vibe."
Changgui’s pupils shrank. He never expected his brother to compare Yuan to Changqing. Wasn’t that overestimating Yuan too much? He had always felt Yuan had a mild temperament and lacked that imposing, elite aura.
By the time they arrived at the Fourth Medicinal Garden, Yuan was practicing his fists.
The two battles against Yunhan and Jinhua had benefited him greatly, granting him deeper insights into the Heart Intent Six Harmonies Fist. This kind of life-and-death combat fueled faster progress than ordinary sparring. Of course, this was also inseparable from his improved Comprehension; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gained so many epiphanies.
After finishing a set, a slightly plump man walked over with a genial smile. "Brother Chen, I’ve heard so much about you. My surname is Li, name Changfu. I currently work at the Li Family’s Treasure Tower, and I’m also the older brother of this disappointing sibling of mine."
Yuan glanced at Changgui nearby, instantly understanding the man’s identity. He bowed and cupped his hands. "I am Chen Yuan. Greetings, Steward Li. You are too polite."
However, he didn’t know what the man wanted and waited quietly for him to continue.
Changfu laughed heartily. "No need for formalities. Brother Chen, your battle record at Wankou Mountain today fills me with admiration. Truly, the younger generation is formidable! My younger brother offended you previously, so I’d like to invite you to a meal to apologize and make a friend. What do you say, Brother Chen?"
"It’s not that I don’t want to give you face, Steward Li," Yuan considered for a moment, "but I am currently on duty and cannot leave."
"Don’t worry, Brother Chen," Changgui hurriedly interjected. "I will arrange for another guard to take your place."
Yuan thought it over. Getting a free meal out of it—why not? He agreed, "Since you are so gracious, Steward Li, I will respectfully obey."
Judging by Changfu’s speech and his position as a steward of the Treasure Tower, he didn’t seem like the bizarre type of person like Yu Yan, who would turn hostile during a dinner invitation.
Streets lined with pearls and jewels, households brimming with fine silk, all competing in luxury. True to his status as the steward of the Treasure Tower, Changfu hosted the banquet at the Drunken Moon Pavilion, the top restaurant owned by the Li Family. The name implied: Who will share a drink with me under the bright moon?
On the third floor of the Drunken Moon Pavilion, inside an elegantly decorated private room with an excellent view, only Yuan and the two Li brothers were present. Two beautiful maids remained by their side, pouring wine and serving dishes. Exotic delicacies from land and sea were brought in one after another, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, making one’s mouth water. Although the portions weren’t as large as the Fang Family’s banquet at noon, the quality was far superior.
"Brother Chen, don’t stand on ceremony with us," Changfu smiled faintly. "Enjoy yourself to the fullest, and we’ll order more if it’s not enough."
Yuan smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your generous hospitality, Steward Li. I won’t hold back then."
For a martial artist, eating was something that never needed to be declined. Seeing this, Changfu fetched a jug of wine, filled Yuan’s cup, and introduced it with a smile. "Come, Brother Chen, try this wine brewed from the Snake Gallbladder Flower. It’s quite nourishing for the body."
Looking at the red brew in his cup, Yuan took a small sip. It was strong but possessed a mellow taste, living up to its reputation as a brew made from precious medicine. However, this type of wine was highly intoxicating. He stopped after a taste and smiled. "Truly good wine. One cup is enough; I need to save some energy for walking back in the dark."
Having just offended the He Family, even though he had some confidence now, he didn’t dare to act arrogantly.
Changfu shook his head and laughed. "Brother Chen, this is nothing to worry about. Our Li Family certainly doesn’t lack a place for you to stay. No one dares to run wild in our territory. Rest assured."
He knew Yuan was worried about the He Family. Although ambushing a genius broke the rules and would invite equal retaliation, what if they took the risk?
Yuan still waved his hand. "Alcohol clouds the mind. Please don’t take offense, Steward Li. These sumptuous dishes are more than enough for me to enjoy a hearty meal."
Changfu didn’t show the slightest hint of annoyance. He was using these details to test Yuan’s personality anyway, and it seemed the young man was just as steady as he was. No wonder Uncle Song valued him.
Amidst the eating and drinking, Changfu brought up the main topic, speaking directly. "Brother Chen, I heard from Changgui that he owes you a favor. I wonder if there is anything you need right now? Let me see if I can help."
Hearing this, Yuan glanced at Changgui.
Changgui looked a bit embarrassed and said, "That time with the Black-Scaled Leopard, I was just joking around. Don’t take it seriously. Just name what you need, Brother Chen."
It seemed they wanted to make up for this favor as well. They certainly had principles. Moreover, he actually did have something he wanted right now.
"Steward Li, to be honest, I’m currently interested in Qinggong," Yuan said. "Could you help me acquire a Qinggong manual? If there’s a suitable one, I’m willing to pay for it."
With Qinggong, he could fight or flee, and react in time to sneak attacks. It was an absolute essential for his survivalist path.
Changfu raised an eyebrow slightly. "The Treasure Tower does indeed have a few decent Qinggong manuals. However, a person’s energy is limited. Even if you spend time learning it and succeed, it will delay your martial arts training. You need to think carefully about what is more important."
For young people, focusing their time on Body Refining and martial techniques was the proper path. Things like Body Tempering and Qinggong were usually pursued by those whose Martial Dao was progressing slowly, learning it just to boost their combat strength—and they mostly failed anyway.
Yuan said earnestly, "Thank you for the reminder, Steward Li. I have already thought it through. My focus will still be on the Martial Dao; I will only study Qinggong during my spare time."
After saying this, he felt a sense of déjà vu. It was just like in his past life when he promised his parents, "Buy me a phone, and I’ll definitely focus on my studies..." The results were a river of tears.
Changfu didn’t press the matter further. Although Qinggong manuals were expensive, they were renewable resources, so giving away a copy wasn’t a loss. He clapped his hands, and a trusted aide waiting outside entered, bowing slightly.
"Bring a Qinggong catalog," Changfu ordered flatly.
Yuan had to marvel at the Li Family’s efficiency. Before long, a booklet listing all the available Qinggong manuals in the Treasure Tower was placed in front of him. This was even more attractive than the delicacies. Yuan began reading through it carefully.
It contained about eight or nine types of Qinggong, such as the Plum Blossom Step, Water Gliding, and the Moon Shadow Step, each with its own advantages. However, Yuan’s eyes were drawn to the Ripple Step at the very end. It was one of only three first-rate Qinggong, but the word "incomplete" was marked next to it.
He asked, "Steward Li, may I choose this Ripple Step?"
Changfu narrowed his eyes slightly and cautioned, "You can, but the Ripple Step has a high difficulty barrier for entry, and it’s incomplete. It only has the first two layers. Although the other second-rate Qinggong are of a lower tier, the most suitable one is always the best."
He felt that learning a second-rate Qinggong might yield some results, but if Yuan chose the Ripple Step, he wouldn’t achieve anything without at least three months of practice.
Yuan had made up his mind. He cupped his hands. "Just for the novelty of it, I’ll choose this Ripple Step. How much is it worth?"
Changfu stopped trying to persuade him and waved his hand with a smile. "I told you this is to repay a favor. How could I take your money? It’s just a copy, nothing worth mentioning. However, you must absolutely not pass it on to anyone else, and once you have mastered it, you must destroy the copy. Do you understand?"
Yuan nodded emphatically. "I understand." Martial arts could not be casually shared. This was a very serious matter, and he knew the gravity of it.
Changfu nodded slightly and sent his aide to fetch the copy immediately so it could be delivered on the spot. Then, he smiled and said, "Brother Chen, you chose to learn Qinggong to guard against retaliation from the He Family, right? It’s good to be careful, but I have a better solution."
Yuan raised an eyebrow, unable to help but ask, "Steward Li is perceptive. I do indeed want to take precautions. What brilliant idea do you have?"
Changfu smiled faintly. "Naturally, it’s to marry into our Li Family. Once we form a marriage alliance, you will be a member of the Li Family. If the He Family dares to strike at you, it would mean they want their entire clan wiped out."
Given Yuan’s current performance, he was certainly qualified to marry into the Li Family.
Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle. Why was the topic of marriage chasing him around today? He politely declined, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Steward Li, but I have no desire to settle down right now."
Changfu, however, was different from the others and pressed on. "Starting a family and practicing martial arts are not in conflict. With the resource backing of our Li Family, your path in the Martial Dao will only be smoother. I can look for a suitable match for you within the family first. We can arrange a meeting when the time comes, and if you don’t like her, we’ll leave it at that. What do you say? Or is it that you look down on the girls of the Li Family?"
He intended to keep a talent like Yuan in the Li Family, tying him to his own faction.