My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 67 - 52: Ensuring Your Safety for Half a Lifetime

Chapter 67: Chapter 52: Ensuring Your Safety for Half a Lifetime

This strike created a tempest in You Xu’s mind. He turned his face and looked at Chen Yi, asking:

"Where did this strike come from?"

Chen Yi raised his eyebrows slightly and hesitated, thinking about how to respond.

The strike was, of course, taught by Min Ning. But if he directly mentioned Min Ning, it would inevitably draw the attention of the White Willow Sect’s people. Right now, Min Ning was merely an eighth-grade martial artist. If she were targeted by a fifth-grade martial artist, how could she survive? A martial arts prodigy like her, once her extraordinary talent was fully discovered, would likely attract countless masters, begging on their knees to take her as a disciple.

Chen Yi mulled it over for a moment and was just about to speak when Min Ning suddenly stepped forward.

Her gaze shone brightly as she declared directly:

"He figured it out on his own."

You Xu looked at Min Ning with curiosity and asked:

"He figured it out on his own?"

"Spring breaks the wind, summer cuts the rain, autumn kills the leaves, winter brushes away the snow. Another spring comes, year after year, cycle after cycle for ten years—all for one strike. Finally, he captured a glimpse of insight and recently mastered this strike."

Min Ning cast a glance at Chen Yi and spoke softly.

Chen Yi was briefly stunned but quickly understood Min Ning’s reasoning.

"Ten years of repetition for one strike—impressive, truly impressive."

You Xu clasped his fists with admiration, looking at Chen Yi now with an added respect beyond his earlier appreciation.

"Young men these days mostly pursue shortcuts, impatient to master full sets immediately and unwilling to commit to the diligence of gradual progress. Yet you, young master, spent ten years honing a single strike. You remind me of the Jianghu of days past..."

Listening to the praise, Chen Yi raised a hand to interrupt:

"I have a question. Who, exactly, sent you?"

You Xu blinked and then uttered two words:

"The Heavenly Family. The Empress Dowager wants to meet you shortly."

The Empress Dowager...

If the Empress Dowager sent someone to test his martial arts, could it mean she was preparing to put him to use...

He recalled that after the recent Demon Extermination Day, he joined the Shangqing Sect and subsequently rid himself of a strange poison. The path that the Empress Dowager sought for him was one he’d never ventured before.

So...what would happen next?

Just as Chen Yi was about to ask another question, You Xu shifted the topic:

"I told you I’d give you a blade technique—take it."

Then, Chen Yi watched as You Xu pulled out a manual from his chest—its cover tattered and the pages exposed. freewebnσvel.cøm

Chen Yi accepted the manual and skimmed through it. His skill panel immediately displayed a new cultivation technique.

"The Bai Liu Blade."

It seemed this person was likely Huang Liuqing’s master.

"My blade techniques are renowned for their fierce and overwhelming momentum. Kid, your talent is exceptional and surpasses that of my disciple. I lack the qualifications to teach you. If you glean any insight from this in the future, remember to include my name so I can bask in some glory."

You Xu ran his fingers through his gray-streaked hair as he spoke.

Hearing You Xu’s words, Chen Yi’s eyes lit up. The Bai Liu Blade, famed for its fierce momentum, bore some semblance to his combined techniques—the Dragon-Slaying Blade and Eagle Falling Skill—which had given birth to the Tidal Blade style. If the two techniques were further integrated, perhaps a new martial art could be created.

"Then, my gratitude to you."

Chen Yi paused and asked:

"By the way, your disciple—is he Huang Liuqing?"

"Correct, you know him?"

"I crossed paths with the Prince Mansion; he wants to kill me."

Chen Yi replied calmly.

You Xu froze for a moment at the response before laughing heartily.

"That’s not something I can control. This world is one of endless vengeance and cycles of killing. Today I wipe out a clan; tomorrow you wipe out mine; the day after, my son comes to wipe out yours. Sigh, my disciple’s grown capable and graduated—his actions are no longer my concern."

After finishing, he added:

"As long as he kills you and doesn’t implicate me, it’s fine."

............

After parting with You Xu, Chen Yi headed straight to the imperial palace, arriving at Jingren Palace. After the palace maid reported his presence, a voice from within declared, "Summon him."

Entering the palace, Chen Yi once again laid eyes on the opulent figure. He was about to kneel when he heard, "No need for formalities."

"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager, what matter calls for me today?"

Faced with this sudden summons, Chen Yi felt somewhat perplexed.

"I’ve heard that you’ve investigated the Yu Xiu Manor?"

The Empress Dowager, An Hou, stood tall and slender. As Chen Yi clasped his hands and lowered his head, she exuded a sense of regal authority, overlooking him with superiority.

"It seems your wings have grown sturdy. Lin Ge’lao indeed regards you with boundless favor."

Her tone carried no trace of emotion. A bystander unfamiliar with the truth might think her words contained an element of praise.

But Chen Yi discerned something beneath her words. Piecing it together with previous events, he immediately replied:

"Your Highness, Empress Dowager, everything I’ve done has solely been to ease the burdens of the Heavenly Family and to serve both the lord and mother. Whether Lin Ge’lao, Xu Ge’lao, or Li Ge’lao—none of them instructed me to do this."

The noble lady turned her gaze slightly, her dazzling eyes betraying amusement. She then chuckled:

"You call this easing the Heavenly Family’s burdens? Governing a great country is like cooking a small fish. Without consulting anyone, you sealed off Yu Xiu Manor and aired all its affairs—how does that not sow chaos for the Heavenly Family?"

"The Saint said: ’The upright govern by example, needing no command.’"

Saying this, Chen Yi cast a quick glance at An Hou’s dignified figure, admiring her tightly elegant curves.

"Precisely because the Heavenly Family governs with the wisdom of the Saint and serves as the exemplar for all, even without explicit orders, I took the initiative to investigate Yu Xiu Manor."

"Govern with the wisdom of the Saint...quite a flattering remark."

An Hou pretended to rebuke, though her tone carried no anger. Her gaze softened slightly as she remarked:

"Very well. Since that’s your reasoning, then carry on with your investigation. Before the people prepare their households for winter, clearing dust mites, you should dig into the Prime Minister’s case and air it out. Thoroughly clear out the mites in the capital."

Chen Yi paused briefly before masking his surprise, then responded indifferently:

"I obey Your Highness."

So she wants to dig up the Prime Minister’s case... The Empress Dowager indeed seeks to topple the Lin Party. And not just the Lin Party—she likely also intends to send a warning to supporters of Ding’an Party.

For himself...this is an opportunity to act in concert and drag the Prince Mansion into the fray.

"Am I carrying out an edict or..."

"Act upon my spoken word."

An Hou replied matter-of-factly.

Chen Yi’s expression stiffened for a moment, his heart sinking.

Acting upon spoken word meant there was no formal decree. It also meant all the backlash would fall squarely on his shoulders. He would bear the brunt of the criticism from digging up the Prime Minister’s case, while the Heavenly Family’s reputation would remain saintly and untarnished within the deep palace.

It was essentially demanding everything without taking anything on.

But for now, he could only grit his teeth and swallow the bitterness.

As Chen Yi prepared to request leave from Jingren Palace, An Hou smiled—her beauty akin to the last spring peony. Her tone softened as she remarked:

"From today onward, you needn’t address me as Your Highness anymore. Follow the others in the palace and call me ’Madam.’

Chen Yi paused briefly. Though he suspected this was yet another calculated maneuver by the shrewd Empress Dowager to simultaneously pull him close and push him away, the chill in his heart warmed slightly as he responded:

"Madam...I request to take my leave."

"A single ’Madam’ may preserve half a lifetime of peace for you."

An Hou’s voice was gentle, like a mother bird.

Why only half a lifetime?

Chen Yi furrowed his brows but refrained from asking.

Yet the exquisite and cunning woman had her answer in heart:

Because you...won’t have a second half to your life.