At dinner, Chen Yi met Shen Huatang’s senior martial sister, Xie Tingyun.

Her name was rather elegant.

But she certainly didn’t understand etiquette.

During the meal, she would subconsciously wolf down her food, her eyes fixed on the meat dishes.

Then, after a discreet kick from Shen Huatang, she would put on a reluctant expression, sit up straight, and start taking smaller bites.

Chen Yi wasn’t the only one who noticed; Xiao Wan’er saw it too.

But perhaps because she had interacted with Xie Tingyun during the day, she already had a general impression and found it somewhat amusing.

Of course, this was just an insignificant interlude.

The main topic of conversation during the meal was the Medicine Hall’s business.

Ever since signing the contract with Hundred Herbs Hall, the Xiao Family’s several Medicine Halls had gotten back on track.

Xiao Wan’er had been in a good mood ever since.

The last few times they had eaten together, she had always found a few things to say to Chen Yi.

She would either talk about the Medicine Halls’ recent earnings or how the other Shopkeepers were managing things.

Chen Yi naturally understood her intentions. He knew she wanted to share some of her experience and methods to help him adapt to his new role as a Medicine Hall Shopkeeper as quickly as possible.

Perhaps she also hoped he would manage Jishi Medicine Hall well, which would bring him—and by extension, her—some prestige in front of the Xiao Family.

Most people within the Xiao Family didn’t think highly of Chen Yi. They felt that a scholar like him, serving as a Medicine Hall Shopkeeper, wouldn’t be able to lower himself to cater to customers.

It was a stereotype.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—merchants were always looked down upon.

Therefore, Chen Yi wasn’t surprised that the Xiao Family and others who knew his situation would think this way.

Tonight, however, Xiao Wan’er didn’t talk about any of that.

"Have you noticed anything unusual at Jishi Medicine Hall recently?" Xiao Wan’er asked while sipping a ginseng soup meant to nourish one’s ’yang fire’.

Chen Yi pretended to think for a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing unusual. It’s been raining for days, so the shop has been mostly filled with artisans taking shelter."

He smiled and changed the subject to an interesting story he had heard that afternoon. "I heard them say that the most formidable person in the Jianghu is called ’Immortal Bai’."

"He’s known by the saying, ’Listening to the misty rain in the Wind and Rain Tower, he looks up to find himself unrivaled in the Jianghu.’ Eldest Sister, have you heard of him?"

Xiao Wan’er seemed taken aback by the sudden change of topic. After a slight pause, she said she hadn’t.

Then she looked at Shen Huatang and Xie Tingyun. "Do you two know of him?"

"Immortal Bai? How could any Jianghu person not know ’im?"

Xie Tingyun subconsciously slipped into her Shu State dialect. She glanced at the silent Shen Huatang, then continued in a more proper tone:

"Immortal Bai is a senior of the Jianghu. He became famous fifty years ago and has always been a legendary figure. I heard he stepped into the Land Immortal Realm long ago."

"With a wave of his hand, he can summon clouds and rain. He has the power to move mountains and fill seas."

"But in recent decades, few have seen him, and there have been no stories of him dueling with anyone in Martial Arts."

At this, Xie Tingyun looked at Chen Yi. "Young Master, you... you’re interested in Jianghu affairs?"

Chen Yi smiled and said, "The artisans were talking about how he reads people’s fortunes. It sounded interesting."

Xie Tingyun’s eyebrows shot up, a hint of delight on her face. She was about to speak when she felt a kick under the table and could only clear her throat. "Mm... it is indeed interesting."

She shot Shen Huatang a resentful look and mouthed what seemed to be a few words.

Shen Huatang ignored her and said gravely, "Miss, what Wang Ji said during the day might be true. We must be on our guard."

Xiao Wan’er already had this in mind and nodded. "Starting tomorrow, you will lead a team to patrol the Medicine Halls."

As if feeling her statement was too abrupt, she explained to Chen Yi:

"Around noon, Wang Ji came to the manor to ask for help. He said the Illusory Sound Sect is planning to make a move on Hundred Herbs Hall and hoped our family could lend a hand."

Chen Yi nodded in understanding. "No wonder Eldest Sister asked that earlier. But I truly haven’t noticed anything unusual at Jishi Medicine Hall."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Tingyun was heard muttering under her breath, "If a scholar like you could notice them, the Illusory Sound Sect would have been wiped out long ago."

...

’This woman really is blunt,’ Chen Yi chuckled to himself.

Xiao Wan’er heard her too and said with a smile, "My brother-in-law is indeed not skilled in Martial Arts."

Realizing she had misspoken, Xie Tingyun grimaced. Enduring Shen Huatang’s exasperated gaze, she stood up and bowed.

"Um, I’ll take a walk around the city tonight and check on the situation around Hundred Herbs Hall and the other Medicine Halls."

Xiao Wan’er nodded. "Very well. We are grateful to Fairy Tingyun for traveling a thousand li to be here."

"It’s nothin’, it’s nothin’."

Xie Tingyun waved her hand, then paused. After a glance at Shen Huatang, she properly excused herself and left.

Before she left, she also snatched a roasted chicken leg.

Shen Huatang watched her go, then stood up as well. "Miss, I’ll take some men and go check on her."

Xiao Wan’er thought for a moment, then nodded. "In that case, go ahead and notify the Punishment Hall. Tell them to be on alert as well."

Shen Huatang bowed and turned to leave.

Chen Yi just watched quietly, finishing the soup in his bowl.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "The Illusory Sound Sect has reappeared, and they’re targeting Hundred Herbs Hall again. Does this mean someone from the Shu State region is pulling the strings?"

Xiao Wan’er hummed in agreement but said vaguely, "I’m not clear on the specifics. Grandfather and Second Grand-uncle are handling it with the Punishment Hall."

"Brother-in-law, you don’t need to worry about it. Just stay in the manor for the next few days. It won’t be too late to go to the Medicine Hall after everything has calmed down."

Chen Yi had planned to do just that. He mimicked Shen Huatang, standing up and bowing. "I shall obey the Eldest Miss’s command. I will return to Spring Lotus Garden now."

Seeing his antics, Xiao Wan’er chided him playfully, "Even if you don’t leave the manor, you should still pay attention to the Medicine Hall’s business. It’s not like Liu Quan can’t come here to report."

Chen Yi nodded with a smile and led Xiao Wuge back to Spring Lotus Garden.

Xiao Wan’er quietly watched the pair, one tall and one small, depart, the smile on her face gradually fading.

She silently lowered her head and drank her ginseng soup, an inexplicable bitterness in her mouth.

「Back at Spring Lotus Garden.」

Xiao Wuge glanced around before whispering, "Brother-in-law, I’ll tell you a secret."

"Hm?"

"Sister Xie Tingyun, Sister Huatang’s senior martial sister, she’s really good at martial arts."

Chen Yi had long suspected that Xie Tingyun’s Martial Arts were formidable, but he didn’t know the specifics. He asked with a smile, "You saw?"

Xiao Wuge nodded repeatedly. "She can retrieve objects from a distance."

As he spoke, he mimed a ’dragon claw’ snatching motion. "Like this, WHOOSH, and the thing is in her hand."

’This seems to be a clever application of True Essence,’ Chen Yi thought pensively.

’Externalizing True Essence? That doesn’t seem to require an exceptionally high level of Cultivation.’

Xiao Wuge, however, was very interested in this. He continued to mime the motion as he followed Chen Yi back to the wooden building. "It would be great if I were that powerful too."

Chen Yi patted his head. "Once you undergo Bone Marrow Cleansing and Foundation Establishment at age six, you’ll be able to do it too."

Xiao Wuge giggled, but his smile soon faded into gloom.

"When I turn six, I won’t be able to stay in Shu State anymore. I’ll have to go to Jinling."

He brought up the old topic again, looking at Chen Yi with hope in his eyes. "Brother-in-law, are you really not planning to go to Jinling with me?"

Chen Yi thought for a moment. Instead of rejecting him outright, he just smiled and said they would see how things were at the manor next year.

It was a rather perfunctory answer, but it still made Xiao Wuge overjoyed.

Chen Yi smiled and asked Xiaodie to take him to wash up.

To his surprise, Xiaodie first brought him a bowl of ginger tea, saying, "Young Master, the humidity is heavy on rainy days..."

Chen Yi looked at the steaming ginger tea, didn’t refuse, and drank it all in one go.

Xiaodie happily took the bowl and scurried upstairs with Xiao Wuge.

Chen Yi watched them go, then touched his stomach. His True Essence circulated halfway from his Elixir Field and Sea of Qi, dispelling the warmth of the ginger tea.

’Now that I’m accomplished in Martial Arts, eating too much of certain things is actually detrimental.’

’Especially since I’m skilled not only in Martial Arts, but also the Medical Dao.’

’The yin and yang in the human body must be balanced.’

’Any increase or decrease in yang qi or yin qi will affect the body. One must always be mindful.’

After Xiaodie and Xiao Wuge had gone to bed,

Chen Yi got up and began his Cultivation as usual.

However, he temporarily stopped practicing his Punch, Step, and Spear techniques, dedicating all his time to cultivating the Four Symbols Skill.

He didn’t stop until the hour of Zi, late at night, after circulating his energy for a full six cycles.

After carefully comprehending the Profound Mysteries of the Martial Arts Body in his mind, Chen Yi rose to his full height and walked to the window.

By now, the downpour had subsided, leaving only a drizzle.

But the wind was still quite strong, and he could see the blurry silhouette of the distant bamboo forest swaying back and forth.

’The Eighth Grade Realm requires opening the Eight Main Meridians and the Ren and Du Meridians.’

’Now, only the Ren and Du Meridians are left.’

In the two short days since acquiring the Four Symbols Skill, Chen Yi’s Cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds.

He had gone from the Middle Stage of the Eighth Grade straight to the Upper Stage, and now he was on the verge of Perfection. His progress could only be described as astonishingly fast.

’Once I reach the Seventh Grade, I should be able to unleash the power of the Dragon-slaying Spear.’

As Chen Yi thought this, he made a mental note to find a suitable weapon in the future—preferably something inconspicuous that could be easily concealed.

Before long, the hour of Zi arrived—

[Daily Intelligence · Earth-level Middle Grade: At the first quarter of the hour of Xu, Hundred Herbs Hall was attacked. Significant Opportunities can be obtained.] 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Chen Yi glanced at it. "Earth Level..."