Meanwhile, in a tailor's shop in the West Market of Shu State City.
The streets outside were bustling, and it was no different inside.
Several masters and servants from three different families had all surged inside, leaving the handful of apprentices in the shop scrambling to keep up.
They were busy arranging for female apprentices to take measurements while also presenting finished sample garments and introducing the various styles.
The shop was abuzz with the lively, chirping chatter of the women.
But behind the counter, the Shopkeeper, a plain-faced man in a simple gray robe, frowned at a note he had taken from under the desk.
"Jia-Three, Ding-Fifteen... Get the fuck out of the Marquis's Mansion. If I find you scheming behind my back again, I'll cut you down without mercy!"
The Shopkeeper read the note word by word, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
'Who could be so bold as to humiliate my Hidden Guard?'
'Could it be that our Iron Banner Officers were discovered by the Xiao Family's Hidden Guards, or by the Old Marquis and his men?'
'Probably not.'
'Even if these Noble Families and Clans or the martial nobility had discovered something, they wouldn't act so rashly.'
'Especially a Marquis' Family like the Xiao Family.'
'Knowing their methods, if they'd discovered the Hidden Guard's presence, they would have undoubtedly moved with lightning speed to wipe us all out in one fell swoop.'
'It seems the Silver Banner Officer was right after all. There are other people targeting the Xiao Family.'
'Spies from the Barbarian Race?'
'Practitioners of the Evil Demonic Dao from the northern Demon Land? Or perhaps the local Noble Families of Shu State, or even the Mountain Race?'
'They're all possibilities.'
'But since when have any of their methods been this crude?'
The Shopkeeper slowly folded the secret message. After a moment of deep thought, he motioned for the apprentices to look after the customers, then walked briskly into the back room.
He took out a popular libretto for the Huangmei Opera, *Dong Wan's Travelogue*, opened it, and carefully cross-referenced the contents of the note.
"The Fledgling is settled in the Xiao Mansion, spending his days fishing and writing. However, rumor has it his poetry reveals a hidden ambition; he is likely biding his time. Also, an intruder infiltrated the Xiao Mansion last night. Identity unknown."
After deciphering the message, the Shopkeeper read it over once before burning the decoded text.
He then took out another libretto and, using it as a new cipher, encoded another secret message containing the information he'd received, along with his own thoughts.
He then glanced around before walking slowly into the rear warehouse. There, he opened a hidden compartment, took out a carrier pigeon, and inserted both secret messages into the small bamboo tube attached to its leg.
Once the pigeon had fluttered away, the Shopkeeper rubbed his face, plastered on a commercial smile, and headed back to the front of the shop.
'This is a serious matter. The final decision will have to be made by the Silver Banner Officer.'
...
In the Xiao Family's Spring Lotus Garden.
Chen Yi looked from a displeased Zhang Heng to Xiao Wuge and asked,
"A young master of such noble standing, why would you deign to visit this humble place?"
Zhang Heng, thinking he was being complimented, tilted his head back arrogantly. "Runaway groom, it's good that you know."
"I didn't want to come either. It's just that Mother insisted... instructed me to come here and play for a few days."
Xiao Wuge gave Chen Yi an embarrassed grin, then turned to glare at Zhang Heng. "Call him Brother-in-law! Where are your manners?"
"I won't! I'm going to call him runaway groom, runaway groom..."
Seeing Xiao Wuge about to retort, Chen Yi waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine. As long as the Young Master is happy."
"See? The runaway groom knows how to be sensible. You should learn a thing or two, little brother Wuge."
Well, a polite Young Master was one thing; Chen Yi could handle that.
But Zhang Heng was clearly a child who had been spoiled rotten by his elders his whole life. His arrogant attitude toward everyone was a real headache.
'His mother ordered it? Xiao Qiuyun?'
Thinking of the woman who had married up in the world, Chen Yi had Xiaodie take Zhang Heng to the pavilion to fish.
He, in turn, pulled Xiao Wuge aside to ask about the Old Marquis's reaction.
Xiao Wuge smilingly recounted the whole story.
For someone his age to remember everyone's words and retell the story with such vivid expression was quite remarkable.
"Brother-in-law, Grandfather said he forgives you."
After hearing him out, Chen Yi paused. "That's it?"
"That's it. That's all Grandfather said. But I could tell they all really liked the birthday poem you wrote, Brother-in-law."
'I could tell that much,'
Chen Yi thought, inwardly shaking his head without saying more.
Although it wasn't quite what he'd expected, easing the tension with Old Marquis Xiao was still a good result.
At the very least, the Xiao Family could now put the matter of him fleeing his marriage behind them.
「And so, a few days passed.」
With the addition of the "Crown Prince," Spring Lotus Garden became much livelier.
From time to time, the sounds of Zhang Heng and Xiao Wuge's verbal sparring could be heard, the two of them trading barbs, neither giving an inch.
Whether it was over a fishing rod, a piece of cake, or a slice of meat, they showed none of the brotherly harmony and mutual respect expected from children of a great family.
This change left Chen Yi feeling a bit helpless. He obviously couldn't discipline the two pre-teens, so he simply gave Xiao Wuge a piece of private advice:
"You have to fight fire with fire. Don't let yourself get the short end of the stick, no matter what."
With someone like the Young Crown Prince, the more you give in, the more he'll take.
As a result, Zhang Heng hadn't managed to stir up much trouble in Spring Lotus Garden over the past few days.
As for Chen Yi, his routine remained the same.
He rose before dawn to practice his Stand Form for an hour, and after breakfast, he would practice his Cursive Script Pen Technique.
He would then nap for an hour, spend the afternoon fishing and drinking tea, and at night, he would sneak off to the Purple Bamboo Forest to practice his Fist Technique and Body Technique.
In the last few days, however, he had only achieved a breakthrough in his Profound Tier Wandering Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique.
Of course, his other Cultivation Techniques and regular Techniques were also steadily improving.
「That night.」
Chen Yi practiced his Mountain Shattering Fist, his light robe showing faint sweat stains. The surging Qi Mechanism through his flesh and blood brought a slight flush to his face.
By the time he finished a full set of the Fist Technique, faint wisps of white steam were rising from the top of his head—a sign of the Qi Mechanism roiling within him.
Pei Guanli, who was squatting nearby, eagerly held out a towel. "Brother-in-law, your Fist Technique is getting so powerful! Teach me, teach me..."
Chen Yi wiped the sweat from his brow. "This Fist Technique is too aggressive and powerful; it's not suitable for you."
"Then what kind of technique do you think would suit me, Brother-in-law?"
"I remember you saying you're learning the Cultivation Technique passed down through your tribe. Just keep practicing that."
Pei Guanli pouted and mumbled, "If I could actually succeed with it, I would've already broken through to the Eighth Grade Realm."
"What?"
"N-nothing, Brother-in-law. I just mean my aptitude is poor."
"Then all the more reason to practice," Chen Yi said, flicking her on the forehead. He pointed to an empty spot nearby.
"Go on, demonstrate your Pile Skill and your Technique. Let me see."
Pei Guanli's face lit up. "Brother-in-law, you're willing to give me pointers?"
"For your Sister Jinghong's sake, I'll reluctantly take a look. But let me be clear, I'm not making any promises."
"Don't worry, don't worry..."
With that, Pei Guanli's expression turned serious. She brought her feet together, raised her hands toward the sky, and took a shallow breath.
Soon, her chest and abdomen began to rise and fall like waves, and the Bell on her neck jingled incessantly along with her Pile Skill. JINGLE JINGLE.
Chen Yi watched her for a moment before steadying his mind. He carefully observed the fluctuations of the Qi Mechanism around her, mentally comparing them against the Profound Mysteries of his own Big Spear Pile Skill and "Martial Arts·Body".
'Pei Guanli's Pile Skill must be of a high grade,' he thought. 'Profound Tier at least, possibly even higher.'
'Her foundation, however, is not solid enough. Her aura is clearly unstable, and there's a noticeable hitch in her breathing.'
With that in mind, Chen Yi had Pei Guanli stop and proceed to demonstrate her Technique and Body Technique.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Pei Guanli finished her demonstration. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she looked at him with anticipation.
"Brother-in-law, did you notice anything?"
"I did," Chen Yi said, rolling his eyes. "You clearly weren't disciplined enough as a child."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'huh'? Get back into your Stand Form."
Pei Guanli let out an "oh" and obediently assumed her wave-like Pile Skill stance.
Chen Yi was about to correct her by hand, but he hesitated and found a long, thin bamboo stick instead, using it to point out the flaws in her Pile Skill one by one.
"You're too impatient for results. Your Elixir Field and Sea of Qi are not fully developed, so the Qi Mechanism in your body is insufficient to completely open four of your Main Meridians."
"Furthermore, you haven't trained this area thoroughly,"
Pei Guanli looked down at the bamboo stick, now pointing right below her Bell. Her round face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but protest,
"I was still young back then... still developing..."