Chapter 195: The essence of the treasure, the lady is pleased
Zhou Shijie stood there, bewildered and lost. It was noon, and the first snow had fallen several hours earlier, with frost gradually forming on the lake's surface.
The screams rose and fell.
Cao Shuang, Lin Bei, Yuwen Hou… the clan elders of various tribes, though not dead, met tragic ends. They were almost all or half-crippled. Ou Yezi, wanting a share of the spoils, ended up losing his beloved finger, and his forging skills were far inferior to what they once were.
"This...this..."
Zhou Shijie stared blankly at the street. Seeing Li Xian helping his wife walk away into the distance, he felt a mixture of jealousy and admiration.
"What a formidable woman! Her cunning and shrewdness, her methods of doing things. Her ruthlessness is chilling, and her charm is captivating."
It's been so long...
Soldiers from various ethnic groups surged into the streets from all sides. Cao Zhengge, the patriarch of the Cao family, arrived fully armed, clad in silk armor and wielding a black tiger-shaped spear.
The Lin, Chu, and Yuwen families were all in the same boat. Upon hearing the news, the elders of each family immediately mobilized. Layers upon layers of government troops and clan soldiers gathered, their momentum even greater than before.
Zhou Shijie couldn't help but admire them even more: "You bunch of good-for-nothings have occupied this place for so long, without any ambition, you're just decadent and backward. By the time you arrived, Madam had already gone far away. What use are there if there are more of you?"
Lin Aoshan was observing from the sidelines of the Dragon Gate Tower. The clan elders inside knew of her relationship with Li Xian and feared she might become an obstacle when things were being targeted at Li Xian. Lin Aoshan was of extremely high seniority, respected by everyone in the clan, and her succession to her father's marquisate was of paramount importance.
Therefore, the elders of the Lin family secretly used a sleeping potion to knock her unconscious and sent her back to the family. When she woke up, she heard that a drastic change had occurred at Chihu, so she followed them there.
The scene before my eyes was horrific.
"Nephew Lin Bei!" Lin Aoshan glanced over and saw that Lin Bei's hands and feet were severed, and his chin had been cut off. She exclaimed in shock.
Cao Zhengge, Lin Houlong, Chu Qiudong, and Yuwen Liang, the four elders of the powerful families, had grim expressions as they carried the injured to Longmen Tower and asked a doctor to take care of them.
Once the situation stabilized and their lives were no longer in danger, Lin Houlong asked, "What exactly happened? In previous years, the distribution of golden carp was always without incident. Why is it so tragic this year?"
Cao Shuang and the others were writhing in itching and pain, their minds clouded, and they could barely speak. Lin Bei's jaw was broken, his tongue crippled, and he too was unable to speak clearly. Yuwen Hou's tongue, inlaid with a jade bead, was on the verge of breaking, rendering him unable to open his mouth.
The remaining clan elders also remained silent.
After a long pause, an elder of the Lin family spoke up: "It was Lady Zhejian... This golden scale has already been taken by Lady Zhejian." He then recounted the whole story in detail.
"Ah!" Lin Aoshan exclaimed in surprise, her eyes flashing.
"What a formidable Lady Broken Sword! How dare you injure my Cao family elders to this extent!" Cao Zhengge roared.
Yuwen Liang said, "This Lady Broken Sword is incredibly skilled. Although she hasn't gone far, if we pursue her with all our might, we might be able to catch up. But with our strength, who can stop her? I'm afraid we can't withstand the power of her single sword strike."
Everyone fell silent. The intricate web already laid around the pond had been easily breached; a sudden, direct encounter would make it even harder to hold them back.
Cao Zhengge said, "Grandma Lin, you are the Xuanhou of the Heavenly Patrol Division. This scoundrel has murdered our clan elders. Please report this to the imperial court and have her listed on the Red List. Someone will deal with her!"
“No…that’s not appropriate…” Lin Aoshan frowned and said, “Nephew of the Cao family, this matter involves a conflict of interests, a fight between two sides. Even if there are casualties, they will not be included in the Red List. You are asking me to abuse my power, which is very inappropriate.”
She held a very high position and a special status. Therefore, she could address all the elders and senior members of the family as "little nephew," while addressing the younger members as "little grandson." She no longer cared about the specific generational difference.
"snort!"
Cao Zhengge said coldly, "The Lin family has treated you like a grandmother, doting on you and obeying you in every way. Among those who died and were injured were elders of your Lin family. At this moment, only your status as the Xuanhou of the Patrol Division can vent our anger. Yet you are unwilling to even do that!"
"Cao Zhengge, do you think I'm stupid? If we want to deal with Madam Zhejian, we have other ways. Why do we need to involve my grandmother?" Lin Houlong shouted, stepping forward to block Lin Aoshan.
Cao Zhengge remained silent.
Chu Qiudong said, "This is not advisable. If this matter gets out of hand, the news of the golden scales in the pond will spread, which will inevitably attract covetous eyes. Back then, the golden scales fell from the sky, and there were ten tails in total. Now, seven tails have been separated, and three tails remain."
"If word gets out... will we still be able to successfully capture the remaining three tails?"
These words jolted everyone awake from their daze. After a long silence, they all said, "A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years."
"Let's discuss this further!"
...
On the Dragon Gate Tower.
Gu Nianjun gazed at the lake and sighed, "Lady Zhejian... is indeed formidable. Wherever she goes, bloodshed ensues. It seems this time will be no exception."
...
...
Everything is temporarily settled.
The various clans of the prefectural city were at a loss, with no way to retaliate, and thus remained inactive for the time being. Li Xian stayed at Hanyue Residence to calm his mind, and after resting for two more days, he would rush back to Yihe Manor.
"There are only two days left. Go wherever you want to go. Who knows when you'll be able to come to the prefectural city again?"
"But the powerful families of the prefecture can't kill me, but they can kill you. Take care of your own safety."
Mrs. Wen's words echoed.
The courtyard was empty, and Li Xian enjoyed the tranquility, saying, "Golden Scale, Golden Scale, you don't swim very well in this little pond."
The moon shines in the small pond. Golden fish swim freely in the water, making the pond shimmer and reflecting off the courtyard walls and trees.
"There are still two days left, so we should really enjoy ourselves. This prefectural city is fraught with danger, but Qingning County seems to be lacking in the ability to see such a vast world."
"I've only been in the city for a few days, but I've seen my brother, seized the sword, and taken the golden carp. I've had a good time."
Li Xian applied rouge to cover the red mole between her eyebrows. After pondering for a moment, she then darkened her face, added a beard, and, taking a deep breath, made her appear more robust.
The streets were bustling.
The events at Chihu Lake were the talk of the town's restaurants. A prodigy displayed his extraordinary skills, rare delicacies broadened their horizons, they climbed the peak to challenge the martial arts pavilion, and seized the golden carp from Chihu Lake. He traversed the waves, displaying divine prowess, and with a single arrow, he decided the fate of the world. The events were full of twists and turns, incredibly exciting, and became a popular topic of conversation.
But in the latter half... the four clans broke their promise to seize the golden scales, Lady Wen supported her husband, the soldiers were trapped in the pond and lake, and when the dust settled, the casualties were heavy. However, due to the machinations of the Cao, Lin, Chu and Yuwen clans, no one mentioned it.
After the first snow, the festival will begin.
Every household displayed red lanterns, celebrating joyfully and festively. The people of the prefectural city, both rich and poor, were all neatly dressed, parading through the streets with their families, creating a unique and delightful scene. Li Xian strolled leisurely, then checked his pocket; he still had several dozen taels of silver left.
I decided to spend all my money and bought some street food: glutinous rice balls and fried small crabs. The city is fed by seven rivers, making it rich in fish. Crabs and fish should be cheap. However, many industries are controlled by powerful clans, who collectively drive up prices. So, in reality, they weren't cheap at all.
It was past midnight when I returned to Hanyue Residence.
It is quiet and peaceful in the center.
As her leisurely mood faded, Li Xian removed her disguise, thinking, "I still need to disguise myself before going out for a stroll."
"strength…"
“I am making more and more enemies. My wife is ruthless and has many enemies. It’s only a matter of time before I have enemies all around me.”
"The only way is to improve our strength as quickly as possible."
"Only with strength can one remain calm and composed in all things."
Li Xian teases the golden carp.
Recalling the gains from the banquet, he thought, "As the ancients said, 'You only realize how little you know when you need to use it.' The same is true for martial arts. This grand banquet taught me basic martial arts: Four Directions Fist, Gentle Breeze Leg, and Great Luo Saber, as well as advanced martial arts: Azure Luo Palm. All of them were quite effective. A martial artist's accumulated knowledge will show its effects at some point in the future!"
"If I were to perfect my Thunder Finger technique and apply its essence to archery, how powerful would it be to shoot arrows using the sound of thunderous chest drumming!"
[Proficiency +2]
[Proficiency +3]
[Proficiency +1]
...
The Thunder Finger technique was incredibly powerful, and Li Xian had mastered it through diligent practice. He thrust out a finger, striking a snowflake in the air. The snowflake trembled and shattered into dust.
"Among the four killing moves of the Gang Lei Finger, the Zhen Lei Finger has a special use: the shock force emanating from the fingertips makes it easier to break rigid materials, such as rocks in the countryside or stone lions in front of houses."
"But if it is a fresh tree trunk, it will not break even when shaken."
And so it went, two days later.
October 27th.
The snowfall in the prefectural city was getting heavier, and the carriage drove out of the city.
Cold weather, frozen ground, luxurious carriages, and beautiful women.
"The white clouds know the way home. It's cold outside, so come in and warm yourself."
"That's what Madam Wen said."
Li Xian lifted the carriage curtain and stepped inside. His eyelashes were covered in icy beads, and he exhaled white mist.
The carriage was ten feet wide and ten feet long. A heater was placed in the middle, making it very warm. Li Xian sat beside the heater, and the snow and frost on his body quickly melted away.
Madam Wen scolded, "Look what you've done! The floor is covered in water."
She lay on her side on the jade couch, her palm supporting her cheek. Her fair and delicate feet were exposed, her toes slender, her big toe slightly upturned, like a lotus flower in June. She was charming and alluring, exuding a thousand kinds of beauty.
Li Xian warmed his palms, then took Madam Wen's feet in his arms and began to massage them. Madam Wen was startled for a moment, then her gaze swept over her, clearly enjoying the sensation. A slight itch ran through her feet, as if it had penetrated straight to her heart, stirring up a desire within her.
Li Xian said, "Madam, why aren't we traveling by water?"
“Waterway travel is troublesome,” Madam Wen said. “At the end of October, frost and snow will fall. The Wujiang River will freeze over, and luxury ships will have to break through the ice to sail. If there is special weather, we will have to wait for several days.”
"Moreover, every winter, river pirates run rampant. There are countless people who rob boats of their money. It's better to travel by carriage or horse."
"I see." Li Xian applied a little force with his fingers, and Madam Wen raised an eyebrow, tapping Li Xian's chest with her toe, and said reproachfully, "You used too much force. How could you be so careless today?"
“Excuse me, Madam…” Li Xian said, “I’m thinking about something.”
"What is it?" Madam Wen asked.
Li Xian took out the golden scale from his bosom and said, "I would like to present this to the lady."
Madam Wen finally smiled. "Why? I didn't ask for it. Since Jinlin has chosen you as its master, it's yours. How can you not cherish such an opportunity?"
“Madam is very kind and has treated Li Xian well, which Li Xian has noticed.” Li Xian said, “At this time last year, I was still working as a servant, waiting for Madam to return to the manor. I never imagined that in just one year, I would be able to ride in the same carriage with Madam.”
"All of this is thanks to Madam's nurturing. I have no way to repay her, I only want to do everything I can to make her happy."
"I am already happy that you have this intention," Madam Wen said. "You are a golden carp in a pond, a rare opportunity that countless geniuses cannot find. You have such talent and such good fortune, so enjoy it well. When you become stronger in the future, you can repay me properly."
"Please accept this, Madam!" Li Xian said in a deep voice.
Madam Wen said coldly, "Are you so stubborn that you won't even listen to me?"
Li Xian remained silent. Madam Wen sneered, "If you want me to accept it, that's fine. But when you return to the manor, you must go and receive your punishment yourself."
"Thank you, Madam," Li Xian said.
Madam Wen said, "There is a hidden latch under your chair. Unlatch it, take out the Heaven and Earth Box, and put the golden scales inside."
The Heaven and Earth Box is entirely black, round in shape, requiring two hands to hold, and resembles a jade carving. Opening the lid reveals an exquisitely beautiful interior, with seven divine peaks standing tall. Clouds and mist swirl around it, making it seem like a miniature world.
Li Xian thought to himself, "You keep saying you don't want it, but you've even prepared the box. If I don't give it to you, you'll skin me alive."
Golden scales are put into the box.
“Madam, I have heard from others that the golden scales contain magical essence. I am puzzled and would like to ask you for an explanation,” Li Xian said.
"About this matter..." Madam Wen said, "It's alright to tell you."
"The thirty-six Heavenly Essences, the seventy-two Earthly Splendors, and the one hundred and eight Human Yellows all contain [the essence of art]."
"Consuming these precious treasures may allow one to comprehend techniques beyond martial arts!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
