Chapter 107: Eighth Rank Upper Stage

Chapter 107: Eight-Rank Upper Section

The next day, early in the morning.

The rain had lightened considerably.

Beneath the gloomy sky, a veil of mist settled over the lush spring lotus garden, its verdant foliage shrouded in a soft, indistinct haze.

The world blurred into a dreamlike haze, indistinct and vague.

In such weather, Xiao Bi felt a certain quiet joy.

Not because Chen Yì had not risen early, but because he was still resting in the study.

By the candlelight, she could make out the figure seated cross-legged on the chair.

His face was calm, eyes closed, as though he had slept soundly.

Clearly, he had rested well.

Xiao Bi glanced quietly, then slipped out of the study with the stealth of a shadow, her hand covering her mouth in a silent smile.

She had risen earlier than the day before, and her efforts had not been in vain.

With that thought, she hurried upstairs to tidy the room.

"Huh?"

Xiao Bi stared at the damp, dripping long robe and its undergarment hanging on the rack, tilting her head in mild bewilderment, her two hair buns swaying to one side.

"Has Auntie gone out last night?"

She could not fathom an answer, so she said nothing further. After arranging the room, she gathered the wet clothes and descended the stairs.

Washing them with petal-scented water and soap root, she shook the robe free of dampness and laboriously hoisted it onto the clothesline.

"Phew…"

Xiao Bi glanced down at her short legs, pouting softly.

If only she were as tall as Lady Xia and Young Mistress Xia, at least hanging clothes wouldn’t be so taxing.

The infrequent outings of a young maid often brought such peculiar little troubles.

Thankfully, Xiao Bi never let such matters weigh on her heart; she would think of them and then let them go.

She then rushed to fetch water, carrying the morning meal up and down the stairs with steady, unhurried steps.

Once everything was prepared, she wiped the sweat from her brow and exhaled a contented breath, her face breaking into a smile as light as a flower about to bloom.

"Time to wake Lord Xiao, and Auntie as well."

Xiao Bi muttered this to herself, twisting a finger as she counted the tasks for the day.

She needed to prepare tea—Auntie would not have gone to the herb hall, so he must still be playing chess in the pavilion.

Two cups would be needed; Grandfather should also be coming.

She’d need to fetch the small spade to dig worms for Lord Xiao’s fishing.

And she must remind the kitchen to prepare meals according to Auntie’s taste at noon, emphasizing that they should use less chili.

The dampness of Shuzhou made people prone to spicy foods, but Xiao Bi remembered that Auntie was from the Jiangnan Prefecture and disliked such dishes.

Since she’d become Chen Yì’s attendant, she never missed a detail, no matter how small.

After all, she had resolved to become a "Grand Maid."

Well, her ambitions were rather lofty, weren’t they?

As Xiao Bi hurried upstairs to dress Xiao Wúgē, Chen Yì had also slowly concluded his practice.

His eyes fluttered open, releasing a stream of stale breath.

His long exhale seemed white as mist, tinged faintly with a dark hue.

Chen Yì knew this was the residue accumulated in his meridians, flesh, and internal organs over years of cultivation.

Thanks to his mastery of the Four Symbols Technique, these impurities had been purged by the spirits of heaven and earth, leaving his body more refined than ever.

He glanced around, then rose to stretch.

Not feeling the least bit fatigued, he felt a clarity he’d never known before—his spirit sharp, his senses heightened beyond previous levels.

His internal true energy needed no mention; it had more than doubled since the night before.

"Practiced to the upper tier of the eighth rank—well done."

After careful reflection, he smiled. "Though the Way of Martial Arts comes with a price."

What price?

Of course, he would never be able to sleep again.

Practicing the Four Symbols Technique replaced the need for sleep; whether he napped at noon or night, it no longer mattered.

Each sleep was a slight to his martial cultivation.

"Just like this, I’ve lost one more 'hobby' of mine."

A troublesome joy.

Chen Yì shook his head and left the study, settling at the living room table to eat his morning meal.

He didn’t try to listen, but he could clearly hear Xiao Bi’s voice from upstairs.

"Lord Xiao, Auntie didn’t go to the herb hall today."

"Really? Then I’ll spend the day learning chess with my brother-in-law."

"Lord Xiao, you’ll become as strong as Auntie someday."

"I’ve always thought so too, hehe…"

Listening to the two upstairs converse, Chen Yì felt light and content.

Though he’d have to disappoint them—he couldn’t afford to linger in the manor today.

Earlier events were still unclear, but now that he’d glimpsed the Xia family’s situation, the sooner he resolved it, the better.

"Too bad the Lady isn’t here—those stray cats and dogs wouldn’t dare leap about then."

With that, he joined Xiao Wúgē and Xiao Bi in finishing their morning meal.

Then, under their disappointed gazes, he spoke of attending to matters and left.

He spread his hands. "If I don’t go, I’m the herb hall’s proprietor—if I don’t show up, Auntie’ll scold me."

Disappointment aside, Xiao Wúgē and Xiao Bi both understood. "Brother, when you’re free, teach me chess."

Little Butterfly agreed: "Uncle, teach me, teach me."

Chen Yi smiled and nodded, of course he wouldn't refuse.

Though his martial arts were only at the minor completion level, teaching beginners was sufficient.

A brief rest.

Chen Yi changed into a fresh set of clothes, then raised his oil-paper umbrella and walked toward the Lotus Garden beyond.

At this moment, he had employed the Xuanwu Suppression Technique to conceal his presence, walking alone in the rain, indistinguishable from ordinary folk.

Yet in Little Butterfly's eyes, this sight made her reveal a hint of worry.

Little Butterfly glanced at the weather, "Uncle, you're dressed so lightly, you can't catch a chill in this wind and cold."

Thinking this, she silently noted in her heart to prepare ginger tea for Uncle.

Xiao Wuhe stepped out, looked where Chen Yi had vanished, and sighed, "I suppose I must spend the day at the eldest lady's."

Little Butterfly snapped back to her senses and hurriedly handed him her umbrella, "The eldest lady's place is busier, isn't it?"

Xiao Wuhe walked beside her, muttering, "But I have to study..."

Little Butterfly smiled, yet said nothing.

She dared not speak freely about the arrangements at the mansion, lest anyone overhear and think her improper.

...

Chen Yi approached the courtyard, waved to a soldier, and asked, "Is Lao San here?"

The soldier replied, "Lord, Lao San left early this morning, saying Master Chen had ordered him to fetch some teas and medicines."

Chen Yi nodded, "And Wang Er and Si Er?"

Before he could finish, he remembered the two who had been sent by Xiao Yan'er to inspect several apothecaries in the Xiao family.

"Never mind, no need for a carriage today."

Chen Yi said, not having the soldier prepare a horse to follow him, and walked out on foot.

At that moment, a carriage arrived outside, driven by the familiar face of Yan Hong.

"Lord, going out?"

Chen Yi smiled warmly, gestured aside, let the carriage pass, then continued walking outward.

He could also hear the voices behind him.

"Lord? Sister-ni, is he the husband of General Jinghong?"

"Yes."

Shen Huatan?

His elder sister...

So she had left the Jia Xing Yard last night to meet someone from the sect.

Chen Yi felt a slight stir in his heart, slowed his pace, and then heard voices from the mansion:

"Seems he's indeed a scholar, so frail-looking, how did General Jinghong agree to take him as a son-in-law?"

"Elder sister, at the Zhou family, such matters shouldn't be discussed."

"Understood, understood. I know the rules, can't comment on the old lords and ladies of the mansion, right?"

"General Jinghong seems to care for the lord, as do the eldest lady."

"Ah, so he must have some merits, let's hear."

"Mmm... his handwriting is quite good."

"Just that?"

As the distance grew, Chen Yi no longer listened further.

But "just that?"

Even Shen Huatan's elder sister, so accomplished, was someone who had barely studied.

Uncouth and unrefined.

Chen Yi muttered to himself, then walked on, gradually moving away.

About half a cycle later, he reached the West Market, glancing around with his peripheral vision.

The Xuanwu Suppression Technique faded briefly, and all sounds within a radius of twenty zhang were absorbed into his ears.

Suddenly, he knew the situation within that area:

Passersby on the street, thirty-two.

People inside shops along the street, forty-three.

Cultivators with long-lasting breath, eight.

Two whose voices he couldn't hear.

If there were no cultivators skilled in the Xuanwu Suppression Technique, then this was the case.

Chen Yi thought this, and his steps took him directly to the Bai Caogang.

Wang Ji was inside, saw him, and smiled naturally, "Master Chen, what a surprise, coming to Bai Caogang today, what brings you here?"

Chen Yi scanned the room, seeing many people buying tea and medicines, nodded and smiled: "There's something I need to discuss with Mr. Wang, inside?"

"Please."

Chen Yi followed him inside, but raised his hand to signal the agreed gesture.

Wang Ji paused, then nodded seriously, saying, "Master Chen, how has the eldest lady been lately?"

"Thanks to Mr. Wang, the eldest lady's mood has been good lately..."

(The chapter ends.)