"Where did this fist manual come from?"
Upon hearing Chen Yi's question, Wu Qingsheng's footsteps halted.
"Jinyiwei,"
Wu Qingsheng paused briefly,
"A close acquaintance of mine. Have you heard of Min He, the Southern Garrison Commander of Jinyiwei?"
Chen Yi squinted slightly.
Min He—wasn't he the grandfather of the Min sisters?
"Old Master Min wasn't a native of the Capital City. When he first arrived, he relied solely on his fists and feet to carve out his own path. Later, he was recommended by a martial arts academy to Jinyiwei, rising from the lowest ranks as a mere servant to the position of Garrison Commander."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi felt puzzled and asked:
"Since Cangshan Fist originated from Min He, why wasn't it left to the Min family?"
Wu Qingsheng began recalling past events and said slowly:
"Your question brings a doubt to my heart as well, but Old Master Min never revealed his reasons. I can only deduce a few scattered bits of information.
One reason Old Master Min didn't pass down this fist manual is that his only son's martial arts skills were mediocre. He was worried that ordinary men attract unnecessary envy when they possess treasures.
Another reason… perhaps Old Master Min felt guilt, being an outcast from his sect, and didn't dare entrust it to his descendants."
Outcast from his sect...
This term was far more severe than expulsion from a mountain gate.
Wu Qingsheng took a deep breath, patted Chen Yi's shoulder, and said:
"Chen Qianhu, Old Master Min entrusted this book to me, asking me to safeguard it and pass it on only when I find someone truly worthy."
"Earlier, I watched your interaction with Young Master Lin closely. From your every move, I can tell you're trustworthy. I, Wu Qingsheng, am merely a eunuch—no sons, no daughters, not even adopted heirs under my knee. If I don't entrust this book soon, it'll be left forgotten in the Scripture Pavilion within the palace, gathering dust."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi clasped his hands together and said:
"Thank you, Commander."
Wu Qingsheng smiled lightly, closed the secret compartment, and spoke no more.
......
After leaving the West Factory, Chen Yi first headed to the Supervisory Bureau.
Today was the day the bureau was counting the female members of the Prince Mansion. If he didn't tamper with the arrangements beforehand, his plan to take the prince's daughter away would surely be exposed sooner or later.
Arriving at the Supervisory Bureau, unexpectedly, Chen Yi saw Min Ning.
From a distance, seeing Chen Yi in his new official attire, Min Ning froze. A trace of complex emotion flickered in her gaze.
That official uniform, worn by a Qianhu… was supposed to be hers.
And yet, now she found herself demoted to a subordinate, while Chen Yi had risen to be her superior.
"Yue Chi, what are you doing here?"
Chen Yi walked straight over and greeted her.
Min Ning, startled at his casual use of her courtesy name, stepped back instinctively.
"I… I'm helping verify the registry."
Min Ning turned her face away, avoiding his gaze, then handed the registry she was holding to Chen Yi.
Feigning nonchalance, she said:
"It's already been verified."
Glancing through the registry casually, Chen Yi noticed that the entries concerning Yin Tingxue had already been altered.
"Unexpectedly, the chivalrous Min Ning could resort to such measures."
Having resolved his own matter, Chen Yi closed the registry and returned it to Min Ning's hands.
Min Ning felt the sting of sarcasm and humiliation, and retorted:
"Don't ridicule me.
I just… I just…"
Of course, Chen Yi understood her intentions.
She had done this for her and her sister.
To try to curry favor with him, hoping to save herself and her sister from his clutches.
Min Ning had compromised her principles, suppressing her humiliation as she whispered:
"Spare me and my sister.
Although I've been demoted, I'll ensure your matters go smoothly in the future."
Chen Yi replied meaningfully:
"Not smooth enough."
Min Ning turned back, glaring in fury, rendered speechless.
After a long moment, her tone softened as she pleaded:
"Just spare my sister… even if it's only her, that's enough."
Chen Yi smirked darkly, raised his fingers, and tapped them against her forehead.
"You're learning quickly.
Now you've figured out how to beg me properly."
Min Ning diverted her gaze and forced out a reluctant reply:
"Mm."
[Negative emotion from Min Ning rewarded: Three years of True Qi.]
Chen Yi checked the panel.
[Remaining True Qi: 143 years.]
Just seven years short of condensing five True Yuan, which would allow him to achieve minor mastery of the Resentment Yin-Yang Technique.
Chen Yi glanced at the newly acquired "Cangshan Fist."
Tch...
So troublesome...
Cangshan Fist was a superior martial art akin to the Star Absorption Technique, demanding extraordinary amounts of True Qi for practice. But the rewards it offered were equally unparalleled.
If Chen Yi were to channel all 143 years of True Qi into it, he'd likely achieve minor mastery, gaining an additional technique for dealing with opponents. However, minor mastery would still fall short of true proficiency, let alone perfection.
On the other hand, if he chose not to channel it, the 143 years of True Qi would remain conserved, allowing him to reach the dual-cultivation milestone within seven years.
Chen Yi lowered his gaze to his left hand, then to his right hand.
It seemed as though one hand represented Cangshan Fist, while the other symbolized Resentment Yin-Yang Technique.
"Praying Place is just ten days away."
Suddenly, Min Ning spoke.
"Oh… I know."
Chen Yi nodded slightly.
Praying Place was the first major event in the Capital City.
"Why bring it up?"
Min Ning took a deep breath and replied slowly:
"Everyone knows that at Praying Place, immortal masters will purge bandits and demons. Let no one harbor evil thoughts or commit wicked deeds."
Chen Yi immediately understood. Min Ning intended to use this to threaten him, to warn him against targeting her sister.
A chuckle rose in his chest. Chen Yi said:
"I know far better than you."
"But this purging of bandits and demons occurs annually, hundreds of times over centuries. Yet these bandits—why are they never truly purged? These demons—why are they never truly eradicated?"
"Ultimately, the demons to be eradicated aren't those before our eyes but the ghosts lurking within our hearts."
Min Ning fell silent immediately.
Chen Yi stepped closer, patted her head, then seized the moment when no one was around to quickly plant a kiss on her forehead.
Min Ning's face instantly flushed red. She recoiled in shock, glaring at him.
The offender, however, merely shrugged casually as though nothing had happened.
"Farewell!"
Min Ning spat resentfully, leaving those words behind before turning to leave.
"Wait."
Min Ning paused in her tracks.
Chen Yi looked at her and asked:
"How much do you know about your grandfather?"
Min Ning stared in surprise and said:
"Why ask that?"
Chen Yi spat out three words:
"Cangshan Fist."
Min Ning's pupils contracted sharply as she blurted out:
"That's… my grandfather's martial art. How do you know about it?"
Chen Yi advanced slowly, a smirk on his lips:
"I've got it here in my hands."
Min Ning denied immediately:
"That's impossible. Grandfather didn't even pass it on to my father."
Chen Yi pulled a book from his robe, and the words on it made Min Ning's almond-shaped phoenix eyes widen.
Just as she instinctively leaned closer, Chen Yi pulled the fist manual back.
Min Ning fixed her gaze on it, stunned, and asked:
"Is it real?"
Chen Yi teased:
"If it's real or not, wouldn't you know once you have it in your hands?
Anyway, it was given to me by Commander Wu."
"Min Ning, don't you… want it?"
Min Ning felt uneasy. She had indeed heard of the close ties between her grandfather and Commander Wu. She tried turning her head away, unwilling to dwell on the manual. Yet, the thought of it being her grandfather's inheritance compelled her to glance back repeatedly.
After a long while, as if realizing something, she asked:
"If it's real, why don't you practice it?"
Hearing this, Chen Yi glanced at the panel.
With a resigned shrug, he replied:
"My left hand wants to practice Cangshan Fist, but my right hand disagrees."