More than a month later.

Within Mu Chi Estate.

The weather gradually warmed,

A group of people gathered in the pavilion of an open-air garden, set up a brazier, and placed various meats and vegetables to start cooking.

Brother-in-law Suda Heqi, sister Zhang Rongyu, Lu Meisha, the wet nurse holding Zhang Huanqing, as well as Zhang Rongfang, and Li Zhen who had joined the estate not long ago.

Everyone was present.

Wooden boards were erected around the pavilion to block the cold wind. Layer upon layer of thick curtains were hung, making it warm and interesting.

"The last incident really scared me, but it seems much better now. Regardless of big or small, the kind of assassination attempts from before no longer exist," said Zhang Rongyu, clearly in a good mood, with a faint smile on her face as she spoke.

"My father personally intervened and greeted both sides, so naturally, there were results." Li Zhen said in a calm voice.

"Yes, we have to thank Miss Li Zhen. Last time, it truly frightened me as well. Now, even the family in the Great Capital is too busy to pay attention... The situation is indeed difficult." Suda Heqi sighed.

He raised his wine glass and made a gesture towards Li Zhen.

"Thus, let us toast to the young lady!"

"You are too kind, sir. Upon meeting my sister, it felt like a long-lost reunion, and I had received many favors from her. Helping a bit was only rightful." Li Zhen earnestly replied.

Zhang Rongyu also felt grateful, as the Academy was surprisingly accommodating. After Li Zhen’s father intervened, they stopped sending people and simply remained silent.

This calmness initially made her uneasy, but over time, she realized that the Academy was not only silent but also shifted its focus to the heirs of other Gentleman’s Sword holders.

They paid no attention whatsoever to Wushan Prefecture.

This situation was exactly what Zhang Rongyu desired, and all these changes came after she invited Li Zhen, who then got her father involved, which led the Academy to relent.

Apparently, she attributed all these outcomes to the influence behind Li Zhen, which made Solitary Crane Academy and the others relinquish their fight for the sword chimes here.

Thus, she felt increasingly grateful to Li Zhen.

"Actually, it wasn’t much. I just explained the situation here to my father, and as his daughter, I didn’t know how he would act. He naturally has his judgment." Li Zhen shook her head slightly.

"It’s still thanks to you. Come, sister also toasts to you." Zhang Rongyu said, smiling as she raised her glass to Li Zhen.

Zhang Rongfang watched this scene from the side, not speaking, just smiling.

A Grandmaster had died, and still, the Confucian Martial Arts Grandmaster — if Solitary Crane Academy dared to act rashly, it would indeed be surprising.

Seeing Li Zhen take credit, he didn’t mind.

What he needed now was a sufficiently long period of stability and concealment.

As long as time was long enough, talents would snowball, until he surpassed Spirit Generals, surpassed gods and Buddhas, surpassed everything.

Moreover, he quite liked the current quiet life.

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang’s gaze shifted, feeling someone was watching him. Following the sense, it turned out to be Lu Meisha.

Lu Meisha seemed much more haggard. Seeing Zhang Rongfang looking her way, she quickly averted her gaze, pretending nothing had happened.

"By the way, Meisha will be returning to her family in a few days. Don’t you have anything to say about it, Rongfang?" Sister Zhang Rongyu asked.

"Returning to the family?" Zhang Rongfang was slightly surprised. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, she had to go back. It was clearly due to the impact after he cleared the misunderstanding.

"Yes, the family arranged a marriage for her, and Meisha planned to go see for herself." Suda Heqi said somewhat regretfully.

Initially, he wanted to pair his sister with Zhang Rongfang, but unfortunately, it seems they are destined for separation now.

"Meisha is wonderful, and I, a rough man, am not suitable for her." Zhang Rongfang replied.

"You two..." Suda Heqi said helplessly, clearly understanding that something might have transpired between them.

At this point, it seemed there was no turning back, so he could only let it go.

"Alright, let’s not talk about sad things. Although the Great Capital is far from here, you can return anytime you want. With the Spirit Army escorting, the speed is quite fast," interrupted Zhang Rongyu.

"Yes, sister-in-law is right. I am only going back to the family, not leaving for good," Lu Meisha said with a smile.

Albeit her words, she glanced at Zhang Rongfang out of the corner of her eye, seeing the calm expression on his face.

She finally accepted it as hopeless.

Everyone raised their glasses, sending off Lu Meisha.

Amid blessings and admonitions, and Xiaohuanqing’s babblings,

Lu Meisha slowly drank all the milk wine in her cup.

*

*

*

Winter passed, spring came.

In the blink of an eye, it was March.

Within Mu Chi Estate, Xiaohuanqing was already able to run around and could speak quite fluently.

He had dedicated teachers instructing him. Literacy introduction, Foundation Establishment in Martial Arts, noble knowledge, court etiquette, etc., were all on track.

Ever since he was young, you could tell Xiaohuanqing’s disposition was inclined towards being aloof and favoring quietude.

Even though the medicinal baths granted him a lot of energy, allowing him to run everywhere,

whenever he ran, it wasn’t for play but to escape the rigorous daily lessons.

Now seven months old, he appeared pink and lovely, constantly dressed exquisitely and elaborately by his mother.

All sorts of complex outfits, like role-playing costumes, were custom-made by Zhang Rongyu, and she would dress her son in them.

It felt as if she had given birth to a doll rather than a son.

The entire residence had turned into Xiaohuanqing’s playground to hide from lessons.

His martial arts teacher was an old man with a long white beard that reached his heels, always carrying a ruler with a stern expression.

Xiaohuanqing disliked him greatly.

He protested many times, claiming that he was too young to start martial arts training.

But his protests were futile.

Mother Zhang Rongyu was hesitant at first, but then she heard the martial arts teacher candidly state that Xiaohuanqing’s aptitude was excellent, nurtured by the various treasured medicines of the Yi Vein since childhood.

Since he embarked on this path from the beginning, he must inherit Gentleman’s Sword and become a seed.

Therefore, his treatment should be akin to the top heirs of other great sects, receiving top-tier training early on.

From then on, the residence stopped protecting Xiaohuanqing, and no matter where he hid, someone would proactively bring him out and hand him to Zhang Rongyu.

So Xiaohuanqing, unwilling to be oppressed, rose up in resistance.

Born from medicinal baths, although only seven months old, his body was already similar to a two-year-old child, running remarkably fast.

That day.

After being caught yet again during a hiding attempt yesterday, he finally twisted and turned, finding a new secret hiding spot.

"So, you ran to me, huh?"

Zhang Rongfang sat in meditation in a quiet room, sensing a little fellow sitting on the steps outside.

Opening the door, it was Xiaohuanqing.

In these three months, he accumulated another hundred points of life, ready to unlock a new trait and talent.

He was preparing to meditate and adjust his state before heading towards Wish Girl Gorge.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Xiaohuanqing.

"Uncle, can you help me?" Xiaohuanqing walked in, mimicking Zhang Rongfang’s posture, awkwardly sitting cross-legged.

Despite his young age, he had started learning Cultivation of Literature, so his cross-legged position was quite standard.

"What do you want me to help with?" Zhang Rongfang observed the little figure who months ago couldn’t say a complete sentence, now speaking fluently with clear enunciation, which surprised him.

"I don’t want to study; I want to play, rest. Could you talk to my mother and have her let me be free?" Xiaohuanqing earnestly asked.

"Your mother is doing this for your own good. I think she is right, so you should go back." Zhang Rongfang replied.

"But I don’t like studying. The teacher told me I’m noble; I was born to be better than others and can live a good life even without studying." Xiaohuanqing responded.

This was hardly the words of a seven-month-old child.

Zhang Rongfang was astonished. He recalled how at seven months, he could probably only utter a few complete sentences.

Thinking for a while, he replied.

"You have many reasons, and I think you’re quite right."

"So you’re agreeing with me?" Xiaohuanqing instantly got excited.

"But you can’t defeat your mother." Zhang Rongfang said.

"Fight? Why should I fight my mother?" Xiaohuanqing asked, puzzled.

"Because if you don’t study, you’ll be punished. Your reasons can’t save you. Only by studying diligently can you avoid punishment." Zhang Rongfang replied.

"But Uncle, you also said I’m right. You’re not helping me?" Xiaohuanqing asked, confused.

"Why should I help you? Look at me; my martial arts skills were not handed down; I worked hard to learn and practice them." Zhang Rongfang replied.

"Really? You said the same thing before, but the teacher said your martial arts skills are quite poor, only above average among ordinary people, so I shouldn’t emulate you." Xiaohuanqing said, puzzled.

"Really?" Zhang Rongfang didn’t refute, just smiled, "Yet, you’re still asking me for help."

"...Um... Uncle, your words are hard to understand." Xiaohuanqing lowered his head, inadvertently revealing a purple sword-shaped pendant around his neck.

"You’ll understand when you grow up. For now, if you study well, you can avoid punishment." Zhang Rongfang comforted him.

"Well... Sometimes I think, if I kill the teacher and my mother, perhaps I could play happily every day." Xiaohuanqing suddenly added.

"?" Zhang Rongfang’s expression tightened, looking at Xiaohuanqing. "You can’t have such thoughts."

"Why not? If I was born noble, wouldn’t it be fine without them?" Xiaohuanqing asked.

"But you’re just a child, very weak, you need your parents’ protection." Zhang Rongfang said seriously, "Besides, your parents love you very much."

"So you’re saying, once I’m strong, I can eliminate the teacher and parents and play freely? Also, what is love?" Xiaohuanqing asked.

"I didn’t say that." Zhang Rongfang, racking his brain, began thinking about how to guide a child who was starting to deviate back on the right track.

Just then, a figure gently landed outside the door; it was the white-haired old man with a long beard mentioned by Xiaohuanqing.

This person emitted a deep aura, subtly resembling the Grandmaster traits Zhang Rongfang had encountered before. Under visual inspection in dim light, the heartbeat, blood, and muscle density indicated this person was at least a Three Emptiness.

"Teacher Cui." Zhang Rongfang nodded slightly to him.

"I came to take Huanqing back. After searching everywhere, I found him running over here." The old man calmly said, his gaze fixed solely on Xiaohuanqing without even glancing at Zhang Rongfang.

"Go ahead." Zhang Rongfang patted Xiaohuanqing on the shoulder.

"Okay, Uncle, I’ll come to see you again in the future." Xiaohuanqing earnestly bowed, stood up, and left.

The pair, big and small, slowly walked out of the courtyard.

Just watching their backs, Zhang Rongfang couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.

How had Xiaohuanqing’s thoughts turned this way?

And these people from the Confucian sect, to be so strict from the start, perhaps... they know something.