When Shen Hao returned home from the garrison, he stepped inside and saw Xia Nu and another graceful figure gathered around the water vat in the courtyard, laughing and playing—most likely feeding the fish in the vat.

"Master Shen’s back?"

The door was opened by Xiaoma. His full name was Ma Jiu Fu. Right now, he was temporarily taking over as steward, replacing Hu Tian, whose leg was broken and hadn’t fully healed yet—of course, he only managed the affairs, not the accounts. Hu Tian still kept a tight grip on the household finances and wasn’t comfortable handing them over to Ma Jiu Fu.

Shen Hao grunted in acknowledgment and walked towards the main hall, saying to Xiaoma as he went, "Tonight, a few Xuanqing Guard warriors will be coming over. Keep an eye out. If they need anything, help them arrange it."

"Yes, Master Shen. Understood. You go inside and rest, have a cup of tea. Dinner will be ready soon."

Over there, Xia Nu hurried to draw water for Shen Hao to wash his face. The graceful young woman beside her hesitated briefly before gracefully walking over, stopping a little over three feet away and bowing with elegance.

"Xin’Er greets Master Shen. Thank you for avenging my Lin Family, and for saving me from disaster the other day. Xin’Er has no way to repay Master Shen’s kindness..."

"Enough. For now, you’ll stay here. When the Wen Family business is settled, you can move out. It’s good to have Xia Nu for company during the day." Shen Hao took a sip of tea as he interrupted Lin Xin’Er’s words.

"Then... I’ll be troubling Master Shen." Whatever she thought of, Lin Xin’Er’s pretty face blushed slightly and she quickly lowered her head.

Shen Hao waved her away. He wasn’t lusting after anyone—he just didn’t want people he knew to be used by the Wen Family for venting their rage and end up dying for nothing.

Here, Shen Hao told Lin Xin’Er to leave, but she didn’t go. She said that while working in the brokerage, she learned many skills for serving others, and couldn’t stay here for free. She could help out alongside Xia Nu. So, once Xia Nu brought water, Lin Xin’Er lent a hand, helping to wash Shen Hao’s face and knead his shoulders—her diligence made Xia Nu, standing nearby, wonder if she was now unnecessary?

During dinner, Lin Xin’Er didn’t sit at the table but helped serve with Xia Nu by the side. When Shen Hao finished eating, they headed to the kitchen to eat with Ma Jiu Fu and Aunt Zhang.

After the meal, Shen Hao went to the backyard to practice magic. Though busy these days, he always took time daily to cultivate. Cultivation depended on steady accumulation—it couldn’t be accomplished instantly.

The energy drawn from the Soul Furnace in the tattoos on his chest still showed no sign of diminishing—it seemed the little Shen Hao had used so far was just superficial. Each circulation of True Qi through a cycle brought massive energy pouring from the tattoo’s points into his meridians, constantly forcing them to expand bit by bit, with most of it gathering in his sea of consciousness at the brow, where it was absorbed by his soul.

His cultivation was still at Gathering Spirit Realm First Layer, yet Shen Hao vaguely sensed he was nearing the threshold of the next small realm—as if, before long, he would be able to break through again.

Standing quietly in the courtyard, night wind gently blowing, Shen Hao closed his eyes, motionless.

Suddenly, Shen Hao formed a one-handed seal, chanting the seal technique rapidly. At once, his body vanished, reappearing two yards away in the blink of an eye.

"Earth Escape Skill is advancing so quickly!"

Though it was his first time practicing magic and no one was guiding him, Shen Hao could feel his cultivation in skills progressing astonishingly fast. Altogether, it had been less than half a month, and his Earth Escape was just able to function for practical use.

"The speed of one-handed sealing can still improve, and I need more familiarity and quickness with the seal technique. Only once I reach the level of Mind Seal Technique will I truly be proficient." His progress was swift, but Shen Hao didn’t get carried away. He knew exactly what he needed to do next. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Besides, in the Great Five Elements True Qi Talisman it was written that, when Earth Escape was trained to the extreme, one instant could cover dozens of miles. He was still far off from that.

Palm Thunder wasn’t as troublesome as the Escape Skill—one just needed to gather Wood Spirit Qi, and the magic would produce thunder and lightning on its own, then blast it out through the palm’s points. The key was the "Thunder Creation" phase; after that, it wasn’t necessary to control it.

No need for hand seals, but the incantation for seal technique was still needed—it was just much simpler than Escape Skill.

Shen Hao slapped the ground with his palm and, from the center, a finger-thick bolt of lightning shot out and crackled, blasting a pit half a foot deep and charring the surrounding area black.

The power was considerable—even though he hadn’t tested it on a person, Shen Hao estimated that a single blow, without relying on palm force, just the Palm Thunder alone could easily kill an ordinary person. However, if he wanted to use it against a cultivator and make it lethal in one strike, he was still lacking.

Practicing two kinds of magic at once, and reaching such results in less than half a month—Shen Hao was satisfied. He knew this was thanks to the tattoos on his chest enhancing his meridians and soul, and this effect seemed likely only to grow stronger.

As night deepened, seven Xuanqing Guard warriors began setting up defenses around Shen Hao’s home, and afterward, no matter who in the household went out, there’d be one or two people shadowing them. At least until the Wen Family business was resolved, Shen Hao figured precautions could not be too much.

...

North of Li City, North City Inn. Private courtyard.

"Madam, the family sent over a Thousand-Mile Sound symbol. They want you not to linger outside, and to return as soon as possible." Wen Shiliu handed a golden three-inch small sword to Qin Yurou.

It was late, but Qin Yurou had no sleepiness at all. She glanced at the Thousand-Mile Sound in the servant’s hand but didn’t take it.

"Did you find the people I asked for?" Qin Yurou’s voice was quiet, and carried a chilly undertone.

"Yes, three in all. All loose cultivators, used to jobs like this. Brave and ruthless, as long as the price is right, they’ll do anything. But... Madam, do we really have to do this? What about the master’s side..."

Qin Yurou snorted coldly, "Wen Shiliu, after changing your name, did you really forget whose slave you are?"

"Wen... Qin San wouldn’t dare, Qin San always knew Madam was my true master. But this matter is too serious—if it goes wrong, Madam, you’ll never be able to turn back!" Wen Shiliu knelt on one knee, sounding anxious, seemingly hoping to persuade Qin Yurou to reconsider.

"So what if I can never turn back! Ren Hai has been waiting for his mother in the Black Prison at the Black Banner Battalion for half a month now. If I wait longer, even if he gets out, he’ll be ruined. And it’s not certain the Wen Family can get him back—if we delay further, I worry Ren Hai will die."

"That... shouldn’t happen, right?! Madam, the master loves Young Master Ren Hai so much—he wouldn’t just let him languish like that."

"Wen Hong? He..." Qin Yurou’s brows furrowed deeper at the name, and she sounded like she didn’t even want the mention. "Have those people carry out the orders, let them name their price, I only have one demand—Ren Hai must come back to me whole."

Wen Shiliu hesitated, but finally could only agree, bowing and withdrawing.